no_ufo_ending (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
no_ufo_ending) wrote2016-08-08 06:07 am
no_ufo_ending) wrote2016-08-08 06:07 am
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[Victory Road] Ic Inbox
This is Henry Townshend, leave a message.
Old IC Inbox
This is Henry Townshend, leave a message.
Old IC Inbox
Hey, Henry.
I know we talked earlier and all, but something came up and it's important. Not an emergency, so don't freak, but call me as soon as you can.
I know we talked earlier and all, but something came up and it's important. Not an emergency, so don't freak, but call me as soon as you can.
[She cuts right to the chase. It's one of those subjects.]
There's another cultist in Johto.
I don't know who he is, it's someone I've never met.
He said he wasn't interested in hurting anybody so I don't think there's any... immediate reason to worry. But I just... you know. Wanted to let you know.
There's another cultist in Johto.
I don't know who he is, it's someone I've never met.
He said he wasn't interested in hurting anybody so I don't think there's any... immediate reason to worry. But I just... you know. Wanted to let you know.
[It takes Henry a few moments to process, and when he does, he feels a chill.]
Are you sure he was telling the truth?
Are you sure he was telling the truth?
Yeah, I... I think so.
I mean, he didn't-- he sounded like Claudia. One of the ones who was brainwashed, probably as a kid. Let me tell you, Claudia Wolf never lied. I don't think she could even if she wanted to.
[Lie by omission, maybe, but... not outright lie.]
Like, you can't really understand unless you went through it, you know? The kids aren't like the higher-ups who decide what the lies are.
[... A pause.]
... Unless they're Vincent, but I digress...
I mean, he didn't-- he sounded like Claudia. One of the ones who was brainwashed, probably as a kid. Let me tell you, Claudia Wolf never lied. I don't think she could even if she wanted to.
[Lie by omission, maybe, but... not outright lie.]
Like, you can't really understand unless you went through it, you know? The kids aren't like the higher-ups who decide what the lies are.
[... A pause.]
... Unless they're Vincent, but I digress...
[Henry makes a dissatisfied humming sound, but Heather knows more about the cult than he does.]
I'll keep an eye out. I'm glad that...nothing like that can happen here.
I'll keep an eye out. I'm glad that...nothing like that can happen here.
... Yeah. Me too.
Whatever happens, we'll be safe.
... But yeah. Keep an eye out, and... let me know if you find anything else out, okay? Envy and Al and I are gonna be hiking Mt. Moon to get to Cerulean but you say the word and I'll warp right back.
Whatever happens, we'll be safe.
... But yeah. Keep an eye out, and... let me know if you find anything else out, okay? Envy and Al and I are gonna be hiking Mt. Moon to get to Cerulean but you say the word and I'll warp right back.
I will.
[Henry isn't sure what to keep an eye out for...especially if this mysterious cultist has already talked to Heather. He doesn't know how the conversation went so he easily imagines said cultist instantly going into hiding.]
[Because he's Henry and hiding is his thing.]
[Henry isn't sure what to keep an eye out for...especially if this mysterious cultist has already talked to Heather. He doesn't know how the conversation went so he easily imagines said cultist instantly going into hiding.]
[Because he's Henry and hiding is his thing.]
[By the time Heather makes it to Goldenrod City, she's exhausted, jello-kneed from flying down a mountain at breakneck speed and then warping from Center to Center as fast as possible, and it's well past noon. One thing's for sure, if it weren't for the warps, she couldn't have even hoped to make it there this fast, but well, it's certainly taken its toll.]
[Looking windswept and frantic, she staggers into the police station with her bag in tow, the strap constantly slipping over her shoulder no matter how many times she clumsily adjusts it.]
[Making it to the front desk, she wheezes:]
I'm here for Henry Townshend, I have bail money. How much is it?
[Looking windswept and frantic, she staggers into the police station with her bag in tow, the strap constantly slipping over her shoulder no matter how many times she clumsily adjusts it.]
[Making it to the front desk, she wheezes:]
I'm here for Henry Townshend, I have bail money. How much is it?
[The Jenny at the desk looks up and puffs out a sigh.]
You can have him.
[Another Jenny leans around from the little hallway leading to the temp cells to relieve the one at the desk, trading off jobs. She shakes her head and passes Heather the appropriate forms for her to pay for Henry's release. Once that's all said and done, there is a...commotion...from the hall.]
Let go! Let me go!
That's what we're trying to do, you knucklehead!
[Henry is escorted in by two Jennies but once he sees Heather and his cuffs are removed, he hurries over to her, still dirty and a little bloody to throw his arms around her shoulders.]
[And then, as quickly as the hug had happened, he's already tugging on her arm, trying to fastwalk his way right out of the station.]
There isn't much time!
[He's still shouting--now it sounds more Friday Frantic than enraged.]
You can have him.
[Another Jenny leans around from the little hallway leading to the temp cells to relieve the one at the desk, trading off jobs. She shakes her head and passes Heather the appropriate forms for her to pay for Henry's release. Once that's all said and done, there is a...commotion...from the hall.]
Let go! Let me go!
That's what we're trying to do, you knucklehead!
[Henry is escorted in by two Jennies but once he sees Heather and his cuffs are removed, he hurries over to her, still dirty and a little bloody to throw his arms around her shoulders.]
[And then, as quickly as the hug had happened, he's already tugging on her arm, trying to fastwalk his way right out of the station.]
There isn't much time!
[He's still shouting--now it sounds more Friday Frantic than enraged.]
[She's normally the one dishing out hefty hugs to unsuspecting loved ones, and Henry's sudden embrace catches her by surprise. It's only the quickness of it that stops her from staggering backwards too hastily-- still, she stumbles a little, off-balance. She's so wiped out that the world already feels kind of tilted, and the hug, while not unwelcome, didn't exactly help.]
Henry, sl-- slow down, okay?
I haven't stopped moving since you called, I'm-- let me catch my breath.
[She drags her feet, shuffling to try and block his path a little. It's not that she wants to stay HERE, but as hotheaded as she is, she really doesn't like the idea of dashing straight into this... situation without a plan.]
Henry, sl-- slow down, okay?
I haven't stopped moving since you called, I'm-- let me catch my breath.
[She drags her feet, shuffling to try and block his path a little. It's not that she wants to stay HERE, but as hotheaded as she is, she really doesn't like the idea of dashing straight into this... situation without a plan.]
[For a moment, Henry has the gall to be frustrated. He wheels around on one heel, as though he's momentarily forgotten she's WHIRLWINDED her way to come get him. But then he really looks at her and his shoulders fall. He meets her eye with an earnest apology.]
I'm sorry, Heather. I've just been sitting in that cell and thinking about what I have to do. And what I need to tell you and in what order and it's just...getting home seemed so important. Thank you for getting me out, I'll repay you.
I'm sorry, Heather. I've just been sitting in that cell and thinking about what I have to do. And what I need to tell you and in what order and it's just...getting home seemed so important. Thank you for getting me out, I'll repay you.
[Indeed, she looks a mess. Not anywhere near as badly as they'd all looked after their impromptu week-long hike after Moon Prom, but still exhausted and grimy from the road. There's even some funny bruises visible above her collar.]
No, I know, and it's fine. That's why I came back as quick as I could.
Let's go, just... slowly.
[Shooting a last look at the main desk, she decides she doesn't actually have the energy to give the Jennies any more lip. So she grabs Henry's elbow gently and starts to head out the door.]
[Will it be worth the inevitable GIANT CROCODILIAN FRETTING to let Godzilla out and ask him to straight-up carry them back to the house...?]
No, I know, and it's fine. That's why I came back as quick as I could.
Let's go, just... slowly.
[Shooting a last look at the main desk, she decides she doesn't actually have the energy to give the Jennies any more lip. So she grabs Henry's elbow gently and starts to head out the door.]
[Will it be worth the inevitable GIANT CROCODILIAN FRETTING to let Godzilla out and ask him to straight-up carry them back to the house...?]
Edited 2016-09-12 15:41 (UTC)
[Hanging onto Henry's elbow is not unlike trying to take a very nervous great dane for a walk. He can't help but pull. He's trying to be slow but. Serial killers.]
Walter Sullavin is here. I met him on my way home from work last night--this morning, I guess. He has a cubone. He's solid. I nearly killed him, would have if that construction worker hadn't called the police. I almost did it, Heather. I almost did my job. Nobody here understands.
It's either him or me. I'm the last sacrament.
Walter Sullavin is here. I met him on my way home from work last night--this morning, I guess. He has a cubone. He's solid. I nearly killed him, would have if that construction worker hadn't called the police. I almost did it, Heather. I almost did my job. Nobody here understands.
It's either him or me. I'm the last sacrament.
[At least she's got plenty of experience walking giant dogs. She knows how to deal with the pulling, even if she's dead on her feet.]
A Cubone?
[Shit... that HAS to mean he was the one who talked to her briefly at the festival. She hadn't put the strange, quiet man and the voice on the phone together before, but it's too big a coincidence to dismiss.]
Tell me what happened. Did-- I mean... you said he didn't attack you, so-- what, did you just... was he trying to follow you down the road? What?
[She knows about Henry's violent streak but she's not used to it springing up without some form of provocation. And as hotheaded and bloodthirsty as even she is sometimes, her first instinct upon seeing things from home is usually not to go straight in for the kill immediately, no matter how much of a fright they give her.]
A Cubone?
[Shit... that HAS to mean he was the one who talked to her briefly at the festival. She hadn't put the strange, quiet man and the voice on the phone together before, but it's too big a coincidence to dismiss.]
Tell me what happened. Did-- I mean... you said he didn't attack you, so-- what, did you just... was he trying to follow you down the road? What?
[She knows about Henry's violent streak but she's not used to it springing up without some form of provocation. And as hotheaded and bloodthirsty as even she is sometimes, her first instinct upon seeing things from home is usually not to go straight in for the kill immediately, no matter how much of a fright they give her.]
[Henry let out a huff as he thought back on the encounter.]
I was coming home from work. I saw him in the fog. I thought he was France. I was going to go say hello and see if Envy knew he was back yet but--it was him. Once I was close enough to see who he was he said...something. I don't even remember. I just--
[Henry made a strangling gesture and gritted his teeth.]
He didn't even put up a fight--probably didn't know how to now that he isn't an immortal ghost with a chainsaw.
I was coming home from work. I saw him in the fog. I thought he was France. I was going to go say hello and see if Envy knew he was back yet but--it was him. Once I was close enough to see who he was he said...something. I don't even remember. I just--
[Henry made a strangling gesture and gritted his teeth.]
He didn't even put up a fight--probably didn't know how to now that he isn't an immortal ghost with a chainsaw.
[IT'S KIND OF AWFUL but deep down she's kind of relieved that she wasn't the only one who thought the guy was France at first. Of course, now that she knows who he actually is, it's staggering what an AWFUL case of celebrity lookalikes this is.]
[Wait till Envy finds out that his old flame looks exactly like the serial killer who tried to murder his best friend and nobody had said anything about it this whole time.]
[But enough about that.]
He didn't fight back?
At all?
[A twinge of nausea joins the multitude of other little physical discomforts she's feeling right now, as a scene she's been trying her best not to think about flashes before her mind's eye again. Claudia's pale eyes, fear-filled but somehow still calm, reflecting the flames all around her...]
[She hadn't fought back, either. Hadn't lifted so much as a finger in her own defense while Heather shook her and threw her down like a ragdoll.]
You don't think he'd try and come after you now, do you?
If he didn't even fight back?
[Here she'd been thinking she'd have to call in the cavalry and pull out all the stops to protect Henry, but Henry apparently can defend himself just fine.]
[Wait till Envy finds out that his old flame looks exactly like the serial killer who tried to murder his best friend and nobody had said anything about it this whole time.]
[But enough about that.]
He didn't fight back?
At all?
[A twinge of nausea joins the multitude of other little physical discomforts she's feeling right now, as a scene she's been trying her best not to think about flashes before her mind's eye again. Claudia's pale eyes, fear-filled but somehow still calm, reflecting the flames all around her...]
[She hadn't fought back, either. Hadn't lifted so much as a finger in her own defense while Heather shook her and threw her down like a ragdoll.]
You don't think he'd try and come after you now, do you?
If he didn't even fight back?
[Here she'd been thinking she'd have to call in the cavalry and pull out all the stops to protect Henry, but Henry apparently can defend himself just fine.]
[So...he's home again. Envy had been really insistent that they get home as soon as they could (just as soon as he TRIED TO CHEAT AN EASY WIN OUT OF HIM--anyway), but he hadn't really explained why beyond 'Henry is in danger'. And much as Al is willing to help his housemate feel safe and secure, he still would like to know exactly what is going on.]
[Details, he's found, can be very important when dealing with things from other people's worlds.]
[It's not long after Alphonse has gotten home and set his things back away again that he goes looking around for Henry. He isn't in any of his usual haunts, so it takes a little longer than he expected. But finally he catches Henry coming down the stairs, and waits at the bottom with a concerned look.]
Hey, Henry. What exactly is going on? Envy wasn't really clear about any of it.
[Details, he's found, can be very important when dealing with things from other people's worlds.]
[It's not long after Alphonse has gotten home and set his things back away again that he goes looking around for Henry. He isn't in any of his usual haunts, so it takes a little longer than he expected. But finally he catches Henry coming down the stairs, and waits at the bottom with a concerned look.]
Hey, Henry. What exactly is going on? Envy wasn't really clear about any of it.
[Henry rounds the corner with his Litwick on his shoulder and pauses, making direct eye-contact with Al.]
[In one hand are more musty-smelling candles.]
[In the other is a hammer.]
[This is the first time Henry has spotted Al since he got home and the photographer no longer has the dozy half-interested look in his eye than he usually does. Henry's shoulders are ridged and he's holding the hammer in a weird way--the windows are already boarded. This hammer is meant to go through a skull.]
Al, you're home.
[Henry descends the stairs, two at a time, oddly light on his feet for someone who usually moves so sluggishly.]
Envy probably didn't know enough to tell you. That's my fault. Come on.
[He moves RIGHT INTO Al's bubble in order to squeeze by him and into the living room.]
[In one hand are more musty-smelling candles.]
[In the other is a hammer.]
[This is the first time Henry has spotted Al since he got home and the photographer no longer has the dozy half-interested look in his eye than he usually does. Henry's shoulders are ridged and he's holding the hammer in a weird way--the windows are already boarded. This hammer is meant to go through a skull.]
Al, you're home.
[Henry descends the stairs, two at a time, oddly light on his feet for someone who usually moves so sluggishly.]
Envy probably didn't know enough to tell you. That's my fault. Come on.
[He moves RIGHT INTO Al's bubble in order to squeeze by him and into the living room.]
[That...that is new and different. Al wasn't actually aware Henry could move this fast. He takes half a step back in surprise, watching Henry pass by with a shocked expression.]
[He does follow, though.]
Um...alright.
[He eyes that hammer in Henry's hands warily, but he's...pretty sure Henry isn't the type to lash out randomly. And that he could disarm him if it came to it.]
[He does follow, though.]
Um...alright.
[He eyes that hammer in Henry's hands warily, but he's...pretty sure Henry isn't the type to lash out randomly. And that he could disarm him if it came to it.]
[Henry makes a quick circuit, walking around the sofas and through the kitchen, pausing briefly at the door to look at it and make sure no chains suddenly manifest. He wheels around and makes eye-contact with Al again.]
The serial killer who managed to destroy the very fabric of reality in my apartment building is here and I have to kill him before he kills me and summons the devil.
[All of this was delivered with a level-headed seriousness that one might expect from someone giving the lowdown on a dangerous disease or even upcoming rough weather.]
The serial killer who managed to destroy the very fabric of reality in my apartment building is here and I have to kill him before he kills me and summons the devil.
[All of this was delivered with a level-headed seriousness that one might expect from someone giving the lowdown on a dangerous disease or even upcoming rough weather.]
[Al pauses in the middle of the living room, halfway through sitting down as Henry makes his round of the room. About by the time he's checking the door, Al has slowly settled down to sit on one end of the sofa.]
[And then...that.]
[well, then. That doesn't sound completely ludicrous or anything.]
I...see.
[Al blinks very slowly, doing his best to not look as skeptical as he feels.]
So how will we...uh. Keep someone that can bend reality out of the house?
[That sure was a sentence he just said right there.]
[And then...that.]
[well, then. That doesn't sound completely ludicrous or anything.]
I...see.
[Al blinks very slowly, doing his best to not look as skeptical as he feels.]
So how will we...uh. Keep someone that can bend reality out of the house?
[That sure was a sentence he just said right there.]
Luckily--
[Henry raises his hammer and smiles. Henry's smiles are usually bashful or tight. This one stretches to his ears.]
--he can't do that here. He's mortal. I would have killed him with my bare hands if it weren't for the police. But we have Pokemon and some Pokemon can be incredibly destructive in the hands of the wrong person.
[Henry raises his hammer and smiles. Henry's smiles are usually bashful or tight. This one stretches to his ears.]
--he can't do that here. He's mortal. I would have killed him with my bare hands if it weren't for the police. But we have Pokemon and some Pokemon can be incredibly destructive in the hands of the wrong person.
[......................]
[Suddenly, a lot of the friendships in this house make a whole lot more sense.]
Uh...huh. You know if he dies here he's not going to stay dead, right? Or else I wouldn't be sitting here right now.
[Or Envy wouldn't be around, but that has more chance of setting Henry off.]
But we can definitely make sure he can't get into the house, that shouldn't be too hard.
[Suddenly, a lot of the friendships in this house make a whole lot more sense.]
Uh...huh. You know if he dies here he's not going to stay dead, right? Or else I wouldn't be sitting here right now.
[Or Envy wouldn't be around, but that has more chance of setting Henry off.]
But we can definitely make sure he can't get into the house, that shouldn't be too hard.
[Henry nods smartly.]
That is also right. That's why we'll have to be ready.
[He makes a face and looks at the hammer.]
I just...I need to find a way to either put him behind bars without winding up in jail permanently myself. Those Jennies do not like me.
That is also right. That's why we'll have to be ready.
[He makes a face and looks at the hammer.]
I just...I need to find a way to either put him behind bars without winding up in jail permanently myself. Those Jennies do not like me.
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