☮ 052; [text]

[vulpesvivus]

I don't know how many people knew him, but it looks like Huey Emmerich went home.

[It was strange--five years ago, he remembered this situation had sent him into a near-total breakdown. Now, he just...quietly accepted it. Whether that was due to the fact that he wasn't quite the same now or the fact that he knew his father could come back somehow, Otacon wasn't sure.]

[Of course, just because he accepted it didn't mean it hurt any less. That sentence was the only message he sent, and he couldn't even quite manage to say it.]

Comments

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

Okay, okay.

[He stumbled a little less than he might have before, laughing quietly as Heather pulled him along.]

[Action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Looks like he's outgrown a little of that awkward-puppyness... TOOK HIM LONG ENOUGH, AMIRITE?]

[Heather doesn't quite notice, though-- she's more preoccupied with finding a decent place to eat.]</sub>

Hey, how 'bout that one?

_{[CHEAP DINER AHOY.]}

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

[Damn skippy.]

[And having survived far worse cooking both his own and Sunny's by this point, Otacon could probably eat just about anything and not complain.]

Sure, looks good to me.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

_{[AND IN THEY GO. Heather lets go of his arm so that she can pull the door open properly, heading inside. The restaurants here are quainter and more homey than they are in Violet and Goldenrod...]}

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

...wow.

[A small laugh.]

I'd honestly forgotten just how quiet it was around here.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

_{[She slides into a booth, finally letting go of his sleeve.]}

I know, right?

It's so disorienting after getting used to the big cities...

_{[Of course, he's probably talking about Johto as a whole vs. his own world, isn't he...]}

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

It really is. Even more so knowing there's no bipedal robots running around.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

... Still going through all that war stuff back home, huh?

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

Yeah. It...might be over, almost. I'm not really sure anymore.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

... I hope it is.

_{[Heather snags a napkin from the dispenser at the end of the table and starts folding it so that her hands will have something to do.]}

You guys deserve to have a normal life.

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

...I don't think it'll ever really be 'normal', but it's definitely something.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

More normal, then...

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

I wouldn't really mind that. I'm a little tired of living on an airplane.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

At least you don't have to here?

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

That's definitely a plus, yeah. But it's going to be awfully quiet in comparison.

[Beat.]

...Even with Liquid running around.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

_{[Heather's mouth quirks up in a smile.]}

That's sayin' something.

_{[AND THEN A WAITRESS NOTICES THEY'RE THERE. Crap it's early she totally thought nobody would be in for at least another hour. :I]}

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

Don't need to tell me twice.

[Laughing quietly, Otacon just ordered himself coffee--bad habits die hard and all.]

[Action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... Heather sees what you did there. >8I]

[She promptly orders two plates of waffles from the waitress. Because dammit Hal she brought you here for waffles. YOU ARE GONNA HAVE WAFFLES.]</sub>

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

[WELL PLAYED, WORTHY ADVERSARY]

[Action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[SUCCESS]

[She proceeds to just grin at him as the waitress walks away.]</sub>

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

Was that really necessary?

[Action]

[foolishwren]

Yup.

_{[C'mon, Otacon-- can you really be mad at this face?]}

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

[n o p e]

...You really never change, huh?

[Action]

[foolishwren]

Hee. Nope.

_{[Except when she did. ... But she liked to think the part of her that made sure her self-loathing friends ate waffles on chilly autumn mornings would always stay the same.]}

[Action]

[vulpesvivus]

Well, I can't really say that surprises me in the slightest. I should probably be thankful for it.

[That was of course a vital part to have.]