Henry puffed out a sigh as he sank down onto the uncomfortable plastic bench along the far wall of the Pokemon Center. He always sat near the windows when he brought in his whole team. Following Heather's advice concerning training all the little ones up at the same time was working. Townshend was slowly becoming someone who could actually call himself a Trainer without the competition stifling a laugh.
It felt a little weird not to have Cheerios or Clam out and waiting with him so he flipped out his Poke'Gear and tried to beat Envy's score at Five Nights at Fantina's. This would take a while. He and his team were pretty far back on the waiting list.
It was just that she'd been busy, and if her only chance to take Guttle to the Pokemon Center for a weight check happened to be when Henry was also at the Center, well, those things happened.
Just like she happened to always wander into the kitchen when he was there, or out into the yard. They lived in the same house, of course they were going to run into each other frequently.
Except they hadn't used to, and Lust was well aware that she'd fallen into a habit of simply being in the same place as Henry.
But she wasn't stalking him. In any sense of the word. And the only reason she took a seat right by him is because they were housemates. And...friends. It was perfectly normal for one friend to see another in a public place and join them.
And just at that exact moment, one of the robotic pokemon popped up on Henry's 'Gear screen.
"Ah!" And then Lust Appeared. "AHH!" He fumbled the device and nearly dropped it on the hard Center floor, having half jumped out of his seat, arms extended. Once the danger (or that danger) had passed, he deflated back into his seat and gave lust one of those dazed sleepy looks.
While Lust had changed her opinions on Henry in many ways since first meeting him, she still maintained he was the jumpiest human she'd ever encountered. Raising an eyebrow, she settled herself down on the bench.
"Wherever you just were, I don't think I'd like to visit."
Henry's mouth drew into a strained, straight line. "Yeah. Nobody needs to go there."
He frowned down at his GAME OVER screen and quietly exited the game. It would be rude to stare at his 'gear while she was talking to him. The idea of Lust liking him back hasn't even entered his head and the past few weeks have been dedicated to squashing those dumb Valentines Day leftover feelings by actually getting out of the house.
For whatever degree of 'real' it was, Lust could never be entirely sure. Guttle was rolling contentedly at her feet, tongue lolling out in Henry's direction. "Apparently everyone decided to come to the Center today. At least you're here - I forgot to bring a book."
But Henry's company was a perfectly acceptable distraction. She did enjoy it, odd as he was. In many ways because of his oddities. He was a very unique man, and fascinating when he could be coaxed into conversation.
"I've heard of that. I hardly have any apps on this thing, technology still seems convoluted to me." And there was something a bit dangerous, Lust felt, about having one single device to rely on for everything. What if she lost her 'gear, or wasn't able to access it for a few days? She'd hate to be rendered useless just by losing her all important little box.
"I have a recipe app, though," she added. She didn't give a damn what other people put on their 'gears' and didn't want Henry thinking she was being judgmental. There were much more important things to judge people on.
"I could--" Henry clammed up. What the hELL ARE YOU THINKING, TOWNSHEND. You are not going to teach her how to use the poke'gear that involves way too much sitting next to each other. So instead he made a few weird Henry sounds and changed courses.
"That sounds neat. I never really learned to cook."
"....right. I'm not very good at it, but it's something to do." And it was expected. People knew how to make food. There were times when she had to feed herself from scratch, she could at least manage simple things. But not much more than simple things.
"It's easier to pay other people to cook for me. Everyone benefits from that."
He puffed out a weak little laugh at that, still controlled, still contained. But it was true. He would much rather buy a burrito than mess up a plate at home.
"Really, that's my philosophy on most things. If there are trained professionals who rely on doing a thing for a living, I may as well pay them to do those things." It was simple logic. And the cornerstone of a functioning economy.
"I'm not a professional anything - at least not anything useful."
"Me neither." While Henry liked his little photo hobby, he was far from professional. He only claimed to be when Heather started giving him looks over his dumb chair leg photos. He stared at his blank 'Gear screen and tried to think of something else to say.
"Aren't you an artists of some kind? Pictures?" That was arguably more useful than her skills. People bought art, displayed it in their homes, discussed it with other art aficionados.
"Sort of." He looked out the window, hunching his shoulders. Why is he suddenly embarrassed about this? THIS IS STUPID. "It's nothing. Aren't you part of the circus though?"
"Because I don't have any useful skills to turn into a profession," Lust clarified. "None that I want, anyway. And I doubt there's a booming bedroom trade in Goldenrod, anyhow."
She knew that she could easily find herself set and pampered as someone's mistress, but she didn't want that life. She'd never wanted that life, she'd simply had no real choice in the matter.
Henry blinked sadly, too afraid to argue. He would say that being an acrobat was inspiring and people loved to watch, but that would involve talking. And thinking about Lust in that outfit doing all sorts of bends and flips.
He shifted uneasily in his seat and leaned to eye the front desk. The little 'serving' number that flashed over the counter. Not even close to his. Ugh. Normally he wouldn't give a second thought to the silence that suddenly stretched between them. He was quiet. Everybody knew Henry was quiet. But now he was worried about being rude, hurting her feelings. They were friends now after all.
Never mind that friends understood that kind of thing.
"Um." C'mon, Henry. "What if." C'mon. "You were an actor?"
Lust couldn't help but blink. And then glance down at her hands in her lap, wondering what had made Henry stumble on that particular suggestion.
It was one of those secret, silly little dreams she'd entertained since before even this place. Not an actress as Henry had meant it, but a radio star. She'd loved radio shows. It was just a stupid girl's fancy, and she hadn't thought of it in ages, but then Henry had mentioned acting.
"I used to think about something like that, you know."
"Why don't you try?" There was very little holding them back from doing whatever they wanted in this world. Well. So long as it involved Pokemon in some way. "It could be fun."
"They have radio here...there's an enormous radio tower in Kanto." He spoke more quickly, hands gripping the bench. "People would love you!" The only good radio shows on were Battle Strats with Rick QuicK Attack and the Unexplained Pokemon Hour.
Guttle bumped against her calves lightly and she leaned down to scratch him.
"Would there even be an audience for dramatic radio shows?" They had television and video games and all of that. But she could already imagine dozens of stories about Pokemon and adventures out in the world.
"Why wouldn't there be?" Lust do you watch TV? Have you seen the bullshit Volorb cartoon he watches late at night when hardly anybody else is awake? Johto needs you. "People might like to have a story to listen to while they're traveling between towns."
Here he goes, here goes Henry trying his best to give a non awkward encouraging smile.
"Because there are so many other options for entertainment," Lust pointed out, but there wasn't much conviction in her voice. She hadn't thought about traveling. It was difficult to watch a program or play a game while walking.
"But you're right. I couldn't do it by myself, of course, that would be impossible. Do you know anything about radio?"
Henry seemed to be taking an interest, which was surprising but encouraging.
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theattic2014-11-09 07:55 pm
WAITING MAKES THE HEART GROW PARANOID AS FUCK
It felt a little weird not to have Cheerios or Clam out and waiting with him so he flipped out his Poke'Gear and tried to beat Envy's score at Five Nights at Fantina's. This would take a while. He and his team were pretty far back on the waiting list.
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It was just that she'd been busy, and if her only chance to take Guttle to the Pokemon Center for a weight check happened to be when Henry was also at the Center, well, those things happened.
Just like she happened to always wander into the kitchen when he was there, or out into the yard. They lived in the same house, of course they were going to run into each other frequently.
Except they hadn't used to, and Lust was well aware that she'd fallen into a habit of simply being in the same place as Henry.
But she wasn't stalking him. In any sense of the word. And the only reason she took a seat right by him is because they were housemates. And...friends. It was perfectly normal for one friend to see another in a public place and join them.
"Hello, Henry."
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"Ah!" And then Lust Appeared. "AHH!" He fumbled the device and nearly dropped it on the hard Center floor, having half jumped out of his seat, arms extended. Once the danger (or that danger) had passed, he deflated back into his seat and gave lust one of those dazed sleepy looks.
Perfect cover up.
"Oh, hey."
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"Wherever you just were, I don't think I'd like to visit."
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He frowned down at his GAME OVER screen and quietly exited the game. It would be rude to stare at his 'gear while she was talking to him. The idea of Lust liking him back hasn't even entered his head and the past few weeks have been dedicated to squashing those dumb Valentines Day leftover feelings by actually getting out of the house.
And now that doesn't even work.
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For whatever degree of 'real' it was, Lust could never be entirely sure. Guttle was rolling contentedly at her feet, tongue lolling out in Henry's direction. "Apparently everyone decided to come to the Center today. At least you're here - I forgot to bring a book."
But Henry's company was a perfectly acceptable distraction. She did enjoy it, odd as he was. In many ways because of his oddities. He was a very unique man, and fascinating when he could be coaxed into conversation.
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He squirmed a little in his seat and turned so that he was looking out the tinted window and watching the people of Goldenrod pass by.
"BookWurmple is a pretty good app. You can keep books on there. You know. For your Poke'gear."
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"I have a recipe app, though," she added. She didn't give a damn what other people put on their 'gears' and didn't want Henry thinking she was being judgmental. There were much more important things to judge people on.
"A simple recipe every day, it's useful."
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"That sounds neat. I never really learned to cook."
Good save. Good save.
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"It's easier to pay other people to cook for me. Everyone benefits from that."
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"Yeah."
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"I'm not a professional anything - at least not anything useful."
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"I make a good door stop."
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She knew that she could easily find herself set and pampered as someone's mistress, but she didn't want that life. She'd never wanted that life, she'd simply had no real choice in the matter.
"Other than that, I live off of Envy and France."
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He shifted uneasily in his seat and leaned to eye the front desk. The little 'serving' number that flashed over the counter. Not even close to his. Ugh. Normally he wouldn't give a second thought to the silence that suddenly stretched between them. He was quiet. Everybody knew Henry was quiet. But now he was worried about being rude, hurting her feelings. They were friends now after all.
Never mind that friends understood that kind of thing.
"Um." C'mon, Henry. "What if." C'mon. "You were an actor?"
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It was one of those secret, silly little dreams she'd entertained since before even this place. Not an actress as Henry had meant it, but a radio star. She'd loved radio shows. It was just a stupid girl's fancy, and she hadn't thought of it in ages, but then Henry had mentioned acting.
"I used to think about something like that, you know."
She had to say something.
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Good job, Henry, two full sentences!
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It wasn't something she'd ever deny. She preferred it when it was drawn by something other than her looks, but she did enjoy attention.
"It was radio, back home," she clarified. "I wouldn't even know how to go about trying it."
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Guttle bumped against her calves lightly and she leaned down to scratch him.
"Would there even be an audience for dramatic radio shows?" They had television and video games and all of that. But she could already imagine dozens of stories about Pokemon and adventures out in the world.
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Here he goes, here goes Henry trying his best to give a non awkward encouraging smile.
<8j
Close enough.
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"But you're right. I couldn't do it by myself, of course, that would be impossible. Do you know anything about radio?"
Henry seemed to be taking an interest, which was surprising but encouraging.
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That's right, Henry, suggest something to your crush that you know little to nothing about!
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