Why is that present buzzing.

[armoredsoul]

Who: Shark House and it's visitors
Where: Shark House, Goldenrod
When: All through December
Summary: December catch-all log!
Rating: PG13 because monsters, man.
Log:

Comments

December 24th, early evening.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[The trip had taken a few days. Longer than it had necessarily NEEDED to, if it had been a nonstop flight.]

[But they'd had some shopping to do.]

[Heather had made a point of calling earlier than morning, telling them that she was due in the morning-- Christmas morning, that is.]

[Possibly a bad idea if any of them had been planning on having any surprises waiting for her, but she doesn't care. It's HER turn to do surprising!]



[Around 4:30 or so, right when the sky has darkened enough to officially be considered nightfall, there's a tapping at the door. Maybe some carolers from down the road? Or a neighbor informing them that one of the sharks had wound up out of the pool-- again.]

[PSYCH! It is NONE of those things!]

[A raucous flurry of deep barks, followed by a familiar voice, ring out from the entranceway, well past whoever happened to answer the door.]</sub>

HO HO HO!

Merry Christmas, ya animals!

<sub>[Cujo beats his trainer inside, wriggling past the door-getter and galloping into the house, claws skittering on the wood. HELLO HOUSE!!!! HE MISSED YOU!!!!!]

[Heather, dressed in a thick sweater and a Santa had that she'd had to make an extra stop to buy, isn't far behind, hopping down from Godzilla's enormous neck (the Feraligatr had gone down on all fours to rap on the door gently with a single claw-- there is a bulging sack over his shoulders and he is ALSO wearing a Santa hat) to deliver a FIERCE and unavoidable bearhug to whoever answered that door. Doesn't matter who they are. They're gettin' hugged.]</sub>

Did ya miss me?!

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy had not been the one to answer the door, because yeah, he'd assumed it wasn't anyone important. He's in the living room when he hears that unmistakable shout, and the general commotion at the door. He startles and scrambles right up off the couch, but the living room isn't that far from the entry, and he holds off on running in and crowding her more than she might already be.]

[There's a huge, genuine grin on his face when she does make it into the room, and he's still standing next to the couch. It feels like there's some sort of warm balloon expanding inside his chest, seeing her here in person again, but he doesn't pay much attention to it for now. Of course he's excited, his friend just got back from being gone for ages!]

You're terrible, you knew you'd be getting here tonight, didn't you?

[foolishwren]

_{[Even if he'd stayed put, he's one of the people she wanted to see the most. She's grinning hugely-- almost as hugely as when she won the Risingbadge-- as she slides into the living room and over to her friend.]}

Are you really surprised?

Who do you think I am?

_{[And then, without even waiting for him to answer, she dips down, throws one arm under his knees and the other around his waist, and STRAIGHT UP FLIPS HIM ONTO THE COUCH.]}

JOHN MIGHTYENAAAAAAA!!!

[exeggutorhead]

[She catches him completely by surprise, and he lets out an indignant yelp as he's suddenly upside down and planted in the couch cushions.]

HEATHER!

[But he's laughing anyway, and as he tries to get loose and rightside up again, he can't help but notice that that warm feeling has not only NOT gone away or been replaced by the usual playful competitiveness or even real indignance in the face of being suplexed, it's only getting stronger.]

[It's only when he manages to get his head in a position to look at her and his heart feels like it JOLTS that he realizes why it's such a familiar feeling, even if it's not one he'd had towards Heather before. Oh.]

[oh]




[OH NO]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[SHE HAS LITERALLY BEEN WAITING TO DO THAT FOR DAYS!!!]

[Laughing wildly, she sags against the back of the couch as he flails his way back into a right-side-up position.]</sub>

HAHAHA!

OH MAN, you should see your face!

_{[Oh no indeed, Envy.]}

[exeggutorhead]

[To his credit, Envy manages to keep it together outwardly at least, snorting and giving her a shove on the shoulder as soon as he gets himself back upright. And despite the...everything that is happening with his emotions right now, running back and forth and around from confusion to that warmth to guilt, he still knows he's glad to see her. He can focus on that. The grin stays.]

I don't know if I should give you any of your presents if that's how you're going to greet me after all this time.

Maybe I'll just keep them all.

[He's clearly just teasing, and he flops props one arm over the back of the couch himself, gesturing flippantly.]

[foolishwren]

_{[Her hat had gotten a little off-kilter during the enthusiastic greeting, and she blows out of the side of her mouth to get the pom-pom out of her face, still chuckling.]}

Oho, in THAT case, I guess I'll have to keep all of yours.

And there's some pretty cool onnnnneees!

[exeggutorhead]

[He gives her a mock horrified look and decidedly doesn't think about her looking really cute with the hat messed up.]

What, nooooo, you can't do that!

Okay, MAYBE I'll reconsider. Even if I bet mine for you are even cooler.

[foolishwren]

PSSSSHHHT, sure, I mean, you did your shopping... where, the Goldenrod Department Store?

I did MINE all over Johto.

_{[And by that, she means she did most of it in Blackthorn. But SHHHHHH.]}

Y'all don't stand a chance.

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[Henry's never the one to answer the door, and so he waits. But when he hears a familiar voice, a tousled head pokes out of the Ogre Hut. The eyes set into it blink out of sync. Somebody's been indulging in some Christmas Cheer a little early. Once his vision clears, he breaks into a huge smile and starts to stumble crawl out of the hut.]}

Are you the ghost of Christmas past, present, or future?

[foolishwren]

_{[Henry's gettin' a hug pretty much right away, as soon as he's upright. She throws her arms around him and squeezes, not so hard as to be painful, but it's certainly a bear-grip.]}

All three at once!

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[He lets out a soft "oof" before wriggling one arm out of her hug so that he can return it. It's been such a long time. He's missed his little sister.]}

I must have been terrible this year if you're all here at once.

[foolishwren]

Oh, the worst.

_{[Lowering her voice conspiratorially, she whispers in his ear.]}

I heard about the pots and pans.

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[Henry tenses up before letting out a loud groan.]}

Oh, sure, that spreads like wildfire.

<sub>[He messes up her hair before pulling away. It's weird. After she's been gone for so long, she looks taller. Or it's the drugs.]

[It's probably the drugs.]</sub>

I missed you.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[OF COURSE IT DOES, HENRY. Envy might forget to tell people about the miniature ghoul living in the basement but he sure doesn't forget to tell people that his weird human BFF was banging cookware and burning things downstairs at four in the morning.]

[Heather giggles as he bemoans the spread of gossip and lets go willingly when he withdraws from the hug, looking up at him with eyes that are a little bit shiny.]</sub>

I missed you, too.

A lot.

It was... weird, being on my own again.

_{[And not in a good way. Sure, she had her Pokemon for company, but it wasn't the same.]}

[no_ufo_ending]

I know I wasn't alone, but...it felt like I was missing part of my voice with you gone, you know?

_{[While he'd improved astoundingly in the Peopling department since his absorption into their little family, he was still a shy, mumbly creature. Heather had a knack for saying what he was trying to at an audible level.]}

[foolishwren]

_{[God, Henry, are you trying to get tears out of her?]}

... Gimme another hug.

[armoredsoul]

[Well, someone had to be the one to open the door.]

[Just about all the breath is squeezed out of Alphonse when Heather grabs him in that bearhug, laughing and hugging her back after the shock wears off.]

Of course we did! Why didn't you tell us you were coming home?

awwww i got the happy icon

[foolishwren]

<sub>[IT HAD TO BE SOMEBODY]

[Heather wastes no time in dragging Alphonse out onto the doorstep and swinging him around in the hug. He's still little enough to do that with and she wants to take advantage of that while it lasts.]</sub>

Because otherwise you'd have known better than to answer the door! NOW I GOTCHA!

YEAH YOU DID

[armoredsoul]

[Alphonse yelps and hangs on tight, and once Heather sets him back down only pulls back a little bit.]

Do you have us...or do we have you?!

[GUESS WHO IS ABOUT TO BE YANKED OVER INTO THAT GIANT SNOW PILE???]

[foolishwren]

--OHO don't you DARE!

_{[But despite the words of warning, she doesn't sound the slightest bit upset as he topples them both over into the snowbank. In fact, she's laughing out loud.]}

Oh, you're gonna get it NOW! C'mere!

_{[She flails to sit upright in the snow and make a grab for the mischievous greeter. Are Elrics ticklish? IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT.]}

[armoredsoul]

[SPOILERS: they are very ticklish.]

Nooooooooooo, Heather, stop!

[Al squirms and laughs, alternately trying to tickle Heather right back and grabbing handfuls of snow to stuff down the back of her shirt.]

[foolishwren]

NOPE!

This is what BAD kids get for Christmas! ACCEPT YOUR COAL!

<sub>[If they'd been in the house fighting over couch space or something, Al probably could have held his own on the tickling front. But Heather is in like four layers of clothing. SHE IS UNTOUCHABLE.]

[Cackling in an appropriately evil manner, she carries on a moment or two longer before relenting (although not before getting one last good number in on his ribs) and leaning back, grinning hard enough to make her cheeks hurt.]</sub>

[armoredsoul]

[Alphonse laughs and coughs a few times from the laughter fit before sitting up as well, grinning widely and leaning over for another, proper hug.]

It's so good to see you again!

[foolishwren]

_{[No tricks this time-- she returns the hug heartily, clapping him on the back.]}

Good to see you too, kiddo!

Good to see you guys didn't burn the house down while I was away, too!