rocketralph | Level 12 [Video]

Level 12 [Video]

_{[For a long minute Ralph is content to let the 'gear take in a shot of the Lake of Rage.]}

Now this is nice! Reminds me of home only less...square. This whole time we've been on the road it hasn't felt like a camping trip, y'know? A camping trip needs a lake and boy have we found one!

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How long are you staying?

... 'Cause, uh... I'm not too far away from there and I could... stand to take you up on that offer you made awhile back.

Beats me, a while probably. Looks like a nice place!

_{[And at that, he tilts his head, grinning.]}

You know what? Let's do it. Where ya at, kid?

_{[A few weeks ago, Heather would have been grinning, too.]

[She can muster a slight smile but that's it. He sounds happy. And there's nothing that kills a good mood faster than the other person bringing up their dead dad. So she doesn't say a word about it. Not that she'd been going to.]}

I-- uh, I'm in Mahogany. Down at the base of the mountain.

Yeah? Well start hikin', kid! We're not going anywhere any time soon.

Yeah, okay, Pecos Bill.

How long's the trip? D'you know?

Walkin'? A little under a week. You got anything to ride on?

A week?

Oh jeez...

_{[She could ride Carousel and cut the time down some... but it would probably still take a few days. That wasn't really what she was worried about, she'd spent longer on the road (and, to be honest, kind of missed doing so).]

[No, what she was worried about was leaving Henry alone, so soon after... well...]}

... I might need to get back to you on that.

Well almost a week if you're not traveling with somebody who likes to WANDER OFF.

_{[He shoots that pointedly over his shoulder.]}

Fortunately, I don't have that problem.

My issue is I travel with somebody who likes to hide in a sleeping bag and not go anywhere.

Izzat all? Just loop a rope around 'em and drag 'em up here. The fresh air's good for you!

I'm not entirely sure that would end well.

You don't know this guy.

_{[... And of course, she's also not totally sure she wants to subject Henry to the trauma of CAMPING directly after their father figure disappeared. ... But then again, it might be healthier than moping in the hotel room they'd shared with Harry for following weeks until Heather challenged Pryce.]}

Well, whatever you decide, let me know so I can be on the look out for ya instead of wading in the lake after Vanellope. You turn around and zip, she's gone.

Vanellope? She's that little kid with the candy barrettes, right?

_{[She hasn't talked to her much, but she's aware that the little punk had fallen into cahoots with Wren at the party. Which she thinks is adorable and worrying at the same time.]}

Sounds like you've already had the pleasure.

_{[You hear that? That's sarcasm.]}

And that's actual candy. It's disgusting.

Yeah, she and my crow ended up being partners in crime at the prom. Which probably actually kept Wren more out of trouble than in it, so, win-win.

_{[Cute kid, honestly. She kind of reminds Heather of her own eight-year-old self.]}

Wouldn't take you for the kind of guy who'd hang out with a squirt like that, though.

Yeah? That's surprising. Maybe they should hang out more.

_{[And at that, Ralph has to shrug a little, unseen, and admit that Heather's right. He's not great with kids. Or...with many people, actually.]}

We're from the same arcade. She says we knew each other but I don't remember anything about that.

_{[His voice grows a little lower. He didn't like the idea of thinking of his code as scrambled.]}

Oh, really? Yeah, that happens sometimes.

People show up from the same place, but different times.

It's even happened to m-- ... well. It happens.

_{[She'd almost said 'me'. But thoughts of Harry Mason's first arrival in Johto had come rushing back and she'd felt her throat close up threateningly.]}

_{[He scratches his head.]}

Yeah? Well, I'm glad it's not just me...She thought I was playin' some kinda mean game when we finally bumped into each other.

Yeah, no, it happens a lot, actually. It can get kinda confusing for people who don't realize what's up.

I knew a guy who met his adopted daughter from the future and was... really weirded out by it.

_{[Poor Phoenix. She couldn't honestly remember how much time he'd ended up spending with Trucy before she left, but it probably hadn't been enough to smooth over the awkwardness properly.]}

Wow, talk about an awkward family reunion.

_{[And here he thought FRIENDS from the future were jarring.]}

Yeah, tell me about it.

Not even sure how I'd deal with it if it happened to me...

_{[Of course, she can't see herself ever having kids, so at least she'll be spared THAT particular discomfort.]}

Me neither. I'm not that great with kids.

Well, the one you're with hasn't run off a cliff or anything yet, so... you're probably fine.

Yet.

She disappeared once--you know. Went home. We were camping and I thought for sure a bear got her or something.

_{[There's a slight pause.]}

... Yeah, that's how it happens.

Glad to hear she came back, though.

[Audio]

rocketralph - 2014-07-07 11:33 (UTC) - Expand

[Audio]

foolishwren - 2014-07-07 22:58 (UTC) - Expand

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