031 - 4th wall

[tapestodiane]

[If you're around ... wherever he is, but it's out in the woods somewhere, you might hear gunshots. And if you're curious enough to see what's up, you'll see that Coop evidently has his gun back and is shooting at targets. Where they're from is a mystery, but he's making the best of their presence - his skills have waned some in the years he's been stuck in pokémonland, but it's evident the longer he's at it, the more confidence and skill shows in his shooting.]

[Until he's at the point where he's consistently hitting the bullseye in every single target every single time.]

[Yeah, he's that good. He could shoot you a pattern if you like.]

[... and there magically seems to be ammunition around whenever he needs it, so hey.]


(Action absolutely anywhere as per usual - feel free to just bump into him wandering if you prefer. COME AT ME.)

Comments

1/2

[carmenjuniors]

I wouldn't have. I'm not too slow.

[It's not her fault she gets tired. It's not her fault she sometimes goes places when she dreams, either.]

[carmenjuniors]

Yes, you are. It takes twice as long when I have to hold your hand everywhere.

[Tom remarks companionably, without derision.]

She wasn't that heavy, anyway.

[tapestodiane]

_{[For a moment he doesn't say anything; just feels his heart swell a bit over the slow-forming breaks. Then he withdraws, both hands on Lily's upper arms now, smiling a little mixed at her before he comments on what Tom just said.]}

Wasn't she?

_{[He has kids.]}

Do I get to try?

[carmenjuniors]

[And then, at last, Lily's hesitance finally seems to break, and with it goes her guarded expression — her face breaking into a smile like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.

Because yes, that's her dad, all right.]

Uh-huh!

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[It's impossible for Coop not to mirror that smile, the mixed up expression giving way to a simpler kind of happiness when he stands up, repositions his hands to her sides, and just lifts her.]

[Straight up - and she really isn't very heavy, his girl - and he does a little spin on the spot for her amusement before he lowers her into a hug again. The kind that doubles as carrying.]</sub>

[carmenjuniors]

[She laughs, of course; in the grand scheme of things, that sort of lift isn't nearly so impressive as hanging on to her mother as they pitch backwards off a building, or pressing her face to the window as they soar through the air, but there's a unique sort of thrill that comes with this sort, because it brings memories rushing back of her dad, the strongest person in the world, never too weak to hold her on his shoulders.

I can't reach them, she'd told him once, plaintively, on a summer night when the cloudless sky was filled with stars (and Tom knew their names and showed her, every one), and he'd laughed and lifted her up high like this, and told her to try reaching again.

Don't ever stop reaching for them, he'd said.]

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[Those are memories he doesn't have. But the moment feels no less real to him despite it, and he nuzzles the girl for a moment before he sets her down, letting his hands linger before he raises one to gently touch her cheek, cup her face.]

[That prickling urge to cry didn't quite leave him yet. He wordlessly reaches out for Tom in a siilar way he did Lily, earlier - can't quite seem to keep his hands off these two now when he knows them.]</sub>

[carmenjuniors]

Are we gonna see Mom?

[That's Tom, chiming in a little tentatively because, well, it's always a sort of delicate subject to approach, asking where Mom is. Asking when they'll next see her is usually a safer bet — after all, Mom never forgets important dates.]

Lily knew you were here, but we didn't know about Mom.

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[Coop actually laughs, just a little - not in any way to be mean, but because they know just as well as he does that she's not easy to get a hold of. And because this is still a little surreal. Too good to be true, isn't that what they say?]

[He sort of ushers Tom into their little circle and touches his forehead to his for a moment in another show of affection, then reaches into his coat pocket when he leans back from the two of them.]</sub>

I can't tell you where she is any more than you can tell me.

_{[He pushes a few buttons, gets a certain menu up, and then hovers over the "call".]}

But you can leave her a message if you'd like.

1/4

[carmenjuniors]

Maybe she'll find us, now that we found Daddy.

[Mommy always knows where Daddy is. Always. Even when she's half a world away, she knows.

And Lily looks like she wants to take the Gear, but then hovers a little and draws back, snuggling against Coop instead.]

You can talk first.

[carmenjuniors]

[Tom, meanwhile, lets himself be gathered in, and whether it's from exhaustion or relief, the tiredness is starting to catch up with him, and leaning on Coop is proving more and more comfortable all the time.

He is not, however, too tired to tell his sister how things work.]

It's supposed to be ladies first. That's chivalry.

[carmenjuniors]

That's why we have the 'mendment.

[Her face scrunches a little as she thinks, peering at her fingertips and tapping each one in turn as she takes a count.]

The fourteenth one. And anyway, you did more work than I did so you're supposed to sow more too.

[carmenjuniors]

It's a-mend-ment.

[LITTLE SISTERS. B|

But sigh, he supposes she has a point. She usually does.]

Can I, Dad?

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[He listens to their bicker with a subdued smile, which grows just slightly (even with a bit of sadness) at being called "Dad". Again.]

[But he nods and angles the gear Tom's way, showing the button that he needs to press before handing it over.]</sub>

Just speak to the screen. Press this when you're ready.

[carmenjuniors]

Okay.

[Obediently, he takes the Gear and holds it carefully, thinking a minute before pushing the button.]

Hi, Mom. This is Tomcat! I guess you might not know who that is, though, if this really is the past. Dad didn't, either, but it's okay 'cause he believes us now. I hope you do too. But if not I guess I can prove it like I did with Dad, because one time when I was little I opened your locket with the picture of Grandma inside and you said that wasn't for me to play with because only you get to open it. Um, I'm still sorry. About that. But I know that and nobody else would, so you know it's me.

I'm really good, though. We walked a whole lot today. I did more of it than Lily 'cause sometimes I carried her. Are you busy stealing something? We saw lots of really neat landmarks that we thought you would like, but we didn't know how to take any of them for you. All of our animals were too small. I guess we didn't have enough talent and preparation this time! But I'll be more prepared when I'm a Boy Scout, promise.

I hope you catch up with us soon! We're safe with Dad now, so you can find us like you always do. Then we could have hugs from you too.

Is that too long? Oh — oops, I'm still on. Um, bye, Mom! This is your dashing son, Thomas S. Cooper, signing off.

[He hits the button once more, looking satisfied.]

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[For a moment there Coop's a bit worried about their moral code, but then he remembers what made him decide to stick with Carmen regardless of her criminality - which is that she has one, and clearly one that's good enough for him.]

[He doesn't miss that part about the locket, but he tucks it away for later. Just smiles at Tom for a moment (he really can see quite a few similarities between himself at that age and the boy before him), then hugs Lily a bit closer and indicates the gear.]</sub>

You want to try?

[carmenjuniors]

[She nods, taking it and mirroring her brother's motions with efficient ease. It's easy to learn when you can mimic someone else.]

Hi, Mommy, this is Lily, not Lilypad. I miss you! I hope you find us soon so I can show you my froggy. I mean he's not really a froggy but I would put him as an amphibian in a taxo-nom-ony so I think it's okay to call him one. I named him Newton, which is part for newts and part because of Sir Isaac. He's good at hopping. Also he's the only one that's mine. We shared some but the others are really Tom's because he's older.

[She sneaks a sideways look at Coop.]

I hope maybe Daddy will take us for donuts after we get done talking to you. I promise to make sure he doesn't eat all the jelly ones so you get a jelly one too.

Okay, I love you, Mommy. I hope you steal something really good today! Come find us soon. Bye.

[And beep.]

[tapestodiane]

_{[He takes the gear back and closes it and tucks it back into his coat, watching Lily with eyebrows slightly raised.]}

Donuts, huh?

_{[Jelly really is his favorite. Looks like that wouldn't change in ten plus years.]}

Maybe after you show me those pokémon of yours.

_{[Both of them. He's curious. And just ... quality time ...]}

[carmenjuniors]

[Whoops, time for her most innocent smile. Which isn't actually all that innocent because she learned it from her mom when her mom is being innocent-but-not-really, so it's frankly rather cheeky.]

Mine is Newton!

[The Politoed, hovering nearby, croaks obligingly.]

I don't know what he is, but he's not a frog because he's bipedal and frogs aren't. But he looks like a frog and I think he's an amphibian.

[tapestodiane]

_{[Coop looks over at the water-type. There are a lot of things he can't really tell these kids, but he's gotten pretty damn pokémon savvy in the last two years.]}

He is. Frogs don't really look like normal here; that's about the closest we'll get.

_{[So bright, Lily. ;;]}

[carmenjuniors]

[Stare into the abyss frog, the abyss frog stares back at you.]

He's the only one I have. All the others are Tom's.

[tapestodiane]

_{[Nah, he's more content to look at his kids, thank you very much. And he looks over at Tom in a way that seems more than a little amused at this information.]}

How many are we talking?

[carmenjuniors]

I have five! Almost six, but it got away.

[He digs around in his pocket and produces a handful of string, a paper clip, some dimes, a small wooden whistle, and four miniaturized Pokeballs, which he picks free from the mess and proceeds to peer at.]

Lily was riding Hanabi when she came out because he's the only one big enough to carry any of us. And even then he can't do it for very long.

[He tosses three of the four to the ground, releasing an Oddish, a Pineco, and an Emolga that upon being freed quickly chatters and climbs up his leg to find a perch on his shoulder.]

That's Punnett, the little plant one, and the pinecone one is Douglas. And this is Franklin! And there's one more, but I think I better not show you, Dad.

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[Coop can't help but grin at the Emolga, used to the typically energetic behaviour of electric types. And that it's named Franklin ... Of course.]

[He reaches out the Oddish, petting one of its leaves for a second when he looks up at Tom again, nodding.]</sub>

A bird?

_{[Just a guess, but it's a qualified one - and he appreciates it, as much as he dislikes being reminded. But of course the kids would know. (The sadder indication being that he'll never be at a peace of mind regarding them.)]}

[carmenjuniors]

Just a little one. He's only this big.

[He motions with his fingers, spreading them a distance of about four inches.]

That's Bodhi. Bodhisattva, I mean, but Bodhi for short. He can't even fly or anything, so he just rides around on my shoulder.