ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Anistar City - Last night

-Even a customary glance at Herbert's Aura would reveal that he is only restraining his temper through sheer force of will. Even so, his voice and expression remain darkly impassive.-

Herbert: ...Do you want to know what I'm writing, Tagg?

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Anistar Pokemon Center The interaction with Silent has been sheningan'd into past

Eridanus: So we have the Gym behind us now... Well, we could now go towards Coumarine City, considering we have a job there after all.

Denshi: <Yes, we did promised to Al! And we're going to keep it.>

Forge: <What's this plant, anyway?>

Eridanus: Apparently in Coumarine there's a botanic expert, he could help. [goes outside]

[might bump into Divinebow]

edited 21st Apr '14 11:15:01 AM by PinkCelebi

"Screw it, I AM going to enjoy this game!"

Neo-Galactic HQ

-Titan has returned to filing through paperwork when Io enters the room, a sheaf of paper under one arm and a test tube full of a murky, congealed substance in the other.-

Titan: I have very little patience for those who pay very little attention to punctuality, Commander Io. This report was supposed to have been completed several days ago. It speaks volumes about the condition of our organisation when Allen is the most diligent of our Administrators.

Io: I can promise you that there's a reason it took so long, but I'll get to that later. Presumably you want the general status overview first?

Titan: Indeed I do.

-Io hands him the sheaf of paper, which he starts reading through with a frown on his face.-

Io: Bottom line is, things aren't looking good. Illusion have us beat in terms of both manpower and resources. They also have a bonus on the PR front, since they don't have an established reputation and aren't walking around with bowl cuts and spacesuits. Not to mention that they have some pretty influencial allies, whereas we only have our sponsors in Almia, and even they would prefer to avoid publicly affiliating with us.

Titan: ...And are there any positives to our situation?

Io: Oh, there are.

-Her scarred face contorts into a mockery of a grin as she lifts up the test tube.-

Io: We've finished synthesising our first prototype.

-A flash of something approaching surprise crosses Titan's face as he raises an eyebrow.-

Titan: I thought you said you'd require a-

Io: That's because we thought we did. But I was smart enough to develop a formula that didn't rely on any past samples. Not quite as potent as the original, but it has the same effect.

Titan: How long until we can begin mass-production?

Io: A while. Even producing a single sample cost large amounts of time, research and resources. This is only the first iteration of the formula, after all. It needs further refinement before it can reach optimum effectiveness. We'd also need to find a third party willing to take care of manufacturing.

Titan: That can easily be arranged.

-He stands up.-

Titan: I suppose we have no reason to remain here, then. A more remote facility would be far more suitable for our purposes.

Io: That it would. I've already told the Grunts to start packing up and burning all non-essential files.

Titan: Then all that remains is to transfer our operations to our new location.

-He starts talking into the speaker on his desk, making an announcement that plays throughout the base and through the personal communicator of every Neo-Galactic member.-

Titan: Attention. This is a message for all members of Neo-Galactic. From this moment onwards, our facility in Kalos will no longer serve as our main base of operations. We are transfering our operations elsewhere. Coordinates are currently being sent to your personal communicators. All Commanders and Grunts are to continue serving Neo-Galactic's interests to the best of their ability, and disrupting the activities of the Illusion Project wherever they arise. Whether or not you you do so from our new location or whilst remaining in Kalos is irrelevant. That is all.

-Io raises an eyebrow as Titan finishes the announcement.-

Io: ...You really trust the other Commanders enough to leave them to their own devices?

Titan: Of course not. But decentralising our operations leaves us far less vulnerable to sabotage. I need only a handful of scientists and a third-party manufacturer to complete the next stage of our current plan. All the rest is merely smoke and mirrors to distract our adversaries. Irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

-He sighs.-

Titan: And in the end, all of our petty conflicts shall become irrelevant.

-He turns to Io.-

Titan: Come. We should be departing this region shortly.

-The two of them start marching off down the corridors.-

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Anistar City

- Nods -

Yeah... I hope we get to meet again someday. Until then, be careful and all that...

Anistar, last night

I already said what I had to say, so very well.

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Anistar City, Pokémon Center

Break swiveled his attenae again, this time picking up Denshi and Forge's conversation. He decides not to butt in, continuing to indulge on his treat. By the time he had finished, Divinebow rose back to his feet. He tried to shrug his thoughts off, exiting the building and happening across Eridanus. Inina seemed rather skittish at the site of Denshi and Forge, with them being Electric types to her part-Flying type.

Break: <Chill, Inina. They don't seem like the kind to attack others without provocation.>

Inina: <Meh, you should never let your guard down, since something unexpected could rip me away from you guys at any given moment.>

Divinebow took notice of his two Vivillon, turning back to Eridanus but not making any interaction yet.

This sig is a filler.

Anistar City

Forge: <Pardon? Do I look like a barbarian? Well, Sycamore isn't the sharpest pair in the drawers, yet he's a damn Professor, so I guess...>

Eridanus: Dex says it's a pair of... Vivillion. Bug/Flying-type, has many distinctive patterns... and it's number six hundred sixty six in Oak's categorization system. That's totally coincidental.

Denshi: <Oh, hi Vivillion! Both of you!>

edited 21st Apr '14 11:31:54 AM by PinkCelebi

"Screw it, I AM going to enjoy this game!"

Anistar City - Today

-Herbert gives DS a warm smile.-

Herbert: Don't worry, I will. You take care of yourself too, alright? If everything goes to plan, then hopefully we'll see each other soon. Catch you later, DS.

-He continues heading into Anistar with Kirk following behind him.-

Anistar City - Yesterday

-Herbert picks up the piece of paper he laid on the ground and shows it to Tagg.-

Herbert: It's a letter to DS that I've just spent the best part of the last three hours writing. I scrapped two of the previous drafts because I didn't think they really conveyed just how grateful I am for everything she's done for the team, and how sorry I am for hurting her and taking her for granted. I would've got around to writing it yesterday, if it weren't for the fact that I spent yesterday trying to make up with Lyuri and apologise to her for putting her through so much crap even after everything she'd had to endure.

-He stands up, gathering up his things.-

Herbert: You think you're the first person to tell me that I need a better attitude? You'd be wrong. But you could probably do with someone telling you the same thing. At least I'm trying to improve, to repair the damage done by my mistakes. Unlike you. What have you done to atone, huh? Said "I'm sorry" and tried to sweep all the atrocities you've committed under the rug? Not fucking good enough. Goodbye, Tagg - for real this time. And next time we meet, may the better man win.

-He starts walking away.-

edited 21st Apr '14 11:34:27 AM by Herbert40k

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Anistar City

-Herbert may run into Sarah.-

-No, you don't get to know what Alli's mons are up to anymore.-

Anistar City

Divinebow: Indeed, and they happen to be two of my partners. It's how I've obtained the title of "Vivillon Mistress" after all, hehe.

Break: Why, helloooooo there~

Inina: Well, no, you don't look like brutes, but bett-

Break: Don't take what my fair lady Inina says to heart at all. She tends to be excessively wary toward others when she first meets them, but it's just one of her defense mechanisms. She certainly does not mean to sound so awkward! She's still got a bit of Spewpa in her heart.

- Inina falls awkwardly silent, almost as if she's embarrassed by what Break is saying about her, but she endures it anyway. Divinebow, meanwhile, decides to introduce himself.

Divinebow: Nice to meet you, by the way. You can call me Divinebow!

edited 21st Apr '14 11:44:58 AM by Midnova

This sig is a filler.

Anistar City

-Herbert does indeed run into Sarah. Quite literally, in fact. Well, not literally in the sense that he ran into her, but he walked into her. At a fairly decent pace, too.-

Herbert: Oof! Oh, um... hey, Sarah. It's been a while, hasn't it?

-Kirk glances away, looking somewhat abashed.-

Kirk: <Uh... hello there. Sorry about... well, I don't remember exactly how our last conversation went, but sorry about pissing you off in the past anyway.>

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Anistar City

-Sarah stumbles back, but unlike most cases, she doesn't fall down.-

Sarah: Oof! Er, yeah, it has. How've you...

-She trails off as she notices Kirk. A smile creeps onto her face-

Sarah: ...You got him back!

Denshi: <Would you like a hug? I've already hugged a Bug/Flying-type friend before, and she's all fine! *makes a big, cheerful smile*>

Forge: <Well, if anyone of the team could be like that... Fox's the closest.>

Fox: <I don't bite, though. Well, most of the time...>

Eridanus: Well, nice to meet you. You can call me Eridanus, or just Eri for short... And this is Denshi the Raichu, Forge the Magnemite, Fox the Trapinch an-

Vivi: <LOOK OUT THERE'S A HYDREIGON BEHIND YOU!>

"Screw it, I AM going to enjoy this game!"

Anistar City

-Herbert scratches the back of his neck and gives a rather bashful smile.-

Herbert: Well, it wasn't just me. I had a bunch of help. But yeah, it was just a couple of days ago that we rescued him, in fact. I didn't think he'd want to rejoin the team, but it turns out that I was wrong.

Kirk: <I was just surprised that he was willing to give me a second chance. Looks like we both had something we left like we had to make up for...>

edited 21st Apr '14 11:55:19 AM by Herbert40k

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Anistar, last night

-Watches Herbert go-

...You'd think so wouldn't you?

Xatu: -Blips- <I'm surprised you didn't tell him.>

I don't need any accolades, you know that as well as I do. Let's go.

Good luck out there kid, you'll need it.

edited 21st Apr '14 12:13:31 PM by rmctagg09

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Anistar City

Divinebow smiles, freeing Infinity and Valkyrie from their Pokéballs, although he alarmedly froze upon Vivi's freak out.

Inina: <Wah!>

Infinity: <Eh?>

Alarmed, Inina impulsively emits a Sleep Powder cloud behind her. Assuming there actually isn't a Hydreigon there, the powder cloud eventually floats off into the sky, gradually dissipating.

edited 21st Apr '14 12:04:37 PM by Midnova

This sig is a filler.

Eridanus: -d Vivi the Fennekin... [sighs]

Vivi: <You should look at yourself now. Pricel-> [is smacked in head by Denshi's tail]

Denshi: <That. Wasn't. Nice. At. All.>

Eridanus: So what's your reason to be here? Gym? Confusion? Some services here? Escaping from someone? Snowstorm? UFO abducting you?

edited 21st Apr '14 12:00:33 PM by PinkCelebi

"Screw it, I AM going to enjoy this game!"

Anistar City

Sarah: Well, there's nothing wrong with being pleasantly surprised. I'm glad you've made amends, at least with each other.

Anistar City

Herbert: Not just with each other. I've spent the last few days trying to tie up loose ends. Making up with Lyuri, apologising to DS... Tagg still seems to be convinced that I'm an irredeemable asshole, but I think the same about him, so no love lost there.

-He rubs the back of his neck.-

Herbert: Speaking of tying up loose ends... there's something I should probably let you know about.

edited 1st May '14 7:35:34 PM by Herbert40k

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Anistar City

-Sarah's smile gets wider hearing about Lyuri and DS, and only slightly recedes at mention of Tagg. She raises an eyebrow at his last sentence.-

Sarah: Oh...?

Anistar City

- Divinebow sweatdrops at Inina's display. Infinity and Valkyrie stare questionably at Vivi.

Divinebow: Err, anyway Break's the Tundra one and Inina's the Polar one. Here's Infinity the Aegislash and Valkyrie the Zorua. I visited Anistar since it's my home-town and all, and... well, the rest is kind of classified. I'm going to be heading out soon, though. Wherever next, I'm not sure...

Infinity: <Gotta agree. That was quite uncalled for,.>

- Inina is whimpering loudly, wishing she could vanish from plain sight. Valkyrie delivers a snooty stare at Eridanus and his party, but does not speak a word otherwise.

Break: <Oh, don't worry about it. Give her some time and Inina will be feelin' fine again.>

Infinity: <No offense, Break, but you're making her feel even more awkward.>

Break: <... oh.>

edited 21st Apr '14 12:17:31 PM by Midnova

This sig is a filler.

Anistar City

-Herbert glances away slightly.-

Herbert: ...I'm leaving. Kalos, the J-Team... I'm putting all of it behind me. I'm going to start anew somewhere else where I won't cause any more problems for anyone. There's still a bunch of personal vendettas I need to take care of, and I'd rather not drag anybody else into them.

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Anistar City

-Sarah's smile fades.-

Sarah: ...Oh... well, will you be back? Not necessarily soon, just... ever?

Anistar City

-Herbert thinks for a moment.-

Herbert: ...I'll definitely see you guys again, even if I don't keep in touch. As for whether or not I'll rejoin the team... I don't know. I'm still... uncomfortable with the way they handle things. Besides, I doubt I'd be particularly welcome if I ever came back.

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Eridanus: Vivi... return... [recalled] Classified? What are you, an FBI agent? A female FBI agent... Well, that's one way of gender equality.

Denshi: <...sorry for him. He's... he sometimes does stupid things. I am fairly sure he once set my foot on fire. So don't take him too seriously, okay?>

Forge: <Something's off here... But what?>

"Screw it, I AM going to enjoy this game!"