ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

 Entralink 

-Pinches bridge of nose-

I get the feeling this'll be the source of numerous headaches if the others find out and get the idea in their heads that I'm working with the organization I've had a beef with longer than I've known any of them and before quite a few of them even had their Trainer's Licenses, but if it gets rid of Cipher as completely as possible, I'll allow it.

Ann: -To Verax- Yeah so I'm Ann, his sister, and apparently co-conspirator now.

-Beat-

Figured I'd get that out of the way.

Muddy: <Join the club.>

Unova Route 5

-Kaito sighs, taking in the information.-

Kaito: ...I know about two of them. Assuming you're talking about Verax and Rose, of course — I know about the former because of Jacob, and the latter because of Diane. Trust me, I was just as horrified when I found out about each, but...

-They take a breath-

Kaito: ...As an empath, both through Heart of Gold and through Aura sensitivity, I can tell a lot about people just by giving them a quick read. With Verax, I've only been near him once or twice, but... there's remorse. A lot of it. And Rose? I spent three weeks in the same Pokemon Center as her, and there's not a shred of Paula left. You know what there is? Fear. Sorrow. A whole lot of other things that indicate that, even if she doesn't remember a bit of her past, she wants nothing more than to go back and fix things. I can't hold grudges knowing that.

Iron Aux Base

Scarlette: ...Thank you.

-She walks off as well.-

-a small origami Purrloin pokes Mezzo's arm-

-Mezzo pets the Purrloin and then picks it up-

Mezzo: Oh, hi again. Do you know where Ever is?

Pianis: I just told you—

Mezzo: Shut up, let the note talk.

Sinnoh Resort Area

Verax: "I'm going to try and keep everything, and everyone, as quiet as possible. I'll appreciate it if you do the same."

-He nods to Ann- "Nice to meet you. Sorry you had to get wrapped up in all this. Thanks though! I was really confused."

"... Verax! Verax Iridis, technically."

-Zelel looks up from Michael, who he has healed with a Revive.-

Zelel: <Requires further observation. Possible that he has sociopathic tendencies or his own goal.>

-His eyes blank momentarily.-

Zelel: <Records locked. Need Admin-level clearance.>

-Michael shakes his coat as he gets to his feet.-

Michael: <Good thing you're also a Medibot. Look, the man's not right in the head. I think.>

Unova Route 5

-Lucius pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales sharply.-

Lucius: ...I knew you'd try to see the best in them all. I just... Arceus, Kai, I thought you were better than this. Sharp enough to see when the wool was being pulled over your eyes, at least. To see what's happening to the team, and take a stand against it. I... I trust you, but... you have to know that you can't put all your faith in Aura or psychics or empathy. Of course a sociopath's capable of faking emotions, it's what they do. Sometimes you have to go with your gut, and mine's telling me this isn't right. That somebody has to do something.

edited 22nd Nov '17 7:27:44 PM by Herbert40k

Note: Uh, he went to Nimbasa. He said he's really sorry about not telling you but he didn't want to wake you up and it was really urgent that he go because of something about his cousin?

"Entirely likely he was truly just testing us. Considering that he quickly ended the fight when his Incineroar could've easily got another hit on my frame."

Omega picked up Mecha's body, "We must be prepared. The J-Team could strike at any time, I must upgrade my weapons systems clearly."

Omega walked off.

Unova Route 5

-Kaito groans-

Kaito: Ugh, not this again. I swear, you've said that word for word before, and somehow I knew you'd do it again. Look, "faking emotions" in the sense people use for sociopaths only refers to facial expressions. Like you said, those are fake, and in reality there's no emotion underneath what their face shows. That's not what's going on here. You can't just fool a supernatural empathic sense, especially not one that's been honed.

-They cross their arms.-

Kaito: Just because you didn't pay a bit of attention when you had Aura sensitivity doesn't mean we're all as incompetent with our powers.

-Mezzo sighs-

Mezzo: Yeah, and something urgent happened to my sister but no one cares.

Forte: Huh?

Pianis: You didn't hear about Fortis? She flew through that hole in the sky into another universe.

Forte: She what? Augh! Why did Celeste have to open that thing?

Mezzo: Wait, what?

Forte: Well, uh, she didn't mean to but she was trying to practice magic and...

-...-

Forte: ...Yeah, then that big tear opened. And you say Fortis ran through it?

Mezzo: Flew through. This is Fortis we're talking about, remember.

-Forte sighs-

Note: I mean...the problem with helping someone stuck in an another universe is that it's awfully hard to follow them...

Unova Route 5

-Lucius glares at Kaito indignantly.-

Lucius: Newsflash, Kai, I did pay attention, or at least I tried! It didn't help when dealing with people capable of switching off their tells or my Aura Sense like a light, but sure, it was incompetence that left me with half the bones in my body broken. I've had to adapt since losing those senses, and if there's one thing being an Obscuric teaches you, it's how to stab someone in the back. That's what you're being set up for. The J-Team's adapting to the tactics of their enemies by adopting them, and you're following the tide. Is it really that hard for you to believe me for once? That I might actually have a reason to be paranoid?

 Entralink 

Ann: Charmed.

-To Verax-

I have no intention of telling the others, just stay out of trouble with it. Well, less trouble than you're already in.

Sinnoh Resort Area

Verax: "Yeah. I'll keep it all subtle. As much as I can."

"Well... I'll let you go. Until next time."

-He ends the call-

Ezran: "... So that's "boss"?"

Verax: "... Yup."

Ezran: "... Intense man."

Verax: "A lot of words describe him. My favorites are "paranoid"."

Ezran: "... And?"

Verax: "Horrifying."

Route 5

It was then that Colton realized. There were no bridges to the Entralink. It was a part of the peninsula he lived on, but accessing it through the forest was about as hard as it sounded.

He was gonna need to know if he could find someone kind enough to let them bum their 'mon, and then if said 'mon was kind enough to give him a ride to the Entralink, to boot.

And then he heard someone mention the J-Team. Curious, he approached.

"Did you say something about the J-Team?" He asked.

Michael: <He has a point.>

Zelel: <Agreed.>

Michael: <Even though no one likes him.>

Zelel: <Statistically, someone does.>

Michael: <...was that a joke?>

Zelel: <No.>

Michael: <...I'm gonna go find Gabby.>

Zelel: <This platform was not designed for major combat situations, but diagnostics and medical treatement. I must see about upgrading it.>

-They both leave.-

Unova Route 5

-Only two or three words into Lucius's tirade, and Kaito's eyes widen as they realize they fucked up majorly.-

Kaito: ...Fuck. Fuck, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't— I shouldn't have said that. I'm just... I didn't want this to happen again. I can't handle it happening again. Fuck, I'm sorry...

Unova Route 5

Lucius: I...

-He lets out a long sigh.-

Lucius: ...Fuck it. I'm gonna go get a drink. Don't follow me this time.

-He turns, and notices Colton.-

Lucius: ...No. We didn't.

-He shoves his hands in his pockets and slinks off.-

Route 5

"I dunno if he's a friend of yours or not, but you might want to tell him he's terrible at lying. It's quite easy for people to be more easily exposable if you press their buttons, and I did hear him going off, but I took no interest until he mentioned the J-Team." Recalling what Lucius said about them, he chose his next words very carefully.

"I've heard rumors of who they are and what they had done. It's been over 5 years, but I'm still mad at them for defeating Ghetsis before I could." He didn't dare touch the scarf in his jacket's pocket, but he placed one headphone in his ear.

"He said "we didn't"," he resumed. "implying that there was either one person or zero who mentioned them. And I know that there was a mention, swear on my mother's nonexistent gravesite, so someone had to mention them."

"So, because you're the only available one who may know anything about them, what do you know about them?" He asked, the desire to get to the Entralink taking a backseat for his info-gathering.

Unova Route 5

-Kaito just sorta... stays put as Lucius leaves.-

Kaito: ...Arceus damn it all, it's happening again!

-They groan in frustration and a number of other not-quite-definable emotions, and start heading back to Nimbasa, barely even recognizing Colton as being there.-

Mobius Airship

".... I guess you're right." .. Is all Marco says before he walks off.

Route 5

He watched Kaito walk away.

And then he smiled, deciding to no longer engage.

I can't even be mad at this, he decided, just letting him continue to walk away. He placed the second headphone in his ear, securing the phone in his scarf before draping it over his neck.

He didn't even continue to Nimbasa. He just simmered on Route 5 as a Lycanroc, howling to the sandstorm to the tune of some old songwriter remembered for all the wrong reasons.

He'd get to Nimbasa or somewhere eventually. Eventually.

Out of concern for passers-by, Lucario left his 'ball and returned his trainer.

Raising a paw to his forehead, he continued to Nimbasa, lugging his trainer's stuff over his shoulders. The first time, sure, but doubtless it would be the last.

Hasslemon

??? joined the conversation.

[5 minute gap]

??? left the conversation.

unovanOtaku joined the conversation.

UO: Lucario?

MB: Indeed.

CC: So, desu ne.

LE: Obviously.

AZ: Yep.

edited 23rd Nov '17 11:29:05 AM by AbsentCoder

 Entralink 

Ann: So... what now?

We go to sleep, that's what, it's freezing out here.

Though I'm not sure I'll be sleeping all that well tonight.

-And absconds-

Salazzle City

Phaz: "...An oddity...? Alright."

He follows, Cynthia following too, still a bit sleepy.

Joyous Forest

Spinme: "Right, there should be a nickname for Shadow the Edgelord McNumb. 'So edgy he got blades in his body and is all dark void as I like my coffee: black, just like my soul.' I guess that's a good one, if not a bit too long."