ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Calpurnia: <Awww....>

Solana laughs at Tagg's insinuation.

Sol: Oh no no no, you're expecting too much of the guy if you think he's gonna meet us here. Nah mate, we gotta go to where he is. The lazy cu-

A Wingull overhead makes a very loud squawk.

Sol: Aaaannnyway, we gotta go to a place called "The Tumbling Mareanie", a janky dive bar Downtown. Shouldn't be too long from here, good thing we got a multitude of devices and Pokemon to help us if we get lost anyway.

The Kommo-o who was leaning on the billboard slowly walks over to Tagg.

Kommo-o: <So are you gonna introduce us to your boyfriend or not?>

Sol: Oh yeah! Right! Well, you've met Calpurnia already-

Calpurnia: -Waving to Tagg while being Telekenetically held by Doc- <Hi!>

Sol: -Pointing to the Mimikyu on her shoulder- This charmer here is Mimicutie, but I just call 'im Mimi for short.

Mimikyu Mimi: <Yo'>

Sol: -Pointing to the Kommo-o- The Grumpy Bewear over there is Diego.

Kommo-o Diego: <Estatic>

An Alolan Marowak walks up and begins examining Tagg, walking around and giving approving nods now and then.

Sol: I got Abdul here while researching the Cubone tribes of Wela National Park.

Abdul: -Bowing- <It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mister Tagg>

Sol goes over and pets Vladimir's whiskers.

Sol: You've already met Vladdy over here, so he doesn't really need an introduction.

Vladimir: ...

Sol: And...

Sol looks around.

Sol: H-hey! Where did Hendrix go?

Vladimir looks around and notices a quivering trail of sand around the corner. Silently, he plods his way on all fours around the corner and begins pushing a mighty looking Palossand out onto the street with his head.

Sol: Oh! There you are!

Sol walks over and goes to console the quivering sand pile, gently stroking her (but avoiding her treasured shovel) to calm her down.

Sol: And this here is Hendrix! She's quite timid and shy, but she's really nice! Honestly! It's just meeting new people gives her nerves.

Hendrix: -Waving her sandy claws at Tagg slowly and shakily- <P-pleasure to m-meet you...>

Sol: And yeah! That's my team that I accrued in here in Alola! Well, except for Hermès, Joseph, Ophelia and Misterioso (who are a Midnight Lycanroc, Golisopod, Alolan Ninetails and Mismagius respectively) who are back at base at the moment~

Nimbasa City

-Myra sputters as she attempts to process ten different Pokedex entries at the same time based on Ever's picture.-

Kaito: ...That's concerning. Might have to mess with settings or something.

-They look down at Muninn-

Kaito: Cute Latios costume, by the way. Your name's Muninn?

-Beat-

Kaito: ...Wait a fuckin' second.

Ever: ...

-he sighs-

Me and my big mouth.

Muninn: -leaps into the air, flapping the wings of his costume wildly. This has about as much effect as could be predicted but he does at least manage to land on Ever's head- <I'm not in the mood for this.>

Ever: You can punch him if you want, but if you give me another speech about how I'm secretly part of Cipher I'm going to be really nettled.

Unova Forest

Considering that he didn’t really need to address the Entralink right now, Colton left the Great Ball and removed his scarf. He stuffed it into his jacket before returning to Nimbasa.

Like hell he was cutting through a metric butt-ton of forest; he’s got moonlightin’ to do. And if he’s gotta take the long way, so be it.

Nimbasa City

Kaito: What? No, I wasn't gonna say that at all. Honestly, looking at him, it's kinda relieving, Lucius made it sound like the third ex-Cipher on the team was somehow still dangerous.

...

Kaito: ...Let me guess, this is why he went off like that?

edited 23rd Nov '17 3:34:42 PM by BittersweetNSour

 Heahea 

-To Sol's mons-

Nice to meet you.

-To Sol-

Well, might as well introduce mine, besides Tyto who you've already met.

-Pointing to the Toucannon-

This is Pici, who I caught not too long after I saw you last.

Pici: <Hey.>

-Pointing to the Vikavolt-

That's Lucani.

Lucani: <Nice to meet you.>

-Pointing to the Crabominable-

This is Ali.

Ali: <Hey.>

-Pointing to the Alolan Muk-

This is Botuli.

Botuli: <Tagg said he'd take me to the Virbank sewage plant once we're done here.>

-Pointing to the Wishiwashi-

This is Legion, who's kinda like Hendrix.

Legion: <Hi...>

-Pointing to the Jangmo-o-

This is Benkei, who apparently Xatu told to meet up with me.

Benkei: <Hi.>

-Pointing to the Pyukumuku under Doc's hat-

And finally, this is Squiggles, who joined Team Nova after helping them beat a Palossand not too far from here.

Squiggles:

He doesn't talk much.

Diego: <Wait, how did that Pyukumuku just verbalise an emoj->

Hendrix softly waves at Legion.

Sol: Well, It's nice to meet y'all! Too, I hope to get the chance t' spend more time with y'all in the future. But for now...

Sol recalls all her mons sans Vladimir.

Sol: We got more pressing matters to attend to...

edited 23rd Nov '17 4:00:09 PM by PippingFool

Muninn: <I am extremely dangerous!>

Ever: —scoops Muninn off his head and pets him-

Muninn: <Hey! Cease that at once; it's utterly demeaning! I— oh Palkia dammit that's relaxing—>

-he falls asleep within seconds-

Ever: ...You've talked to Lucius, huh? Yeah. He gave me a speech about how I didn't know what I was doing and then stormed off.

-for just a second, his hand clenches very tightly on Muninn. Fortunately it's over the head of the Latios cover, so Muninn himself doesn't notice, but there's a sharp coinciding emotional pulse-

-and then it's gone, and Ever resumes petting the sleeping Mimikyu-

Nimbasa City

Kaito: Yeah. Same here. I tried to reason with him and then said a couple things that really didn't help.

-They sigh.-

Kaito: I was really hoping this wouldn't be my welcome back to Unova for the first time in who knows how long, but I guess it can't be easy.

-Myra finishes processing the Pokedex overload, and shakes her head everything.-

Myradex: Bluh, that wazzz a mess. Note to self, don't take a photo of you again.

Ever: Sorry...probably should have warned you. I like doing favors for ghosts.

-he sighs-

Ever: ...I think Unova's sort of like that in general. Especially central Unova. It's loud, and it encourages people to be loud too. Sorry you're not enjoying my city, though.

I do hope he's doing alright.

Nimbasa City

Kaito: Oh, don't worry, I know. Some of my best memories are from here in Nimbasa, it's just... I'd gotten away from the stress of the J-Team, and from our experiences in Orre, and now it's coming back to bite us in the ass again. I can't handle it again. We can't handle it again, and in Ho-oh's name, I wish he'd realize that, it turned out badly enough the first time!

-Myra gives an awkward pat to try to help Kaito relax. It doesn't help much.-

Ever: fuck Hey, it's gonna be okay!

-he hiccups inexplicably, as one does-

Ever: Hey Drift can you maybe try and keep everyone calm in there? This is a lot. Lucius will be alright, we just gotta give him some time to cool down. Those are probably true words. He's a smart guy, just...well. He has his reasons to be cautious. I think we all do.

Muninn: -snoring-

 Heahea 

-To Sol-

Yeah...

Nimbasa City

Kaito: ...Yeah. I know. He has every reason to, I really can't blame him. I just... Ugh, every time Cipher comes up, everything immediately falls apart. Is this what they wanted? Tear us apart like this just by existing, so if we have to deal with them again, we're too busy fighting among ourselves?

Myradex: I don't... think that's what they were trying. But it admittedly doezzz sound like an effective strategy.

Ever: If Muninn's anything to go by, that's exactly what they wanted. As has been demonstrated over and over in perhaps every possible pattern and iteration of our conflicts with the criminal, none of us is as effective as a bunch of us all working together.

Muninn: <Malapropist.>

Ever: Ghost puppet.

Muninn: <I'm a puppet ghost. You're a ghost puppet.>

Ever: ...Touche.

Solana nods and clicks her tongue, snapping her fingers and pointing forward.

Sol: Follow me.

The two weave and wind around the city until they arrive to a rather neglected and kinda dirty part of town. After turning a corner, they walk down a thin ally street until they find the door to the bar they were told to go to. Complete with an aging, slightly broken neon-light that partially flickers on and off, depicting a Marenie slumped over a barrel.

Sol: So, here we are. "The Tumbling Mareine"

She looks over to Tagg with a slightly dead expression.

Sol: Before we enter, I would recommend holding your nose or breath for a minute or so as you enter the place, the wafting stale cigarette smoke and unwashed alcohol stained floors have a particularly pungent smell about them.

She swings open the heavy door and begins walking down the stairs, Vladimir following.

 Heahea 

-To Sol-

I've been to the Outskirt Stand since back when I was 13, can't be worse than that.

-Follows-

Nimbasa City

Kaito: ...You know, you're right. Maybe telling him that will help knock some sense into him.

-They shake their head-

Kaito: Ugh, this is giving me such a headache. I should... I think I need to talk to Tagg. He helped a few times in the last Cipher-aftermath mess.

-There's a Gui wandering around, looking for J-Team people.-

Nimbasa City

A disinterested look in his eyes, Colton exited Nimbasa City. His stuff lugged over his shoulder, he went for Victory Road.

It was going to be a long trek, but he was gonna do it.

plz int im lonely...

Ever: I don't know how calling him a ghost puppet would help. That seems really rude.

Muninn: <They could not have more clearly been referring to the analysis of Cipher as attempting to divide the J-team.>

Ever: ...Oh. Yeah, that makes more sense I guess.

-Gui might find Colton, then, and taps him on the back.-

Gui: Heeeey. Can you help me find someone?

-She tilts her head with a smile.-

Nimbasa City

Colton removed his headphones, grateful to finally see someone happy to speak to him.

"'Sup?" He asked.

Gui: Looking for the J-Team. Some of their members are around here somewhere, right?

Nimbasa City

-Kaito sweatdrops-

Kaito: Uh, yeah. What Muninn said.

Myradex: ...I mean, since he's undead and in a new Obscura body, it's not exactly inaccurate?

Kaito: You're... not wrong.