ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Grand Articuno

<If I were to hazard a guess,> Amaterasu spoke up as she let the wisps coalesce, <I'd say that he's being focused down because he's the only one who doesn't like the ice puns.

<I mean, I don't either, but I'm just biting my tongue,> she added as the big ball of fire simmered behind her, fed by her tails - a Sunny Day to substitute her Drought when it was exhausted.

Relic Passage [prev]

Colt zipped up his jacket, his wallet in one hand, his phone in the other, his Pokeballs in his pocket. Then he realized something.

"Hey, after we finish our frozen yogurt, you think we should check at the police station and/or back here to see if they were handed off to the authorities?" He offered.

edited 31st Dec '17 5:21:29 PM by AbsentCoder

[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]

Arkady: <With us, you don't even have to ask.>

Lewis: Ha. I wouldn't mind!

There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.

Silas is sitting out, scarf in hand. His team is around him as the year comes to a close, Silas stretches and looks at the sky, smiling a bit, trying to ignore the portals everywhere.

"We should really find someone to fix that," ~Yeah we should.~

"To the end of 2017. A year that was surprisingly better than last years. Went to Space. Went to another Dimension. Got involved in Shenanigans involving what I think is Skyrim stuff... Met more of the J-Team. S'been a good year. Resolution, try to emote better next year, see how long I can go before I emotionally exhaust myself."

~Glad you think so. We finally got that little trinket there,~ Hacks pointed out.

Silas looked at the Scarf again, "Yeah... I'm a little worried though."

~About what?~

"Well about what this means for me. I've kind of cultivated a image as the "Normal guy" somewhat and... well that's who I am."

~Silas a guy in a trenchcoat with a mask who speaks in monotone is not a "normal guy" at all. Rather that seems like a potential lawsuit waiting to happen.~

"He's right Captain."

Silas frowned a bit, "You know what I mean. I'm not a guy with powers, I'm the guy with a brain and tech."

"Don't forget Piloting Skills, Captain."

Silas looked at Bishop, "When are those ever really gonna come in handy? But I'm afraid of getting to attached to any power this can grant me... I only got it to keep a promise to you Hacks. But this... this means I could easily have access to Aura powers whenever I wish... To say nothing of better endurance, resistance to poison, and general improved physical aptitude. It'd be hard not to be tempted."

~Well... maybe we should work on that. It's still useful, and hey Dawn Empress, the Protagonist of that game was still a kickass normal guy with no magic and he had a transformation trinket. It's not truly your power to hold onto, you're just borrowing it.~

Amber spoke up, <Why do you want to be a guy without powers? Powers are awesome. Hell plenty of people in the J-Team have powers and they are all pretty awesome.>

Silas gave it some thought and looked at the scarf once more, sighing before putting it on.

<Well it's because of a few reasons, first would probably seeing what the men of the Grant family have accomplished without powers...>

Snakeye blinked, <But what about Arthur Grant?>

<Arthur was a outlier and should not be counted, even then he was cursed and relied on his sword, wits, and Pokemon. Me? What have I done?>

All of the team spoke up at once, <WENT TO MARS!>

Silas's ears flattened and he felt kind of embarrassed, <Oh... Yeah... kind of forgot about that...>

Hacks rolled his eyes at Silas, ~Okay so there is precedent in the family for surviving dangerous situations without powers... that's one detail, I doubt any of them would mind if they had power or that trinket, hell some of them would be better off with it.~

<Well there is also the J-Team, they all stand out on their own, with or without powers. If I need special abilities to stand out, then I don't really stand out do I? I'm just some weirdo behind a mask then. Remember when I said I have trouble identifying with this body? This face? It hasn't done anything, it hasn't achieved anything. Not even its evolved form was gained by itself. That was done by Captain Grant of the Cobalt Stars.>

"But the Rap Battle. Deskman. You proclaimed yourself as Silas Grant, the man of many masks and faces," Bishop brought up.

<I still don't fully know who that is myself... I don't know how all these faces relate back to him. For all I know... this form could take on a different name, probably wouldn't matter.>

The team looked at him, Tae, wrapped up in Winter gear asked, <Will it?>

<Well... No. If only because the mind behind it is still somewhat Silas.>

<Well then I say don't think about it too much. I don't think your worrying of who you are even as a different species is that big of a deal. I'm Tae, I'm Tae no matter what happens to me. Even if someone was to overwrite my personality and try to make me someone else, I'd still be Tae in the end.>

Silas nodded a bit, understanding what Tae meant a little. Perhaps he was overthinking this a bit, if anything that his 3 faces had in common, it was that the mind behind all 3 of them was still him. <Thanks Tae.>

<No problem. Just having to see you worry about all this identity stuff. If you're so worried about being seen as the guy who gets along without the need for powers or transformation, just don't use the scarf much. Make it a emergency or promise thing, make it contextual.>

Silas sat up and looked at Hacks who looked just as surprised, the two thought for a moment before saying, <That would work actually...>

The two instantly set about describing situations it would be okay to use it in to avoid abusing it, while the others just looked at Tae.

Snakeye was the first to ask, <How long have you had that idea?>

Tae smirked, <Awhile.>

Amber next, <And you didn't mention it before because?>

A grin, <Wanted to see if he could figure it out himself.>

Bishop last, "Did you think he ever would?"

<Well yeah eventually. But it's New Years and he was about to go into a spiral, soooooooo I figured cut the knot.>

The 3 just said, <Huh.>

 Lacunosa 

-Watches Channah and Thierry go-

Well, see you...

Muddy: <You think we should find Ann and hang with her?>

Eh, she's with her other friends ATM.

Muddy: <Back to... Celadon, where the rest of the others are? It's certainly warmer than here right now, if it weren't for Helios I'd be going into torpor.>

-Crossing arms-

I'd rather fight Lanius and the Lieutenant again, together, than go over there when I don't have to. Tracer's not even in anyway, Stormchaser's still in Kanto so I can't just go hang out in it, parents are over someplace else so I can't just go hang with them in Kanto... what a mess.

Ana: <What about the HQ?>

Eh, we'll see.

edited 31st Dec '17 5:31:01 PM by rmctagg09

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

-"Zagreus, who's been sleeping this whole time, pops up at the mention of food"-

Zags, drooling: <Fooooooooood?>

Anubis, annoyed: <You just ate.>

Homer, to everyone: Cool, now, who knows a good place to eat?

Let's all have fun

Celadon City

-Selene turns to Pent.-

Selene: <TAPU! TAPU BUL-AGHFLFGHP!>

-A Kirlia lands on top of the mutated Clefable, causing her to bite down onto her own tongue.-

Satele: <Dude. Chill. Like, seriously.>

Selene: <AAAAAAAGH AH BITH MAH TUNGHE!>

Satele: <Good! Now change back before I Moonblast you!>

Selene: <AGH! THINE!>

-Satele leans next to Pent.-

Satele: <Heh, jokes on her - I can't use Moonblast until I'm a Gardevoir. But SHE doesn't know that.>

Masako is trying really hard not to show that she's enjoying pets.

Really, really hard.

It's not working.

Masako purrs, unceremoniously dropping Astolfo onto the ground, as they proceed to climb up and sit on Tamamo's head.

Tamamo bows slightly to both Ever and Kalida. "Hello☆"

Astolfo, meanwhile waves to Ever from atop. <Hi Ever!> :D

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.

Celadon

-Kai just giggles, still with that dreamy look on her face-

Kai: I wish I could have spent a bit more time with her... But, best not to dwell on the past, yeah?

---

-Rose pulls herself up, keeping a hand near her pocket.-

Rose: Scarlette... something happened in Ultra Space, right? You weren't anything like this before th—

Scarlette: I have it under control! I'm— I'm aware about the poison, and I'm fighting it! Stop... stop pretending you c-care...

Rose: I'm not pretending! I do care, and I'm scared—

Scarlette: Of course you're fucking scared! Why wouldn't you be?! I'm...

Rose: I wasn't finished. I'm scared for you. I'm scared you're going to do something you'll—

Scarlette: Shut up.

Rose: ...Scarl—

Scarlette: Shut up already! Stop trying to manipulate me, stop trying to make me feel sorry, shut up!

Rose: Scarlette... I just want—

Scarlette: I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WANT!

-Scarlette lunges at Rose. Rose brings up her hand, holding a pocket knife.-

-The flash of a blade. The sound of metal creaking, wood splitting, everything's collapsing, it's coming after me, it's trying to kill me, I need to—-

-Scarlette stumbles backward, eyes wide.-

Celadon, Past

Yeah! Focus on the now, where you're basking in my presence!

Celadon, Now

Okay, so Team Iron has a Tapu under guard. Given they're militant atheists I'm assuming they want to figure out how to kill Tapu so we gotta organize a raid ASAP.

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

Ever: Let's not get carried away with calling people men. Bluenette is fine.

Lakirid, huh? She doesn't seem like Cipher, so I guess there's yet another long-lost sibling...relatable.

But I can see you're busy. Fortunately, I'm not offended, because I seem to be as well.

-he inclines his head slightly to Tamamo, gives Astolfo a pet, and hops over the edge of the railing, landing in the alleyway-

Ever: Scarlette, are you alright?

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Celadon City

-With a flash, Selene becomes human again.-

-... Mostly.-

-She still happens to have a pair of Dragonite antenna coming from her head.-

Selene: They'th gath!

Satele: <Just speak telepathically!>

-Selene just grunts in frustration and throws a piece of paper at Satele.-

Satele: <Oh, fine.>

-She opens it and gives it a look over.-

Satele: <... I have no idea what that means. I mean, I get most of it, but not this part.>

-She hands the note to Pent. The part she's pointing to happens to be the part mentioning the recent acquisition of a canister of highly illegal VX gas.-

Celadon

-Kai blinks, snapping out of her dreamy state, and smirks-

Kai: Careful not to get too cocky there, firecracker. You might not be wrong, but be careful.

---

-Upon approaching, Scarlette doesn't seem to have been hurt at all. She is, however, silently staring wide-eyed at Rose, who has put the knife away.-

Rose: ...Please, just make sure she stays safe.

-She recalls Sadie and Domino, and flees.-

Chantey: Pah. Coward.

Celadon City

Colt is here, nursing a migraine and a cup of exceedingly sweetened coffee in his hand. The bench he was sitting on was only half-occupied by him, leaving room for one to sit beside him and just chat.

His headphones were stuffed into his pocket, his jacket was stained on the shoulders and chest with hot coffee, he was barely forming coherent words and he looked ready to tear someone's head off. Read, how he looked every Monday morning.

Raising his coffee - which was now reasonably cooled - to his mouth to take in the rest of it, he finished at the same time someone mentioned a raid. He paused, threw his coffee out and approached. "Raid? I don't care about the details, just tell me which bastards I have to impale with Stone Edge."

edited 31st Dec '17 6:31:48 PM by AbsentCoder

[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]

Celadon, Past

Sorry, sorry. It's the confidence yaknow!

Celadon, Now

-Pent reads over the note. He isn't quite sure what that substance is but given it's illegal he's pretty sure it's hella lethal-

Okay so raid needs to happen now. Yes?

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

-Ever blinks as Rose flees-

...That sure did happen.

Ever: ...Scarlette?

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Celadon

Daydre is wandering around holding the egg she got for Christmas.

off the shits

Sergey's Camp

Phaz pops that fork in in mouth.

Phaz: "Hihi~"

What's the use of money if you ain't gonna break the mold? Even at the center of fire, there is cold All that glitters ain't gold

Celadon City

Kai: I know, you goofball! It's great confidence, just be careful what company you're with when you use it~

---

-Gus runs up to Scarlette to help her calm down. After a moment, she seems to...-

Scarlette: ...W-we... we can't let her get away!

-She tries to bolt upright.-

Celadon City

Selene: It'th thappenning tomorrow!

Satele: <Gimme your phone, let me type out a message...>

Mt. Lanakila

-Ludmilla gets the text and nearly bolts out of bed were it not for the whole world turning sideways and sending her sprawling to the floor.-

Lumiose City, Continental Hotel

*Bzzbzz!*

Dune: Pardon me.

-Dune reads the text.-

Dune: ...

-He puts his phone away.-

Winston, Hotel Owner: That is the look of a man who just learned he has a vendetta.

Dune: You could say that.

Winston: I will not hold you from it, then. If I collect anything else to share, I will let you know.

Dune: Thank you for your time, sir.

Winston: Think nothing of it. We may not be from the same circles, but I assure you - on this matter, we are in agreement.

The GM House

-A phone goes out the window and sailing over the nearby cliff.-

-Once again, references to things being shoved up a certain revived young man's certain body cavities can be heard for miles around.-

-The Jaegers are huddled up in the corner, having never seen such an eruption of emotion before.-

-Ever makes no effort to stop Scarlette from getting up. That would be rude.-

-but he does carefully position himself to make any attempt at getting around him highly inconvenient-

Ever: (lightly) She ran from you. Are you going to kill someone who's running away?

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Sergey's Camp

Sergey: -noms-

After swallowing, Sergey held his own fork to Phaz

Sergey: "Now you say 'aah', Darling"

"One may feel fear in the face of danger so long as one banishes fear when danger actually arrives"

Sergey's Camp

Phaz nods and opnes mouth happily, closing eyes.

Phaz: "Aaaaah~"

What's the use of money if you ain't gonna break the mold? Even at the center of fire, there is cold All that glitters ain't gold

Celadon

Scarlette: ...She...

-Scarlette doesn't try to go around him. Whether she wants it to be obvious or not, she's definitely still recovering her nerves.-

Scarlette: ...S-she's always running away. I... she has to be stopped eventually...

-She closes her eyes. She's shaking. Both from the stress, and from the cold (seeing as she wasn't expecting to be in Celadon immediately after leaving a store in what was supposed to be Malie).-

Scarlette: ...I can't fucking do it. I tried and I can't. I... failed...

-Ever frowns-

Ever: Someone who's running away, in my experience, is not somebody who's terribly dangerous.

-he takes a cautious step closer-

Ever: I'm not inclined to think you failed. Killing somebody, even somebody who's wronged you, is a big deal. There's got to be other options.

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Celadon, Past

Okay, okay. ^_^

Celadon, Now

Alright good. We need targeting and access but once we've got that, no mercy.

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.