ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Alice: I pride myself on my objectivity and attention to detail. If I make an observation, I am afraid it is because it happens to be the cold, hard truth.

-She grins back.-

Alonya: ...I want to join the J-Team. I think I can be useful to them.

-Kai immediately responds without missing a beat.-

Kai: I'm flattered that you're paying so much attention to my details.

-Mason ponders for a moment.-

Mason: ...Well, you certainly wouldn't be the biggest asshole they've taken in. Or the only one from a team like Iron. Or the only one specifically from Iron. They took Lucius back, you know.

-Alice, having apparently composed herself somewhat, manages to shoot back immediately.-

Alice: There's a lot to take in.

-Alonya's eyes widen-

Alonya: ...He's alive?

Kai: Wow, Alice, be careful with your phasing, I might get the wrong idea.

-She smirks.-

Kai: The walls are rather thin, after all, we wouldn't want a misunderstanding.

-Mason blinks-

Mason: ...What, was he reported dead too? All that happened was he lost an arm.

-Alice gasps in mock horror even as her tone remains perfectly deadpan.-

Alice: Oh my, that would be dreadful. What kind of person could possibly get such a terribly mistaken impression?

-She glances around conspiratorially before leaning in towards Kai.-

Alice: Clearly we need to alter the tone of our conversation... or relocate it to somewhere with thicker walls.

edited 17th Jun '18 2:28:53 PM by Herbert40k

Alonya: He was reported dead... It's bizzare. But I'm glad he's OK.

-For a moment, it seems like Kai is about to keep up the flirting.-

-And then she overthinks whatever she was about to say and falters, her smirk fades, and anxiety sets in.-

Kai: I... yeah, sorry, not that forward yet. Subject change is probably best.

-She looks away, embarrassed.-

Mason: ...Huh. Well, if you're serious about this, you're gonna find a few more surprises among us. Someone else we actually were trying to play off as a casualty of that whole Malie mess, for starters.

Alonya: ...Duly noted. And I want Iron and Mobius to think I've vanished as well. But I'm ready.

-Alice blinks, then reddens with embarrassment.-

Alice: ...Oh, of c-course. No need to apologise. Indeed, I should apologise for failing to respect your boundaries. I... I had no intention to...

-She trails off, uncharacteristically at a loss for words.-

-"Unbeknownst to anybody a small Squirtle is sneaking into the hall. He looks around a bit then gestures for someone to fallow."-

Squirtle: <Ai yo, the coast is clear.>

-"Then, two shuckle push a cart of... illegal things out from behind a wall clearly labeled Drugs."-

Shuckle 1: <Hey Squirtle, you sure nobody is going to notice this?>

-"Squirtle thinks for a second then gets an idea. He pulls out a blank sticker and writes on it, before slapping it onto the cart. The cart now reads Not Drugs."-

Squirtle, confident: <They wont now.>

-"Edmond looks on with aw at all the people passing him."-

Edmond, squeeing: Oh ma gods, I can't believe I'm really here. The city of lights, the mother of all artist. Eee, this is so cool.

Marge: Hey nerd, you done gawking yet? I want to go see places.

Edmond, starry eyed: Five more minutes.

-"Marge sighs and lets her brother enjoy his vacation, his way."-

-Kai shakes her head.-

Kai: Nono, we— we were both escalating, it just suddenly went too far because neither of us was giving any reason to stop. I-it's fine.

-She coughs awkwardly.-

Kai: So! Subject change. Subject change, subject change. Chaaaaaaanging the subject.

Mason: I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and say I believe you. But... I'm also completely ready for you to up and double-cross us. We're both serial liars, after all, we both know that's something entirely within the cards.

Alonya: ...I understand that all too well.

Alice: Y-yes, of course. Subject change. Yes.

-She goes quiet for a long while, and just when it seems the silence will become irrevocably awkward, she speaks up.-

Alice: Would you rather... talk about what happened yesterday?

Mason: ...Right.

-He sighs.-

Mason: Anyway, do whatever you want. I'm gonna go find somewhere else to sit, and then get a fucking drink.

-He gets up and relocates.-

Kai: Oh, r-right.

-She pauses.-

Kai: ...I mean... do you want to talk about that? You looked pretty rough last night.

-Alonya sighs, pays for her drink, and leaves-

-There is a knock at Lucius' door-

-Alice glances away.-

Alice: ..."Want" is not the word I would use, but if we are to be in a relationship with one another, and establish the prerequisite trust that such a thing demands, then I feel that it is something we ought to discuss. If nothing else, talking about it may help alleviate it in future.

Lucius: Gah! Uh, one moment...

-After rather a bit longer than one moment, Lucius opens the door. It's worth noting that he's wearing a t-shirt that reads "I WISH REGRET BURNED MORE CALORIES", and Lawrence's journal is sat next to a bottle of vodka on his bedside table.-

Lucius: What is it?

-At the door is Alonya-

Alonya: Lucius! You really are alive!

-beat-

...What happened to your arm?!

-Kai nods-

Kai: That... makes sense. Like I said yesterday, I'm certainly not a stranger to night terrors, so you're free to vent about it as much as you need.

-Alice nods.-

Alice: ...Thank you.

-She manages to keep her tone level, though she still seems resolutely unable to look at Kai.-

Alice: I... I don't recall if you ever met her, or if I ever mentioned it to you, but one of my first friends after Lucius was a girl some years younger than me. After Orre, she... she died, in circumstances I won't go into. For the longest time, I wondered if I could have done more to save her. Then he... Abel... he took me, and... and I...

-She closes her eyes and lets out a shuddering sigh.-

Alice: ...I wondered if that was how she felt. Hoping someone would come for her and knowing it would never happen. I... that feeling keeps coming back to me, as much as the memory of the event itself.

-Lucius blinks in surprise.-

Lucius: ...Oh, hey, Alonya! I don't know if alive is the right word to use, but... oh, wait, I never told you about that, did I? Heh, uh... awkward.

-He rubs his stump with his good arm.-

Lucius: As for the arm... it's a long story. In the meantime, though, what are you doing here?

-"Homer is sitting at a computer looking up information on egg shaped men and mobious. Meanwhile Zags sleeps, Freyja flirts, Mokuba runs around with Mor, Melly scoffs, and Anubis groans."-

Homer: Hmm, so -schiming through the internet- Dr.Eggman, Dr.Eggman, Dr.Eggman, Dr.Eggman, something that I'll have to destroy my computer later for, Dr.Eggman, Dr.Eggman, -sigh- Dr.Eggman, Dr.Eggman, Dr.Eggman.

Zags, asleep': <mmm, fried Exeggcute, zzzzzz>

-"Homers eyes go wide."-

Homer: And that's why I would like to not understand Pokémon.

Anubis: <Maybe we should attempt asking the others on the ship?>

Homer: Yeah, you see I would, but I have literally met nobody on this thing willing to tell me ANYTHING! It's like they think I'm going to blackmail them or something.

Morrigan: <...are you?>

Homer: That's a loaded question. -Suddenly a page pops up detailing one Dr.Ivo Univyse- Oh, and what's this?

Mokuba: <Can I have a car?>

Homer: Wh-what, no. God no! How did you even-why are you even... no, okay, just no.

Mokuba, disappointed: <Aww.>

Freyja: <I could drive.>

Melinoe: <Yes, with the hands you do not have.>

Homer: oh god what has my life become?

edited 17th Jun '18 3:47:04 PM by OlympianSoul

-Kai nods as she listens to Alice's story.-

Kai: ...I see. Are you willing to share her name, at least? Even if I haven't met her, putting a name to a story helps.

Alonya: Long story short I realized Iron was an amoral sham and bailed. My brother isn't happy with me.

Alice: ...Lanie. Her name was Lanie. Short for Melanie.

-She blinks, and tears start streaming down her eyes.-

-Lucius blinks again, then his expression breaks into a very ill-timed grin.-

Lucius: That makes two of us, huh? C'mon, sit down, I'll pour you a drink. Actually, uh... I'd appreciate it if you could do it yourself. I'm not exactly in a state to tend bar at the moment.

-He raises his stump by way of example.-