ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

-Kai blinks-

Kai: Lanie... Motte?

Alonya: ...Right.

-she enters the room and pours two shots of vodka-

-Alice blinks her eyes clear.-

Alice: ...Yes, that was it. You knew of her?

-Lucius downs his shot within seconds of Alonya pouring it.-

Lucius: Aah... cheers. But yeah, in case you didn't hear already, I bailed from Iron too, and my brother also isn't happy with me. Iron grabbed him during the raid, and I went to Shard to make the case that he wasn't with the J-Team and posed no threat. We disagreed.

-He raises his stump again.-

Lucius: Strenuously.

Alonya: So we're in the same boat...

-looks at the stump-

That Shard woman did that?

-Kai takes Alice's hands.-

Kai: Alice... that image was faked. We found her. Lanie's alive.

-Alice looks up at Kai, her eyes disbelieving.-

Alice: I... w-wait, she... she's alive?

Lucius: Basically.

-He takes Alonya's shot and downs it too.-

Lucius: And yeah, this was Shard's handiwork. Or unhandiwork, ba-dum-tish. Froze it, then shattered it. Hurt like a motherfucker. I can't even tell you why she did it, unless maybe she needed someone to work out some issues on and I just happened to be in the room. She's kinda terrifying like that.

edited 17th Jun '18 4:33:35 PM by Herbert40k

-Kai nods-

Kai: She's alive. I haven't gotten a chance to talk to her since I heard she was, but she is.

Alonya: Ugh. Well, at least the rest of you is OK. Physically.

Alice: I... I...

-She slumps forward into Kai's arms, now crying unabashedly.-

Alice: She n-never told me... and despite all the information I have at my hands, I never knew. I couldn't find her... I should have found her, should have saved her, should have been b-better...

-Lucius scoffs.-

Lucius: Excuse you, I am more than just "OK". Despite my mild deficiency limbwise, I am a specimen of physical perfection, and as for my emotional stability... okay, yeah, no, I can't keep a straight face. I have to give you that one.

-He takes the bottle, pours out two more shots, and raises one.-

Lucius: Well, here's to family, and to trying to make things right with them.

Alonya: ...Cheers.

-sip-

Is there anything else we can talk about?

-Lucius downs his own shot, then thinks for a moment.-

Lucius: Uh... well, I have a boyfriend now. Or at least, I think that's what we are. We haven't really cleared up the terminology yet, but... that's a thing. Turns out there's people outside of Iron who're willing to overlook that "hey, we were trying to kill you but we're sorry about it and it was a pretty half-hearted effort in the first place" thing.

Alonya: Oh! I also have a boyfriend. Cyborg named Owen who can install his OS on pretty much anything.

-Lucius blinks.-

Lucius: A cybor- no, you know what, I'm in no position to question it. I'm an undead zombie dating a Kyogre who travels alongside a sentient AI and the ghost of my ancestor's Alakazam. I don't think I get to question anything at this point. That permit has been officially revoked and I've been slapped with a 1 Arm fine for forging it.

-He smiles mischeviously-

Lucius: Still, good on you. So, serious question, you can't lie to me on this... robot ass, how does it rate?

edited 17th Jun '18 6:04:58 PM by Herbert40k

-Alonya blushes-

Alonya: ...It was... Lovingly sculpted.

-Owen gets a chill down his spine-

-so does Odin for what little physical spine he has-

edited 17th Jun '18 6:17:00 PM by Umbramatic

-Lucius continues to smirk.-

Lucius: Oh, I can imagine. If you're designing a cyborg, you're not gonna skimp on the important parts... and really, what's more important than ass? It's the universal constant that holds us all together.

-His smirk shifts to a warmer expression.-

Lucius: Seriously, I'm happy for you, man. You got out of a bad place and got into a good relationship. That's a positive development, as far as anybody's concerned.

edited 17th Jun '18 6:27:06 PM by Herbert40k

Alonya: Problem is he hasn't followed me out of Iron yet, as much as he wants to.

Lucius: ...Ah.

-He rubs his chin with his good hand.-

Lucius: Well, having an artificial intelligence on the inside could be really good for us. Plus, we were both with Iron the last time they tried to take on the J-Team head to head, and you sure what happened - they got the shit kicked out of them. He'll come over to our side soon enough... though I dunno what "our" side is, really. I'm pretty sure most of it still hates me.

-He chuckles to himself.-

Alonya: Here's hoping. And hey, I'm on your side.

-Shaun collapses on his bed.-

Shaun: "SUP FUCKERS"

Shaun: "I was gone for four days. FOUR. DAYS."

Ace: <Off weeks are rare around here.>

-Someone raps on his door.-

Shaun: "Come in."

-Cereza opens the door.-

Cereza: <I thought you might like a look at this. Jessica didn't know where it came from.>

-She holds out a slip of paper.-

-A bishie has snuck onto the airship.-

Shigure: <Niles...I heard my mother was here.>

Popplio!Niles: <Shigure, your m->

-Camilla clears her throat.-

Popplio!Niles: <Right. Might as well look around.>

-Gabrielle taps her foot anxiously as Zelel operates a strange piece of machinery.-

-Bryan opens a box from Shaun. Inside is various scrap and tech from the last few raids. Bryan grins wide.-

Byran: "Let's see what you do."

Lucius: And I yours. Here's to us, then.

-He pours out another two shots, then raises his to Alonya.-

-Alonya roasts toasts Lucius-

Alonya: To us.

Stormchaser

Colt might encounter the bishie, assuming they want to be encountered.

-Kai hugs Alice, patting her gently-

Kai: Alice...

-She sighs-

Kai: Look, please don't go down the "I should have saved them, I should have been there" path. That's the one I went down when you and Lucius died, and it only made things worse.

-Kaisei turns around, a box wrapped in green wrapping paper in his hands.-

Kaisei: "Well, hello there!"

-He whistles before shaking his head.-

Kaisei: "Uh, sorry. Do you know where Shaun Sapphire's room is?"

-For whatever reason, he's not wearing his normal outfit, but the one from the con - dark green-striped fedora, "BONJOUR BITCHES" shirt, "FOXY" yoga pants, and cowboy heels.-

-Alice pulls Kai closer before withdrawing, rubbing her eyes.-

Alice: I... I know. I do understand that there is no practical purpose to such commiserations, but... those thoughts still haunt me, even now. I know, I should be glad to know she's alive, and I am, yet... I still think I cou- should've done more.