ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Savannah: Over by the Poké Mart. But I-I don't know which way it went.

D is leaning back on his chair, eyes scanning the invite and the letter.

"I am not even going to question how he managed to mail this here."

He read over Ren's letter a few times.

"Sensible footwear?"

He looked down at his muddy cowboy boots.

"...better break out the metal spurs."

edited 10th Dec '17 12:43:28 PM by PhilosopherStones

Vali Mountains

He didn't know how this would go down, but he tapped Cynthia's shoulder and tapped his temple, a gesture easily readible.

True, but I like to think that holds true for all of his gyms and trials, he began. After all, who is the one throwing punches? And then he cut his own thoughts off by trying to decipher the lyrics to some grunge song in his own head.

-Shaun waves to the leaving Flying-type.-

Shaun: "How'd he find me? Nobody just happens upon this island."

Jessica: <Don't worry about it.>

Shaun: "Best not too. Well, I have my clothes. Mom's tailored the rest of you finery for the wedding, so that's covered. Only one who needs something is Beo, and the girls if they come."

Jessica: <Yeah...>

I need an armband.

Volpe: "So you don't know, do you? I guess Interpol did hide some it's dirty laundry from you after all. It's a bit of an open secret for those who've been around long enough...."

Volpe brings out what appears to be a brownie (or some sort of edible...) from his breast-pocket, and begins chewing on it.

Volpe: "Anabel... She came in to Interpol's hands at a young age. Probably as young - if not a year or two younger - as you were when you started at Interpol. She was found one day unconscious on the shores of Poni Island by Agent Looker and Officer Nanu with no recollection of who she was or what she had been. All she could remember was her name, that she was from Hoenn and she was a powerful trainer."

"Now, you'd think that the proper course of action when confronted with a case like this would be to get the poor girl some help. Get her memory back, find her a place to live - all that. But you see, Anabel was special."

Volpe makes a rubbing motion with his thumb and one of the complete fingers on his right hand.

Volpe: "She was covered in the essence of Ultra Space, the stuff that marked her as a Faller - with an amount that made her a particularly intriguing treat to Ultra Beasts and other multidimensional entities who were irresistibly drawn to her."

"And what did Interpol use this poor kid of whom they took under their wing for? Why, to draw out the Beasts of course! What else would you use a hapless, scared child for other than to put them on the line as a distraction for Beast so you can take the glory of catching or shooting one of these things down?"

Volpe's face screws into a look of disgust as he crosses his arms.

Volpe: "The Feraligatr Bait of the 21st Century, brought to you by the fine folks at Interpol."

edited 10th Dec '17 1:03:28 PM by PippingFool

Still somewhere

Channah: -rearranges her team in a Pokémon Center and exits- Uhhh, what do you guys want for Christmas?

Titus: <500 pounds of raw meat.>

Lo: <A League challenge.>

Thierry: < the complete Pipluu series on blu-ray >

Channah: Ehhhhhhh...

-As Volpe speaks, Shun begins to look increasingly shocked and angered.-

Shun: ...That is... our duty is protect others, first and foremost. No matter how dangerous these Beasts are, those officers betrayed that duty.

-He folds his arms.-

Shun: You clearly don't think this is a question of a few bad apples. May I ask why you haven't followed your own advice?

Lucius: Yeah... my own fault for getting attached, huh?

-He chuckles mirthlessly.-

Lucius: Anyway, it's getting late and I am super drained. Glad I got the chance to meet who I'm gonna be working with, though. I promise that from now on you'll only find me crying in my bunk on Sundays.

Team Iron Aux Base — Yesterday

Scarlette: Yeah. Happens to me all the time. Getting too attached burns the best of us, I guess.

-She smirks at Lucius's "Sunday" remark-

Scarlette: Oh, good, tomorrow's Sunday, I'll have something to look forward to.

edited 10th Dec '17 1:58:11 PM by BittersweetNSour

Volpe smirks and leans forward.

Volpe: Why am I in Interpol? Well, that goes to show that you don't really know me at all, do ya' kid?

Volpe tuts.

Volpe: I play up my role for the moral of those I send off on missions. That whole "Tragic Officer who has fallen from grace but still has a sense of honor, justice and nobility somewhere deep inside?", that's Nanu kid. That ain't me. However, it is a good persona to slip into to rally up some random schmucks who have a misguided sense of justice to do your dirty work now, isn't it?

Volpe begins gesticulating.

Volpe: I'm in the force and associated with Interpol because being in Interpol gives me the clout, power and tools necessary to achieve my own goals, squirt. And it just so happens to be that the J-team and their associates objective match up neatly with my own. So stringing them along for the ride is not really that hard to do. Even you were suckered in by the allure of retribution and now you're in a hospital cot because of it.

Volpe stands up.

Volpe: You may have assumed that I'm somehow better than the officers who used Anabel as bait, but Platchkey's blood is on my hands and unlike sweet, young Ana. He's not here to chew me out and threaten the higher ups with going public about being used as bait in Interpol now, is he?

Volpe glares at Shun.

Volpe: This is why you shouldn't look up to me, or anyone else really, in Interpol. We're all just as bad as each other.

(Well, except for Anabel, she's just a doll. Looker and Nanu have my utmost respect but they do have some blood on their hands...)

edited 10th Dec '17 6:45:34 PM by PippingFool

Kuu's Court - Driftveil

Kuu: -She looks between Ever and Colton- "... Oh? Time is no object. We can travel back if you have a better suggestion."

-She smiles at Kaito and reaches out to brush her fingers through their hair, just grazing their ear- "I sincerely appreciate that, my dear."

-She then turns to look at PEFE!Every- "Do you truly despise company that much? We're all so happy to have you, your brilliance and beauty, grace us. Won't you at least accompany us?"

Driftveil City

-Kuu did the hair thing again.-

Kaito: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa💕

-PEFE!Every currently resembles the "before" picture in an advertisement for heart medicine-

PEFE!Every: Okay I'll go with you.

Cytosol: <She's playing you.>

I know...

Cytosol: <I've seen some of the things she's seen. None of us matter to her.>

I'm kind of used to that. Besides, at least her manipulation involves telling me I'm pretty.

Cytosol: <You need to talk to more people.>

I'm getting practice!

Ever: Oh, it's not a real issue. A little performative municipal pride. I don't know many of the local restaurants, but I imagine anywhere we look should do well enough...

-he points at a random building. Inspection would reveal it to be a burger place-

Ever: For example.

Driftveil

Colton bit his tongue and returned Lucario, who was looking a little enraptured by Kuu. They both grumbled as Lucario was returned, for equally obvious reasons.

It was around this time that the mantra Colton had been reciting since he laid eyes on Kuu began to get vocalized.

"You're single and fine with it, you hate the love at first sight cliche, there's no reason to become a target of her affection when you can April Fools your parents, but you can't wait that long, a~nd I convinced myself," he muttered.

"Yeah, quick warning, the road from Driftveil to Castelia gets kinda sandy on the second half, so don't say I didn't warn ya," he cautioned.

Then he looked at the joint Every pointing at. "Unless you're lazy and want to get some fast food, that never fails."

edited 10th Dec '17 2:36:52 PM by AbsentCoder

-Shun returns Volpe's glare.-

Shun: Is that so? Because if you are as duplicitous as you claim to be, then I don't need to be a detective to intuit that your earlier concern for my health was feigned. Therefore, I should disregard your advice and remain within Interpol to pursue internal reform, now fully aware of your nature. However, weighing the evidence available to me... it seems unlikely that you would confide the details of your history and doubts before daring me to challenge them. I can't use motivation as evidence, but your actions make more sense if you were attempting to drive me away.

-He shakes his head.-

Shun: So no, I don't believe you're as bad of the rest of them. I don't believe you're as callous as you want me to think.

Lucius: Trust me, it's a treat. I've got it penciled in for mid-afternoon, between "Depression Nap" and "Staring at Walls With Vague Sense of Existential Dread".

-He rolls over on his bunk to face the wall.-

Lucius: Night, Scarlette.

-He closes his eyes, but the tears come before sleep does.-

edited 10th Dec '17 2:38:09 PM by Herbert40k

 Castelia, weird time bubble 

-The Elemental Sword summons itself and starts glowing a light blue-

Wanderer: We'll see Kuu... we'll see.

 Driftveil, weird time bubble 

-Still walking-

I suspect I'll probably meet the cause of that foreboding feeling soon enough, unless they decide to leave or something.

Driftveil, Savannah

Jared: Well let's look around there, then!

Driftveil, Kuu's Court

-Gabe resists the urge to roll his eyes at Kaito-

Gabe: We should get going. The burger place works.

Near Channah

-An Ammy exists!-

Human!Ammy: Where did I get this invitation?

Speaking of

-most of my characters get Ren's invitation, somehow-

-Jean, Jackie, Jared, and Gabe don't, but we'll deal with that later-

Team Iron Aux Base — Yesterday

-Scarlette's smile falls, and she quietly sighs.-

Scarlette: ...Good night, Lucius.

-She climbs into her own bunk, reading for a bit before falling asleep herself. Gus curls up on the floor.-

Channah: -blinks at the woman- ...What?

Driftveil - Kuu's Court

-She smiles- "I think it will do just fine. There is nothing wrong with going the easier rou-"

-She freezes- "..."

-She her gaze is frozen on someone- "... Do you know that man? He. Seems different."

-She points down the road towards a very familiar PEFE Researcher-

Volpe hmms.

Volpe: You're right, bambino. I'm not feigning my concern for your well-being here. Call it a character flaw of mine, but maybe I just hold a soft spot for children's wellbeing because, well...

Volpe shakes his head.

Volpe: Maybe you'll find out one day if you pry me hard enough.

Volpe calls for Massimo, who leaps from his position of staring intensely at Shun beside his cot.

Volpe: I'm not asking you to leave Interpol, but just... consider my words and warnings. You are not Atlas, after all. What an idealist you are...

Volpe gives a hollow laugh.

Volpe: How childish.

Driftveil City

-Pent just casually reads the invitation and considers that yeah he doesn't have anything planned so he can turn up and...-

-Wait. Christmas. And it's a party-

-He's going to get gifts. Worse, other people will be expecting gifts-

-Aaaaaaaaaaah-

Joyous Clearing

Guys we've got company! Someone want to shut down the drone so we can keep this a controlled burn?

Driftveil City

-Kaito recovers from melting at Kuu's touch and looks where Kuu is pointing-

Kaito Oh, that's Tagg! Hey, Tagg!

-They wave-

Shun: Perhaps, but if believing the world can be better than it has been to you is a childish trait, then I'll gladly cling to it.

-He glances towards the door.-

Shun: I appreciate you taking the time to come and visit. I'm told there's an open bar downstairs, if you need something to make it worthwhile.

Driftveil, Kuu's Court

Gabe: Hello, Tagg person!

Somewhere

Ammy: -To Channah- Oh, hi!

Volpe laughs. For the first time this whole session, it's genuine.

Volpe: Thanks for the offer, kid. But if I wanted to get drunk, cheap, bottom-of-the-shelf vodka will be half the price and twice as effective.

Volpe heads out the door.

Volpe: Do recover well kid, and I guess I hope that you can achieve even a sliver of the idealistic goals you set for yourself. Just... don't burn yourself.

And with that, Volpe leaves with his Ninetails.

There is a distinct layer of ice and hoarfrost over the chair he sat in and in the immediate vicinity.

edited 11th Dec '17 4:54:14 AM by PippingFool