-Ten is about to respond, but a brittle female voice registers from the depths of the cave-
Voice: Of course... The one time I have either of you within easy reach, and you're saved by Auric powers. Never misjudge a Chaotic Stupid. Could be a J-Team motto.
A short, thin woman in black robes walks onto the scene. She wears a shapeless hood that obscures her eyes, but it's clear that her appearance is based on Channah. Near-floor-length scraggly hair hangs out of the hood on either side of her face. Her folded arms are unnaturally long and spindly, ending with long, chipped nails. When she gives the three of them a tired smirk, her chapped, opened mouth reveals decaying teeth.
Truth: Yo. Bored yet, Tagg?
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Channah's Mindscape
So, this is Truth.
-To Truth-
Not really. Could go without the fights though.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.Truth: Yeah, combat's a drag to orchestrate. -walks closer, seeming to suck any available light away from her surroundings and into her person, like a minor black hole- Wasn't trying to get you, it was her. -jerks her head at Ten- And him, to a lesser extent. As aspects go, they're probably the worst.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Channah's Mindscape
Like a black hole...
-To Truth-
Why's that?
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.Dioh: -trembles slightly and summons another prism for light, in the manner of a security blanket-
Truth: -incredulous, speaking in a repressively flat voice- They're my lame escapist fantasies and outdated "hopes and dreams". She gave you the spiel, right? And the memory?
Ten: -goes still suddenly-
Truth: ...No. Obviously, because you likely have ADHD or some other defect. What about our gay frog cosplayer over there, did he show you his memory? No again. Great. Now I have to hold you all hostage here for a fucking viewing party. -pauses, then looks at Tagg, not sounding at all apologetic- ...Sorry. I'm just really irritated that I can't even kill two idiots on my home turf when they're handed to me on a silver platter. Heh, silver.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Channah's Mindscape
-Does an eyebrow raise at the last part of the statement-
Sheesh...
Apology... accepted. But... neither of those are really bad things, as long as there's balance.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.Truth: They actually are, but I'm not interested in arguing here. You wanna come into my lair?
Ten: -shrinks away behind Tagg- I don't want to...
Truth: Fun fact, I don't care.
Dioh: -sweatdrops at the admission of attempted murder- I'll stay out with her, it's no trouble...
Truth: -stares at them dead-eyed for a second, then shrugs- A'ight, you can stay out if you promise to show Tagg those memories afterwards. Then I'll deal with you.
Dioh: Gotcha.
-a poorly-lit pathway to a nondescript dungeon door appears behind her-
Truth: Come on in, I'll explain things. One who knows nothing can understand nothing, right? -the door creaks open and she steps gracelessly aside to allow Tagg to enter first-
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Channah's Mindscape
It's been a good 15 years since I played that game...
-Enters-
edited 13th Mar '18 10:10:19 PM by rmctagg09
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.What greets Tagg is rows of upon rows of shelves lining a massive atrium-shaped stone room. They jut out from the walls and are decorated with dead fiends in giant jars - All of the ones seen so far, as well as several representing the rest of Channah's team, living and dead and missing (including Wobbuffets, mummified and sitting upright all around). Other than that, there isn't much more... decoration besides a table and two chairs in the center of the room, on a circular carpet with a certain symbol on it.
Truth: Like 'em? This brain isn't creative enough to come up with anything beyond my own Pokémon for enemies, so I dressed them up. Least I could do. Considering I'm apparently a community leader or something in this wasteland. -sits down in one of the chairs- I'd offer you a drink but all I have is formaldehyde.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Channah's Mindscape
That symbol feels kinda like... a void.
-To Truth-
That's alright, the decor is definitely... interesting.
-Sits down-
So I've been told people believe you're a seer?
edited 13th Mar '18 10:34:39 PM by rmctagg09
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.Truth: Ugh, yeah. All 'cause I see things more clearly than... basically everyone in this mindscape. Y'know, like how that wasn't really a hurricane, it was a shitty metaphor for a panic attack, blah blah blah. Used to be a ton of aspects, but they all kinda died. And now it's just me and like... six other assholes.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Channah's Mindscape
Clearly... or more cynically, they're not exactly the same thing.
-To Truth-
And what caused that?
So that's half the remaining group unaccounted for.
edited 13th Mar '18 10:48:24 PM by rmctagg09
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.Truth: The depopulation or the panic attack? The former's just been happening for years. The latter was when my Pupitar showed her ugly face again. Kind of a mindfuck at first, but I got over it.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Channah's Mindscape
When I came here you looked like you hadn't bathed or done any self-care in days.
-Seems to be trying to formulate some sort of answer before speaking-
It's been like this for a while, hasn't it? Since the world kinda crapped on you like it did me.
What caused the other depopulation events?
edited 13th Mar '18 11:13:34 PM by rmctagg09
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.Truth: -crosses her legs and sighs- Flooding, mostly. This island used to just be one mountain in a whole continent. Isolation, a few too many nervous breakdowns, and the odd person or Pokémon dying in front of you are great for downsizing, apparently.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Mauville fountain
Lila stared at the Oricorio.Lila: Eh? Erm, what? Sorry, I don't understand. Do you have a trainer? Woah! That Empoleon is in a bit of a weird position!
I used to plug my deviantart here but turns out the link was too long.Channah's Mindscape
-To Truth-
People? You mentioned what happened to your starter, but not any humans dying on you.
-Crossing arms and looking towards the ground-
I'm sorry you had to see that, and that all that stuff... happened to you.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.EMPEROR: <It would seem she doesn't understand us!>
"It seems to relevant-to-us for us to ignore it..."
off the shitsLucina: <None of them killed my parents. None of them burned Ylisse to to ground...>
-
"Dang that sure is totally poggers my good bitch"Mauville
Banquo: <...Dang, getting trapped in a castle? Sounds like a raw deal.>
-to Duolis- <What kind of mission?>
Whittington
Dawson sighs at the responses and is about to assist before seeing something at Pent's side.
Dawson: -at the Pen- <...What are you supposed to be?>
Ereth might remove the top hat, but Ratigan tries to stop him, either with a Super Fang or by trying to turn it into a slap fight. The Psychics don't help much against him at least.
The Tiarad Basil does nothing in regards to this, just staring forward.
One of the Pokemon, a Liepard leaps in front of Thespi's Hydro Pump And gets pushed into the water.
Hook isn't hurt too much by the fire, thankfully for him.
Hook: <How about this?>
He slashed at Roy with a Night Slash.
Several of the assembled Dark types are knocked out by the Thunder. The Drapion likewise gets knocked out by the Dazzling Gleam. As he and the others get knocked out, however, they seem to turn into some sort of green goop that flows below decks. Colt's team's attacks help as well as the Psychic Terrain spreads across the ship. The Plusle's show of force leads Smee to train the goo laser on the Plusle. It might be hampered by Pyukumuku's Light Screen, however.
The Zap Cannon cuts a hole in the ship's hull. Interestingly though... Tripod could see there's already a hole in it with some water in the lower decks. The ship seems to be floating like nothing's wrong with it, however.
Some of the water-types come up through this hole and start attacking the group as well. Slliuq manages to hold back an Azumarill and Jones manages to help the Lumineon but some still slip through.
Copper, meanwhile, is about to help while Amos scans for a certain someone when he notices Enzo somewhere.
Copper: <...You're hiding? Still? I saw you helping with trying to find his scent.>
edited 14th Mar '18 12:43:15 PM by CorvusAtrox
"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also EveryTruth: -gives the impression that she's rolling her eyes- Pfft. I'm sorry I was such a fucking wimp. It was only a hanging suicide of someone I barely knew, and yet I actually fell apart. No blood, no guts... -shrugs- I guess it might've been that it came after seeing that same person smash some of my team's pokéballs with them inside, but eh. Kinda rough, but mild compared to some people's. Not sure why I can't talk about this in person, would've been a lot easier.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.Whittington
Roy tanks the Night Slash. He’s hurt, yes, but nothing debilitating. To prove that point he makes an attempt to stab Ratigan.
The scarf is loosening.
Meanwhile with Amaterasu and her team, they fired off a few more powerful attacks at the Water-types.
Xatu fired off a Psychic.
Sunny used Psyshock.
Rei, a little too nervous to leave the Light Screen, rained an Icicle Crash on the Dark-types instead - excluding Ratigan; he’s Roy’s.
Pyukumuku bounced between them all, giving them Helping Hands as best she could.
Amaterasu herself actually didn’t attack, favoring to just stand back a distance and admire the carnage. Didn’t mean she didn’t have a few wisps primed for when she decided to get back in the fray.
edited 14th Mar '18 10:37:53 AM by AbsentCoder
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]-the Memito Complex is sitting around. PEFE!Every is choreographing a killbox, Amanita is filling out a coloring book, Brie is reading a book, and Ever is alternately checking his phone and reading over Brie's shoulder-
Brie: Can you stop? I'll read at my own pace.
Ever: Oh, don't worry about m—
-...-
Uh, Brie?
Brie: Huh?
Ever: You may want to see this.
Brie: See what?
Ever: ...This.
-he holds out his phone for her to look at-
Brie: ...Oh. Oh no.
Amanita: What is it?
Brie: Darkness. Over the Lumiose Badlands.
Amanita: You think it's—
Brie: Zemmalise, yeah. Come on.
Ever: Wait, shouldn't we get backup?
Brie: There might not be time. They're dangerous.
Ever: Not seeing a persuasive argument against backup. How are you even planning to get there?
PEFE!Every: Rotary can bring us. We'd have to teleport to outside of the Badlands because of the magnetic field, but it's better than nothing.
Brie: That'll work.
Ever: We're bringing PEFE!Every?
PEFE!Every: I can study whatever these creatures are. Figure out how to damage them more reliably. It worked with Tragedy.
Ever: You don't know that.
PEFE!Every: I am fairly confident.
-Ever sighs-
Ever: I guess we're going the—
Ever: GAH! Don't do that!
PEFE!Every: Sorry.
Amanita: ...I think we're in the right place.
-the other members of the group turn, and see a huge wall of darkness, extending out across the Badlands-
Brie: ...Evidently.
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
-To Dioh-
Eh, I can always make a new one.
-To Ten-
Who knows, you might change your mind one day.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.