Kai: I'm sure you'll find that there's a lot more to this package than you'd hoped for.

-Before they start moving again, she gently kisses the back of Kahlia's hand. Perhaps Kai herself doesn't feel any lightheadedness, but for just a brief momentary flash, Kahlia might. And then it's gone just as quickly.-

-Kai winks again.-

Kai: So, Boutique Couture, huh? You didn't strike me as the big-money type. What sort of job do you have, if you're also comfortable treating someone like me to a shopping trip like this?

Lumiose City, Boutique Couture

-Kahlia does indeed feel a brief flutter of lightheadedness, and once it passes, the irked edge returns to her smirk.-

Kahlia: Oh? I didn't realise this was a contest.

-Nevertheless, while her grip on Kai's hand tightens slightly, there's no pushback.-

Kahlia: As for my job, well, it's a bit of this and a bit of that. Some cryptography, a touch of electronics... oh, and a little fashion design on the side. It pays well, and it keeps me busy - though I couldn't do it without my team, of course.

Ventrue: ~You flatter me, dear.~

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 12th 2018 at 9:58:08 AM

Kai: That certainly sounds like an interesting job. Maybe when we get to know each other, I could visit you at work~ Assuming I can find the time, of course. The Frontier does keep me rather busy, and I also do have a couple side jobs eating up my schedule as well. It's pure luck you managed to catch me when you did.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jul 12th 2018 at 5:11:59 AM

Lumiose City, Boutique Couture

Kahlia: Really? Then I must be a lucky girl indeed. Feel free to drop in on me whenever, though work does keep me moving around a lot. Perhaps I'll come and visit you instead.

-She leans in for a kiss on the cheek that is likely to leave Kai reeling, and not just because of how forward the gesture may be.-

Kahlia: Pick out whatever you want. Like I said, my treat. See you around, beautiful~

-Without waiting to see Kai's reaction, she turns on her heel and walks away.-

Xylander's Mansion - Past

Xylander does a slightly cheeky chuckle, but doesn't turn around

Xylander: Thankfully for you, we are here~!

By his word, the group was in front of two heavy and ominous looking wooden doors. Xylander, almost nonchalantly, turns to face Levi.

Xylander: Would you do the honours dear~

Levi: -Like a whiny pet dog- Do I have to?

Xylander: Yes. Oh won't you do it for me, love~? Plus I am entertaining your guests, do not forget about this act of generous charity~

Levi: -Sighing- Okay Xy, for you~ And ya go me there.

Levi begins pushing at the doors. After a bit of rather amusing bout of grunting, gasping and struggling. The doors fly open to reveal...

...a rather Modern looking lounge room? Slightly minimalist and sort of... early to mid 00s at the time? Yet there were also aesthetic flavours of a 70s discothèque and 80s underground nightclub - complete with otherworldly pink and blue light.

And was that an... aquarium at the back wall? There wasn't life swimming through it, despite who's domain it was.

All in all, this was a rather strange place involving a goulash of styles. Almost decadent even, despite it's modern minimalism mix aesthetic.

Xylander: -Gesturing- Welcome to, what I call, the Thèque Lounge. Please, make yourself at home, mi casa, tu casa and all that~

After gaining his energy back, Levi bounds onto one of the circular lounges and gets comfortable. Cheekily gesturing to Lucius after he does so.

Edited by PippingFool on Jul 12th 2018 at 9:38:16 PM

Xylander's Mansion - Past

-Lucius blinks again at the incongurous furnishings of the lounge.-

Lucius: Uh... again, wow. I think I'm gonna be saying that a lot tonight. Is there a drinks cabinet in here anywhere?

-He flops himself down next to Levi.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 12th 2018 at 2:02:09 PM

Lumiose Park

-Pent's back here again. But this time, perhaps in happier stead as he sits amongst his pokemon, preparing some Poffin on one camp stove as something akin to a stew simmers away on the other. The whole scene feels... Quaint. If nothing else, it feels like at least for the moment he's shed a little bit of the accumulated weight of his adventures and had come back to being merely a trainer with a close-knit team-

So... Tomorrow I'm going to try and call a meeting. We can't just sit here in the city when Mobius is out there trying to solidify the dimensional merge.

Gallade♀: <Alright. What about us? Any prep we need to do?>

Unless you guys can infiltrate and even if you can I wouldn't advise it, I think we'll need to prep for combat and maybe airship combat tactics. The only point I'm unsure on is how much force we can afford to bring.

Revol: <Well you've got a sword, obscura, whatever the rest of the Team can provide and of course a certain mon. You don't lack for options.>

Sure but it's a matter of whether these people have done anything evil enough to make it right for me to go all out. Their leader's on a motive that is technically good even if it doesn't justify the means in the slightest and their methods aren't actually morally charged like Cipher...

Shift: <Eh, you can clear that up when you get the meeting going.>

Yeah, I guess. So yeah just thought you lot deserved to know this stuff before I try and be active...

-Kai's heart flutters as she's kissed on the cheek. And before she can really respond, Kahlia's already gone.-

Kai: ...Oh gosh...

-She only snaps back into reality when a Pidgey flies in and pecks her.-

Kai: Ow!

Nix: <Really, Kai? Really?>

Kai: Come on, I've been wanting to get insight on human Aura Vampires for a while, this is an excellent chance.

Nix: <I don't have to be a mind reader to be able to tell you were just really, really thirsty.>

Kai: Nix I have never felt so betrayed by you

Nix: <Sucks to be you.>

-Kai pouts, and continues on to browse the shop-

-Scarlette just spends her time looking around, until Lucius mentions drinks.-

Scarlette: Oh, shit, count me in. Especially if it's better than the shitty barely-beer Lucius keeps in stock all the time.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jul 12th 2018 at 10:12:01 AM

Xymansion

Levi chuckles as he begins affectionately running his hands through Lucius's hair.

Levi: Eheheh! We just got here and you two are already asking for where the booze is!

Levi closes an eye.

Levi: I gotta say, you two are pretty direct with what you want, heh~

Levi scruffs Lucius's hair, while Xylander sighs and rolls his eyes.

Xylander: -In a sarcastic and over the top, melodramatic voice- Why, we only just arrived here and you two wish to drink me out of house and home? Not even ask politely despite being in the presence of a high god? Why, I should smite you on the spot for such an indignance!

Levi: Hey, don't scare 'em Xy.

Xylander: But scaring them is fun

Levi laughs as he looks between Scarlette and Lucius.

Levi: I know you guys wanna get straight to the hard drinking, but remember - you are in Xylander's house here, and things are done a lil' differently round these parts.

Xylander: Indeed~

Xylander takes off his long robe and places on a hanger, revealing that he is wearing only vivid blue jeans underneath those elegant, long gown.

Xylander: Geez that thing is stuffy, but The Aesthetic Yes, first thing's first: Before any drinking of any alcoholic substance takes place, we drink a nice round or two of tea~

Xylander places himself on the other side of the couch Lucius and Levi are lounging on and looks between Lucius and Scarlette with a single X pupil.

Xylander: I hope that is not a problem for you two~

Xylander's Mansion - Past

-Lucius reddens slightly at Levi's remark.-

Lucius: Hey, that just means I get straight to the point. Besides, I didn't hear you complaining last time. Nor do I hear Scar complain about my beer when she's usually the one drinking it.

-He then blinks as Xylander disrobes and goes even redder, nodding at him while trying to look everywhere else in the room but at his chest.-

Lucius: Uh, um... wow. Okay. Sure, if that's, er... if that's how we do things here. I mean, we are guests...

-He takes an empty tea cup and mimes sipping at it without thinking twice, eyes still wandering all across the room.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 12th 2018 at 4:23:18 PM

Sapphire House - Workshop

Bryan: "...where'd you get those?"

Isbrand: "Ladies' secret."

Bryan: "Is that...legal?'

Isbrand: "Is a grenade launcher?"

-Bryan gives her an unamused look.-

Bryan: "Legally it's a firework launcher."

Isbrand: "Then legally these are laser pointers and flare launchers."

Scarlette: ...Ah. Right. Sure. Yes.

-The panic she had so expertly managed to mask up until now breaks through her expression for just a moment, before she forces it back down.-

Scarlette: A-ahem, I hope you won't be too upset if I don't follow your example, and remain fully and entirely clothed here. I can understand Lucius wanting to see a few birthday suits, considering the occasion, but I'd very much like to not be involved if it comes down to that.

Guardiana

<And so soon after we got back,> Xatu sighed. <The scout ruse was a distraction. Who didn’t fight?> He announced into the backpack.

Sylveon, 9-Volt, Rei, Pyukumuku and Caliburn materialized.

Pyukumuku got thrown around by Rei and 9-Volt as she glowed blue before Rei pile-drived a Pawniard and 9-Volt nuked another.

Sylveon caught a few in a shout of <WE JUST GOT BACK> while Caliburn picked up the slack.

Ambiguous Location, Friday the 13th

July 13th. What a beautifully self-defeating date. July, the seventh month, the lucky number. And thirteen, the unlucky number. He liked to joke that the two canceled each other out, although a Friday The Thirteenth could always occur in July. He liked to pretend the day was made with him in mind. A day that was barely even acknowledged, considered another day, but had some tangible meaning if you stayed long enough. A day that was only worth notice if it had any meaning to you.

As it should - it was his birthday.

On the table in front of him was a lemon sheet cake big enough for about four people and twenty-four ‘mons. Sighing, he cut off a corner piece and slowly chewed a bite of it, not really even noticing the flavor. He had replaced his gray jacket with a new, fuzzy one that would compliment the feel of Talbain’s fur. It was his birthday gift to himself.

Sighing, he shoved the piece of cake away. He couldn’t have his birthday parties alone anymore. He couldn’t even cry about it, he just covered his eyes with a hand and sighed before he felt a complete lack of emotions.

Behind his back, Amaterasu - wearing a Great Ball Choker - used her trainer’s phone to quickly send out a message.

Amaterasu set the phone in her pocket before she teased her trainer’s peripheral vision with a few of her tails, each with a few wisps on them.

Now entranced, her trainer joined her on the couch, gripping a few more tails and wrapping them around himself while Ammy Extrasensory’d the cake over and ate it herself. The phone buzzed with a message from Micah that they’d be there soon, but neither noticed.

“I don’t think that’s the quote,” Roy considered, having grabbed the phone, looking if there were any mentions of Lilina. He had also put on a Great Ball choker, his hair being a Blaziken’s plumage rather than his red hair, red feathers coating his legs and his fingers ending in talons. His armor had been replaced with a black t-shirt and blue jeans that clung to him rather well, actually. Though he kept the cape. No reason why. The Sword of Seals rested on his legs, the juxtaposition of such wondrous technology in his hands not lost on him.

“It’s true, though,” Amaterasu refuted, having forced a choker onto her trainer’s neck, the Lycanroc gijinka leaning into the pets on his mane, tail thumping against the couch as it wagged.

Colton’s eyes opened, and stopped glazing over. He looked at Amaterasu, seeing the crumbs of lemon cake on her shit-eating grin. Colton’s eyes turned red, that part of Lycanroc biology a constant in his half-human form.

“I love these idiots,” Roy sighed.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jul 12th 2018 at 1:49:35 AM

PMD-Rune

-Isbrand and Shaun share a look.-

Shaun: <Shall we?>

Isbrand: <Let us take care of this.>

-With a few deft movements, she releases a Houndoom and Mega Evolves them, one of her earrings glowing.-

Isbrand: <Ready to kick some ass, Hellfire?>

   Hellfire   : <I SHALL BURN THEM ALL!>

Isbrand: <Good boy.>

-They charge forward into battle. Shaun looks at Beowulf.-

Shaun: <Wanna beat the shit out of that knight?>

Beowulf: <He's no knight. No valor or chivaly.>

<I would be delighted.>

Ambiguous Location

~Knock Knock~

I can smell cake in there. Also hi!

Xymansion, Past

Lucius and Xylander look between Scarlette and Lucius (and their antics), look between each other, and look to Scar and Lucy again before bursting out into laughter.

Xylander: Oh this is a riot. Thank you Levi, I am having a wonderful time entertaining these two guests~

Levi: You're welcome habibi~ ❤

The two calm down.

Xylander: Anyway, someone should probably get on with actually brewing that tea.

Levi: Yeah, someone should.

There is a rather long and, to others, slightly unnerving staring contest between the whale and the deer - which the whale wins

Levi: I'm cooking tonight~

Xylander sighs in defeat as he gets up from the couch.

Xylander: You win this time, Levi. Though, shouldn't you be starting with all that cooking soon anyway? Considering all those slow cooking dishes you're so terribly fond of~

Levi: Eh, I'll call Celb and scratch up a deal to get those absolutely perfect. You're meant to start them the day before, remember?

Xylander rolls his eyes, and begins heading towards a strange door that presumably leads out to a kitchen of sorts.

Xylander: Were you mortal I'd advise against calling on the gods for such trivial matters. But you are technically a god now and I can't say I haven't called on others on similarly trivial matters.

He opens the door.

Xylander: See you in about, oh, five to ten minutes. Give or take~

Xylander disappears behind the strange door, and Levi chuckles with a smug grin.

Levi: Heh heh, he certainly is a character ol' Xylander - isn't he?

Xylander's Mansion - Past

-Lucius watches as Xylander disappears, before his attention snaps back to Levi with a jolt.-

Lucius: Huh? O-oh, right, yeah... sure is. A right old cad if there ever was one. He's very, uh... very deliberate. Yeah.

-He manages to contain himself for about twenty or thirty seconds before he speaks again.-

Lucius: ...Do you think he needs any help in there? We should probably check. Safety in numbers and all that.

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 12th 2018 at 2:09:34 PM

Ambiguous Location

“Perfect!” Colt hollered at the door. “I’ve been practicing my olfactory illusions!

“Of course there’s cake! Sorry if you don’t like lemon,” he apologized, still speaking loud enough for Pent to possibly hear.

Amaterasu and Roy both composed themselves and sat up straight, but looked at the door or Pent, depending on if he entered.

Ambiguous Location

-Yep, Pent's heading in here and looking around. Some sort of hastily-wrapped (By which I mean brown paper and twine??) rectangle gift in one hand-

Heya... Was there a second text message or something I missed that had the dress code? Why's everyone wearing collars?

Ambiguous Location

-a certain black-haired trainer abruptly strolls in after Pent. She doesn't seem at all embarrassed by the complete lack of a present in her hands-

Channah: -gives a half-hearted wave-

Ambiguous Location

"It's less scratchy than the scarf," Amaterasu explained.

"I think it looks nice," Roy chimed, running a talon through his plumage.

"Ammy entranced me and then put it around my neck when I couldn't defend myself. It was inconsequential enough that I couldn't feel the need to, but," he trailed off as he yanked the choker off and stuffed it into his jacket.

"Oh you brought something. Thanks. Uh, to be honest, I've completely forgotten the procedures for a birthday party, at least in my honor. I just buy a sheet cake, eat a few slices, stick it in the freezer and then it lasts until the 20th," he explained.

"Yo," Ammy casually chimed to Channah.

Scarlette: Holy shit Lucius, control yourself, he'll be fine.

-She clears her throat and calls out to the other room.-

Scarlette: -cough cough- Hey, big X, Lucius might need a larger cup of tea, with how ridiculously thirsty he is right now.

Ambiguous Location

Huh, alright. Was getting a little concerned that I'd be invited to wear one myself.

-He chuckles slightly but like, there's some realness in his words there as he sets the present down and grabs some cake-

Xymansion

Xylander: -Calling out from the kitchen- Got it~

Levi merely blinks at Lucius

Levi: Wow Stumps, an I though I was shameless~

Levi ruffles Lucius' hair again.

Levi: You're cute, you know that Stumps?

He accentuates this with a peck to Lucius' cheek.

Edited by PippingFool on Jul 13th 2018 at 1:43:59 AM

Ambiguous Location

Channah: -goes right to the food, brightening slightly upon seeing the cake- Lemon~

Titus: -to Colton, tail thumping- Hey there, big guy. Been a while. ¡Feliz cumpleaños!