-Kai falters, but shakes their head.-

Kai: Don't worry, it was just a bit of a rough morning. I don't want to make you fret too much.

-They offer a smile-

Kai: I'm really glad to see you two.

Stormchaser

Alice: Ah, understandable. I shan't pry. In any case, I am glad to see you as well.

-She leans in for a quick peck on the cheek, then turns to Brie with her hands folded behind her back.-

Alice: The same goes for you too, Brie. So, any idea what we should be doing for the occasion?

Lumiose City

Lumiose Bench

“It’s not a class, really,” Roy clarified. “It’s just something a friend of mine asked me to look into.”

Wow, you are getting really good at these half-truths! Roy mentally congratulated, but his expression softened at the mention of a spouse.

“Lilina,” he muttered, wistful. “But yeah, he has a point. Can you afford to be so frivolous?” He asked.

-Kai's cheeks flush a rosy red in contrast to their previous pallor.-

Kai: Well, I didn't really have anything in mind, you were the one who suggested something between the three of us. If anything, you should be leading.

-They wink.-

Stormchaser

-The corner of Alice's mouth raises until it becomes a smirk aimed at Kai.-

Alice: True. In that case, may I suggest a movie night? Rather cliche, I know, but it seems like something you would enjoy, and an opportunity to obtain a nice bottle of wine to celebrate your fifth anniversary of being able to drink in Kalos.

-She takes Kai by the hand.-

Alice: You can choose the movie, since I fear anything I pick would seem horribly outdated. I will choose the wine, and then between us we can decide what we should do from there.

Lumiose

Ludovic: -confused- Can I... Oh, you're talking about monetary discretion. -laughs- It's awfully kind of you to caution me, but frivolous pursuits are the one thing I'm not bound to muck up, as far as I can tell.

Idris: <Quite. My dear master is always mucking up nearly anything that is not the noble vocation of Collecting Bric-a-brac.>

Ludovic: Something like that. -cocks his head and smiles sympathetically at Roy's wistful tone- I certainly know that look. It's strange how the closer you get to someone, the lonelier you sometimes feel.

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Edited by Umbramatic on Aug 21st 2018 at 8:06:56 AM

Lumiose Bench

“Bric-a-brac?” Roy parroted. “That’s a term I’m unfamiliar with, but I’m guessing it’s basically various luxuries.

“And that’s entirely fair,” Roy allowed, absentmindedly running his finger through the many pages of notes he had. “As many new friends as I’ve made, I haven’t seen her in almost eight months, now,” he estimated.

Lumiose City

Lumiose

Ludovic: 0_o Eight months? I hope this is a long-distance relationship, because -

Idris: <We should leave now, master. I am rested and there is no need to talk to this common cretin.>

Ludovic: -plaintively- But we just sat down! It won't hurt, Idris. Roy here is perfectly pleasant company so far. And now I feel bad for him.

Idris: <Harrumph.>

Ludovic: Anyway. That must be rough. Do you keep in touch?

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Edited by Umbramatic on Aug 21st 2018 at 8:30:20 AM

Lumiose Bench

“I wish,” Roy sighed, resting his head in his hand and his arm on the armrest. “It was something I had no control over, unreasonably sudden and now we’re worlds apart with no known way to reliably get back together.

“But I have been slowly building a relationship with another friend of mine named Sunny,” he comforted, mostly to himself.

Lumiose

Ludovic: -appropriate look of concern- That's good, if it makes you feel a tad better. But Xerneas, random acts of god are just horrid, aren't they. If I were sent away from my Cayenne for that long, I'd... -shudders- Too unpleasant! Not going down that avenue! Ugh... Anyhow. I can only hope your situation improves.

Lumiose Bench

“Well, honestly, it didn’t really feel that long. Maybe because of some of the things I’ve done to keep myself distracted,” Roy considered. “But speaking of, does your beau get impatient? I really hope I’m not holding you up too much.”

Lumiose City

Lumiose

Ludovic: -flicks his hand- Oh no, I'm usually the one waiting on her.

Idris: <Master does not get out much.>

Ludovic: Too right. Am I holding you up? On your... not-class-related folder.

Lumiose Bench

“Actually I’m waiting on Sylveon and Mae to come back with the-“

<Yo! Roy!> Sylveon hollered from a few dozen metres away, running towards him with Mae in pursuit, the former holding a bag and a drink holder with three different cups of tea in her feelers.

“Tea.” He finished. “Honestly, this can wait,” he said as he patted the books. “He’s not expecting my research to be done for a while, and even then I’m close to a breakthrough,” he figured.

When Sylveon finally made it, Roy grabbed the closest cup and drank. It was iced, which threw him for a bit of a loop, but he recovered.

Lumiose

Ludovic: -gives a friendly little wave to Mae and Sylveon-

Idris: -looks disgruntled at the re-appearance of the mons-

Ludovic: -wry smile- I'd ask you polite questions about what you're researching, but I think I already demonstrated my thoroughly-unscientific mind. I will say your friend is lucky to have someone to act as both a research assistant and Pokemon caretaker. Arceus knows I couldn't do either.

Edited by Metanoia on Aug 21st 2018 at 9:15:13 AM

Lumiose

<He does a rather good job dealing with all the crap the three of us put him through,> Sylveon said, chugging half of her tea in one go and looking at Mae, who had also finished a chug in perfect unison.

Roy grabbed the 1000 Pokedollars in the beverage tray and stuffed it in his pocket. “Yeah, not to be rude, but I don’t anticipate you to understand it. Idris might understand what the book’s talking about but not necessarily what I’m looking for,” he reasoned.

Lumiose City

-Brie snaps out of a daymare about sitting down for a test she hasn't prepared for-

Brie: Uh, yeah, good to see you too, Alice. ^_^

-she glances at Kai, waiting for their response-

Hey! It's another spag from dear Morp here! Shoutout to Herbs and Tan for spagging this with me~

Part 1: Cyllage City - Château de Nile.

Cleo de Nile is moseying about room, idly flicking through files but otherwise still being in a sort of downer mood when not interacting with her precious pups.

Cleo: Mmph. What to do, what to do...

She opens a file drawer and flicks through some files, reading a few before closing the drawer with slight frustration.

Cleo: Hmm, no. Khal told me that there weren't any recent acquirements to review or subordinates who need their knees caved in lately, and to relax for the week - that I need to relax because I've been high-strung lately and he's worried about me... Hmm.

Cleo looks over to her Holocaster, and ponders more.

Cleo: Hmm, I could dial up Pippi and have a long gossip about the upcoming wedding, but considering how close the wedding is and how intense she is about planning, I'm not sure if she has the time.

Cleo then moseys over the business card she keeps in her Holocaster case.

Cleo: ....Maybe.

Pimpernel, who up until now has been preoccupied with self-grooming, looks up at Cleo with the most affronted expression a dog can manage.

Pimpernel: <No. Absolutely not. Don't tell me you're even considering it. I can't believe you give that thing pride of place, like it's not some calling card he leaves for every girl he's managed to dupe.>

Cleo lowers the Holocaster with a flat expression as she turns to her snarky canine companion.

Cleo: Excuse me, did I ask for your opinion on anything. Pimpernel?

Pimpernel: <I just thought you ought to know what you'd be getting yourself into. I know his type.>

Cleo: From what, personal experience with such men?

-Pimpernel's ears raise as he reels back on his haunches and tries to stammer out an indignant response.-

Pimpernel: <I... of c-course not! As if I would ever... I've heard rumours, that's all.>

In the corner of Cleo's Room in the Pokemon Suite, Pakhet is curled up on a plush bed surrounded by soft pillows and with an empty bottle of Fireball in the centre, sighing in sadness.

Pakhet: <These conversations aren't even as fun as they once were anymore. Oh how I miss Monty, Charlie...>

Charles: <I miss him too, but still, we can't let it get on top of us. You've seen what it's done to Cleo... she and Leo are still at each other's throats, but not in the fun, kinky way anymore. It's left this whole household on edge.>

Pakhet scootches closer towards Charles.

Pakhet: <I hope that... we find Monty soon. I feel like we all miss him dearly... Well, maybe not Leo, but the folks who matter do.>

-Charles puts an armblade around Pakhet.-

Charles: <Trust me, he does too. He's worried in his own way. That said, you're right... I just hope he's okay, wherever he is.>

Cleo grits her teeth and casts the Holocaster aside on her bed.

Cleo: Fine. I'll amuse you just this once, Pimpernel.

Cleo flops onto her bed.

Cleo: I am thoroughly bored though. My puppies have all had their weekly wash and walk and are currently having their beauty naps, so I can't exactly bother them at the moment... Hrmph and Hmm...

Pakhet's ears perk up as the fox gets an idea, and telepaths that idea to her trainer.

Pakhet: ~You know, maybe we could battle people on the competitive circuit once more- or at least beat up rich kids for their money at the Battle Chateau like we used to. It won't be the same without...~

Pakhet shakes her head.

Pakhet: ~But, yannow, it's something. A good fight is always at least a lil fun'...~

Cleo looks over to her Delphox as she ponders and assess Pakhet's idea. After a bit of musing, she closes her eyes and nods her head.

Cleo: Yeah...! Yeah! Beatin' up some other rich kids for extra spending money sounds like a blast at the moment! Sure, It's been a while, but I still got the kick! Yeah!

Cleo walks over to her PC and begins shuffling around her Battle Box.

Cleo: I'll just set myself up a team and then we're good to go to the Rivière Walk.

She looks over to Pakhet.

Cleo: Do you wanna battle, Pakhet? Or still suffering the effects of your near constant hangover?

Pakhet: ~Negative. I'll just watch the spectacle from the bleachers with my near constant hangover. Thank you...~

Cleo then turns her attention to Pimpernel.

Cleo: I'm guessing your response is also a "no", Pimpernel.

Pimpernel: <I'd much rather be rejoining the professional battling circuit from a trainer's perspective, thank you very much.>

Cleo: Thought as much, I'm guessing you wouldn't take to well to being ordered around on the battlefield.

This comment raises a chuckle from Pakhet, who is content with just chuckling and leaving it at that, despite Pimpernel's glare.

Pimpernel: <I would be perfectly capable! I'd simply prefer not to put myself at risk of injury, and I thought you would share the same opinion, what with how much time you spend fretting over my coat.>

Cleo walks over and gives a pat to Pimpernel's "Top Hat".

Cleo: Yes, yes. Your coat is beautiful and I do spend a lot of time perfecting it each week, so I suppose you have a meagre point there.

Pimpernel's tail subconsciously wags with satisfaction as Cleo looks over to Charles and Pakhet.

Cleo: Come along you two, let's get out of this stuffy old mansion and beat up some rich kids for their money for a few hours~

Pakhet jumps up, staggering a bit from the hangover recoil.

Pakhet: <Yay! Beatin' up rich kids for their money! At least on my top 10 things to do~ What do you say, Charlie~?>

Charles: <I suppose it would be good to give the old armblades some exercise. It's been far too long since I used Psycho Cut for anything other than slicing fancy cheeses.>

Pakhet: <Cheese is pretty good tho.>

Charles: <Oh, no denying that. It's one of the finer pleasures in life. Alongside beating up rich kids for their money, of course~ You won't object to me taking orders from someone else for a while, will you, Leonard?>

Pimpernel shakes his head.

Pimpernel: <As long as you don't mind being shrieked at by a domineering harpy in the midst of battle, then not at all. Though that reminds me that I really ought to check in with the old team, see how they're getting along...>

Cleo ignores Pimpernel's snarky remarks and gets prepared.

Cleo: Okay then! Just let me get a few more things set, and then we can head off to the Battle Chateau and beat up some rich kids for respite and a few extra pennies~

And more spaghetti with Herbert and Pippi! Thanks also to Crow for being our German Weird Al.

Part 2: Kalos Route 7

The berry fields alongside the road sway cheerily in the light breeze.

Cyclists coast over the level pavement, perhaps cheating their pedometers a bit, but at least they're getting some fresh air.

The cracks in the sky loom ominously, perhaps an inch or two closer to the ground than yesterday...

And, out of one of them, a jalopy descends to the earth in meteoric freefall.

???: aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

CRASH!!!

The back door falls off the wrecked vehicle, liberating a few Grey alien plushies, miniature replicas of the World's Largest Twine Ball, and mouse-themed headbands from a charmingly eldrich swampland.

The driver's door refuses to swing open, so it, too, is amputated by a Charizard arm, the rest of the dragon following it out of the vehicle, her apron swaying in the breeze.

Bonfire: Finally, Kalos! Did anybody tell you they were constructing so many new multiverse exits on the Dashedreams Turnpike, Noir?

In the shotgun seat of the car, a fist punches a hole through the roof before the other door opens revealing a pitch black squiddy lookin' lady with red markings and wearing a pair of shades and one of those mouse themed headbands.

   Noir: Can't say they did, Bonnie old pal. Those fuckers don't tell me shit!   

   ...But that could also be because the city is rather empty and all the folks in town are newbies who don't know jack.   

Bonfire: Wait, then who's running the DDOT?

Dashedreams Department of Transportation

Two Rattata run on a wheel powering a coffeemaker.

Occasionally, the coffeepot overflows, streams of coffee spilling onto a map, indicating where the new infrastructure is to be constructed.

Kalos Route 7

Bonfire: ...anyways, look! This is exactly the kind of place snooty rich Kalosians come to walk their Furfrou, right?!

Noir chuckles as she looks around, raising her shades for a better glimpse.

   Noir: Hmmm.... Yep! This is the place alright! Where snooty rich kids walk their snooty rich dogs and battle in their snooty rich battle castle   

Noir rubs her hands with a low chuckle.

   Noir: Speakin' of snooty rich people and dogs! Whaddya think ever happened to that heartbroken rich girl we, ehehehe, helped a few years back, Bonnie my dear~?   

Bonfire: Hmm... if I had to guess, I would say that her beau is still under his curse, they have elected to try their odds at the Battle Chateau, and today she is wearing a sunset coloured crop top, olive shorts, camo OTK socks, brown laced boots, a purple and navy exotic-ish newsboy hat with a pink flower pin on it and a purple purse with tassels.

Noir gives a jovial punch to Bonfire's shoulder.

   Noir: Don't pull my tendrils, Bonnie! As I said, if they hadn't figured it out yet - than I am wrong! And I am never wrong about these sorts of things Bonnie, old pal~   

   Noir: ...Though that is a weirdly descriptive description on someone's clothing. What makes you say all that?   

Bonfire: Because they are walking into the Battle Chateau building as we speak.

She points the way to what is clearly the forms of Cleo and the very and not human Furfrou form of Leonard/Pimpernel about to enter the Battle Chateau.

   Noir: ...   

Noir begins to fume, clenching her fists in anger.

   Noir: ...How!? HOW!?   

Her hair and back tendrils begin lashing out in all directions.

   Noir: HOW DARE THEY MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME!? OUT OF THE MIGHTY NOIR!!   

The Charizoid entity massages the tar girl on her back.

Bonfire: Maybe beau's a furry. Or they really are just that clueless.

Bonfire: Of course, you know this non-development demands... non-inaction.

Noir smiles as she seethes.

   Noir: Oh, yes~! They shall have their punishment! Yes! Or more accurately, she shall have her punishment! Ehehehehee~!   

At the Battle Chateau's bridge, Cleo looks over to where the sounds of thrashing and lashing are coming from.

Cleo: You hear a commotion going on over there, Pimpernel?

Pimpernel's ears and tail are both pointing at the sky as he responds.

Pimpernel: <Indeed... and whatever it is, I don't like it.>

Pakhet also looks over to where the sound of commotion is coming from and shivers slightly with a gulp.

Pakhet: <You get a bad feelin' about this, Charlie?>

Charles: <Yeah, I do... there's a nasty scent in the air. Kinda like burning tar and... coffee?>

Pakhet sniffs the air.

Pakhet: <I'm gettin' the faint scent of... chocolate chip cookies as well?>

Bonfire: CORRECT YOU ARE, MY FIREFOX FRIEND!

Atop the facade of the Battle Chateau, a familiar tar-like Squiddy Lady and her Charizardy Companion stand. Looking down on the pair with smug smirks of satisfaction.

Cleo, bemused and bewildered, points at the two and shouts in shock.

Cleo: You two!?! AGAIN!?

Pimpernel: <Oh no. No no no no no no no. I am not going through another of your humiliating rituals again!>

Bonfire: She remembers! That I... am BONFIRE!

   Noir: And he remembers! That I... am NOIR!   

Bonfire: But do they know who we are together?

   Noir: Together we are...   

Noir and Bonfire pose ever so dramatically as they leap down from the rooftop to the bridge.

Both: NOIR AND BONFIRE!

Confetti rains down behind them from an ambiguous source.

Cleo blinks at them and stamps forward in an attempt to power through the two and get into the Chateau.

Cleo: No I am not doing this. I absolutely refuse to engage with whatever loony horrible plan you wish to inflict on us. C'mon everyone, lets ignore these clowns and get going.

Pimpernel: <No argument here.>

Charles and Pakhet: <Agreed.>

Bonfire: Noirrrrr they're being mean!

As Cleo and the 'Mons try to push through, Noir pushes them all back with her tar-like tendrils.

   Noir: Awww, come oooooooon! We're merely here to help you~ Won't you just hear us out~?   

Cleo flails at the sticky tendril touching her.

Cleo; Ech! Get it off! Get it off.

As Noir relinquishes her touch, Cleo folds her arms and pouts at the two delinquents.

Cleo: Tell me why should I trust you? Last time we talked you played a rather sad trick on Leonard over here.

Pakhet: -to Noirfire- <It's Pimpernel now, at least when on the clock like this~>

Pimpernel snorfs indignantly.

Pimpernel: <Thank you, Cleo, for deigning to use my actual name for once. Anyway, while I may once have had some grudging appreciation towards the two of you for assisting with my resurrection, that has since been outweighed by all the caveats that came with it. I have no wish to see what kind of "help" you have to offer now.>

Bonfire: Good news then, pupper, we won't help you. I mean, you've had years to learn how to break your curse and clearly haven't tried, it wasn't that deep, was it Noir?

   Noir: Indeed! In fact, it was so simple that even an idiot could have guessed it quite easily~!   

Noir looks at Pimpernel and Cleo with a smug smile.

   Noir: I guess I made a fool's assumption by assuming you two were smart enough to figure it out by now~   

Pakhet: <There was a fix the entire time? Huh, I thought it was just a comical quid pro quo. Whaddya think the cure might be, Charlie?>

Charles: <Um... I might have an idea, but I don't think I should be mentioning it in these circumstances...>

Cleo snarls at Noirfire.

Cleo: Listen, why the fuck should I trust you when you two were and are nothing but mocking and obtuse? I am done here.

   Noir: But I am not, young spitfire~   

Bonfire: You we will still help.

Bonfire is quite suddenly wearing a home improvement toolbelt filled with paint swatches as she holds a square level in the air, framing Cleo's face.

Bonfire: Yes, yes, her aesthetic is lacking something, isn't it Noir?

   Noir: Indeed! I feel like she could use a few nips and tucks here and there! For a more slinky and seductive style   

Cleo, by this point, is understandably creeped the fuck out.

Cleo: G-Get away from me! Pakhet!

Pakhet grabs her trusty Magic Stick and waves it at Noirfire.

Pakhet: <Hey! Get away from my trainer you creeps!>

Pakhet waves a circle with her stick, creating a ring of fire and blasting it towards the malicious duo from Dashedreams. At the same time, Pimpernel leaps forward.

Pimpernel: <Don't you dare touch her!>

He attempts to tackle Bonfire with a Take Down, while Charles goes for Noir with the Psycho Cut he was so looking forward to using.

Bonfire tosses the square away.

Bonfire: No doubt, this pair is lacking symmetry.

She blocks the Mystic Fire with a tray of sugar cookies, stuffing the endearingly browned and suddenly-freshly-baked confections into Pimpernel's mouth. They are, distressingly, delicious.

Pimpernel: <Ack, no, chocolate! My one weakness...>

Noir, meanwhile, whips away Pimpernel with a single flick of one of her tendrils and gets Charles' armblades stuck in the tarry consistency of another one of her tendrils. With two more, she holds Cleo in place, who at the moment is slightly paralysed with fear.

   Noir: And symmetry here shall be! Now, lemme just check my recipes~! Ohohoho~   

Noir pulls out a recipe book labelled "Curse Cookin' for Dummies" and flicks through the bookmarked curses.

   Noir: Hmmm... No, no, no, definitely no, maybe, AHA!   

Noir dramatically places a finger on one of the pages.

   Noir: THIS curse! "Rock Me, Felidaeus"! A perfect combination of opposite and symmetry~ Whaddya think, Bonnie dearest~?   

Bonfire: Ah, perfect!

Bonfire switches on a jukebox and begins backup dancing to Noir's cursing. Cleo snaps out of her shock caused supor and begins pulling at her sticky restraints.

Cleo: H-hey! Let go of me you, you, you weirdos!

Noir doesn't let go, and instead, and both she and Bonfire continues on with their curse that sounds eerily like strange foreign-language fluke hits from the 1980s.

Bonfire: Sie war ‘ne Reiche
Und sie lebte in der großen Stadt
Es war in schönes Relievera
Wo sie alles tat

Bonfire: Sie hatte Probleme desweg'n sie kämmte
Ihre Coiffwaffe die sie liebte
Und die sie rief
Come and rock me Felideus

Suddenly; huge, goopy orbs billow down from the tendrils restraining Cleo in her place and begin enveloping her, swirling around her limbs, the shadows, strangely, looking less and less goopy and more... fluffy.

   Noir: Du wirst ‘nen Felilou
Doch gar nicht populär
Vielleicht sogar erschreckt
But still du bekommst Flair \\   

   Noir: Du wirst hier Weremon
Genauso wie Leonard
Und so ich ruf
Come and rock me Felideus   

-Pakhet, panicked and worried for her trainer, charges towards the billowing glup but, like Charles and Pimpernel beforehand, is easily restrained by another one of Noir's many tendrils while Noir and Bonfire's chanting gets more intense as they reach the climax of the chorus.-

Both: Felidaeus, Felidaeus! Fel-i-daeus!
Felidaeus, Felidaeus! Fel-i-daeus!
Felidaeus, Felidaeus! Oh, oh, oh Felidaeus!

-Pimpernel snarls and makes one last attempt to break free from Noir's tendrils.-

Pimpernel: <Get off of her!>

-It's no use. First because Noir's body has the consistency and stickiness of molasses. Second because by now, Cleo's body has been completely covered by gloopy obscura with red sparks and lightning billowing around it-

   Noir: Come on and rock me, Felidaeus!   

Bonfire: (Felidaeus!)

With that, the pulsating, sparking orb explodes, leaving the entire vicinity covered with splotches and patches of obscuric tar.

Cleo, however, is fine and not covered in tar. Just incredibly weirded out, slightly nauseous and momentarily stupifeid.

Cleo: ...

Noir holds her cheeks with glee.

   Noir: There! All done~   

She releases Pakhet, Charles and Pimpernel from her sticky grasp. Pakhet, instinctively, tries to clean off the sticky feeling to no avail (even though there is no obscuric gloop left on her body).

Pakhet: -While licking her arms- <Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. That was so gross! And to think this is who I persuaded with limited edition alcohol to bring you back from the dead, Charlie boy!>

Charles: <I know... I feel like I need a shower...>

Bonfire: Oh yeah, got any more of that limited-edition stuff?

Pakhet: <After that stunt? No.>

-Meanwhile, Pimpernel instinctively continues to charge at Noir, jaws gnashing.-

Pimpernel: <Get back here and face me, you scoundrels!> Noir slowly turns around to face Pimpernel with a Cat Smile on her face. Moments before reaching her face, he is prevented by two tendrils suspending him in midair.

   Noir: Now, now Doggo. Calm down~ The damsel in distress you're white knighting for is perfectly fine~ See~?   

Noir turns Leonard around to face Cleo, who is still momentarily too shocked to talk.

Pimpernel: <Wait, wha- Cleo?!>

He simply stares at her for a moment while Charles holds an armblade to his mouth and tries not to chuckle.

Cleo, meanwhile, has finally shaken out of her stupor and and raises a fist to Noir and Bonfire.

Cleo: <What the fuck was that all about!? What did you do to me, because I know you did something! Also, put him down you miscreants! When did you two get so tall?>

Noir holds a hand to her chest, feigning offence.

   Noir: Miscreants? We are not miscreants! We are simply public servants bettering the lives of all those around us, aren't we Bonnie old girl~?   

Bonfire: Mm-hmmm! I thought the song was pretty clear about it. Do we need to play the localized version?

   Noir: No, I don't think so~ It's more fun to figure all that out on one's own. Don't you think~?   

Bonfire: True. Not like http://translate.google.com/ is hard to access or anything~

Bonfire: So! Why don't we go check out that cute donut shop we passed on the way here?

Bonfire gestures to the cratered clunker in the middle of the route.

   Noir: Sounds like a date, darling~   

Pimpernel would offer more opposition as they turn to leave, but is still busy staring at Cleo.

Pimpernel: <You... y-you're... they...>

Pakhet finally gets a good opportunity to look over to her trainer.

Pakhet: <Great googly-moogly!>

Charles: <Holy smokes!>

Cleo blinks at Pakhet, finally able to understand her after all these years.

Cleo: <Huh?>

Cleo actually gets a good look at the fist she's shaking at Noir and Bonfire.

Mostly, she realises she's no longer shaking a human hand at the pair, but a feline paw.

Cleo: <Eh!?!?>

Cleo examines herself. Her body is now covered in shiny periwinkle fur with cream points, her cheeks now have fluffy whiskers attached, her ears are big, pointy and cat-like.

And she has a tail.

Cleo: <Eh!?!?>

Cleo scampers over to the river to get a look at her reflection, and what she finds looking back at her.

Is the reflection of a Purrloin.

Cleo screams. Well, she tries to scream, but it comes out more like the sound felines make when a car crashes offscreen in a cartoon.

Cleo: <I'm-I'm-I'm a....>

Cleo begins wailing again, kicking her legs.

Cleo: <CAAAAAT!>

Pakhet shrugs to Charles.

Pakhet: <Honestly, we kinda shoulda seen this coming, right Charles?>

Charles: <Probably, yes... though honestly, this was not the direction in which my theory was going.>

Pakhet: <We should probably be plan out that theory and all other theories once we get back to the Chateau de Nile... Though that might be a little more troublesome now that we can't use the front door...>

   Noir: It's a good look on you, sweetcheeks~   

Cleo: <Y-You turn me back right now or I'll...! I'll...! I'll->

   Noir: You'll what?   

Cleo realises she doesn't have an answer for Noir and looks down, flicking her tail in frustration. Noir, pleased and amused, drops Pimpernel and gives a noblewoman's laugh.

   Noir: A cat for a lady and a dog for a gentleman! A suited pair~! Now, Bonfire, shall we go visit that adorable little donut shop now that our work here is done~?   

Bonfire duct-tapes the doors back onto the jalopy.

Bonfire: Ready! I can taste the maple-bacon now, mmmm~

   Noir:: So off we shall go! To new decadent and delightful heights!   

As the car starts with an ill-sounding wheeze and begins to reverse up into the sky rifts, a familiar musical ring strikes up around Pimpernel...

Pimpernel: <Oh come on, this is the worst moment f->

An aura of light surrounds him, and a familiar musical sting drowns out his complaints, until the light, ribbons and noise fades and a male human figure in a t-shirt and short shorts is left standing where Pimpernel was.

Leonard: -or... for...

Pakhet looks between the human Leonard and Purrloin Cleo and gives a sigh and a chuckle.

Pakhet: <Oh, he is going to milk this for all it's worth.>

Charles: -finally letting out his pent-up laughter- <Of course! That's why this is going to be so much fun to watch~>

Pakhet: -Chuckling as well- <Oh, if only Monty was around to see this, he would be having a real laugh riot right about now...>

His annoyed scowl gives way to a small smile as he just realises the position he's been placed in.

Leonard: ...I take it back. This was the best moment for something like this to happen. Aren't you just the cutest thing~!

He kneels down to pet Purrloin!Cleo. Cleo growls at Leonard in annoyance, though it's ambiguous whether the annoyance is at Leonard or at Pakhet and Charles (answer: It's both).

Cleo: -Deciding to direct her anger at Leonard- <Mrrrrph! What are you doing Leonard?>

Leonard: Just making sure your coat's nice and even. After all, you must've been pretty shaken by the whole affair, Cleopatra.

He gives a smirk... which quickly fades as he realises he's only adjusted her first name by one letter.

Cleo: <...Now Leonard. I know you Cains only barely count as Kalosian to most of the other noble houses, but really? The best name you could come up with for me is my own name spelt the way the damned [English] spell it?>

Pakhet: <Ooh. Sick burn!>

Leonard: H-hey, it's a work in progress, alright? I figured the [English] would be a good fit for your stuffiness... and I have plenty of time to come up with a better name, Hatshepsut.

Before Cleo/Hatshepsut has a chance to quip back at Leonard, Viscountess Julia wheels by, stopping as she passes the scene.

Julia: Vrrr.... COMMENCING ANALYSIS.

Julia: ...

Julia: SUMMARY: YOUR CAT IS 102% ADORABLE.

Leonard looks up at Julia, smiling.

Leonard: Why thank you! She really is just the cutest little thing, isn't she? She's just so tiny~

-He kneels down to pet "Hatshepsut" again, which is answered with a nice, big, bite that causes Leonard to recoil.-

Leonard: Ow! Okay, maybe I deserved that, but at least now you know how it feels...

He turns back to Julia with another smile on his face.

Leonard: Sorry you had to see that. She can be a bit... territorial sometimes.

Hatshepsut stands in a sassy position, mentally thanking the stars that she can actually stand on two legs still.

Julia: IT IS NO MATTER

Julia: CATS ARE THIS WORLD'S OVERLORDS UNTIL ROBOT PENETRATION REACHES CRITICAL THRESHOLD

And she continues into the Battle Chateau.

"Hatshepsut": <Well, that was weird.>

As Julia disappears inside the Battle Chateau, Hatshepsut looks over to Leonard with crossed arms.

Hatshepsut: <I've hoped you realised something, Leonard.>

Leonard looks back over at Cleo with a raised eyebrow.

Leonard: What? That it feels ever so slightly humiliating to be fawned over like some pet Pokemon whom a trainer has made your personal project? I can't think of a single moment when that might've occurred to me over the last couple of years.

Hatshepsut: <No, none of that. More like what are we gonna do about the fact that now I'm going to spend a great deal of time as a Pokemon!>

She gestures to herself.

Hatshepsut: <You're officially dead! You've got no obligations or duties whatsoever, and nobody will raise an eyebrow that you're missing for large swaths of time because, once again, you're dead!>

Leonard: Rude.

Hatshepsut: <I am the heiress of a very large, important, and incredibly ethical Hotel business Cain! I've got duties to perform! Hotels to run! People's kneecaps to cave in! How am I gonna do all of that as a cat!? And moreover, how are we gonna prevent people getting suspicious! Hell, how am I gonna get maman and papa to not worry and fret about me with all the times I won't be around!?!>

Leonard holds out his hands defensively.

Leonard: Hey, calm down, okay? Just relax. We can figure this out together. I have a lot of experience when it comes to dealing with these rather unique circumstances, but what won't help is you running around clawing at things like a... well, like a stray Purrloin.

Pakhet and Charles finally approach Hatshepsut.

Pakhet: <Don't worry! Charlie and I will also be here to help you with your sticky predicament Cleo... Sorry, Hatshepsut. Won't we, Charlie old boy?>

Charles: <Oh, that we will. Having two psychics who've spent enough time in your company to passably imitate your voice should come in handy when you've locked yourself in your office with all the paperwork you have to deal with, right?>

Pakhet giggles

Pakhet: <And now you can understand everything we say. That should be fun, right~?>

Hatshepsut rolls her eyes.

Hatshepsut: <I am blessed. Truly I am.>

She looks up to Leonard.

Hatshepsut: <So, what now? I'm guessing that battling at the Battle Chateau has unfortunately been cancelled.>

Leonard: Oh, I don't know about that. I've been meaning to pick my old team back up for a while now... but we could do with a mascot.

Hatshepsut grumbles at the mention of "mascot".

Hatshepsut: <...Well. If you're going to be picking up your old team, that means we should head over to the Pokemon Village first, then right?>

Leonard: That we should. Let's hit the road, then, shall we?

He starts walking off towards the east, humming merrily as he goes.

Hatshepsut: -Rubbing her head with her paws- <...This is gonna be a long, long stretch.>

Hatshepsut toddles after Leonard, Pakhet and Charles in tow.

Edited by Tangent128 on Aug 21st 2018 at 10:04:09 AM

-Kai grins-

Kai: I'm always down for a movie night. We can browse for one, I'm sure we'll find something on Netflix. I hope you'll forgive me if I'd rather not pursue the more euphemistic meaning of "Netflix and chill" tonight, of course.

-Diane snatches a note out of the air.-

-She smirks, rolling her eyes, and slips out of the room.-

Lumiose

Idris: <Hmph. I want no part of any such thing.>

Ludovic: -to Roy- While I'm the least-useful member of my family for that sort of thing, I'd be happy to lend a hand if there is anything we can do.

Idris: <Master, you should not go about offering to help the riffraff. It sets a bad precedent.>

Ludovic: -fondly- Oh, hush.

Lumiose Bench

“Riff-raff?!” Roy parroted, indignant, but he caught himself when Sylveon and Mae looked at him, the former with trepidation and the latter with confusion. “Er, sorry. Appreciate the gesture,” he nodded to Ludovic.

<And no one’s forcing you, Idris,> Sylveon acknowledged. <But it’d be much appreciated~> she feigned being high on Skittynip.