PEFE HQ, sometime afterwards

-Stumbling towards the J-Team modules when I finally see Ever's text-

-Kai is not awake.-

-They're still getting the rest they need, clinging tightly to Alice.-

-Perhaps a bit too tightly...-

PEFE HQ

Solana chuckles.

Solana: So another day in the life of the J-team, eh? Heheh, just like old times-

She hears Channah's goodbye.

Solana: Ah, fair. See you around Channah.

She looks back to Tagg.

Solana: Wait, Limna was stolen from you-

She then notices MGMT!

Solana: MGMT old buddy! Aw, how'vya been!

She hugs her eely friend.

Michelle: <Heh, that's great shrimp>

Roderich: ~Excuse the insinuation there, then. Still, it's nice to know that my daughter has such a loyal... friend, that that friend would follow her wherever she goes~

Meanwhile, the strange couple shower their daughter in hugs and licks.

Satine: {...Hito, darling! Oh you're so big and mature now...! ...You look wonderful!}

Lifealope: {...What has been in your life recently... Dama dear...?}

Edited by PippingFool on Aug 30th 2018 at 10:34:26 PM

PEFE HQ

-Alice is awake, though she hasn't moved for several hours. If she has any complaints about Kai's clinginess she hasn't raised them yet.-

-That might be because she's also clinging to Kai, occasionally glancing over at their phone with an ever-so-slightly anxious expression.-

Team Iron Base - Past

Lucille: Um... I dunno if those were the exact words I used...

-She glances down at the ground, now flushed a shade of red usually unique to traffic lights.-

-Kai twitches a bit.-

-And a bit more.-

-And suddenly jolts awake frantically, clutching at Alice's arm.-

Kai: ...

-It takes a moment for them to process being awake, but they relax.-

Kai: ...Good morning.

PEFE HQ

-Alice flinches slightly at Kai's sudden grip, but then relaxes, rolling over to face Kai with a concerned frown.-

Alice: Good morning. Is everything alright?

Kai: Yeah. Just... bad dream. First one I've had in a while.

-They sit up, rubbing their eyes-

PEFE HQ

Alice: Ah. I understand. It's been some time myself.

-She disentangles herself from Kai as they sit up, but remains lying on the bed.-

Alice: Is there anything I can get you? Tea, coffee, breakfast, maybe?

Kai: That sounds... nice. Breakfast sounds nice. Coffee... maybe. Only really like the stuff with a shitton of hot cocoa mix dumped in it.

-They reach for their phone.-

Team Iron Base

Janet raises a curled hand to her face and looks away. She the same dignified shade of red that Lucille is right now.

Janet: You... really think I'm that great...?

PEFE HQ

Alice: Okay. I think I can do that.

-She gives Kai a smile and a small kiss on the cheek, then gets up and disappears into the kitchen.-

Team Iron Base - Past

-Lucille manages to look back up at Janet, still blushing but with a smile spreading across her face.-

Lucille: Well... yeah. You're the first real friend I've had in... ever.

Edited by Herbert40k on Aug 30th 2018 at 3:41:36 PM

Team Iron Base, Past.

A shy smile has crept upon Janet's face

Janet: Well... To be honest... I haven't really had any what you'd call "bonafide" friends since I left the farm so...

She twiddles her index fingers.

Janet: I guess that makes us each other's first bonafide friend?

Team Iron Base - Past

Lucille: ...Yeah. Bonafide friends. I like the sound of that.

-She takes Janet's hand and gives a wide smile... which breaks into a yawn after a couple of seconds.-

Lucille: Man, all that crying really tired me out. It's a long walk back to my room, too... I'd ask if I could crash here, but I'm kinda worried about... y'know, her.

-She rubs the back of her neck nervously.-

Team Iron Base

Janet strangely enthusiastically assuages Lucille's

Janet: Oh no! It's no problem Lulu, I'm sure nothing will come of it. If you're too tired to head back to your room, then you're just too tired. I don't mind you staying for the night even though, um, I only have one bunk and so, uh... that means we kinda of hafta, yannow... share.

Janet's Herdier rolls his eyes at Janet's comments as she flushes a shade of red not on human record.

-Kai smiles, cheeks flushing slightly, and they check their phone.-

-And they squeak at last night's messages.-

Kai: Oh gosh Brie texted me. Um, thank you for letting Brie know I was safe.

-They start typing.-

PEFE HQ

-Alice calls back to Kai from the kitchenette.-

Alice: You're welcome.

-She emerges with a tray of toast, a mug of hot cocoa, and a black coffee, which she puts down on the table next to Kai.-

Alice: I... I hope you don't mind me seeing your messages and using your phone. I just thought Brie ought to know that you were alright.

Team Iron Base - Past

-Lucille blinks at Janet's enthusiasm, as though she wasn't expecting such a reaction, but after a moment gives a wide smile regardless.-

Lucille: Oh, uh... don't worry, that's fine! Just fine. As long as you're okay with it, that is. I mean, I don't mind sleeping on the floor, but I think I'd be more comfortable sleeping with you.

-She says this without any change of tone or apparent acknowledgement of the words that just passed her lips.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Aug 30th 2018 at 4:12:24 PM

PEFE HQ

-PEFE!Every is leading the two back to the safe parts of HQ, rambling about science-

-it may become apparent to Vi, Daydre, or Aurelius that the specific science she's discussing involves helping with the creation of the bosses that attacked Lumiose-

Lumiose, hospital

-Brie and Amanita are sitting in the lobby-

Brie: They're sure you're okay?

Amanita: Yeah, it was just a bad cut.

Brie: Alright, good.

Amanita: Where'd Ever go?

Brie: They went off to go be antisocial somewhere. They're worse than Every when they're in a bad mood, I swear...

Amanita: Hm.

Brie: Apparently everyone's meeting up at PEFE?

Amanita: Oh, cool. Too bad our teleporter apparently ditched us.

Brie: Uh, maybe I can ask someone there to come get us.

-she picks up her phone after having not been checking it for a while-

-immediately before Kai sends their text, they receive one-

-presumably in response to Alice's text earlier-

-then there's a lot of typing, though not the kind that appears and disappears, so it mostly just suggests there's a lot to say-

PEFE HQ

-Tagg receives a text back-

Team Iron Base

Janete.exe has stopped working.

Her Herdier boofs and licks at Janet, causing Janet.exe to reboot and answer Lucille.

Janet: Oh I am more than okay with it! After all, the floor is uncomfortable and cold. It'd be much nicer to sleep in a warm bed with another warm body. Right?

Janet also seems unaware about what she just said, too giddy to realise that words also have implications as well as meaning.

Herdier: -Whining- <You two are so hopeless.>

Arthur has not slept one bit, he spent all night at a computer terminal learning about how much has changed and what this "J-Team" has been up to. Sleep wasn't that important, he had "slept" for 600 years and was the kind of person who could work on only a few hours at best. It was incredible to see how much had changed over all this time, and frightening to see how common stuff like that Mobius attack was.

"So much for peace."

In that time he had begun to learn about what had changed in culture, popular culture, and so on. He was surprised to learn that the J-Team had a cult follow, several websites dedicate to them, and even no less than 2 TV-Shows made of them, and a third one in progress.

"What is this team?"

Denali walked over, looking frazzled, their suit just a undershirt and pants, hair a mess, and two cups of coffee in hand. They set down one of the cups for Arthur who took a look at it and proceed to drink, "Oh, hot."

"Yeah it works better that way," Denali said straightening their hair, and shifting back to Diancie form to get a better "reset".

<So, what are you up to?>

"Research. Haven't slept."

Denali whistled, impressive for the fact that they were a mass of rock and gems wearing a dress. They looked over as Arthur had gone on several wiki walks, and was looking at a page that sold games. They smiled.

<Well today, we're establishing your new identity.>

Arthur looked over at Denali, "Really?" he asked looking skeptical.

Denali resumed human form, looking refreshed, "Yep. I've been making identities and backstories for years, this is my latest one. Denali Dia Mondes. Previously I was Denise Dupree, oh the 80s were fun."

Arthur blinked, he supposed it made sense, "So... do I have to give up my last name? Do I have to be Arthur Callaghan?"

Denali shrugged and shook their head, "No you're good. We're living in a skeptical age, people are more likely to think you a lookalike, nobody's gonna seriously think you're actually the legendary hero. Especially not with that silver hair."

Arthur looked at his hair and had a hard time processing that, "Wait... My hair will hide my true identity as a man long dead? Really? The hair?! That makes no sense!"

"You'd be surprised what people are willing to let go despite the obvious. That website you have open, Truthnfiction, and the Ghost Lord? Many on there are certain that Umbra's either a distant descendant or just a lookalike, and the two look literally the same so."

Arthur blinked and wanted to argue, but he decided to just count his good graces, "Any other reports?"

"Other than a Rose Paula situation, it isn't common enough," Denali said, they looked over to the readers and winked.

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Who are you winking to?"

"I'm not I got a dust mite in my eye."

Arthur sighed, "So this artifact, so long as I wear it I am human."

"Yep, Lycanthropy however makes it so in the daylight you don't need it. Now let's find us a-"

"Denali, friend, I think I'll stick with the artifact. Simpler than a day night rotation, that seems easily abusable."

Team Iron Base - Past

-Lucille nods, apparently too tired to note the impact of what was just said.-

Lucille: Right, yeah, definitely. I've spent too long sleeping in that icebox I call a room anyway...

-Being as tired as she is, she barely has enough time to casually strip off her armour before flopping down on the bunk.-

Lucille: So... I guess this is goodnight, then.

Kai: It's fine, don't worry. I do wanna ask that you promise to only read what's relevant when I'm out cold like that, but I figure you did that anyway.

Lumiose

PEFE HQ - Kai and Alice's Module

-Alice nods.-

Alice: Of course. I promise. I know that you would do the same in my position, but I'm glad you trust me to that extent.

-She smiles, then starts sipping at her coffee.-

Lumiose City, Abandoned Warehouse

-In the same warehouse where they held their last meeting, a pair of Pokemon-themed cosplayers supervillains are hanging around, idly trying to get a game of table-tennis going on top of a set of crates.-

Whiptail: So. Giant airship shows up, unleashes a whole bunch of kaiju, then fucks off. Weird, right?

Aeroraptor:    Are you kidding? My friend, that kind of EEEVIL is what all true supervillains strive for!   

Whiptail: Whoa, okay. Dude, you're at a ten right now. You need to bring that down to like, a seven or an eight.

Edited by Herbert40k on Aug 30th 2018 at 5:26:37 PM

Team Iron Base

Janet reclines on the bunk, blushing and burying her face into a pillow.

Janet: Yeah! Yeah... Goodnight then, Lulu... Have nice dreams...

Janet trails off as she begins to doze off, a smile on her face.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Aug 31st 2018 at 12:54:08 AM