Asimov Party

"Hey, don't beat yourself up like that," Colton defended, carefully eyeing Lissa's drinks. "Like I said, I won't let you fall apart," he stated. "which should probably also mean that you should stop drinking. At least for now," he considered.

SATWHUL

-Team Locke and Team Jean are sitting around here looking kind of... Depressed.-

Jackie: Locke is still... You know...

Shizuo: And Gudrunn is still missing...

Jean: Not to mention Multiman and Mobius are still at large and want our heads.

Gabe: And team Iron... and Best Berry..

Neon: And there are probably new threats on the horizon...

Archer: We really can't catch a break can we?

Alex: You said it...

Julius: I don't know how we'll get past our current predicament...

Jared: Guys. Guys. Don't give up. We can do this.

Alli: Yeah!

-she smiles-

There's a new year on the horizon... And new hope.

Happy 7th anniversary to me... and happy new year to the rest of you.

Sinnoh Resort Area

Ever: Nobody ever does. I wouldn't worry about it; I haven't planned a thing in my life and look how I'm doing.

-they casually drape themself across Lucius's lap-

That's your type, you know. Water. You should catch a Piplup.

The Cold Volcano, Palace of Wrath

-The cold blade slides through the Shadow's form, and the form of a seraphim covered in darkness shatters.-

-How could this happen? This is his realm. How could this whelpling-

-A gunshot rings out, and his breastplate buckles before parting for the 7.92x57mm Mauser bullet.-

-The Shadow King is forced to take a knee as his chest flairs with pain. Another shot takes the helmet from his head, blurring his vision and ringing his ears.-

-Tap.-

-Tap.-

-Tap.-

-His senses returning, Shadow Derek looks up at the maniacal grin spreading across the demented girl's face. Flanked by two dark Valkyries, she gives her Gewehr 43 a parade twirl.-

Shadow Derek Morton: How?

-Tanya lets out a laugh. The Valkyries beside her laugh, just a bit too hard, with her.-

Tanya: What can I say?

-She levels her barrel at Shadow Derek's temple.-

Tanya: I'm just a real people person.

*BANG*

The Tippy Motel, Orre

-He had so much planned.-

-He was going to kill the School.-

-He was going to stop Lucius.-

-He was going to get back at that backstabbing bitch.-

-He was… he can't think anymore.-

-His heart seizes in his chest.-

-No, he had so much...-

-So much to...-

-No...-

-No...-

-...-

Nightvale

-A radio crackles to life.-

???: 01011001 01100101 01100001 01110010 00100000 00110001 00110101 00100000 01101100 01100001 01110000 01110011 01100101

-Beep.-

???: 01010101 01101110 01101001 01110100 00100000 01000010 01100101 01110100 01100001 00100000 01010011 01100101 01100001 01110010 01100011 01101000 00100000 01001001 01101110 01100011 01101111 01101110 01100011 01101100 01110101 01110011 01101001 01110110 01100101

-Beep.-

???: 01000001 01100011 01110100 01101001 01110110 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01000011 01101111 01101110 01110100 01110010 01101111 01101100 00100000 01000111 01110010 01101111 01110101 01110000 00100000 01010010 01100101 01110100 01110010 01101001 01100101 01110110 01100001 01101100

-The radio goes silent before resuming its usual station.-

... another of these crazy "mountain" sightings. It was soon found out the witness had a blood alcohol level of 1.45%, according to the official report. Crazy, huh? And thus ends our news for tonight. Remember folks, all Hail the Cloud, and don't forget to lock your closet doors tonight.

Good night, listeners. Good night.

Lumiose City

-Beep!-

-Colette jumps. There it is again. She checks her phone, her backup phone, and then her bluetooth.-

Colette: Merde, where is that beeping coming from?!

-She throws the couch cushions all across the room, trying to find the strange source of the beeping that has vexed her so for the last two hours.-

-Beep!-

-Colette shrieks in indignant frustration as the tiny, barely visible green light on the inside of her golden bracelet finally flickers off.-

Alolan Condo

*WHAMWHAMWHAM*

Ludmilla: I'm coming!

-Ludmilla puts down her sparkling cider - courtesy of her father - and goes to the front door.-

Ludmilla: Yes, what can I-

-Her blood goes cold.-

Phantom Knight: Found you.

-Ludmilla can't help but stare at the seven foot tall tower of black armor in front of her as the Templar brings his sword down.-

-The girl is thrust aside as a blur of pink and white spears her in the side, knocking her senses back into her as well as knocking her body clear of the twenty kilograms of steel aimed at her.-

Doomsday: <God-Franklin-Delano-Roosevelt-Dammit, girl, you need to learn to MOVE!>

-The Phantom Knight smashes through the door frame in pursuit, moving deliberately so as not to be easily juked.-

-Ludmilla's brain, in a haze of panic, lets out a call.-

Phantom Knight: Know your place.

-Blade raised high, the Phantom Knight begins to fade and etherealize as he prepares to use his Phantom Force.-

-Ludmilla's call, however, receives an answer.-

-The island shakes.-

-The trees bow.-

-The grass kneels.-

-The waves prance as would horses on parade.-

-The Phantom Knight turns his head to see a woman standing behind him, surrounded in a corona of fire.-

Pele: Get off my island.

-The Phantom Knight spins as he buries his Phantom Force blade into her shoulder.-

-They both look at the blade, now stuck.-

-Then, they look at each other.-

-Pele punches a fist clear through the knight's armor, and pectorals, and thoracic cavity.-

-A heavily panicking Claydol jumps in and Teleports the knight out of the room, but not without leaving the knight's blade, still stuck in the Goddess's shoulder.-

-...-

-Pele takes the blade out of her shoulder and inspects it before looking at Ludmilla. Poor girl's having... some sort of breakdown. The Blissey is trying to help her, but the girl is so far into her own thoughts she's in actual danger of losing herself in them. Thoughts that Pele hasn't considered in some time. The Goddess thinks for a moment before reconsidering the twenty kilos of… whatever the hell kind of metal this is.-

-Then she gets an idea.-

-She tones down her Aura for a moment before walking over and placing a hand on the girl's forehead. The Blissey panics, throws a few admirably inventive curses, but doesn't interfere.-

-Once the girl's eyes focus a bit more, Pele reaches over and snaps a pieces of metal off of the blade. She runs it between her fingers for a while before presenting it.-

-A small bracelet, made of metal twisted over and over and drawn thin over many pulls, but braided into true strength. Not magical, or at least not that Pele thought. She didn't think the strands of iron she planted in a Diglett one time were magical either, and now here we are.-

-The girl focuses, clutching the bracelet - apparently it reminded her of something, someone, strong. With that, and with a new item to explore, Pele took the sword and left, but not before mentioning that she would burn the condo down so people attributed the destruction to "the Volcano's Whims" rather than have her lose her deposit. This seemed to stir a new flurry of expletives from the Blissey, but by that point Pele had tuned her out.-

The GM House

-Deziree sets the book down. She'd been reading it nonstop. Such fascinating subjects.-

-A metal said to tap into the power of the stars, unlike - or, perhaps, too much like - any Auric artifacts ever seen before.-

-An order of Alakazam monks that acted as mediators.-

-A city built above the same caverns that were home to one of her closest friends.-

-A city determined to end Pokemon conflict... by creating massive walking towers of Metagross Bronze.-

-She needed to get the word out.-

-She also needed to make sure she could take Twitch and Vinegar places without them killing each other.-

-A ricocheting bullet gets stuck in her office door again.-

-Deziree sighs.-

Vinegar: SIT STILL YOU MARMOT!

Twitch: IT'S MY ICE CREAM! MINE!

Champloo: <STOP SHOOTING UP MY KITCHEN!>

Gateon Port

-An easy job, they said.-

-A guaranteed payout, they said.-

-A cakewalk for someone like him, they said.-

-They didn't say there would be a Stoutland running laps around the storage facility.-

-They didn't say there was a Sigilyph patrolling the skies.-

-They didn't say there was a Tyranitar sitting outside the storage container.-

-And they certainly, absolutely, positively did not mention who the container belonged to.-

Dune: Hi.

-...-

Popple: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

IDPD Raid (TS), Near Lex's Module

Cicci: <Eeek!>

Cicci jumps on to Bimbo's back throws up a Protect shield to shave off the attacks lobbed at her and her companion.

Cicci: -Panting, as staving off that many powerful attacks for a small birb is exhausting- <Wow! Hah... We can Protect stall too, you know! I do not have another one of those in me...>

Bimbo pants as he looks around. Surrounded on all sides, he hangs his head low and smirks.

Bimbo: <Cicci... I'm gonna do it.>

The birb pitters around.

Cicci: <Do "it"? What?>

Bimbo: <Y'know... it.>

It takes the Oricorio a moment to ponder, but she finally gets it.

Cicci: <That!?>

Bimbo: <Yeah>

She hugs the Absol's neck and begins crying melodramatically.

Cicci: <Noooo Bimbo, you can't! That's like, a really dangerous and risky move! We might not make it in time!>

Bimbo: <It's a risk I'm willing to take Cicci. So cover your ears and start praying!>

Cicci: -Unlatching herself from Bimbo's neck- <Covering my ears won't heeeeeeelp!>

Despite that, she does cover her head in her pompoms as Bimbo begins singing a deathly wail of a song that reverberates through the corridor of the facility.

The Inspector places a hand on his helmet where his ear would be as Bimbo rattles on his wail.

Inspector Bellucci: Mmf. I've always hated that tune, and now I'll be all out of Pokemon in a short while. So I better get rolling.

The Inspector rubs his hands and then slams them against the wall, a wave of Obscura and Electricity like someone mashed the moves Discharge and Dark Pulse together begins spreading along the walls, floor and ceiling of the corridor.

IDPD Raid (TS), Access Corridor.

The flat of the blade, indeed, hits around the area of where Cytiss's jaw would be.

However, he's wearing a helmet. A sturdy, futuristic helmet at that. So the actual contact of the attack is softened quite a bit.

It does cause the familiar hiss of a helmet unlocking to occur, loosening the object from it's hold.

Inspector Pyferi: ...

The Inspector uses his light refracting telekinesis to slightly singe the hand that Lillianna is using to hold her blade.

Between the Pokemon/UB parties, however, Ctena begins to properly freak out at how close Future!Bishop is getting to her, and begins firing off Thunderbolts left and right trying to strike him.

Ctena: Brrbrrrbbrrrr!

IDPD Raid (TS)

Whatever respite there was, its broken when the hallways begins to spark and The Captain with her GUARDIAN Prototype appear once more.

Though instead of kicking Daydre into the ground it's to punch Cylus square in the back.

The Captain: Tyhmät!

-a particular blue-haired young woman steps out of a portal, sword in hand-

Mezzo: A little birdie told me that you were having a date here, and I wasn't invited.

-the moon bat that opened said portal looks at Mezzo nervously-

Astral: <What are you doing to do?>

Mezzo: What I have to.

-Astral hesitates, then flies through and closes the portal-

PEFE HQ, Access Corridor - Past

Lillianna: Ahh!

-Cytiss's telekinetic singe causes her to drop Tsumugari, and thinking fast, she aims a jab between his legs while Future!Bishop tanks a Thunderbolt and tries to slam Ctena with an Iron Head.-

Asimov Party, Karaoke

-Lissa rolls her eyes at Colton.-

Lissa: Spoilsport. You never let me have any fun.

-She downs the rest of her drink, but doesn't go to grab another.-

Lissa: Still, I appreciate you looking out for me. Even if it means you slapping the drinks tray out of my hand like a fussy parent.

Sinnoh Resort Area

-Lucius smiles at Ever.-

Lucius: Is it? News to me. I guess Water-types are blue, and I always thought Piplup was pretty adorable. I wonder if I could-

-He stops suddenly as Mezzo steps out of the portal, looking for all the world like a Deerling in the headlights.-

Lucius: ...Um, yeah, we... we're on a d-date. I thought that would be okay since you g-guys are open and I'm not d-dating you but maybe I was wrong I'm sorry please don't kill me

PEFE HQ, Past

Everyone: <!!!>

Rowan: <Ah she's back! Bitey do it now!>

Well Mr. Bitey's back from wherever he was hiding and he's aiming a Sucker Punch at The Captain's own back while she's focused on Cylus.

Rowan stands over Daydre's body and sets up a Protect just in case, while Sylvie and The Punisher try to hit The Captain with Psychic and Ancient Power respectively.

Asimov Party

"Hey, if you want to wake up with a pounding migraine exacerbated by bad singing, slightly better booze and exponentially worse sleeping hours, by all means," he shrugged.

"And, to be fair, your idea of fun is really self-destructive."

Edited by AbsentCoder on Dec 31st 2018 at 6:43:48 AM

Asimov Party, Karaoke

-Lissa spends several seconds looking like she really wants to argue against Colton's point, but eventually just gives up and shrugs.-

Lissa: Yeah, you got me there. Try not to read too much into it.

Mezzo: Look, I know you two have something going on and I'm okay with that, but you cannot leave me out of this. It's New Year's Eve! And we've been dating for something like six years!

-Mezzo lowers her sword-

Mezzo: So I'm not going to kill you.

-...-

Mezzo: Yet.

PEFE HQ, far past

Anguis: -Is hit, but since he's a Grass-type the electrical portion doesn't do too much damage-

Pica: -Ditto since Dark-type-

Artemia: -After getting zapped and losing a quarter of her health- <Perish Song doesn't give us that much time... but I have an idea that'll prevent them from getting in even if we're fainted and give the others time to get here, but first we're gonna need to make sure they can't do that again.>

-Shares a wordless glance with Pica and Anguis-

Anguis: -To Bimbo and Cici- <Your singing sucks!>

Artemia: <And it's incredibly unoriginal!>

Pica: -Stomps the ground, causing pieces of the module fall down towards Belluci's team-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Dec 31st 2018 at 9:56:31 AM

Asimov Party

"I mean, I'll admit I'm kinda giving you hell," he conceded, placing a hand on her back. "but that's because I care for ya. You're younger than me, yet you seem to have years' worth more scars. The white hair, the alcoholism, the... uh... promiscuity," he ultimately said.

There were many other things he wanted to say, but he seemed to have lost the words. He could barely look at Lissa. He just looked away, eyes falling on the karaoke machine.

Asimov Party, Karaoke

-Lissa smiles, and puts a hand on Colton's shoulder.-

Lissa: Heh, thanks. I promise, one of these days I'm actually gonna sit down and explain why I'm so messed up. I figure I owe you that much.

-Beat.-

Lissa: Not tonight, though. If I don't manage to get laid at this party I am gonna be so disappointed.

Sinnoh Resort Area

-Lucius blinks at Mezzo.-

Lucius: Um... t-thank you, I think? I promise I didn't mean to leave you out, I just thought you might feel kinda weird about the whole thing.

Edited by Herbert40k on Dec 31st 2018 at 3:08:07 PM

Resort Area.

Almost out of of nowhere, a very familiar short Kyogre-themed man appears wearing novelty 2019 glasses and holding a bunch of corndogs like they're a bouquet of flowers (with some of them having bites taken out of them) approaches the group of of partners in question.

Levi: ...Have I arrived at a bad time?

Asimov Party

"The least I can do is hear you out. It's probably something that'd require counseling to get over, and.. well, I'm not licensed but I've learned to read people like open books," Colton allowed, pausing when he heard Lissa's plans.

"No comment," he ultimately said, grabbing a lemonade. "Just... good luck. I want you to be happy, and if that's what you need," he said before pounding the can. "so be it," he finished as he crushed the empty can against his skull.

PEFE HQ, Tagg's Office

-Holding a bottle of sparkling cider-

Maybe I should've gone to Nimbasa to see the ball drop again... Nah, it's probably extra secure this year due to the rifts and stuff.

PEFE HQ, Tagg's office

-Channah enters, lips curling up in a small smile at the sight of Tagg. She walks over and stands close-

Channah: What're you talking to yourself about?

PEFE HQ, Tagg's Office

-To Channah-

Oh, just New Year's plans. I mean there's only 24 minutes left but who's counting really?

Tagg's office

Channah: Pf. New Year's is so pointless. -thinks- Though it does put all the stuff that happened to us this year in perspective. If I'd gone through all that in my first year with you guys, I uh, probably would've ran away screaming.

PEFE HQ, near Lex, far past

-Brie just sort of crumples, her team going with her. Even Memitos have limits, and three electrocutions in a day while already barely functional is one of them-

Sinnoh Resort Area, now

-Ever blinks at Mezzo-

Ever: Did you not get my Note? I thought I was inviting you.

Note: She was in a bath. Water's not good for me.

Ever: You could have at least let me know you didn't deliver the message.

Note: You're near water.

Ever: ...And you're here.

Note: Not for long.

-they flee-

Ever: ...Well, uh, my apologies. You're certainly invited, though if you'd like to put that sword to use you're fr— ...

Uh, hi Levi. Let's forget that second sentence, shall we?

PEFE HQ, Tagg's Office

-To Channah-

♪Time is an illusion that helps things make sense♪

Or so the [Adventure Time] song goes. But yeah, really puts things into perspective. This time last year just felt mostly miserable, but it's better now.

Cylus went down, his back sore, he'd need some medical spray for that thing, as he got up slowly, Hayon started to charge a aura sphere in his paws.

<In the name of the Grant family, and whatever timeline we create, get away from my brother you sonuva->

He then fired a aura storm, Cylus grinned very pleased that Hayon had listened to him all those years ago about using the TM since they had access to PEFE.

-Mezzo sighs-

Mezzo: Sorry, it was a really long bath.

-she then notices Levi-

Mezzo: Who invited you?

Asimov Party, Karaoke

-Lissa smirks at Colton and gives him a friendly punch on the shoulder.-

Lissa: Thanks, man. Don't you worry about me, I promise I'll be back before you know it. Or not, depending on how lucky I get.

-She stands up and disappears into the crowd.-

Sinnoh Resort Area

-Lucius blinks as he looks between Ever and Mezzo.-

Lucius: Um, that second sentence sounded pretty important, actually.

-He then notices Levi.-

Lucius: Oh, hi Levi! I'll admit, the timing's not great, but I guess you can consider yourself officially invited by me to... whatever this is now. It's more of a mess than a date at this point.