Pewter City

Lucius: Yeah, I get that. Been feeling a bit directionless myself as of late, honestly.

-Another beat.-

Lucius: ...Sorry. About... well, about a lot of things, but mostly about not getting back in touch after, y'know, everything that happened. So... yeah. Sorry about that.

Edited by Herbert40k on Jan 19th 2019 at 11:16:21 AM

Pewter City

Samantha: No no, it's alright! I'm the one buggering off to the woods to punch Ursarings in the dick until I feel emotionally fulfilled, here.

Pewter City

Lucius: Hey, I can think of worse ways to find emotional fulfilment. Like buggering off to go punch gods in the dick until karma punches you right back.

-He gives a laugh that sounds just ever-so-slightly forced.-

Lucius: Honestly, you're reminding me a lot of my pal Scarlette right now. I'm sure you two would hit it off.

Pewter City

-Samantha tilts her head-

Samantha: Scarlette? Who's that?

Pewter City

-Lucius smiles.-

Lucius: My best friend, as of fairly recently. We bunked together for a while. She likes beer, flannel and girls, not necessarily in that order. You can see how we hit it off.

Pewter City

Samantha: Well, damn, she sounds right up my alley! Where d'you find these people, Lucy?

Pewter City

Lucius: Er... y'know, around.

-His gaze drops to the ground as he rubs the back of his neck again.-

Lucius: Aaaaanyway I've got a pretty small social circle these days, but that's fine with me. I like the company I keep.

Clavis HQ

Martin: All opposed?

-As the approving hands fell, no opposing hands were raised to keep Linant.-

Martin: Very well. Effective immediately, Linant and the Mercador-Clavises will be cut off from Clavis Industries Inc. Now...

-Martin takes out his notes.-

About the scandal and public relations...

-Martin looks at Ren.-

Renard. You are supposedly the expert on this sort of thing. Consider this a test to see if you are worth including in Clavis Industries. What is your proposition on how we can mitigate the fallout with our investors and with the general public?

-Ren sighs.-

Ren: -in thought- The overture is over.
The curtain starts to rise.

-out loud- Well I can't say I didn't see that coming after I provided you with the evidence against Linant.

-Only four humans in the room knew Ren provided the info to Martin, and it likely showed. One human in particular didn't like not knowing.-

Gunther: Where did you get it?

Ren: -with the most theatrical shit-eating grin- Sorry Uncle Gunther, but that would be telling. Suffice it to say that I acquired the info well within the law.

-Ren doesn't elaborate further, but a few chuckle at how Ren was able to stop Gunther cold and simultaneously leave such an expression on Gunther's face with two sentences.-

-Eric chuckles and gives an appreciative wink to Ren.-

Ren: But as this is a direct request from the acting head, I shall do my best to play my assigned role.

-Ren breathes.-

Ren: From what my company has gathered from both social and news media, there is really one solution. "A spoonful of sugar" is needed to help them swallow the scandal. Firstly Mercador-Clavis Industrial needs to be dealt with. My recommendation for the one who should take over the company and its assets is Aphrodite.

-Ren nods at silent lady across from him.-

This makes sense from both a business and public relations stand point. Aphrodite is a competent head and her own company has some overlap with Mercador-Clavis. So she would be the best one to manage it.

-Strictly speaking, there were other Clavis heads whose company overlapped more than Aphrodite's, but Ren pressed on.-

Ren: It will also do the most good for appearances for the public and investors.

-A few heads cocked their heads and/or eyebrows at this, not quite connecting the dots. Gunther included.-

Ren: Aphrodite has a public history of working against organizations and individuals that threaten the world's safety. Appointing her would appease the public in the short term and alleviate much worry that Clavis Industries encourages such behavior. Also since the company would then belong to Aphrodite, the name Mercador-Clavis would no longer be applicable.

-Some other heads nod in agreement seeing the logic.-

Gunther: But what about our investors.

Ren: For Arceus' sake uncle, don't you know it's impolite to interrupt someone when they are monologing?

-Gunther once again was stopped cold and looked like he was being forced to eat a nomel and tomato berry simultaneously.-

-Martin actual gives a thumbs up at Ren.-

Shale: <Sick burn.>

Ren: But yes, as Gunther so rudely pointed out, our investors will be pleased in the long term since, as we are well aware of Aphrodite's extreme competence at handling multiple businesses that deal with sciences and technologies.

-Ren stops there and looks at Martin.-

-Martin looks like he's seriously considering everything that Ren has said.-

Martin: That is... Sound logic and I actually find my self hard-pressed to find any holes in it from a business stand point.

-Martin breathes.-

Well then. It's a couple of weeks early, but I think this is the most opportune time for it... By show of hands, all those in favor of allowing Renard Clavis, head of Clavis Media and Talent Advisory, to officially join Clavis Industries Inc. and partake of the benefits as a full member of this board...

-Martin and Eric raise their hands.-

Pewter City

Samantha: Better'n me. I don't have a lot of people at all.

-shrugs-

Maybe I ought to fix it?

Clavis HQ

Abraham swiftly raised his hand, proud of Renard.

Foxverse

Colton almost fired at the four newcomers until he mentally reconstituted a little more humanity. Shoving aside the thought that he almost killed them, he got back into formation and leaned back, snapping his fingers and cloaking his ship in a star-studded black bubble.

Pewter City

-Lucius shrugs.-

Lucius: Up to you. I can give you Scarlette's number, and hey, it's not like we have to be strangers. This is all way less awkward than I thought it'd be.

Pewter City

Samantha: Yeah, it was! Uh...

-she smiles-

Would you want me to change that?

Ultra Forest

Channah: Heh, sure. Without the Pokémon interruptions, maybe.

Pewter City

-Lucius suddenly turns very red.-

Lucius: W-what do you mean?

Pewter City

Samantha: Oh. Oh, I didn't mean it like that.

-she blushes, shaking her head-

Samantha: Was just a joke. Y'know. Cuz you said it was less awkward, so I, like, offered to make it more awkward. Y'know. Cuz it was funny.

-she smiles again-

Samantha: See? I did it!

Pewter City

-Lucius looks equal parts relieved and embarrassed, and that blush isn't going anywhere.-

Lucius: O-oh, right. Heh. Mission accomplished, I guess.

-He smiles.-

Lucius: Seriously though, it's been good seeing you again, Sam.

Pewter City

Samantha Yeah, it was. So, uh...lemme know when you want to introduce me to, uh. Scarlette!

Pewter City

Lucius: Don't you worry, I've got the whole thing planned out. Candlelit dinner, a full string quartet providing the music, rose petals scattered all over the bed ahead of time... the whole nine yards.

-He grins.-

Lucius: Or I could just give her your number and let things go from there.

Pewter City

-Samantha laughs-

Samantha: That's why they pay you the big bucks, Lucy. Yeah, I'll have her number.

Ultra Forest

-Notices an Ultra Wormhole forming in the sky-

Guess that'll be our ride out of this place.

Clavis HQ

-Daniel raises his hand-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 19th 2019 at 8:01:39 AM

Pewter City

-Lucius smiles, then scribbles down the number on a scrap of paper and hands it over.-

Lucius: There ya go. Consider that my good deed for the day. See ya around, Sam. And keep in touch, okay?

-He starts to walk away, pulling out his phone and texting as he goes.-

Ultra Forest

Channah: Oh, good. That wasn't bad at all.

Ultra Forest

-Getting on Helios and waving goodbye to the assorted Kartenvoys-

I'm seriously getting bad vibes from this convenience, but it's not like we have any better choices. It's been more than two weeks and no one's shown up to rescue us yet.

Ultra Forest

Channah: -likewise gets on Lo- Probably not for lack of trying. Or maybe, who knows. Welp, let's see where this takes us.

Ultra Forest

-Flying up-

Yeah, let's.

???

-Upon making our way through the Ultra Wormhole, we find ourselves in a wide expanse consisting of numerous craters filled with boiling water with what appears to be a mountain range in the background, metal pipes akin to roots going through the earth, geysers spewing water, red, pointed monoliths, and Celesteela planted in the ground.-

So this must be... Arundi's homeworld. The Ultra Crater.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 19th 2019 at 8:28:40 AM