Ersatz alliance

Silversmith nearly cursed, but he bit his tongue and averted his eyes from the front.

Silversmith: "Ow..."

Edited by arishipshape on Apr 15th 2019 at 3:21:50 PM

Halis has decided reading in this environment is impossible and puts away the book, noting the sound of a new voice in the midst of all this with no clear source in the crowd.

Halis: "Hm... where'd that come from?"

-Tsukiko sweatdrops at Mew's collision with the salt circle.-

Tsukiko: It's security. Uh, do you think you could help out with the crowd in the front, boss?

-Speaking of the circle, it appears to be inlaid into the tiling, with a glass covering over it. The arc of the circle seems to cover much more than the hallway and the Protected Department, although it is still noticeably an arc — no Flat Circle Theorists allowed here.-

-Tsukiko pulls over a small desk, positioning it so that two legs are on each side of the circle, and sets the paper on it.-

Tsukiko: All right, there we go! Just sign there, and you'll be free to do your shopping from this point on.

Ersatz Alliance, Protected Department Hallway

-Lucius tilts his head in confusion at the arcircle, before shaking his head and deciding to stop contemplating the non-Euclidean geometry before it gives him a headache.-

Lucius: Uh, okay. Here goes nothing, I guess.

-He bends down and signs his full name on the paper.-

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Ersatz Alliance

Mew: ~Okay, okay...~

-blip!-

A woman wearing pink, fluffy clothing appears out of nowhere at the front desk.

Benz: I can 𝓗𝓮𝓵𝓹 the next guest~!

Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?

The Stormchaser, probably

Vi is watching the news.

Newscaster: "And in one of today's biggest headline in science, entrepreneur and one of the pioneers of modern-day deep-water exploration, Doctor Hitomi Ryougi, has announced that, in partnership with Doctor Sybil Clavis' Clavis Research Ventures, her project for a underwater ocean laboratory and habitation, the Seabase One, is set to begin operations in a few weeks. Here's what Doctor Ryougi had to say in a press conference this morning:"

Siobhan walks in.

Siobhan: "Is... that your mom?"

Vi: "Yes."

Siobhan: "You don't sound too... enthused to be seeing your mom on TV."

Vi: "You get used to it when it happens often."

Siobhan: "... Yeah can't relate that'd be awesome no matter how often it happens."

Vi: "You say that."

Siobhan: "Yeah, I do. I wonder what a hypothetical kid of mine would think?"

Meanwhile, in the Lilifuture, IDPD HQ

Yunuko is currently punching a punching bag with a wanted poster of Vi and Siobhan taped onto it.

Stormchaser, Present

Siobhan: "I think they'd agree with me."

Vi: "If you say so."

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.

From the near-back of the line, they notice the brightly-colored attendant appear, and it reminds them of someone they've already met... yet, this one is clearly different.

Halis: "...Well, now I know where the noise came from, at least. That's a nice color."

They appreciate the aesthetic choices of Benz from an (un)safe distance.

-The signature glows pink for a brief moment, before returning to normal.-

Tsukiko: Great! I'll get this filed right away. If you have any more requests, feel free to ask!

-And she takes the paper back to the back.-

Ersatz alliance

Silversmith still winced. His tongue hurt. He hadn't noticed the Mew collision and transformation, as he was still averting his eyes.

Silversmith: "Next guest? ...Uhhh, that's me isn't it?"

He looked forward and approached the front desk.

Silversmith: "Uhh, greetings. *gulp* I-I-I... *inhale* I am here to make a purchase! However, if I understand right, uhh, you have to complete a challenge of some sort. *mops brow* So... to buy a trans—"

Silversmith began to choke on his words, but repeatedly hit his forehead with his fist and pressed on.

Silversmith: "To buy a transformation scarf, you must complete a challenge, to my knowledge. Wait, I already said that... *gulp* sorry... What is the nature of this challenge?"

His hands grew more clammy, but he attempted to keep his determination.

ersatz alliance

Kat: We're just browsing at the moment.

Cady: Yeah, um, which products involve having to do the thing with the salt circle?

I used to plug my deviantart here but turns out the link was too long.

Reversal Mountain

Rin grumbles, but follows.

Lycanrow, Ominous Box Room

Skadi: "No, in fact that seems like a terrible idea. Cover me."

They hop down, cautiously approaching the box and making an investigation check.

All are significantly abnormal in a normal world... All are significantly normal in an abnormal world.

Ersatz Alliance

The proprietor tilts her head.

Benz: We have challenges for the defective merchandise because of Rules, but that's only if you want the broken stuff, silly~ ♥

Edited by Tangent128 on Apr 15th 2019 at 4:22:36 AM

Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?

Ersatz Alliance, Protected Department Hallway

-Lucius nods in slight bewilderment as Tsukiko scurries away.-

Lucius: Okay then. That was... needlessly complicated.

-He shakes his head, then starts browsing the Protected Department, actually looking to buy clothes in this ostensible clothing store like some kind of weirdo.-

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Ersatz alliance

Silversmith: "Thank ARCEUS. You hear that, world!? "Broken"! It's DEFECTIVE! INCORRECT! WRONG! Not normal!"

He realized the awkwardness of his shouting.

Silversmith: "...I am so sorry. I'm afraid, today at least, I do seek defective material. *shudder* I gave my word that I would enter my home through a wall... You don't happen to have anything else that could do that for me, do you?"

Ersatz Alliance

Benz: ...I have a bulldozer.

Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?

Unlike before, they don't seem too perturbed by the yelling, likely due to lacking the enhanced hearing of their Lopunny form.

Halis: "...Meh. Normal's boring anyway..."

They're more surprised about the bulldozer comment, however, but only slightly.

ersatz alliance

Cecelia: <Ooh, never realised they did soup here!>

Cady: Really, what kind?

-Meanwhile, Kat walks over to see if there's an available employee to talk to.-

I used to plug my deviantart here but turns out the link was too long.

Ersatz alliance

Silversmith: "You what? ..."

He stopped and seriously considered the option for an entire 20 seconds.

Silversmith: "Alas, that would cause to much collateral damage. But... no. My most sincere thanks, I almost had a bit of hope there."

He grabbed his left arm Von Karma style.

Silversmith: "Seems I've gotten myself in a nasty fork. *sigh* Very well. I'm forced to take the challenge. The lesser of two evils. I sacrifice my queen to spare my king."

This final affirmation made his stomach drop.

Ersatz Alliance

Ferris looked up at the bulldozer remark. He hadn't been paying attention to the conversation, and was just plain confused.

Caddicarus would look over at Cady.

Caddicarus: You looking for anyone?

i think i’m in love (probably just hungry)

Jubilife-Past

Ren: Colton makes an excellent suggestion.

Morgan: <Agreed. The longer we stay here the more likely someone can make a connection to us.>

Various Places, now

-The various members of the Thieves should be getting a text from Ren.-

Ersatz Alliance

Benz headtilts about one-twenty degrees.

Benz: Well, what item did you want to challenge for? I don't see any royalty here.

Edited by Tangent128 on Apr 15th 2019 at 4:42:17 AM

Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?

cw: death

Outside Azalea Town

Solace: <Why are we here again?>

Ever: Amanita's visiting family. And we're visiting Amanita.

Solace: <Right. Which is why we are out here in the wilderness.>

Ever: It's hardly wilderness. This is all curated, I'm sure.

Solace: <I didn't say I was complaining.>

-she takes another bite out of her meal for the evening, a Quilava-

Ever: (sitting down next to her) Does it ever bother you?

Solace: <Yes.>

Ever: I didn't finish.

Solace: <I'm easily bothered.>

Ever: You've got that Quilava, right? But she was as smart as you are.

Solace: <I doubt that very much.>

Ever: You see my point. She had a life, friends, family probably. Even if she didn't, she could probably at least talk. Did she say anything?

Solace: <Something about her parents. And fire. I wasn't really listening.>

Ever: Cold.

Solace: <You eat Torchic. You don't even see their face before you do.>

Ever: Yeah, and? I'm asking if it bothers you, not me.

Solace: <Dirty pool.>

Ever: And what of it?

-Solace huffs, taking another bite-

Solace: <I can't live on grass like some mons. I don't hunt to excess, and unlike some mons I could name I have the sense to pay attention to local species counts.>

Ever: Let's not vague Jab, please. This is a safe space.

Solace: <Not for this Quilava.>

Ever: She's not getting any deader.

-there's a muffled clanging, and Custard lumbers up behind the two, sitting down with a thump-

Solace: <Hi again.>

Custard: <I agree with Solace.>

Solace: <You're an obligate carnivore. You don't have a choice.>

Custard: (ignoring this) <It's sad that Pokemon have to die, but I'd rather not starve to death myself. Ultimately, our spirits will move on to be with the ones who care about us, including this Quilava's.>

Ever: You go on the weirdest philosophical tangents about the strangest things.

Solace: <Yes, I can't imagine spending time with anyone who did that.>

Custard: <Treat their passing with dignity, but enjoy your meal.>

-she leans down to take a bite of the Quilava, but Solace bats at her head-

Solace: <Get your own.>

Ever: Share, Solace.

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Castle Lycanrow

Taipan follows Skadi from behind, weapons primed. Following her are a few armored pokémon, acting as lookouts and on standby for Taipan's signal.

The grim darkness of the Lillifuture

Dave comes in with a few dozen boxes of doughnuts and leaves it on the desk near the gym with a sign "take one," with an asterisk on it that leads to a disclaimer that all employees are allotted one (1) doughnut.

Dave still has another box of doughnuts on hand. He paid for it out of pocket.

Ersatz alliance

Silversmith: "...It was a metaphor. Uhhhh, you know the instant dea—the scarves? Like the one that guy is holding? *gestures to Shadow and flinches at seeing all the people* Uhhh, one of those. I mean, not the one he's holding, just one in general. Please."

Ersatz Alliance

Benz: Oh, we have plenty! What color and style do you want?~

...

Benz: Ohhhhh, right, there are a lot of choices there. I'll make things easier and help you!

Benz: Just tell me why you want it and we'll find the perfect scarf for the occasion~

Edited by Tangent128 on Apr 15th 2019 at 4:48:59 AM

Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?