Macraul security room

Cady: (To Des and Ian) Look out! Someone's approaching!

Macraul Manor Hallways

Me: Thanks, Cady!

Anyway, as I was saying...

It's not the cameras I'm worried about...

-I take a Poké Ball off my belt-

It's the personnel!

Macraul Manor Hallway

"Didn't I just say no thugs could ever hope to take a J-Teamer on?"

He sends out R. Mika and they turn to the direction the footsteps are coming from.

"So, what kind of ugly wants a piece of us today?"

Macraul Manor

-A seeming young woman looking much like this◊ enters-

Sylvestra: ...

Excuse me, ugly?

Macraul Manor Hallways

-Ian sees Sylvestra and blush forms on his face-

Me: -thinks to self- OH NO, SHE'S HOT!

-I slap myself in the face-

Me: -thinks to self- Snap out of it, Ian... You're on a mission!

Me: I'm sorry about Des here... he thought it would be one of your underlings who would be appearing from around that corner...

By the way, what's your name?

Macraul Manor-Hallway

Des blinks. Then he gives Sylvestra a once over. Then he smirks.

"Oh, I apologize. I didn't mean to offend you, and now that you're right in front of me I can see how off I was. My name is Desmond Descarte and this is my associate Ian No-Last-Name-Applicable. We were just, uh, admiring this hallway."

Beat.

"Such a nice hallway."

He clears his throat.

"Welp, it's been fun. We should go now."

He turns to leave.

Edited by PhilosopherStones on May 9th 2019 at 3:38:41 AM

Macraul Manor - Hallway

-Two glowing eyes peer through a vent.-

Four Macrual Manor

Luciana: "Even if it's not... Hey Nero, turn around, now."

Hraesvelgr: <Irritated: I'm not fighting right now.>

Hraesvelgr returns herself and Luciana sends out Nidhoggr.

Traces of fire spark along Luciana's hands.

Bwah Bunker, Exterior, Sometime between Reversal Mountain and the nextmost raid along.

-Pent spent a while sitting here, just staring at the base as he ponders what's gonna happen with this whole... Well he called it like it was, surprisingly intelligent subspecies of the Whismur line-

Four Macraul Manor

-Pent stops and doesn't turn-

And you think she's trustworthy? Remember, these four had full intent to put us through this...

Janus Macraul: Suffering game.

I guess that's a term for it. What if this is some trick to get us to fight each other for the 'privilege' of getting a reward? Do you really want to take the risk that we'd kill each other over nothing?

Halis: "...So, in summary, that's why I think you should be called something other than Halis, because that's confusing."

The other Halis just makes a hand gesture indicating a severe lack of actual attention being paid.

Halis(?): "Oh, really? Well done, your prize is waiting out back... no, seriously, what are you going to call me if you're not calling me what I am, then?"

Halis: "Hm... how about Halter?"

They seem irked by this.

Halter: "Wh- Seriously? That's the best you could come up with!?"

Halis: "Hey, it's not my fault I'm tired and can't think of a better name..."

Halter thinks it over for a moment.

Halter: "...Fine. if it'll get you to stop complaining, call me Halter, but just so we're clear, I'm still Halis here."

Halis: "Right... anyway, maybe we should talk about why you look different from me?"

Halter: "Oh, first my name, then my appearance, huh?"

Halis: "No, it's not that, but..."

They then proceed to discuss and/or argue about why they look different from one-another in spite of allegedly being the same person.

Macraul Manor Hallways

Me: Well... it has been interesting... Though I never got your name... What is it?

Function Room Roi Soleil

By the time Silversmith returns, a few of the Macrauls and their staff had just had their fill of chocolate. They seem happy with the product.

Gaspard, monotone: This chocolate has met and somewhat exceeded my expectations, Uncle.

Lowell: You've read my mind. Anyone who can impress as discerning a palate as Gaspard must be worth their salt.

Reynard: It's low sodium. You should try the dark and white variants!

Edited by MasterJayAM on May 10th 2019 at 1:04:06 AM

Macraul Manor

Sylvestra: Not so fast. You two are in a private part of the manor. Exactly what are you doing here, hmmm?

Four Macraul Manor

Colton held out the hand that had been flaring with Obscura beyond his control, his own Obscura flaring around it, creating an invisible barrier that would keep Pent - or whoever was in his body - from leaving.

"You're not stepping out of that door until we can confirm that Pent's stepping out and not some body snatcher," Colton seethed, more Obscura flaring around his other hand.

His eyes darted back and forth from his left palm, as though he would expect another message there.

Bwahnker

Colton and Kazuma stared at each other, having sat down on opposite folding chairs.

"You haven't said anything over the entire year or so. I don't know if that says more about you or me," Colton considered.

Kazuma leaped off his seat and placed a paw on his double's leg, as if to say "none of it's your fault".

"It's just... communication probably could have been much easier. Granted, I couldn't understand anyone else's doubles, so maybe it's not that much of a loss."

Helmsman materialized outside of the Pokeball, looking at his trainer while he became human.

"Why aren't you checking on Gudrunn?" He asked.

"... She never heard my promise, so I doubt she'd appreciate my efforts as much as I honestly want her to. Far as I know, she thinks I'm just another face that helped her out of the bottom of that downward spiral. Poor thing's probably too fragile, too broken, having been a bad witch since what almost feels like year zero. One slip, one hesitation, and it could undo all that could have been, adding more violence into the pretty hate machine that is her psyche," Colton eventually explained, capping it off with "I'd be chasing ghosts searching for such validation, might doubt me telling her the actual events and lash out with teeth and words.

"But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate how much you've helped me out, Helmsman," Colton acknowledged as he raised his fist.

Helmsman bumped it.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jun 25th 2019 at 7:59:46 AM

Macraul Manor, Hallway

Marco is wandering around like someone who wasn't imprisoned here for months and has no survival instincts.

-The day after Neo-Alovye's defeat, Vierr has decided to return here.-

Vierr: C'mon, where is it, I know you dropped something...

-He shuffles around the crags below the battlefield, checking crevices to see if he can find...-

-Was that a glint?-

Vierr: Aha, there we are.

-He stoops down to inspect the source: a pristine gold ring.-

Vierr: If she tossed you over the edge, you've gotta have something special about you, huh? Let's see...

-He digs through his bag, and flicks on a device. Immediately, he winces as the area around him is filled with an Aura Jammer field. He then takes a towel and wraps the ring and the Jammer box with it several times over before sticking it in his bag again.-

Vierr: We'll figure you out later.

Function Room Roi Soleil

Silversmith had made it back. Nobody was questioning what happened to the second backpack. They liked the chocolate. Everything was working out perfectly. Perhaps he could finally rest easy. As quietly as possible, he breathed a sigh of relief. He then laughed rather loudly at the "low sodium" comment. He didn't recoil: all was well, and his confidence was restored.

-Upon returning to his room, Vierr takes out the Jammer and ring. Still keen to not actually touch it, he loops it on a pen and picks it up to inspect it.-

Vierr: So, ring, what's your deal?

-The ring, of course, does not answer.-

Vierr: Awfully round edge for a finger ring. Like someone punched Sonic and he coughed you up. My guess is... Hoopa?

-Flips it a couple times. After a while of pondering, he puts a finger on the Jammer switch.-

Vierr: And she gathered two of the Artifacts while wearing you...

-He sets the pen (and the ring) on the table, and switches the Jammer off.-

Vierr: ...Hmm. Slight innate Aura, but it's barely identifiable. I wonder...

-His fingers twitch.-

Vierr: ...No, I shouldn't. Not something to trust.

-And yet...-

-...-

Vierr: ...I guess I can shut it off with just a quick flip. Anything goes wrong, that's happening.

-He just... taps his finger against the ring, holding it against the edge.-

-It is quiet.

-Too much so.

-He pulls it a bit onto his finger, other hand ready to cut the Aura off the moment it's needed.-

Kan'al'colel: ~...Interestin— ~

-The Jammer is immediately switched on, and the connection is broken.-

Vierr: Son of a—

Stormchaser

Also Stormchaser

Ann: -To her backpack- ...What do you want?

Edited by rmctagg09 on May 11th 2019 at 4:42:28 AM

Macraul Manor

Des stops and turns.

"I was...looking for you. I've always admired you from a distance but never had the courage to actually speak to you until now."

He gives Ian little nudge.

"Listen I was wondering if...you wanted to maybe go out sometime?"

Macraul Manor Hallway

Me: -blushing- Uh... That's right! Never have I nor Des had the courage to tell you how we really felt...

-sweating profusely- -thinks to self- How does Des think this is gonna work?

sootopolis, Lane residence, post raid

-Cady enters the dining room, where a large breakfast is on the table where her parents are already sat.-

Mrs Lane: Good morning Cady! How did you sleep?

Cady: Surprised I got to sleep at all.

Mr Lane: It's just nerves. You'll do great! You were so close last time and you're much stronger now!

Mrs Lane: I made your favorite, family style!

Cady: Aah, nothing like food cooked with the good ol' universal stick.

Mrs Lane: I must teach you how to do that some time, specially since you travel, it is much easier to just need to use a small stick in place of an arsenal of kitchen utensils. It can be as simple as pulling out a stick,

-She pulls a short stick out of her pocket.-

Mrs Lane: Then poof! You have any utensil you want!

-A spork extends from the end of the stick.-

Mr Lane: But we shouldn't focus on that, should we? It's your big day today! You're gonna beat the pokemon league!

Cady: Hopefully...

Mrs Lane: I even made a special construct, just for you!

-The spork then morphs into a large yellow flag, with "Come on Cady!" and pictures of Cady's face on it.-

Cady: Please can you not? I fear I will die of embarrassment.

Near Ann

???: <Funny you ask!>

-A Zygarde Core pops its head out of the bag-

<That was quite a show wasn't it?>

Macraul Manor

Sylvestra: -grins- Sorry, I'm not looking for another partner right now. David has me covered.

-Behind Ian and Des is the sound of cracking knuckles. If they turn around they would find a man looking much like this◊-

David: My wife isn't like certain Youtubers in the news lately. She asks before she goes out on a fling.

Vierr: All right, take two.

-He flips the Aura Jammer off, and slips the ring on. Immediately, he's greeted with the sound of indignant sputtering.-

Kan'al'colel: ~Wh— what the hell was that for?!~

Vierr: ~Safety measures, pal. You think I'm not going to have an escape plan for a possessed ring?~

Kan'al'colel: ~I couldn't even get one word out!~

Vierr: ~Well, excuse me for reacting to an unfamiliar voice inside my head!~

Kan'al'colel: ~By the gods, you're paranoid. I almost miss my last vessel.~

Vierr: ~"Vessel"? Really? You're not really playing up the trustworthy thing well.~

Kan'al'colel: ~Make no mistake, boy, I am no simple conniving demon. I simply wish to experience physical form again, and can only do so through others.~

Vierr: ~Mhm.~

-Vierr turns to his laptop, bringing up Google and typing "what real life volcano was mt doom in lotr"-

Kan'al'colel: ~...Are you even paying attention to me?~

Vierr: ~Nah. Hey, what are your thoughts on getting thrown into lava?~

-The ring scoffs.-

Kan'al'colel: ~Hah, don't be foolish! This prison of a ring is protected by magic, and I cannot be destroyed one piece at a time!~

-Vierr pauses, putting two and two together in his mind.-

Vierr: ~...They're your artifacts, aren't you? The sword and the chalice. And the locket and the diadem.~

Kan'al'colel: ~Pah. The legends disrespect my legacy by not using the proper terminology for them.~

Vierr: ~That so? Because unless you've got a badass name for any of them, I'm sticking with "purple sword".~

Kan'al'colel: ~...You are unbearable.~

-Vierr grins.-

Vierr: ~So, you were the one having ol' Gudrunn collecting them, huh?~

Kan'al'colel: ~Clearly! Merely confined to this prison, I have little power, but I can protect you from their curse, so that you do not lose yourself as you collect them!~

Vierr: ~You could have stopped at "I have little power".~

-Vierr's grin spreads from ear to ear.-

Vierr: ~Because unluckily for you, I have no intent to be anywhere near any of those artifacts.~

Kan'al'colel: ~...What?~

Vierr: ~Oh, come on, your descendants ain't stupid. You can't trick me into grabbing them.~

Kan'al'colel: ~...~

Vierr: ~Hope you're comfortable.~

-He moves to flick off the switch. Although the ring resists with all its might, it barely makes Vierr falter.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on May 10th 2019 at 2:18:57 PM

Macraul Manor-Hallway

Des looks back at Dave.

"-sigh- Looks like it's true that all the good ones are taken. Also, don't mind my friend here. Teenagers, amirite?"

He nudges Ian.

"Hey uh why don't you go and leave the adults to talk?"