ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Oblivion Wing Debriefing Room

Ammy remains seated with her feet on the table, looking up now when Silas and Gio started talking. She listened intently, reaching a hand into her bag to fiddle with the bow.

"I know we're likely to assume this is Pokefutures," she started, before trailing off.

"No, Delta would tell us it was him," she muttered before looking to Pent.

"He's got a point. Arceus knows if this structure has any sort of integrity. We need to be able to retreat at a moment's notice, no matter the floor we're on. We should probably make teams with at least one personmon able to teleport should the worst happen," she proposed.

Jubilife

Ever: It's only weird if you make it weird, Zeke.

-they wave at Luciana-

Heya! Long time no see.

Halis: "You sure? Things might get a bit... odd. Then again, I guess anything involving faes is bound to be odd, but still, I feel like I should give you a fair warning beforehand. It is the Ersatz, after all."

They think about it for a second.

Halis: "Oh, wait, do you know what that is yet? If you don't, I could show you around and whatnot. They're helpful, trust me. I've been there a fair few times already. They're the ones that gave me this scarf I'm wearing, after all."

If there was ever a shred of secrecy involved in this conversation before, it has been completely obliterated by this point.

Jubilife

-Jamie and Heaty disappear down an alley. They are never seen again.-

-Just kidding they totally stole some cash from Shaun earlier and are now looking for an ice cream shop.-

-Anyway, the letter. It's written in black ink, and has suprisingly elegant handwriting.-

The Stormchaser

F!Grima: "... I've never heard of it, but, I suppose let's go shopping. It can't be stranger than the things I've seen."

Jubilife City

Zeke starts to say something before stopping.

He raises a finger, his mouth agape.

Luciana: "It has, hasn't it."

She finishes reading the letter.

Luciana: "Well, that's helpful. Confusing, and not something I'm going to question, but helpful."

Halis: "Alright, then, please follow me."

They open a door that apparently leads outside, casually walking through it in spite of any apparent dangers this might present. Judging by the lack of panicked noises, it's probably safe.

Probably.

Oblivion Wing, Council Room

-Gaia gives Fox and Jackal an appreciative nod.-

Gaia: Thank you. I... I should likely give you the full medical run-down later, but for now, I can assure you that I am in good enough health to resume my duties for this operation.

-She looks over at the projection on screen.-

Gaia: Speaking of which, I concur with Vulpecula and Nightingale. Surely it would be less conspicuous to enter the building via flying mons or teleportation, which would also make it easier to evacuate in the event of a catastrophic collapse?

Eterna City

-Lucius is just packing up his things in preparation to go looking for his team when he hears his phone go off, and glances down at Luciana's message.-

Lucius: ...Huh?

The Stormchaser

F!Grima follows after, curiously.

Jubilife

Jubilife

Ever: -winks at Zeke- That's the spirit.

So, uh, what's actually going on here?

Halis aimlessly wanders inside, looking back and waiting for F!Grima to follow inside before saying anything.

Halis: "Welcome to the Ersatz Alliance. They sell things that technically shouldn't do what they're supposed to. If you need me to explain further let me know, but you'll probably find something that interests you while we're here."

They readjust their scarf a bit.

Halis: "In fact, this is the same place I got my special scarves from, like the one I'm wearing."

Jubilife

Luciana: "Well, my boss-slash-warlock patron, who is a fox and a yakuza boss, is recruiting to fight an incredibly powerful Glitch."

"It comes with magical girl power, insurance, and a retirement plan."

"Apparently."

"I didn't get insurance or a retirement plan."

Erstaz Alliance

F!Grima looks around.

Then pokes her head back through the door.

F!Grima: "Interesting. Some sort of warp magic."

She frowns.

"What do you mean 'technically shouldn't do what they're supposed to?"

Halis: "Well... as far as I can tell, they're supposed to do nothing, but instead they do something. Something being... iunno, letting people turn into mons or vice versa. Stuff like that."

They look around.

Halis: "I... can't tell if anyone's actually around, though. Usually there's someone around for this stuff."

Jubilife

Ever: Well, I have been thinking about my future lately.

Flashback

-Ever is sitting on a couch in the Stormchaser, staring into space in terror-

End flashback

Ever: Sign me up.

Jubilife

Luciana: "... Oh, well that was easy."

She digs a stack of papers and a clipboard out of her bag.

Luciana: "The contract's there."

Erstaz

F!Grima: "That's... interesting."

"It is late at night. There's probably a bell to ring an attendant."

Jubilife

-weirdly, by the time Luciana took out the contract, it was signed-

-in glitter glue, but-

Halis: "Oh, right, the bell. Though... I kinda feel like time isn't even a 'thing' here, if that makes sense? Seems kinda... disconnected from that stuff. Just my guess, though."

They start periodically ringing the bell.

Halis: "Hello? Anybody home?"

They look over at F!Grima.

Halis: "Uh... how about you go look at some stuff while I do this? You might find something you like."

Jubilife

Luciana: "..."

Luciana: "Not going to question that."

She puts it back in.

Luciana: "She'll call when she needs you."

Erstaz

F!Grima: "I suppose I'll trust you on that."

She goes and starts looking around.

A certain Dark/Faerie gardevoir steps out behind the counter

Red: <Um, yes?>

Edited by Izshta on Jun 11th 2019 at 11:52:45 AM

They're surprised by who shows up behind the counter this time.

Halis: "Oh hey... haven't we met before? I swear we have. Uh, anyway, my friend is just looking for something at the moment, do you... happen to know any ways of changing someone's pokemon form without the help of a Mew or is that something only they're capable of?"

At least they're getting straight to the point with this question.

Ersatz

Red: <I, um, don't think so.>

F!Grima puts on a pair of glasses with yellow-tinted lenses that end up momentarily giving her dragon horns, scales, claws, and a tail.

She notices this and immediately whips them off.

Edited by Izshta on Jun 11th 2019 at 11:52:33 AM

Halis: "Oh, uh... well, that's unfortunate. I'm actually in need of that at the moment, but I suppose I can wait for one to come around if need be."

They look back, noticing the shift before F!Grima is able to remove it.

Halis: "Hm. Odd. That wasn't even a full transformation, I think... did I not notice that before?"

Ersatz

Red: <Sorry!>

F!Grima: "I'm not sure what you're talking about."

She's turned away from Halis, so it's difficult to tell her facial expression.

Edited by Izshta on Jun 11th 2019 at 11:52:22 AM

They go over to F!Grima, inspecting her and the glasses she repelled herself from.

Halis: "You sure? Pretty sure I saw you turn into a partial Dragon-type of some kind... I didn't even know they had things like that."

Ersatz

F!Grima: "... You must have been seeing things."

She's staring at the glasses, her face somewhat scrunched up. It's difficult to tell if she's frowning or scowling.

Halis: "Well, I do have quite an active imagination, but I'd like to at least think that my eyesight is good still... you don't think I'm going to need glasses, do you? Ohh, now I'm worried..."

They sigh.

Halis: "Anyway, I'm sure your other form is fine, whatever it may be."

Ersatz

F!Grima: "It's..."

She crosses her arms, looking down at the ground, still holding the glasses.

"It's not."

A mansion, [Monaco]

Let's check up on a pair we haven't seen in a while, shall we?

Specifically, one Professor Adenine McRemitz and one Ser Bartholomew DeLoncour, esquire.

One could also argue we are checking up one one Leonidas Haraway-Macraul, given that this [Monaco] summer home belongs to him.

The young Haraway-Macraul himself is out, right now, leaving Agravain in charge of the household.

The good Professor and Ser do not seem to be taking this very well.

Adenine: <This young master has imposed his will on us for too long, I say! Too long!>

Bartholomew: <I must caution you from any rash action, Professor.>

Adenine: <Oh, I resent the implication! I do not act rashly, but based on a plan built over weeks of observation!>

Agravain casts his steely gaze over the two, too far away to hear their conversation.

Bartholomew: <And yet! I cannot in good conscience condone such a course of action!>

Adenine: <And yet I will not remain idle any longer! This inaction infuriates me!>

The main door opens, and all three look up at it.

Leonidas walks in accompanied by a man who nobody here would recognize as a member of Team Iron and associate of Doctor Natalie Claire Weiss, Leonidas' uncle, Justinian Haraway. He's accompanied by a Blaziken.

Adenine and Bartholomew find a corner where it looks like they walked out of the room, but can still see and hear the happenings.

Justinian: "So. You want her back."

Leonidas: "Not quite. I would like her checked on, to ensure she's safe, but unless she wants to return I have no interest in forcing her to."

Agravain turns his steely gaze to Leonidas.

Justinian: "You heard him, Li Shuwen."

Li Shuwen: <As you wish. It will be done.>

The Blaziken walks back out.

Leonidas: "Well, Uncle, make yourself at home. I'll be back shortly."

He walks upstairs and out of the room.

Justinian and Agravain look at each other for a long moment.

Justinian: "How goes the plan?"

Agravain: <Slowly. Gawain has grown suspicious. That witch was driven out. Lord Leonidas is safe from her influence. The others are cowed. If they have any plots against him, they'll find it hard to execute under my gaze.>

Justinian: "Good. It is your job to ensure his safety, by any means necessary. And he cannot learn of this. He wouldn't understand."

Agravain: <I agree.>

Adenine: <Well well well, it seems that the plot thickens, does it not, Bartholomew?>

Bartholomew: <Indeed it does, Professor, as your detective friend was so fond of saying.>

The two venture into a different part of the house.