Orre, Nowhere

-Dune's goggles and scarf hold off the blowing winds as best they can, but this sandstorm that Dune had found himself in was something else.-

-He winces as a shard of glass ricochets off of his helmet. This sandstorm was, as Selene called it, "the super chunky version".-

-Speaking of the Clefable, she strode next to Dune with complete contentment, all of the blowing debris gliding right across her Magic Shield.-

Selene: <WE SHOULD REALLY TRY FINDING SOMEPLACE TO WAIT THIS OUT AT!>

-Despite her shouting, Dune could barely make it out over the angry, howling wind.-

Dune: THIS ISN'T GOING TO GO AWAY! THIS STORM IS BEING PERPETUATED BY SOMETHING!

Selene: <HOW CAN YOU TELL?>

Dune: I'VE DODGED THE SAME SHARD OF GLASS FOUR TIMES ALREADY! UNLESS SOMEONE BROKE A GLASS INTO PRECISELY EXACT FRAGMENTS, WE'RE INSIDE OF A SANDSTORM CYCLONE!

Big Dom: <THAT SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.>

-The black Golurk towered over Dune, preventing him from being struck by the larger flying shards of silicon.-

Dune: I KNOW. WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL AS WE GO-

-Dune stops. He raises a hand, and Selene and Dom stop as well.-

-...-

-The two look at him expectantly.-

-...-

-Dune drops to the ground, pressing his body against the sand. Dom moves a hand to prevent him from being buried by the blowing storm.-

-...-

Dune: EVERYONE UP! UP UP UP!

-Dune jumps onto Dom, and Selene grabs the Golurk's torso, as they fly up, barely maintaining stability through the storm.-

-Before anyone can ask what prompted this outburst, the light in the area dims from low to nearly nothing, and a massive metal SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSCRAPE nearly bursts Dune's eardrums.-

-Dune fights off the nausea caused by the terrible sound and motions Dom to fly to their left, as quickly as they can. Dom obliges, and it becomes obvious that the sun hadn't set yet. There was another reason it had gone dark.-

-Something had cast a shadow on them. Something impossibly massive.-

-The SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSCRAPE sound repeated, and Selene began screaming in pain as her sensitive ears nearly burst from the sound. Dune quickly recalled her as he let out Garuda in her stead, and motioned up higher. Dom and Garuda both gained altitude.-

-Breaking the top of the sandstorm, that's when they saw it.-

-The Walking Mountain.-

-Two and a half kilometers tall, approximately.-

-Massive, bronze, spider-like legs carrying it across the Nowhere Desert, in a space that shouldn't exist, stuck between Real and Unreal. The legs send out horrible shrieks as the steam pressure in each leg is released in a massive burst once it's part of the locomotion cycle ends, creating the perpetual sandstorm Dune just exited from.-

-And there it was, the massive rocky spire, in all it's glory.-

Dune: Holy shit.

Garuda: <I... concur.>

Big Dom: <DID MOBIUS NOT SAY THE POWER SOURCE HAD BEEN TAKEN? WHY IS IT MOVING?>

Dune: That is... that's actually a good question. If whoever is in control found something on par with the Griseous Orb, I have a feeling I really won't like the answer.

Garuda: <How do we get in?>

Dune: ...

Big Dom: <...>

Garuda: <...>

Dune: I mean, it's a mountain. There has to be an opening somewhere.

Stormchaser, Training Room

-Lissa smirks at Lita as she recalls Cait.-

Lissa: Trust me, every game is my A-game. And don't worry, I'll let you know all the juicy details. Just gimme a shout when you wanna hear them, or if you wanna take me up on that drink.

-She slides a pre-printed card with her number on it into Lita's hand just as Isbrand walks back in.-

-Judging from Lissa's reaction, her outfit is indeed quite effective.-

-Incidentally, Lissa is still wearing her gym clothes, which just amounts to yoga pants and a tank top.-

Lissa: Oh, a date? How romantic. I thought we were just going to get utterly wasted and see where the night takes us.

-She smirks, then slides an arm under Isbrand's and heads out.-

Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar?

-Drinks! In a place where these girls will probably not get stabbed!-

Isbrand: "Two beers, just to get us started. Whatever tastes good."

-Isbrand turns to Lissa.-

Isbrand: "Unless you'd like to start off with the shots?"

Vermillon City, The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

-The bartender, who is most definitely not an Alakazam wearing an ill-fitting suit and a fake moustache over his real one, nods and starts pouring two pints as Lissa shakes her head at Isbrand.-

Lissa: Nah, never start off with shots. I like to at least remember the beginning of the night, if not the end.

-She smirks.-

Lissa: So, at the risk of sounding cliche, what's a girl like you doing in a place like this?

The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

-Isbrand chuckles.-

Isbrand: "I used to frequent these joints every other day. But today, of course, I was invited by cute girl with excellent taste in pants."

Vermillon City, The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

Lissa: Were you now? You'll have to introduce me to her sometime, then.

-She chuckles, then takes a swig of her drink as the bartender slides two glasses over without actually touching them.-

Lissa: Anyway, why the past tense? Sat alone at the corner of the bar in black leather with your feet kicked up on the table, knocking back beers and leaving with a different girl around your arm every night... sounds like the life, if you ask me.

The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

Isbrand: "Oh, trust me, it was the best. But it was a coping mechanism. That's why I stopped."

-She shrugs and sips at her beer.-

Isbrand: "Still, I never...get bored, right? And it's nice to cuddle in the morning instead of stealing away and leaving only a broken heart."

???

-Galvani woke up with a start, flying up and-

-Oh wait.-

-She isn't a Magnezone right now.-

-What?!-

-She realizes her error too late as she flips down onto the floor, her fall broken by soft carpet.-

-What?!-

-She scrambles up, getting herself caught up in her nightgown.-

-What?!-

-She takes stock, realizing after a moment that she is indeed human. She also comes to a few more realization, in order:

1) She no longer has her bracelet, a fact that causes an significant pit of anxiety to form in her stomach.

2) She is wearing a nightgown, which means someone changed her clothes while she was unconscious, sending a chill down her spine.

3) She was now in the single fanciest room she had ever seen. She had heard that Alakagross domiciles usually had stone beds, but this room was filled with carpet, tastefully simple gear-patterned wall carvings, that strange bronze Alakagross metal filigree on the baseboards and support pillars, and a bed the size of a zip code. Deziree isn't quite sure how she fell off of it. However, aside from the bed, a desk, a chair for the desk, and the door, there was nothing else. Not even a window.

-Deziree looks under the bed, only to find that the bed rests on an elevated stone platform. Well, figures the bed would still be stone, even if it had massive cushions on top of it.-

-She paces back and forth, debating to herself on what to do next.-

-Good lord this carpet felt nice. If she got an opportunity, she'll cut up some of it and take it home.-

-She heads to the door and gives it a good shove. It does not budge, despite how nice and dramatic she was prepared to make her entrance into the next room.-

-She sits and thinks.-

-No bracelet.-

-No clothes.-

-No gadgets.-

-No sword.-

-But she still had her brain.-

-Perhaps she should come up with a scissor robot that could cut hair into impossible isometric shapes!-

-Deziree shakes her head. No, no, gotta focus. She sits and ponders some more.-

-Suddenly a thought occurs to her.-

-She goes up to the door and knocks.-

-...-

-...-

-...-

-The door knocks back, right into Deziree's face, and she's unconscious again.-

-The two servants look at each other.-

Servant 1: Oh, good work there, Slag-for-Brains! She's finally awake, and you knock her bloody arse out again!

Servant A: Oi, ah gave haer enuff tiyme tah back oop!

Servant 1: Fookin'... Just get her back inta bed! Then YOU get off tah bloody lamp repair duteh, and I'll get one of the ladies to fookin' watch her.

Vermillon City, The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

Lissa: Ah, you were dealing with stuff. I get it.
Like you. But she's strong, she overcame it. You won't. Always weak, always in thrall.
-This time she takes her glass and downs half of it in a single chug.-

Lissa: I guess that does sound pretty nice. Dunno if it's the life for me, though. Never met anyone I felt I could trust like that.
And you never will. You're made to be used.

The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

-Isbrand shrugs again.-

Isbrand: "Hell, neither did I. Dated a few girls when I was younger, but...I never really clicked with anyone. Then my womanzing didn't exactly help."

-She stares into her glass.-

Isbrand: "Anyone else depressed in this bar tonight?"

Vermillon City, The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

-Lissa gives a hollow chuckle.-

Lissa: We're at the Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar. I'd be surprised if there's anyone in here who isn't.

-She stops for a moment, then rests her head in her hands.-

Lissa: Ah, shit. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be this much of a bummer. I'm not usually... okay, that'd be a lie, but I honestly didn't mean to kill the mood this quickly.

Edited by Herbert40k on Jun 18th 2019 at 2:48:22 PM

The Stormchaser

F!Grima is sitting in a lounge.

F!Grima: "Hm... Alex? ... No."

She goes back to being lost in thoughts all alone.

The Fox's Wedding

Tamamo thinks for a moment, before nodding to Pent.

Tamamo: "That sort of deal can be arranged! And while you do not need to have it on hand, you do need to name it as part of the signing terms, or you'll be stuck with a default one."

She turns to Corrin.

Tamamo: "It depends on the one you're signing the contract with. Someone more closely aligned to one particular aspect of the quadrant will grant auric abilities of that type. If there isn't any particular one that the patron is strongly tied to, then it'll be influenced by your own inclinations, or even your own wishes."

Luciana: "To translate: it's like the [Harry Potter] Sorting Hat."

Beat.

"You didn't get that, did you."

The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

Isbrand: "Can't really kill the atmosphere if it's already dead."

-She...awkwardly pats Lissa on the back.-

Jubilife City, Fox's Wedding - Past

-Lucius folds his arms and huffs.-

Lucius: I'd better not be sorted into Hufflepuff again...

Vermillon City, The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

Lissa: Right...

-She looks up at Isbrand with a sad smile.-

Lissa: ...Y'know, this is usually the point where I'd invite you back to my room, but I'm guessing ugly crying and unresolved emotional issues aren't really your kink.

Corrin: I see...

-Corrin just sorta stares at Luciana.-

Corrin: ...You'd be correct, I have no idea what you're talking about.

Tsukiko: Luckily, you don't have to worry about anything!

-Corrin suddenly has a kitsune arm slung around her shoulders.-

Tsukiko: Since you'll be signing with me, it'll be exactly what fits you best!

Corrin: O-oh! Er, okay.

Tsukiko: We'll hash all that out after we figure out an outfit for you, though.

Floette: <That reminds me! I completely forgot to ask you what transformation trinket you wanted, Ian! Would you like to tell me what trinket you would like to use?>

Me: Of course I would. Gimme a sec, please?

-I turn around, take a piece of paper out and draw what the trinket I want will look like.-

-The trinket I draw is circular and pink with a heart button in the middle that would activate the transformation when pressed. Looks like a small pink compact similar to this.-

-I think show Floette the design for my trinket-

Floette: <Hmm... Interesting design. I'm sure Ms. Tamamo can have this arranged.>

-Floette turns around and shows my drawing to Tamamo-sama-

The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

Isbrand: "Well I've always been a fan of holding girls in my arms and stroking their hair to comfort them while they cry and tell me about their problems."

-How...how many times had she done that?-

Fox's Wedding

".. Oh wait, I thought we were contracting with you? Do we have to go find someone to contract with on our own?"

Vermillon City, The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

-Lissa snorts at Isbrand's remark.-

Lissa: I think I can fill that niche. Just don't expect me to spill my life story or start calling you the M-word right off the bat. You're gonna have to work for that shit.

The Fox's Wedding

-Pentigan puts on a smug smile and nods-

Alright, this is going to be fun.

The cyborgs go down relatively easy, they were just standing still, Jackal picks up on Skadi's message and taps his radio three times, the frequency switching over at Obelisk's Request.

"Okay that buys us a minute or two. Something is off, his voice sounds... too clear. As if he's not speaking over mic," Jackal said.

Fox nodded, "He's up 15 or so levels... and these old Future series have me wondering."

Jackal put a finger to his chin, "Part of me wants to set some explosives, leave, and never look back."

~The other part?~ Hayon asked.

"Has decided to stay and proceed with caution."

Jackal turned to the others, "Staying or leaving?"

Fox laughed, "Staying. I wanna see what's what."

There was a staircase, a broken elevator, and strangely enough, a service lift... on it hung a Future series cyborg, in the shape of a Blaziken.

The meat had fallen off, leaving only the angry metal skeleton underneath.

Tower First Floor

Des stopped. The robot skeleton with meat falling off it gave him a start. He and R. Mika inched over closer to the stairs.

"Stairs might be a safer option. No telling what condition the lift is in, or if that thing is operational."

He tests the first step, then quickly makes his way to the next floor, his aura sight still on to see if he could see anybody or anything.

The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

Isbrand: "Oh, you strike a very hard bargain, Lissa. But I'm no stranger to working for my rewards."

"...insert capitalism joke here?"

Orre Warehouse

Phantom: "If we were fine with splitting the party I'd say go up the elevator shaft. I have hookshots, V and A have jetpacks, Nightingale has her Celestial Armanents..."

Orre, Factory Tower - Past

-Gaia frowns beneath her visor.-

Gaia: I have my suspicions... though I don't like the implications they lead to. Regardless, I could use my Grapnel Gear to accompany Phantom up the elevator shaft, try to locate this threat at its source.

Vermillon City, The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

-Lissa grins.-

Lissa: Really now? Well, if you work hard enough, I'm sure you'll get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

-Beat.-

Lissa: ...There's probably a socialism joke and an innuendo in there, but I'm too buzzed right now to find either.

Edited by Herbert40k on Jun 18th 2019 at 4:20:28 PM

The Somewhat Reputable Dive Bar

-Isbrand smiles over her third mug of beer.-

Isbrand: "If you can't handle your alcohol, how can you handle me?"