Orre Factory Tower

-Nightingale reluctantly holds hands with everyone else-

Hearthome PMC

-Pent checks his phone and shrugs-

Well my signee might be late, so if you're going to transform then try it. Guess you just gotta wiggle your little trinkets and say the magic words. "Henshin agogo" or "For the glory of the moonmanity" or whatever...

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

Orre Factory, Past

Taipan: We'll let you know where the rendezvous point is, Murphy. We're going up.

Taipan grabs one of the mimikyu's tentacles after putting Mistress back in her ball.

-Ivan and Icarus are watching a film together.-

Icarus: "The hell's this movie called?"

Ivan: "Says here it's called "From Space With Love". I think the budget was about 200 bucks or something."

-Tanten is outside, looking over his resume and eating spoonfuls of jam.-

Orre Factory

Vulpecula: "Me? Take unnecessary risks? Never."

-She very pointedly glares at Phantom, eye slits narrowed.-

"Dang that sure is totally poggers my good bitch"

Stormchaser

A guy with a bunch of beetles trailing him enters the vicinity of the Stormchaser.

Beck: Oh, hello. You look familiar. Like I'm supposed to know you from somewhere.

He sounds like he is from [Oop North] or something.

Jules, a vikavolt, through a speech device: He's like that one bloke on TV.

Beck: You didn't just see a talking vikavolt. See, I'm a ventriloquist and—

Jules: It's TV's Tanten Lyore! Star of the world's third favourite reality survival show!

Beck: Oh, yeah, that's him alright. Kinda like [Bear Grylls] or [Les Straud].

Jules: Still mad that Brad Van Darn went on that hike with [Bear] and not you?

Beck is clearly not making the vikavolt speak and is, disappointingly, also not a fan.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jul 11th 2019 at 9:34:50 PM

-A chatot flutters over to Jules and Beck.-

Laren, parroting: "I'm sorry, Mr. Lyore is very busy right now. Please accept this autograph as an apology."

-Laren gives Beck an autograph on the backpack. With a rubber stamp.-

Factory Tower, Orre

Stranger reluctantly grabs hold of someone's hand.

"Alright, let's go see what madness is up there."

GIVE ME YOUR FACE

Hearthome City

-shrugs back at Lucius-

Me: Like I said, I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a try...

...and I'm sure you'll find a contractor soon enough. I believe in you.

-Looks over at Pentigan-

Me: I'd have to assume that transformation methods are different between all of us, Pentigan. For me, I just activate the Sparkle Tap by pressing the heart-shaped button in the center and shouting with all my heart, "Loving Melody Charge!" For Eva, Luca, Lucius, Daydre or anyone else, it would be something completely different. By the way, who're you waiting for, Pent?

♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...

Hearthome

I forgot to mention this but Daydre has been wearing her Z-ring this whole time.

"... Yeah I just have that thing I got in Alola. Rowan said something about economy of key items? Also I don't think I even have an activation phrase."

off the shits

Stormchaser

Beck: Even his autographs ar—

Jules: We have Tanten Lyore's autograph. Never wash your backpack. It's worth cash money now. I reckon, several [pounds] back home.

Beck: He's that popular at home? Well, Arceus save Professor Magnolia.

Jules: National treasure that woman. But she's no Tanten Lyore.

Beck: Take that back.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jul 12th 2019 at 2:35:54 AM

Stormchaser

Ever: ...Yeah. Sounds about right.

Breeze: <Harsh.>

Ever: When did you get here? Make yourself useful and hug someone.

Breeze: -settles down on Megan's head, chiming comfortingly- <I think it's actually very rude of you to assume that all I'm here for is hugs.>

Ever: It's what we're all here for, Breeze.

-they hold out their arms to Vee-

It's okay, Vee. You did your best. Everyone's here now. You did it.

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Orre Factory

-Baba Yaga takes whoever grabbed her hand, goes intangible, and pulls them through a wall to a destination safe from the gas-

-Her Mimikyu does the same with the ones that grabbed her tendrils through the shadows-

Contact Me!

Vee: -cracking out a little laugh- <We did, didn't we? We fucking made it!>

-and, like hydraulics that've sprung a leak, Vee slowly sinks into Ever's embrace-

<Y'know—it turns out! When someone's got their sword in your eye, and you're screaming like hell, and universes away from anything resembling home—>

-laughing harder- <—no one expects teeth!>

-it's something like...trying to hold a little roiling storm, compressed into the size and shape of a short length of garden hose-

<He-he didn't expect it! They didn't expect it—>

-which sags like it's been left in the sun for a little too long-

Vee: <Hell, I didn't expect it!>

<You-you've just gotta laugh, right?>

-Megan clings to Breeze and...stares, like she can't decide whether getting closer or making room would be the right thing to do here-

-Pippy decides the former, laying flippers on her head and just...breathing, murmuring comfort at her-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Jul 11th 2019 at 7:12:50 AM

No mind to think. No will to break.

Stormchaser

-Ever doesn't focus too much on trying to hold Vee, instead just gently rocking her back and forth-

Ever: You don't need to laugh. You can cry, if you need. ...Uh, I mean, if you can. I don't know if Vaporeon can cry.

But there's nobody here but us. And we all already know you're the planet's greatest badass. And from what it sounds like, a lot of planets' greatest badass. There's nothing you need to prove right now.

Breeze: <Yeah, besides I already have everyone's secrets.>

Ever: Really, why are you here?

Breeze: <I'm hungry.>

Ever: Make yourself food.

Breeze: <I'm banned from using the microwave.>

Ever: When has that stopped you?

Breeze: <Making food is haaaaaard.>

Ever: Help with the comforting or go somewhere else.

Breeze: <Mnyeh.>

-he pats Megan's head-

Ever: C'mon, Vee. We've all gotten to share with each other before.

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

-roil and writhe, bubble and boil-

-she listens-

-but Megan's spurred enough by the pat to get down and start hugging, and Pippy's already there-

-and fortunately for Ever, Vee's...careful, with her claws, even now-

-for how loud she gets, she's pretty careful, wherever she cares-

-and eventually, surrounded by friend, she simmers down-

Vee: -hoarsely- <...Azelf, I missed you, Ever. You're just—too good to a bunch of baby adventurers like us.>

-everyone present manages a firm nod at that-

Vee: -pulling back a bit and looking at them- <Hey, you—you wouldn't know how to break a Deal that's been made, would you?>

Pippy: <Vee—>

Vee: <Asking for a friend.>

Pippy: <It's inconsequential.>

Vee: <It's not.>

Pippy: <I don't know how causality works with magic! And I'd really rather have you than any—>

Vee: <Well Dialga damn well better be on our side after all that shit—>

Megan: -finally worked up, under a Chimeco hat- Don't worry about me.

Vee: <I wouldn't be myself if I didn't.>

-and everyone takes a deep breath to start arguing at hug-blank range-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Jul 11th 2019 at 9:18:18 AM

No mind to think. No will to break.

Stormchaser

Ever: I missed you all too.

-they frown-

A deal? Why would you need to break a—

...

-sigh-

-they hold up a hand as everyone starts arguing-

I'm going to be honest, I don't know a thing about how magic works in alternate universes. Particularly not that one. It seems very out of my wheelhouse.

-they narrow their eyes briefly-

What is it you traded away for Vee's life? It may be relevant.

Breeze: <Wait, are we comforting them or fixing their lives?>

Ever: Who says I can't do both?

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Hearthome

Me: Oh cool. I've seen a few of those on members of the J-Team. That's a Z-Ring, isn't it?

♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...

Megan: Nothing—

Vee: -exhausted, still, from...everything immediately previous- <You couldn't stop the fight, so you traded the perpetual motion machine from three worlds back for...a political alliance, it turns out, the name of the technique you were proudest of for a bit of rain, your ability to say swear words for some tangled grass—>

Megan: See, it doesn't flipping matter—

Vee: -turning to Pippy- <Some of your beauty, the ability to...learn how to play piano? I think some memories, what the fuck—>

Pippy: <How the fuck do you remember any of this, you were getting seven colors of spleen stabbed out of you at the time—>

Vee: <Both of you traded years off the end of your life, I have very good hearing and no brain to get in the way, and it's not like I could ignore this—>

<There were some blank Favor checks, but Logan managed to finagle our way out of that one—>

<And I'm. So sorry, really, to bring this up now with you so soon after everything else, but..>

<While we're on the subject I'd like to get this over and done with. It might not be done biting us, and I'd like to get rid of. Any of it.>

<And while we're on the subject how have you been did anyone hurt you do we need to murder anyone. I could go for some murder right about now, or I guess do you want ice cream, or like a small house. None of our money was good anywhere so we have money.>

<I don't actually know how much a house costs, it just seems like the kind of thing that. Something. Gh.>

No mind to think. No will to break.

Stormchaser

-Ever takes a few deep, strained, breaths-

Ever: ...

-and just sort of buries their face in their hands-

Okay. Okay. Okay. Cool. Cool. Cool cool cool okay okay okay cool okay—

Breeze: -slap-

Ever: Ow! How does that hurt so much; you don't even have hands!

Breeze: -retracts tiny claws-

Ever: ...Gods, what are you?

Breeze: <Adorable.>

Ever: Eh, fair enough.

-they take a few more breaths-

Okay, that's...a lot.

-they tap their fingers on their leg uncomfortably-

It's...possible that everything was voided once you left their universe. Or it's possible that it wasn't. It depends on whether you're looking at it as a continuous bond or an exchange of goods. I've always been more inclined to think of deals as an exchange, particularly ones that involve concrete abstract goods.

Breeze: <You just said "concrete abstract" and didn't even blink. What are you?>

Ever: I am a problem-solver, Breeze.

If you're willing, I could go there myself, tap that particular aspect of my personality and see how much I can get back for you. I don't like playing pawnshop with fairies, but it wouldn't be the first time.

Breeze: <Have you ever won?>

Ever: I've never lost. By definition, it's equal exchange.

Breeze: <So you've never won.>

Ever: If you want to be negative about it, sure.

-tap tap tap-

I'll...workshop it.

I've been okay, lately. Lot going on. I, uh, maybe we can talk about it...not right now? It's been a year.

...Oh, I'm dating Lucius! I redeemed him and now we're dating. That's good news. I'm a diplomatic genius.

-nervous twitch-

I'm not. I'm actually terrible at interpersonal relationships. I looked like a huge dumbass and I literally ran away when he told me.

Breeze: <I'll give it a 6/10 for honesty.>

Ever: 6/10 for honesty and 11/10 for style, Breeze.

Breeze: <They saw the man who cored out their mind to serve a tiara.>

Ever: - -

Breeze: <Oh, and before that, we got stuck in an alternate universe. Not for that long, but it was kind of horrifying, Pokemon were extinct and there were these supersoldiers.>

Ever: No that was fine

Breeze: <But it's okay, because we caused a reverse-apocalypse! Is what I would say if Ever hadn't nearly died and only survived because of some sort of ridiculous dying brain magic.>

Ever: Hey I managed to pull off Mega Evolution I should tell Logan when I see them

Breeze: <Oh and then they were held hostage by a Macraul for a bit.>

Ever: We don't talk about that

Breeze: <Also Brie nearly died! That's not so relevant to Ever, though I guess they were upset—>

Ever: You guess

Breeze: <But she's on her way so y'know.>

-speaking of-

-footsteps approach-

Breeze: <But, you know, our 2019's been pretty good. And it's nice having you back! Where's Pollen and the Musketeers?>

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Hearthome

".. Yeah I think that's what it was called." She shrugs.

off the shits

Hearthome

Me: But, what did Rowan mean by "economy of key items"?

♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...

Hearthome

"Like. Keeping the number of important shit I need to carry on me small, I guess?" She shrugs again. "That's what I assumed he meant, anyway."

off the shits

-oh, the pause here would leave you searching for the remote-

Megan: -screaming- WHAT THE ████?!?!

Vee: <The man who did W H A T ? !>

Pippy: <Sweet merciful crap, in the universe we went to humans were only mostly extinct, >

Megan: Wait did you say Macraul

Pippy: <Wait what happened to Brie??>

Vee: <I'm sorry, are we ignoring the brain coring—hold on how many times did you nearly die—>

Megan: I-I'm glad you're dating someone! ^_^ (I don't know who that is!)

Pippy: <Oh yeah Pollen's back at the ship doing her own thing—>

---

-Pollen is on the ground, twitching sporadically at pseudo-empathic bond backlash-

---

Pippy: <—and we don't know how to get back to that universe or where Ceal, Tripod, Thespi—>

Megan: -nervously petting Breeze, who is cute- They didn't come with us, they got sent on their own thing and I hope they're doing okay??

Vee: <Yeah, shady prophets, whatever, where the fuck are all these people that keep hurting you I'll rip out their spines—>

-and Brie approacheth-

Vee: <I need names, I can't challenge them properly without names>

Megan: Okay yeah I have knives—

Pippy: <Actually, do you need a hug? There've been a lot of hugs for us, but you sound like you've had a busier year than we did.>

<Also we really don't need you to go and give up stuff for our sakes!! And from where I stand you look pretty good at interpersonal stuff although I realize that that's something of an external/internal dichotomy and I can only reassure you that you're probably doing a lot better than you think, and that we're all sort of dumbasses making the best of our lives with each other!! It's r a d>

-and he gasps for breath-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Jul 11th 2019 at 12:53:33 PM

No mind to think. No will to break.

Stormchaser

Ever: ...Right okay let's speedrun this

Breeze: <Oh boy! Let me help.>

-Breeze's eyes glow, and Ever starts talking at speeds usually reserved for auctioneers and the fine print at the end of television ads, fingers tapping on their leg the entire time at a similarly unsettling rate-

I actually really don't want to talk about minds and coring right now I'm honestly pretty happy to see you all again even if things were stressful but I can explain later when I'm feeling less overwhelmed

-the footsteps get louder-

Ever: We're not talking about the Macraul I got to learn about taxidermy

Brie picked a fight with a dimensional intruder and maintained Mega Evolution for 36 hours which I don't recommend and then she picked another fight with an obscuric because she's a HERO—

???: Is that you?

Ever: Lucius is super cute, he was with Team Iron but let's face it I've killed more gods than he has, I'm dating a pair of someones at this present moment

???: Is that Diesel making that noise?

Ever: I'm glad Pollen is okay I'm going to help you find the others because that's really concerning

Vee no spine ripping neither of us is killing anyone without confirmation from both sides I just have a somewhat hectic life

You too Megan I appreciate the offer but I know what I'm doing and anyway Tokarev is Tagg's problem which I know sounds incredibly selfish but oh gods I'm so sorry I can't

Breeze: <Change topics!>

I could use a hug but I don't want to play misery poker it sounds like things have been really awful for you and I don't want to diminish that

And let me make something very clear Pippy this isn't a sacrifice play I'm not going to give up my arteries or whatever to spare you minor inconveniences but I am worried and I will help you and I will make that guy who stabbed you pay, if possibly only in the literal sense because I think it might be funny if I buy his house

-and Brie comes around the corner-

Brie: Megan!

Ever: No, you're hallucinating.

Brie: I will kick you so hard your soul departs your body.

Ever: Ooh, that ship's sailed.

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Hearthome City

Luciana: "... I really want to contest that but also this Glitch explicitly wants to kill Tamamo and probably me by proxy so that actually just might work."

She transforms into her magical girl outfit with little fanfare.

Luciana: "Now we wander around until something vaguely staticky decides it wants to pick a fight with us? I guess?"

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