-Diane has just enough reaction time to catch Noelle and not be toppled to the ground.-

Diane: Aah! Noelle! Hi!

-Hugs are applied.-

Kai: Oh, uh. Hey.

Noelle: I was feeling kind of down about myself lately, so I decided what I'm gonna do is get cuddles from everyone I can.

-she snugs Diane tightly-

Noelle: Didn't you do something similar at one point, Kai?

-He takes a sip of soda before looking confused at Breeze.-

Tanten: "Wait what did you say about people being from the future?"

-Kai smiles.-

Kai: Yeah. A couple times, actually. There was the hug list last year after we got back from the Yangverse, but also back in like, 2014, I had a Cuddle Week after a particularly bad incident involving Illusion—

-Their eyes widen, and they look at Diane.-

Kai: Mason could be working with Echo to back up his illusions.

-Diane snickers, still in a state of hug.-

Diane: Sure, sure. Anyway, I will certainly never turn down a good hug. What's got you down, babe?

Noelle: Well, promise me you won't tell her this, but um... I kind of have a crush on Fortis... Now before you say anything, I know she's too young for that, that's why I've been so troubled. I feel awful that I feel that way about her but...

-Noelle sighs-

Noelle: She's so nice and sweet to me, and always so fun to be around. I kind of feel like I don't deserve to be her friend...

-...-

Noelle: But I'm not gonna date her. Not until she's older, at least.

-Beat-

Diane: ...Ah...

Kai: ...I'm sensing a kind of serious talk incoming that I don't wanna third-wheel on?

Diane: Yeah, uh, maybe. We can conspiracy theory more later?

Kai: Sounds great! See you around!

-And the Purple ollies out.-

Diane: ...So, ah. Fortis.

Noelle: Yeah... um, like I said, I don't want to date her because... well, it'd be taking advantage of her.

-Noelle hugs Diane tightly-

Noelle: Wouldn't it? I know she's almost an adult now but she's still so much younger compared to me and...

-...-

Noelle: I think what I'm most scared of is that she'll find out about my feelings for her and then try to rush into a relationship or something, and I'd have to tell her no...

Pippy: -stoically- <Is there something wrong with eating rocks, Ever?>

-and, looking them directly in the eye, he picks up a pebble, opens his beak-

-extends a long, thin tongue, bristling with horrific steel barbs-

-and licks it-

-and is now holding half a pebble-

-and then he pops the other half in his mouth, "chewing" cheerfully-

Pippy: <Steel-types benefit greatly from the minerals found in common varieties of stone!> ^v^

-Vee nods, and noms more salsa with rocks in-

Megan: -absently reaches for the pebble pile, and without looking Pippy redirects her hand to the nacho bowl- Oh geez did she come back to avert some horrible catastrophe

-to Astraea- Hi! Are you newer, too? ^_^

-to Tanten- And it's nice to meet you for the first time! Oh, uh...

-in a "weather small talk" voice, despite her best efforts- So, why'd you want to join the J-Team?

The Stormchaser, Taco Hell

Astraea looks at Brie. "I've heard nothing but horror stories."

She then turns to Tanten.

Astraea: "It's a surprisingly common phenomenon."

She shrugs at Megan. "I suppose so."

Stormchaser, Taco Bell

With Beck

Ever????: Uh, no, I was just going to ask if you needed your check.

With the others

Brie: (to Astraea, smugly) Mmmm-hmm.

-Ever stares at Pippy-

Ever: ...Well, okay.

-and takes a pebble themself, tossing it into their mouth and swallowing it whole-

Ever: (strained) Delicious.

~Are you choking?~

Very much so.

-...-

Why would you push it down?

~Consequences!~

Ever: -gulping- Anyway! Yeah, people and stuff come from the future sometimes. I feel like someday it'll get us all killed, but it's fine for now.

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Jul 15th 2019 at 6:18:01 AM

Hearthome

Daydre slashes through several more glitches, finding her movements much more easy now that she's transformed.

"I'm not allowed to buy alcohol in a bunch of places, sorry."

Man why can't manipulating Obscura be this easy when I'm not doing magical girl bullshit

Diane: Yeah, I'd definitely recommend against dating her for... a couple reasons, really. What you just said, that's a big one, and in general I don't recommend making a waiting game out of it anyway. But...

-She hugs a bit more, then lets go of Noelle, rubbing the back of her neck.-

Diane: Even if... even if in a few years it won't be technically as bad, it would still have an effect on the polycule as a whole. Even if there's no direct link between us and her, it's still something I know Skye and I both would be a bit uncomfortable with, or at least I think she would, because we both sorta see her as a little sister? If that makes sense. So we're not... super comfortable with being in the same polycule as her. Same reason Kai and I never got together after we opened up our relationship, because they and Skye are way too close in a familial sense, even if there's no direct link there. Is this making sense? I dunno if it's making sense.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jul 15th 2019 at 9:32:17 AM

Noelle: She's everyone's little sister, yeah. But um... I think you're right. Or at least, you sound right. Maybe?

-...-

Noelle: I wish I could make this crush go away though...

Diane: Yeah, I know. I'm no expert on getting rid of crushes myself, exhibit A being the aforementioned Kai point. But things will turn out fine, I promise. And if she does find out, just, lay out that disclaimer, and reasons and stuff, y'know? Make sure there's no room for the wrong idea.

Noelle: Okay.

-she gives Diane a squeeze-

Noelle: I think it's working, I'm starting to feel better already.

-Diane gives another hug.-

Diane: Having someone to talk to about things always does help, it turns out. Someone to actually work through problems, rather than just, letting them fester and stuff, y'know? Festering problems just get ugly and messy and it's awful.

-Noelle nods-

Noelle: Yeah. I'm glad I decided to do this, it was a much better idea than sitting around moping all day.

-Diane grins.-

Diane: Glad to help you un-mope.

-She gives Noelle a kiss on the cheek.-

-Noelle blushes a little bit-

Noelle: Glad for your help, sweetie.

-and gives Diane a kiss on the cheek in response-

Hearthome

Me: I think this might be a great way to train Auric abilities that we already have...

Psychic "I Love You" Pulse!

-Ian fires another heart-shaped psychic pulse at a quarter dozen^note Three glitch monsters-

Me: If we could fly, I'd bet you anything that we'd be able to find out where these glitch monsters keep coming from... It's just a thought, y'know...

-Diane smiles.-

Diane: So, who's next on the list? Skye and Alyssa are back at PEFE, and I was planning on hanging around here for a couple days, otherwise I'd invite you to cuddle with all three of us.

Noelle: Here, take a look.

Noelle: And if you think of anyone else I could add, let me know.

Hacks stares at Pippy, then at Silas and Megan, and then says, ~Dear Sweet Arceus the two are complete nerds!~

"Well duh. Do you think I gave myself a Bucky arm because I wanted to be the Winter Jackal?" Silas responded.

Roxy smirked, "I mean most of the J-Team are nerds. Even the jocks are nerds."

Silas shrugged, "As for the Mechs, one is mine, the other is Shaun's, and the last is Colton's. The terrains they are meant for are exclusively spaceborne, Pokemon on Earth can turn any tide but in space... well few things survive space and I haven't seen that Deoxys trainer in a bit."

~That was still weird.~

"It was awesome and was the first time I got to use my now signature, Aura Storm."

~Really it's your signature now?~

"I don't see you using it and reciting the kamehame," Silas responded with another shrug, "The Horizon, my Mech, has a fun little upgrade, the wings are actually drone binders for auric slash telekinetic control systems... meaning Hacks has to run them. I don't think we'll ever get to use them... well part of me hopes that."

Roxy raided a hand, "I've been practicing on the simulator, Silas may be the better pilot of the Wing, but I daresay I'm closing the gap on Horizon," she said with a smug grin.

It was at this point that another party became active, in ran a furret who looked at Megan and let out a awed sound, <Oh hey! Is that a new person! Do they like hugs!>

Roxy smiled, "Oh yeah and meet my mon, Muggy, they like hugging people."

<Hugs are great!>

Edited by rmctagg09 on Jul 15th 2019 at 11:11:25 AM

-Diane tilts her head-

Diane: Lily... the redheaded one? And who's the other Lily?