Pris' Apartment

Des listens intently as he grabs a chip and munches on it. Lita meanwhile looks at the pile of chips with a little disgust, as if she's stomach sick.

Lita: "No thanks, I ate already."

She looks up and gives Pyggly a reassuring smile. Meanwhile Des turns to face Jon. He'a rather composed.

Time travelers? And I just showed up with one...

"Time traveler you say? Well you've come to the right people. I've had dealings with dimensional threats before so this shouldn't be any different. You have descriptions of these guys?"

Priscilla's apartment.

Priscilla: You okay, Lita? I have a recliner you can sit on if you're feeling nauseous.

Jonathan: Well, I can start with the one who sideswiped me. He was dressed in this paramilitary outfit—a green fatigue, turtleneck sweater, covers his face in a balaclava and a tuque. Hazel eyes, dirty blond hair. He called himself "Goober." We kept jumping across the time stream when he sideswiped me while I was out buying canned soup at this big box that they apparently built in the building I worked in. Like, we went places. The Stormchaser last year, World War II [Italy], the Orange Islands in the 1990s. By the looks of it, he was being chased.

Pyggly sends out a mental message indicating that everything Jon is saying is true.

Jonathan: Then, there's this fellow I met in Kalos a few months ago. About late May or early June. My boss was brought in to advise in a missing person's case since one of my coworkers was kidnapped. This strange fellow—a disabled man with two prosthetic arms and a very noisy pacemaker—he came into some conflict with one of my office mates.

He took another gulp of milk and cleared his throat. The description of the disabled man being interrogated by the cops should ring familiar to Lita.

Jonathan: Well, they had to let him go since he wasn't involved in the actual kidnapping, but I found that him and his rotom were acting a bit too funny. It turns out the rotom was an alternate future timeline's version of me, and his disabled trainer was another time traveler, involved with this paramilitary organization—

Priscilla was briefly mortified. It was the sum of everything she feared would happen.

Jonathan: You okay, Pris?

Priscilla: I— this sounds familiar. Is this paramilitary the IDPD?

Jonathan: That's what my boss said. Apparently the rotom threw a temper tantrum when the cop that was with him mentioned your surname. Wait, I see it now.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Aug 28th 2019 at 4:58:36 PM

Hau'oli City, Geo Soc Open House, Art Print Booth

Not even a moment later, Alyesha had her purse out and put 30 dollars on the table with an excited smile

Alyesha: "I'll take it!"

Having said that, Alyesha turned back to tommy

Alyesha: "Well, I'm happy that you do~ It's a great show and I watch it whenever I get the chance"

At this point, Shinji came out of his ball, causing Alyesha to smile and crouch, watching the small Pokémon crawl his way up Tommy

Alyesha: "Hello there, little one~"

Hau'oli City Open House

Shinji clings to Tommy's abdomen precariously.

Tommy: Not too rough, buddy, that tickles.

Shinji: <Hey, I'd have you know that I was the biggest in my batch.>

Tommy: I'm pretty sure Robbie is the bigger one, though.

Shinji: <Growth spurt. He got lucky that he didn't stay small.>

Tommy: Forgive him, he's very touchy about quite a lot of things. Ain't that right, shelly.

Tommy lightly taps Shinji in the carapace. Shinji proceeds to crawl up his back and pop back out to his shoulders, where he can see Alyesha and her companions with his bottom eyes. Tommy chuckled a bit while he does so.

Tommy: Come on, buddy, be nice.

Shinji: <Hello there.>

Hau'oli City, Geo Soc Open House, Art Print Booth

As Shinji did so, Alyesha couldn't help but smile lightly upon seeing the small Pokémon, reaching out to per him though stopping short of actually touching his carapace to see if he'd allow her to.

Alyesha: "Understood, I'll keep that in mind. I'm sorry Shinji, I didn't want to insult your size."

Matvey meanwhile bend down lightly, looking up at Shinji with a smile as he waved with one of his claws.

Pris' Apartment

Des's expression didn't change. Lita however say up straighter upon hearing the mention of Goober.

"Uh, maybe I will have a chip."

She took several chips and shoved them into her mouth, munching to hide her expression. Des stifled a laugh before returning to Jon.

"A 'Goober' and someone with prosthetics and a Rotom. Anything else you can tell us?"

He looked to Pris.

"Something wrong?"

Priscilla's apartment

Jonathan: Well, Pris mentioned the IDPD. She didn't exactly give me or my boss or even the authorities much details, but we did figure out that the prosthetic-armed man was with them. The only thing I can mention was that PEFE was pretty ticked with the IDPD for an event involving them and their headquarters.

Priscilla: I'm fine. I just needed to process that.

Priscilla took a deep breath and continued.

Priscilla: The IDPD is a putative organization of time travelers who claim to be after renegade time travelers. Ordinarily, this would be a need-to-know sort of thing but the torracat's already out of the bag insofar as anyone in this room is concerned. Interpol, the gendarme of Kalos and Jon's division of the Geographic Society were among the first to pick up on the IDPD's activities. They broke into PEFE's main HQ while searching for a person of interest, though they were fortunately beaten back by PEFE security and the J-Team. Cost us a pretty penny in repairs, actually.

Jonathan: Also, if it's any consolation, the cyborg IDPD agent and his pokémon did try to blend in a lot. The rotom-me especially used a sort of hologram projector that can make him look quite a lot like other people, though him being me you probably can guess what his usual disguise is. Kind of reminds me of the rotom that works for Lord Macraul's brother, really. Seriously, though, the robot guy is a total dick.

Pris' Apartment

Des closed his eyes and considered what was told to him.

Lita told me about these people. However I doubt that's why she's freaking out...

He opened them again.

"Alright. So what do you want us to do about this Goober? Track him down?"

Lita shifts uncomfortably.

Lita: "I don't know. This guy could be dangerous."

Fuchsia Café, Bi Rights

-Elizabeth squeaks very gayly and melts internally.-

-Somewhere in her brain the words "Princess Thunderthighs" echo.-

Elizabeth: "He-no, now's not the time. We're here to have a good time."

"You know, one of these days I ought to make dinner for you two. I was only a waitress, but I spent enough time in the kitchen to learn. I can make tons of pastas. Baking's my favorite way to cook, though."

-She headtilts at Julius and Ishtar.-

Elizabeth: "You guys have hobbies, right? I can't believe I never asked you, Julie."

PEFE Medbay, Megan

PEFE!Every: How interesting...

Cytosol: <Awful.>

PEFE!Every: Oh, yes, that too.

Cytosol: <I was referring to you.>

PEFE!Every: -shrugs- Well, I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can borrow Ever's arm; I'm sure it will come in handy.

Kanto Route 7

Ever: I've got this fire exactly where I want it.

-the same cannot be said of Arc, who is still steering all the water away from it-

Ever: Arc cut it out you're making us look bad in front of the newbie

Arc: <Bullshit!>

Ever: That doesn't mean what you think it means!

Priscilla's Apartment

Pyggly, to Lita: <There's no need to worry. He is not your enemy.>

Jonathan: If you can bring him in for questioning, then yes. I'm looking more for an investigation on what these folks are doing. Look, I'm not asking for permission to go "time travelers walk amongst us!" like some doom prophet because Arceus nobody is going to buy that even though there are literal holes in the fabric of reality in the sky.

A rift forms a couple of blocks away from the apartment.

Jonathan: Kinda like that. I can see this one guy in the office going all Torchic Little on that right now. But I digress. Point is, these IDPD chumps are up to something, and they should be made to think twice before they muscle in on our timeline like they own it.

Priscilla: He's an investigative journalist. I figured that getting the J-Team and their affiliates to look into this is probably better since we're already keen on minimizing panic as it is.

Pyggly, to Des: <What Ms. Priscilla is trying to say is that we need to find out more about these IDPD operatives to ascertain their motives. Although from what I can tell, Goober isn't a person you'd need to worry about.>

Meanwhile, in Lita's cellphone.

Hau'oli City

Tommy: He's quite nice when you get to know him.

Shinji allows himself to be petted.

Edited by MasterJayAM on May 12th 2021 at 9:27:53 PM

Hau'oli City, Geo Soc Open House, Art Print Booth

Seeing he allowed it, both Alyesha and Matvey pet Shinji (though, Matvey was notably more careful with his patting, claws and all)

Alyesha: "I hope I can get to know you better in that case, Shinji. And, gotta' say, you're quite photogenic, especially when paired with such a good artist~"

Kanto Route 7 Newsstand

Me: Is that a Piplup?

-checks Pokédex-

Pokédex: Piplup, the Penguin Pokémon. A Water type. A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff up its chest without a care. It's difficult to bond with since it won't listen to its Trainer.

Me: So cute!

Regardless... Are you sure you don't want any help?

Pris' Apartment

Des straightened himself up. He gave Jon a steely gaze before flashing a smile.

"Very well. We'll track down this Goober and look into this IDPD. I'll contact the rest of the team for support."

Lita glowers at her phone and discretely replies.

Satisfied Des sat back and looked around the room.

"So, what now. The evening's ours it seems."

Hau'oli City Open House, Past

Tommy: I'm quite surprised he's managed to stay this calm to be honest. Natural predators and all.

Shinji: <This is what domestication does, Thomas.>

Shinji, mentally: <I DON'T NEED TO GIVE IN TO INSTINCT! I'M A SUPERHERO! AND ALSO A MODEL. A SUPERMODEL IF YOU MAY.>

Tommy, mentally: <It's a good thing you're not saying it out loud because I can only block your thoughts from Flash's mind-readers for so long.>

Shinji: <A pleasure to meet you, too.>

Tommy: Yep. Flash is a terrific artist.

Flash approaches Alyesha.

Flash: Penelope Cabrera-Grant, at your service. My grandfather Raleigh was a paleontologist, too. Long line of family members on either side who like old things. My dad's an archeologist—totally different field. And here I am working in the arts. Hey, it's still past-related.

Priscilla's Apartment, Castelia City

Jonathan: Thank you, Mr. Des, is it?

He hands Des a card. Jon is an investigative journalist.

Jonathan: If you're ever in Kalos or that place due north of Unova, give me a call or drop me an E-mail.

Priscilla: Well, the pizza I ordered just arrived. I'd love to have you over for dinner.

Pris' Apartment

He graciously accepts Jon's card.

"Mr. Descartes, actually. We'll get on the case ASAP."

Lita relaxed a little, turning to Priscilla.

"We'd absolutely love to stay."

Des nodded in agreement. "I felt we didn't get a chance to get to know each other after our last job together. Now would be a good opportunity."

Megan: -beaming- Good to hea—

Pippy: -surfacing- <Got it.>

-he's holding a bundle of splintered wood and twisted metal-

-Mareepishly- <...sort of.>

Megan: Aw, beans.

Vee: -wheezing, on the floor- <Yeahh, test three-an'-a-half's a bust. A bit.>

Megan: -taking the thingy, looking it over- Dangit.

-she tries and fails to straighten it out into something salvageable-

-looking around- Uh, gotta go make a new one before...

-to the lump, dropping it into her bag with a final thump- Thank you for being.

-to Tagg- So, whenever you wanna hang out, give me a call?

Vee: -perking up- <Or we'll call you!>

Pippy: <Or we'll bump into each other at the supermarket and say "hey, it's you!" and hopefully not awkwardly dance around the fact that at least one of us can't remember the other's name.>

Megan: ...please, no. Not again...

Pippy: -shrug-

Megan: ...well, you did remember me after a year, actually, and I did too, so ^_^

Megan: -sparkly-eyed, to Tagg- oh my gosh

-remembering- ...oh gosh yeah you take all our Dex entries and perform studies and make science out of them

I wonder how much I can read—

-uncomfortably- ...wait I haven't been out of this bed in days I think.

...wait yeah I can get out of this bed now.

-she, on an impulse, leaps out of bed (fails to leap out of bed) and attempts to run in the direction indicated to be an arctic module-

-and faceplants-

-fortunately into an expectant Empoleon floof and not the module floor-

Pippy: <Now now, manners.>

Megan: -muffled- h yhh thnk y s mch

Pippy: -patting- <Now ask the kind scientists about any side effects.>

Megan: -more muffled- yh

Vee: -to Pef- <Eh, if it weren't so terrible pers'nally I'd find it pretty neat, too. Lemme know if anythin' comes up?>

Pippy: -inhale-

Vee: -smiling, putting her eye patch back on- <An' thanks.>

Pippy: <Thank you!>

-a Ranger may be walking with a cowboy for a grocery run-

Logan: -gesticulating- So if you really consider the logistics of s'mores as coaxing mechanism...

-in some sort of discussion, that has context and everything-

Some Kanto City, Some Kanto Pokemart

Indeed a cowboy is walking besides the ranger, scratching his chin and considering his words carefully.

"Aw yes, I see. The combination of melted chocolate and marshmallow between graham cracker is irresistible."

Kanto Route 7

Ever: of course I need help Ian what do you think is happening here

Arc: <Circuit!>

Ever: Nobody's ever even said "circuit" in your presence.

PEFE Medbay, Megan

PEFE!Every: Side effects? Well, you'll have to evacuate all the waste tissue eventually, one way or another. I suppose that isn't an enjoyable experience.

-she nods politely to Vee and Pippy- You're welcome. Always happy to help.

-she takes the drive out of Megan's Dex, tosses it back to/at her, and vanishes in a Click!-

Kanto Route 7, Newsstand

Me: Remind me to ask you what you meant by that after this fire's out.

Oshawittle! Come on out!

-I throw a Poké Ball into the air which opens and out comes Oshawittle-

Oshawittle: <Here I am!>

Me: Oshawittle... I want you to use Aqua Jet on the fire over there.

Oshawittle: <It shall be done!>

-Oshawittle surrounds himself in water and lunges at the fire-

-Ian thinks to himself-

Me: Maybe I should've taught him to use Water Gun...

Textspace

Rue Macraul, Four Macraul Mansion

-He slipped in like a... what's the word? A ghost, that's the word. The figure in white drifted through the halls with the grace befitting The Wight. Janus Macraul couldn't find the words for what she was confronted with, her head hollow of applicable thought. Stiffly, she turned the page of her book and uttered not a sound-

The White: I keep my promises. Another failed story, so I return.

-The figure in wight reached into his robe and withdrew a manila folder that he rifled through to check it's contents before casting it out, the folder changing into a brilliant Spark surrounded by corroded copper as it sought out the heart of the hollow Janus-

The Wight: Your performance last time was lacking wasn't it? It's fine, I don't blame you. Running out of time and all that.

-Janus had the words to describe what was lingering in front of her as she looked up from her book; ethereal, phantasmal, metaphysical? The figure just shrugged and drifted off elsewhere in the house-

The White: I do hope you'll try again, give those heroes prizes worth the effort.

-Standing in the foyer, the Wight breathed out a deep sigh and let three more folders become a ball of green fire and rock, an undulating ball of purple scales and a flickering, false Spark and for each to find their 'character'. Elsewhere in the house, each Macraul becomes a little more aware, a little less stiff, a little more real-

-Perhaps... Perhaps it was time for another game?-

Hau'oli City, Geo Soc Open House, Art Print Booth

Alyesha smiled as she heard that, continuing to pat Shinji for a bit

Alyesha: "I hope you're feeling good in today's world then."

As Flash stepped closer to them and told her piece, Alyesha had top grin and nod along

Alyesha: "Oh, I can feel you there, pretty much everyone else in my family is a paleonthologist as well - and here I am, running a small food cart. Telling them that was certainly an experience, how was it with you?"

((Whoops.))

Edited by AbsentCoder on Aug 29th 2019 at 9:16:54 AM

Hau'oli City Open House, Past

Flash: My parents took it well enough that I wanted to paint and draw instead of dig or read up on records in some old-timey dialect I can barely understand. I got their love of history, just that I expressed it through my art. Mom and dad always knew it's what I loved doing and they figured that I didn't have to show my love for history as they did.

She points to a rather large-ish collection of prints with her signature. Many of them depictions of historical and prehistoric subjects from various issues of the magazine.

Flash: I've been given an on-and-off staff job by the magazine's art department and they like my work enough that they kept hiring me to work on it. Funnier still, it's not my primary job here. I first came in as Mr. Harvey's new personal assistant, and that job was flexible enough to let me have time to work on my animation degree.

Priscilla's Apartment

Priscilla: Oh, indeed. We should. It'd be good to get to know each other a little better since we will be working together again in the foreseeable future.

Priscilla bussed in the pizza boy.

Pizza boy: Pizza time.

Priscilla: And just in time. Here's a tip.

Priscilla hands the delivery person a generous gratuity along with the payment.

Jon, meanwhile, did not like the sound of this at all. He made a contorted face, which only made Priscilla chuckle flirtatiously in response.

Jonathan: Is that from where you two knew each other?

Priscilla: Oh, yes. We originally met during a cleanup operation in this one time and after lending our team his expertise, we've decided to call him up for further cleanup operations. We take good talent wherever we can find them.

Jonathan: The cleanup operation, like the one Taipan and the Aurabolts were reportedly in?

Priscilla, laying the pizza in her dining table: The very same. Some critics say PEFE shouldn't allow vigilantes to wreck valuable Pokefutures assets, but the higher-ups and I tend to think that if some of the stuff is dangerous, then a few superheroes barging in and neutralizing the threat shouldn't be that big a deal. Especially since when I came to inspect them, they show all the signs of being previously been occupied, possibly by a renegade remnant.

Pyggly, to Des: <We have to be very careful around vigilante matters to Jon. I don't want to lie to the trainer who raised me, but I don't want him endangering himself by getting involved in superhero antics. You've seen how Ms. Priscilla reacted when she found out exactly why Jon's resemblance to the time-traveler's Rotom upset your daughter so much.>

Priscilla: So, Desmond. Tell us a bit about yourself? There's got to be more to the modern cowboy than meets the eye.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Jan 23rd 2024 at 5:29:22 PM

Pris' Apartment-Past

Lita seemed to ease up a bit. She took as slice and munched on it.

"This is pretty good pizza. You guys really live it up in here. Better than a log cabin in the middle of nowhere."

She eyed Des mischievously. He returned a look that screamed 'what did we say about future trolling?'. Smirking he grabbed a slice.

"Typical thug life, actually. No formal education, had to make ends meet somehow. Meeting the J-team made me change. For a time at least. Then I went back to my old ways for a bit. It's a whole thing. How about you, Priscilla. There must be more to you as well?"

Mentally he projected some thoughts for Pyggly to read.

Thanks for the heads up. You are a good Grumpig.

Edited by PhilosopherStones on Aug 29th 2019 at 11:14:47 AM