Galar Route 5

-To Channah-

Might as well, not much to do in Turffield admittedly.

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Wild Area, Seedot Zone

-Lucius smirks at Ever and gives them a few pats of their own.-

Lucius: No argument here. But yeah, I'll send him out. Dunno how he'll react to ear scritches, though I can't imagine anyone rejecting such a thing, since - let's be real - they seem pretty great.

-He sends out Linhardt, who yawns before slowly opening one bright blue eye to look at Ever.-

Linhardt: <Mrrrrmmmm...? Oh, hello. Are all humans in this world born with only one arm? It seems a rather unusual trend.>

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Chateau D'Avarice

Royal: Can we focus on getting out of here?!

Motostoke

Gaius: Thanks, Purple Nurple! Say, what were you saying about your Pokemon again?

Cavity: <Milc?>

Contact Me!

Wild Area, Seedot

Ever: Yep, it's very streamlined.

-they pet Linhardt, because kitty-

We have to keep this up forever.

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

-camera on-

Forte: Hey people, welcome to part #471 of my Minecraft Let's Play. Today we're... pah, just kidding. I've always wanted to say that.

-...-

Forte: But really though, welcome to the stream. Today we're in the Galar Mines looking for Dynamax Stones. That is what they're called, right?

-...-

Forte: Wishing Stars? That's kind of a stupid name.

-...-

Forte: Yeah, I'm also here because it's on the way to Turffield. You'd think that— Whoa!

-the camera is lifted away from Forte-

Forte: Hey, give that back! I'm filming right now!

-a jolt of electricity rocks the camera, and it falls to the ground-

Forte: Woobats are being annoying again. Thanks, Electro.

Electro: -pops onto the screen- <No problem!>

Forte: So where was I?

-...-

Forte: Why does the route to town go through the mines? That's just a thing that a lot of cities do. It's like how to get to Mistralton City you go through Chargestone Cave. I wonder if people build the roads like that so that Pokémon Trainers can meet more of the native species of their regions? Maybe.

-...-

Forte: Yeah, I have camp set up here right now.

-Forte turns the camera toward their tent-

Forte: The team is busy searching for gemstones and things. There seem to be a lot embedded in the walls... kinda reminds me of the Sinnoh Underground.

Blueberry: <I think I found one!>

-Forte turns the camera toward Blueberry, who is holding a blue stone in her mouth-

Forte: No, that's not one of them. Dynamax Stones are red.

-...-

Blueberry: <But that's a stupid color!>

-...-

Forte: Can I understand Pokémon speak? Yeah. I used to have Shadow translate for me, but now I can just understand it naturally.

-...-

Forte: But listen, people. Being a good trainer is all about being able to communicate with your team, and there's more ways to do that than just listening to them speak. You have to be aware of all their needs, you get what I mean? Like, if you've ever had a pet, think something like that.

-...-

Forte: That's my tip for today. See you later, people. I'm signing off.

-boop-

Do not fear power... fear those who wield it.

Wild Area, Seedot Zone

-Linhardt's haunches raise slightly as he's pet, but he quickly settles into it.-

Linhardt: <What are you... oh. Oh yes, that's quite acceptable. Do keep doing that while I make myself comfortable...>

-He purrs gently and settles down somewhere on Ever's sternum as Lucius grins.-

Lucius: Keep up what? Lying on top of giant Seedots, petting cats, and draping ourselves over someone we love? You gotta admit, those are pretty specific circumstances... but that said, if we could just keep this moment going forever, I'd be happy with that.

-He bends over to place a kiss on Ever's forehead.-

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Wild Area, Seedot

Ever: See, that's super cute and romantic and I just meant convincing Linhardt here that humans have one arm.

-...-

-...-

Ever: But this is good too.

-they wriggle around to get a better angle on kissing Lucius back, petting Linhardt-

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Galar Route 5

Channah: Cool. -starts heading that way, as Ianto babbles-

There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.

Wild Area, Seedot

Lucius: I mean, that's also good. Both is good.

-He pulls Ever close so that their kiss can become something longer and more involved, dislodging the cat sitting on Ever's chest and prompting them to sit up indignantly.-

Linhardt: <Of course I don't believe all humans everywhere only have one arm. I was simply wondering whether it was an example of divergent evolution in this world. I haven't seen enough samples to come to any... aaaand neither of them are listening to me anymore. How predictable. At least now I have some time to be alone with my thoughts.>

-He sighs.-

Linhardt: <...The professor used to end arguments this way as well. I have to concede that it is a surprisingly effective technique.>

Edited by Herbert40k on Feb 21st 2020 at 2:15:30 PM

Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.

Wild Area, Seedot

Seedot: <DON'T FEEL TOO BAD. THEY'VE BEEN IGNORING ME TOO.>

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Route 5

-We reach a long stone bridge that overlooks what appears to be more of the Wild Area, with what appears to be a dragon-esque fortification in the distance-

I guess that must be Hammerlocke Stadium.

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Galar Route 5

Channah: The shape kind of reminds me of a Guzzlord.

There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.

Cafe Sonata

(And with that accompaniment courtesy of Ian, Kaylan turns to the audience, and in a soft, squeaky, nervous-sounding- but not nervous- voice begins to sing:)

Kaylan:

(During the entire first part of the song, Kim watches Kaylan, smiling as she does so, while Dio, Paul, and Ian continue to play their respective instruments. As before, all three sound identical to the recording. Dio in particular starts playing a riff— right before the chorus kicks in.)

Kaylan:

(Dio happily smiles over at Kaylan as the latter finishes the chorus. The former, meanwhile, continues to play his guitar. Paul looks just as happy— if not even more so, which is understandable considering [Oasis] being influenced by [The Beatles]. Kaylan, now feeling and sounding slightly more confident, continues on to the second verse:)

Kaylan: (thinking) <Huh... this- this is actually a really nice song— oh, th-there's that music again... o-okay...>

Dio: (aside) "Not like we would..."

Kaylan:

(And once again, cue the chorus, as the rest of the band members continue to play their respective instruments and the rest of Kim's team go nuts both backstage and in the audience:)

Kaylan:

(And cue the solo. Kaylan steps away from the mic while all of the band members- but in particular Dio and Paul- continue to play their instruments. Dio, of course, plays with the most passion and soul out of all of the members, even getting up to the front of the stage as he does so— complete with tongue waggle— but Paul is playing just as soulfully. From backstage, Kim looks over at Ian, who is still playing the drums with all his heart, and smiles to herself. Eventually, the solo ends— with Dio and Ian both performing their respective mini-solos on their guitar and drums— and Kim counts Kaylan off. Once she hits the final count, she points over at Kaylan— now more confident than he has been for the entire performance. In response, Kaylan nods, steps up to the microphone, and starts singing:)

Kaylan:

(He giggles- he's having fun with this. At that line, the drums and bass guitar stop, leaving only Dio's guitar playing— and Kaylan's singing:)

Kaylan:

(The bass comes back in, but not the drums— at least for a moment, before Dio and Paul slowly stop playing as Kaylan hits the last note of the song:)

Kaylan:

(The instrumentation stops, the lights come down, Kaylan looks out at the audience, and just like before, the crowd absolutely loses their minds. Geddy and Elton are losing it, as always— which startles Freddie a bit— Dio and Paul hold up their instruments before running up to pat Kaylan on the back, and Sinatra and Joel lose their minds from backstage. However, no one is happier than Kimberly Bond herself, who runs out from backstage and scoops her Turtwig up in a giant hug.)

Kim: "Kaylan, that was amazing! I knew you could do it!"

Kaylan: (looks around at the cheering audience in awe) <They... they liked it?!>

Dio: "Are you KIDDING?! They loved it!"

(Kaylan smiles happily, but then...)

Kaylan: <Wait... what about Colton?!>

Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅

Cafe Sonata

-Pent appreciatively claps along with the crowd and takes a sip from a coffee-

Turffield Stadium

-The woman named Gale Knight, who wears the mask of Nightingale, walks back onto the pitch with a measured, serious gait. Her foe stands, waiting and ready-

Milo: Hey, good on you for giving it another shot. It's always a little sad to see a trainer decide to call it quits after a setback.

-Nightingale says nothing as she sends out James the Sobble-

Milo: Are you sure you don't wanna send out your Rookidee first? Type advantages and all.

Just send out your pokemon Milo...

Milo: Okay, okay. Gossifleur, go!

-The crowd watch intently as the two trainers and their Pokemon stare at each other across the pitch, waiting to see who will make the first move-

Milo: Magical Leaf!

Bounce

-James leaps up in the air as Gossifleur sends out a stream of leaves, dodging the flurry-

Milo: Wait that's illegal

-Nightingale tilts her helmet to the side-

Technical Machine.

Milo: I mean yeah but aren't those only available from the Battle Tower?

-Nightingale shrugs as James comes crashing down, causing quite a bit of damage to the Gossifleur-

Milo: Okay uh... Magical Leaf again?

-James is pretty open to attacks after the Bounce so the leaf barrage hits easily. Going into the third turn both Pokemon are fairly battered-

Milo: Alright if you're gonna Bounce again I'm gonna-

Bind.

-Milo is caught by surprise, almost dropping the Potion but managing to apply it before James swings in with the Bind-

Milo: Huh! You're giving me quite the run today. Alright, Magica-

Bounce.

-Once again James takes to the air to avoid a flurry of leaves-

Milo: Girl, if this is the level of mind-games you're going to bring to every fight you're going to go far! Magical Leaf!

Thank you.

-The new leaf barrage doesn't get to happen because James' second Bounce is strong enough to knock the Gossifleur out-

Milo: Alright, let's see if you can pull through to a big finish. Go, Eldegoss!

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

Cafe Sonata

Some appreciative applause came from the team before Ammy and Colton respectively vanished in flashes of blue and black.

Once on the stage proper, everyone was in their initial positions, a flare darted in front of Colton, grabbing his attention, turning him to Ammy, whose ears and tails had appeared. Her eyes pierced her trainer’s and the two of them nodded before Colton grabbed the microphone, throwing it over to Ammy who set it up in front of her keyboard.

"1, 2-3, 4, 5!"

As the echo on the last lyric slowly faded to nothing, the lights dimmed, save for the one above Ammy, who snapped her fingers, to which the lights responded by turning off fully.

Edited by AbsentCoder on Feb 21st 2020 at 7:47:03 AM

[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]

Route 5

-Feeling an aching on my right side as I clutch it-

Just feels generically draconic to me.

Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.

Turffield, Multimom

Will: I think I get that. I love battles, but my strongest Pokemon is Puri. As for Fuka...

---

Fuka is watching in delight as the Mewoth snarls and thrashes while being caught in a Wrap by Seviper

---

Will: ...there's a reason people in Sinnoh call her "Monster Princess".

Turffield

"Haha what? Who has those... Not me, ha ha."

Rowan: <I've been with you long enough to know you're not a terrible liar, but right now, in this particular moment, you are a terrible liar.>

Chateau

"Worst comes to worse, you'd probably get away with only a broken bone from a one story drop."

"..."

"Okay, more helpful suggestions.. Uh... anyone got like, water moves we could use to break our fall?"

off the shits

Café Sonata

Me: -after listening to Shadow Cast's performance of Jambi- Wow... They are good...

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

Ribbon stared at the others, "An ideology is a set of beliefs beholden to specific views, often political. Fascists come in many flavours thus could be said to hold various ideologies. How are you unaware of this?"

She shook her head and looked down the tunnels, "See if there's anything good around here, we best get moving, more bandits are likely to come this way."

The alcove didn't have much, the most it had was a strip of shiny rifle bullets, and 2 polished tokens with a pokeball symbol on them.

"Mutation from radiation, not the worst idea I've heard... might explain why they're feral and clearly capable of reproducing," Stylus admitted.

It didn't take Stylus long to find a cleaner set of tracks, "Okay activity rolls through here quite frequently, so follow it, and we find civilization... I think... eventually."

Before he could even take the first step, he heard the sound of rumbling, thank you sensitive dog ears. It sounded like... wheels bumping along the tracks... activity. Stylus readied himself for anything, even taking a defensive pose, he could handle this.

Until a manectric tackled him, seems they were even underground! Stylus kicked the Manectric off and looked at it, several more came out, they were clearly pissed. Stylus cracked his knuckles and rolled his head, "/Duck/, run a timer, this is gonna be a bit and I want to see how long I can make it clear to these things to piss off."

Stylus launched into a flurry of blows, every time a Manectric even got anywhere within his personal bubble, it found itself punched or kicked away, Stylus took a deep breath and exhaled, this would take a bit.

"Oh calm down what's the worst that could happen?"

"You are aware the last time I was here, the queen threatened to take my head off."

"Said queen being dead, long dead, you'll be fine."

Arthur and Victor had entered Galar, the Blacksmith and Vampire having opted to go travelling, Arthur rocking pretty casual gear, while Victor wore a more comfortable getup that still said "has money and likes to be fancy". The two were probably on the top of some shit list somewhere, but said list was also probably ancient and the two couldn't be reasonably confused for their past selves.

"Why did I even do this?" Victor asked.

"Because I convinced you to go travelling and see the world, and hopefully if we find Livius, stab him," Arthur responded.

"Honestly killing him does sound nice," Victor admitted.

The two hated each other, but currently it was a calm mutual hate that could be tempered by carpooling and doing nothing else.

PMD-B Group A

Me: <Right!> -Aspen noticed the rifle bullets and the tokens- (Are these tokens money around here? Or there just for decoration? They also have bullets as well, don't know if will be needing those. I should ask them about the tokens though.) -She turned to Ribbon- <Are those tokens money around here?>

PMD-B-B

/Duck/: <Human retaliation, yes. It's a difficult thought but possible.>

-And then Stylus is attacked-

/Duck/: <Timer active. Teach them a lesson Silas Grant.>

Cafe Sonata

-At first Pent forgets to clap. He's in that stilled emotional shock that always seemed to accompany hearing Ammy sing something with lyrics so clearly tuned to the matters of dating. When the wave washes over him, he manages to find the presence of mind to join in the applause along with the rest of the audience-

Turffield Stadium

-It came down to the matchup that ended off the last attempt: Acolyte the Rookidee vs Milo's Eldegoss, both Dynamaxed and both taking fairly even hits against each other-

Milo: Listen, if this comes down to a lucky hit again I think it's only fair to give you the badge anyways, no sense letting bad luck get in the way of good tactics.

I don't need your pity badge...

Milo: Well if you wanna win clean, win then. Max Strike.

Max Airstream

-Nightingale slips a black feather from her sleeve to hold onto as the two giant Pokemon wind up for their attacks-

Shadows hide me...

-Acolyte and the Eldegoss collide, pressing and clawing against each other...-

Please, just keep it a normal hit...

-There's a thump as the clash breaks, Acolyte continuing the swoop and only barely landing before the stands. The Eldegoss just stands, shuddering before collapsing and shrinking back down-

Milo: There ya go. Congratulations.

-There's this moment of silence from Nightingale as she recalls Acolyte and slips the feather back up her sleeve-

Thank you.

Milo: As is my duty as the Leader of this gym, I have the honor of bestowing on you this here Grass Badge.

-The cheer from the crowd is nearly deafening as Nightingale walks up and accepts the Badge-

Thank you...

Edited by Pentigan on Feb 22nd 2020 at 4:59:31 AM

It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.

Chateau D'Avarice

Sorceress: -to Anthem- "Think that thing could follow us?"

---

Tuffield - Present? Or Valentine's Day?

-A purple-haired Alolan saunters up.-

Elizabeth: "Surpise, I'm part of the cool hair club too."

---

Tuffield Gym

Milo: "Go, Gossifleur!"

Shaun: "Rage, Monsoon!"

-A Gossifleur and Piplup take the field.-

Milo: "Just like that last girl. Are you handicapping yourself?"

"Dang that sure is totally poggers my good bitch"

Turffield

-sometime after eventually making it down from the Seedot, Ever has arrived in Turffield-

-with two mons in tow-

Arc: <I dunno, I was just hoping I could stay small and cute for a while longer.>

Oracle the Drizzile: <You seem unenthused.>

Arc the Prinplup: <I feel awkward, mostly.>

-he wiggles, shedding some sharp feathers that Ever sidesteps-

Ever: Middle stages are awkward. Well, unless you're a Grovyle.

-cue-

Pleth: -standing up from a superhero landing- <Yes, we can't all be me.>

Ever: Oh, uh, hey Pleth.

Arc: <Hi, Auntie Pleth!>

Pleth: <Aunt?> (to Ever) <Did you get him to call me that?>

Ever: -Memito smile-

Pleth: -lizard glare-

Ever: -slightly larger and more malicious Memito smile-

Pleth: <Ugh. Hi, kid.>

-she pats Arc on the head. He chirps happily-

Pleth: <Yeah, yeah, you're real cute.>

Oracle: <You see?>

Pleth: <Wait, who are you?>

-she peers down at Oracle-

<Ever, have you replaced me with another fast lizard?>

Oracle: <Only if I need to be.>

Ever: There's room for variation on a theme. I have Cuseinga, too.

Pleth: <...Hm. Anyway, have you seen Marmalade?>

Ever: Isn't she boxed? Though I thought you were boxed, so.

Pleth: <Oh, yeah, a controlling share of your mons have pretty much fucked off.>

Ever: ...Have they now?

Pleth: <I mean, not permanently or anything.>

Ever: Oh. Whew. ...Can I ask why?

Pleth: <Lots of reasons. Uh, Merle and Narrow took Ephemera as muscle on some case they're working—>

Ever: since when do any of those three get along

Pleth: <Gattaca and Solace are off on honeymoon—>

Ever: what in Arceus's name

Pleth: <And Marmalade is, uh...look, where's she gone?>

Ever: Obviously I have not seen her, tell her to come to Turffield whenever you find her.

Pleth: <Uh-huh. Can I assume you're not using me for the Gym battle?>

Ever: Seems like a fair assumption.

Pleth: <See you around, then. Make me proud, squirt.>

-she ruffles Arc's hair with a claw before leaping away into the distance-

Glimmer: <Is she gone?>

-Ever peers down at the Litwick emerging from their shoe-

Ever: I don't understand why you're scared of her.

Glimmer: <She's very tall.>

Ever: I'm taller than she is.

Glimmer: <She wears it better.>

Ever: First of all, ouch...?

Glimmer: <And how come Arc gets to evolve first?>

Ever: Speciation is a cruel mistress.

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Feb 21st 2020 at 10:11:35 AM

Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.

Logan: -making moves to keep the guitar strings gently vibrating- If you mean captured as in a Pokeball...unfortunately what I do is more transient than that. Someone'll need to find hers and smash it.

Phoebe: -way in the back- <On it~!>

-and she departs-

Logan: -strum, strum- But aside from that, I've got some practice corralling a Shadow Pokemon. The J-Team's probably got everything else handled, I can stick around and make sure she doesn't bite your face off. And start rehabilitating toward Purification, after.

-they listen to the quiet little reverberations and start playing-

-something, slowed-down-

-(it sounds a bit like anxiety, but they seem to think Carna would like it, sleeping as she is)-

Logan: ...do you have any other way out of that room?

Pippy: -looking for something to do, briefly contemplates poking one of the syringes...before deciding against it-

-(Salazzle are not known for being especially friendly toward Steel-types, he near-belatedly remembers)-

Megan: Um um uh

Pippy: -still <...hm!>

Vee: <C'mooooon, we're in a new Region, we can like see the sights!>

-rambling, in easy-Vee fashion- <I thin' Thespi an' the rest're like some kinda heroes now, or somethin'? Whatever they've been up to, it probably ain't nothin'. They smell like a butt-kickin'.>

Megan: -...nod-

Pippy: -raising a fin, tentatively- <Pollen's here too. Also.>

Vee: -nodnod- <Yeah, sure!>

<An' like, we've done all sorts of horrible things! This's like easy mode.> ,3

Megan: ...that is tr—

Vee: <An' don' forget, now ya'll've got ME.> ~w

Megan: -wide-eyed, sharp inhale-

Pippy: -stare- <...>

-there's a hesitation, the only sound the Rookidee cheeping-

-(Byleth off to the side digging some bread crumbs out of her pockets, dropping them to him)-

Megan: -blurt- ...yeah.

Pippy: -unblinking- <Yeah...?>

Megan: -fists-clench- Y-yeah!

Pippy: -enthused?- <Yeah?!> o/

Megan: -excited??- Yeah!! o/

Pippy: -finpump- <We've got this!>

Megan: -fistspump- We've got this??

-flippers and hands clutch, and their gazes meet, only slightly befuddled at this turn of events-

Logan: -clapping- Excellent! ^_^

-rummage- There's a uniform with your measurements, right here...oh, and a Trainer card reissue, got that taken care of. Did you know there's merchandising licenses?

-grin, headshake- Wait, one step at a time.

Fraidy: -awkwardly pat, still digging- <no no no you're fine>

-reburying, slightly less anxiously- <I just gotta>

-far in the background, a Rolycoly wheels over an inconspicuous lump in the ground, and for some reason falls over and starts weeping uncontrollably-

---

Vee: <...Meg what the heck>

Megan: -thumbs-up hand!!- This validates the emotion of this text!!

Vee: <...I mean, it sure is efficient…>

Megan: -thumbs-up- I think she likes it?? :D

-and so it goes-

Vee: <...hm.>

Pippy: -magazine- <Hm?>

Vee: <Arc's heartbeat feels...different.>

-...-

Pippy: -sitting up- <Bad different?>

Vee: <Don' think so...?>

Pippy: -scritch- <It wasn't too long since we had a bluefamily lesson thing, yeah?>

Thespi: -drifting by- <Even if it hasn't been in focus!> ^_^

Pippy: <Yeah! What?>

Vee: -snort- <Yeah, hasn' been too long at all, and 's not like Ever doesn' know what they're doin'.>

Pippy: -nod- <Mhm, mhm. Action Survivor.>

Vee: <Or that it's like I missed another important milestone in our child's development.>

Pippy: -nodnod- <Yeah! And even if we did, that's an important part of growing up! It's only natural that he'll have occurrences out of our sight as he matures into his own space.>

Vee: -nodnod- <Mhm, mhm. Totally natural.>

-...-

Vee: <Apropos of nothin' remotely related to this discussion, we gotta go now.>

Pippy: -rush- <I'll pack the bags.>

Vee: -pounce- <Meg, wake up!>

Edited by Asterisk395 on Feb 21st 2020 at 1:36:19 PM

No mind to think. No will to break.