Motostoke Stadium
Hoops steps up to the counter.
"Are you also challenging today?" the attendant asks.
"Yeah," Hoops says. "Put me down right after them. My number is 352."
The attendant checks something. "Hoops, yes? It says here it's been over a year since your last challenge."
Hoops nods sheepishly. "Yeah. Is that okay?"
"Well, everything is in order, so yes. Please enter the challengers area, and wait for your turn. You can watch the current challenges on the screens inside, and please help yourself to a drink and snack."
"Thank you," Hoops says, and goes the way they were indicated.
<You okay?> Kec asks.
"Yeah. There's no going back now. Kec, Sal, Led, get ready. Once Ian and Evelyn finish their challenge, it's our turn."
Slumbering Weald
Nigel: Goodness. People not knowing the cases of [Latin]? Unbelievable. I don't suppose you rapscallions also know little of the classics, or of the many benefits brought by [Roman] rule to Galar. Seriously, its statements like this that make me wish we didn't cut education funding.
Reeves: ~You did assume that Marco Cosmos would modernise the Galarian education system.~
Nigel: True, true.
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Slumbering Weald
Evelyn: Wait... Did you just say "Macro Cosmos"?
Motostoke Stadium
-Ian leaves the locker room in his Gym Challenge Uniform (sponsored by Kwan Industries) and Evelyn leaves the locker room not in her Paintsplatter Magic robes, but in her Psychic Kimono, spinning around at least once to show Hoops.-
Evelyn: What do you think, Hoops?
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Not A Lawyer
Persephone Station, Habitat Ring Auditorium
-Alice chuckles knowingly at Silas's comment.-
Alice: Are you flirting with me, Mr Grant? On the day of your own wedding, no less? Truly you are a scoundrel and a rogue beyond compare.
-Just then, the chime goes off.-
Alice: Ah, that would be our cue to take our places. Good luck, Silas - not that I imagine you'll need it.
Lissa: Well, we'll see how grandiose the ceremony itself ends up being. Talk to ya later once I've got a drink in my hand, Colt.
-The two of them head to their seats.-
Edited by Herbert40k on Sep 28th 2020 at 1:57:36 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.
Motostoke Stadium
Hoops looks Evelyn up and down for a second. "I think you look pretty good. I'm hardly an expert on clothes though. Good luck out there, anyway. Not that you need it."
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium
Evelyn: And good luck with your challenge, Hoops.
Me: So, shall we go in together?
Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Sep 27th 2020 at 12:48:22 PM
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Motostoke Stadium
"Can we do that? I thought I was supposed to wait."
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium
Me: The Gym attendant said that you can enter the challengers area to wait for us. I take it it's through those doors as well.
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Motostoke Stadium
"Oh, yeah, right. Yeah, that would be great. Are you going to be waiting a while for your match, or are you going straight away?"
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium
Me: Evelyn and I are probably gonna go in right away and do our challenge.
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Motostoke Stadium
Entering the challengers' room, Hoops and their pokemon take a seat to watch the match on a large screen.
"Good luck guys," they say, giving a thumbs up.
Flying Colors
Persephone Station
-Mason nods hesitantly.-
Mason: A drink would be great.
Kai: All right then—
-They're interrupted by the chime alerting the party to the start of the event.-
Kai: Oh! It may have to wait until after. Shall we?
pain peko
Persephone Station - Before the Wedding Happens
-Shaun nods and leads Mason to the bar.-
Shaun: "Whiskey and coke, on the rocks. And..."
-He glances at Mason.-
Shaun: "Something strong enough to buzz him. With vodka. Humilau Iced Tea or something."
Backstage
-Jess pops off a cheery salute.-
Jessica: "Don't freeze when you read your vows."
Persephone Station
-Kaiiseii laughs.-
Kaiiseii: "Don't feel bad, I'm out of everyone's league."
-Everyone takes their seats.-
"Dang that sure is totally poggers my good bitch"
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium
-Ian and Evelyn give Hoops a thumbs-up as they enter...
MOTOSTOKE STADIUM, GYM CHALLENGE: PUZZLE ROOM
Announcer: Ladies, Gentlemen, Enbies and Pokémon! Welcome, one and all to the Galar Gym Challenge! Tonight, in the industrial city of Motostoke, Two Gym Challengers are ready to make some magic amongst the technology! They both share the number "556", they've already cleared the Gym Puzzles in Turffield AND Hulbury, AND HERE THEY ARE!!!
-The Rotom-Drone focuses its camera on Ian, who winks and shows a thumbs-up to all who are watching.-
Announcer: Hailing from Nuvema Town in the faraway Unova Region, we have Ian!
Nuvema Town, Ian's House
-Ian's Mother cheers on her son as she watches his Gym Challenge on Live TV.-
Mom: YEAH! GO FOR IT, IAN! I BELIEVE IN YOU!!
MOTOSTOKE STADIUM, GYM CHALLENGE: PUZZLE ROOM
-The Rotom-Drone focuses its camera on Evelyn, who spins around in her kimono, does a little curtsy and laughs about it.-
Announcer: And hailing from Ballonlea right here in Galar, we have Evelyn!
Motostoke, Macro Cosmos Office Building
-Daisuke spits out his coffee upon realizing that his own daughter is performing her Gym Challenge right here in town.-
Daisuke: -panicked- GOOD HEAVENS, I DON'T WANNA MISS THIS!!
Orbito: <I calculate that there is a 99.999999% chance he's going to clock out early so he can watch the Gym Challenge.>
Blasty: <Rounded up, of course?>
Orbito: <You know me so well, Blasty.>
Daisuke: -panicked- Blasty, Orbito, return for now!
-Daisuke calls his Blastoise and Orbeetle back to their Poké Balls as he dashes out of his office, takes his punch card, and clocks out before jumping out the nearby window, where he hits the ground running straight to the Stadium.-
Orbito (inside his Poké Ball): <I did not expect him to jump out the window, however...>
MOTOSTOKE STADIUM, GYM CHALLENGE: PUZZLE ROOM
-Ian and Evelyn look around at the Puzzle Room and see... a lot of tall grass...-
Me: Gee, this is a lot of tall grass...
I just said that... ~AnimeboyIanpower
Evelyn: I guess what we're supposed to do involves what's IN the tall grass.
Me: You mean...?
Evelyn: Pokémon?
Me: We get to catch Pokémon for this next challenge?!
Evelyn: Seems that way.
Announcer: The Motostoke Gym Challenge is THIS! The two trainers have to battle Wild Pokémon! For every Pokémon they defeat, they earn 1 point. For every Pokémon they catch, they earn 2 points. If Ian and Evelyn can amass 10 points, then their Gym Challenge is a success!
Me: Nessa was right. This is not gonna be easy...
Evelyn: ...but knowing us, we can do it! Let's go!
Me: Okie dokie!
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Motostoke Stadium
(Kim, Peechee, and Geddy all enter the stadium and take their seats. Kim looks over at the stadium in front of her and smirks.)
Kim: "Well. Given that this is Ian and Evelyn we're talking about here, this should be fun."
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Motostoke Stadium
In the challengers room, Hoops watches the challenge progressing.
"Interesting..." the say.
<Huh? What is?> Sal asks.
"The challenge," Hoops explains. "It's designed so that both the trainers and their pokemon will be tired by the time they actually get to fight the gym leader, making the fight a lot harder."
Sal frowns. <What, so you think that means the gym leader isn't very strong?>
<Not likely> Kec says. <Depending on people's stamina, their energy by the time they reach the gym leader will vary, but he still has one of the best win records of all the Galar gym leaders. This is a way of deliberately pushing trainers to have to push themselves harder than they would in a normal battle.>
<Why though?> asks Led. She is only half paying attention to the conversation, also focusing on the lights of the stadium. <What's the benefit.>
Hoops considers. "Some trainers get demoralised when they lose. Maybe it's to give them an excuse. But honestly, I think it's to help trainers get stronger."
They all look back at the screen, where Ian and Evelyn are beginning the challenge.
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium, Gym Challenge Puzzle Room
Me: Alright, Evelyn... On three, we step out into the tall grass.
Evelyn: Gotcha!
Me: Ichi...*
Evelyn: Ni...*
Evelyn: San!*
Me: Kevin!
-Evelyn facefaults-
Me: Sorry about that... couldn't resist.
-Ian helps Evelyn back to her feet.-
Evelyn: It's okay, Ian... and... it was kinda funny...
Me: Let's do it right this time! Ichi...*
Evelyn: Ni...*
Evelyn and I: San!*
-Ian and Evelyn jump into the tall grass...-
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Motostoke Gym Stadium (Post-Python)
(From in front of Kim, the Gym Challenge is being shown on a giant television. Kim, Geddy, and Peechee look in front of them.)
Kim: "Well. This is definitely interesting. I have five Water-types with at least some interest in battling- two of them are sitting with me right now- so this challenge should be completed fairly easily."
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Flying Colors
Persephone Station
-Mason blinks, but does not object to the drink in question.-
Mason: I hope you're prepared for me to get way more than buzzed from this.
-And he takes it.-
Fwomph
Persephone Station
One moment, technically Gale Knight ain't invited to this wedding. I'll see you, whether at the seating or afters yeah?
-With that, Gale ducks out to go 'get' Pentigan-
Omega Field
-Gale steps towards the soldiers and horses-
Milites, ego autem non fuissent ex vero naturae meae!
-She gives a quick glance back at the others, gauging her pronunciation-
Skysail Tavern
Alright, let's see...
-Gale takes a seat and concentrates, a little scene forming in her hand. It is a cavern with a rock pillar in the center. Standing next to the pillar is a human and some kind of creature-
There is a place down on the surface that only people with... Well with the talent that Desmond has obtained can find, some say it's an instinct to find it. My plan is we try and find that place and maybe learn a little more about how this world works. Does that sound good? Des, Kim?
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Flying Colors
Persephone Station
-A sly smile crosses Kai's face as Gale starts off.-
Kai: Who's to say you're not my plus-one? The spot's open. Or is it about the thrill of being the uninvited guest?
Edited by BittersweetNSour on Sep 27th 2020 at 8:35:49 AM
Fwomph
Persephone Station
-Gale stops in her tracks and glances back with a smile-
Kai, thanks for the offer but I don't think Pent would pass up a chance to make an entrance yeah?
-She winks and continues off-
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Flying Colors
Persephone Station
-Kai's grin widens.-
Kai: Oh, I suppose. I'll be waiting, then, Ms. Knight.
-They watch Gale for a bit as she walks away, before finally breaking their gaze and finding an appropriately dramatic solitary seat to claim.-
Edited by BittersweetNSour on Sep 27th 2020 at 8:57:05 AM
Victor stood at a podium, now wearing a far more formal outfit, it helped him stand out but looked like it still fit the proceedings. He called it his "Symphony of the Night", a custom tailored suit and coat, meant for only the most formal of proceedings... or for if he ever found a worthy challenger to come and kill him.
Silas stood before the Podium, hands crossed behind his back, he was naturally very stoic but his excitement was almost palpable. A smile had crossed his face, it was natural and for once, not unsettling.
With everyone sat down, Ziltoid plugged his guitar into a amp and started strumming, it was similar enough. Standard music for the bride to walk down the aisle to, but with a heavier more electric tone as played by a guitar, it worked well for how unusual everything here was.
Silas looked up and saw her drifting through the air, Roxy had taken advantage of the low gravity and the spin of the station and was going for a dramatic entrance. His heart skipped a few beats, she looked beautiful, and all felt right in his world.
Roxy landed gracefully at the podium, and looked to Silas, a smile on her face.
Motostoke Stadium
Me: Thanks, Hoops.
Evelyn: Well, Ian... let's get started.
Gym Attendant: Welcome to Motostoke Stadium. Now, which of you will be challenging this Gym?
Me: Evelyn and I will start.
Gym Attendant: Now, let's see... Ah, Challenger 556! Please go get changed into your uniforms.
Evelyn and I: -in near-psychic unison- On it.
-Evelyn and Ian head off to the locker rooms to change into their Gym Challenge Uniforms.-
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...