Eclipse the Moon
3 Sixteen 2s
Kahina: <He will finally get that universal clarity of mind he's been looking for.>
The way Kahina lingers on it makes the atmosphere more chilling on his own.
Kahina: <Yet. I'm sitting here doing nothing but ageing.>
Pepper: <Ah. Lemme guess, you're tourists who's trainer is here to battle Piers- Marnie (I keep forgetting Piers stepped down) and you're here to relax before you do the Gym Challenege?>
-She scratches her makeshift Focus Sash eyepatch-bandanna-
Pepper: <Ah. Or am I wrong in that assessment? But that tends to be the reason why new faces pop up here.>
I'm having to learn to pay the price
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium, Stands
-Ian continues to record the battle.-
Piku-chan: <I dunno if my trainer has any extra Pokémon-sized kimono, but I know he can make one for you if you ask him.>
Hatty: <That's a stunning move! Keep it up, Kim!>
Evelyn: Go for it, Kim! Show Kabu what you're made of!
Orochi Plaza
Me: Hey, Kim!
Evelyn: Are you here for the Orochi Tower tour, too?
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
like christ, but with more nails
Orochi Tower, Floor 11 antechamber, past
Garrett: -regards Voynich with skepticism at first, then beholds the dough with surprised eyes- Damn. I made a good choice snea- *cough* - coming to work today. Thanks. -listens in on the conversation with slightly more interest than before, being sure to nod along and make agreeable noises at the right moments with Voynich like a sycophant- (Maybe if I don't tell anyone about the bonus, I can collect it for myself. Somehow. But do I really want to think that hard tonight? Ehhhh...)
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.
"Affirmative. Pull everyone out when you can, this operation will need more time and I don't think we can pull everything in one day," Bishop added.
"Murphy and I will pull everything we can, meet you soon," Bishop finished before turning to Murphy.
"Grab all copies of layouts, the Captain will need some time to plan, I have a feeling though the Floor Team will be needed for a distraction."
The Guards would be marching off, the team would have a clear shot to take a way out while they could... they just had to grasp it quickly as more footsteps were heard coming their way.
At the "compensation" remark, Delta had picked up his machete and was currently polishing it. Scratch had an idea of the implication, and found it a bit... unsettling even if the targets absolutely deserved it.
"What are we a charity?" Scratch asked.
"No, we are professionals, a surgical scalpel, not butchers and madmen too far up their own ass to understand basic decency," Delta commented, "A fact I am disappointed that I have to constantly beat into the others."
Scratch sighed and rubbed his head, "Okay... so later this week there will be a transfer, somebody will come by?"
"I'll be stopping by myself with Ma'at to perform inventory and take what is needed. This is a bit more important and we can't risk anything going missing," Delta coolly commented.
Scratch felt a chill run up his spine and nodded.
pain peko
Casino Backrooms
-Midna darts across the hallway, leaping into Vincent's chest.-
-He shivers, claws at his heart as his pulse stops - then resumes.-
-One shadowport later and it's like Vincent was never gone.-
"Dang that sure is totally poggers my good bitch"
Some Rando
Brimstone Backroom
Act casual act casual act casual stupid Froslass didn't take me with her
Hailey walked out of the room, arms crossed behind her back. She did her best to appear nonchalant, which was a little hard with a Great Ball in her hand.
Edited by AbsentCoder on Dec 21st 2020 at 11:55:37 AM
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Brimstone Casino
-Emilie continues to clean the casino, and she enjoys every moment of it as though she was a pink-haired Cinderella.-
Emilie: -thinks to self- I hope I get paid for this at the end of the day...
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Dunsparce Cloud
Spikemuth
Ever: This is the legendary blade of an ancient Galarian hunter, they say. According to the legend, forged of the iron from a thousand-year old Steelix that had been ruling a town as a warlord...then tempered in the breaths of each Vow-breaking dragon he fought against. The blade is said to have never truly cooled, to still be unformed, and that only when the thousandth dragon is defeated will it attain its true shape, and each battle fought with it helps it to understand its true purpose better...
-they sigh-
But I guess it did most of its work before the advent of canned food.
PEFE!Every: Don't you own a can opener?
Ever: Don't be catty. This is the most important thing this sword has ever done.
PEFE!Every: You're trying to rehabilitate a sword.
Ever: I've rehabilitated weirder. You've rehabilitated a sword.
PEFE!Every: Well, I asked people to rehabilitate a sword on my behalf.
Ever: Eh. Don't you have a Gym to challenge?
PEFE!Every: Don't you?
Ever: ...Maybe. You don't know.
32222222222222222
-a Corviknight drags herself into the bar with a screech of metal, and slumps down in a bird perch that's probably a bit too small-
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Motostoke Stadium Gym Battle
(Kabu, realizing what is happening, makes his next move.)
Kabu: "Arcanine! Dodge the attack as fast as you can!"
(The Arcanine nods, and attempts to dodge- but alas, Geddy's singing is just as powerful and high-pitched as his namesake's.)
Geddy: (singing) <Fly by night, away from here
<Change my life again
<Fly by night, goodbye my dear
<My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend>
(Mere seconds later, the Arcanine falls asleep.)
(Kabu's eyes widen, and the Litwick smiles.)
Kim: "Excellent work, Geddy."
Kabu: "I must say... that is an interesting move. But don't worry, we can still win this thing."
Kim: (smirks) "I think not." (She points ahead.) "Geddy, use-"
(But she is suddenly interrupted by Kabu pulling out an Awakening, which stuns both her and Geddy. He sprays it, and in an instant the Arcanine wakes up— growling over at Geddy.)
Kim: "Oh, no."
Litwick: (stunned, watching from behind) <He came prepared...>
Kabu: "Excellent. Now... use Will O'Wisp!"
(And at that moment, Kim realizes what Kabu is trying to do and smirks. The Arcanine howls, before five wisps of blue appear in front of him. They swirl around for a few moments, then coalesce into a single one— and head straight towards Geddy.)
Kim: "Geddy, use Protect!"
(Geddy nods, and immediately pulls up a Protect barrier.)
(The Will O'Wisp fails to hit Geddy, but Freddie still looks terrified from behind Kim's leg. Kabu, meanwhile, smirks.)
Kabu: "I see... Nessa was right about you being a force to be reckoned with. What other plans do you have?"
(Kim smirks.)
Kim: "This. Geddy... use Ice Beam!"
Kabu: "Ice Beam? Don't you realize that Ice Beam isn't very good against Fire-type Pokemo-"
(But he is suddenly interrupted by Geddy opening his mouth and firing a blast of ice at the Arcanine— who is suddenly frozen solid.)
Kabu: "...I stand corrected."
(Geddy suddenly pauses— and then notices what he has just done.)
Geddy: <Oh dear... oh no...>
Kim: "...Geddy?"
Freddie: <A-are... you okay...?>
Geddy: (horrified) <O-oh no... I- I hadn't meant to do that...!>
(He runs up to the Arcanine in utter horror, staring up at his completely helpless body. The Litwick, meanwhile...)
Litwick: <Oh? What is this, now?>
Orochi Plaza
Kim: "Oh, yes. I am. My apologies about Freddie, he is... rather concerned, to say the least."
(Freddie says nothing; merely whimpering and holding up his green Sobble grippers before backing away from Ian and Evelyn.)
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium, Stands
-Ian continues to record the battle.-
Piku-chan: <Don't falter now! You've got 'em on the ropes!>
Evelyn: YOU GOT THIS, KIM! SHOW KABU HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE!
Hatty: <WE BELIEVE IN YOU, GEDDY!>
Orochi Plaza, PreTour
Me: Still trying to get used to evolution, I take it?
♪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 Battle
(Geddy pauses for a few moments, looks up at the frozen Arcanine in disbelief, and then looks down, thinking to himself.)
Geddy: (thinking) <W-what was I thinking, trying to learn all those new moves... I mean, sure, I knew I would need them, but there's a reason I have a bunch of status and non-attacking moves at my disposal. Seeing Pokemon like this...>
Kim: "Geddy? Are you okay?"
(Geddy hears his Trainer and pauses for a few moments, before:)
Geddy: <Kim... could you... could you maybe send out Peechee to strike down the final blow?>
Kim: "Peechee? Why? You trained a lot for this battle."
Geddy: <I know, and I wanted to make you proud of me. But... look at him.> (He motions to the Arcanine.) <I... I can't see Pokemon like this... a-and if I have to be the one to make him faint...>
(Kim pauses for a few moments, before eventually realizing what Geddy is saying. She nods, and then takes out another PokeBall.)
Kim: (smiling) <Thank you, Geddy. You did well.>
(Geddy smiles, blushing, before running up to his Trainer and hugging him. Freddie is absolutely touched by this, and starts crying tears of joy, whereas the Litwick looks on in awe.)
Litwick: <Never before have I seen such blatant nobility... I am truly honored.>
(Kim, meanwhile, throws out the PokeBall.)
Kim: "Red alert, Peechee!"
(In a flash, Peechee appears, his eyes glowing red and his pincer shaking as he raises it to the sky.)
Peechee: <ZAMMECHAT! Now... let's get this bitva->
(And then all of a sudden he, Kim, and Kabu are interrupted by a sudden squeal of disbelief. The three of them turn to face the source of the sound— and are stunned to see that both Geddy and Freddie are glowing in a bright blue light. Peechee looks on, stunned.)
Kabu: "Incredible... they're evolving..."
Kim: "Dear Arceus..."
Orochi Plaza (Post-Motostoke Party)
Kim: "Well... more like he's still trying to get used to the fact that he has Sobble grippers after his evolution."
Freddie: <...eep...! G-get away from me... p-please... I'm an abomination...!>
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium, Stands
-Ian continues to record the battle.-
Me: Geddy...
Evelyn: ...and Freddie...
-Piku-chan stops cheering and watches on in awe.-
Piku-chan: <...they're evolving!>
Hatty: <Are you seeing this, Hoops?>
Orochi Plaza
Evelyn: -calmly- Don't worry, Freddie... We still love you... It doesn't matter if you don't look like the other Drizzile... You're still you...
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Motostoke Stadium, Stands
<They're evolving!> Tot says happily. <It makes such a beautiful show. I could do a better one, obviously, but still.>
<Be nice> Kit answers. He nudges Tot playfully, who does the same to him. They start scrapping.
<Ahem> Sud clears her throat. The two smaller pokemon stop fighting and go back to quietly watching.
"Kim's fighting well," Hoops says, in a voice that says they are not fully focused on the battle. "Look, they're evolving."
Sud glances at them in concern. She wants to help, but she knows this is a job for Kec, and he isn't here right now.
Orochi Plaza
Kec and Kit run up to Freddie. <Those grippers are so cool!> Kit says enthusiastically.
<They really suit you> Kec adds. <Don't be afraid of letting people see them.>
Hoops looks at their watch, and speaks to everyone. "Guys, we're going to have to get inside now, or we'll miss the start of the tour."
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Motostoke Stadium Gym Battle
(The Litwick sees the evolutions that are happening in front of him and gasps in disbelief, stepping back for a bit as best he can. Peechee, meanwhile...)
Peechee: (jumping for joy) <Zammechat! ZAMMECHAT~!!>
(Freddie, terrified, looks down at himself and sees himself glowing in a bright blue light.)
Freddie: (jumping back a bit) <O-oh dear Arceus... oh no... G-Geddy... will this hurt?! I-is this painful?! I don't want it to be painful...>
Geddy: (comforting him) <It's fine, Freddie... it doesn't hurt a bit. I'm here. I'm right here.>
Freddie: <I-if you say so...>
(Seconds later, the transformations begin.)
DOUBLE EVOLUTION SEQUENCE-- Popplio --> Brionne (Geddy) and Sobble --> Drizzile (Freddie)
(As Kim, Kabu, Peechee, and the Litwick look on, the double evolution starts with Geddy, whose change isn't as drastic as other evolutions before him, but not as minimal as Peechee's was. The pink ball at the end of his nose grows a bit bigger, as does his entire body, while his ears suddenly twitch and split twice, growing into two pigtail-like appendages made of bubbles. His flippers and tail grow a bit longer, and the ruff on his neck traverses down his body until it is just underneath his flippers. From there, it grows a bit bigger and splits into three seperate ruffs, creating a sort of dress or skirt. The round red glasses that he is wearing also shrink a bit in size.)
(Freddie's evolution, on the other hand, is slightly more drastic. While he is sobbing uncontrollably, he suddenly rises up a bit more onto his hind legs. His body grows longer and more streamlined, and his head simultaneously becomes smaller and more proportionate to his body. His arms become skinnier, almost pencil-thin, while his legs grow thicker and more defined. His gripper feet also thicken, becoming more foot-shaped, and two toes poke out from each foot. His tail uncurls slightly, but not all the way, so that his tail ends in a smaller version of the curled-up shield tail he had as a Sobble. The most drastic change, however, occurs with Freddie's head crest. The smaller part of Freddie's head crest splits completely off from the larger part, staying on top of his head and becoming more curved and thin. The larger part, meanwhile, flops down over top of Freddie's right eye, creating a look very reminiscent of an "emo" hairstyle. It then splits again, creating two hairs that cover Freddie's left eye: one of them blue and one of them purple. Curiously, however, Freddie's chameleon grippers he had as a Sobble don't change into the more familiar mitten-like hands that most Drizzile have; instead they stay practically the same as before, only growing slightly bigger in size.)
Post-Double Evolution Sequence
(The light snaps off of the two Pokemon within seconds of the evolution starting, revealing their new forms: Geddy is now a Brionne, still wearing the same red glasses he had had as a Popplio, except now shrunken a bit. Freddie is a Drizzile, but unlike most Drizzile, he still has chameleon grippers, and instead of having his eyes perpetually half-closed, they remain wide open and innocent, which has the slightly unfortunate side effect of giving him a bit of a derpy look. Geddy smiles and looks over at Freddie, who turns to him and blinks. Kim and Peechee, meanwhile, grin uncontrollably, and Kabu is in awed shock.)
Kabu: "Unbelievable... I've never seen anything like it..."
Litwick: (watching from the sidelines) <A double evolution... Truly, this Trainer must care very deeply about her Pokemon... and they must care very deeply about each other...>
(Geddy smiles over at Freddie.)
Geddy: <See? That wasn't so bad, now was it?>
(Freddie blinks, his tears subsiding.)
Freddie: <N-no... no it wasn't... t-that was actually a lot more invigorating than I thought it would b->
(And then he looks down and sees his grippers and lets out a shriek of fear.)
Freddie: <GAH—!> (he jumps back) <W-what are these?! W-why do I still have these?! T-these are Sobble grippers... why do I still have Sobble grippers and not mittens...? A-am I ugly? Dear Arceus, I'm ugly, aren't I...?>
Geddy: <W-what?! No! Not at all! Y-you look amazing!>
Freddie: <DEAR ARCEUS I'M AN ABOMINATION...! P-please don't look at me...!>
(He bursts into tears and hides away in his PokeBall. Geddy notices.)
Geddy: <Freddie! W-wait!>
(And with that said, both of them return. Kim pauses for a few moments, and then looks down.)
Kim: "Freddie..."
Orochi Plaza
(Freddie, still a bit terrified, hides away.)
Freddie: <A-are you sure? A-are you absolutely sure? Because Drizzile are supposed to secrete moisture from their palms that they use to make water balloons and that sounds like something fun that Geddy and Elton and I could do and now I'm not sure I can do it and oh dear Arceus why am I still having panic attacks...?!>
(He tries to slow down his breathing and fails.)
Freddie: (to himself) <Y-you're a Drizzile now, Freddie... don't cry...>
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Deep within the Bowels of Orochi Plaza
The last of the day shift workers have left. No one within any of the offices belonging to Orochi or its subsidiaries were allowed to take overtime. It's the holiday season! Crunch was for less scrupulous employers, so management said. Anyone who needed to crunch was allowed to take it home and work on it until midnight, but they couldn't and shouldn't do it in the office.Besides the night shift maintenance staff, there were two groups of people left behind. The first were the tour group, who operated one quick tour of the tower before the building closes for the next few days. The last tour offered an exclusive "behind the scenes" look at the workings of Orochi Plaza, one without the crowds they'd normally contend with at the retail floors. There were no shopping or dining options available afterward, however. Building management was instructed to encourage tenants and retailers to hold all their holiday parties on this day.
The other was the partygoers, the upper management and VIP clients of Faust Capital, and the catering staff. They were holding both an important new presentation on the new direction Orochi wants to go. There were investors to impress and subsidiaries to show off. And it doubles as an end of the year party. Mr. Vile spared no expense to impress.
Inside the building's utility tunnels, the new night shift employees began working. What was odd about them was that they almost all appeared to be White Galarians. The biggest notable exception was their foreman, an [Egyptian] or [Nubian] woman very clearly from [Lower Egypt].
She started speaking with her second-in-command, a short-haired, bearded White Galarian man.
Bald Man: Everything's in place. What now?
"Foreman": We wait.
Bald Man: How much longer should we wait? We've been taking your orders since the day began.
"Foreman": And you're going to keep taking my orders until the time is right. There's one more group we need to wait out. You know the agreement. You get the assistance you need as long as you don't drop unnecessary bodies on the floor. The Hunter's Guild demands precision; follow my lead and everything will be fine.
The foreman took out a switch. Almost immediately, her jumpsuit was covered instantly in an ominous suit of orange countershaded armour reminiscent of a corphish or a kingler, complete with claws.
"Foreman": Let this be a reminder of who exactly is in charge of this operation. You will keep your thugs in line and follow the plan to the letter. You will make your statement and have your leverage. Got it?
Bald Man: As you wish, Malacostra.
Surprise! The black-clad, mostly male service crew are Flare-sympathisers. And they're led by a Hunter's Guild operative. Another grunt approaches.
Flare Sympathiser Grunt: Sir, everything's set up. What's taking so long.
Bald Man: You know the agreement. We can't move unless she tells us to. The weak-willed criminals can't stand having too high a body count. It's always "precision" with them.
Flare Sympathiser Grunt: Well, it works.
Bald Man: Precision is for thieves and robbers. We take what is ours by right of force.
Flare Sympathiser Grunt: It bugs me that we let someone of her kind lead us around.
Bald Man: Sometimes, her kind's cunning and treachery can be useful. It will get us what Constantin's machinations failed to acquire. Soon he will be forced to acknowledge our rightful place among the remnants of Flare. We shall be the embers that ignite the flames of Flare once more with a statement that Constantin, Galar, and the world cannot deny.
Malacostra, of course, was well aware of her group's apparent treachery. It pays to have an unnoticeable friend walking around with speakers hidden in their rocky home.
"All this trouble just to get in to some fashie's not-so-secret club." She thought to herself. Talk about desperate. She almost felt sorry for them.
Brimstone networks, days ago
Murphy: Big-ass file coming right up.
And with a few technobabbly actions, Murphy mines out, encrypts, and sends the map of the entire facility onto Bishop. It should be ready for de-encryption and sending upon receipt.
Edited by MasterJayAM on Aug 9th 2021 at 5:42:29 PM
Meet The New Boss
Metropolis Of Vanity, aeons ago
Shadow Owen: Did you all really think you could get past my firewall?
Royal: Your what?
Shadow Owen: You Phantom Thieves have meddled plenty, But it won't be enough. Soon Best Berry will own every food production on earth. Then I can distribute nanites in the food connecting all humans and Pokemon to MY network. I'll bring world peace! Everyone will dance to MY song, MY tune! It will be just like my beautiful city you see here!
Flamel: <Turning the world into a hivemind doesn't exactly sound benevolent.>
Shadow Owen: Maybe not! But it's what this corrupt world needs. And you...
-His individual parts start stretching, growing-
<...Will not...>
-They become a mix of clockwork and weird glowy biotech-
<...GET IN THE WAY!>
-He is now a Silvally - but not any ordinary Silvally, a more massive than normal one made of the aforementioned clockwork and glowy biotech-
"How fitting that you see yourself in this way. A city with a perfect name, Vanity," Jackal commented removing his mask, crushing it in hand.
Knight appeared and despite the lack of mouth, an almost wolfish grin seemed perceptible on his face.
"And yet here we see you as you truly are, a morass mess of machinery and biology. I remember the notes Bishop had on your construction... well put together certainly... but nowhere near impressive."
Knight started to laugh, he put his sword away and his hands started to glow.
"But in the end, no matter what delusions you have in your own ego, they are just like your city. A fragile falsehood that crumbles, like everything else," Jackal finished.
Knight shot his hands forward, a massive beam of energy pillaring out from them right at Shadow Owen.
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Motostoke Stadium Stands
-Recording of Kim's Gym Battle continues...-
Evelyn and I: Sugoi!Translation
-Ian and Evelyn check their Pokédexes.-
Ian's Pokédex: Drizzile, the Water Lizard Pokémon and the evolved form of Sobble. A Water type. Highly intelligent but also very lazy, it keeps enemies out of its territory by laying traps everywhere. It is also a clever combatant, as this Pokémon battles using water balloons created with moisture secreted from its palms.
Evelyn's Pokédex: Brionne, the Pop Star Pokémon and the evolved form of Popplio. A Water type. It cares deeply for its companions. When its Trainer is feeling down, it performs a cheery dance to try and help. It gets excited when it sees a dance it doesn't know. This hard worker practices diligently until it can learn that dance. It attacks by smacking its enemies with the exploding water balloons that it creates.
Orochi Plaza, Before the Tour begins
-Ian slowly moves to grab a Poké Ballnote and takes it off of his belt to show Freddie.-
Me: -calmly- If you ever need help, Freddie, the Pokémon in this ball will be more than willing to lend a hand.
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Some Rando
Metropolis of Vanity
"C'mon Ahemait!" Rage and Love removed his blindfold as the Dusk Lycanroc appeared in a contained sandstorm, eyes red and feather flaming. "Let's eat the rich!"
The sand coalesced around the feather, taking on the form of a blade that the dog threw at the Silvally, only for the feather to return with the sword shattering to strike the mechanical monstrosity numerous times with Stone Edge.
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Metropolis of Vanity
"Wow, every part of that speech just made me want to punch you more."
Daydre rips off her mask and summons Kaguya.
"I guess you never considered that you'd make a shitty leader? I mean, this whole place is just evidence of that but whatever, I'm getting sidetracked."
Kaguya fires a beam of silvery light at Owen.
off the shits
No voice to cry suffering
-Tripod cracks open an eye at the incoming chime, sensing a disturbance in the local magnetic flux-
-...ah, one who shares their Typing. interesting—they wave a big, slate-gray magnet at Copper-
Thespi: -hehe- <Doesn't Cordial
remind you of...>
Thespi: -blink- <That...green-haired lady? That hired us that one time? Dunno why she came to mind...>
Ceal: -shrug-
Tripod: -...and at the other piece of metal to sit down, the Corviknight presently pinging their Heart-
Edited by Asterisk395 on Dec 21st 2020 at 1:22:22 PM
No mind to think. No will to break.
The Wanderer
Metropolis of Vanity, in the time of myths
Pink: -Starts scanning Shadow Owen-
Mokele-Mbembe!
Mokele-Mbembe: -Sends out a Blizzard at Shadow Owen-
3 Sixteen 2s, past
Backrooms
-Doesn't say anything-
Bar
Corvus: -To Pepper- <You could say we're here for that, but us coming here in particular is more a business trip.>
Hendrix: -Lazily strums a couple notes-
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Eclipse the Moon
3 Sixteen 2s
She hums and places her cuppa tea down
Kahina: <...I've been thinking a lot about things lately, Monsieur Tagg. The kind of things one thinks about when one's lived my life and has gotten to my age. I've walked this earth for... well, at least sixty years by now.
...Though I get a feeling that you yourself may ponder such things even in your youth. Living the life you've lived. Seeing the things you've seen. Doing the things you've done... Those sorts of things.>
-She takes a deep breath-
Kahina: <For me, the thing I'm thinking about is the nature of kindness>
Pepper: <Business, eh?>
Pepper scratches her chin.
Pepper: <Can't think much of who's doin business today when we're playin a set. 'Less you mean you're here to see Nanna Hina in the back there. Which'd mean yous all friends of hers or sumth'n like that.>
Moose the Scrafty Bartender comes back to Pepper with the sets of drinks. The Stouts and Himalou Iced Tea look like those cocktails are supposed to, the Electric Screwdriver has actual electricity pulsing through it provided by an actual electrified screwdriver and whatever the Roadkill Rocker is made of smells and looks putrid, like hot tar or a burning tire dump.
Moose: <'Ere. 40 Lashes, St James Gate, Himalou Iced Tea, Electric Screwdriver and the Roadkill Rocker.>
Pepper uses her arm to swipe the bands drinks towards her.
Pepper: <Cheers, big-ears~>
Moose: <Come off it, Pep.>
Pepper: <No~>
Moose rolls her eyes and moves on to serve the newest customer in the club, the find steely feathered chap who just took their place on the undersized perch.
Moose: <'Elo luv, what can I get for you this evenin'?>
Back with the entourage, the other shiny Toxtricity in the club notices her sister is chatting it up with the menagerie and gets curious about the company. And so she decides to join her sister.
Janis: <'Ey! Pepper! Who's ya talkin' too?>
She goes over to her sister and throws her arm over her sister's shoulder, elbow spur threatening to jab someone in the sides if she's not careful.
Pepper: <Hey Jan, just talking to some new folks 'round these parts. 'Tis all. Jan, New Guys. New guys, my sister Janis.>
Janis makes a peace sign
Janis: <Yo>
Pepper hands her sister the jar of tar.
Pepper: <Oh, bee tee dubs, Jan. 'Ere's yer Roadkill Rocker>
Janis beams as she anthusiastically takes the sludge from her sister's hand.
Janis: <Oh you're a peach, Pep. Well! Down the hatch!>
The Low-Key Toxtricity takes a large chug of the rancid goop that barely passes for a beverage. While she drinks, she takes an ear to Hendrix's strumming, and after she's finished her chug and wipes her mouth on her arm - she points out to him.
Janis: <Hey! You! You got a good groove goin on there! What'cher name?>
I'm having to learn to pay the price
Fwomph
Metropolis of Vanity
-Rakash starts humming a song as he tries to do his own scan of the technological terror. Meanwhile, Anthem gets Eris to start just getting in there and punching the problem while Mimic... Also rushes in to start biting at it-
3-16-2
-The 'Krow lets out a brief 'hmph' before turning its attention to some of the new arrivals to the bar, trying to beckon one of them over-
Orochi Plaza, Lobby
Swordlike Woman: Well, shall we begin?
-She 'ahems' softly and takes a sharp formal stance-
Swordlike Woman: Constructed over a eight year span starting in nineteen seventy-eight, this building was built as the third headquarters for the insurance group formed by an eighteen seventy-one League Committee Act. Following a leveraged buyout of the chartered institution in the nineties by Orochi Group Incorporated much of the building now belongs to Faust Capital. However much of the traditions and infrastructure of this storied building continue even to this day. If you would follow me, we shall be stopping off in the nerve center of Galaran banking, financing and insurance before heading off to see how Manticore Engineering's improvements to this historic building utilize the abundant maintenance space created by the building's striking Bowellist architecture.
-The tour guide starts walking through the main doors towards the Underwriting Room, turning back to glance at the group once she's on the other side-
Swordlike Woman: Any questions?
Orochi Plaza, 11th Floor
-Vile gives an apologetic little shrug to the question of inviting Voynich before getting to his feet and tapping his cane on the floor a few times-
Mr Vile: Now then, gentlemen and ladies and those who don't fit those categories for various reasons. I didn't just invite you all here for simple nibblies and networking. Order's come down on high about a new project brewin' with the eight-heads and while I can't give details I do have a little pitch vid to sell ya on it. So before anyone gets too drunk on company wine, please enjoy this little video.
-He gives a signal to whoever was on sound and lighting (a new hire, a face he doesn't recognize) and the lighting in the room dims-
That Voice You Remember From Every Corporate-Facing Presentation: The Orochi Group is proud to announce the imminent arrival of "Project Stormfall", a bold new direction for all our subsidiaries and partners. Project Stormfall promises the opening of brand new market sectors, with a focus on enabling growth and accelerating development in under-served communities. With Project Stormfall, the Orochi Group promises that your investments will go towards improving the the living standards of entire demographics while still giving a return that exceeds even less socially and environmentally-conscious portfolios. It will take a lot to get Project Stormfall ready for opening day but we can promise that it will open entire new worlds of potential for every sector of the economy. Orochi Group: Following the Eightfold Path.
-The accompanying video is delightfully unhelpful to discerning the meaning of the pitch, mostly consisting of stock footage of various industries and corporate logos. Once the video comes to a close however, the lights remain dimmed...-
Mr Vile: Hm? Lighting guy, we're done. You can bring lights up.
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Brimstone Casino Floor
-Sofia nods, trying to remain discreet as she responds to Bishop's communique
.-
Sofia: Understood. I'll overlay it with the floor plans I've acquired and see if we can find any additional points of entry. Otherwise... I'm not sure how much else we can learn without putting ourselves at risk. Do we want to issue the withdrawal order?
Edited by Herbert40k on Dec 20th 2020 at 1:08:36 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.