The Wanderer
Union Room
Funny that you'd ask me that question when this year marks our 10th anniversary but...
-To Echo-
As I might've alluded to before, I didn't have that many friends growing up, apart from my Pokémon anyway, and this was long before I could understand them when they talked back. The other Founders were my first long term friends, but we were bound by the PEFE regardless And I don't really see them that often nowadays, and Pef Who I found about a year before and I have a relationship closer to siblings or father and daughter figures than simply friends.
So when I got those tickets to Unova I'd had friends that were unattached to a job or just mere proximity for the first time in my life. Sure we nearly died a bunch of times, and sometimes we did...
-Thinking back to the Hearthome Contest Hall-
...dumb things, but we were a family. Pack, as Crewe would call it. We might not have always gotten along with one another, but we always had each other's backs. But now... Now things are different, we're less a family than a bunch of cliques that just so happen to share an airship and come together when there's an enemy to fight.
Honestly one could make the argument that the change started really happening once we took the Stormchaser off your hands in the first place, no more tent settlements for one. And that was after Orre and most of my close friends started leaving so that was probably the loneliest time of my life since I was part of the team.
And I had to deal with a murderous fascist trying to gaslight my girlfriend and murder me.
-Half-jokingly-
I guess that might've been why I agreed to dinner and a battle with someone who was basically an enemy at the time.
-More seriously-
Lucius and Alice got murdered, but still we chugged on before I pulled one of my greatest silver-tongued moves with Yveltal to have them revived. Truth or Dare was nice, Hoenn was nice, things seemed to finally be going the right way.
-Angrily-
But then we took too long to defeat Mobius when the sky broke and acted roughly in the realm of mercenaries pillaging and burning after breaking a siege when we had Izaya, failing what we're supposed to stand for.
-More calmly, but simmering with... something-
I know that one of these days we're gonna have to come together as the J-Team again, that's what I feel must be done since when there's no equivalent to us in the world bad things happen, but I want my family back, not just the [Gallic] raiding party made of interlocked cliques every so often. That wouldn't just be good for me, that would be good for everyone.
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jun 21st 2021 at 7:14:17 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Wild Area, Distant Pool
You can..
More sparks.
You said you can make?
Time's running out.
You're... Right, you just said.
I can't just ask you to fix everything, right? That'd be too simple. I can't just go 'put everything back to normal'. That'd be ignoring a lot of context, wouldn't it?
... I'm not.. creative enough to come up with the right answer here.
I just want Megan and everyone she cares about to be safe. Is that something you can do?
Lee House, Door
"..." Daydre watches the man leave, and then turns to Hazel.
"... So you think that was suspicious as fuck too, right?."
Studio Palace
"Right."
... And she starts jogging after Jackal.
Edited by Daydre on Jun 21st 2021 at 12:38:12 PM
off the shits
Spikemuth Gym Battle
Hoops: Drapion, use Pin Missile!
Drapion launches a volley of powerful projectiles which twist through the air and converge on Toxicroak from seemingly every angle. When the attacks finish, Toxicroak is standing there, seemingly unscathed.
Drapion: <It didn't work?!>
Marnie: Drain Punch!
Toxicroak suddenly lunges forward and sinks one of its claws into Drapion's body. He chokes as life force is drained from him and into Toxicroak, who regains his careful fighting stance.
Hoops: This is bad. Toxicroak, return!
Drapion: <No! I refuse to run from this battle!
Hoops: But you'll lose.
Drapion: <Then so be it.>
Hoops takes a moment to consider. Behind them, Anna holds her breath, hoping that they will listen to their pokemon's wishes.
Hoops: I'm sorry Drapion, but I can't sacrafice you.
They return Drapion to its pokeball, ignoring its annoyed screams. Marnie shakes her head, clearly disappointed.
Marnie: You know, when I asked some of the other gym leaders about you, they said you liked it when your pokemon had a bad match up. They said you thought it made your victory indisputable.
Hoops: That was immature. Although I'm flattered that you talk about me.
Marnie: Well, we have weekly roast dinners for all the gym leaders to build camaraderie. We discuss basically every trainer that challenges us. And ship them with each other, but that's not important.
Hoops: Either way, you can keep your nose out of my business. Come out, Vibrava!
The new pokemon eschews landing, and hovers in the air in front of her trainer.
Marnie: Not a bad choice, but let's see how it goes. Toxicroak, use Poison Jab!
Hoops: Use Dragon Breath!
As Toxicroak runs forwards, Vibrava releases a torrent of purple flames that wash over the opponent. Toxicroak does not slow down however, and the attack seems to have little effect, until the last possible second before the attack connects when she suddenly freezes in place.
Marnie: Wait, what?
Hoops: Dragon Breath has a chance to paralyse, remember? What, you didn't think I only thought about power, did you? Use Bulldoze!
Vibrava flies low to the ground, scraping her antennae across the ground and pushing stone and dirt aside as it does. It slams into Toxicroak, who doesn't have time to react what with the paralysis. It is knocked to the ground, though it climbs to its feet.
Marnie: Use Gunk Shot!
Toxicroak gathers up all the poison it can from the sac in its throat and spits it at Vibrava.
Hoops: Defend with Sandstorm!
Sand swirls around the vibration pokemon, knocking the poison aside. The area of the sand expands, covering the field in swirling sand.
Anna: Well, at least they're using strategy...
Toxicroak is buffeted by the sandstorm as it tries to keep itself from being blinded, but the paralysis makes things more difficult.
Hoops: Use Bulldoze again!
Marnie: Earthquake!
In the end, Vibrava is able to hit Toxicroak before it can execute its move. The Toxic Mouth pokemon goes down again, and this time stays down. Marnie returns her to her pokeball solemnly.
Ref: That there's two down for Marnie.
Marnie: Go, Scrafty!
Her third pokemon hits the field and is immediately hurt by the sand that still swirls around the square.
Flying Colors
Stormchaser Medical Wing, Past
-Kai sighs-
Kai: I know. That's why I told you as soon as I was lucid enough to type words coherently. You'd think it'd be sooner, with how much of the morning I've spent half-conscious, but... I just... this isn't about my physical state. I'm not the one who got the most hurt.
-She swallows dryly.-
Kai: I'm... I don't know for sure, but. I'm pretty sure Megan and Vee actually died, for a moment.
-Just saying those words out loud makes her tear up a bit.-
Kai: Ho-oh was right there, I— I think they're alive again, but. I passed out before it was resolved. It was all a haze. The last thing I remember clearly being awake for was Tagg sealing her spirit. And then waking up here, and trying and failing to go back to sleep for hours.
The Union Room, Now
Echo: Mmm. And nowhere in that was a mention of wanting to be the leader. You may be that to them, but you don't want that, do you? You just feel like you need to be, and that's why you came to me, because I was that.
-She chuckles mirthlessly.-
Echo: I don't think I'm a good example. Both of my leadership roles, I was using those under me as tools for my own nihilistic ends. Please do not forget that I tried to take far too many pages out of Cyrus's book, Richard.
-She paces a bit-
Echo: The J-Team is named after... either Jane Belen or Joshua Goldman, correct? From what I understand, it's the former, but in a way, it puts both of them on a pedestal. And then they left, as you've mentioned. Pentigan is still around, and some others who've been around since the Gold Conference are as well, and the other PEFE founders are still a presence in your life even if they aren't active members of the team anymore. But they were your clique, just as much as any others now are.
-Pacing more-
Echo: And now you delineate yourself from the newer members. What makes Ms. Nguyen a kid in your eyes? As I understand it, she's in her twenties, and had quite a harrowing world-shattering experience a few years ago not unlike the early J-Team's own.
-The faintest sly smile crosses her face, almost imperceptible-
Echo: Are you suggesting that you're old now, young man?
The Wanderer
Union Room
-Grumbling slightly-
You're not that much older than me, I'll be 30 in less than two weeks. >_<
-More seriously-
And it's Jane we're named after, yes, or more accurate we took the appellation for ourselves. I haven't been able to bring myself to see her even though I've been in Lavaridge numerous times because of Orre, but that's a bit besides the point right now.
-Rerailing-
I know Megan's not a kid, barely anyone on the Team's under 18 nowadays, but I was one of the oldest people for a good portion of time, one of the token adults in a gaggle of teenagers, so that just comes naturally. She'll be a shining star, or more of one, I know it. Not many people who can give Kai and I together trouble.
I suppose you're correct, I don't particularly want to be leader, but unfortunately it would appear I'm the only person able and willing to wear the mask to the world at large. I don't think Pent wants the job and their view of things isn't too dissimilar to my own so we'd probably just end up getting pissed at everything like we did talking in Motostoke last year.
I prefer friend group, clique implies exclusivity, obviously people will click better with some folks more than others, but we can't be a team if we're this disparate from each other.
Which is why I'm here, you're the only person I feel I can trust with this, no mentor or quasi-parental relationship getting in the way, close enough that you can understand what I'm talking about but far enough to be objective, and you don't hate the J-Team so I don't feel weird bringing it up.
-Beat-
I have a J-Team meeting to set up since the School is on the move again, but I need some teambuilding activities too. Which aren't just "let's go beat up the bad guys."
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Flying Colors
The Union Room
-Echo laughs again, but it's a bit more heartfelt this time.-
Echo: I know I'm not that much older than you, Tagg. But you're not that much older than them either, now. The seven years between 22 and 29 are much closer than the seven years between 13 and 20, and though it was an important gap back in the day, I think you'll find that family you're seeking out a lot easier if you're not setting yourself apart as much.
-She's back to pacing again.-
Echo: Anyway, you have this perception of the J-Team now as a bunch of cats that need herding, I'm noticing. Cliques, not friend groups, that you're desperately trying to reel in to take on all the cosmo's problems. But the J-Team is disparate. The boundaries are nebulous, membership is entirely notional, and you can't help who ends up in the fight with the enemy in a world where preteens routinely take down criminal masterminds through sheer circumstance. And yet you want to find family within them, when it was so easy to simply coexist with the team that would eventually become J.
-She turns to face Tagg again.-
Echo: A leader is the most valuable target. As a leader, you become the face of your organization, and the one that your enemies play their bargaining chips toward. Now, I'm not saying this is the solution, by no means— but what if the J-Team doesn't have a leader? What if you simply become another part of the network? Anyone can have a personal vendetta against any other individual, but no villain can look at the J-Team and say, "Tagg, you're it." The name of the team is J, not T, not R.
-She puts a hand to her chin in thought.-
Echo: You're only called when you're needed. But when was the last time you've tried needing someone? Not everyone, not the team, someone. Find a smaller problem, think of who you know that might have the tools it takes to help deal with it. Such as seeking out an ex-leader who's herded a few cats in their lifetime. And take a break from always being caught up in the bigger picture.
Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jun 21st 2021 at 10:24:25 AM
Not A Lawyer
Stormchaser, Medical Wing, past
-Alice glances away, as if having difficulty finding words.-
Alice: ...At least it was only a moment. The way I understand it, things could have gone far worse than they did. Be glad that at the end of the day, everyone's still here. That you're still here, and able to confide in me about this.
-She gives a sad smile.-
Alice: I certainly hope I don't have to convince you of the value of your own life.
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.
The Wanderer
Union Room
-To Echo-
It's not about my choices, past the choice to go "Someone needs to keep us from getting kicked out of every hotel in Hoenn", it got made for me long ago. And I'm fine with being a target if it means most of the heat gets taken off everyone else, since I can handle it.
I know that obviously trying to eliminate all evil is impossible, but I'd prefer to leave the world a safer place than when I entered it.
But... I'll consider it.
-Quietly-
Needing people? I've never been very good at that, can't be a useless burden, can't get too openly sad, if you're as aware of the red skies as you were implying earlier last time Also around ten years ago that didn't turn out too well for me. I haven't had a small problem in ages, it's all pretty big.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Flying Colors
Stormchaser Medical Wing, Past
'Kai: You don't need to. It's not my life I'm worried about. I'm not gone. But she almost was. She was. And I watched it happen right in front of me.
-She stares toward the doorway a bit, eyes half-lidded but not closing.-
Kai: ...I just needed you here. I'm safe, and I wanted you to know. I'll go see her when moving hurts less, but I needed the company.
The Union Room, Now
Echo: A lot can change in ten years. Everyone has a better handle on their emotions, even if they're still not immune to self-destructing. But maybe it doesn't have to be offloading baggage onto someone. Maybe it can just be finding a thread to follow, and finding someone to follow it with. That's your team-building exercise.
-She crosses her hands behind her back, some of the seriousness returning to her demeanor.-
Echo: For now, though, the threat of the School needs to be made known. The incident with Megan and Molybdenum. The aftermath. You have plenty of time to think about your status among the team, but the immediate danger is priority.
Not A Lawyer
Stormchaser, Medical Wing, past
-Alice is still looking away, her expression hidden, but she can't hide the lone tear that drops down onto the bed.-
Alice: ...It breaks my heart to hear you say that, you know. To hear that lack of concern for your own life. I understand your concern for Megan in this scenario, but... there will come a day when you are no longer here, be it due to circumstances within your control or outside of it, and the pain will be more than I can even begin to fathom.
-She grips Kai's hand tightly.-
Alice: But for now, you're still alive. And I will stay with you for as long as you need me.
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.
The Wanderer
Union Room
-Face seems to be going through several emotions before answering Echo-
Yeah, you're right, one step at a time I suppose. Was planning on doing that before, but I needed to make sure my head was in the right place.
-Quietly-
And... thanks for listening.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Zugolsky and Magnus stepped into the room, here sat the railroad for saving kids from the ‘School’, the organization wasn’t very old but it was dedicated. The eugenics program that was attempting to make psychic soldiers was difficult to break into, and the kids were even harder to save… but that didn’t make the task not worth it.
The major problems were that they were new and held very little in the way of volunteers.
Zugolsky, being a former experiment herself, was willing to provide whatever help she could, once they got past the language barrier of her speaking in sign language. She was disappointed to learn that not a lot had learned sign language… But having an incredibly powerful psychic on hand was useful, as well as one that had an Ultra Beast, especially one that was so friendly.
Sitting at a table going over things was a recent addition, a woman named Miranda. Miranda had shown up a few months ago and asked if there was anything to do, she had been incredibly useful, turns out she had managerial skills. They were doing far better at getting people out, and even finding a few homes for their rescues to go to, Miranda had seemed confused by this.
“This feels weird,” she had said, nobody had really bothered to ask her what she meant.
For now, they were working hard to maintain some form of order, and get people out.
[So where is the latest kid?] Zugolsky asked.
Miranda looked up, “Sorry only saw part of that. What did you say?”
[The newest tyke we are rescuing from the School?]
“Oh, yeah. Young one, only 6 years old. Held out at some containment outpost far off past the badlands.”
Oh… the badlands. Orre had plenty of settlements and liveable places, but there was a huge stretch of desert just called the badlands, only the roughest made it out there. There were plenty of ghost towns as well, some people moved out there for the sense of isolation it brought. Ideal place to hide something as well.
[Oh.]
“Yeah, we’re also a bit stretched thin, so unless we can find someone else to help this kid may be out of luck,” Miranda noted.
The problem with running a charity service was that people could decline to be employed by the service. This left them a little understaffed, and add in a healthy fear of an entire organization of psychics, it was no wonder why people weren’t lining up.
“Is… is the kid really that important?” Miranda asked, earning her looks from everyone, “What? What?? I’m not wrong now am I? We’re understaffed and we can’t save everyone!”
Zugolsky had to admit that Miranda had a point, they were understaffed and wouldn’t likely be able to save everyone, [It’s still wrong not to try,] Zugolsky responded.
Miranda didn’t fully get ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, but she at least understood that not trying was basically giving up. Still, they needed an extra set of hands at least, and it’d need to be someone skilled enough to take on an army of psychics.
“If you can find somebody who’d help…”
Zugolsky thought about it a bit, [I may know someone.]
“-And that’s the job,” Miranda concluded.
Silas sat at his desk and blinked, it was odd getting a call from Banshee of all people… especially one where she was working with other people. Still, Silas believed in second chances and if Miranda truly was regretful of her actions, this would be at least something.
Still the job itself, head out to the midst of Orre, enter the badlands and recover an asset from an outpost involved with the mysterious organization “The School”. He had heard of them, and his last job out in Angela had involved them in some way… he rolled his head a bit as he looked over his supplies.
“Okay I’ll do it,” he answered.
“Excellent, the pay is-”
“Don’t need to pay me,” Silas commented, “If it’s for a good cause I’ll do it,” he said.
Rich anyways. Don’t need the money.
Interesting opportunity though.
Were his thoughts.
Miranda was quiet, “Okay. That is useful, do keep in mind the risk you are taking.”
“I’ll be fine, send me the coordinates,” Silas said before hanging up.
Hacks looked up from the 3DS he was playing with, ~We got a job?~
“Yep,” Silas commented, rolling his left shoulder, “We’re gonna need to pick out a team. I’m thinking you, Oliver, Snakeye, maybe Tae, and Blackquil.”
<Grant-Dono, you are going to a desert, I will fry in my own shell,> Blackquil protested.
“Okay fair enough, Tae?”
Tae shrugged, <Enh, keep me in the ball most of the time and I’ll be fine.>
Blyeth walked in, <I wish to join.>
Silas arched a brow, “Really?”
<Yes, I wish to join this mission of yours.>
Silas and Hacks looked at each other and shrugged, more hands would work just fine, “That should be enough, we’ll ask Amber or Conroy if they want to come along.”
<What about Bishop?> Tae asked.
Bishop floated out of the walls of the ship, “I am always with the Captain, someone needs to run his devices and I am optimized for such a task.”
Silas smirked, “And it’s going to be warm in Orre, so I’m gonna need a cooled environment to last. Ergo-”
Hacks smirked back, ~Ah, the Mandacario rides out!~
Silas stepped in, “Snakeye? You here?”
<Over here hoss!>
Silas stepped over and stared at something, it looked like a bike, but there were no wheels, “Snakeye the hell is this?”
<I was readin’ the latest reports on hovercraft tech from the company. I figured it wouldn't be too hard to build a bike based on the designs.>
Silas looked it over, a hoverbike… well if he was a damned Mandacario, Silas laughed, he actually laughed.
“Nice work, gonna be useful when we hit Orre.”
<Orre? Hoss the hell we doin?>
Flying Colors
Stormchaser Medical Wing, Past
Kai: ...I don't— I don't mean to make it sound that way. I just... I saw her on the edge of dying. I don't want to think about if it was me on death's door instead.
-She squeezes Alice's hand a bit.-
Kai: I'm... gonna try to get some more rest finally. Please don't— don't leave.
The Union Room
Echo: Of course. It's the least I can do after being away for so long.
-Her gaze drifts back to the telepads.-
Echo: I will stay around for the meeting. But I think I am going to return to my travels afterward.
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Wyndon Stadium, Ian VS Daisuke
-Oshawittle and Blasty stand opposite each other, waiting for their trainers to give the signal and preparing their next attack.-
Daisuke and I: NOW!
-Blasty retracts his shoulder cannons and jumps into the air. He then pulls his arms and legs into his shell and begins to spin, gaining speed with each revolution. As Blasty spins, he hovers in midair like a friend to all children. Oshawittle surrounds himself in water and jumps into the air also, with an orb of subzero energy forming in his mouth. He begins to spin also, turning the light from the subzero energy orb into a ring of cold light shimmering in all directions as the water refracts it.-
Daisuke: USE SKULL BASH!
Me: USE ICE AQUA JET!
-Blasty stops spinning in midair, the hole in his shell where his head is aimed right at Oshawittle. A powerful spray of water is released from the holes in his shell where his feet are, propelling him forward with immense force. His head pokes out of his shell as he barrels towards Oshawittle at almost mach speed. As for Oshawittle, he kicks off the air and the force of the water propels him forwards as well. Oshawittle unleashes the subzero energy, encapsulating himself in a frozen projectile, spinning like a drill as it barrels through the air at Blasty like a missile. The two attacks meet in the middle, creating an explosion with the force of the collision knocking both Pokémon backwards.-
Daisuke: Impressive strategy! And you say you've dealt with Skull Bash before?
Me: That I have. And I have also dealt with Hydro Cannon, which I assume will be the NEXT move you call!
Daisuke: Really? And how did you deal with Hydro Cannon?
-Beat as Ian reflects on the battle with Misty.-
Me: Not well.
-Everyone at the battle facefaults.-
Wyndon Stadium Stands
-Evelyn and Hatty facefault.-
Circhester, Kim VS Braker
-Yuki surveys the battle and makes the call.-
Yuki: <Jules is unable to battle! Joel wins!>
Lee House, The Forest
Me: Matte...* Who else is in here?
Hammerlocke Banquet
Evelyn: Don't mind if we do.
Me: Also, since this is a banquet, we should consider helping ourselves to some food, right?
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Not A Lawyer
Stormchaser, Medical Wing, past
-Alice finally turns back to look at Kai, eyes still wet with tears, but her expression now resolute and smiling.-
Alice: I promise you, I won't be going anywhere. Had you summoned me to the peak of Mt. Coronet at a time when it was buried under the most vicious of blizzards, there would not be any worldly force that could keep me from reaching you, nor any promise of luxury that could compel me to leave your side. I am here for you, Kai. It is the very least I can do for the person I love.
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.
Snowy
Studio Palace
-Lioness nods to the others and follows everyone in-
The Wanderer
Union Room, yesterday
-To Echo-
Fair enough. Once we're done with that, I hope that you find whatever you're looking for in your travels.
Isle of Armor, today
-Following a lot of re-drafting-
From: Tagg
This has been a long time coming, but we need to talk, as a group. About what happened almost two years ago, and also what happened more than a month ago. Though since the latter is a bit more pertinent, we'll start with that.
I'll be in the Stormchaser.
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Wyndon Stadium Stands
(Elton and Kim facefault.)
Lee House, The Forest
Cuddles: (seeing Ian and Evelyn) <Meeeee~!>
(He runs across the platforms and approaches Ian and Evelyn.)
Cuddles: <Ian! Evelyn~! Hello there!>
Circhester Battle
Joel: <Alright~!>
Kim: "Great work, Joel!"
(Braker smirks, and returns Jules back to their PokeBall.)
Braker: "Well, I must say, Kim; you're far more impressive than I thought."
Kim: "Thank you, Braker."
Braker: (putting away Jules' PokeBall and taking out another one) "But this isn't over yet! Cuddles, you're on the air!"
Kim: (delighted) "Cuddles?!"
(The ball opens, and seconds later, Cuddles appears, dancing around happily.)
Cuddles: (happy) <Yaaaaaay~ Fun time, fun time~>
Joel: <Okay, that thing is cute.>
(Cuddles hears him, and runs up to him.)
Cuddles: <Friend~! Hello there! I'm Cuddles! Do you want a hug?>
Joel: <Awwww, sure!>
Cuddles: <YAY~!>
(He jumps up and hugs Joel, nuzzling up against him. Joel hugs him back.)
Joel: <You're pretty snuggly, aren't ya?>
Cuddles: <Mmm-hm!>
Joel: <Awwww... Well, we can hug again later. For now we have a battle to get underway.>
Cuddles: <YAY~!>
(He jumps off of Joel.)
Cuddles: <This is going to be so much fu—> (He suddenly pauses, and gains a look as though he is about to throw up.) <U-uh oh...>
Joel: <Bud...? You okay there?>
Cuddles: <T-this always happens at the start of every battle... I'm sorry about this...>
(He then suddenly vomits out projectiles of green acid which then hit Joel.)
Cuddles: (blink) <Are you poisoned...?>
Joel: <W-what? Nah. You just canceled out my ability. Won't really affect me that much in this battle.>
Cuddles: <You can't use your ability?!>
Joel: <Hey, relax. It's only temporary. I'll get it back once the battle's over.>
Cuddles: <Oh. T-that's good, I guess...>
Braker: "Hang on, that's a Water and Ground type Pokemon... meaning your Electric moves won't work on it."
Joel: <Nope, sorry.>
Cuddles: <Yaaaay~ We can play Electro Ball all day then~!>
Braker: "Actually... I have a better idea." (He points ahead.) "Cuddles, use Giga Drain!"
Joel: <He has WHAT NOW?!>
Kim: "Oh dear."
Cuddles: <Yay~ vine huggies~~>
(He promptly shoots out green strands of energy from his mouth, which soon wrap around Joel's body and drain him of his energy. Cuddles then jumps onto Joel and continually hugs and nuzzles him, tightening the strands as he does so.)
Cuddles: <Hugs~~> (beat, he suddenly feels Joel start to fall and hears him groaning) <Uh-oh— I must have hugged you too tight— are you okay— please tell me you're okay—> (pulling away the vines) <Should I stop...?>
(The green strands go back into his mouth, and Joel falls to the floor, lying on his side with swirls in his eyes.)
(Cuddles blinks, and goes over to Joel.)
Cuddles: <Oh no... I'm sorry...>
Joel: (weakly) <Nah, it's fine... you did good, kid...>
Cuddles: <I did? YAY!>
Hammerlocke Banquet
Braker: "Indeed you should." (He turns to face Cuddles.) "Alright, Cuddles, are you ready?"
Cuddles: <Yep!>
Braker: "Very well, then."
(Cuddles jumps on his shoulder, and they head over to the karaoke machine while Walter stays behind. The two of them fiddle around with the machine for a moment, before eventually deciding on a song. Cuddles turns to Braker and smiles, and Braker, in turn, nods and gives an affectionate pat on the head. Seconds later, "As Long As We Got Each Other" starts playing in an instrumental version, and Braker grabs the microphone and begins to sing:)
Braker: Show me that smile again
Cuddles: <Don't waste another minute on your crying>
Braker: We're nowhere near the end
Both: "<The best is ready to begin>"
Cuddles: <All in a cloudy daze
Braker: Holding you close this way
Both: "<Is like having summer everyday
Braker: Baby, you and me
Cuddles: <We gotta be>
Both: "<The luckiest dreamers who never quit dreaming
Cuddles: <Baby, rain or shine>
Braker: All the time
Both: "<We got each other
Cuddles: <Promise me here and now
Braker: You can depend on me
Both: "<'Cause I need you like the air I breathe
Cuddles: <Baby, you and me>
Braker: We gotta be
Both: "<The luckiest dreamers who never quit dreaming
Braker: Baby, rain or shine
Cuddles: <All the time>
Both: "<We got each other
(And then, as the instrumental section approaches, Braker begins to sing:)
Braker: It's all too easy to lose track of each other
Cuddles: <If I didn't stop and say "I love you" lately
Both: "<As long as we got each other
Braker: Baby, you and me
Cuddles: <We gotta be>
Both: "<The luckiest dreamers who never quit dreaming
Cuddles: <Oh, baby, rain or shine>
Braker: All the time
Both: "<We got each other
(They promptly snuggle against each other, with Walter and Kim watching from behind. Eventually, however, the music fades out and ends, and Walter and Kim start applauding.)
Kim: "Bravo!"
Walter: <That was absolutely wonderful!>
Heahea Beach
(Braker, Walter, and Cuddles are walking across the boardwalk. By this point, both Jules and Panto have been returned to their PokeBalls, and Braker is on his phone.)
HASSLEMON INTERWEBS
programusInterruptus (PI) began hassling renewedPhilologist (RP), pollyannaKinesis (PK), espersCoven (EC), and reluctantRarity (RR).
PI: Everybody, I have some new friends I would like to introduce you to.
renewedPhilologist joined the chat.
RP: Oh? You caught some new Pokemon?
PI: Indeed.
motionCaptured (MC), practicalJoker (PJ), encyclopediaTritonicha (ET), and chargingBattery (CB) joined the chat.
MC: gReeTings
PJ: HeLlO ThErE, NeW FrIeNdS!
ET: It's Very Nice To Meet The Three Of You.
CB: H3llo! ...who ar3 you, 3xac7ly?
Textspace (PRE-SCRAMBLE AND SNOOP; PRE-GAMECUBE WATCHING— which will be done on the Stormchaser)
renewedPhilologist and programusInterruptus joined the chat.
RP: I'll be there as soon as possible.
PI: ...what's the Stormchaser?
Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Jun 23rd 2021 at 4:20:25 AM
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
To: Tagg
We'll be there shortly.
Silas and Roxy walked into the ship, "Important stuff happening," Roxy noted.
"Yeah," Silas responded.
"...Which is why you're marching in full Mando armor?"
"Cultural reasons, it's important, therefore I wear the important suit."
Some Rando
Textspace
From: Colton
What did I forget/miss? I mean, I'll be there, but...
From: cunningConflagration
Don't wait up.
Stormchaser
"What exactly happened two years ago and one month ago? If I knew, I'd tell you. Oh great, we're doing this again? You stop talking first."
The two shook their heads in unison before continuing, hoping that following someone would lead them to where they need to go.
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
pain peko
Stormchaser - Meeting Room
-Shaun's sitting at his usual spot, Isbrand on one side and Jessica on the other. Kaiiseii's sitting next to Isbrand.-
-Elizabeth staggers into the room and collapses next to Jessica.-
Jessica: "Sleeping well?"
-Liz weakly punches Jessica.-
-It seems that's everyone, actually. Gabrielle's not here; Luca doesn't seem to consider himself important enough to show up.-
-Shaun takes a swig from a flask and offers it to Isbrand, who accepts.-
"Dang that sure is totally poggers my good bitch"
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Somewhere Outside the Stormchaser, Surprisingly
The "someone's typing" notification shows up for a long while before Daydre actually says anything.
omw
Stormchaser
Daydre walks in and quietly takes a seat. She looks tired.
off the shits
Snowy
J-Team Textspace
To: J-team group chat
From: Star
Er...should I come despite not being around for either event? Then again, it'd be a good way for me to get caught up...
Edited by stargirl93 on Jun 22nd 2021 at 9:03:16 AM
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Stormchaser
(Some time later, Kim— and Braker, and Walter, and Cuddles, and a video camera phone— arrive on the Stormchaser.)
Kim: "I'm here. Hello, everybody." (She turns to face Braker.) "Well, Braker... this is it."
(Braker looks around in awe at the interior of the Stormchaser.)
Braker: "Wow. This is... incredible."
Walter: <I believe this could be the perfect place to do streams.>
Braker: "I believe you're right."
Cuddles: <Eeeeee~ Look at all the people that are here~! So many people...!>
Braker: "And not all of them are going to want hugs."
Cuddles: (slightly saddened) <I know that... but still~! PEOPLE~! YAAAAAAAY~~>
(Walter facepalms, while Kim and Braker go and take a seat.)
Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Jun 22nd 2021 at 9:12:23 AM
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Stormchaser, Medical Wing, past
-Alice frowns in consternation, letting out another small sigh.-
Alice: I see. That is... concerning, to say the least. The School have only ever been a rumour on the periphery of my network's awareness, but from what I do know, I suppose I should be grateful that nobody was more badly hurt. Still, all the more reason to take further precautions in future.
-She places her gloved hands on Kai's.-
Alice: I just... perhaps the way in which I express myself impedes my ability to communicate this fact, but I care about you deeply. And on occasion I find myself concerned that it may slip your mind how you coming to harm might affect those around you. I... we've run into this issue before, after all. I would rather not have to rehash that whole unfortunate scenario.
Edited by Herbert40k on Jun 21st 2021 at 11:39:51 AM
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.