Fwomph
Lee House, Subwhere
Nocturnal: She lives and continues stealing away in my name. She dies and I will endeavor to bring her back, or at least into my service. There is little I can do in the world of the material beyond nudging luck in her favor, but it's not luck alone that will keep her safe.
Lee House, The Forest
Cool, I've got my shadow way out so I'll catch up to ya back at the house yeah? Maybe we can grab a snack after this, I saw an upmarket sushi place on the way in and I'm wondering if they do bento takeaway.
-Gale pops a smile and steps back into the shadow behind one of the alabaster building blocks of this skyway-
J-Team Meeting
-Pentigan sits there as others remark negatively on his suggestion and just takes it all with deep breathing and nothing else. He only talks again after Tagg has laid out an actual actionable suggestion-
Some defenses on the ship will be useful, yes. Is this wish a formalized plea slash oath to the ship spirit or do we just all need to be thinking about it enough?
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Roxy smirked a bit, "Disgruntled, bickering, no clue what to do, sounds like a family to me."
"Defenses are a good idea," Silas commented, "Maybe some security cards or something for doors to prevent people from wandering into dangerous areas of the TARDIS?"
Roxy looked to Silas, "What? It's bigger on the inside and it is made of Mobius Tech. It might as well be one."
She sighed, "So, dissolving isn't so easy an issue."
"As for mentally stable," Silas commented, he looked pointedly to Pentigan, "None of us here truly are. Everyone here has problems, heck I only got myself so organized after an encounter in space involving spiritual drugs."
"Still weird that happened," Roxy noted.
Silas, Hacks, Snakeye, Tae, Blyeth, and Oliver peaked over a ridge, right below them was the Ferrus Factory. Walking around were several guards in… rather scavenged looking armor.
“Didn’t know apunkalypse was in,” Silas commented, “Sensing anything Hacks?”
Hacks shivered, his leku floating, ~That’s just it… I’m not.~
<What’re they? Robots?> Snakeye asked.
Hacks shook his head and ended his trance, ~No, they’re… alive. But they’re… well put succinctly they’re artificial and lacking the spark of true life. They might as well be robots for all we care… no offense Bishop.~
“I’m not even here, I’m just monitoring the situation,” Bishop’s response came over the comms.
“How’s it looking on your end?” Silas asked.
Roxy sat at the control deck, in a set of pajamas, the AC turned up, “Looking good here Babe. Suit telemetry reads that you’re all good, sorry for not coming along.”
“Forget it, you wanted adventure but don’t have to come along on all of them,” Silas responded, “Least you’re here with me in spirit.”
Roxy nodded, “So. Old factory-”
“-and a set of clone guards, think they got a commander?”
Silas shook his head, “Faced those before, they tend to have more natural movements. A commander makes them behave like people and can even add humanisms… these guys are… stiff. Like enemies in an old video game.”
Oliver squinted, <The hell are they guarding?>
<It’s the School, could be anything.>
Byleth blinked, <For the uninitiated, could someone please explain?>
“The School are a faction of eugenicists bent on creating the “perfect psychic”, they engage in illegal research and have made entire people with the express purpose to be experimented on and then die,” Silas explained, “They’re more a rumor in the legal world so they’re hard to prosecute, and the escapees aren’t keen on discussing for a variety of reasons.”
Blyeth stared at Silas in shock, <Really?>
“Yep, even kids. They’re given a number and then experimented on until they either die or are no longer needed. Our clients are hoping to help escapees find lives, and we’ve got a job to do involving this factory. Supposedly there’s something in there our clients don’t want the School having.”
Blyeth blinked and looked back to the factory, <Well. They have weapons.>
“Old guns and some shivs, no powers, no pokemon. Meant to look more intimidating and troublesome… Alright, we can handle this.”
The 5 blinked, and then looked to Silas, “Follow me.”
The Guards grunted, preprogrammed motions in place, one was about to complete his next patrol for the day. He needed nothing, he thought of nothing, he was told by his commander to guard this location, and so he did.
The other guards were just like him, made and then programmed for a singular purpose. They were meant to work out here and guard this location until the commander and their cohorts returned, they had no thoughts, no purpose beyond what they were told to do. They must guard the location, and so they did.
This meant that if an attack happened, they’d be able to handle it… mostly.
An aurasphere struck Guard-1, 2 was hit by a Pin Missile, out rolled a man in blue armor who blasted both of them with a pistol weapon of sorts. A Cacturn and a Lucario leapt out and struck guards 3 and 4, a Bisharp slashed through the old rifles, right before the fist of the man struck them.
Some of the guards mobilized as best they could but would be hit with a torrent of water knocking them flat on their asses. Spectral arrows striking them down, before a blaster bolt shot through them.
It took about 5 minutes, and they were down. Silas nodded, “Not bad everyone. Good overwatch Oliver,” he said.
Oliver smiled, <I pride myself on my archery.>
Silas looked towards the door, “So. A locked door on an old factory, what do you want to bet we can crack it open?”
Snakeye looked it over, <Bustin it down ain’t happening. So we gotta find some way to get it open.>
Silas nodded and stepped over, pulling out his pDroid he looked for an electronic lock… only to find none.
“...Huh… that’s a problem.”
Hacks stared at it, ~Well… crap. Know where Rogue is? They could break this door open.~
Silas sighed underneath his helmet, just as he heard footsteps, looking behind him he saw more grunts, “Hacks?”
~Clones. All of them… no minds whatsoever, just… orders.~
Tae grumbled, <It’s always clones with these guys, can never just be simple, why not just hire people?>
Oliver readied a bow, <A lot of them.>
Silas drew his blaster pistol, twirling it in hand, “We can take them.”
The team readied themselves… and then a Technical rolled up with a large gun, Silas stared at it “okay then…”
He ducked behind a metal pillar, his team following suit, Hacks very vocal, ~An arceus damned mounted gun!?!~
<Whatever they’re protecting they clearly don’t want us to get our hands on it!> Snakeye noted.
Silas considered the vectors of attack, “Snakeye, Oliver. Help me draw fire. Tae, Blyeth, Hacks, dig!”
The 5 of them stared at him, but did as he said, Silas rushing out, drawing fire, Oliver swinging out firing arrows and Snakeye firing pin missiles. The Technical focused on them, but it only had one gunner. Silas ducked behind another set of sheeting as the gunner continued, “We really have the worst luck,” he muttered to himself.
The ground underneath the Truck shook, and in an instant it was knocked over as a Lucario, a Bisharp, and a Swampert appeared underneath it. The combined strength quickly knocked it over, and Byleth took an instant to metal claw right through the engine block. Silas leapt out and quickdrew his blaster, hitting every one of the clone guards.
The last clone collapsed, “We good?” he asked.
Hacks dusted some dirt off himself, and then took his scarf off and started to shake it, ~Yeah. They’re… well let’s just say having that wrong aura gone is a good thing.~
Snakeye looked over them, <Why clones?>
“Genetically easy to manipulate, if you have the facilities and the funds you can churn out a lot, and for psychics, an army that can be commanded by thought. They’re flawed for certain and you’d be better off with 5 solid trainers with a good team,” Silas said, hands on his belt as he gave a kick to one of the bodies.
<Or one Mando and 5 solid Desert Survivor Mons,> Oliver said with a smile.
Tae frowned, <Well that’s all well and good, but we still got that locked door!>
The 6 looked to the door, then slowly drifted their attention back to the technical.
A large caliber round ripped through the lock, the door was kicked open as in stepped Silas, pDroid in hand as he scanned the environment. Blyeth followed after him, <I theoretically could have cut the door open.>
“Not the point, it worked, at least we’re in now,” Silas said waving his pDroid around, “We still need to find the asset.”
Hacks groaned as he stepped in, ~Guh… there’s a dampener in here.~
Silas blinked, why would a DNA sample need a dampener? He looked around and found the auric jammer lodged in the ceiling, a quick blaster bolt fixed that.
Tae and Oliver searched the room, when they heard something. The two looked over and removed some sheets, <Uh… Silas.>
Silas stepped over and stared, “Wait… it can’t be it? Can it?”
~The aura is very familiar,~ Hacks noted, ~Related in fact… you think she knew?~
Silas stared, sitting buried under a pile of debris was a kid, appearing to be no older than 6, with raven hair and purple eyes, his facial features were a familiar [RUSSIAN] look. Around his neck was a necklace with a tag that read “90. Thorium''.
Silas got down and reached out a hand, they had found what they were sent out here for… a child, the school had made a kid to experiment on...
Edited by EchoingSilence on Jun 25th 2021 at 6:38:01 AM
Spikemuth Gym Battle
Hoops has only two pokemon remaining for this gym battle. They thought that with this team it would be easy, but it's not. They still aren't as strong as they expect to be.
Hoops: I swear, I will win this battle against you. I cannot lose here.
Marnie: Can you really not? Have you ever actually been in a battle that you couldn't afford to lose, or do you just tell yourself that that's what happens? Trust me, there may be a day when there's something more on the line than your own pride, and then you'll look back and wonder why you cared so much.
Hoops flushes with anger at the question.
Hoops: You can't ask me that! You don't know anything about me! You know, when I was a kid I sometimes wouldn't be fed if I didn't win.
Marnie: But that's not the case here, so why are you holding yourself to the same standard.
Hoops ignores her and wordlessly, but angrily, throws their next pokeball. Ninjask emerges and immediately begins circling Grimmsnarl.
Marnie: So, they're going for speed against my Grimmsnarl. I guess I'll just have to overpower it.
Hoops: Use Fury Cutter!
Ninjask slashes at Grimmsnarl's back, doing a little bit of damage, but the larger pokemon barely reacts to it. Ninjask gets a little faster.
Hoops: Fury Cutter again!
Marnie: Use Bulk Up as much as you can!
Ninjask continues to slash at Grimmsnarl, as the attacks continue to get stronger every time, and she gets faster every time she uses a move, until it is almost impossible to see her. Grimmsnarl meanwhile continues flexing and increasing his attack and defence, but even so under the rain of attacks he is soon brought to his knees. He can only try and protect his head.
Marnie: Just one hit, and it will go down. I just need to make sure we get it right.
Hoops: It's almost done! Fury Cutter once more!
Marnie: It's now or never, Grimmsnarl. Use Play Rough!
Grimmsnarl lashes out towards Ninjask, swinging one large fist. Ninjask dodges past the attack and flashes at Grimmsnarl's neck. The large pokemon tries to whether it, but he has taken too much damage and he slowly falls to the ground, unconscious.
Ref: Grimmsnarl can't battle! Marnie's only got one pokemon left!
Marnie steps forwards and helps Grimmsnarl to his feet. He looks sadly at her, and winces in pain.
Marnie: You were great, Grimmsnarl. Don't worry, you did everything you could.
She returns to her spot and readies her next pokemon.
Hoops: What was that about beating me? Looks like this battle is mine!
Marnie: I don't know about that. Let's test your theory. Morpeko, come out!
The small final pokemon looks up at Ninjask, who is still flitting around in the air. Hoops snorts.
Hoops: That's your final pokemon? Take it from me, pokemon like that can only take you so far.
Morpeko growls and changes into her Hangry form, but Marnie raises a hand to calm her.
Marnie: It's okay, Morpeko. We'll prove them wrong. But as for you, I thought you used to use pokemon like Morpeko.
Hoops: Yeah, and I lost to Bede. The team I have now didn't. You do the maths.
Marnie: Well, like I said I'll prove you wrong. Morpeko, use Quick Attack!
Morpeko rushes forwards, doubling, tripling, quadrupling in speed as she approaches the Ninja pokemon. Ninjask tries to casually fly out of the way, but she's not as fast as she should be. Morpeko clips her, knocking her to the ground.
Hoops: What the distortion world?
Marnie: I guess you didn't notice before, but Grimmsnarl's last attack didn't miss. Not fully at least.
Hoops now notices a small tear in the membrane of Ninjask's wing. The type that would hurt, but could be fixed without too much trouble.
Ninjask: <Sorry.>
Hoops: Why didn't you tell me if you knew?
Ninjask: <I didn't want you to be upset with me.>
The words hit Hoops like a sledgehammer, and they start to sweat. Was that really how their pokemon thought of them?
Marnie: Use Aura Wheel!
Morpeko jumps into the air as electricity surrounds her body like a hamster wheel. She descends towards Ninjask, who struggles into the air and prepares to defend herself.
Hoops: I've made a terrible mistake.
The instant before Morpeko collides with Ninjask, Hoops dives in the way and takes the full force of the attack on their back. They yell in pain, and Morpeko scurries away as fast as it can end the attack.
Ninjask: <Why would you do that?>
Hoops: What you said isn't the type of team I want to run. If you can't battle, tell me. I don't know how you were all trained before you came to me, but I'm fairly certain that I don't want to continue that.
Hoops gets shakily to their feet, swaying slightly from the pain of taking that attack head on. They face the referee.
Hoops: Ninjask is being withdrawn from the match. Is that okay.
Ref: I suppose so? I don't think there are rules against it, babs.
Hoops returns Ninjask to her pokeball, promising her a good rest.
Marnie: It looks like you realised something.
Hoops: I realised few things. First of all, your Morpeko hits hard. Second, that I was looking at the way I battle the wrong way. If I push to win too hard, then even if I win the battle I lose something else.
They grab their last pokeball and smile.
Hoops: But that doesn't mean I'm not still going to win this battle. It's just that now I understand it's not the end of the world if I don't win.
Somewhere in the Galar Wilderness
Vana wonders through a forest, looking at all the pokemon that cluster around her. Hummy floats next to her.
Vana: It's nice here, right Hummy?
Hummy: .. - / .. ...
Vana: I'll have to go back the school eventually, before they realise I'm gone, won't I?
Hummy: -.— . ...
Vana: Or maybe I could hide in the woods here. Never go back. That would be nice, wouldn't it?
Hummy: .. ..-. / -.— —- ..- / .-.. .. -.- .
Vana: Or perhaps I'll make a friend out here. But I don't have to decide yet, do I?
Hummy: -. —-
They continue walking together.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser Meeting
"Wish? That's a thing we can do?"
"... I'm not sure I can really doubt it given all the other weird shit going on with this ship, so I'm willing to give it a shot."
off the shits
The Wanderer
Stormchaser Meeting, past
Akiko: -Projecting feelings of wellness-
-To Daydre-
As one of your experiences would know, greater cognition can change reality itself. Normally that takes far more people than even every person even nominally associated with the J-Team put together, but here we have a bit of an advantage since we've had the Stormchaser for so long.
Victini?
Victini: -Turns visible- <Yeah.>
Gonna need you too. An incarnation of luck and victory helps quite a bit.
-To Pent-
We can still do this if you'd still rather stay out of things, but since you're just as senior as me, your claim combined with Ur's power also helps.
Uxie: -Just floats inside- <I knew this day would come, since we first met 11 years ago. Have you finally seen what I told you more than a decade ago?>
Cam: <Wait, who's this mon?>
Hitodama: <Uxie, the Pokémon of knowledge.>
You'd come all the way here, for this?
Uxie: <My power will also help anchor your claims to the Stormchaser, as an embodiment of Spirit.>
Alright then, so, those of you willing to assist, let's stake that promise on the very fabric of reality itself.
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jun 26th 2021 at 3:24:30 PM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Silas stared in shock at Uxie before him, and slowly lifted his pDroid to get a scan only for Roxy to slowly push the device down.
The Pen would appear beside Pent, grinning, Well ol buddy chum pal buddy chum, you got a chance to flex a little bit of power. Will ya take it?
Some Rando
Stormchaser Meeting Room
Unlike Silas, Colton didn't have the same restraint.
"So, is there an oath to recite or something?" Kamui asked. "I mean, I want this 'wish' to be realized, but the exact words, I kinda need to know. Arceus knows how literal the processing would be."
Lee House Void
He sneered, smirking. "Yeah. That's where we come in."
Lee House Forest
Kamui nods and begins to trail back.
Edited by AbsentCoder on Jun 25th 2021 at 3:53:10 AM
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
Anyways Here's Darude Sandstorm
Stormchaser, Meeting
Lita frowned at the suggestion of a 'wish'.
"I...how does that work? 'Ill-intent' isn't necessarily a universal constant. Like if someone really wanted to steal all of our cheesecake would they be prevented from entering, or would the 'filter' just not recognize their intent as being 'evil enough'? Sure, the J-Team is moral, but what gives you the right to declare them the objective moral guardians of reality? It's nice in theory, but it tastes bad when scrutinized."
GIVE ME YOUR FACE
No voice to cry suffering
-by Kim- Addie: -soothingly- <Hey, c'mon, breathe with me—in, one, two, three…>
<From the sound of it, we're not disbanding. Five, six...>
Stormchaser, J-Meeting - Uxie
Hiro: !
Logan: oh
-Megan suddenly needs to get out of here right fucking now-
Logan: -...taking her by the shoulder- Over there. Hiro's corner.
Megan: -barely breathing- Vee, let's go
-a ripple in the air, and they're gone (along with maybe Star, maybe inadvertently)-
Hiro: oh hello.
Megan: -nails biting into her shoulders- This is not far enough I am not far enough
Logan: -finishing a Latias Sign- Hey, breathe. Here.
Eric: ~What's the em—whoa okay~
Logan: Invisible us, please.
Eric: ~For a second I thought you were going to say "fight that." Whew.~
-he does-
Megan: we are not far enough there is no SEP field or optical camouflage strong enough to hide from Uxie's lake-blasted eyes—
Logan: We're not hiding. You've got nothing to be ashamed of, and I'm sorry but if there's going to be a ward set up, I want to make sure that you're included in it. I'm sorry. Can you be strong, for a bit?
Megan: -pained, pleading- Vee!
Vee: -uncomfortable expression- <...>
Logan: …?
Vee: -leaning in, whisper- <<You can fight anything, as long as we're together.>>
-tension visibly leaves Megan, tears streaming down her face; she sinks down the wall-
Megan: -exhale-
Logan: ...
Hiro: -experimentally- ...this is all really quite fascinating. I'd love to exchange some words with them, if they stick around at all after this.
Megan: Yeah, pretty cool, huh? Sinnoh's pretty cool.
Logan: -determinedly not staring- Uh, yeah.
Hiro: -shrug- ...anyhow, I'm convinced enough. I'm willing to contribute something more esoteric to this ward if I'm going to be here to watch it. Logan, got anything in your stylist's bag?
Logan: -flicking through settings- Considering it.
Megan: …
Vee: <...!>
Megan: I've got something.
-exclamation point-
-both their heads turn to face her; Vee's was already there-
Megan: I, uh, did a lot of digging around in the Stormchaser's circuits. More than I can remember, really.
-sheepishly- We've been—going through my notes—been running the numbers, and she knows how much I procrastinate on my own, I don't…
I don't think she bothered changing it around to match my head.
Vee: -grin, fierce- <If you ask me, I don' thin' she could read what she wrote.>
Megan: -shy- Hey, all those wasted penmanship hours paid off. Who knew?
-Uxie, probably-
-Logan's grinning a slow grin, now—something genuine—Hiro despite himself seems tempted to follow suit-
-Megan mutters under her breath, turning to face the wall...-
Megan: -turning her head slightly- ...check my math?
Hiro: -nods, eyes shining-
-Vee nips—draws Aura from the circulation between the source and the seal—through the altered channel into Megan's optic nerve-
Megan: -exhale-
-into the tips of her fingers-
Hiro: ...hey Every, if you're there—want to get a record of these readings?
-two Pokédexes and one Styler, out and scanning-
-one panel removed from the wall, water twisting like screwdrivers-
-one prototype laser-pointer Medium, Water rather than Psychic-
-a Pokemon sensitive to Aura, hearing hearts approaching synchronicity-
-and Megan Looks-
Edited by Asterisk395 on Jun 25th 2021 at 3:57:15 PM
No mind to think. No will to break.
Snowy
Stormchaser
-Star blinks, suddenly surprised by the appearance of one of her home region's patron Pokemon-
Star: ...'protect our dear bonds' maybe? Or whatever the emotional basis behind 'bless this house' is? I mean it's not same as 'keep ill intent out' but I guess it's vaguely more specific, and would likely eventually encompass everyone in the group. Unless somehow someone gets in that no one likes at all—
-She cuts off suddenly, Veenapped-
Star: Wha- -looks at Megan- Is everything ok?
-She watches the proceedings unfold, and then shrugs, and with some hesitancy, closing her eyes-
-Her own Aura flares to life, loose tendrils floating around for someone to latch onto. Maybe it'll help? Or make things worse? Who knows.-
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-To the group-
What does the J-Team mean to you? When you wish to power the ward, form this demesne, that and our bonds are what you should be focusing on. But in the end, you're going to have to accept the ambiguity, that's just who we are.
Uxie: As Tagg has stated, the J-Team is inherently chaotic by nature, and so ambiguity works best in this case, defining it more than what has already been done would ruin the binding. As for what form it shall take, that will only be clear once it's complete.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Stormchaser
(Kim suddenly hears Addie and turns to face her, with tears streaming down her face. She starts breathing along with Addie, and through her tears she manages to get a few words out:)
Kim: (in tears, through heavy breathing) "When did you— get here— who are you—"
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Wyndon Stadium, Ian VS Daisuke
Me: Well, Piku-chan? Are you ready?
Piku-chan: <Ready as I will ever be.>
Me: Alright then... Piku-chan, I choose you!
-Piku-chan jumps off of Ian's shoulder and gets ready for battle.-
Me: Piku-chan, don't look into the spots on Orbito's shell when they start glowing.
Piku-chan: <Gotcha!>
Me: Now use Agility!
Daisuke: Orbito, use Calm Mind!
-Piku-chan and Orbito both take a deep breath. Piku-chan then surrounds himself in a blue aura, making his body feel lighter and floatier, whereas Orbito clears his mind of anxiety and doubt, increasing the power of his psychic abilities.-
Me: Now, use Mega Punch!
Daisuke: Use Shadow Ball!
-Piku-chan pulls back his fist, then lunges at Orbito, who conjures an orb of shadowy energy and hurls it at Piku-chan, who lets loose on Orbito with a powerful punch!-
Lee House, Forest
Evelyn: Catch you on the flipside, Ms. Knight.
Me: Y'know, a snack after this sounds like a good plan. Think we should take Ms. Knight up on that?
Evelyn: Don't mind if we do.
-Ian and Evelyn hop from platform to platform as they head back to the entrance.-
Hasslemon
Stormchaser, J-Team Meeting
-Upon hearing Tagg's speech about the J-Team and how it's more than just one person, Ian uncurls himself from his ball form, wipes the tears from his eyes and picks himself off the ground.-
Me: Hear hear!
-Upon seeing Victini and Uxie in the same room.-
Evelyn and I: Those Pokémon... could they really be?
-Ian and Evelyn then check their Pokédexes.-
Ian's Pokédex: Uxie, the Knowledge Pokémon. A Psychic type Legendary Pokémon. When Uxie flew, people gained the ability to solve problems. It was the birth of knowledge. It's said that Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf were all born from the same egg. It is said that it can wipe out the memory of those who look into its eyes.
Evelyn's Pokédex: Victini, the Victory Pokémon. A Psychic and Fire type Mythical Pokémon. It creates an unlimited supply of energy inside its body, which it shares with those who touch it. This Pokémon brings victory. It is said that Trainers with Victini always win, regardless of the type of encounter.
Me: A wish... with all our hearts... a promise... staked on the fabric of reality itself...
-Ian looks at Evelyn, still with tears in his eyes, but nods, knowing that they have nothing to dread...-
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
No voice to cry suffering
Addie: -comforting smile- <No one of consequence. Someone trained for this. Shh.>
Stormchaser, J-Meeting - the Ties that Bind
-Tagg's voice buzzing in the back of her mind, Uxie's words fading into it—Megan hums as she works-
Megan: I gotta try and prompt a reset of some security protocols, of course, if—someone didn't already take care of that.
Hiro: Everything's encrypted, apparently.
Megan: Oh good.
-waving her PEFEDex- Mainly there's a file she tossed out, something about—triple-element plating?
Hiro: -accepting it- I've heard of that, actually. Benevolent enough.
Megan: Oh thank Uxie, it's not just me. So…
Logan: -snicker- I'm willing to give it a try if you are.
Hiro: -tapping all his fingers to their corresponding pair- I'm curious. If this works, it'll add an element of Soul to the Heart-Soul-Mind trinity he's going for.
Megan: -blink- A...heartsoul of what?
Hiro: I'll explain later. How do you plan to apply this to the whole ship?
Megan: -rare-recently sparkle- Have you seen the engine? :D
Hiro: I have, actually.
Megan: -speaking hyperfocus-fast- I think—the whole thing is designed to adapt, like a Porygon, or, or an Eevee—if we introduce something it likes between plumbing and circuitry and heating, we might be able to shift the cognitive profile enough—
-Logan makes a distressed little noise, looking under the hood—it's Megan and Hiro's turn to turn, startled-
Logan: -strangled- Is this—is this empathy circuitry?
Hiro: -blink- Didn't you mention they got this from someone using emotion machines?
Logan: -hand to their head- Yeah, but—I don't—remember any of the Mobius ships we dismantled having this! Who made this?
Hiro: -shrugs-
Megan: -tiny grin- It's something for you to work with!
Logan: …
Eric: -scanning- ~She's got a point, Logan.~
Hiro: -scanning Megandex- Your Assist's at the center of this. If you want to back out, now's the time.
-...-
Logan: -drawing their Styler- What the J-Team means to me, huh?
Hiro: -twirling a flute between his fingers- It doesn't mean much to me yet. Stranger, Ally, Adversary.
Logan: -forming Styler into Guitar- I take exception to that.
Megan: Works for me, hehe. -glancing up- Vee, sing for me?
Vee: -on her head, looking down- <Every day, Meg, if you'll let me.>
-they share a soft little smile-
-Logan plugs their amp directly into the Stormchaser's wiring—Hiro does something to his flute to put it at a register beyond most hearing-
-in theory, anyway; between the embodiment of Knowledge and the ties that bind, the unity aspirant and the strangeness of the ship itself-
-who knows what happens next?-
-Hiro blows Fire through his White Flute, Logan strums a silent(?) power chord into the lights-
-Megan screws her laser pointer to a pipe, a thread of Vee trailing from it to her heart, and starts making modifications, her fingers flying through the wiring-
Vee: -happy hum, resonating- <<I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was…>>
-she gestures with a claw, and Star's Aura whisks into their little trio with a grin and a one-eyed wink-
Megan: ...now what—
Logan: —does the J-Team—
Hiro: —mean to me?
No mind to think. No will to break.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser Meeting
Daydre blinks a couple times as the Legendaries come out. She'd react more, but she just saw Ho-oh in person like last month and her shock hasn't reset itself yet.
She also notices Megan disappear in one of her awkward side glances and looks like she wants to follow, but then she remembers she doesn't know where Megan actually went.
.. What does the J-team mean to me? ... How do I put the whole thing into words?
Home?
Family?
Well, they did say ambiguity is fine..
And so she wishes.
off the shits
Fwomph
J-Team Meeting
Yeah, I need the cheering up. Let's be intensely Extra.
-And suddenly, three pairs of black wings unfurl behind him. Using that as a visual distraction, he retrieves Ur's pokeball and lets her out; the regular-color Victini taking a seat upon his shoulder. The shadows anticipate with what is about to happen-
Shadows shroud...
-Ur nods and the tips of the wings glow faintly with clean radiance-
Ur: <... And sun's power reveal.>
For the lost, home. For the warrior, cause. For the seeking, truth.
-Ink flows from one of his hands, pooling on a swirling circle around him. The wings now glow fully, something of a light source behind him that casts his shadow forward-
Ur: <Cast in light.>
Shrouded in shadow.
-Whatever happens, happens-
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Some Rando
J-Team Meeting
What does the J-Team mean to me?
Community? Notoriety? 15 minutes of fame? All of the above. Yeah.
But what does it mean to my team? They're just dragged along for the ride. Sure, they get community via my ability to understand them, but Lucario has always given me that.
Am I just here to be able to say that I am? I'm getting some amount of action, but… I can't stretch myself too thin. Megan and Ever… what can I do?
No, I'm asking the wrong question. What can we do? That's the one with an answer. And that's what this is all about - unity. I can't go back to that office anymore. Sorry, boss.
But, I think I'm still looking for an answer. To why I do anything, not just to why I'm here, he decided. Why did I decide to stick around, put myself in peril? Am I that desperate for validation?
… oh god I am that desperate.
Kamui, meanwhile, had lost herself for a moment in Pent's display. Yeah. This is what the Team is. Camaraderie in dysfunction, family in the strangest places, bonds that last forever. But is it that simple? We wouldn't have had this meeting if it were, would we…
Edited by AbsentCoder on Jun 25th 2021 at 4:18:24 AM
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
Priest of the Temple of Syrinx
Wyndon Stands
Elton: <Whoo-hoo! Go Piku-chan!>
Lee House Forest
(Braker and Walter immediately start walking from platform to platform, and eventually they, and Cuddles, reach the exit. Braker turns to Walter just before they exit.)
Braker: "So... do you want to get something to eat after this?"
Walter: <I'd love to.>
(And they exit the forest.)
The Stormchaser
(Kim takes a few more deep breaths and eventually calms down. She blinks for a few moments— and then bursts into sobs.)
Kim: (in tears) "I couldn't bear the idea of the J-Team dissolving... I don't want them to... t-they can't..."
Hasslemon
MC: Oh
MC: Okay
PJ: AwWwW...
Hi, I’m oghond, and I’m a Rushaholic. Sorry if I annoy you unintentionally. 😅
Flying Colors
J-Meeting
Kai: For me, it's not about the world-saving. We do that, sure, we're uniquely qualified, and I wouldn't go back on any of it. But... that's not why I'm in the J-Team. After you all freed Sinnoh from Annoski's Twilight, I tagged along because of the adventure, because after being trapped in a literal haze for months, seeing the world and worlds beyond was a turn I desperately needed. And it changed my life. Now, almost everyone I'm close with is in or affiliated with the team — it's like you said, it's a family. A home.
-Home.-
Mason: ...Ask me two years ago, and I'd have said getting involved with the J-Team was just a means to an end. It was, at the time. A way to fight against Team Iron and the School without just up and dying. But now, it's more than that. Even now that the School's re-identified me and is hunting me down, the J-Team feels like... it's protecting me. I'm safe with the allies I've made.
-Protection.-
Echo: It's a curious thing, this team. I scoffed at the idealism it presented to its members, believing the world was doomed. Had I been in Sinnoh thirteen years ago, I may very well have been swayed by Cyrus's dream, but instead I went off to walk down an uncannily similar path elsewhere in the world. But what fighting the J-Team showed me, as opposed to merely the heroes of Sinnoh, was that I was not past the point of no return, as I had believed. And since then, you've shown the same thing again — to Ms. Jaide and Ms. Anemos, among others.* I'm still searching for answers to this day, but I'm certain I would no longer be here, if not for the J-Team being my second chance.
-Second chance.-
???: You can fuckin' say that again.
-Kai, Mason, Echo, and Scarlette glance at Rose leaning at the doorway.-
Rose: ...Don't look at me like that. I don't have anything profound to say, that's just the same way I'm feeling about this.
pain peko
Stormchaser
-Shaun leans back in his chair.-
Shaun: "How's your Infusion training coming along?"
Isbrand: "Slow. Not much to work with, ya know."
-Shaun holds an arm out.-
Shaun: "Drink, then. Shared power."
-As Isbrand brings Shaun's wrist to her mouth, Jessica tilts her head at Elizabeth.-
Elizabeth: "Not my field. It's telepathy and telekinesis for me."
-Purple aura mixes with Isbrand's black.-
Kaiiseii: "What the J-Team means, huh..."
-Shaun's purple Obscura flows into the ship, tinged silver.-
-The black-tinted rainbow of Isbrand's Obscura follows suit.-
-And though it doesn't move into the ship, fae energy radiates from the foxes, and Psychic aura surrounds Elizabeth.-
Edited by SwiftSeraph on Jun 25th 2021 at 7:30:55 AM
"Dang that sure is totally poggers my good bitch"
Anyways Here's Darude Sandstorm
Stormchaser
Lita decides to stop running her mouth for once and sits there and thinks for a minute.
Lita: "...The J-Team...'J' stands for Justice..."
Her grey aura emits from her and joins the others.
GIVE ME YOUR FACE
Meet The New Boss
The Meeting
-There are many diffrent murmurtings acrosss the gathered gaggle about what the J-Team means to them. But one comes up repeatedly in particular, and is said the loudest by one in particular.-
Neon: ...Home.
Contact Me!
The Walking Mountain
Deziree: It's... done.
-Deziree spreads her arms wide, beholding the hovercraft before her.-
-Ten magnet field projectors.-
-A two gigawatt power supply with redundant batteries and overcharge options.-
-A flight ceiling of two miles.-
-Self-adjusting cupholders so any maneuver can be taken without spilling.-
Zhu Li: Minus the paint.
Deziree: How is it I can create the pinnacle of vehicular transport but nobody around here can invent fast-drying paint?!
-She sighs as she waves her assistant out of the hangar and locks it behind them.-
Empathic Kid Hero-in-training
Stormchaser, J-Team Meeting
-Ian and Evelyn look at each other. She wipes the rest of Ian's tears away as they hold each other's hands. They close their eyes and contemplate together on what the J-Team means to them.-
Evelyn and I: ~What does the J-Team mean to us?~
Me: ~Adventure...~
Evelyn: ~Hope...~
Me: ~Friendship...~
Evelyn: ~Excitement...~
Me: ~Justice...~
Evelyn: ~Home...~
Evelyn and I: ~Love...~
-With their intertwined auras glowing a radiant pink and a mystical purple, Ian and Evelyn make their wish.-
Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Jun 25th 2021 at 9:32:43 AM
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...
Stormchaser, Meeting
Lita was listening in on the conversation intently, still sharpening her sword. Her expression never changed all throughout the discussion. Once Tagg said his piece, followed by the follow-up comments from some of the others, she stopped sharpening and turned her blade slightly so she could see half of her face reflected in it.
She had applied her makeup rather thick before coming. Her lips were painted in charcoal black, her eyes shadowed in black as well and she had applied a subtle makeup to her face to make her look paler. It was meant to draw attention away from the bags under her eyes (it was a look tho).
Finally she spoke.
"...Sounds like sentimental nonsense if you ask me. You are The Blade that cuts the cancer from the world. You will not live normal lives. Accept it."
She turned to Pent.
"Dissolving is hard when you lot are very decentralized in practice. You have leadership yes, but it's symbolic at the most. It doesn't prevent groups from splintering off and doing their own thing. As for vetting members who can't take the heat, I'd say it should be left for them to decide."
GIVE ME YOUR FACE