Stormchaser, Megan's Room - Two Days Ago

Vee: -wondering- <...Shaymin on a stick, she remembered.>

Fraidy: <R...remembered what…?>

Vee: <I...wasn't sure if I hallucinated it, but when she brought me back—>

Pippy: -looking at her- <...when she painted you back to life.>

Vee: <She said she'd make me somethin' better. I didn't thin' anyone could do a better job than she—but—>

Pippy: -trailing the tip of a wing in the space beyond the painting- <...the detail work is marvelous.>

Vee: -maybe crying- <Oh.>

Pollen: -staring through the pigments- <Sweet Strife, that's a massive bed of roses.>

Thespi: -over shoulders, can't see- <Roses?> :O

Pollen: <Metaphorical roses. Ethereal. Koko.>

-commentary of this sort goes on for a few moments, tone varying drastically—before anyone registers one person's not saying anything-

Megan: ...

-her Pokémon trail off, glancing at Megan expression, which is...odd-

-looking after her as she walks back in her room without another word-

-after a moment, Daydre's phone may chime twice-

-...and a pause of half a minute before another pair of messages goes through, from the same number-

Wyndon Hospital - Two Days Ago

Abilene: -grumble- I swear by Life the vast majority of the time, but you won't see me shying away from invoking his counterpart. The point remains. Please never say those last words in that order again.

Hiro: -returning, pudding cup in hand- She was mostly just poetically referring to Megan.

Abilene: Sure. yes.

Logan: -eyes sparkling- But this investigation's been most of what she's been doing this whole time in Galar. Someone named Alex came up to her and asked her to root through defunct Macro Cosmos assets for ties to an unethical "scientific" organization known as Pokefutures.

Hiro: She found lots, apparently.

Abilene: Corruption? In my megacorp? It's about as much as you'd expect.

Hiro: Every's got a history with them, apparently. All of PEFE, really.

Logan: ...huh.

Hiro: -shrug- Largely adversarial.

Abilene: -hairflip, in a hospital bed- As to more conventional traitors—

Logan: -caught in the confines- hweh

Abilene: —the Poke Jobs function seems to have had a leak. Scattered reports of a ✨~Mysterious Job~ ✨ promising lucre at mind-blowingly convenient rates, that never seems to have existed in the first place. Lanatus?

-Lanatus retrieves from his hammerspace a slip of printed-out screenshot that only mostly looks like a serial killer made it-

-...screenshot of a phone picture of a different screen, on closer examination-

-the Rotom on the computer seems to be...asleep-

Logan: how is it made of magazine clippings if it's a text file

Abilene: -folding her hands- Apparently unrelatedly to a job with no applicants and no takers, a small smattering of concerned individuals have appeared on help forums, expressing confusion at some relative or other asking them persistently about a Pokémon they've never had, have no memory of having—but nevertheless picture evidence and the like insists they've known for years. These help threads all trail off and are inevitably deleted for wasting everyone's time.

Hiro: -looking at a picture of a screenshot of Abilene's spreadsheet- ...all Pokémon primarily-typed on the Auric Spectrum.

-...poking the screen- ...I don't suppose you have a picture where you scrolled down?

Abilene: Not in the slightest. Someone got into my phone and deleted the file.

Hiro: I will make several assumptions about whom and how.

Abilene: -dripping with disdain or fatigue- You do that.

Wyndon, J-Con

-a perfectly normal person is here for normal fandom reasons-

-she's a fan and perhaps brought her kid sister(s) along to buy merch-

-not especially notable, really-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Jul 25th 2021 at 7:00:22 AM

Circhester Gym Battle

Melony: "A Grotle...? Well, I must say, that is a very risky strategy you're taking."

Kim: "I'm well aware of that. However... I have an ace up my sleeve, and I'm not afraid to use it."

Melony: "Is that so? Well, then." (She returns her Lapras, and the PokeBall in her hand promptly grows to enormous levels.) "I suppose I might as well."

Kim: (returning Kaylan) "As should I."

(Her own PokeBall promptly grows just as big.)

Circhester Gym Battle- Stands

Cuddles: <Ooh~! What's happening...?>

Walter: <I think I know.>

Braker: "I think so too."

(He focuses his camera, preparing for the inevitable Gigantimaxing.)

The Wild Area (Bond or Break)

Kim: "And... I believe that should do it."

Braker: "Very well, then. Shall we begin the game?"

Kim: "I believe we shall."

Elton: (delighted) <Ooh~! This is going to be so much fun...!>

(Braker promptly grins over at Elton, and then cracks his knuckles.)

Braker: "Bring it on."

(Seconds later, the first Pokemon begins to speak.)

Studio Palace

The Consultant: "I... do not believe I have any ideas, unfortunately."

Wyndon Hospital

Ever: Pokefutures, huh? Pef's got a history with them, yeah. I ran into a version of them back when the universes were all melding together, and they really do live up to the hype.

-they sound a little bit more awake, suddenly-

Though I thought they were pretty much defunct. That's just embarrassing. Why even wear the label? It's not like the brand recognition is good for anything nowadays.

-they listen to Abilene's exposition, steepling their fingers curiously and letting out a low whistle-

Okay, yeah, I get it now, just didn't parse some of what you said earlier. Yeah, okay, this makes sense. Very up her alley.

Except...

I have a hard time buying Molybdenum effectively hiding out in the Aurabolts. Call it a hunch, but a well-informed one. She's good at manipulating memories, but that only works up to a point, especially around the kind of powers the Bolts have to throw around. And talking to her...she's missing steps. She can't navigate people without a leg up. Even on a team of capes, I don't think she'd manage to blend in.

Sounds more like a classic case of right hands and left hands not cooperating, if you ask me.

Speaking of, elsewhere in Wyndon, by J-con

-the perfectly normal person's kid sister, who totally has seen this many people at once before and is not completely new to this experience, is clinging tightly to the hand of the perfectly normal person, but looking around very excitedly-

Please Let Us Go, We Won't Snitch, Just Let Us End This CharNormal Kid: -in a normal voice- H-how do they h-have a show? M-multiple ones? I want a show. I think I'm r-relatable to aud-diences.

-not far from them are some other folks examining the merch-

Mallory: How are you interested in this?

Avery: It's hilarious. This show is like, comically bad.

Mallory: Are you on it?

Avery: Nah. There are some things it basically always gets wrong, and I try to hide out in those. Staying away from big group things tends to help.

Mallory: ...Huh.

Avery: Oh for Articuno's sake, please stop rubbing your eye.

Mallory: It doesn't hurt!

Avery: You're going to peel your corneas off! And I don't even think you need contacts, your vision is scarily good without them.

Mallory: My vision is within standard deviations.

Apple-A-Day: So what, exactly, is your deal?

Percy: Can you grab me another Gatrade bottle? I'll pay you back.

Apple-A-Day: Do you really think I'm that easily distracted?

Percy: My leg hurts. I don't want to stand up. Are you going to make me walk all the way to the vending machine?

Apple-A-Day: (visible crisis despite lack of visible face) ...I'll buy you the Gatrade if you tell me what you're so nervous about.

Percy: That is a comically insufficient incentive.

Apple-A-Day: Not with the amount of Gatrade you go through.

Gabriel stepped in, the Menials kicked into gear and began to serve him papers, "Here you are sir!"

Gabriel took the reports and read them over with a sneer, "Samwise is lost to us?"

"We spotted him on the outskirts of Peridot town, stripped down to a shirt and underpants sir. He's been since picked up and taken elsewhere by some authorities... he won't talk, he'll give false information, sir."

Gabriel sighed, "Not worth the time and effort, leave him. I have other things to attend to, our clones were only so effective. I'm starting to ponder if our tanks are adequate."

There was a booming rumble of a voice, "It's not the tools, it's what you made."

Gabriel turned, "Who said that? Show yourself!"

The menials rushed off, as two red eyes appeared in the darkness, and slowly walked forward, meeting Gabriel's. Gabriel attempted to use his power on the intruder... but found nothing, no nervous system for him to reach into and command.

"Your power is impressive, as is your psycho-blade. But you are lacking something," the robed figure said, his robes falling off, "Steel."

Before Gabriel stood a tall robotic entity, a silvery body with a horned head, two thick red eyes glaring down at him, his throat alight with every word he said. Gabriel squinted, "And, who might you be?"

"You may call me MasterOS, I'm the remains of a defunct organization that thought it was more important than it was. I have something you want, you have something I want. I wish to make a deal..." he said.

Gabriel let out a scoff, "Really. What do you need?"

"You have genetics research that would be valuable, give me the files... and I will help you create warriors of steel that your foe would be crushed under," MasterOs commented.

Gabriel smirked, "Give me some time, and we'll see... what we can do."

Circhester Stadium Stands

Evelyn and I: Here it comes...

Wild Area (Bond or Braker)

???: (distorted) Hello, trainer. How are you? Doing well, yesssssss...? I'm glad. It's been quite an adventure we've hads, yes... I'm glad I met you when you dids. I'm also glads you weren't memberses of Team Flareses, yesssss... So, who am I?

J-Con, Foooooood!

Aurelia: Before you say it, it's true... I am from The School. Can I trust you with that knowledge?

Wyndon (Emilie)

-After getting off the phone, Emilie turns to face Gail with a smile.-

Emilie: What luck. I'm getting a sponsorship after all! They'll be here soon enough with my Gym Challenge uniform and letter of recommendation.

-Beat-

Emilie: Just a question... Where should I go for the first Gym Challenge?

Battle Outside Hammerlocke, VS Hoops

Evelyn: Two can play at this game! Sud, go in for another Head Smash! Led, use your Air Slash on Sud!

-Sud and Led stop for a moment, and then laugh, just as Api and Pol did.-

Sud: <You gotta be just as crazy as Hoops to go for a play like that...>

Led: -jokingly- <Guess that sort of thinking is what comes from living in a town with a magical aura and glowing mushrooms.>

Sud and Led: <Regardless, I trust that you know what you're doing.>

-Sud channels all her energy into her head and charges at Pol with an aura akin to a glowing crystal. Led unleashes several cutter blasts of air glittering with the light of the Sun aimed at Sud's back, helping push the Imitation Pokémon forward and give her enough momentum to keep on equal footing to Pol.-

j-con with food

Radium: <Huh, I thought you might be.>

Kal looks suspiciously at Aurelia.

J-Con With Kim

The three fire-types looked at each other, all wondering what would be best to say.

"Not going to answer that," Kamui eventually decided.

J-Con Food

"Yeah, don't worry. You seem amicable enough, possibly subversive like Neon," he considered. "Just don't pull a Molybdenum and we're cool."

Battle Outside Hammerlocke [TS]

The two additionally propelled slam into each other with what feels like the force to two tectonic plates - it's not because that would be ridiculous, but that's what Hoops thinks as they fight to remain on their feet against the the winds created by the impact.

Hoops: You can... do it, guys! Keep pushing!

There is another explosion of force as the two pokemon separate, which creates a cloud of dust - convenient for the tension.

The side with Pol clears, revealing that she is still standing, albeit barely. Her body is covered in injuries, and she is clearly having trouble even standing.

Pol: <I can still... go on.>

She falls backwards, into Hoops' arms. They have come forward and knelt down ready for this.

Hoops: That's okay, Pol. You don't have to go on. Your time in this fight is done.

Pol allows herself to fall unconscious as Hoops takes out her pokeball and returns her. They then look up as the rest of the dust begins to clear, revealing whatever Sud's state might be.

J-Con- Kim's Section

Kim: "Oh. Okay, then."

(beat)

Kim: "...Did he play the voice distortion game when he did Bond or Break, or..."

Wild Area - Aurelia in Adversity

-Ferrum glares at Radon incredulously as Ravager's Thunderbolt is absorbed by Piku-chan.-

Ferrum: What the hell are you doing, you little freak? You're only making them stronger!

-Meanwhile, Florence's spell seems to knock Corviknight off-balance, and it struggles to remain airborne as it attempts to wheel around for another attack on Florence.-

Ferrum: Dammit, there's more of the brats than I was expecting... well, least we can make sure that they don't keep getting back up.

-He gestures with his hand, and his Steelix snaps around to try and slam Hikari with its tail.-

Wyndon, J-Con 2021 - With Perfectly Normal People

-Hovering near the perfectly normal person and her kid sister is her other kid sister, who appears to have gotten more into the spirit of the convention by donning the costume of a certain Lucario-themed superhero, complete with helmet.-

-She's preoccupied with people-watching, although upon hearing her sister speak she glances back at her without saying anything - however, the look makes her thoughts clear.-

Normal Kid #2: ~Be quiet. You're embarrassing us. Besides, nobody would want to watch a show about you anyway.~

-Very clear, actually.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 27th 2021 at 1:38:45 PM

Stormchaser, Daydre's Room, Past

"-aaaaaa"

Kazma: <Is she good?>

Rowan: <She'll probably be fine. If she keeps going we might have to sit her down, but an aaa of this length is normal enough.>

Then Daydre's phone goes off!

She takes a look at it and stops aaa-ing momentarily.

"..."

"Oh thank Arceus she liked it" c:

"... I hope she's okay though"

Rowan: -peeking over her shoulder- <Oh, she kept the notes.>

"Wait she did"

"Actually, you know what, I'm not gonna sweat that. I'm just going to confidently say that I'm glad she liked the gift."

Rowan: <Yeah!>

She takes one step and then crumples, undignified, into a conveniently nearby chair.

Rowan: <... Well, good start?>

Hammerlocke

C curses as his projectile isn't able to hit the masked person.

He sees him go for another swing at Aislinn.

"Nightmare, intercept"!"

<Graaaah.>

The Muk melts into the ground and positions itself underneath the masked man, grabbing onto his feet to stop him from moving.

C charges up another shadow ball.

Hammerlocke Alley, Past

The masked man is held in place by Shadow and left unable to completely dodge the gout of flame from Sunny. The staff doesn't distort, though it does glow bright with heat. Despite the sizzling sounds coming from his hands, the man doesn't let go of it. Instead, he changes direction and drives the staff into the part of Shadow holding onto his leg. His clothes are singed, and from what little you can see of his bare skin he's injured, but he doesn't seem to care.

Both the Lucario and Blair are distracted momentarily by the Lucario getting kicked in the head. This moment lasts long enough for the Lucario to grab Blair and try to slam her into Roy.

The Gallade is still busy with Faa, though he takes the time to fire off a Psycho Cut at Shadow.

Stormchaser, Megan's Room - Three Days Ago

Megan: -...facedown, muffled- ...I did it.

Pippy: -soft- <...did what, Meg?>

Megan: We...we did it.

-she shoves upright just enough to turn her head and look him in the eyes-

Megan: -still bespectacled, painfully- We made something beautiful enough she'd want to paint it.

Vee: <...Meg, I genuinely don' know if you know this, but I thin' you are that thin'.>

-Thespi and Pollen bump around each other at the other end of the room—strangely, Thespi chasing Pollen around and Pollen flitting away-

Megan: ...we have to do the League.

Vee: <...oh?> .D

<Not that I ain't encouragin' that, but what about this brought that on?>

Megan: -quiet- ...I want to impress her.

And besides.

-she sits up fully now, the impression of the pillow and her glasses on her cheeks—to look each of her Pokémon full in the face, so what she has to say next gets across properly-

Megan: We've talked about...a lot, about that time. But I don't think I ever thanked all of you for the work you did.

-...-

Pollen: <...the work we did...almost murdering everyone?>

Megan: Yeah.

Fraidy: <O-oh.>

Megan: -...chuckle, rueful- My fault, still. But reasons aside, I needed you, and...you all rose so, so admirably to the challenge.

Thespi: -looking away- <...>

Megan: -turning to her nightstand- I don't want to let you all down again. Work for the future, right?

-picking up a pen- We're doing this.

-on the back of the scribbled-over note, she writes down one sentence in her affected, careful script—a far cry from the illegible Torchic-scratch she uses without thinking-

-presses the paper gently to her lips for one long moment-

-and sets it down again, gathering her tools and her belt and weaving through Traps out the door-

-her Pokémon file out after her, mostly chattering excitedly—Vee curled up around Megan's neck to purr where she can feel it-

-Pippy's last out, claw reaching for the light switch-

-...but not before he takes a look at what Megan wrote-

Pippy: <...> :>

-he flicks the lights off, arms the secondary layer, and heads out for his human's business-

Wyndon Hospital - Three Days Ago

(-Logan eyes Ever a bit, more curious than anything-)

Abilene: -rolling her eyes- Misplaced idealism? You're singing to the 'puff parade on this one.

Hiro: Interesting stance, Mademoiselle Macraul.

Abilene: -pointing at her own face- Do you think I'd keep this last name if it didn't come with some fringe benefits? Believe me, I changed my first name, I'm fully capable of altering my last.

Logan: -grin- Going for a Professor plant name, there?

Abilene: -mutter- I still don't understand how it's so...ubiquitous.

Hiro: I've considered if it could be a stage name sort of thing, but as far as I can tell it goes back to high school yearbooks.

Abilene: Perpetually astounded by where you decide to invest your limited energy reserves.

Logan: I've watched you spend a week dripping nutrient water from a syringe on a single bean.

-...-

Logan: -musing- ...everything I learn about the School's hierarchy and how it, uh, functions, for lack of a better term—fascinates and concerns me.

Abilene: -raising an eyebrow- Have you ever involved yourself in academia? Private army or no, it's fucking madness.

Logan: I need to talk to Mason again.

-to Ever- How...did that talk go, by the way? Now that those memories have returned. I have about a third-hand impression of it from a friend of a friend of you, but never got around to bumping into you again in the halls.

-from one "people person" to another—the slightest overtones of "what is there to use"?-

-Hiro's own gaze sharpens—though differently, perhaps—at Ever's analysis of Molybdenum and her particular social (and metasocial) graces-

Hiro: -headtilt- That follows with what I've seen from pursuit. Someone capable of or, tending toward, acting inconspicuously...doesn't leave a trail of mind-wipees in her wake. Although maybe the School wouldn't discourage liberal use of that particular crutch. -_-

Wyndon, J-Con 2021

-said normal person, who helped her kid sister obtain that cosplay a normal way, like making it herself, frowns at a distantly bickering cluster of people, wiping a recently-acquired spoiler from their respective hippocampuses-

As If, You Abstractions Of Narrative Tattling: Some people are so inconsiderate.

(-she wipes it from the spoiler-er's brain, also, for good measure-)

Neener Neener—Anyways Yeah This Is "Ramona": -murmur- Settle down, kids. If you're nice and friendly I'll get you both the highlight reel of my convention brain cringe compilation some J-cotton candy from the convenience stands.

-guaranteed to be educational, either way-

"Ramona": For now, keep your brains peeled for breaking points, yeah? Not to poke, yet, but be aware. We will be quizzing on the...

-...walking by, she sees for sale a body pillow of a J-Show's portrayal of one Megan Nguyen, her big, innocent Deerling eyes wide and ingenuous over a body built like a brick shithouse-

(-not too far away, Backpacker Amelia is giving it a weird look-)

Ramona: -...wistful sigh-

-...reminding herself she's better off without her, she casts her gaze over her fellow unsuspecting con-goers, cognition fanning out further for anyone marginally interesting or tactically advan

-her much smaller hand over someone else's face. thoughts fragmenting and funneling into working memory.-

-those eyes.-

-everything is normal-

-everything is fine-

-this is not possible-

(-oops, said that last one out loud-)

what are you doing

(-relax, she can't get us in here-)

-she's gripping these kids' hands a normal amount, and her expression is so very calm-

-...because those eyes aren't even the right color for how piercing that gaze is-

-because there's no way she's seeing this right-

-because genetics...are borrowed...-

-because-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Jul 26th 2021 at 4:34:29 AM

Hammerlocke Alleyway

Struck by the Counter, Roy is thrown into the walls of the alley, bounding off it and falling to the ground in some amount of pain.

Annoyed, a bit of Flame built up around his leg, intensity increasing and spiraling faster as he stood up and locked eyes with the Lucario once again.

With little warning, a red blur dashed up with next to no regard for the surrounding opponents and slammed his Flare Blitz into the Steel-type as best he could, a Wish from Sunny the only thing keeping him conscious.

J-Con, Kim

<Can confirm,> Roy offered. <As one of the ones who could Mega-Evolve, I had to step up to the microphone.>

J-Con, Kim's Section

Kim: "Huh. Funny, that was the same game that I played, and Grohl- my Ampharos and the one I was playing for a Mega Stone for- never once stepped up to the microphone."

The Fortune Booth — Daydre

Fortuneteller: Excellent! Then without further ado!

-They shuffle the deck, then place it face-down.-

Fortuneteller: I'm going to draw three cards, one at a time. In order, the side of each card that is upright to you will say something about your past, then your present, then your future.

-They take the first card, and place it. The two groups of seven again, with the inward-facing group oriented upright.-

Fortuneteller: The card of your past is Cycles. You were caught in a loop over your life, willingly or not. The pattern may have been safe, reliable, and perhaps even comfortable... or it may have been dangerous and inescapable. Virtuous and vicious cycles both build upon themselves.

The Fortune Booth — Ian

Fortuneteller: Excellent. Again, three cards, past, present, and future.

-They flip over Ian's first card — one he saw in Evelyn's reading earlier, the figure with the staff radiating power.-

Fortuneteller: Oh, this is quite interesting. Whereas Haze is your friend's present, for you it was your past; some mysterious force or potential wove its way into your life long ago. You claimed it, but it may also have claimed you. Be wise with what you've found, friend.

The Wild Area- Bond or Break

Braker: "Serkis. Your Gollum-speak is on full display, and you did initially believe I was a member of Team Flare."

Circhester Stadium

(As soon as Melony's PokeBall touches the ground, it opens up, and Lapras emerges from it, growing bigger. And bigger. As this is happening, physical changes begin to occur to her body. Her neck grows much longer, and the shell on her back becomes more armored, resembling a cruise ship. Multiple ice particles emerge from Lapras' body and circle around it, and with a flash, lines suddenly appear and start connecting the ice particles together. Meanwhile, on the other side, Kaylan emerges from his own PokeBall and soon grows to a massive size himself— but because he's not being Gigantamaxed, the changes stop there.)

G-Max!Lapras: <Shall we begin?>

D-Max!Kaylan: <Yep!>

Circhester Stadium- Stands

Cuddles: <WHOA...!>

Walter: <That is impressive.>

Braker: "I would certainly say so myself."

J-Con— Puxiki's Section II

(Puxiki is still bouncing around J-Con looking for his eventual Trainer. If anyone would like to interact with him, he is open.)

Circhester Stadium Stand

Evelyn: Kaylan Dynamaxed!

Me: So cool! If he starts spinning around in midair when he unleashes a Max attack, I am gonna laugh...

Wild Area (Bond or Break 2)

Serkis: <Yesssss... That is me. I am glad that you can recognizes me, that you does... But you must knowses this abouts me, Among the evil teamses, which one woulds I consider my mortal enemy?>

J-Con, FOOOOOOOD!

Aurelia: Okay. Thanks. Also, who is Molybdenum? Are they a Schoolkid too? What can they do?

J-Con, Fortunetelling

-Ian looks intently at the Haze card and nods. Understanding the nature of his journey, he feels like the Fortuneteller's reading of his past is accurate.-

Me: Interesting. Please continue.

Battle Outside Hammerlocke, VS Hoops

-The two additionally propelled slam into each other with what feels like the force of two tectonic plates, as Hoops would describe it. Evelyn gets blows backwards by the force of the collision, but holds herself aloft with her telekinetic abilities.-

Evelyn: You got this, Sud!

-There is another explosion of force as the two Pokémon separate, which creates a cloud of dust - convenient for the tension.-

-When the dust clears from Sud's side, it's revealed that she, too, is still standing, but barely, given how much power she exerted with how hard she had been battling, and the recoil from two Head Smashes isn't nothing to sneeze at either. Her body is just as bruised as Pol's, and it's clear that even if she could still battle, it's not worth risking it.-

Sud: <That was... definitely intense...>

-Sud then collapses into Evelyn's arms. She had hovered forward and knelt down ready to catch her.-

Evelyn: That was amazing, Sud. You fought so hard out there. You can rest now.

-Sud falls unconscious in Evelyn's arms and Evelyn calls her back into her Poké Ball. Evelyn then looks up at Hoops and smiles as warmly and sincerely as she smiled back when they first met.-

Wild Area, Save the Light

-Hikari notices Ferrum's Steelix gearing up to attack with Iron Tail. Knowing it will hurt a lot if it hits her, she surrounds herself in a glittering, sparking aura of silver electricity. She then crosses her arms and disappears in a bolt of gold, blue and silvery-white.-

Radon: Well, I won't make that mistake twice! Ravager, use Ancient Power! The kid is mine!

-Ravager raises both his wings and lets out a cry to the heavens.-

Ravager: <Since time immemorial, the dinosaurs have ruled this Earth... From the earth and waves below to the heavens above...>

-The sky glows with a mystical energy, a power lost to time... That power then funnels itself into Ravager's body.-

Ravager: <Now, we shall RECLAIM THE POWER LOST TO US!! THE POWER LOST TO TIME!!!>

Me: Here it comes, Piku-chan!

Piku-chan: <Ready when you are!>

-Ian and Piku-chan stand firm, waiting for Radon and Ravager's devastating combination attack...-

Radon: I couldn't have said it better myself, Ravager!

-Radon's fiery aura surrounds his body. A twinkling sound echoes through the battlefield as a crimson light surrounds his hands.-

-Ian stands ready, focusing his heart and mind. His desire to protect those in need empowers him as his radiant pink aura becomes visible. A twinkling sound can be heard as he shifts his stance, bringing his palms together, and assuming a pose reminiscent of someone preparing to use the Kamehameha and a pink, silver and blue heart-shaped orb of psychic energy forms between his palms.-

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Jul 26th 2021 at 11:15:59 AM

Wyndon Hospital

Ever: Oh. Yeah. Knock wood, she'll do something dramatic in a year. I'm hoping that'll involve abandoning the School and coming to live on our airship like a weird psychic hobo, but I'll call it a best-case scenario. Other option is she does something reckless and actually gets herself killed.

But uh, yeah, she's a psychological house of cards. She spent her early life defining herself by being better than everyone around her, so she panics when things go wrong or when it looks like she's lost control of a situation. She defined that betterness by violence and murder, killing everyone she might have viewed as a colleague, so she's desperately lonely, to the point where she seemed to have convinced herself I was her friend because she was enthralling me.

She's scared, too. She was going to kill me, but she backed off because she would've died too, even after saying she didn't care. She ran from the fight in the Wild Area when it turned against her too. She views herself as important and thinks she doesn't, or shouldn't, but I don't think she's come close to dying recently, and being reminded that she can shook her. And I imagine that being offered mercy didn't help, because I doubt it exists within her model, and she's definitely never had that challenged before.

She's...kind of pathetic, actually. It's weird. I don't know if I know her well enough to say if she'll reach out or lash out, but there's some out coming, and then we'll be rid of her either way.

Wyndon, J-Con

Normal Kid #1: ~You don't know what you're talking about! I'm very funny and entertaining and I think people would enjoy observing my trials and triumphs! And anyway you're just mad because nobody's gonna put you on television if they can never see your face.~

-she trails off a bit at Ramona's reprimand-

~Bet I can find more psychological weaknesses than you, Bela!~

-she starts looking around for a moment, before trailing off-

Normal Kid #1: ~Um, Molybdenum? You're hurting me.~

Avery: Hey, that girl's giving you the stinkeye.

Mallory: Huh?

Avery: Over there. The one with the kid in cosplay, and the other kid...not in cosplay.

Mallory: What makes you say she's giving me stinkeye?

Avery: I have a keenly trained eye for observation.

Mallory: ...Okay?

-they give Ramona a very uncomfortable wave, and rub at their eye-

Avery: Ugh, stop that!

Thanks to Every for spagging the following shenanigans!

Outside J-Con, Near the Vending Machines

-Percy is limping along, Apple-A-Day awkwardly strolling alongside-

Apple-A-Day: I mean, they say a good compromise leaves nobody happy…

Percy: You're buying the Gatrade.

Apple-A-Day: And in exchange you'll explain what you're so nervous about?

Percy: Did I say that?

-Any response Apple-A-Day might have given is interrupted by the sound of someone kicking the vending machine.-

Someone Kicking The Vending Machine: Urgh, come on! You're way too overpriced to let drinks get stuck!

-She kicks it again, which doesn't help.-

Percy: Oh, hey, don't kick those. You won't get anywhere doing that.

-she sends out Merry, who sizes up the machine-

Percy: You want 4C? (to Apple) Look at that. It is easy to help people.

Apple-A-Day: I think you're doing this on purpose.

-The woman — long dark hair, baggy dark gray shirt and black pants, combat boots — glances at Percy and Apple-A-Day briefly, before immediately looking back at her vending-machine quarry.-

Vending Machine Kicker: Er, yeah. Can you believe how much they charge for a plain old bottle of Psycho Soda?

Percy: Drinking those will kill you eventually.

Apple-A-Day: We are here to buy you nearly four litres of Gatrade.

Percy: It's for the electrolytes.

Vending Machine Kicker: Psh. I drink things a lot more likely to kill me than this.

Percy: Whatever. Merry, give it the ol' razzle-daz—

-she pauses, and takes another step forward, tilting the brim of her hat down-

...That you?

-The woman blinks, and turns to look at Percy again, eyes widening-

Vending Machine Kicker: Oh shit— Uh, yeah! Yeah, it's me— er— Jen! Yeah. Wow, ah-heh, small world, huh?

-She gives Percy an awkward, surprised, somewhat panicked looking grin-

Percy: ...Yeah. Jen. Uh, Percy. Very small world. How've you been?

-she sounds more startled than average, and very hopeful-

Apple-A-Day: How do you know everyone?

Merry: ~Sssh. This doesn't concern you.~

Apple-A-Day: I think it very much does—

Jen: (laughing what she hopes is a perfectly natural sounding, not awkward laugh) Hah-hah, er, I've been— oh, you know, getting by, doing what it takes to survive, all that jazz. Hehe. Um!

-She looks at Apple-A-Day, grinning maybe a bit too strongly-

Jen: We're just— old friends from school! Gosh, it's been ages, I almost didn't recognize your face, Percy. Erm, nice— nice cosplay, apple person! Nice cosplay. Very... appley.

Apple-A-Day: It's not cosplay—

Percy: Yeah, well, my face is admittedly not the most recognizable since then. How've you been, Jen?

-There's an awkward beat of silence.-

Jen: ...Uh, you asked that already!

Percy: ...Yeah. I did. Um.

Can I give you a hug? Are we there? Do you do hugs? I don't do hugs but I'd make an exception.

Apple-A-Day: What the fudge—

Jen: I. I would definitely. Appreciate a hug?? I don't usually do hugs either but nobody really asks??

-She pauses, before pulling Percy into a quick hug with an expression of "I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing but it's happening" on her face-

-there's a bit of static, but not much. Percy hugs back using their good arm-

Percy: It's really good to see you.

Jen: Yeah. It's nice to see you too.

Apple-A-Day: Is anyone going to explain anything?

Jen: -loudly- Nope!

-She breaks away from the hug quickly.-

Jen: Uh— can we talk, er, outside? Away from— strangers. I don't know your apple friend but I'm a bit not-super-thrilled with the idea of talking about, y'know, stuff? With them?? Because I don't know them??? And there's too many people around anyway??

Apple-A-Day: Hey, come on. I've known Percy for a year, and she's not going to go to a secondary location with—

Percy: Yeah, sure, c'mon.

Apple-A-Day: Today has been weird.

Jen: Great! Sorry, Red Delicious, I'm sure you're a great person to get to know but not right now! See you later maybe!

-And she pulls Percy along a bit too quickly.-

Merry: ~Cya.~

-...-

Apple-A-Day: ...I'm obviously going to spy on them, right?

Nobody:

Apple-A-Day: Bleh.

-...-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Jul 26th 2021 at 11:11:15 AM

Wyndon, J-Con 2021

-Normal Kid #2 shakes her head at her sister.-

Normal Kid #2: ~As if. The only viewers you'd get are people who can't just put themselves to sleep like we can. And actually, demographic data suggests that audiences consider faceless protagonists more compelling so long as they're able to convey sufficient visual emotion. Which I'd be way better at than you. Just like I am at everything else.~

-It's at this point that her big sister's grip tightens, and she winces - though this is hidden by her helmet, and her thoughts remain perfectly composed.-

Normal Kid #2: ~...You can ignore Sixty, Alumnus Forty-Two. She's clearly just not suited for fieldwork.~

-Thankfully, she's then provided with a distraction in the form of Mallory's thoughts.-

Normal Kid #2: ~We've drawn attention. Intent unclear.~

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 27th 2021 at 3:00:49 PM

Fortune Booth

"Hm."

Daydre stares at the card. Several thoughts cross her mind. A couple relating to the things she's heard about fortune tellers sticking to generalizations, but mostly about the various times she's attempted things and then just.. run away when they don't work out.

"... I... can see that, yeah."

Defiant Wing - Sector 4

Well hey, wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to cook in space. Yep. Definitely been worth it.

-She flashes a mildly insincere smile and looks at the assembling crew-

Well, what's the status out there?

Vali Hospital

Kitbash: Yeah this is a stealth mission, Salem. And yeah uh... Lemme just put my welding filter down and...

-The lenses of Kitbash's current helmet let off a soft clicking sound-

Kitbash: Hit it.

Studio Palace

-Rakash shrugged-

Not without killing him, which might be something to avoid...

Galar Mountains

You give a stern nod and roll your shoulders back.

"I am so ready for the climb proper. It's the best part."

Isle of Armor

Well, I trust you not to have it come back to bite us later. And sure, though uh... I think gasters are considered cheating so maybe just watch my back?

-Gale popped a little smile and began gathering sand-

J-Con, Emer

You panic a little as a Ninjask flies into your face and starts buzzing up a storm. Clearly something has it agitated but given you can't understand Pokemon language you have no recourse but to stand stunned still and waiting for the trainer to push the Ninjask away and address you... Wait what?

"Who? This is... I'm just wearing my usual clothing."

Wild area, aurelia in adversity

Florence is unable to dodge the incoming iron head but readies an attack as the Corviknight flies at them.

Florence: <Okay, if I'm going down then why don't you come with me?>

Florence used Moonblast!

Loki flies over to the Steelix and throws a glowing green ball at it.

Loki used Energy Ball!

J-con, with food

Radium: <Yeah, who's Molybdenum and what did they do?>

Kal continues to look warily at Aurelia.