J-con lunch

Radium happily catches the fries and eats them up too. On the mention of templars, the walls of the distorted room seem to become even more solid, as does the construct.

Kal: Really? Where was the templar?

Kal?: We should be safe in here for now.

Radium: <Yeah, it doesn't seem like a particularly great way to do things.>

Edited by QuantumMelody29 on Jul 30th 2021 at 11:00:39 AM

J-Con Food Court

Aurelia: It was at the Wild Area where I encountered the Templar. He was mean, scary and could control metal. He also had a Bronzong and threatened to take me back to The School. And the worst part was, he wasn't alone. He had a Schoolkid assisting him.

J-Con Lunch 21

"Sounds like a, uh..." he trailed off. "a time, especially if they would otherwise have the same, shall we say... immorality, of someone like Molybdenum," he offered.

"I dunno, I just feel strongly about her and what she did."

Wyndon Hospital, Past

Ever: Oh yeah. Pef's in the bracket too— have you met my cousin Pef? She's a strange little lab rat, you'd probably like her.

-they smile-

I'll see you there. Try not to get knocked out too early— I'm very curious about your style and I'd love to get a chance to see it firsthand. You too, Hiro, but if I get everything I want out of this tournament...well, that wouldn't be fun for anyone.

-they take the card from Logan, smiling at them-

Thanks. I'll keep it in mind next time I talk to Molybdenum. You're down to help, right?

J-Con

- There's nobody around, Molybdenum, not even with your enhanced abilities. Why are they enhanced, anyway?-

-not far away, under another very strong SEP field-

Neodymium: Oobly doobly—

-she frowns-

~Sorry about that. Lingering Entrainment effects.~

-for all that Neodymium's kind of a bubbly weirdo off-mission, her voice is very serious right now-

~We can't report Molybdenum's behavior. If we tell Dr. Tran, they'll have her liquidated. Or us! I don't want either of those things for either of you!~

-meanwhile-

-Avery gasps for air-

-she's not sure why-

-she sees Mallory's body, and reacts in a fairly predictable manner, which is screaming-

-there's some kerfuffle for a bit-

-but fortunately, there's already a paramedic on the scene for an unrelated incident-

A few minutes later

-an ambulance heads for the Pokemon Center-

-the benefit of Indeedee as hospital aids is that it's very easy to determine brain death-

-which is why there's one person currently hooked up to an IV, and one bodybag-

Percy: -not looking too great, mouth movements heavily slurred- Nitrogen. I need...

-she trails off-

EMT: I mean...we're not giving you that.

Apple-A-Day: (as the passenger and only witness, has been either allowed onboard the ambulance or taken into custody, depending on how you look at it) I don't think she's asking for nitrous?

-the EMT eyes Apple-A-Day-

EMT: (slightly suspiciously, as one might be of someone in a full-face-mask) And you didn't see what happened to her?

Apple-A-Day: (firmly) I saw her battling a woman with purple eyes and a Noivern. The woman ran away and then she collapsed—

EMT: Ma'am, you don't need to get upset—

Apple-A-Day: Not a woman.

EMT: Do you have a name?

Apple-A-Day: ...Apple-A-Day.

-the Indeedee rolls his eyes-

EMT: Should I be worried?

Apple-A-Day: No, it's about keeping people out of the hospital—

EMT: Well...

Apple-A-Day: Yes, I recognize the current dramatic irony.

EMT: And you didn't see her getting cut in half?

Apple-A-Day: ...

EMT: ...Miss Day—

Apple-A-Day: (coldly) Just Apple is fine.

EMT: ...Apple, when we responded to your call, your friend had lost enough body mass that under normal circumstances we wouldn't have attempted resuscitation. The missing limbs are explainable, even if I find her choice of prosthetics slightly macabre, but a third of her head is missing. That generally tends to affect quality of life.

(gently) If you know anything, don't worry that you're going to get in trouble—

Apple-A-Day: (flatly) I'm not a kid.

EMT: Could've fooled me.

Apple-A-Day: If I had the foggiest idea what happened to her, I would tell you, but I don't.

EMT: I have a difficult time believing that you could have not noticed someone wandering around as badly injured as this woman—

Indeedee: ~Janie? Whatever happened to her right side was old. Like, years old.~

Janie: ...Well that...makes no sense. Are you telling me she's just been faffing around with half her brain and limbs gone?

Apple-A-Day: -helpless shrug- Can you just try and keep her alive until we get to a hospital?

Janie: That is our job.

Apple-A-Day: ...

-they sigh, and turn to the other ride-along-

Apple-A-Day: (quietly) Are you okay?

Avery: -holding onto Facade, staring at the bodybag, very still-

Apple-A-Day: Um...this may not mean much from a total stranger, but I'm really sorry about your friend.

Avery: -nod-

Apple-A-Day: If you want to talk, I'll be right here, okay?

Avery: -nod nod-

Apple-A-Day: Alri—

-the bodybag sits up-

Apple-A-Day and Avery: -both scream-

Janie: o_o

Indeedee: ~Don't see that every day.~

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Jul 30th 2021 at 6:26:23 AM

Wild Area - Aurelia in Adversity

-Still propelled from the momentum of its Gyro Ball, the Metagross is easily able to dart out of Loki's Stun Spore. Ferrum, meanwhile, watches Ravager collapse and curses under his breath.

Ferrum: Alright, fuck this. I'm done playing this game.

-He clenches a fist, and the metal rod in his hands twists into a shape like a shepherd's crook, or a cane designed to pull cartoon characters offscreen - which, in fact, is exactly what it does to Radon.-

Ferrum: Show's over, kid. You clearly can't hack it out here, no point embarrassing yourself further.

-His Metagross swoops over to him, and Ferrum jumps atop it, calling out in what he guesses is Aurelia's direction.-

Ferrum: You can't hide forever, you hear me? No matter how far you try to run, we'll be just one step behind you! You might've gotten lucky this time, but your luck's gonna run out eventually, and we'll be right there when it does!

-With a flick of his wrist, he begins to soar off atop his Metagross.-

Defiant Wing - No Longer With Rosemaster, far past

-Gaia watches as the intruders disappear, scowling beneath her helmet.-

Gaia: Good... riddance.

-Slowly, she hauls herself to her feet once again, before turning to look over at Rogue with a withering glare.-

Gaia: Now then, do words... "plausible deniability"... mean nothing to you?

-She nearly stumbles as another cough wracks her body, but catches herself.-

Gaia: Gaia... supposed to be legacy character, you imbecile. Might have guessed... still me behind the mask... but impossible to prove, not conclusively. Until you just confirmed it to her. Shall I... call her up... do the same for you?

-She sighs, and shakes her head.-

Gaia: ...Descent velocity... seems manageable. Still, would advise bracing. Good work... talking her down.

-For a moment, she seems to have more to say, but then she just turns and starts limping in the direction of the medbay.-

Wyndon, J-Con 2021 - Someone Else's Problem

-As the effort of maintaining the SEP field fades to practically nothing, Bela gives Neodymium a nod of appreciation, though frustration is evident in her mental voice.-

Bela: ~It's not a matter of what we want. We have to. If Molyd- Alumnus Forty-Two is noted to have lost control of her faculties like that while on mission, then it's our duty to-~

-Her train of thought stops, abruptly. Perhaps it might have something to do with recognising the sincerity in Neo's mind, but she shifts track.-

Bela: ~...Fine. I won't tell. Not right away, at least. But you agree that was messed up, right? She went completely off the rails, she could have exposed us to hundreds of people, she put us all in danger! Not to mention her thought patterns before the incident, they were... they...~

-Her name, tapped out in Morse, in response to her cry of distress. Thoughts of family. Of being like the two of them, once.-

Bela: ~...They weren't normal.~

Hades Submarine, July 5

-Alice watches with vague horror as Megan and Vee go through their... demonstration.-

Alice: Well, that's... one way of doing things, certainly. I might have to request some of that... drink? Sludge? Oobleck? Whatever it is, I don't doubt that a chemical analysis would be enlighting. Even if there are some things man was not meant to know. In the meantime, though, I won't refuse any painkillers you can provide.

-She looks back at Bishop - and Queen, as she emerges - with an expression of trepidation, though she gives a nod of approval once Bishop is done.-

Alice: ...Sounds like you have everything planned out. As much as I tend to take point on undercover ops, given our current circumstances I do believe it's best if the Captain takes the lead on this one. He's got the skills for it.

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 30th 2021 at 4:28:32 PM

Hammerlocke Alley, Past

???: "... I told you-"

He actually seems somewhat annoyed now, and swings an arm out at Griffon trying to get him away. With this, he seems sufficiently distracted-

... For Aislinn to sink her knife into his side, hilt deep.

Everything stills for a moment.

Aislinn: (in a voice only those with the best hearing might make out) "So are you the bastard they sent to kill my mother?"

???: "..."

Aislinn: "... Well, it doesn't matter. Either way you work for the one who did. I'll make you regret-"

Before she can continue the masked man drops his staff, whirls around, grabs her by the shoulders and slams her into the side of the alley. Aislinn crumples to the ground, too shocked and in pain to get up.

It's hard to tell what his mood is now, but from the way he pulls the knife from his body and tosses it to the side he still seems only mildly annoyed.

Blood and red aura pour from his wound. But as the other combatants watch, the steady stream slows to a trickle, then stops entirely. And the wound slowly seals itself back up.

... You know, his hands look miraculously unburned from earlier.

The Lucario is held in place, but even from this position is able to exude a Protect barrier that blocks Roy's attack.

The Brutal Swing slams the Gallade and does pretty decent damage. The Gallade turns to attack Nightmare again, but in that moment of distraction Faa beans him in the head with a Shadow Ball and he's knocked out.

Studio Palace

(To Isabelle) "Yeah, I think we're done here."

Edited by Daydre on Jul 30th 2021 at 12:10:40 PM

Hammerlocke Alleyway

Despite the thrill of combat and despite the Protect barrier causing his attack to make him fall to the ground, Roy can't help but watch the knife fight.

Sunny, as well, gets a bit enraptured by it, almost going embarrassingly wide with her Mystical Fire to finish off the Lucario.

<Huh,> they mutter in unison.

Wyndon, yesterday

-Finding what appears to be some sort of hole in the wall in the alleyway-

Hmm...

Doppler: <I'm getting strange vibes about this place...>

Person: -Noticing us- Are you here for the group session?

-Confused-

Group session?

Person: Only people who'd recognize those symbols would be attracted to this place, our Oasis.

Oasis?

Person: We're about to start so you should get in soon.

Doppler: <So what do we do...>

As they say, when in [Rome]...

-And we follow behind the person-

Wyndon (Emilie, Past)

Emilie: Thank you again, Gail.

-Emilie takes her phone out of her bag and shows it to Gail.-

Emilie: May I please have your number so we may keep in touch?

J-Con Lunchtime

-Aurelia munches on some fries as she tells Kendall and Kal about what happened in the Wild Area, while throwing some more fries Radium's way. Hey, she did order a small fries to go with her large fries.-

Aurelia: The Schoolkid this Templar was with could fly and manipulate fire, and he had an Aerodactyl. The two of them wanted to bring me back to The School, and I didn't want to go back there... So I... telepathically cried for help.

Wild Area, Post-School Battle

-Radon calls Ravager back to his Poké Ball, and then holds it close to his heart. "There it was again... That warm feeling I felt..." he thinks to himself as Ferrum drags him away like a bad Vaudeville act.-

Aurelia: I'll be waiting!

Me: And she won't be alone!

Sky from Galar

Radon: Ferrum... I've got another question for you... It's an honest question... Not trying to anger you...

Ambulance

-whoever's in the body bag flails-

-Apple-A-Day, oddly, is the first to react, unzipping it-

Avery: Hang on, you can't just—

Mallory: -gasps for air-

Avery: ...

Apple-A-Day: ...

Janie: ...

Indeedee: <...>

...

Mallory: Hello—

-Avery hugs them tightly-

Mallory: Augh!

Avery: Oh, I'm so glad you're okay.

Mallory: And who are you?

Avery: -eyes immediately fill up with tears-

Mallory: Haha, no. I know who you are, Avery. Little amnesiac joke.

Avery: ...! You dick—

Mallory: Seriously though, I am going to need a refresher on the last couple of hours.

Avery: ...Um...well, you passed out and were clinically dead—

Indeedee: (helpfully) ~Completely brain-dead, in fact.~

Mallory: That explains the bodybag.

Avery: And also your eyes are purple, actually? And I think...I think that's it?

Mallory: I know my eyes are purple. Did you not know my eyes are purple?

Avery: No, because you always wear those stupid contacts.

Mallory: I like them.

Avery: They're so uncomfortable. I tried wearing red ones once— you know, for a show— and I actually had to take a break halfway through and just have Facade illusion them on.

Not as easy as it looks!

Avery: Yeah!

Apple-A-Day: I'm Apple-A-Day, by the way.

Mallory: -stares at Apple-A-Day- ...You are more information than I am equipped to process right now.

Apple-A-Day: That's fair. But am I the only one who's noticed that your eyes are the same color as Percy's?

-...-

Mallory: Hey, don't we know her?

Avery: I— yeah, actually. How is she alive?

Apple-A-Day: You've met?

Avery: For like, five minutes. She freaked out on seeing Mallory and ran off. Are we going to address the alive thing?

Apple-A-Day: I'll admit to being a little freaked out myself.

Mallory: I thought maybe she knew me before... -they tap their head, miming traumatic brain injury as they lean over Percy-

Percy: -eye goes wide-

Avery: I think it's pretty obvious she does.

Apple-A-Day: I'm gonna say you two need to give her some space.

-they push Avery back into their seat, and Mallory climbs out of the body bag-

Janie: Um

Mallory: I feel fine.

Janie: -Xerneas cross-

Mallory: -shivers-

Percy: -stammered panicking noises-

Apple-A-Day: Hey, it's okay, Percy. Nobody in this ambulance will hurt you, or I'll...well, I'll do something.

Janie: No you won't!

Apple-A-Day: Are you going to keep her safe?

Janie: Yes! That's what I do!

Apple-A-Day: Oh, well...okay.

-...-

Apple-A-Day: The woman who was trying to kill her had purple eyes too.

Janie: ...This feels above my pay grade.

Apple-A-Day: Agreed.

Avery: What does costumed hero work pay?

Apple-A-Day: Not...much. Purple eyes?

Avery: Purple eyes, yeah. None of them exactly look super related, though.

Apple-A-Day: Right. You're not wearing contacts, right?

-Avery shakes her head-

Apple-A-Day: And, well, you'll have to take me at my word that my eyes aren't purple.

Janie: (who has blue eyes) You could take off your mask.

Apple-A-Day: -ignores this-

Avery: ...Hm. That is super weird, isn't it?

-did you know that at no point during all that meeting about the School, was the purple-eyes thing mentioned?-

The Hades Submarine - July 5th

Having already been inside the sub since much earlier, Priscilla hurriedly walked into the bridge to meet up with the captain. She seemed rather eager, as though everything she had worked on until then paid off incredibly well. And she had every right to be happy at the serendipity.

The porygon on her phone certainly noticed.

Murphy: Excited to see the Captain?

Priscilla: Stating the obvious much?

Murphy: You do know he's married, right? Meanwhile, Jon and Alice are single.

Priscilla: That's clearly not stopping Alice.

Murphy: You mean he and— what? Does Roxy know?

Priscilla: From what I've heard, it seems like a yes, but I'm not the one to meddle. Besides, I'm kind of excited to see if it fits. I knew Silas was a fan of that one movie so I had to get that replica. I seriously hope I got the measurements right.

July 4th, Isle of Armor

Priscilla: So, you didn't get him anything?

Tommy: Yeah. What would you get someone like him? I considered getting him an oddish but the friend who bred the eggs wanted them to hatch first and they weren't ready in time. We named the egg Alan.

Priscilla: I'm starting to think not getting him the oddish was a good idea.

Tommy: Besides, guy's got everything: good paying job, cool toys, a rich sponsor. The only thing I can give him is the head of his arch nemesis. In no small part because he's my enemy now, too.

Priscilla: Don't. Silas' already pretty engrossed in the whole arch rival thing. It's a complicated feeling. One day, you will understand.

Beat.

Tommy: I can see why the plant thing was a bullet dodged. What are the odds though?

Priscilla: That the oddish will drizzle him in a hallucinogenic substance that traps him in a dream of his deepest fantasies? Yeah. That one. Slim odds, but far more improbable things have happened before.

Tommy: What did you get him?

Priscilla: Yeah, all this talk of gifts is making me feel a bit less confident with that gift. Its--

Murphy, via phone: Pris, Silas needs you downstairs.

Priscilla: Okay, I gotta go. I'll explain later. Go enjoy the rest of your day.

And with that, she left.

Battle Outside Hammerlocke [TS]

As Kit approaches, Ray lowers his head to meet him. Kit hit's him head on, but is unable to force Ray back. Ray glares at the small pokemon.

Led's Air Slash goes beneath the Cross Poison attack and strikes Api in the centre of his body. Api winces and then, finally, collapses to the ground.

Hoops: Api!

Api: <Sorry. I wasn't... strong enough.>

Hoops: You were. You've done more than enough. Rest now.

Api: <This feeling. Pride in my own efforts. It feels good...>

He is returned to his ball. Ray now stands alone.

Hoops: Do you think you can do this?

Ray: <Young Mixter Hoops, I may be getting old but I still have more than enough force to win this battle for you.>

Hoops: Great. Then use Thunder Fang on Led!

Ray charges forwards, his powerful jaws crackling with electrical energy that is boosted by the Electric Terrain.

Edited by theoncominghoop on Jul 31st 2021 at 5:38:07 PM

J-con lunch

Kal?: Are they here now, though?

Kal: We should go home. This was a bad idea.

Kal?: No, we're safer in here if they're already here. We're not going anywhere.

Kal sighs.

Kal: Not this again.

Radium: <Can I have some of your fries?>

Wild area

Florence: You know what...

Florence picks themselves up, a determined look on their face.

Florence: TAKE THIS!

They fire a Solar Beam where Ferrum was standing.

Loki: <Erm... They flew away.>

Florence: Really? Aww...

Florence faints again and faceplants the grass.

Loki: <Does anyone know where the nearest pokemon center is? Would someone mind helping me carry them there?>

J-Con 21 Lunch

"And who came? Couldn't have been this other student, it seems you just met her."

At this time he had finished writing the list of allied Schoolkids.

And then Kal and Radium argue between themselves.

"I mean, i-it’s probably best to scatter. Templars are powerful sons o’ bitches, so… you may not be able to win,” he considered. “Sorry.”

Studio Palace

Alright then.

-Starts dragging the unconsious Daniel out by his leg-

So, what are we doing with him afterwards? Should probably blindfold him too so he can't recognize our faces once we're out of Mementos.

Oasis (?), past

-Is quickly shuttled into a back room with what appears to be a number of other people-

Person: Okay everyone, now that we've gotten everyone together, let's start.

Doppler: <I am scanning the minds of these people, I sense no ill-intent.>

I'm not picking up on anything either.

-Scanning-

Some of these people have funky Auras, there's some people with Attributes, and a couple Fallers, to say the least.

-A woman with purple eyes looks in our direction for a second before shrinking back into the greater group-

Huh? Something about that person feels vaguely... familiar.

Person: We have one new person with us today, would you like to introduce yourself.

I'm... Tagg.

Group: -Welcoming- Hi Tagg.

Person: -To me- I'm sure you have a lot of questions.

Yeah, like what is this place.

Person: This is the Oasis, or to be more precise, one such facility of the Oasis. We serve as a group that helps those who've found the hidden nature of this world, or worlds, and have nowhere else to turn to.

So you're a therapist group for assorted oddfolks?

Person: Precisely.

Yolei: ...And then after I managed to escape from those multiversal traffickers I ended up in this universe. I considered trying to Entralink myself back to where I originally came from but my life in my home universe sucked to begin with so I decided I'd rather stay here. LILA Act helps a lot, let me tell you.

Jacques: Sounds like a lot, I just found this black crystal one day and ended up in some universe where there was only Pokémon as an Applin and since then I can just understand Pokémon perfectly, but then that's a lot of people here apparently.

Alethea: -A Marill, wearing a Mystic Water with an odd Aura around her body (Since they don't have much of a neck to speak of)- <Tagg right? I'm sure you've got a story or two to tell.>

Er, well...

-One very truncated story later-

Alethea: -Transforming from her mon form to human in shock- Wow, you've really seen some shit man. Kinda makes me think of the stuff Nicky and Kendra mention.

Oh?

Nicky: -A Black woman appearing around my apparent age wearing a long purple dress and white wide-brimmed hat, her Aura having the telltale signs of a Faller- You know how Aura Sense lets you see things other people don't? Well mine's particularly good at seeing fluctuations in the barriers between worlds, so Kendra and I go around figuring out mysteries.

Which I guess is kinda like what you J-Teamers do, but with a lot less violence. Most of the time anyway.

Kendra: -Sighing- Yeah, like the time we went to that planetoid and those Alliance guys thought we were potentially looters. Luckily we're pretty good at smoothing over things, you know?

-This whole time the purple-eyed woman from earlier hasn't really said anyway, save for still staring intensely in our direction-

She feels... familiar, but I can't place her face. You know, it's funny, I didn't really put two and two together before but it's kinda weird how all the Schoolkids I've met have the same general dark hair and purple eyes look. Maybe it's whatever templates they use or something.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Oct 12th 2022 at 5:47:28 AM

Hammerlocke Alley

Griffon was knocked back and hit the wall, sliding down to the street.

Griffon: "Uuuugh @_@"

"That's my bird!"

C hobbled deeper into the alley the raised his metal cane and tried to whack it over the masked man's head.

Satisfied, Nightmare rejoined his trainer.

Circhester Stadium- Battle

(Kaylan immediately slams his foot on the ground, causing multiple steel spikes to shoot up— straight towards the Gigantamax Lapras. The spikes ultimately hit, and Lapras is thrown back.)

G-Max!Lapras: <Nononononono— NOOOOOOOOOO~!>

(And then she explodes and shrinks back down to size, collapsing onto the ground.)

(A cloud of smoke goes up as Lapras hits the floor, and when it fades, she is on her side with swirls in her eyes.)

Lapras: (weakly) <I concede defeat...>

Circhester Stadium- Stands

Cuddles: <YAAAAAAAY~! THEY WON! THAT WAS AMAZING~!>

Walter: <I must admit that that battle was an incredible one to watch, especially given Elton's evolution into a Cinderace.>

Braker: (smiles)

Circhester Stadium- Battle

(Kaylan promptly shrinks back down to size, and as soon as he sees that he has won, he breaks out into a giant grin.)

Kaylan: (happily) <Yay! We won!>

(He runs over to Kim immediately and glomps her, licking her on the face like a dog. Melony giggles a bit.)

KIMBERLY BOND HAS DEFEATED MELONY'S LAPRAS

MELONY HAS NO POKEMON LEFT

WINNER: KIMBERLY BOND

The Wild Area- Bond or Break

(Romea promptly facepalms.)

Romea: <I JUST HAD TO SAY IT!>

Braker: "It's you, Jules. We know it's you."

Romea: <JULES! You're supposed to be SUBTLE with these things! You're not supposed to give away the answer on your first try, you stupid snake!> (beat) [[red: <Though, to be fair...]>

Jules: <Oh! Sorry! Derp. But yes, it's me! Hello, Romea~!>

Romea: (growls under her breath)

Jules: <Awwww... Come on, Romea~! Anyways... is it time for the next question yet? I think it's time for the next question... hang on, let me think... I know! Why did I come to the Galar region?>

Braker: "You were born in Kalos and got kicked out by your family because you liked Zangoose. And liked hugging and licking them."

Jules: <Yes... unfortunately. It's pretty sad that Seviper and Zangoose can’t get along...> (beat, then) <Anyways~! Last question! Um... what was the first move you had me use in the battle against Kim?>

(Braker pauses for a few moments to think, then:)

Braker: "If I remember correctly, it was Screech."

Kim: "No, wasn't it Lick?"

Braker: "They said the first move that I had them use. Jules just licked Joel as a knee-jerk reactionary greeting; I didn't command them to use that move."

Kim: "Ah."

Jules: (‘’emerging from the bushes at high speed, straight towards Romea’’) <Yippeee~!>

(‘’They promptly wrap around Romea and starts licking her, causing her to growl and glare at them.’’)

Romea: <JULES—! GET OFF OF ME!>

Jules: <Oh! Sorry! Derp.>

(‘’They loll their tongue out of their mouth and uncoil themselves, but still keep licking Romea. Braker giggles, then:’’)

Braker: (‘’to Jules’’) “Did I get that one right?”

Jules: <Yep!> (‘’keeps licking Romea’’)

Braker: “Alright, then.” (‘’He smirks.’’) “Bring on Number 4.”

Circhester Stadium Stands

Evelyn and I: Yatta! Yatta! She did it!

Hatty: <Wouldn't have expected less.>

Wild Area (Bond or Braker)

???: (distorted) Hello there, Braker: how are you today? I am so glad that we met when we did. I hope we can share many adventures. But I am getting ahead of myself. The question still remains, though: Who am I?

Battle Outside Hammerlocke, VS Hoops

-The Cross Poison and the Thunder Fang both strike Led and knock her unconscious.-

Led: <I'm sorry, Evelyn. I tried so hard...>

Evelyn: I know, and your efforts paid off... Return for now. You've earned this rest.

-Evelyn calls Led back to her Poké Ball. She then levitates Kec's Poké Ball and throws it back out to the field.-

Kec: <Let's do this...>

J-Con Lunchtime

-Aurelia eats more of her burger and swallows before answering Kendall's question.-

Aurelia: As for who showed up, there was this one kid, he wore a red cap, a striped shirt and shorts, he also had a Pikachu. He said his name was "Ian". There was also this person who was half-Whimsicott that helped me with their Ribombee. Ian and I had to help the half-Whimsicott person to the Pokémon Center after the battle ended.

Wild Area, post-Battle

Me: There's one in Hammerlocke if that's close enough.

Aurelia: I'll help you. By the way, it's nice to meet you all. I'm Aurelia Vatona Giovanna-Hoshizora, but you can call me Aurelia.

Me: Nice to meet you. I'm Ian and the Pikachu is my buddy, Piku-chan.

Piku-chan: <Nice to meet you.>

Me: -to Loki- How does the Hammerlocke PokéCenter sound?

Isabelle's Palace

Joybringer: -to Kingfish- Hmm... Good question.

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Jul 31st 2021 at 8:31:03 AM

Hammerlocke Alley

The Mystical Fire does indeed go wide, but the Lucario is grazed by it enough that he still faints.

The masked man shifts slightly so the cane comes down on his shoulder. The blow barely makes him flinch. He disengages, and seems about to counterattack when something makes him pause. He puts a hand up to his ear.

After a moment he reaches down and grabs his staff, then turns around and starts recalling his mons.

???: "... Much as I would like to, continuing is inadvisable. I've completed my main objective anyway. "

Those present may notice the alley is completely free of Yamask, both conscious and un.

???: "... Good day."

... And he starts jumping up the sides of the alley, using window sills as footholds. Before long he's out of sight.

Aislinn rolls over and groans.

Wyndon Hospital - Eight Days Ago

Logan: Oh, I've met her to help with...a big Salazzle. You're right about all of that, at any rate.

Hiro: -a bit brighter- Every showed me where to get set up in the vents. She's very interesting.

Logan: ...I'm a little surprised you haven't tripped Dunsparce territoriality, actually.

Hiro: -hands in his pockets- I like to think we've reached an understanding.

Abilene: -cough- This is—Ditto serum girl?

Addie: -blink- <Uh. Yeah.>

Abilene: Megan seemed to think I'd like her, too. I sense a conspiracy.

Logan: You liking people is not a conspiracy, Abilene.

Abilene: You're conspiring against me right now.

Hiro: -genuinely interested- Please, elaborate.

Abilene: -feh- Don't deny it, you're all gathered here. Watching me.

Hiro: We could leave, if you like.

Abilene: -mutter- Hovering over my sickbed like Mandibuzz…

Hiro: -patiently- Do you want us to?

-Abilene just keeps mumbling to herself-

-and here Logan's eyes sparkle visibly-

Logan: You barely need to ask.

Addie: -swaying to keep balance, on their shoulder- <Appreciate that you do, though, but we've been, like. Sitting around.>

Logan: Thinking about her since the Wild Area—ah, never mind. You know we can show up fast if you need us. We're always on call.

J-Con

-someone turns from the last loose ends of their task—ambulance leaving, all as expected—to find nothing-

-a normal amount of nothing-

Molybdenum: …

-she runs through the steps for when she's feeling normal-

Molybdenum: χάλκινη νοημοσύνη.

-one mental bead among many...unfurls, revealing its contents to her-

-a mental litmus test, meta-mnemonics…-

Molybdenum: ...πίνακας περιεχομένων

Molybdenum: ...

Molybdenum: ώρα. εποχές.

-she taps her foot agitatedly, her perception fanning out through the minds on the convention floor—no sign of nothing among them-

Molybdenum: ...was this a set-up? What was that? Was...were they bait?

Molybdenum: Who would think up something like this? The other agents on-site—who else has clearance for my operations? Knows about…?

Where are the k—?

Molybdenum: ...oh of course.

-and, ironically enough, she follows Mallory's premortem directions all the way to:-

Molybdenum: -(oddly inconspicuous) roar- Ever MEMITO!

-a gauntleted hand sweeps a shelf of J-Teamer-headed ring pop off a table, intent on a blue head of hair-

-the crash doesn't seem to reach further than their ears, and a telltale blankness where she expects that immaculate filing—Ribot pierces the shroud-

Hades Submarine, July 5

-Pippy scoots over to Alice and starts encircling her most-injured areas with rather soothing Aqua Rings—clucking as he hens over her-

Megan: Oh, it's the stuff Abilene made! ^_^

-...-

-...cough- That I stole from her. And mostly handed to Molybdenum. And nearly killed myself with. And she nearly killed you over.

Vee: -licking up a bit, visibly shuddering- <It's—(eugh)—mos'ly Aura supplement! Wit' a few additives t' promote deterioration reversion an' system stabilization. You gotta be able to extract the energy t' digest it—> -pulls back lip to bare fang- <—but once you've got it there's a lot of it!>

Megan: -perking up- It's made of—

-both Pippy and Vee spritz her in the face before she can continue-

Pippy: -squawk- <Bad Megan!>

Vee: <No more secrets spilled!!>

Megan: -splutter- It's Alice! She's not gonna do anything nefarious with it!

Vee: <If she wants the itemized ingredients list, she can wring it outta Abilene herself!!>

Pippy: -still drawing life dew through the walls from the sea outside, soaking it into Alice's injuries- <Nothing you'd disapprove of, by my estimate. ...definitely not, like. The liver of a dozen Gogoat sacrificed on the altar of the Ultimate Weapon.>

-wink- <I've spent a lifetime fussing over one semi-amorphous friend. There are worse buttresses post-battering.>

-...-

-Megan listens to the briefing-

Megan: Oooooh, I am…still no good for undercover work. Down for the wrecking bit, though.

-she snickers a bit at the siblings, but holds further comment-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Jul 31st 2021 at 9:50:34 AM

Hammerlocke Alleyway

Roy returned to humanity, collapsing to the floor and sitting down as he recovered his stamina. "I don't think I like the sound of that accomplished mission," he decided. "Can you, uh..?" He trailed off, looking at Sunny, who focused with Future Sight.

J-Con Lunch

"Ian, huh?"

Edited by AbsentCoder on Jul 31st 2021 at 7:02:03 AM

J-Con Lunch

Aurelia: Huh? You sound like you already know him.

Wyndon Hospital, past

Ever: Excuse me. I am gathered here like a Lampent. It's very different.

-thin smile-

But I'll give you some space. I need to arrange some things anyway. Try to get well soon, yeah?

-they twist the card in their finger and are gone-

J-Con

Neodymium: ~It has to be a test, right? She's an Alumnus. Not messing up is kind of the definition of what she does. And she likes tests.~

-Neodymium looks around for signs of Molybdenum, who appears to have vanished-

~I...agree, though. She was being weird.~

~...Do you ever wonder about the people who used to have our names?~

-the shroud is pierced-

-and the brain behind it isn't anything like Ever's-

-firstly, where Ever files, this brain pins. Nothing is compartmentalized, nothing is held apart from any other thing, it is all linked, and all of it is readily available with just a quick glance-

-information is prioritized differently, too. Sensory functions are almost unintelligible, because so much human sensory input is processed through smell, and none of this mind's is. Sight is, in fact, significantly better than humans-

-point is, Molybdenum, you are currently reading the mind of a very perceptive Murkrow-

Merle: (Ever's voice) You must be Molybdenum. Ever informed me this might happen.

-the illusion of Ever she's wrapped herself in folds its arms and gives a passable imitation of the Memito smile-

Merle: My name is Merle, and I find things for shinies. How can I help you today?

Narrow: <Also, I'm Narrow.>

Merle: -rolls illusion-eyes- Also they're Narrow.

Wyndon Hospital

-everyone is gathered around Percy's bed-

-she's on an IV drip and has yet to really regain coherence, her missing bones stacked in the corner of the room-

Avery: Any—

Janie: I've said it a couple times now, but we're working on it. It's hard to figure out exactly what's wrong. By all accounts, she should be dead, of course, but aside from that she's perfectly fine, so it's tough to tell what exactly we might need to change.

Apple-A-Day: ...Hm. I'll be right back.

Mallory: Where are you going?

Apple-A-Day: Uh, I'll be right back, I said.

-they speedwalk out of the room-

Apple-A-Day: I know I saw a vending machine around here somewhere...

-yes, right there in fact-

Apple-A-Day: Oh, thank goodness.

-it is in use, but Apple-A-Day is a very patient person-

Vicky: Long time no see.

Apple-A-Day: Ah! I saw you at J-con, didn't I?

Vicky: I made a brief appearance. Enjoying it?

Apple-A-Day: I wasn't really there except to find my friend...I actually had to sneak in, since I didn't get tickets or anything.

Vicky: How ignoble.

Apple-A-Day: It's a public place! Kind of.

Vicky: My question stands, I think.

Apple-A-Day: Well, a friend of mine is in the hospital...

Vicky: Yes.

Apple-A-Day: So...not a ton?

Vicky: Hm.

-she turns to face Apple-A-Day, holding a bag of chips-

-something about how she holds herself reminds Apple-A-Day of...someone they met a couple times-

Vicky: There's nothing behind that mask, is there?

-she walks away, nibbling at her chips-

-Apple-A-Day looks, for a few minutes, as unsettled as someone can with no visible features, but shrugs it off and obtains a Gatrade from the vending machine-

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Jul 31st 2021 at 7:46:09 AM

Studio Palace

-Lioness blinks-

Lioness: Well that was quick. ...the knocking the guy out part, not this entire run. And...uh. Yeah. Definitely blindfold him.

Hammerlocke, present-ish

-Agnes and Star are at that slurpuff cafe sitting at a table. Agnes is looking at the Dark Badge that the two of them got in a double battle against the Spikemuth Gym siblings-

Agnes: Oh man that was fun...

Star: Yeah. ...Wanna do that again against Raihan?

Skies over Galar - With Radon

-Ferrum sighs as he looks over at Radon, rolling his eyes behind his sunglasses.-

Ferrum: Sure, whatever. Go ahead and shoot. Ain't like we got anything better to do betwen now and a real nasty debriefing.

Wyndon, J-Con 2021 - With Neodymium

Bela: ~...I don't know. It didn't feel like a test. Which I know is the definition of a test, but still. It felt more like she was-~

-Again, her train of thought stops suddenly. To so much as suggest that an adult might be fallible is a dangerous thing for a child to do, even to themselves. Instead, she focuses on Neo's second question.-

Bela: ~No. Why would I? The names aren't ours, they're unprofessional shorthand tolerated for the sake of convenience. You're number sixty, and I'm number four. There were other batches before us that used the same convention. They were rejects, imperfect. Not worth thinking about.~

-They say that a good way to ingrain something in your mind is to repeat it back to yourself.-

Hades Submarine, July 5

-Hearing Abilene's name spoken aloud brings a scowl to Alice's face, even as Pippy's fussing eases her injuries and makes her breathing a little less strained.-

Alice: Trust me, there's quite a few things I'd like to wring out of Abilene if given the chance. That said, it might prove to be a useful resevoir of energy - a backup battery to draw upon, so to speak, even if I can't digest it directly. Which I suspect may be a blessing. Thank you for the assistance, at any rate.

Edited by Herbert40k on Jul 31st 2021 at 3:34:38 PM