Ballonleia

-Jade blinks-

Jade: ...Apparently yes. I didn't know about those other guys. If the higher ups at RR knew they had competition they didn't tell me.

Ballonlea

Shun: Hmm. Well, that's not good.

-He says this with the air of someone quite conscious of the fact that he's not quite sure how to process the information he's been given, nor certain that he has the authority with which to handle it.-

Shun: ...Do you need help? I know that there are people who could give you shelter, keep you safe. If you have any more information to provide, I can pass it on to my superiors. That said, I wouldn't want to do anything that might endanger your... cover? Do I have that right?

Ballonlea

-Jade scratches her chin-

Jade: I... I guess that'd be-

-suddenly footsteps. Jade's eyes widen-

Oh no oh no real Grunts are coming. They can't see me talking to you. We gotta hide.

Stormchaser Medbay

Brie: Well, I mean, of course I'd mention you, you're very cool and interesting and—

Amanita: Hospital! Injured people!

Brie: A-and I will shut up.

Apple-A-Day: I just don't get why it's cool to dress up as an Ariados, or a Lucario, or whatever people do, but a Flapple is where everyone draws the line, you know? Flapple are great!

-they send out Syrnewt-

Syrnewt: -remaining resolutely a foot tall- <Who are all these people? Do you have friends suddenly?>

Apple-A-Day: ...Anyway, my point is dragons are cool. And Flapple is a dragon, so by transitive property...

Syrnewt: <I like to think I'm cool independently of that.>

Stormchaser Hallway

Percy: That's something, then. I'd offer to grab my own backup, but honestly as much as I'd trust them to have my back, I'm not sure I'd actually want them there, you know?

But yeah. Go on.

-skeletal jazz hands-

Illusion me up.

Stormchaser Mindfray

-Misery just stares at the Medicham who has kicked her in the face-

Misery: <I'll deal with you in just a moment.>

Ever: -inarticulate strangled noises-

Misery: <...>

-she sighs-

<As always, it falls to me to resolve things.>

-she boops Molybdenum on the head-

~Play nicely.~

Ever: -flails-

Stormchaser, Mindfray

-it is, indeed, fairly easy to guess-

-so Ramona boggles as Misery uses Healing Wish-

-dammie promptly loses the abilities to use telepathy, tear apart people with her claws, or respond poorly to excessive quantities of emotion-

Ramona: -now simply resting her hands on Ever's throat, harmlessly- ...Zen, you said you could fight.

Zen: -taking a seat, to Misery- ~That's against the Vow.~

-they sound profoundly unconcerned about this-

~I could penalize you for that. In fact...~

-to Ever, poking them in the shoulder- ~Boop.~

-in a very specific spot on the shoulder-

-zap-

Stormchaser, outside

Ever: :(

Ever: :(

Misery: ~This is absurd.~

-she waves her braid, and the air smells like lavender briefly-

Misery: (to Zen) <Our trainers are idiots. Can we have a try at being otherwise?>

-Ever relaxes slightly, their glare up at Molybdenum turning into their usual faintly dead-eyed stare-

Ever: -cough-

-cough-

...So, you come here often, or?

Stormchaser, Weird Brain Day

Zen: ~She's not my Trainer.~

-settling into a floaty cross-legged sort of posture- ~But point taken. And if you'd like me to demolish you under less pathetic circumstances, I'm around.~

-Ramona's own stare still looks a little wild and a lot frazzled-

Imprisoned!Ramona: I...don't know why you'd expect me to give you intelligence like that.

-but what it doesn't hold is any sign of recognition at anything anyone's saying-

Imprisoned!Ramona: Not that yours was any great shakes to begin with, but I think I'm done doing you favors.

-so yeah, she doesn't move-

Imprisoned!Ramona: And anyway, I give some really good favors.

...give me, uh...twenty-four to forty-two seconds to recover, and I'll get back to destroying you.

-wrong Move, Mo-

(-which...given most Schoolkids' infallible memory, may mean the Stormchaser fricked her up worse than it seems-)

Imprisoned!Ramona: ...ugh, Mew, I'm so sticky.

This is your fault, you know.

Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 14th 2021 at 6:33:19 AM

Stormchaser, Outside

Misery: <Sounds completely pointless. I'll give you a ping address.>

Ever: Uh-huh.

Look, as enjoyable as this is, it isn't, so I'm just gonna...

-they wriggle out from under Ramona, detaching her hands from their throat-

Ever: Your talent for avoiding culpability in your own state of affairs is incredibly compelling. I offered you a spoon.

It appears to extend to all forms of self-delusion, though. I don't know what ideas you expect me to impart to the kids you're taking care of, me being here and them being wherever they are. Unless they're observing?

Hallo, children! Your guardian is derelict and your fates aren't as ineluctable as you imagine!

-...-

Ever: No? Then you seem to be the primary source of ideas for them.

You described yourself as Valedictorian. The sole survivor of a class of one hundred and eight. These kids, you think they'll make that grade? That you'll be able to protect them when they don't?

Circhester Stadium, Gym Challenge Puzzle Room

-Ian and Evelyn continue to walk across the stone floor, until the Trap Detectors start to make sound and slowly drift apart.-

Me: Hm. So there's a trap nearby.

Evelyn: Right. We'd better be careful.

-Ian and Evelyn continue until the sound gets louder and the Detectors drift all the way apart.-

Me: Aha! So it's right here!

Evelyn: Ian, watch out!

-Ian stops in his tracks and looks to Evelyn.-

Me: Worry not, Cara mia... I know just the way to cross this floor.

Evelyn: -blushing- You do?

Me: Just follow my lead. Piku-chan?

-Ian hands the Trap Detectors to Piku-chan.-

Piku-chan: <Got 'em.>

Me: Thank you. Now...

-Ian bows to Evelyn and holds out his hand.-

Me: May I have this dance?

-Evelyn chuckles as she reaches out to Ian. The boy takes his witch girlfriend's hand and looks her straight in the eye. The girl smiles at the boy as the two trainers prepare to dance through the danger in a way they have no idea how to do: the Tango.-

-The tango is off to a great start. Ian and Evelyn dance across the stone floor, their steps careful as not to set off any of the pit traps. One of Ian's steps sets off one of the pits, leading Ian to release Evelyn into a spin. Evelyn spins like a top across the pit, putting a little magic of her own into it. Ian then leaps across the pit to catch Evelyn on the other side of the stone floor.-

After the Battle VS Hoops

Evelyn: Hoops. I think you should give him this.

-Evelyn hands Hoops Kec's Poké Ball.-

Evelyn: Just so he always has a home.

Hasslemon

Rebel Island

-Belladonna shakes herself out of her stint as a blushing mess and gets her act together.-

Belladonna: Okay. So I'm now a Riolu Rebel. What do I do?

-Meanwhile, Emilie is thinking to herself.-

Emilie: "What do I do?" is right. I mean, if they find out about my sponsorship and affiliations with King Enterprises, it's curtains! They wouldn't want a corrupt superhero on the team. NO ONE would! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

Belladonna: More importantly, where do I go now?

Hades Submarine, July 5th

Megan: Ooooh.

-she immediately gets up-

Megan: I'm...gonna go see what the sub looks like from the outside. For reasons.

-and zips off to her room's moon pool-

Pippy: -waves sheepishly, in 'I've got the note-taking down' mode-

Stormchaser, Brainfray

Ramona: Don't trust spoons. They'll betray you in the end.

-conversation concluded, Zen returns to contemplating the manner of more interesting things than other people, such as spoons (and the essential properties thereof)-

-speaking of which, someone recently had her capacity to respond to emotions with violence locked the fuck down-

Imprisoned!Ramona: ...

-in lieu of that interpersonal fallback, she just...seems contemplative-

Imprisoned!Ramona: ...of course not.

-mildly distressed-

Imprisoned!Ramona: They're good kids. If one of them makes the grade—

-Misery's problem resulted from an excess of self-managed mental editing, huh?-

Imprisoned!Ramona: —one of them—

-another avenue gone for Ramona, for now-

-at length- ...what, replace a future where what they're for matters with one where they both bleed out in a ditch somewhere? They're on a mission right now to prove how little your protection means. And they—

-is she skipping over words?

...and Bela, she can fight. Once I teach her my last trick, nothing will be able to stand in her way. She might be built to perfect—

-silence-

...if anyone could convince the powers that be she's helpful enough for a curve, it's Neo. She's…

-yeah, she just seems to be...ignoring, every statement as to the quality of her guardianship-

-She's really something. If she were with me today…

-she winces, holding a hand to her temple-

Stormchaser Medbay

-Kahlia smirks at Kai.-

Kahlia: That would explain why you're so touchy about- wait, mixed company, never mind.

-Her expression grows more serious.-

Kahlia: But yeah, mental blocks should serve you well when dealing with the School. Honestly, though, I'm hoping that next time they send a new batch of build-a-babies after us. Sure, we know what the last lot were capable of, but seeing what they've done with... well, with me... I gotta admit, it's fucked me up a little bit.

-Meanwhile, Alice blinks at Amantia, then hastily nods.-

Alice: R-right.

-She looks back at Apple-A-Day and Syrnewt.-

Alice: As a proud Appletun owner myself, I suspect it may have something to do with the fact that they are... well, apples. Still, having pride in one's own identity is never something to scoff at. I don't suppose you've ever met anybody else who does what you do, have you?

Ballonlea

-Shun's eyes widen, and he ducks behind a nearby tree, looking over at Jade and whispering frantically.-

Shun: ...We should split up. They're less likely to catch us if we head in different directions.

???, Counselor's Office - Recent Past

The Counselor: ...And that's everything, is it?

-The individiual on the other side of his desk scowls.-

Ferrum: What, you don't believe me? You can have one of those little freaks go poking around in my head if you-

The Counselor: No, no need. I have no reason to believe you'd try to deceive me about a qualified success. Besides, once Bela provides her recollection of events I'll have a full account.

-He chuckles slightly.-

The Counselor: I am rather amused by the target's choice of bluff, though. You genuinely believed they could've been an escapee as well?

Ferrum: What? They had the eyes and everything. Besides, you make so many of the brats so fast, how am I supposed to keep track of them all?

The Counselor: Fair enough. That said, it might do you some good to have a little more familiarity with those your own template is based on.

-He glances down at his notes.-

The Counselor: Did you ever happen to meet any of the Irons? I don't believe you have; most of them have since expired, after all, and you hail from a relatively recent generation. Their abilities went on to inform those that you were given. Still, perhaps we should've waited a bit longer.

-Ferrum clenches his fist, but says nothing. The Counselor looks back up at him again, smiling gently.-

The Counselor: Speaking of getting in touch with the younger generation, you'll be pleased to hear that you have another opportunity to do so. I've been asked to pair you with Freshman Vanadium and the pentient Nitrogen for your next assignment; you'll be provided with a dossier on both their abilities before you depart. Similarly to Beryllium and Neodymium, Vana is a model student, so I doubt you'll have any trouble. Just try to avoid a repeat of the Gold fiasco, hmm?

-Ferrum's answer comes from behind gritted teeth.-

Ferrum: Of course.

Wild Area, Giant's Cap - Now

-Somewhere above Vana and Nitrogen, a Corviknight swoops down, carrying with it Ferrum and a new hammer made from Molybdenum's compacted furniture/silverware.-

Ferrum: Gotta say, I didn't think I'd be back here so soon. You the girls the Counselor was talking about, then?

Edited by Herbert40k on Aug 15th 2021 at 4:57:39 PM

Wild Area, Giant's Cap

Nitrogen: I'm Nitrogen. The Noivern's Grieve.

-As Ferrum descends, Nitrogen glances upward,. A gust of wind blows, seemingly almost with the intent to slam Ferrum into the rock formation mid-flight, but it doesn't quite commit. So it's probably nothing, right?-

Nitrogen: And that would make you Ferrum. I've got to say, the name was vague enough that I wasn't sure whether they were sending us a Templar with a student's name, or an old coot of a Valedictorian. But I'm sure you'll be happy to hear you don't look a day over 26.

-She smiles. It's not a friendly smile.-

Nitrogen: Anyway, yes, that would be us, sir. As I understand it, the kid is the most familiar with our target, so, Vana, mind giving us the run-down?

Stormchaser Medbay

Kai: I don't blame you. With any luck, no more need for memories will mean no more need for Beryllium, so we can focus more on just... not dying, when they show up again.

Stormchaser Hallways

Mason: Yeah, I know the type. Anyway—

Scarlette: Hey, nerd.

-Scarlette greets Mason with a friendly punch in the arm.-

Mason: Ow! What the hell?

Scarlette: Oh, come on, seriously, that hurt? There was like, no force behind that.

Mason: With the metal arm, though?

Scarlette: No force behind it!

Mason: You have a funny sense of what's a reasonable amount of force.

-He rubs his arm for a moment.-

Mason: Whatever. How'd you get here so quickly?

Scarlette: You were like, just outside my door.

-She gestures toward an open door behind herself.-

Mason: ...I really don't get the Stormchaser's layout. I really don't.

Scarlette: Weird magic stuff, I guess. Anyway, ooh, is this the friend you were talking about?

Mason: Er, yeah. Scarlette, Phosphorus. Phos, Scarlette. I was just about to give the both of us some new faces, since. Being recognized. And all that.

Scarlette: Oh, sick. Nice to meet you, Phos.

Wild Area, Giant's Cap

Vana stands up reluctantly. She's kind of shy about speaking in front of these two older members of the school.

Vana: So, our target is a trainer named Hoops. About a month ago, I and several other schoolkids encountered them in the Wild Area and received help from them. The school has therefore decided that they should be killed.

She pulls out a small device which displays a live feed of Hammerlocke Stadium, where Hoops is currently beginning their battle with Raihan.

Vana: Right now they're going for their eighth gym badge, so it's safe to say they're a strong trainer. I thought it would be best to do this right after their battle, when they and their pokemon are most tired, but you guys are more experienced than me so I'd ask what you would do.

Hammerlocke Gym Battle

Hoops: Sal, use Dragon Pulse! Led, you set up a Safeguard!

Sal releases a blast of purplish energy that strikes Gigalith head on, though it doesn't seem to do any damage. Led twirls in the air, creating a shimmering barrier of protection.

Raihan: Oh yeah, let's get going! Gigalith, use Stone Edge!

Gigalith slams one of its giant feet onto the ground, and a line of sharp stones move along the ground towards Sal, sending huge booming noises through the sandstorm.

Led: <Sal!>

She shoves him out of the way and takes the full force of the attack, which lifts her into the air and throws her to the ground.

Referee: Led can no longer continue! Like I told my wife, I was tired and I couldn't -

Raihan: Alright, thanks Jake. Hoops, you alright?

Hoops: With just one attack...

Raihan: Hell yeah! I'm not number eight for nothing, mate.

Kit jumps down from Hoops' shoulder and stands looking up at them.

Kit: <Let me.>

Hoops: Okay. Kit, I choose you!

Raihan grins.

Raihan: Then let's do it! Flygon, use Dragon Rush!

Hoops: Kit, dodge with Quick Attack! Sal, hide in the storm!

Kit dashes forwards, vanishing into the swirling sand. Sal presses himself against the floor, becoming almost invisible as he does so.

Raihan: What are you doing?

Hoops: What, you didn't think I did my research? I knew you used Sandstorms in your strategy, so I have my Vibrava use it so we could practice using it against you. Like so, because Sal, use Toxic like we practised!

Sal shoots a large cloud of poison out of his mouth, which is swept up by the force of the sandstorm and carried. Gigalith and Flygon yell in pain as the poisonous particles sink into their skin.

Raihan: You used my sandstorm to spread your poison?

Hoops: To pay you back for the damage your sandstorm is doing to us. So, what do you think?

Raihan: You're crazy. Completely crazy!

Hoops: Yep! Now, Kit, use Foul Play on Gigalith!

Kit rushes forwards from the back of Gigalith and slams into him with his own redirected power. Gigalith weathers the attack, and then is hurt by the poison and falls unconscious.

Referee: Gigalith is unable to battle. You know it's funny how all the will to keep fighting can leave you just like that.

Raihan: Ahem. Thank you. Now, while there's a lull in the action, let's take a moment to give a shout-out to today's sponsor...

Balonleia

Jade: D-don't worry I've got this. I think. I hope. You stay there.

-She goes off a distance as the other Rocvket grunts show up-

Rainbow Rocket Grunt A: Hey, you! Did you find anything?

Jade: Yeah uh, I found. A lead. Hopefully. Maybe. I-I think I'm going to investigate.

Rainbow Rocket Grunt 1: ...For real? What kind of lead?

Jade: -visibly panicking- Y-yeah. I'm not sure yet but it seems j-juicy. I'm gonna go undercover and check.

Rainbow Rocket Grunt A: ...This better be good. Report back to us ASAP.

-they stalk off-

-Once they are gone Jade sighs-

Jade: ...You can come out now, Shun.

Stormchaser Medbay

Brie: Not dying is a good thing!

Amanita: I mean, it's definitely a bare minimum.

-Apple-A-Day frowns at Alice-

Apple-A-Day: Uh, no, not exactly a lot of costumed heroes going around. Not outside of comics and furry cons, anyway.

Syrnewt: <It's not a popular occupation, I hear.>

Stormchaser Hallway

-Percy waves with her left hand, holding the other one behind her back-

Percy: Good to meet you too.

...Uh, Percy, in polite company. I don't hate Phosphorus as a name, but...not where people can hear.

Stormchaser Mindfray

-Misery likewise relaxes to muse on things-

-Ever frowns-

Ever: Cool, good to know. While I've got you in such an honest mood, though...do you think that's going to be enough?

Do you think you'll be like the Ariados from the story? Brainwash everyone in Hoenn so they all repeat REALLY SOMETHING every time they see Neodymium? Nobody will ever realize that a little spider of gray matter played the most important part of all? And...hmm. I forget how it ended.

-they haven't-

How many of your colleagues were something? Even really something? How many of them are grist for the mill now? You're maybe the most powerful psychic I've ever met. If you weren't what they were looking for, if they didn't see you and realize that they weren't going to improve...do you really think your kids are going to make that difference, in the end?

Stormchaser, Mindfray

-Ramona stares at Ever really intently before remembering she can't currently just pick through their brain to identify the specific reference they're making-

Imprisoned!Ramona: ...do you think she'd like that?

-still, who hasn't eaten the brain of someone who's read [Charlottes Web]-

-and she frowns-

Imprisoned!Ramona: Don't waste breath flattering me, Memito. Ever? Mew, which is more unsettling? As bad as you think I am—as much as I hate to admit it—see, I can be honest—

—Templar are so much worse. More powerful, more ruthless—even the most pathetic of them are built with steel. There's no escape. Not for long, not like you keep trying to tempt me—

-said with the conviction of a thousand inquisitors-

(-she can't see if they're lying right now, huh?-)

Imprisoned!Ramona: -scoff- And those kids're better than me. Of course they are. They have to be, they built them that way.

Imprisoned!Ramona: -smirk- And [Charlotte] killed Emperor Galar in the end even if no one was around to see it, yeah?

-never before has someone looked so much like they wished they could Force psi-choke someone to punctuate a sentence- We're all grist in some kind of mill. We are none of us remembered when we're gone. The only way we can get that fix we're after—you're in no great shakes either, Collectivenoun, I've seen to the sorry depths of you—you might be worse off than I am.

-she sounds so different when she can't dictate how she sounds, huh?-

-scoff- Families? You—you people, but you specifically spend so much time—fighting, and being killed by, and crying over various cousins and parents and ancestors—Mew's perfect copy, am I glad I don't have ancestors after seeing what yours was like.

Or descendants.

-flat(?)- I know what you're implying. They're not my kids.

-so different-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 15th 2021 at 7:45:27 AM

Circhester Stadium, Gym Challenge Puzzle Room

-The other pit traps on the stone floor reveal themselves as the first part of Ian and Evelyn's Puzzle is complete.-

Me: Shall we keep going?

Evelyn: Certainly.

-Ian, Evelyn and Piku-chan continue into the next part of the puzzle room, where the floor this time is one of ice.-

Me: Brrr... Hello Slippy-Slidey Ice World!

Evelyn: Looks like this is the second floor we must traverse, and if it's anything like the first, then there are a lot of holes in it.

Me: We'd better be careful. As we are now, we don't have much traction, so dancing across might be dangerous...

Somewhere in Unova, Dr. Azala's Lab

Radon: So that kid... and the ones who stood to protect Aurelia from Ferrum and I... they had this power?

Alexis: It would seem so. The best thing to do about this is to draw your own conclusions and discover the answers in your own way. After all, you may be a Schoolkid...

-Alexis hugs Radon as a parent would hug their child.-

Alexis: ...but you're my Schoolkid.

-Radon smiles warmly as Alexis embraces him.-

Stormchaser, Ian and Evelyn's Room

-Evelyn sits on her bed with her crystal ball out in front of her. She looks at the ball intently. She places her hands on top of it, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.—

Evelyn: Please... Show me... How is Hoops doing?

-A mystical purple aura surrounds Evelyn and the crystal ball, causing a faint glow to emanate from both. When Evelyn opens her eyes and gazes into the crystal ball, a vision enters her mind...-

Visions CW: Dismemberment

-A vision shows Hoops, visibly shocked by something, though it is unclear what... Then a scream is heard. It doesn't sound like Hoops' voice, but it's definitely not a good sign. Then it shows Kec, who is badly injured and a most unsettling sight: The sight of a severed arm and a completed Gym Challenger's Pendant lying in the mud.-

Back to the Stormchaser, Ian and Evelyn's Room

-The mystical glow fades and Evelyn snaps back to reality in a cold sweat. What on earth WAS that vision? Was it really going to happen? All she knew was that she had to warn Hoops about it.-

Me: Evelyn? Are you okay?

Evelyn: Ian...

Me: Y-Yes, Evelyn?

Evelyn: We have to find Hoops. NOW!

Me: Wh-What's going to happen to them?

Evelyn: I saw something... Something awful happen. Well, it would happen if we did nothing about it.

-Ian, with no need to have it explained to him, nods. Whatever vision Evelyn had seen in her crystal ball, he knew had something to do with Hoops.-

Me: Let's go!

-Ian and Evelyn exited their room and headed out of the Stormchaser to try and find Hoops.-

Dr. Azala's Lab

-At that moment, Sophie shuddered.-

Sophie: Oh no...

-The silver-haired Schoolkid runs off to where Dr. Azala is.-

Sophie: Dr. Azala! I request that you send me on a mission!

Alexis: Now, now, Nitrogen.

Sophie: Sophie.

Alexis: Right. Sophie. Please, calm down. Tell me what's wrong.

Sophie: I felt a disturbance in the Aura.

Alexis: I assume it has something to do with another Schoolkid.

Sophie: It's Vanadium. I fear they'll do something that they might regret.

Alexis: Vanadium? I think you told me about them. Weren't they the Freshman with memory powers?

Sophie: Yes. They are. I must do something! Please, send me on a mission!

-Alexis scratches their head, considering the last time they sent a Schoolkid on a mission. Listening to Sophie's concerns, Dr. Azala makes their decision.-

Dr. Azala: Very well. As Dr. Azala, I shall assign you for the mission you want so much.

-Dr. Azala clears their throat.-

Dr. Azala: 007, I have your next mission.^* Heh. I've Always Wanted to Say That.

Sophie: Lay it on me, doctor. I can take it.

Dr. Azala: Your mission is to stop Vanadium from doing anything they would regret. Know that you won't be alone in this mission, as evidenced by the failure in Ferrum's mission with Radon. There is a group on the outside who will be your most likely source of allies. Seek them out and ask them to assist you.

Sophie: I won't let you down!

Dr. Azala: And please, Sophie... Try not to hurt them.

Sophie: I'll do my best.

Dr. Azala: Good luck, Sophie.

-Sophie clicks the heels of her hot pink sneakers together and a pair of ice skate blades pop out from the soles. She then closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. An aura of cold travels through her body down to her feet and through them, freezing the ground below her. Dr. Azala moves to open a path for Sophie to skate through.-

Dr. Azala: Arceus-speed you, Sophie.

Radon: Good luck, Skates.

-Sophie nods to Dr. Azala and Radon, and rushes down the path.-

Wheremstever Tommy is at

There is a package. It's wrapped simply, just brown paper and twine.

Stormchaser, Mindfray

Ever: ...Did...did you just go through every one of my names, including my incredibly unmenacing middle name, to try and express a level of cold disdain? You really need those psychic powers, huh.

And you're a terrible liar.

-they don't elaborate on this-

You make a good point about the Templars...I've met several, including one very pretty one, and they are unquestionably powerful— but I'll admit that prodigious telepathic ability frightens me a bit more, for reasons you'd find obvious, and which relate to your assessment of me.

But...hm. It's not about ancestors, exactly, is it? It's about family. The people you surround yourself with, by chance and by choice. And you do have one of those, don't you? Your kids, the rest of your co-workers. Are they nice to you? I got some images while you were rooting around in my brain— the uh, the creepy milf with the swords, is she someone you would talk to over a cup of coffee about your kids, chat about your hopes for the future and regrets of the past?

Or is it not an environment where you have those chances? Somewhere where weakness is an excuse for, if you'll pardon my Homestuck, culling? Somewhere where the only way you can relate to people in your care is the hope that when they die, it'll be for some great cause?

Everyone has family, Molybdenum. Being grown in a uterus or a vat doesn't change that. Everyone has people who came before them and laid the groundwork for them. Everyone has descendants, because everyone is laying groundwork of their own.

The things that matter is what you do with that groundwork. How you build your community. The things you leave behind.

-...-

-they lean forward and give her a hug-

You and I remember [Charlotte]'s Web very differently, by the way.

Galar Mountains

With Emer now getting up with Alyesha's help, the latter grinned just as much as the former.

Alyesha: "Oh yes, definitely - and I'm so looking forward to it~!"

And indeed, it would be a long climb up, with the two only reaching just about three fifths of the way they needed to. So, around at sunset, Alyesha sat down at a relatively secure spot, taking off her backpack and beginning to set up tent, looking up to Emer with a grin as she did so.

Alyesha: "So, if memory serves right I promised a certain friend of mine to make dinner, didn't I~?"

A mid-range Wyndon hotel room

Courier: Package! For a Mr. Petersen.

Tommy opens the door.

Tommy: Oh. Yes, this is the right room.

Courier: Sign here please.

Tommy: Thank you.

He enters the room again after tipping the courier. Gimbal is on his phone. The Albrights had booked a room next to his, as was Hank Harvey. The Albrights were off discussing something and Harvey was in Crown Tundra Yard working with the Galarian authorities on the recent lead they had with The School.

A busy day for everyone but him. Which is kind of okay since he's taken the day off. He had his fill of the conventional casual party in Shutter's birthday two months ago. The last few times he's been in Wyndon were mostly spent on assignment, so he was looking forward to spending the day just sightseeing with his mother.

Gimbal: Oooh, what is it, honey?

Tommy: I'll guess we'll be finding out.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Oct 16th 2022 at 6:14:45 AM

Stormchaser, Mindfray

-I won't subject you to what Ramona's face does at the reference to Adelinde as a milf-

Imprisoned!Ramona: -miffed- Excuse you, I am a fantastic liar.

-but they keep talking-

Imprisoned!Ramona: ...

-if Ramona were narrating, she'd tell you all about how irritated she is by all the references to 'family'-

-wax poetic on the cold dignity she projects, above the very suggestion that those around her matter beyond the purpose she prepares them for or that for which they have prepared her-

-...but she's not narrating this so it comes through loud and clear that she wilts a bit at every last instance of the term-

-her face falls; her shoulders hunch; she'd be gearing up as if for a physical blow except she knows how to take those and no one has ever—Ever—spoken to her this way before-

Imprisoned!Ramona: Do you—do you think I need these things? I gave them up for —something greater—a long time ag

-and they pull her into a hug-

Ramona: —

-her tendency to lash out, Imprisoned; her ability to edit: behind lock and key-

Mo: —?

-why she hasn't fled yet, who even knows-

(-she does, but she's not in this box to lie about it-)

???Mo: -breathing heavily- this is important. this is important. someday—humanity will be perfect.

-how does she sound?-

???Mo: and all the blood—all of us—because we didn't whine, didn't fight, got rid of everyone who would've stood in the way of progress—

-does she buy her own hype?-

???Mo: -laughing- someday, all those people in those houses will have superpowers.

purge poison. spread knowledge. get their damn keys where they've slid under the sofa without having to pull a muscle—

-she stops; doesn't want to give away too much-

maybe—some of us—will live to see it.

-the stress put on that word—-

The future worth dying for—

-those words—-

-who is she thinking of?-

???Mo: -strained, finally- I am trying to leave behind something worthwhile, and you and yours keep getting in my way.

-if the medium were slightly different, the letters in that statement would be trembling-

???Mo: I—you've read Homestuck, right? I haven't—haven't read it. No—time, or. Opportunity.

???Mo: Every time I consume a brain that—has—

???Mo: —every single time, it's thinking of someone named 'Vriska'.

-she's fumbling for the medium at her belt; clumsy, fumble-fingered, poorly hidden if at all-

???Mo: She's—a good person, right? No, she's—she did something important? The story wouldn't have worked without her?

Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 15th 2021 at 10:56:12 AM

Stormchaser, Mindfray

-Ever listens-

Ever: Humanity is what it is. I don't know if psychic powers would help us so much. I can't help but feel like we'd have the same issues in a more exciting way.

But that's not the point, right? Maybe you're right, maybe you're the future, but...not like this. Not over all these bodies. I've talked to Schoolkids who've gotten out, I've talked to you, and...you thought nobody would blink if you traded your life for mine, but don't you think those kids would? I've been in your head, Molybdenum, Ramona, and you're no less alive than I am— or if you really believe that all you're good for is a paving stone on the road to something better, are you willing to say the same for those kids—

-Homestuck-

Ever: Well, I mean, I've read it, but—

-Vriska-

-...-

-...-

-it is possible, though only slightly, to hear the sounds of splintering glass from their brain-

Ever: •_• ...

I.

-they hold up a finger-

Well, that's...

I mean...

-if you've got some kind of scheme, Molybdenum, they are more than adequately distracted-

-Misery not so much, but that's what Zen's there for, right?-

Stormchaser, Mindfray

-look! you can pinpoint the exact moment her heart rips in half!-

(-she'll process that whole first bit later-)

???Mo: ——!!

(-her memory's eidetic, it'll be fine-)

-and following a magnificently unguarded Face for the scrapbooks, her scheme—inasmuch as she had a scheme, which was not at all—plays out-

Ramona: !!!

-in the moment of utter distraction, she goes to stab them with her psi-blade-

-except it's not physical, rarely lethal, and Hatterene do learn Psycho Cut-

-so what happens is she punches them in the throat with the hand holding the hilt-

Zen: ~I don't suppose you'd like to fight now?~

-and fucking books it-

Stormchaser Mindfray

-Ever sure wasn't expecting that, or anything-

-they are punched in the throat and fall over, as people often do when punched in the throat-

Ever: - w h e e z e -

Misery: <Honestly, I think I'm just going to let this play out.>

Ever: rude

-yeah okay they're done they're just gonna stare at the sky for a bit-

-if you wanted certainties about Vriska you shouldn't have punched them, Molybdenum-