Wyndon Pokemart, earlier

Adelinde: -pauses briefly-

-turns slightly towards Logan, smiling-

Like what you see? Don't worry. I'll keep you in my thoughts too.

-she taps her temple, and leaves-

{REDACTED}, Safe House

Didit: ~It does suit her, doesn't it?~ (privately) ~Just...she's been talking about permanence. Keep an eye out.~

-Neodymium frowns-

Neodymium: ~Uh...I mean, I haven't met that many Templars.

~I think she'd be less cranky than Ferrum, 'cause I'm less cranky than Ferrum.Just as cool, though. Cooler? There aren't a lot of people cooler than Ferrum. He has a trenchcoat, for goodness' sakes.~

-...-

Neodymium: ~She'd be nice to the kids, like you are. That's what I'd do if I were a Templar, at least. There's like...there's no good reason to be cruel, I think. I dunno. Maybe there is?~

~But I think she'd watch cartoons with them, and bring them stuff, and teach them how to best use their powers, and if they fail anyway and they have to be liquidated, she'd do it cleanly.~

-Neodymium holds up a finger, like she's imparting great wisdom-

~She'd be better at telepathy, so all she'll need to do is shut off a few functions and it'll be over. Really easy.~

-she grins-

Wyndon Market, now

-Percy is here! She has gloves again, and a hat, and is using a cane for once-

-she looks nervous-

-tagging along with her is Apple-A-Day Nasreen, who does not appear to be enjoying the mortifying ordeal of being known-

Percy: I'm just saying. The costume draws attention.

Nasreen: We could've just ordered something!

Percy: To the giant yellow ship near Wedgehurst?

Nasreen: To my place! I'm happy to run a few errands for you.

Percy: You are running errands for me.

Nasreen: Well, that's different. Why even go to Wyndon? There's tea everywhere, and they don't have the kind I like here.

Percy: They don't sell those giant bottles of Gatrade anywhere else.

Nasreen: There must be a better way of getting your electrolytes.

Percy: Well, I haven't found on—

-she jabs Nasreen with her cane, pushing them both around the corner-

Nasreen: Ow!

Percy: Templar!

Nasreen: What? Where?

-they try to peer around the corner, only for Percy to drag them away-

Nasreen: The lady with the purple eyes? She looks nice.

Percy: That's because you have an insatiable drive to see good in people.

Nasreen: One, because I'm a hero and it's my job, and two because I think yeah, most people are pretty much doing their best?

Percy: ...Stop being earnest.

Nasreen: I think she just happens to have purple eyes, though.

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Aug 25th 2021 at 3:56:53 AM

Wyndon Supermarket

Chiyo: -Sneakily uses a barrier to make some tea fall down, when she gets the sense that she's being watched a little too intensely to just be mild curiosity- Dactyl?

Dactyl: -Coming out of their ball- <Hmm?>

Chiyo: I didn't think they'd come after me again that soon.

-To Dactyl as she hides a disc behind her back-

Stand by, I need to figure out what these people want with me.

Dactyl: <We just finished running, I don't feel like doing all of that again.>

Chiyo: -Weighing possible escape routes if things go sour- Neither do I, but one of them isn't an Auric and I'm sensing more fear than malice.

Of course, that doesn't mean they can't still be School agents afraid they got caught.

-To the corner, surprisingly intimidating while standing at 5'3" and holding a tea box-

I know you're watching me, but I'd prefer not to do violence if I can avoid it, I've already had a bucket's full during the last week already and when the battle high ends it makes me feel ill.

Except for Hortensia and Gerald, fuck them.

And if I wanted to kill you, you'd likely already be dead, enough time's passed for me to pull it off. Also, I don't like hurting children.

-Preparing herself for a potential fight but hoping for the opposite as Dactyl floats closer-

So how do you want this to go?

Edited by rmctagg09 on Aug 25th 2021 at 6:21:19 AM

Hammerlocke

Evelyn: Sure, but I must ask... What about the Dream World do you intend on studying?

Hammerlocke

Grunt Templar: Uhhhhhhhhh how Pokemon who can access it and draw power from it like Munna work? So like I just need, uh, a teensy sample.

Clauncher: <Nice one, dumbass.>

Grunt Templar: Look, I'm kind of sort of telling the truth.

Hammerlocke

Evelyn: Sample? Sample of what? Dream Mist? If so I can provide.

Hammerlocke

Grunt Templar: Uh, D-DNA actually.

Clauncher: Weeeeeeee're gonna get liquidated.

Hammerlocke

Evelyn: I see...

-Evelyn thinks for a moment and then nods.-

Evelyn: Okay. Do you have a cotton swab on you?

Hammerlocke

-The Grunt Templar blinks, then quickly pulls out a swab and a vial-

Grunt Templar: Y-Yeah.

Clauncher: <...Wait, what?>

Hammerlocke

-Yumi yawns.-

Hammerlocke

-The Grunt Templar quickly stuffs the swab in Yumi's mouth, scrubs it around, then quickly seals it inside the vial-

Grunt Templar: T-Thank you for your assistance.

-The Clauncher is just kind of staring-

Hammerlocke

Evelyn: I'm glad I could help you with your research, Mr.... umm...

-Evelyn pets her witch hat (which is actually a Hattrem) in quiet confusion upon realizing that she never got the researcher's name.-

Evelyn: I'm sorry, I never got your name.

Textspace

False Mart Past

"I feel like there's only one way that this plot is going to advance." Kamui shook her head and reached for the "Star Dampener".

"Wait what are you-"

Edited by AbsentCoder on Aug 25th 2021 at 5:20:53 AM

Hammerlocke

-If Grunt Templar weren't internally screaming before they are now-

Grunt Templar: It's, um, Maurice.

Clauncher: ...How...?

Edited by Umbramatic on Aug 25th 2021 at 7:23:33 AM

Hammerlocke

Evelyn: Oh. Well, it's been nice working with you, Maurice. I hope your research goes well.

False Mart, Past

Me: Wait... isn't buying something here dangerous?

Evelyn: Who knows... and... to be honest, I have been curious about that.

-Evelyn points over at the bag of Platypus Feed.-

Me: And I didn't think to bring a fedora. Let's go for it.

-Ian and Evelyn walk over to the bag of Platypus Feed and look it over.-

Evelyn: How much for this?

Edited by AnimeboyIanpower on Aug 25th 2021 at 8:25:43 AM

Hammerlocke

Maurice: Y-You too.

-And he leaves VERY quickly-

Sector 4, Beacon

-Gale shuddered a little bit as Silas mentioned laying out all the cards. For some reason, despite the fact she had not even used a trinket this entire trip she was not looking forward to facing the local ship captains without hiding her identity. It was odd, maybe she'd just wear the helmet regardless and claim the loophole that it isn't a transformation trinket...-

-Regardless! It was time to cook! At least that was something Gale could use to keep her mind from roaming too far-

Lee House, Pokæmart

-Alright, let's handle these products in order-

-Kamui picks up a bottle of "Star Dampener". It's a bottle bearing the shape of a household cleaner except the plastic of the bottle is exactly #FFF8E7. The label proudly proclaims "Star Dampener" in big font on a background of an utterly black void. Underneath is text reading "Stars too loud? Use Star Dampener and enjoy the peace of a quiet cosmos". The price sticker has it for roughly the equivalent of $12-

-Evelyn checks out the box of Platypus Feed, a cereal box-like container made of cardboard. On the box is an incredibly photorealistic picture (because it's a photo) of a real-world Platypus and of course the words "Platypus Feed" in box text. A smaller blurb on the front reads "Also Safe For Human Consumption!" and on the back is a nutrition information table that takes up the entire back of the box and goes into the exact proportions of even subatomic particles. The price sticker reads "$24.99"-

A Normal Mouse Employee: You guys want a drink with all that?

-They try and gesture at the soda cabinet up the back-

A Normal Mouse Employee: I can ring this all up and keep it under the counter until you're done with that...

-Gale just kind of sighs and nods-

Okay yeah I think he's trying to tell us to open that cabinet over there.

Vali Hospital

-Upon reaching the server room, Kitbash got to work trying to infiltrate the computers-

Kitbash: Salem? Watch my back. Should have the paydirt lickity-split but I'm gonna be vulnerable till the download's complete mkay?

King's Ransom Casino

-A short distance from the group, seemingly keeping to herself, was a woman with a long black dress and short black hair. For a moment she adjusted her feathered hair decoration and started wandering in what was 'coincidentally' a path that passed near the party of smugglers, scientists and disguised Aurabolts-

Hulbury Boardwalk

-Protium finds some interesting things about the local thoughtscape: One, there's thought emanating from one of the puppets, but it's the kind of blank focused-on-the-fight mind of someone who knows mindreaders exist. The other puppet has no thoughts however. Somewhere nearby, there is some kind of aura in the wind. When it comes to civilians, the amount of frightening going on with the bystanders is pretty much directly related to how close they are to what swiftly turns into a fight. There's one blip, one of the people decently far from the group is emitting absolutely no thoughts, head empty. It's one of the people leaning against the railing staring out at the sea-

-Meanwhile, attacks go off and yeah this wood is really not built for this kind of punishment. They don't really slow from the ice, but the Hyper Beam manages to blast the wood off the two, leaving them down to simplistic and skeletal metal frames that continue to move. That's removed basically all the threat of the bulkier spiked one but the one with the blade still has a blade-

Lee Store

"C'mon, show me what I wanna see!" Kendall says simply, opening the soda cabinet and looking at the contents.

"Who's Shirley Temple and why is she in a can?!" He reaches for the can in question.

Hades Submarine, Mid Scouting Mission

"... Oh man, did I?" She yawned, walking around and looking around the empty submarine. "That's embarrassing..."

Lee House, Pokæmart

-Actually, when the cabinet is pulled open, the actual cabinet itself swings out like a door, revealing a hallway with walls that look like closed soda cabinets that swings left in a gentle curve, obscuring where the hallway goes-

Yeeeeep, this looks familiar. This exhibit is a smidge derivative.

Fake Mart

"Eh?" He pauses, trailing off at the sight down the hall.

Kamui, having replaced the Dampener, looks in soon as well. "Trippy."

"Latah!"

"Wait Kendall what are-?! Rrrgh!" She threw out a flare, only for it to collide with a black surface.

"Keep the door open! I'll be fine!"

To prove the point, a hand reached from her shadow and poked her shoe. Kamui jumped, only to look down and see the familiar jacket cuff, annoyed. The hand flashed a thumbs-up before sinking back in, the Unovan continuing hunting for that Shirley Temple in a can.

Hammerlocke

Evelyn: Wow, he sure knows how to make a break for it.

-Ian steps out of the clothing store with a bag of clothing all paid for.-

Me: Hey, Evelyn. What did I miss?

Evelyn: Well, there was this guy who wanted to know if I had a Munna.

Me: You do.

Evelyn: He wanted a DNA sample from Yumi, saying it's for research into the Dream World.

Me: Well, more power to him.

Evelyn: He said his name was "Maurice" and he had a blue Pokémon on his shoulder.

Me: A blue Pokémon? What did it look like?

Evelyn: It looked kinda like a lobster, but with one claw larger than the other.

-Ian uses his psychic powers to levitate his Pokédex out of his pocket and checks Evelyn's description of the Pokémon Maurice has against his Pokédex's database.-

Pokédex: Clauncher, the Water Gun Pokémon. A Water type. Through controlled expulsions of internal gas, it can expel water like a pistol shot. At close distances, it can shatter rock. They can shoot down flying prey like this. Its claws occasionally fall off, and it keeps a low profile until they grow back. The meat of its claws is so delicious! So delicious, in fact, that it is a popular Galarian delicacy.

Evelyn: By the way, what's in the bag?

Me: Oh... Hehehe... Well...

Hammerlocke

-Maurice and his Clauncher duck into an alleyway-

Clauncher: <...I can't belive that worked.>

Maurice: I can't BELIVE that worked!

Clauncher: <All that trouble actually paid off.>

Maurice: Especially because I was like "Victor we should just nab a random wild Muuna" and he was like "no get a trained one they have better genes from being used for battle" and so we had to sift through J-Team members because they were already on the radar to find one with a Munna but we FOUND her and GOT the sample and DIDN'T SUCK.

Clauncher: Save the gloating for later, let's get back to Victor.

Maurice: Oh. Right, yeah.

-and they skeedadle via Maurice's Teleport-

Edited by Umbramatic on Aug 26th 2021 at 10:37:22 AM

Wyndon Pokémart, earlier

Logan: -haha-

Logan: -they're in danger-

-they smile to themself, scoop up their sundry groceries-

-hand an assortment of bills to the cashier, entreating them to keep the change-

-and calmly, so cleanly-

-various wild Pokémon make for the hills-

Luxor: -mid-bite- <...hm.>

Eric: -over the wind- ~What—what's happening?~

Logan: I may have fucked up!

Eric: ~Ah, surprise.~

Logan: No, like. Bigger.

Eric: ~...oh.~

-...he looks down at the specks below, wondering which if any are horrific murder machines-

-but like. worse-

Logan: -wind blowing through their braids- ...weirdly, I'm almost looking forward to seeing her again.

Eric: ~You're insane.~

{REDACTED}, Safe House

Molybdenum: -perfectly level, to Didit- ~I always have an eye out.~

-she listens attentively to Neo's description-

-and listens-

-and listens-

Molybdenum:

-she-

-she's-

Molybdenum: -

- -

-she pulls Neo back into a hug-

Molybdenum:

-no words, no thoughts, just...hug-

-she tries to give one as good as—someone's, who was here not long ago, but is aware of her shortcomings-

Molybdenum: -hoarse- You're learning better than I did at your age.

-grist for the mill no.-

Molybdenum: You would be a wonderful Templar.

-is she too old yet for hair-ruffles?-

-for a moment—starting a moment ago, ending a moment from now—the world-

-all the noise out there, all the distraction, all of Didit perhaps—just-

-stops-

Molybdenum: I.

-it's probably nothing, Neo-

-Molybdenum is so proud of you, Neo-

-everything's going to be alright, Neo-

 Mind Pearl 14.517x 

 Mind Pearl 15.677x 

 Mind Pearl 13.439x 

 Mind Pearl NO 

 Error Log 16. 606 

-Molybdenum's hand hurts-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 25th 2021 at 11:28:02 AM

[Venice], July 7th

not!Daydre's shadow waves of its own volition.

"Yeah I don't know what was up with the whip either, I don't even know how to use those??... Yet, I guess."

(Looking at the flask) ".. But, good to know. I guess if I'm gonna learn how to use a whip the time is now"

... They'll ignore the impulse to drink the fluid to see what'll happen just because they were specifically told not to.

The compliment makes them blush yet again, though it's a little hard to see behind the visor.

"You're the cool one!!" >_<

At the gesture to the water they rummage around in their belt and pull out a fairly new looking Dive Ball. The mon it releases is... An Empoleon! Wearing a domino mask that definitely obscures his identity.

Definitely Not EMPEROR, Look He's Wearing A Mask: <I am ready to become a "Criminal"!!>

"He uh.. He was debriefed don't worry."

The both of them jump in the water, not!Daydre grabbing onto not!EMPEROR's back.

Wyndon Pokemart, earlier

-there's a tense few seconds, maybe?-

-but there's no pursuit-

-maybe a brief shimmer of purple sparks from far below, but that could be anything-

-a firework, maybe-

{REDACTED}, Safe House

-Didit nods-

Neodymium: -is not too old for hair ruffles, as much as she wants to pretend she is-

~Oh. Thank you. That means a lot.~

-trying very hard to sound adult and mature and together-

-...-

-for example, not letting Molybdenum know that she's hurting her-

Wyndon Supermarket, now

-Percy stays hidden-

Nasreen: -peeks head out-

-waves-

We're not with the School! And we're not children.

Percy: I technically sort of am.

Nasreen: ...That's horrifying!

Percy: Eh.

-she sticks her head out as well, using Nasreen for support-

...Hi.

Edited by memyselfandI2 on Aug 25th 2021 at 9:35:42 AM

Wyndon Supermarket

Chiyo: -Quietly dissipating the disc behind her back as she shifts gears as if nothing happened- ...Well if you were you wouldn't just say it like that, so that's a relief. And chronologically I'm around 20.

The one with the cane, she feels like a spirit partially puppeteering its own corpse.

-To Percy, smiling-

Hi! I don't think I've quite met an escapee quite like you before, but it might be better to continue this conversation somewhere a little less public.

-More seriously but concerned-

We don't know who might be watching, but I can tell you've had a fairly recent Templar encounter am I correct? Since you felt jumpy.