That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Mushraiments
Tagg will see two auras, one a cheerful bright purple and the other a more muted pink and purple.
... It's not hard to guess who's behind the door.
Jacqueline: "... please care about yourself more! You got hurt last time, what if it gets worse? You can't-"
Aislinn: ".. I can't just abandon what my mother died for, do you know what you're asking for?"
Judging by the outline of their auras, Jacqueline is gesturing animatedly while Aislinn has her arms crossed.
Jacqueline: "... I'm.. I'm not saying you shouldn't want to get it back, but this whole situation is dangerous. The thing you want to get back is dangerous. Maybe try a different approach?"
Aislinn: "..."
"... You and I both know we don't have the resources for 'a different approach'. This is what I'm capable of, and she's taking the bait anyway."
off the shits
Dunsparce Cloud
Wedgehurst, past
Percy: Mmmh. Can't say I really care one way or the other. -she lies-
Nasreen: ...Well, uh, here's the Stormchaser!
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
The Wanderer
Wedgehurst, past
Chiyo: -To Percy- I know that's not true, but I'll respect your desire not to talk about it or her any longer.
-To Nasreen-
You know now that we're this close to I'm feeling a presence coming off of it, like a living being. Is the Stormchaser alive?
Mushraiments, today
-Watching-
Seems Aislinn wasn't telling the entire truth when we talked the time...
Muddy: -Looking at my face- <Should we interrupt, you seem like you recognize both of those people.>
-To Muddy-
Aislinn I met at a party in Hammerlocke, Jacqueline I met while I was training Rakhshasa I think they have some sort of thing going on based on their threads, but yeah, doesn't seem like it's going anywhere.
-Hand starts hovering over a convenient business bell that may or may not be pressed-
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Dunsparce Cloud
Stormchaser, outside, past
Nasreen: Uh...what?
Percy: Yeah, it's a ghost.
Nasreen: What?
Percy: You hadn't noticed?
Nasreen: ...No???
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
The Wanderer
Outside the Stormchaser, past
Chiyo: -Surprised, but not especially shocked- That's... interesting, Tagg didn't mention that to me the other night, but we talked about so much it's understandable that it might've slipped his mind.
-Sending a telepathic message to the Stormchaser-
Hello Stormchaser, it's nice to meet you, I'm Chiyo.
-She feels a presence touch her mind in a way that feels most analogous to a warm handshake-
Well they're definitely friendly, I wonder how the J-Team pulled that off.
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
No voice to cry suffering
[Venice], July 7th
Suiko Prime: ...I love that little fox.
HUD!Vee: -desperately restraining cackles-
Dr. Ironspine: -sighs, gathering equipment-
-his cigarette falls from startled fingers to smolder on the cobbles-
Giuseppe: M.
-he glares away a curious tourist, resuming his vigil over…-
-his smoke is on the ground-
-he reaches for the box in his pocket, but before he retrieves anything from anything-
Giuseppe: ...Mamma…?
Giuseppe's Golbat: -stirs, scrunching up face- `,⊂
Stormchaser
Hiro: Found an Ariados inside…?
-his eyes burn -
Hiro: ...that's not an EX Den.
-he takes one step forward to tilt the wrist of the hand holding the gem upward, procures his Pokédex—his very heavily modified Pokédex—from which fiery lines trace outward, encircling Owen's hand in wide, luminous arcs-
(-depending on the specifications of Owen's eyes—he may notice the light consists of a perfectly even spread of wavelengths through and beyond the visible spectrum, to begin with-)
-he locks eyes with the Ariados, somehow, illuminated thus-
-and sighs-
Hiro: -exhale, delicately letting go of Owen- Well. You may want to put that down.
-zeroing in on Owen now, exceedingly intense- Because where exactly did you find a Burst Heart?
Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 28th 2021 at 10:17:47 AM
No mind to think. No will to break.
Hulbury
Panic begins to develop in the pier. Vacationgoers close to the fight are fleeing, creeped out by the sight of walking wooden puppets attacking random tourists. A few wannabe heroes begin typing at their phones calling for emergency services to arrive. Those close by elected not to get themselves caught in the crossfire. At least one of the muttered that "the guy with the gigantic red gyarados could take care of it."
The guy with the gyarados thought otherwise.
Deuterium: You're doing that face again.
Protium: How was I supposed to know they had a metal core.
Deuterium: Well, at least we know you can take it on now.
Protium: If these were robots, they'd have shorted out minutes ago.
Deuterium: I know that they're not robots, Protes, and that's not what I was referring to. Tell me, have you found the puppetmaster yet?
Protium: Somewhere on the far end. I'd love to bring the battle to 'em, but don't you think we ought to get to the task at hand?
Deuterium: Is that stainless steel cause if it isn't, we can do the next best thing.
Protium: Way ahead of ya, Deets.
Deuterium: One good corrosive soak coming at you!
Protium: Redford, Twister.
Redford the big red gyarados complied.
Outside a nearby shop, a portly man wearing an alolan shirt, striped undershirt, and cargo shorts stepped out.
Holiday Mode Constable Drumsturdy: What's all this then?
Edited by MasterJayAM on Oct 28th 2022 at 9:09:30 AM
Fwomph
Lee House, Pokæmart
-Gale rolled her eyes-
Okay, I'm gonna follow him. We probably shouldn't all follow him just in case we need an assist getting back.
-And thus she heads on down the corridor-
Lee House, Soda Corridor
-Stepping over the threshold into this section, the place now feels... Fake. It doesn't have quite the same atmosphere as a liminal space Pokemart and it's obvious to tell that the undulating walls full of product clearly aren't actually refrigerated. One of the segments of the corridor is pretty clearly meant to swing outwards as a staff door for legend's sake! And then you turn the corner and stepping over the threshold things feel all too real again...-
Lee House, Meat Factory
CW MEAT (as in body horror)
-Kendall emerges from the soda corridor into what could be described as an observation room overlooking a factory... Except the walls are bone and the glass on the windows has the mild tint and curved shape that calls to mind the surface of the eye... Looking out through the window reveals a macabre and odd scene: The factory below is... Organic. The machinery of what you can only divine as 'food production' made out of flesh and organ. Shambling around between the 'machinery' are figures made of a pitch-black substance wearing masked construction worker helmets. Someone speaks up from behind Kendall-
Oh what fresh hell is— hold up. Oh no.
-The voice isn't Gale's as you would expect... It's Pentigan's. Something in the crossing of the threshold has caused a change. Especially because Kendall? You're wearing your Phantom Thief outfit-
Hulbury Boardwalk
-The metal frames are swept up and there's a flicker as consciousness vanishes from one of the frames and seemingly returns to what is now confirmed to be the controller of these puppets. With a little sigh and a roll of their shoulders they glance towards a van on the shore end of the boardwalk and give a little nod before going back to ocean-gazing-
-From said van, likely in front of the shop, the back doors pop open as though kicked and a trio of wooden mannequins step out, each with their arms fully replaced by long metal spikes. The mannequins begin walking out onto the boardwalk, basically compressing the crowd towards the escapees through an aura of fear-
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Pier at Hulbury, Past
Protium: Cor, blimey, this is just great.
Deuterium: Well, look at it this way, no way's the School going to hide this from the public eye.
Suddenly, a middle aged shoobie on holiday approaches the trio.
Constable Drumsturdy: Not to worry chaps, I'll be coordinating the evacuation while the Hulbury police get here. Jennifer's coordinating everything back in HQ and rest assured we shall bring these dastardly evil mannequins to heel. You and your partner will be wise to take your child and monstrous fish that way.
Deuterium: Partner? Child? Sir, I'm afraid you got us all wrong.
Protium: They're my sisters.
Beat.
Constable Drumsturdy: Pardon my mistake, then. Family on holiday?
Protium: With due respect, if it's all the same, we'll take on the puppets. We've defeated them before.
Constable Drumsturdy: There are a lot of puppets, mate. You have a name?
Protium: Pratchett. Allerdyce Pratchet.
Constable Drumsturdy: Well, Mr. Pratchett. This is a job for local security. Or maybe the J-Team or a superhero or something. Constable Ronald Benedict Drumsturdy, at your service, ma'am.
He flashes his badge at them. Wyndon police.
Protium: Don't you have a panicking crowd to redirect?
Deuterium: We appreciate the offer, officer, but we'd sooner help you deal with them. We've faced these puppets before.
Protium: If you must insist, help us get close to that part of the boardwalk.
Drumsturdy releases a rather tough-looking obstagoon from a ball. The obstagoon wears a police hat and holds a beat stick.
Constable Drumsturdy: Righto. Young one, stay behind me and Rowan.
Tritium shyly agrees. The constable turns to the crowd.
Constable Drumsturdy: All right then, chaps. Constable Drumsturdy here of the Wyndon Police. Walk this was without any shoving and the local police and I shall get you to relative safety. Do not panic.
As he gestures, he turns to Rowan.
Constable Drumsturdy: Night slash at any puppet you find. Stay clear of civilians!
Protium: Launch another twister.
Protium, mentally: ~Dinner, fixate on that figure at the boardwalk next to the van where these wooden mannequins are hailing from.~
Not far from them was another shadowy figure on the roof of one of the stores, noticed only by Tritium. She didn't fear him, as his aura seemed benevolent toward them.
He raises his hand, trying to hone in on the metal skeletons deep within the marionettes.
Edited by MasterJayAM on Oct 28th 2022 at 9:10:58 AM
Meet The New Boss
Stormchaser, Hiro End
Owen: -gulps- I-I dunno! I found it in this weird wrecked train car in the woods!
-The Ariados recoils from Hiro-
Stormchaser, Channah End
Coil: ...You don't remember> How do you not remember where you got your degree?
Starr: -nudge-
Coil: Sorry, I'm just. Very confused.
Iris: Aw, I'm sorry about your boyfriend... Is he anyone on the J-Team?
Edited by Umbramatic on Aug 28th 2021 at 9:27:24 AM
Contact Me!
No voice to cry suffering
Stormchaser
-Hiro stops, seeing this-
-and sighs, releasing his analytics-
-his expression gentles, holding out his hand in a wordless request to see the Heart, or perhaps simply lay his hand on the gem-
Hiro: -if he receives it/permission, to the Ariados- Hello.
-his mental voice is so very quiet-
Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 28th 2021 at 10:49:11 AM
No mind to think. No will to break.
Meet The New Boss
Stormchaser, Hiro End
Owen: ...What are you doing?
Ariados: <Go easy on the guy will ya? He helped save me from that awful vampire lady, along with rainbow fire girl. I don't think he knows what this... thing is.>
Contact Me!
No voice to cry suffering
Stormchaser
Hiro: -to Owen- Talking to them.
-he listens...- They seem to like you.
-intent on the descriptions- ...awful vampire lady? Rainbow fire girl?
Do you know anything about where you came from, or who made this? ...would you like to try and find someone to get you released?
Hiro: -to Owen- This is, as I said, a Burst Heart. I won't say what precisely it does or how to use it, but it's a very old method of establishing a much more imbalanced relationship with a Pokémon than the Vow.
-contemplating it- The Pokémon inside it is preserved, but trapped. As you could probably see.
Edited by Asterisk395 on Aug 28th 2021 at 11:02:44 AM
No mind to think. No will to break.
Meet The New Boss
Stormchaser, Hiro End
Ariados: <I dunno... It's all kind of a blur... But yes, get me out!>
Owen: Oh that's.... weird. Is there any way to get her out?
Contact Me!
Malie Library
Prof. Hawthorn: Okay, what was that?
Stephanie nodded in agreement. She turned around to look at whoever moved past them.
Stephanie: Excuse me. Hey, what just happened?
Prof. Hawthorn: Indeed.
No voice to cry suffering
Stormchaser
Hiro: -to them both- Unfortunately, I don't know how to release her personally. In the meantime, would you, Ariados, like to stay on this ship—the Stormchaser? It is, with full honesty, one of the safest places I am aware of in existence.
-thinking aloud- ...maybe one of my older family members is aware of how to dissolve these. Maybe Every could get an idea Every, now there's an idea, she loves Pokémon and abandoned products of science...
Hiro: -to Owen, serious- And in the meantime, would you take me to where you found her?
No mind to think. No will to break.
Meet The New Boss
Malie Library
-Oop, Hawthorne and co. are at the front of the line-
-Along with Victor?-
Victor: Aaaaaaaaaa I'm so sorry! I just got excited!
Bartelby: -blinks- Two of them?
Stormmchaser, Hiro End
Owen: Uh, yeah, extracting her would probably7 be wise... And hold on, follow me.
-He leads Hiro off-
Contact Me!
Malie Library
Prof. Hawthorn: Uh, sir. As excited as you clearly are, I and the other people on the line will appreciate it if you would settle down.
He stares at Victor again rather closely. He felt a touch too familiar, like he's seen a coworker who looked like that before.
Stephanie: Dad, we're up.
Prof. Hawthorn: Righto. Forgive me if I'm a touch stern but do contain yourself.
He turns around and presents his book to Bartelby. The professor and his daughter have a look on their faces that indicate that they've met before and hope to be recognized.
like christ, but with more nails
Stormchaser, past
Martha: -makes the same face as Coil is- <Where? Now you're making me confused. But it doesn't matter, really.>
Channah: Yeah, he's one of the O Gs. But anyway... When did you guys join? I don't remember seeing you around here before.
There is no disdain in nature, there is no humiliation.
Meet The New Boss
Malie Library
-Victor also holds out a book to Basrtelby-
Victor: "C-Could you sign mine first? I'm a huge fan!"
Bartelby: -chuckles- "Now now, if I could I would sign both your books at once but there's only oner pen here."
Victor: "No need! I brought my own pen! It's pink!"
-He holds up a pink pen-
-Its tip glints in the light-
Stormchaser, Coil And Iris End
Iris: "Well that's the thing. We joined a while back... But then we left because for whatever reason we suddenly stopped caring."
-Coil shakes his head at Martha and turns to Channah-
Coil: "All our investment in the J-Team just kinda... Vanished in a way that wasn't... Normal. It got temporarily lifted buy Uxie but it took some other J-Teamers for us to truly snap oout of it and come back."
Iris: "Apparently that happened to a bunch of peeps... You haven't seen them around, have you?"
Edited by Umbramatic on Aug 28th 2021 at 12:56:27 PM
Contact Me!
Malie Library
Prof. Hawthorn: Look, unless Mr. Bartelby here is ambidextrous I don't think this is going to work out.
Stephanie: Dad, let it go and let him come first. Your arguing is holding up the line.
Prof. Hawthorn: Honey, it's the principle of the thing. You shoved me and my daughter and are cutting in line before these good people who have lined up like rule-abiding citizens. You can't just go here and cut in line without considering everyone else, and the way you did it in the first place was incredibly rude. If you only offended me, I would let that slide, but you went through my daughter and these good people behind me. Now, if you've waited this long, you can wait for the minute it takes to finish this.
He breathes.
Stephanie: The sooner he's out of our way, the sooner we can move forward. Arceus can deal with him in his own time.
Prof. Hawthorn: Well, fine. If Mr. Bartelby allows it, then yes, you can get away with this nonsense. Once. Geez, I've been around people who think they own the world for so long that I've developed quite the burning temper for people who act like that.
Stephanie was more worried about the pen for reasons she can't understand. She nudges at her father and points at it. Both just stare at it, but say nothing.
Edited by MasterJayAM on Aug 29th 2021 at 10:09:33 PM
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
[Venice], July 7th
Giuseppe's Shadow: "Yeah. It's me. You know, I'm very disappointed in you. Is this really what you think we should be doing? I say we turn around and forget all about this job, turn over a new leaf."
not!Daydre's face has left their hands, but they still seem to be making that scrunched expression.
Mushraiments
The bell is in fact pressed!
Behind the door Jacqueline perks up.
Jacqueline: "... It seems I have a customer. I'll be back later, this conversation isn't over."
Aislinn: (noncommittally) "Mmhmm."
The door opens up and out comes Jacqueline.
Jacqueline: ".. Oh hey, it's you again! What brings you by?"
off the shits
Meet The New Boss
Malie Library
Victor: Er, sorry, both of you, I'll just-
-he stumbles trying to move twoard Bartelby-
-and lurches, straight for Hawthorne-
Contact Me!
Malie Library
Victor hits the professor, and he stumbles forward. Stephanie quickly grabbed her father, but it was too late to prevent him from knocking the person who cut in line over forward.
Circhester Stadium, VS Gordie and Melony
Melony: Frosmoth, use Bug Buzz!
Gordie: Barbaracle, use Stone Edge!
Me: Mothra, use Flamethrower on Barbaracle!
Evelyn: Mirai, use Draining Kiss on Frosmoth!
-Melony's Frosmoth prepares to flap her wings and unleash an irritating sound throughout the pitch, but is interrupted when Mirai jumps up and kisses her gingerly on the forehead. Melony's Frosmoth blushes a snowy blue as a surge of energy emanates from her and is absorbed by Mirai as she lands on her feet and skips back to the battlefield. Gordie's Barbaracle clenches his fist and strikes the ground, raising a series of stones that levitate in the air around him. The Collective Pokémon gives the signal and throws the stones at Mothra, who breathes fire at them in the hopes of melting them before they hit.-
-And then the hail strikes.-
Me: Ow. ow ow ow.
Evelyn: Ow. ow. Ow. ow.
Mirai, Mothra and Barbaracle: <Ow. Ow. ow. Ow.>
We interrupt this program to bring you the story of what happened in the clothing store...
-Ian looks around the Hammerlocke Clothing Store for just the right components to an outfit he plans to wear for lessons.-
Me: Okay, so I got the hip scarf. I really like how it jingles like a pouch full of silver coins. Now to find the other parts.
-Ian continues his shopping as Evelyn meets with Maurice outside (which is not something he would know about) until he has all the clothes he needs for his lesson. He has a veil, a pair of translucent fluffy pink harem pants (much like the ones his Phantom Thief self wears), a translucent pink silk scarf like the one he bought for Raru back at the Renaissance Faire in 2019, and a pink T-shirt top. He then goes up to the cashier to pay for the clothes.-
Cashier: Oh my. You're mighty confident going for an outfit like that.
Me: Yep. I definitely feel like I can pull off this look. The fact that I'm gonna look like I jumped out of a [Shantae] game will not bother me.
Cashier: I see...
Me: And yeah, I am thinking about taking some belly dancing classes. -thinks to self- Mostly to increase mobility and grace while adding to the image of Joybringer...
Cashier: Well, I wish you luck. That will be Ꝑ[Reasonable Price].
-Ian takes out his wallet and hands the cashier Ꝑ[Reasonable Price]. The cashier puts the clothing items in a bag and hands it to Ian.-
Cashier: Have a nice day!
Me: -smiling- You too!
-Ian takes the bag and steps outside the clothing store, just as the interaction between Evelyn and Maurice ends.-
Hammerlocke (Now)
Me: It's clothing for my lessons.
Evelyn: Oh, that's interesting. What lessons will you be taking?
Me: Well, to be totally honest with you, I thought about taking belly dancing lessons.
-Evelyn facefaults. For all her skills with magic and clairvoyance, she wasn't expecting that answer from Ian.-
Me: Evelyn?
Evelyn: I'm okay. It's just... even after all the time we've been together, this is a side of you I never thought I'd see. What happened back there during your "enlightening" experience?
Me: -thinks to self, almost worried- Taihenda! She's asking questions...
Vali Hospital, This is Salem. He's got Kitbash's back.*
Salem: Not as vulnerable as they're gonna be... KURO! HELGA! MARION!!
-Salem throws three Poké Balls and from them jump the rest of his Pokémon: A Banette and two Houndoom. Kuro and Helga howl as they get ready for battle and Marion just cackles maniacally.-
Salem: Kuro, use Flamethrower on Helga! Helga, let loose with Fire Blast! Marion, use Psychic!
-Kuro lets loose a stream of fire from his mouth which hits Helga. Helga, having the ability Flash Fire, absorbs the flames and raises her body temperature.-
Helga: -to Kuro- <Don't worry 'bout me, babe! I can take the heat! But these guys, on the other hand...>
-Helga unleashes a powerful blast of fire that branches out to form the 大 kanji on Lightwave's goons, trying to keep them at bay. Marion's eyes glow a bright blue as she unleashes a psychic energy wave at the goons to try and throw them backwards.-
♪Show me the wisdom of the world... Tell me the secrets of the heart... and the sweet~ mysteries~ of love~...