Stormchaser, Training Room

-Cait lets out a faint purr in response to Ever's continued pets as Lissa ducks down low, attempting to smack the cane flying towards her out of the air.-

Lissa: Heh, neat trick. Guess those old bones of yours might actually pose a real challenge after all.

Wyndon

-Scarlette said she'd be doing her League challenge soon. But gods if she isn't procrastinating.-

-She's not the focus today.-

-Today, we're focusing on someone who came to watch her. Someone in a bar, right now, bored out of her mind.-

-It's Rose, sitting lazily at the bar, staring out into nothing with about a quarter of her third glass left.-

Rose: (mumbling) Even the shit the Po Town kids smuggle in is better than this.

Stormchaser, Medbay

-the heavily bandaged, largely blanketted individual stirs-

Zayna, the Injured: ~Zayna the Fulminous.~

-with a mental presence like thunder-

Zayna: ~State your intentions, or I will reduce the remainder of your miserable existence to a nerve-fried slag of ago—~

-...from several miles away, through several more layers of foam padding-

Zayna: ~...ow.~

-the Stormchaser's gotten Weird-

 Leafspace 

-the Natu examine the apples curiously-

-whole branches (headtilting) fullbodytilting in unison?-

-how mesmerizing-

Lanatus: -...chorp-

-the flock begins dissecting them with surgical precision, extracting the seeds, siphoning the juice, and stripping the peel-

-the peels vanish into a mildly rank-smelling Bag labeled "Rototiller", the juice swirls into a fermenting tank-

-the seeds are dissected further for the amygdalin-

-...-

Natu: -...chirp?-

Lanatus: -miaou- >w<

-and the remaining apple flesh is cubed for the flock's perusal-

Abilene: -still pollinating, mildly- I have never been "cool" a day in my life.

Sorbus: -inhale-

Abilene: Don't read into that. Suffice to say, I refuse on principle to treat your trespass or protestations of sanity with any modicum of "chill". Fortunately for you, this will not register as strange in any way.

Child: -point- Look, mommy, it's the supervillain from TV!

Abilene: -without turning- Go away, small child.

Child: Aaaaa she's so scary! :D

-the child and their Cottonee veritably skip away, their parent throwing Abilene an odd look-

Abilene: Case in point. Why are you on the run from the cops? Not that any supposedly sane individual ought to be otherwise, but typically few so desperate as to come to me.

Sorbus: -rumble- <Or in fairness, anything resembling those fruit trees in your Wild Area. Sweet mercy us, what a fright.>

Abilene: You are so much finer a construct than those abominations.

Sorbus: -rustle- <You flatter me.> ~_~

-a Greedent is ejected bodily from somewhere deep within, scampering away with its bounty from the smoking crater Sorbus's Seed Bomb blasts in the turf-

Wyndon, Pub: The Greased G'runerigus

-it's a pretty shitty bar, yeah-

-most of the patrons already passed out from drink, a couple late risers duking it out quietly by the jukebox-

-wouldn't be surprised if some pickpocket or other stole all their credit card information without them noticing-

-not Rose, though, that definitely won't happen to her, she knows, because she's-

(-someone blinks-)

-...perfectly capable of handling these drinks! unlike these scrubs just asking for it-

-a rather pretty waitress takes a seat next to her-

Ramona: -curious, an eyebrow raised- ...you're not from around here, are you?

-her eyes are a normal color, and sparkle with verve-

Edited by Asterisk395 on Oct 9th 2021 at 5:48:48 AM

Wyndon — The Greased G'runerigus

-Rose blinks, jolted out of her haze.-

Rose: Hm? Mm. Myeah. Just here to see a League fight or four.

-She... takes a moment, to look the waitress up and down.-

Rose: ...You look a li'l out of place yourself. Not the type of face I expect at a dive bar. Place has "grease" in its name, doesn't it?

Stormchaser, Training Room

Percy: Heh. Nice to know I can still pull off a surprise or two.

-the cane is deflected easily enough-

-she holds out her hand, there's a flicker of lightning, and it spins midair to swipe at Lissa's hand-

Percy: I can do this all day. Or, to be precise, the next minute or so and then I think I'm gonna call it quits.

Stormchaser, Medbay

PEFE!Every: You're not on the list.

-she checks said list-

And you're a Templar. Can I have a blood sample?

Oh, and do you want me to fix you? I mean, uh, heal you? You look fucked up.

Wyndon Outskirts

Syrnewt: <...Well, okay.>

-he cautiously places himself between Apple-A-Day and the Natu horde-

Apple-A-Day: Oh, just, you know, normal stuff. Keeping a homeless guy from being arrested.

-they poke their head down a little further-

Are you a supervillain? Do I need to thwart you?

Stormchaser, Training Room

Lissa: Ack!

-She lets out a grunt of pain as the lightning stings her left hand, but is able to keep hold of her staff with the right, levelling it under her arm whilst the numbness fades.-

Lissa: You sure you don't just wanna call it quits now? No shame in admitting when you're beaten, y'know. Some of my best relationships have started off that way.

-She darts forward and whips her staff upwards with a flick of her wrist, aiming to hook Percy by the armpit at she goes for a leg sweep.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Oct 9th 2021 at 12:24:18 PM

Kalos Forest, August 31st

Lesia: -Doesn't take much damage from the Energy Balls and just continues firing Sludge Bombs-

Wyndon Stadium, September 18th

Drampa: -Loses about a quarter of his health- <Oof!>

Raihan: Work Up into Shadow Ball!

Drampa: -Aggressively shakes his head before firing a ball of Obscura at Petey-

Wild Area, Let's say in the afternoon

-It's just a normal day in the Wild Area. Kids are playing, birdmons are singing, the wind blows through the grass as a figure wearing a ghillie suit gets up slightly to survey the area with a pair of binoculars-

...Where is that damned bird?

Edited by rmctagg09 on Oct 9th 2021 at 8:47:47 AM

Kalos Forest

Evelyn and I: I choose you!

Me: Piku-chan!

Evelyn: Hatty!

Me: Use Electro Ball, and arc it so it hits a square of them that's two Pokémon by two Pokémon!

Evelyn: Hatty! Use Psybeam, and shoot it in a straight line from the inner row out!

-With this application of the source material's battle system, Piku-chan and Hatty prepare and execute their respective attacks; Piku-chan forming a ball of electrical energy at the tip of his tail and launching it in such a way that it arcs at a 2x2 square group of the Origami Shroomish, and Hatty charging and firing a rainbow beam of psychic energy in a straight line at the Origami Shroomish.-

Stormchaser, Medbay

Zayna: -mental snarl- ~I knew this day would come.~

-she does, in fact, look fucked-up-

-even with the rather limited reserve of Sacred Fire at Hiro's disposal (and discretion), healing burns with more burns is kind of a fool's errand-

-and her tongue is so thoroughly paralyzed she can barely breathe-

Zayna: -breath rasping- ~Always a catch. If you want my bloodline you'll have to dissect me.~

-even so, the room goes dark for a moment—the monitors attached to Zayna flicker violently-

-violently and violetly—Zayna spasms, impulses surging from her nerves to the open air, shattering-

-and the power is just...sucked away, into more of those rods Megan installed in the training bay walls-

-...that definitely weren't here before-

Zayna: -...!-

-the lights restore themselves, burst bulbs replace themselves—the nutrient drip emits a cheery gurgle as Zayna collapses back into the bed, spent-

Zayna: ~...what do you mean by "fix"?~

Wyndon Outskirts

-it was at this moment that Abilene Macraul came to a decision-

Abilene: …

-she would defend this person with her life and the lives of her team or die trying-

Abilene: -a bit hoarse- If you like.

-she's no Hiro, but she likes to think she's a dab hand at detecting insincerity-

Abilene: -stowing the q-tips, at length- ...to be honest, I'm more than a bit fought-out. You've already defeated me, haha.

-sounds contemplative-

Abilene: -murmur- ...yet I'm in the mood for a felony or two. Hostility to hostile architecture...so fitting.

-the crunch of a Torterra unearthing, very slowly-

-fruit consumed, the Natu return to their staring-

Natu: <...>

Lanatus: <...>

-this may well be their natural state-

Wyndon — The Greased G'runerigus

Ramona: -beams, tucking her hands under her chin- Cute, aren't I?

-she holds the pose for a moment before dissolving into giggles-

Ramona: -chuckle, a bit wry- We all gotta make ends meet, you know? Pokémon aren't certified for the higher-paying Jobs—you understand.

-she's very understandable-

-very welcoming-

-indeed, kinda cute-

Ramona: -pulling out a notepad- So, what can I get for you, beautiful?

-the sort of person you might like to spill your life story I mean ask for advice on the weirdest thing that's happened to you after a drink or two, which you want-

Wild Area, some afternoon

-where indeed-

-on days like these, researchers such as he…-

-honk-

-...-

-so it seems in defiance of the finely-cultivated senses Tagg has honed over a decade of activity-

-his tremendously perceptive team, experience with research and supernatural activity both-

Galarian Zapdos: -beak hooked through the strap of the binoculars- <...>

-there is a very large, debatably flightless bird peering over his shoulder-

Galarian Zapdos: H O N K

Wyndon — The Greased G'runerigus

-Ah, so that's the tone we're going for today.-

-Rose seems to sit up a bit straighter in her seat, a faint smile crossing her face.-

Rose: Oh, yeah. I definitely get that. You just gotta take what you can get, don't ya?

-She pushes aside her previously ordered drink.-

Rose: And I guess, first off, if I can get something better than... whatever the fuck this was, I'll gladly take that to start. Gotta be strong, though. I really said "give me your worst" and got exactly that, huh?

Wild Area

-Upon realizing the presence in the bird in question-

...You.

-Magtail erupts from the earth attempting to coil around them, as Diplo comes out of seemingly nowhere with a Phantom Force, and Muddy Digs his way out of the ground-

Mementos

-To Suiko-

Well, depends on whether they're here in Mementos or they have their own Palace, but the object is the same.

Pink: <We find their Shadows, we fight or convince them of the error of their ways.>

Ariadne: <And then we take their Treasure, removing the distortion on their heart.>

Wyndon Stadium

-Petey flails from the Shadow Ball-

Neon: Psychic!

-Petey blasts brainwaves at the Drampa-

Kalos Forest

-The Shroomish numbers thin but the Energy Balls only intensify-

Stormchaser

-Odin is looking at the digital Conspiracy Chart-

Edited by Umbramatic on Oct 9th 2021 at 10:16:23 AM

Wild Area

-the bird, strangely, doesn't resist as three rather powerful Pokémon emerge from nowhere to pin them in place-

Galarian Zapdos: -blinking at Tagg, bemused- <...are you always so dignified?>

-little accordion-like honk-

Galarian Zapdos: -cluck cluck cluck- <Strange. Usually folk put things up to keep me away. And here you come with a curse on your lips and my dust in your eyes, long before I set my sights on those shiny contraptions of yours.>

-any of those three ostensibly match or exceed Zapdos's mass individually—one wouldn't think it, the way they waddle forward and take a seat, dragging them along all the while-

Galarian Zapdos: <They are very shiny, so you have my attention. Speak, hidey-man.>

Kalos Forest

Firescura and fire building up in Kendall's and Kamui palms, the two throw out their power into the largest crowd possible.

Stormchaser, Training Room

-Percy backs up as Lissa runs in, catching the staff in her bone hand and using it to put a little more distance between them. She steps around the leg sweep...-

-then she sits down with a thump-

Percy: Okay. Yeah. Calling it there, you win.

-Totentanz hands her the Gatrade bottle, which she drains-

Percy: Whoof. Thanks for the scrap.

Stormchaser, Medbay

-PEFE!Every peeks out of her coat-

PEFE!Every: Are you done?

-and gets back to her feet, now holding a plant mister-

PEFE!Every: Well, uh, I can heal the damage to most of you. I don't think I can restore your ability to walk just yet, though I may be able to do something.

...I would need your blood, though.

Wyndon Outskirts

Apple-A-Day: Oh, do you want to help Loha and I tear some seat separators off? I'm Apple-A-Day, by the way.

-Syrnewt, evidently deciding that the Natu are appeased, crawls out of the branches onto Apple-A-Day's head-

Syrnewt: <And I'm Syrnewt, their incredibly loyal and long-suffering starter.>

Apple-A-Day: Hey come on!

Syrnewt: <It's pretty much true.>

Kalos Forest, August 31st

Lesia: -Continuing to blast them- <Why do they just keep on coming?>

Ann: No idea!

Wyndon Stadium, September 18th

Drampa: -Doesn't take as much damage from the neutral attack and fires another Shadow Ball-

Wild Area, today

-As Galarian Zapdos casually drags my mons behind them-

They could've easily sped off before my mons even got close to connecting...

..They're toying with us.

Magtail: -Annoyed-

Muddy: -Has come to much the same conclusion-

-Standing up-

You already know why we're here, I have a mission to have you join the Legendary Council, you agreed that if I managed to catch you, you'd do so. It's been almost two months since then.

Edited by rmctagg09 on Oct 9th 2021 at 11:25:33 AM

"Avoid the E.M.M.I, the next room is right there!"

"I got it I got it!"

<Oh crap it sees you!>

~RUN! RUN!!~

<There should be a computer room nearby! Get the Omega cannon!>

The Grant family is surrounding Roxy as she plays Metroid Dread.

Stormchaser, Outside

-A golden haired girl stands outside the Stormchaser, confident in herself. This is a momentous occasion for her, as she has found what is basically J-Team HQ and is about to climb aboard for the first time. She looks to the Poké Balls containing her friends, Hikari and Diego, and nods as she sets foot on the ship.

Stormchaser

Aurelia: Hello, Stormchaser! My name is Aurelia, and I hope we can be friends!

-Aurelia looks around as she wanders the halls of the Stormchaser, enamored by the design, the aura of life and basically everything about the ship. She eventually wanders into an area of the ship with what appears to be a conspiracy chart and sees someone examining it.-

Aurelia: Um... hi...

Stormchaser, Medbay

-a lengthy examination ensues-

Zayna: ~...why can't you people make sense.~

-what punctuates that is less a coherent sentence and more a psionic sigh, a whole month's worth of sitting and pain and waiting for something to happen condensed into a zip file and skipped into the ether-

(-the Stormchaser absorbs this, too, as crudely wrought as it is-)

Zayna: ~...do what you like. I don't care any more.~

-beneath the bandages, scarred eyes close-

Zayna: ~...yes, I'm done.~

Wyndon Outskirts

Abilene: Oooh yes indeedy. Abilene Macraul. Unwillingly charmed.

-she extends a hand, the other retrieving her cane-

Sorbus: -rumble, amused- <Sorbus. Less starter, more loyal, equally longsuffering.>

Abilene: Mm.

Sorbus: <Equally true, our collector.> ~w~

-Lanatus follows Syrnewt out of the branches, Abilene listening a moment-

Abilene: -to Syrnewt- ...my, but you are a lovely specimen.

-Beat-

Abilene: I, er. Have resting covetous voice. A product of my upbringing.

-pointing a finger at herself- Believe you me, I have no intention of exchanging the Flapple I do possess for any other. You simply seem…

-...musing- ...well-loved.

-walking off- Far moreso than those gifted on Luvdisc Day and left to the wayside. Shame.

Wyndon — The Greased G'runerigus

Ramona: -fingerguns- I'll be right back!

-rummage-

-rummage rummage-

-oh there goes the old bartender some guy who probably should sleep that off-

-the pop of a cork, or the tap of a keg…-

-she returns, with a mug of something fizzy-

Ramona: Bon appetit. -which is absolutely what bartenders say when they're cute and powerful (within the envelope of normal human achievement)-

-it looks pretty appealing…-

Wild Area, today

Galarian Zapdos: <Oh, are you still on that?>

-they begin to preen, nudging aside a grasping limb to do so-

Galarian Zapdos: <You don't want me on any Council of yours. Or rather you don't want me. Is that such a stretch to you not wanting me?>

-in the midst of this litany, their eyes meet Muddy's-

-such cold inspection...giving way to pure, rotten amusement-

Galarian Zapdos: <Very well. You may prove the Council isn't so boring as all that by serving a few simple amusements.>

-is it possible for a shit-eating grin to lack teeth-

Galarian Zapdos: <That Champion everyone's atizzy about. I want his cape.>

-they tap their chin-

Galarian Zapdos: <And, oh...one of Spectrier's tail hairs, yes, that will do nicely.>

-a thought occurs to them-

Galarian Zapdos: -squawk, chortling- <I would love to see that pompous king of theirs faceplant in the soil!>

-avian shrug- <They're Grass! They love that sort of thing, surely. I could do this myself, but well. They're nowhere to be found! I couldn't be bothered.>

-back to that grin- <But if we'll be seeing more of each other, this won't be so difficult, hm?>

-their toes dig in the dirt…-

Galarian Zapdos: <That will do for starters, mm. Chop chop.>

Edited by Asterisk395 on Oct 9th 2021 at 1:54:56 PM

Stormchaser Medbay

PEFE!Every: Well, okay.

-she spreads her hands, and several objects float out of her coat, including Cytosol-

-while they get to work doing things best undiscussed, PEFE!Every sits down next to Zayna-

PEFE!Every: So tell me about yourself. My name is Every Memito, I work for PEFE, I'm 25 years old, I like Dunsparce, science, home security design, and toxicology. Oh, rate your pain for me before you answer anything? I have anaesthesia in here if you need any.

Wyndon Outskirts

-Apple-A-Day shakes Abilene's hand, somehow staying in Sorbus's branches-

Apple-A-Day: Aw, thanks. Would you believe people are mostly not charmed by me?

Syrnewt: <Yes.>

Apple-A-Day: Oh yeah uh. I don't like that kind of thing. I got Syrnewt from a shelter when I was little. We've been together a while.

Resting covetous voice?

Wyndon — The Greased G'runerigus

-Seemingly a bit dazzled, Rose just trails her gaze in Ramona's direction as she retrieves the new drink.-

-As she returns with the mug, Rose accepts it, staring at the liquid inside from behind her sunglasses.-

Rose: ...Mmm.

-This haze around her mind is probably nothing. She hasn't even taken a drink yet, right? Probably just the last one making her feel gross.-

Rose: ...Well, wouldn't want to disappoint someone so cute.

-She takes a drink. Don't knock it 'til you try it, after all, and what's to lose?-

???

-There's really nothing like being stranded in the desert. Barren wastes for miles, wind occasionally kicking up dust to launch in your eyes. A mountain looms in the distance — the crater at the peak is calm, but unmistakeably volcanic.-

-The only solace from the heat and maddening emptiness is a mansion, right in the middle of nowhere. The windswept sand has piled up halfway around the whole first floor, but the space around the front door is clear enough to reach.-

-Wouldn't hurt to try knocking. What's to lose?-

Stormchaser, Training Room

-Lissa grins, brushing away hair that has been plastered to her forehead with sweat.-

Lissa: Pleasure's all mine. Good to stay in shape, and remind myself that I can still kick some ass now and again. And, uh, sorry for springing it on you like that.

-She follows Percy's lead, sitting down opposite her and laying her staff against the floor. A moment later, she closes her eyes too.-

Lissa: ...Sorry, the skull thing's just gonna keep distracting me if I keep thinking about it. So, um... been a while since I've seen either of you. How's tricks?

Stormchaser, Medbay

-Zayna, of course, has a slightly different threshold of things not to be discussed^* not that it alters the narrative perspective lmao-

Zayna: -formally- ~...Fulminous, Zayna the. I serve...d the School, humanity's perfector. My profile incorporates psionic electokinesis, magnetokinesis, and a martial art derived from principles of the Idaniká line. I am twelve.~

-well, that's an entirely different register-

~The centrepiece of my build is electrically stimulated acceleration of thoughts and motor impulses. I was the leader of a squad that is now entirely dead.~

-it's like she's giving a report, rehearsed-

-despite the request, the last question is one she—blinks—answers last-

Zayna: -squirming imperceptibly- ~...One.~

Wyndon Outskirts

Abilene: Yes. -...-

Sorbus: <...>

-rude, Abilene-

Abilene: -cough- ...if there is anything producing for the richest fucking denominator has taught me, it is that most people lack taste. Live your bliss, Mx. A Day.

-mutter- As I said, lack taste, yet hunger endlessly. My family likes things, and likes showing they like things even more. I do what I must that I may what I can.

-and the squad goes walking-

-just tapping along—a girl and her titanic tree-turtle thing-

Sorbus: -well-practiced in the "don't crack the pavement" dance-

Abilene: Mhm. Various uncles insist they can "hook me up" with artisanally crafted critters, or the providers thereof so long as I can convince them. -clipped- I do not need their help, here.

Sorbus: -casting gaze upward, to Syrnewt- <I myself come from such a place! As a Turtwig, my legs were too weak to support my weight. Unsuitable for the starter program.> u~u

-she still cannot walk very well, but she seems...robust-

Wyndon — The Greased G'runerigus

-it is a very good drink-

-Ramona whistles, wiping a mug and holding conversation with no one about nothing at all-

 ???, Old Chateau(?) 

-someone is here now-

-or...someone is already here, and has been for as long as anything matters-

-the landscape folds, lifting her from her three-point landing-

Ramona: -chuckle, light- Here we are.

-purple-and-pink spheres float about her head in a manner reminiscent of a more common Psychic-

-strangely, no armor—the same servicewear as her physical body, in muted shades of purple-

-Aspects split off from her, dragging the edges of her shadow toward the corners of the desert—the wind does not touch them, nor the heat fatigue-

-more bury themselves in the sand around the manse-

Ramona: -murmur, walking up- Now, what's your deal, huh? Your head's so noisy...

-what to lose indeed-

-she knocks on the door-

Jackal stretched and rolled his left shoulder a bit, "Yeah. Basically remove the thing blocking off their guilt, and let the rest roll."

He paused, "Though we should still recall we could be faced with another Persona user. Remember Danny?"

Knight grinned at the back of Jackal's mind, Oh how satisfying his beatdown was, what was that? 30 seconds of uninterrupted Ora?

"The likelihood is pretty nil but we can't discount it. For now, what's the Palace?"

???

-The door opens.-

-The figure that greets Ramona, for the most part, is unmistakeably the same individual that she just charmed in the bar. About 5'6, with pale skin and copper hair and brown eyes.-

-On that note, Ramona can actually see her eye color, since there's no sunglasses. What she is wearing is a ragged white T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and what seem to be shackles on her wrists, chains broken off and not holding her onto anything, seemingly only there to agitate a lot of visible scars.-

-She's also wearing the most tired, exasperated expression Ramona's ever seen on a single person.-

Rose(?): Who in the fuck are you.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Oct 10th 2021 at 10:53:05 AM