Ever's Hospital Room

Ever: Yeah, no, turns out dramatic story arcs are cool and all but clinical depression requires the occasional medical intervention. I was surprised too.

But...uh, yeah. I may need you the next little while. I'm pretty nervous about this whole thing.

Ever's Hospital Room

-Kai grins.-

Kai: Lucky for you, I'm impossible to get rid of. Even if you don't tell me your problems, Brie will.

-They wave their phone, which is opened to Brie's text alerting them about Ever.-

Kai: So, y'know, there's that threat.

-said with a smile on their face-

Ever's Hospital Room

Ever: Yes, yes, I'm surrounded by people who love me, it's a dismal fate.

Ugh, if this makes me worse at battling, I'm gonna be so annoyed.

Ever's Hospital Room

Kai: Au contraire, mon ami, I think it'll make you even better. I mean, just look at Megan, she's basically broken reality's limits through the power of friendship on multiple occasions. Sure, there was outside influence, but the core was all her.

-They glance at Myra's screen.-

Kai: Speaking of which, how's loading coming along?

Myra: I have about three more seconds buffered. At 240p.

Kai: Gods, this hospital wifi sucks.

Ever's Hospital Room

Ever: Ha, you know what? Fair point.

Floraroma Meadow, ???

Mog: "No,I want to fight!"

-Sends out a Sirfetch'd-

"Howard! Leaf Blade! Slice them away!"

Howard: <Well if you say so...>

-He starts slicing with his leek-

-The two Trainers start cutting a path through the mons-

School Safehouse

Justice: "M-"

Tsukihime: <Do NOT say "meow".>

Justice: "-e? Cleaning service."

Autumn Mountain

Olivia: <Oh,good idea! Pour water on it!>

Hisuian Voltorb: <If that doesn't work, I can, uh, ram into it.>

Floaroma Meadow, ???

Chiyo: -Sighs as her barriers push most of the attacking mons back, and Dactyl bounces between them to faint the ones that get too close-

Ursaring: -Attempts to swipe at Chiyo while she's preoccupied-

Beremices: -Jump out from Chiyo's back (It's a bit unclear where exactly they were hiding) and start introducing their teeth to the bear's face-

Ursaring: -Slashing at them with their claews to no avail, as they're quick enough to avoid its strikes- <Get these little jerks off me!>

-Runs around, inadvertently knocking out other mons as they try getting the Tandemaus off-

Autumn Mountain

Ann: It's worth a shot.

-Pulling out a Premier Bell and sending out a Floatzel-

Okay Lutra, use Rain Dance!

Lutra: -Summons a small raincloud-

Edited by rmctagg09 on Feb 27th 2023 at 2:31:11 PM

Pewter City- Owen Edmundson's House- HOUSE TOUR (March 2022)

While Owen and the rest of his mons headed upstairs, Eurypedis, Nautilu, and Anomalo began touring the house, specifically starting in the living room. Anomalo jumped off of Nautilu's shell and began skittering around frantically, eventually running into the giant leather chair. He recoiled for a bit, then began feeling it.

<W-what is this?> he asked.

<That thing you're feeling right now?> asked Eurypedis. <That is what is referred to as a chair.>

<Indeed,> said Nautilu. <They have existed since Ancient [Egypt], and their primary function is to be used as a seat. Of course, you can't really sit in a chair all that well, given that you are an Armaldo, but semantics. For centuries they were used as symbols of status and dignity, mainly being used by the upper-class, and it wasn't until the Rennaissance— which neither I nor Eurypedis lived through, but which the latter certainly knows about— that they began to be used by the common classes. If you're wondering what the Rennaissance is, basically, it was a period of major artistic, historic, and scientific growth that occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries, but we'll save the history lessons for later assuming they don't have anything to do with furniture.>

Eurypedis went over to inspect the chair, crawling on it.

<...hm,> he said after a minute. <It appears to be made from some rather high-quality leather. I am unsure as to its origin, however.>

<What's "leather"?> asked Anomalo. <Is that the reason why this feels so hard?>

<The skins and hides of Pokemon that have been tanned for the sake of being used in things such as clothing and what-not,> said Eurypedis.

<Actually, on second thought this very well is more likely to be artificial leather,> noted Nautilu.

<Artificial leather?> Eurypedis' red eyes underneath his horseshoe crab body narrowed. <Surely if they make leather nowadays, it is done the old-fashioned way?>

<Y-you... you take off Pokemon's skins?!> cried Anomalo.

<It was merely commonplace back in the day,> said Eurypedis. <They sold Pokemon leather like it was paper.>

<Naturally,> mused Nautilu. <This was before Hisui was a thing, so naturally the Vow hadn't technically been fully established as common knowledge yet. People still considered Pokemon to be dangerous creatures back then.>

<Hi... sui...?> asked Anomalo.

<Modern-day Sinnoh. It's the region where you took on that Ludicolo,> said Nautilu.

<Oh,> said Anomalo.

<Why would anyone use artificial leather to make things?> snapped Eurypedis. <If they are to use leather, then it is to be done the proper way, with a freshly-skinned Pokemon in front of you.>

<Uh-huh,> said Nautilu almost immediately. <Would you be willing to see me freshly-skinned?>

<Your shell can't be used to make lea—> Eurypedis began— and then he noticed the television in front of him. <Good sweet Arceus what is that?! Is this— is this some kind of reflective mirror?! Why can I see myself in it? Actually, I can't... really see myself all that well. I didn't realize they'd come up with some sort of... black tinted mirror in the years since I lived.>

<That is not a mirror,> said Nautilu. <That is a television. It is a telecommunications device that transfers moving images onto a screen.>

<Where's the "television"?> asked Anomalo, climbing up onto the chair and feeling around on it, before unknowingly approaching the desk next to it and crawling onto the remote control. <Is this the television?>

<Huh?>

Eurypedis noticed and crawled over to the remote.

<What on earth is this thing?> he asked. <It appears to be a weird block of sorts with complicated patterns on it...>

He turned to face Nautilu. <Is it a weapon? Can I throw it?>

<...no,> said Nautilu simply. <Well, you could theoretically use it as a weapon, but I would advise against it. Here.>

He took the TV remote and pressed the button on it. Instantly, the HOME screen appeared. Eurypedis was so shocked that his eyes widened, and he glanced on in shock.

<W-what on earth?!> he cried. <What just happened...?! What is this... thing?!>

He glanced down at the remote in his claw.

<That is a remote control,> said Nautilu. <It uses patterns of infrared light to—>

<Halt!>

Nautilu suddenly stopped. Eurypedis was glancing over at the TV screen, which was presenting trailers for upcoming shows. He had a look of shock on his face.

<Huh...?> asked Anomalo.

<I was not told that people were being held hostage inside of this unusual black cage!> Eurypedis exclaimed. <The nerve of whoever is controlling this!>

<...Eurypedis?> Nautilu began. <They aren't being—>

<Fear my wrath, thou insolent capturer!> exclaimed Eurypedis, holding the remote control high above him. <I shall break your servants out of their confines using all of my battle prowess and knowledge!>

<Eurypedis, no!> Anomalo cried.

But Eurypedis had already let out a battle cry and began to pull back his claw, before throwing the remote control as hard as he could go...

...only for it to hit the wall and ricochet back, not even hitting the television.

Nautilu facepalmed.

Eurypedis scratched his head. <...hm. It appears my throwing capabilities are not as they once were. Very well, then.> He picked up the remote and crawled back onto the chair. <I shall merely train myself back up again in that front until I can use this unusual device as a proper method of saving these innocents.>

Nautilu glanced over at Eurypedis with a clearly exhausted look, before picking up Anomalo again and putting him back on his shell.

<...I think the time has come for us to show Anomalo another area of the house,> he said.

The Hamlet, The Farmhouse

The Doll wobbles a little and gasps loudly at the jumpscare from her fellow ghost.

Angie: <Okay! Okay! I think... There's someone in the deep forest who might know... Like maybe the Witch, yeah! You can get there through the crossroads!>

She lets out an exasperated (and kind of shrieky) sigh.

Angie: <Egh. Can't believe I let Miranda down and left her thing unguarded...>

Thieves Hideout

Shift: <Alas, and here I was hoping this would be easy.>

Okay. Maybe we just need to... I dunno, be patient. If we keep poking and raiding at them, the School might let slip enough staff names that we can start taking them apart through... Okay now that I'm talking it out inducing conscience is a weird sketchy zone in the whole fight for good thing...

Shift: <Eh, anyone with a Palace is probably toxic enough to be improved by us stealing the Heart.>

Battle Academy

The Owl: <Answer one: We are certain that this individual is the malefactor, however the route he takes has been... Obscured. Divination through the Forest reveals many paths that lead to the same conclusion, all beginning with this man.>

-Pent of course looks immensely displeased by all this conjecture, though the word 'Forest' perks his eyebrow-

The Owl: <Answer two: The tyrant, like all tyrants, has a monopoly on violence. Violence had to be stolen and it is by chance that the weapon taken was his own daughter. Answer three: While it is possible that intervention done poorly could catalyze the change, all usage of the Forest was conducted with the assumption of null intervention.>

The Girl: You really trust the scraps of what dad left behind? By my father, didn't realize the Brass Cartel were just straight idiots...

Glimwood Cabin

Hm. I'll get on that in a bit.

-Gale takes possession of the clearly unusual object and files it away in her bag-

Now now, no need to get hostile friend. I will, however, admit to being curious; how did this world ever end up with a awarded merchant such as yourself? I have my theories of course, but they do naught to explain your full scope!

Autumn Mountain

-Gale gives a silent nod at Mitchell's question and then an exasperated (kind of performative in its tone) at everyone's suggestions for how to help the flopped paper fish-

Guys? I think this isn't a fish.

-Gale steps over and tries to unfold the origami Wishiwashi-

J-Team Textspace

"I USED TO BE A [Cungadero] SALESMAN, MADE SOME GOOD [[Big Shot]] DEALS BACK DURING [[Circa 1997]] AND EVEN HAD SOME ADVICE AND A GOOD [Friend Request Approved] NAMED MIKE... [MIKE]"

So he's not too far off from what he's... referencing.

"MADE ONE BAD DEAL AND LOST IT ALL, NOW I'M THE EMAIL GUY!"

"I figured it was just that we remove a point of obsession and let any repressed thoughts of "What I'm doing is wrong" bubble to the surface. Therapy in a sense... just by a different vector," Silas admitted.

"I have to agree with Shift," Bishop added. "Anyone toxic enough to have a palace probably occupies a grey area where we can't make things worse."

Hey that telepresence means they can still show up in a different form, just not their form.

Battle Academy, Time-Lock

Angela: The Forest?

-Angela looks to Binah.-

Angela: Are they related?

-Binah shakes her head.-

Binah: Unlikely. The Black Forest is a very different sort of place, more a container for a monstrosity than a place that would itself be a tool.

-Angela sighs.-

Angela: This "Forest", as you call it. It is a predictive engine, of sorts? One that runs simulations at a rapid clip?

-Binah, meanwhile, has an idea. She nods to Bong-Bong, and turns to a nearby bookshelf.-

Binah: Where oh where did I leave that book...

School safehouse, office

Magnesium eyes Justice suspiciously.

Magnesium: You don't look like the usual guy... Or even templars...

Morel: <they are intruders let me fight them you idiot>

Morel charges at Justice again, but one of the many plants in the office grows and ensnares him before he can get anywhere.

Magnesium: ...They must be trying some new creation method or something. Let's go get your mushroom thawed and go back to sleep.

Morel: muffled rage noises

Magnesium: You guys might want to get out of here.

Magnesium carries Morel back down the corridor somewhere. Micro sighs in relief.

Micro: ~That was close. I've got everything copied over here. We should get out.~

Robin: ~What about the Dratini?~

Micro: ~...Right. I think that stupid Breloom knocked the key on the floor.~

textspace

Edited by QuantumMelody29 on Feb 23rd 2023 at 7:50:37 PM

Textspace

Oliver: -to Lutra- <What sorcery is this? The very elements bend to your will!>

Mitchell: -to Gale- If it's not a fish, then what is-

Mitchell then sees Gale attempting to unfold the origami Wishiwashi

Mitchell: -panicked- What do you think you're doing?!?

Hamlet, Past

"You'd better not be lying," Kamui spat, holding up a few fingers, each one with a wisp of fire on the tip.

Katsuragi slowly blinked and nodded, relinquishing the hold the mean look had on the doll.

Not before Akatsuki committed its odor to memory, of course. If they were being led astray, he would find it.

Textspace

Edited by AbsentCoder on Feb 23rd 2023 at 5:20:50 AM

Hospital

-there's a pamphlet on Ever's bedside table reading "So, you tried to fight a god"-

-more relevantly, there's some guy in a cape making corrections on it in red pen-

Hiro: -chewing on the pen's end- Hey.

Stormchaser, Hallways

Tony and Autumn are still making their way across the hallways, just trying to find anything in the massive ship they were in. It seemed like they were going to be walking forever, or maybe they were still a little tired. They did sleep in earlier after all.

Autumn was not happy at all. She was growing more and more impatient by the second, eager to see at least a door to another room or something.

Autumn: <Ughhhh....how long are we gonna keep on trotting along like this? I'm starting to grow cobwebs in my fur already!>

Tony seemed a little annoyed at Autumn's feistiness, but he brushed it off anyway.

Tony: Look, I know you've got a hell of an attitude, but come on! You know I'm not a goshdarn GPS! Give me a break here!

Autumn: <It's not my fault you stayed up too long looking watching that one show that tells the story of a young Noivernman or something! Not to mention you kept us up last night too!>

Tony felt a little embarrassed by that comment.

Tony: Okay...that was on me. My bad. I'm sorry about that.

Autumn glared at Tony, and then sighed, looking down to the floor.

Autumn: <It's alright...I'm just being antsy anyways.>

Tony: Well, we have been walking for quite a while. How about we stop by the meeting room to catch our breaths?

Autumn: <They have a meeting room here?>

Tony: Yep, I was there to meet up with a retired thief. Helped me and Saul stop a Noctowl egg heist last year near Snowpoint City.

Autumn: <Woah woah woah...you stopped an egg heist? That's awesome! Can I hear about it?>

Tony: That's a long story, maybe I'll tell you about it another time. Now, shall we get going? The meeting room shouldn't be too far from here.

Autumn, still being arrogant, decided to keep on moving despite both of them being tired out of their wits.

Autumn: <Fine, but it better be worth it.>

And they both went on their way.

Stormchaser, Meeting Room

Tony is sitting here in a chair, in a slouched position, with his suitcase laying face down on the ground. Autumn is lying sideways near the hologram projector, contemplating her life's decisions.

They are both open for interaction.

Edited by ThanosBoi on Feb 23rd 2023 at 8:48:57 AM

Halis: "...Hmm. While it is true that I don't really agree with forcibly changing people, ultimately if it's between that or continuing to allow far worse things to happen, I see no other real course of action, sadly, especially if it's something traditional methods have failed to deal with."

They shrug, shaking their head a bit.

Halis: "When you've only got a lantern and the world is full of darkness, you wouldn't want to get caught stumbling in the dark, after all."

Pastoria, Megan's Gym Challenge

Daydre is sitting in the rafters, kicking her feet in the air and watching the challenge.

.... It is unclear how she got up there, or whether the gym had rafters in the first place.

Edited by Daydre on Feb 23rd 2023 at 9:36:40 AM

Hospital

Ever: That's totally inaccurate. Usually when I fight a god I win.

-...-

Hi, by the way. How are you?

Ever's Hospital Room

-Kai waves to Hiro from the corner, before resuming scrolling on their phone.

Kai: Heya. Don't mind me.

Hospital

Hiro: Yeah, I'm aware.

Hiro: Surviving. Grateful the person I had a sword with is in a state to appreciate how little I've been using it as a sword, though that's minor in the grand scheme of things.

-he sets pamphlet and pen down to a bite of some hospital yogurt-

Hiro: -mouth full- Appreciating this stuff. The tanginess, not the probiotic label so much. Jury's still out on if it's more than a health fad.

-he takes a moment to chew and swallow, contemplatively-

Hiro: Why'd you try to die, Ever?

Edited by Asterisk395 on Feb 23rd 2023 at 9:37:22 AM

Castelia City

-Castelia is known as the city that never sleeps, and that includes its arcade scene-

Abe: -Telekinetically hurling a dart into a picture of Brad that appears to have been obtained from security footage- It's nice to go out like this, don't really get to do anything like this all that often.

Chloe: -Throws a dart right between the picture's eyes, the lack of air resistance making it go straight through- And it's nice to do it with you Abe.

???: -From behind- I have to say, you two are very hard to find even with my friend's help, Abe and Chloe.

Abe: -Suspicious as he turns around- How do you know u-

-He notes the person's purple eyes-

Fuck.

Chloe: Knife out as Boll is released-

???: Hi. I'm Lydia, Lydia the Syllabary, I've already been acquainted with your Batchmate Chiyo, perhaps she's told you about me.

Chloe: -Eyes narrow- You're that Templar from the café.

-Seemingly disappears before she appears again, her knife at Lydia's neck as Abe telekinetically lifts an Iron Ball-

Give me a good reason why I shouldn't just slit your throat right now. I'll do worse than what Chiyo and Channah did.

Lydia: -Neutrally- I'm pretty sure you could kill me with just a flick of your wrist, Chloe Cloudchaser, and not lose a wink of sleep over it. But would that be a good idea?

-Voice betraying no fear, though her eyes are telling a different story-

If it were just the two of us, you could kill me, probably even disappear for a while before anyone even knew what happened. But, Abe isn't exactly as... mobile as you are, now is he?

Chloe: -Presses the knife slightly harder, but not quite enough to draw blood- ...Are you threatening us?

Lydia: -Hands up- No, just stating the facts. You'd try running, since you're not about to leave him behind, but you'd not only be hounded by Templars once the School found out about my death, but by the police for murder because I'm unarmed. That would most likely not end well for either of you, especially when there's so many witnesses around. For more than one reason, like the SEP Field I'm using breaking upon my death, or the School would spin it based on our differences in complexion. Foul, but it would do the job.

Chloe: -Reluctantly removes her knife from Lydia's throat, but still stands between her and Abe, her body language saying that she would kill the Templar if she tried anything, regardless of the consequences- ...What do you want?

Lydia: -Taking a seat and lounging- I merely wanted to take the measure of two of Chiyo's surviving New Century Class Batchmates. Is there room for three in this game, Brad's hardly my favorite Templar either.

Chloe: -Crossing arms- Playing nice with us?

Abe: -Glaring- I bet you already have a perimeter around, or something, like what you did with Chiyo and Channah.

-His hands are basically white-knuckling his wheelchair until Chloe puts a hand on one-

Lydia: -Smiling- No, it's just me, and my little friends of course.

-Some Unown appear-

I'm no fighter, I know I'm no match for either of you, and even if I was Chiyo would come after me, and I'd go out like plenty of Templars have. My superiors don't even know I'm here, and I suspect they have bigger concerns considering all the mess the J-Team and Team Iron have made for the School.

Chloe: -To Abe- You think she's telling the truth?

Abe: If she's not we'll find out very shortly.

Lydia: -Taking a dart- So then, Abe? Chloe? Shall we play?

Edited by rmctagg09 on Feb 23rd 2023 at 11:25:41 AM

Hospital

Ever: See, the trick is to have enough gut flora that everything moves along appropriately, but not enough that it becomes a Pokémon.

-sigh-

I'm glad our sword would remain in good hands. I was just...tired of things holding me back, I guess.

Sinnoh, Hospital

Hiro: You joke, but I've known too many kids loving dolls as hard as they could hoping they'd come alive and love them back. A few succeeded, but...

-if Lace is there, he offers her some rather warm pets-

Hiro: ...most had to learn it takes giving something away to make life. Time, chemistry, attention...it's once it's there that sharing makes living.

-he regards a torn-off piece of Ever's soul with that telltale shimmer in his eyes-

-no scolding, not even disapproval-

-just curiosity-

Hiro: Now, I'm violating your privacy in all sorts of interesting ways right now, and hoping it distracts from the pedantry. I'm less interested in that you think my hands are good than that you know yours were, much less than in what you expect I'll read into "things" and "back from", and far less than I am in...

-and regards them, unblinking, just the same-

Hiro: ...what changed your mind?