No voice to cry suffering
Stormchaser, Food Place
Logan: Mmh. Right?
-Logan themself is eating a sort of tofu stir fry-
Logan: -giggling lightly- I have the urge to introduce you to some kind of vegetable, but you might already be familiar. I'm not sure what food best nurtures growing Psychics.
-they twirl their chopsticks in the air-
Addie: -to Didit- Pft. Damn right.
-she nudges Logan; without really thinking about it, they playfully nudge back-
-but there's that pause of someone reprocessing just how high the School's turnover rate is-
Addie: <...>
Addie: ...like Uxie from Arceus' skull, huh? Just way more...transient.
-she doesn't bother to hide her simmering horror...but she doesn't make a point of it, either-
Addie: ...down to personality, huh. How'd they improve on a kid as sweet as this?
Edited by Asterisk395 on Mar 28th 2023 at 7:14:33 AM
No mind to think. No will to break.
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-To Yan-Yu-
If I managed to send you off to join them in the Spirit World, what do you think would happen to the powers of the Mask?
Castelia
Abe: -Feels a draft- I'm getting really tired of all these breezes.
-As Chiyo and Zee come out of the rift-
Chiyo: Abe, where's Chloe, we're gonna need both of you.
Chloe: -Rounds the corner, drinking a smoothie- Something up?
Chiyo: The School. Bunch of them are massing to attack the Stormchaser.
Zee: -Nodding- Chiyo thinks they may have figured out our plans.
Chloe: Alright.
-Pulling out her knife-
Let's go Templar hunting then.
Chiyo: -Eyebrow raise- That ready to go? I thought I'd have to seriously convince you.
Chloe: -Putting the smoothie down- No, I'm tired of those jerks, they're not taking this from us. From everyone. So many truants are counting on this.
Abe: -Nods- I concur.
Chiyo: Then let's get to work, it'll... almost be like when we escaped. But this time, we'll be protecting our freedom instead of running for it.
Edited by rmctagg09 on May 5th 2023 at 4:55:42 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
The Stormchaser, Several Weeks in the Past
Upon sensing Autumn's reaction, Tommy stood up.
Tommy: Okay, I can't help but agree with that violent reaction, Nick. Is there something you're not telling us? Arceus, why is it always big preachy organizations that like to hide things. Gah, it's been this way since we started working with them five years ago with the skyholes. Always with the clandestine shit.
There was a tinge of unmistakable disappointment in Tommy's voice, indicating that he used to think so highly of the organization up until that moment.
Nick: Uh, first of all. Watch your blasphemous tone, kid. That's how you get the bad karma.
Nate: ~I thought it was doing bad things.~
Nick: Not my point, Nate. Second, let me explain. Do you seriously think I have high clearance here? It's only recently that they'd let me disclose stuff that I normally wouldn't be allowed to tell you. I'm the guy who works their laser cutters; I didn't even know you've been in the 'Chaser until you told me. I only got the clearance to tell y'all anything just a few days ago. If you have any issues, take it up with Dr. Tagg or any of the higher-ups.
Nick paused, and realized that he might've gone a bit too far with the yelling. A compelling voice inside, not from Nate, seems to try to comfort him and seems to stir him to understand both Tony's and Tommy's feelings about the informant. It also seems to tell him to play the "need to know" card again instead of defaulting to protocol.
Nick: Okay, I need to calm down a bit. So, yeah. I only got the clearance to bring him up for questioning to anyone rather recently. It's a need-to-know thing. It didn't occur to me until just recently that this might be a useful lead for you, so I didn't feel compelled to disclose that until that moment. I hope you two understand what conflict your little mystery is intersecting with. PEFE makes a lot of big enemies, way big.
Tommy: No stranger to that. A lot of people hate journalists. Reactionary politicians, crooked businesspeople, supervillains.
Nick: Yeah, the same people. I'm not being the media blackout bad guy here, okay. We're working on something big that even I can't disclose much to make sure it doesn't reach the bad guys. Seriously, they have spies everywhere. I'm just glad the Stormchaser is extra well defended on that part.
Both Tommy and Nick look up. They seem to feel something about the Stormchaser. Maybe if they were attuned enough, Tony and his Pokémon could feel it too. Anyone who was good-intentioned was welcome here. This place had no room for spies.
Nate: ~I'll let you figure it out yourselves.~
Nick: Now, cousin. I've given you this opportunity and that's as far as I can give. I don't need the ship's defenses letting you in to know that I can trust you. You're a good kid. And don't get me wrong, the new detective guy reminds me a lot about you.
Tommy: You say that about every bright-eyed optimistic newbie person, do you?
Nick: Face it, Thomas, you're my ready frame of reference to that archetype. Now, I'm not sure if this is a good lead or a dead end for the two of you, so I hope y'all are ready. Get yourselves settled in and prepare your interview questions, and I'll have them at the interview room come the morrow.
Tommy: Alright. So Tony and Autumn, you cool with that?
He sighs. Using the need to know card hit a little close to home. He's just gonna have to trust PEFE's lead on this one.
Stormchaser, Come the Morrow
The interview room had a one-way glass mirror. Inside it was a simple table and a pair of chairs. Waiting for Tommy and Tony were Nick and another person of ambiguous gender, Ciara.
Nick: Tommy, Tony, this is Ciara. She was a defector from one of the evil organizations. However, she has nothing to inform you at the moment.
Ciara: A pleasure to meet you, Tony and Tommy.
She points to Tommy.
Ciara: I like this one.
Tommy: Uh, thanks, and all, but see I have a girlfriend and—-
Nick: Not into polycules, cous?
Tommy: Need to have the talk for that stuff.
Nick: Oh. I taught you well. Anyway... it's actually their Pokémon who's involved with the heists, something they told me and confirmed. Ciara managed to convince her Pokémon to be compliant and has agreed to take a follow-up interview on a later date if you need any additional information.
Ciara: I don't know what else I can tell you. I acquired him upon escaping. He had previously been involved with several raids of the nature you describe. He should be able to fill you in with the ups and downs of what happens in them.
Nick: Thank you.
Inside the room, sitting on one end of the table, is a young scrawny 20-something male human with bright magenta eyes and light ochre hair. He wore a baggy slate gray jersey with the PEFE brand in the center and appears to be wearing a button up and tie underneath it. Or at least he looked human. Nick presses an intercom button.
Ciara: My friends, meet my Ditto. Igor.
Dr. Cassander's Estate
Dr. Cassander averts his eyes and reaches for a cooler to pick up Diet Croak. It was warm this season. Spring has finally arrived—-and it was a very warm one, too. Watson, meanwhile, had ditched his jacket and his suit, but stopped short of discarding his white undershirt. He knew he could expect to get dirty.
Dr. Cassander: If things go south, Watson, stay on standby.
The surprisingly athletic nebbish young man shudders, then nodded in response. He doesn't want to watch, but is compelled to by duty and morbid curiosity.
The rutting Wyrdeer continued to antagonize one another until one of them noticed Tenor. It was the largest and orneriest of them all. He charges. Sensing this, Watson quickly leapt into the paddock, intending to stop the stag by hand.
Watson: Mr. Tenor, grab my hand!
However, in a seeming initial success of Tenor's actions, the Wyrdeer briefly stopped their conflict and allowed the largest stag to move forward to approach Tenor. Far from a charge, the stag moved in a gentle walk. Both the other stags and the does looked at him with contempt, but decided to do nothing. Each step the giant stag makes is in tune to the music, the rhythmic steps approaching him. The giant stag snorted. He was clearly still pissed, but was compelled to follow along with the tune.
All the while, Watson looked on in bewilderment.
Watson: What the fuck?!
The stag stands before Mr. Tenor, rhythmically tapping his feet alongside the music. But he still looks rather ornery.
Edited by MasterJayAM on Oct 20th 2023 at 10:10:09 PM
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser
Yan-Yu: <Itislikely____thatthemask'spower...Wouldfade.>
Yan-Yu: <But.Itisnotsosimple____tojustreleaseme.>
Yan-Yu: <Ithink...therewerethosethat____tried____toexcisemebefore.____Ifeltit.It____didnotwork.>
Yan-Yu: <Perhapspartofthecurse____functionstobindme____here,aswell.>
Daydre: "Hm... So you're stuck. D'you think there's a way to release you temporarily? Maybe let you stretch your legs or something?"
Yan-Yu: <I..Perhaps?____Ididnotconsiderthat. If____ I____amtobestuckhere ____Itmaybeniceto ____ interact ____ withtheworld,____onoccasion____atleast.>
Daydre: "Interesting..."
off the shits
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-Can sense the ensuing struggle outside but is trying to concentrate-
Enough power, and it may be enough to get you to manifest more.
CW ableist language
Templar: -Seeing some people ahead... but one of them he clearly recognizes- Wait. It's... Iridium.
Templar #2: -Also looking ahead- She's not alone. Who are those people?
Chiyo: -Stepping forward- There's a saying I heard once. All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a Thousand Enemies.
Zee: -Greatsword slung over her shoulder- And if they catch you, they will kill you.
Chloe: But first they must catch you. Digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning.
Abe: -Rolling next to everyone- Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
Chiyo: We have spent decades of our lives running from you, constantly on the defensive, playing the Nidoran running from Skarmory like in storybooks.
-Eyes narrow-
But that ends today.
Zee: -Taking up a fighting pose as Sickle brandishes her claws- No more hiding for us, Templars.
Chloe: -Brandishing her knife- So if it's a fight you want?
Abe: -Gripping his chair- Come and get us.
Chiyo: But if you do...
-Dactyl rotating aggressively-
You'll see what it means to face our combined might, firsthand!
-Some of the Templar's faces blanche, visibly reluctant at the thought of entering combat. But as for others...-
Templar #3: You must all be Iridium's Batchmates, so once we've bagged all of you, that so-called cure's next!
Templar #4: -Looking at Abe in particular- We're the next step in Auric evolution, why should we be afraid of some cripple?
Chiyo: It's Chiyo now. And you're free to try, let's see if you can succeed where so many of you over the years have failed.
Chloe: -Angrily to Templar #4- Maybe we'll just kill you first.
Chiyo: -Calmly- We're not killing anyone, at least not if we can avoid it. Can't promise you won't be super fucked up once we're done with you though.
Abe: -Speaking up- It's true, my legs don't work like they used to. I need help getting around a lot of the time, thanks to Templars like you.
-Staring as he starts lifting rocks that must weigh at least a ton-
But don't mistake that for weakness. You're not making it past us, too much is riding on this.
-And so the Templars charge, as the Truancy Gang makes a large visible field from the release of their Auras and brandishing of weapons and Constructs-
Edited by rmctagg09 on Mar 12th 2024 at 4:21:36 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser
Yan-Yu: <Mm...>
Daydre: "Where would we get that kind of power though?"
off the shits
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-To Daydre-
The Stormchaser can donate the power, I'm sure, that's what's powering this very ritual.
-The Templars who aren't immediately blasted away from the combined Aura pulse start firing attacks-
Chiyo: -Blocking the opening volley of attacks with her barriers- Zee, now!
Zee: -Charging up- Let's see how well you fly!
-Does the opening shot against the charging Templars with a wave of gravity projected with a sweep of her sword, sending the remaining Templars who weren't already blasted aside by the Truancy Gang's combined Aura pulse flying-
Abe: -Uses telekinesis to throw a number of the flying Templars into the greater throng, assisted by Chloe altering wind resistance combined with Boll using Hurricane-
Edited by rmctagg09 on May 5th 2023 at 5:06:06 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Fwomph
Battle Academy
The Girl: Cool. I can walk it off.
-She stumbles to her feet as Pent sips on the offered tea to try and brush off how much of a whirlwind of weird this past hour tops has been-
Honestly understandable. Time travel is a helluva thing...
The Girl: Ffff-father it's good to not have that ticking in my brain anymore.
Pokepark Parking Place
-Gale's expression doesn't get much better as her self-contemplation is joined by her eldritch companion-
Well I was going to skip the whole thing until they hooked me in with promises of just hanging out. Thought it'd be nice to talk to people I know and also like straight up have a first meeting with J-Teamers who've joined without me noticing? And then I get here and...
-She pops the seat back and waggles her arms in the air a little-
Everyone goes off to do stuff by themselves or with existing friends to do Pokemon stuff. Which, yaknow, I'm not actually here for. Like following the pattern they probably think I'm off wherever the Dark or Flying types linger but like... I didn't come here to talk to a bunch of random trained 'mons I came here to talk with... Friends? Acquaintance-level allies? Whatever...
-She lets out a big sigh-
Maybe I'll swoop the proxy down at random to see how they're doing. If I can pick them out of the crowd.
Sunyshore City
-Gale pauses in her idle musing of this wonderful day as she realizes the time signature at play. She is sorely tempted to just get out a keytar and jam to it but given none of the regular civilians around were reacting to this weirdly engaging but otherwise normal rhythm implied something else was at play. So she went to just quietly investigate the source-
-I mean she also kind was humming an accompaniment while she did so but without magical back-up it likely wasn't going to travel far. Surely?-
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
The Pen poked Gale in the forehead. You came here to spend time with friends, we even worked out a proxy so you could. You don't need to talk to anyone random, just focus on your friends. You made the choice to come out here.
It crossed the arms of its avatar. As for picking them out from a crowd, shouldn't be too hard for at least one. Sheesh do you see what that Lucario wears? Goggles, bright green scarf, and a poncho. Power he has, fashion sense I'd say otherwise.
It projected a cartoonish image of Stylus, exaggerated of course, with an even more noticeable frown and scowl. Seriously he could do with some fashion sense, miss influencer.
Talbain and Ribbon arrived, and to say the gym was complex would be an understatement. When you have so many pokemon with different movesets, you have to design something that accounts for that.
Ribbon tilted her head. <Uhm... how is anyone supposed to navigate this?>
Oliver and Stylus arrived at the dojo, fighting types all over the place, a few posing, a few screaming. Oliver squinted a bit. <Jeez... stereotype much?>
Stylus shrugged. <Hey, when your blood literally tells you to fight, this stuff is common.>
<Expecting to win any matches?> Oliver asked.
Stylus grinned in response.
Isaac stomped on the cigarette and put it out, with a smile he began to walk. A motion for Risky and Jade to follow.
"The investigator we're seeing is this way," Isaac said. "Now do either of you two have any pokemon who can cast things like Nasty Plot, Dark Void, or Obstruct? If what we're dealing with is a psychic it'll be vital."
~Didn't even hit them with a hello I see,~ Deckard commented. ~Sorry about that, he's rather focused.~
Person, or Idea?
Oliver: -to Olivia- <Ah, that makes sense. Hopefully, we can help cure what ails your brother.>
Mitchell: Hold up, what did Liv just say?
Oliver mimes what Olivia just said for Mitchell's benefit.
Mitchell: I see. Right, time to buddy up.
Mitchell and Oliver advance, back to back.
Mitchell and Christine find themselves on the imposing mountain, climbing and floating up it's face and encountering many species of Pokemon there. After about half an hour, they pause, with Mitchell utterly winded by his excursion.
<Curse...My...Human...Machismo...>, Mitchell whines between breaths.
<I told you to pace yourself,> Christine chides, <and now you see why.> Then, addressing the group of excitable Chingling gathered near her, she says <All right, children, are you ready for Story Time?>
The clamouring of bells all around the two is taken as a yes.
<Okaaaay~!> Christine says. <Once upon a time->
That's as much as Mitchell remembers hearing before he passes out. When he awakens, he finds himself and Christine alone again, and he feels a deep thirst. <Any water sources around here?> he asks.
Christine floats up and scans around her, before pointing up ahead. <There,> she says. <A river's up ahead. I can see some Purugly drinking from it.>
Ah, good. Presumably catmon-safe, Mitchell thinks. <Thank you!> he says aloud, as he walks on all fours to the river site.
As Christine said, there were some Purugly drinking from the river, crowding out other Pokemon there. When Mitchell approaches, they notice his presence, and the atmosphere suddenly becomes very menacing.
<Um, h-hello?> Mitchell asks, nervousness overtaking him. <M-may I have a, just a sip, from the r-river, please?>
Most of the Purugly there look dismissively at the timid Meowth. One, however, smiles and replies. <Of course, kitty,> she says. <Just step right over here.>
<T-thankee kindly,> Mitchell says, approaching the spot the Purugly leaves vacant.
Christine, watching from afar, suspects something bad is about to happen. <Mitchell, wait!> she cries out. <It's a->
But she is too late. Mitchell leans down to lap the water-
SPLOOSH
-and is knocked into the river, by the very Purugly who offered her spot. <Sip all you like, twerp!> she laughs, with her fellow Purugly joining in.
Lost in a blind panic, Mitchell wildly flails in the riverbed. <HELP!>, he yowls. <CAN'T SWIM! SAVE ME!>
<Coming, Mitchell!>, Christine yells, flying after Mitchell with all due speed. She wraps her lower body around Mitchell and props him upright. <I have you. Steady yourself, now.>
Mitchell calms down, although he is still irritated from being very wet all over. As he stands, he notes something mortifying about the river: it only came up to his ankles.
Wheeling on the Purugly pack, Mitchell launches into a tirade. <How could you, you jerks!> he hissed. <I could have died there! Or worse!>
<It's just a prank, kiddo,> the Purugly who pushed Mitchell in says. <We all have to get our fun somewhere, don't we, pals?> she asks the others, who chortle and nod in agreement.
<You think that's fun?>, Christine growls, projecting a surprising amount of menace for a floating shrine charm.
The pack of Purugly are unnerved by this question and it's speaker, to the point where the twin tails cinching their midsections start coming undone. Their collective tongues are caught.
<I will have answers.>, Christine promised, before doing something that is better left to the imagination.
Mr. Tenor stifles the urge to chew out Watson for jumping into the paddock, as he doesn't want to give the Wyrdeer any more of an excuse to go on the sort of rampage prey herbivores like them are known to do. The huge stag in front of him, though, seems to be affected by the song and his actions. So far, so good.
With his right hand still extended towards the Wyrdeer stag in front of him, Mr. Tenor now extends his left hand behind him, towards Watson, and he turns his head away off to the left, split halfway between the Wyrdeer stag and Watson. As he does so, he mouths "Stay behind me" out of the left side of his mouth, hoping Watson gets the message. With that, he begins stepping diagonally backwards in time to the beat, rather than straight forwards.
This big guy'll ram me into next week given half a reason, Mr. Tenor thinks to himself. I've got three, maybe four minutes before the track stops, so the stag better have his head in my hand by then, or else I'm boned.
No voice to cry suffering
The School, Elsewhere
-in a busy lab, Dr. Reznitsky contemplates a singed Pokéball, and again the cost-
Dr. Reznitsky: Again.
-as well as his colleagues' vanity-
-his goal is the School's goal: natural power, guided by human hands—the next step in their evolution!-
-yet even the research must be human-shaped-
-all while true impossibility, untapped and unexamined, is visible and thoughtlessly attributed to something as banal as...-
Dr. Reznitsky: Enough.
-"affection"-
-the Freshman Class's Molybdenum ceases bouncing a ball of yarn off her heads-
Smolybdenum: ~...~
Orbeetle!Smolybdenum: ~...~
Dr. Reznitsky: Molybdenum, report.
Smolybdenum: I am mildly stimulated.
-he nods-
Smolybdenum: This activity is more efficient with a neck. My accuracy increases 43%, and speed by 31%.
Dr. Reznitsky: And what do you feel?
...-Smolybdenum ponders for a moment, solemn-
Smolybdenum: Nothing.
Dr. Reznitsky: Perfect.
-at his hand sign, she resumes the exercise-
-pseudoscience abounds, or course, tying abstruse cause to abstract effect-
-but pseudoscience isn't quantifiable-
-observe any channel, pick any subject and see: partners in these activities are markedly more powerful than their peers—and beyond!-
-withstanding blows that fell much hardier creatures, drawing strength and finesse from seemingly nowhere, virtually on command—evading powers keyed to one's very Aura!-
-yet the same society that produces such a mountain of data teaches its scientists at its peak: this power is unimpeachable sentiment, and their "partners'" alone-
-no, this power is rightly humanity's—and by role compression, and his research's cutting edge, he reclaims it:-
-...-
-bap-
-...-
-bap-
Smolybdenum: :|
-bap-
Orbeetle!Smolybdenum: 8(
-bap-
Dr. Reznitsky: -sigh, sitting back- At times, I wonder if I'm the only one taking our mission seriously.
-exercise complete, Smolybdenum dutifully tucks into a meal consisting primarily of macarons and beans, mentally preparing both halves of herself for several dozen reps of high-fiving and the 7,499-piece sliding tile puzzle-
Edited by Asterisk395 on Mar 29th 2023 at 11:45:16 AM
No mind to think. No will to break.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser
Daydre: -nodding- "I see."
Aislinn: "Hm... I'm not sure how I feel about this, I'll be honest. I suppose it's quite convenient, if she stays here in safety and gets to do something besides be sealed for the rest of eternity."
Aislinn: "I'm not really sure where this conflicted feeling is coming from, either. Knowing there's a soul in there.. And what's more, a soul so intrinsically tied to our family, it makes me want to treat her well. But..."
Daydre: "Well, it makes you defunct. Obsolete. Useless."
She shrugs.
Daydre: "Makes sense you'd be upset when your job's disappeared."
Aislinn scowls.
Aislinn: "... No, that's not why I'm conflicted. And why did you put it that way?"
Daydre: "What's the use in dancing around it? I'm right. Your purpose would be done."
Aislinn: "..."
Daydre: "Plus. Being stuck in one place... Well, it'll get boring eventually. Even if this airship has eldritch geometry, a gilded cage is still a cage."
Yan-Yu, who'd been silently considering all this, speaks up.
Yan-Yu: <I____ supposetherewouldbe____ elementsoftravelIwouldmiss...>
Daydre: "Yeah! And I have an idea."
Daydre grins.
off the shits
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-To Daydre-
And what would that be? But before that, you should apologize to your cousin.
-Abe is currently hurling down large rocks into the midst of the throng, aiming for the spaces, combining with Chiyo's flaming barriers and Zee's gravity powers in order to send down what are basically meteors upon the Templar forces-
-A bolt manages to destroy one of the rocks just before it would've accidently landed on two Templars-
Edited by rmctagg09 on May 5th 2023 at 5:06:54 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Dunsparce Cloud
Stormchaser, Food Court
Neodymium: If you're going to claim that this is a place of freedom, you should at least not make me eat my vegetables. Seems only fair.
-she continues eating her burgel-
Didit: ~I think you're missing the point. If you want to live through the testing rounds, you can't be sweet. Dysprosium is going to be effective, which is a much better predictor of a long life.~
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
No voice to cry suffering
Stormchaser, Food Place
Logan: -snicker- I'm not planning on making you eat anything, now or ever. I doubt your education included every way a plant could be cooked 🎶
-they eat a brussels sprout, mmm-ing appreciatively-
-Addie snorts around her own nut-gnawing-
Addie: I'm curious, not disbelieving. Anyone familiar with productivity-first places knows loyal ambition trumps niceness there any day, no matter how much a breath of fresh air it might be. How you defined "more effective" was the kicker.
-her gaze twitches over to Neo-
Addie: And that you knew it wasn't this.
-looking at Didit, here- She was doomed from the start, huh?
No mind to think. No will to break.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser
Daydre: "I'm not apologizing until she apologizes to me."
Aislinn: "Can we not do this now?"
Daydre: "Youuuu still haven't said anything about the whole 'hundred years of suffering' thing."
Aislinn: "That was almost a year ago-"
Daydre: "Well it's not like I could bring it up, otherwise you might yell at me again."
Aislinn: "I'd like to remind you that you're the one who decided to pry."
Daydre: "And you were treating me like a stranger. Was I supposed to think nothing was wrong?"
Aislinn: "..."
Aislinn: "... Let's just continue. What's your idea."
Aislinn folds her arms and looks at Daydre, slightly on edge.
Daydre: "Wellll.... What if I took the mask and found a different way? There's an avenue I found that I think sounds... Interesting-"
Aislinn:-without hesitation- "I don't trust you."
Daydre: "Aw. Don't trust your own cousin? That's a shame, but something I was expecting."
She shrugs.
Daydre: "Geez, you make it sound like I'm gonna do something bad. I'm just going to.. find a way to resonate with Yan-Yu."
Aislinn: "And what does that mean?"
Daydre: -folding her arms behind her- "Oh, just that I need to get... A bit of a closer look at the mask."
She takes a few steps towards where the mask is sitting and reaches out...
off the shits
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-As Daydre and Aislinn-
Okay, now I think you both need to talk.
-As Daydre gives her idea-
Considering what the mask does, I don't think that's even close to a good id-
-But just as Daydre is about to touch the mask, her body is covered in black runes emanating from the sigil that prevent her from moving-
My apologies for keeping this card close to my chest, but it was something I couldn't afford to have spread around.
-To a presumably very confused Aislinn-
I did some modifications to the ritual, set to Daydre's Aura once she participated. If she was to attempt to move to the mask, like she is now, it'd activate to bind her.
-To the currently mostly immobile Daydre-
Did you think I somehow wouldn't notice how you've been like a Lansat fiend for that mask for the past several months? I suspect you've been long enthralled, and I can probably guess who the culprit was.
-Muttering-
Can't believe this, twice in a fucking row.
I'd ask if you remember anything, but I'm sure they covered their tracks quite well.
-Fpllowing the Truancy Gang's display of power, the Templars start to retreat-
Abe: -Watching them run- Do you think they'll get liquidated for running?
Chloe: I'm not losing any sleep if they do.
Chiyo: This strike was made out of desperation, I don't think they can afford to just kill Templars willy-nilly at this point.
-It's then that there's a sudden rumbling-
Zee: -Tightly gripping her broadsword- Seems we've got trouble.
-And a hulking cyborg monstronsity rounds the bend-
Abe: -Eyes widening- What?
Chiyo: -Eyes narrowing- I guess they decided to try for another Hecatonchires.
Chloe: -Glaring- Disgusting.
Zee: -To Chiyo- If just you, Dactyl, and three of Tagg's mons could take something like this thing down, there's no way it'll stand up to our combined strength!
Sickle: -Brandishing her claws as everyone else readies themselves- <Good, beating these Templars up was getting kinda boring!>
Edited by rmctagg09 on May 5th 2023 at 5:12:04 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser
Daydre just grins at Tagg confidently.
Daydre: " I have no idea what you're talking about. Is it really that hard to believe I'd want this of my own volition?"
Aislinn: "..."
Aislinn looks from Daydre to Tagg.
Aislinn: "I'm.. not even remotely surprised. I do wish you'd at least informed me, though."
She sighs.
Aislinn: ".. So now what do we do? We can't just leave her like that can we?"
Daydre: "Eh, don't worry about me. I had a plan of my own!"
Aislinn: "You wh-"
Before Aislinn can finish her sentence, Daydre uses the hand she kept behind her back to roll something away from her.
roll-
roll-
roll-
click.
It's... a Pokeball?
Daydre: "Sorry in advance, Stormy."
...
Rather than a Pokemon, what comes out is a massive wall of water that explodes out into the hallway and washes down the surrounding corridors. It pushes everything away from the origin point- slamming Aislinn into a wall and throwing Daydre and the mask a ways away.
The water level is high- draining fast, but still high enough to go almost to the ceiling.
off the shits
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-Nudi lets himself out of his ball and barely manages to get a Protect out to protect me from the brunt as the water floods-
Crud, should've seen that coming.
-As the waters start to recede-
Aislinn, you okay?
Nudi: -Noticing what else is up- <Tagg, the mask!>
-As Zee said, while the cyborg probably would've been a bit of a challenge for just one of them alone, for the combined Truancy Gang it has only proven to be somewhat annoying-
Beremices: -Has managed to get inside the cyborg and is chewing through wires-
Boll: -Has shrunken and is stuffing the joints with fluff-
Chiyo: -Barriers burning bright- Zee, hold it still!
Zee: -Increasing gravity- Got it!
Abe: -Assists with his own telekinesis to further restrict its movements, as Atlas smashes one of its legs-
Edited by rmctagg09 on May 5th 2023 at 5:13:57 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Stormchaser
The water recedes and Aislinn's head surfaces. She coughs, both because of the water in her mouth and the force of the push.
Aislinn: -opening her eyes- "I'm... I'll manage-"
She searches the surroundings for Daydre, and as soon as she zeroes in her eyes widen.
Aislinn: "Ngh-! -cough- Get back here!"
Daydre is struggling with her bindings but fortuitously (for her, anyway) has landed next to the mask.
Daydre: "These are tougher than I thought... Nothing for it, I guess. Ana Maria, let's say... 30%!"
The air around Daydre changes. The wrappings on one of the knives in her belt comes alive and adheres to her wrist- and with a jerky, puppetlike motion her arm moves by itself.
It's awkward, but her arm maneuvers itself and starts to cut through the runes binding her.
The Wanderer
Stormchaser
-Cue Ana Maria-
Those are some weird Honedge.
-Who then start hacking at the bindings-
Shit. Nudi!
Nudi: -Immediately fires an Ice Beam in Daydre's direction, attempting to freeze her to the wall-
I sense... an incredibly malevolent Aura, but it's not coming from Daydre...
-The cyborg is now sparking from the Truancy Gang's combined onslaught-
Chiyo: -Sensing weakness- Now!
Zee: -Sends the cyborg to its knees with gravity- Abe!
Abe: -Throws boulders to further crush it- Chiyo!
Chiyo: -Forms a barrier around it, which starts melting it- Chloe, finish it!
Chloe: -Throwing her knife right at its open core- You don't need to tell me twice!
-The cyborg, the amalgamation of murdered Schoolchildren, immediately combusts under their team attack and is reduced to slag-
Chiyo: -As the area goes silent- So that's that then.
-There's suddenly some clapping from seemingly nowhere-
Abe: -Looking around- Where's that coming from?
Chloe: -Doing the same- I don't like this.
Brad: -Appears as if from nowhere- Did you all have some fun out there, truants? Have you been good boys and girls, defying the very School who created you?
Zee: -Glares- Brad.
Brad: -Smiles- That's my name, don't wear it out.
-Looking between all four as they give him hard stares-
Well, I already knew Xenon was still around from your little raid last year, but I guess Chlorine and especially Osmium are still alive too. This whole thing was great for luring you all out, didn't expect those chump change Templars we sent to actually make a dent.
-Looking at Abe's wheelchair-
But I guess Osmium did break a leg out there, didn't he? Or perhaps two.
Abe: -Angrily- Piss off, Freepooper.
Chloe: -Angrily- More like fuck off.
Chiyo: -Neutrally, but with an edge- Was it you who killed Cadmium, Brad?
Brad: -Smirks- Yep, that was me, put one right between his eyes. Not to worry, it was quicker than a lot of you get, so he didn't suffer. Didn't bother mentioning it last time we time because I thought you all hated the little stool pigeon. All that sucking up, and it didn't mean anything in the end. Such is the fate of dead weight.
-Hand to his chin-
I see the boyfriend's missing from our little party Iridium, thought he'd be in the thick of it with you so I could try taking a crack at him again.
Chiyo: -Clipped- We're not attached at the hip.
Zee: -Brandishing her greatsword- I say we quit talking and turn you into fertilizer right now.
-But just as she moves to attack, she sees movement in the corner of her eye and moves her greatsword to block the resulting attack, as the other Templar's identity becomes apparent-
Adrian: -His physical resemblance to Zee very prominent- Your skills have definitely increased Xenon. My daughter.
Zee: -Angrily as she crosses blades and the two start swordfighting right then and there- Do not call me that!
Chloe: -To Brad as Zee and Adrian duel- I see Adrian's here, where's the rest of your fellow toadies? Derek? Ed? Isaac?
Brad: -As Adrian jumps over to his side- They have their own roles to play so they couldn't make it.
-Giving an evil smile-
Oh right, let me not forget. The Doc's here to see you all too.
Chiyo: -Grits her teeth-
Chloe: -Glares-
Dactyl: <The Doc? Does he mean?>
Abe: Yes Dactyl. Him.
Zee: -Snorts- Ugh.
Sickle: -Hairs stand on end as she bears her fangs-
-As if from the shadows, a bald man with a goatee wearing a lab coat appears-
Dr. No Heart: Greetings, children.
Edited by rmctagg09 on May 5th 2023 at 5:19:11 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Dr. Cassander's Estate
The main stag bows his head and huffs, wagging his tail and tapping one hoof to in sync to the music. Even as the music ends, the stag seems mesmerized. The others—save for one, skeptical stag almost as large as the first one—start following suit. Though with the song ending, they may not be entirely entranced
Something about the Wyrdeer's movements seem to capture the imagination of the rest of the herd. They've never observed such behavior before, and this seemed to captivate them. Slowly but surely, the rhythm of the song seems to enthrall the rest of the herd.
This, plus the silent commands given by Tenor, have left Watson dumbfounded, and he follows along due to not having anything better to do. From above, Dr. Cassander seems impressed by the sight. With the lone exception of the rival stag, the social order of the herd appears to finally be forming. He seemed to understand the concept now; over time, things will move to a rhythm when provided. Tenor is capitalizing on it. It works slow for his expectations.
Still, Wyrdeer in the rut are some of the most ornery Pokémon, and few bits of literature exist on their successful husbandry. Moreover, they were psychic types, similar in firepower to the Schoolchildren. If something like this could be refined and weaponized, then the School can finally start keeping larger batches of Schoolchildren together rather than spreading the organization's resources thin like they did with the Freshmen. He can almost imagine having one over old No-Heart by finding a subtle way to contain the experiment to prevent any form of organized resistance from forming. A permanent solution to truancy? Perhaps, but it'll certainly promises to suppress it very well.
Forget the New Century's rebel paragon; incorporating this and other methods will ensure no new Iridiums will ever form again, and no sweetened words can sway them. And all without needing to ever consider creating placid weaklings bred for servitude.
Whether this remains successful (and whether Tenor keeps his newfound grip on the herd majority) still hangs on the balance, however. Below, Watson remains compliant yet wary. He knew firsthand how unpleasant horny Wyrdeer can be.
Suddenly, the great stag bows before Tenor and approaches his hand, gently bunting it with his forehead.
Cassander smiled sinisterly.
Poké Park, Lake
<AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!> Hoops yells in effort as they make for the first time past the ten metre mark, but they are soon overwhelmed by the force of the waterfall and thrown back down into the lake.
Another Magikarp, part of the small crowd of pokémon that has formed to watch, speaks up. <Thou might as well giveth up on this, brother. Thou thinkest that thou art the first to try this?>
Hoops looks at the Magikarp. <Huh?>
<We hath all tried that which you do now> the Magikarp continues. <It cannot be done, brother.>
<Can I please talk to anyone else?> Hoops asks. <This is like the time I let Led watch Hamlet.>
Another Magikarp approaches. <Da waterfall is too hwigh, desu> she says. <No matter how harwud you swim, you'll awways fawu, nyah.>
Hoops breathes in for about ten seconds, and breathes out for about twice as long. <I hate my life.>
They turn around for another go.
Approximately Five Thousand Years Ago
CW: Slavery, Child Death, Regular Death
Eran moves one of the figures on the table that represents his armies. "We'll move our troops to the east, and flank them from behind in a Pinsir attack."
His generals nod and take down their roles in the plan. With the meeting over, they file out, leaving Eran alone in the war room. He takes a moment to steady himself against the table, before wiping his brow. It is covered in sweat. These last days, the wound he sustained in battle has been weakening him like an Arbok's poison. He has done well so far to hide it from his subordinates, but he fears he will not live long.
He straightens himself up, and makes ready to retire. Perhaps this night will -
The wall explodes inwards as a Rhyhorn slams into it, breaking through the stone like it is made of papyrus. Through the hole that it made, more than a dozen men, some of whom have pokémon with them, rush into the room, armed with crude weapons and knives. Slaves. How would they be so bold.
His guards are quick, and they engage the attackers in battle. Steel rings against steel and stone, pokémon cry out as their moves clash against one another. His Rapidash is suddenly there, lighting the room with white hot flames.
He sees one slave break away from the main group and rush towards him, dagger in hand. The slave from the path the other day, Eran realises.
Ronin slams into Eran, sending them both tumbling to the ground. Eran manages to bring his hands up and grab the slave's wrists before he can stab the dagger into his heart. They grapple on the ground, neither able to prevail against the other.
"Do you know who I am?" Ronin spits. But he sees no recognition in Eran's eyes, only rage and fear.
"Tell me!" Eran demands.
"Ronin, son of Anten!" he says. "Who was once the king of the lands east of the river!"
Eran's eyes flash with satisfaction. "I remember. I should have killed you when I killed your father. I see this is the price of my mercy!"
He summons the strength to push Ronin off him. Ronin gets to his feet, and turns the dagger in his hand. He throws it, and Eran ducks by his years of battle instinct.
"Father?" asks a voice behind him. Then there is a wet thud and the sound of a body hitting the floor. A doll, held so tightly moments before, drops from the lifeless grasp of its owner. The pool of blood soaks it.
"No," Ronin whispers. "I didn't... I..."
The spear of a guard takes him from behind, and moments later he is gone too. The blood mixes with the others on the floor. The battle is over.
Eran stands over Ronin's body, soaked in his daughter's blood. "Hang him from the walls," he spits. "Let the crows have him."
Present Day, Ruined Kingdom
<I really am sorry> Cof says. <I didn't mean to hurt her. I wanted revenge, but she wasn't part of it.>
<Oh, stop lying to yourself> Morrigan says. <Revenge doesn't end - trust me, I've seen a lot of it. Everyone thinks their revenge is justified, but all they do is leave someone else behind who needs revenge of their own. It just goes on and on, never really ending. In some ways, it was lucky you were killed when you were. Eran would have done terrible things in order to get revenge for Selica if you had lived.>
Cof frowns. <Is that why you're here now? To get your own revenge.>
<Oh no> Morrigan says. <Why would I want to get revenge on you? I just explained that it's pointless. Besides, if anything I should be thanking you?>
<Thanking me?>
<Of course. In some ways, I owe my existence to you. Banette like me, we're born when we're left alone for too long. Selica loved me too much, and I never would have come about if she had her way. But as it was, I was bathed in her blood and yours, and I gained life unlike any other.>
<So that's why you can enter my Z-move> Cof realises.
<That's right> Morrigan grins. <Of course, it took a while. I lay in that tomb with her for thousands of years before graverobbers found it, after all. Well, they were the first people I'd seen in so long, what was I supposed to do except for curse them? I loved seeing the looks on their faces as everything they touched broke around them. That was fun for a while, but I needed more. I was looking for something that I couldn't find. Then one day I found a templar with so much power and so much hatred.>
<Whitt> Cof realises.
<Right> Morrigan confirms. <It didn't take me long to ensnare his soul, though it was rather difficult. The boy has three ghost pokémon including me, and all three of them have a hold on him. He doesn't even realise it, poor thing. I'd feel sorry for him, but I don't really care.>
<So what's your plan?> Cof asks.
Morrigan smiles. <Pain. I want to hurt everyone. I want a world where every single worthless creature lives their lives in the knowledge that they will never have a good day again. This School... it will serve its purpose for a time, but I'll be rid of them soon. Whitt is the only one I need. He understands me, though he doesn't know that he does.>
Cof moves towards Morrigan. <You're a monster.>
<Correct> Morrigan agrees. <And the best part is, that there's nothing you can do to stop me.>
Black hands start creeping out from underneath Cof's lid. <I can stop you now.>
<Perhaps> Morrigan says. <But I really doubt it.>
In the realm of a dead kingdom, they begin to battle.
Person, or Idea?
Mr. Tenor is relieved that his strategy has worked so far. Now, with the Wyrdeer stag near-literally in the palm of his hand, he was ready to move to the next stage. Humming the song that had ceased playing on his phone, he guided the stag to follow him as he danced slowly backwards alongside the paddock's perimeter.
Moment of truth, now, Mr. Tenor thinks to himself. Either the herd follows, or it's just me and Bucky here. Either way, I should be ready to go all day with this.
Looking off to the side, he notices the one stag still a fair distance from the group. Thinking quickly, he looks at Watson, then back at the lone stag, then to Watson again, before mouthing "Watch out for that one."
Battle Academy, Binah Floor
Binah: Do not worry, child. Hod and Chesed are both aware of the situation. They are waiting for you in the infirmary, should you not require aid getting there yourself.
-She turns her head to Pent, offering him a fresh cup of black tea.-
Binah: I apologize for Angela's behavior earlier. Time travel is somewhat of a sore topic for her to this day.
Sunyshore City
-Wind speed: 15 knots exactly.-
-Wind direction: Directly magnetic south.-
-Temperature: 75 degrees Fahrenheit precisely.-
-As perfect as could be.-
-The sound of a strict 4/4 rhythm humming can be heard by those with the means to hear as a young girl in a strange, grey outfit strolls down the street.-
Battle Academy, Keter Floor
-Angela walks in, past towers of books.-
Angela: It was quite a fight in here, wasn't it?
Roland: I can safely say that our little "pseudonym idea" did not work.
-Angela walks up beside her assistant, who is looking down at a book, his hands in his pockets again.-
Angela: I suspected as much. Shame. I was really starting to get attached to calling you "Retek".
-Roland sighs. He slouches more than usual.-
Roland: I'd stick around, but that last attack... really took it out of me. That guy's E.G.O, or Persona, or Abnormality, or whatever the hell it was... it would have destroyed this entire floor if I hadn't taken it out fast.
Angela: Go take a break. I need to look over this book anyway.
Roland: Yes, ma'am.
Phenac City, Mementos
-Unlike most times she's awoken from unconsciousness, Ludmilla's ears weren't ringing.-
-This was considered an odd detail.-
-Then she moved to push herself off of the ground and remembered that she still had a knife jammed into her shoulder.-
-Oh no wait yep there's the ringing.-
-The figure above her shakes its cowled head.-
???: I do not recommend moving too rapidly. Your shoulder has already scabbed over, and reopening the wounds will make the travel back harder.
Ludmilla: Ah fckn nuh tht...
???: I have already alerted a mutual acquaintance to get help. The Moon Fairy will be here shortly.
Ludmilla: W... hy... are... you...
???: You are a citizen of Carcosa. And it is my duty to serve those who would call it home.
-A familiar voice echoes around the corner of the tunnel.-
Selene: ...ILLIE?! MILLIE!
-Ludmilla looks up to see a whiff of smoke where the figure stood, losing consciousness again as a familiar head of curly pink hair rounds the corner.-
Edited by DuneTheWanderer on Mar 28th 2023 at 8:03:19 AM