Curious Mind
Abandoned Hotel
Fleurir turns around and kicks one of the zombie Mighteyenas in the head with High Horsepower.
Atrin: That doesn't sound good! Any ideas?
From Atrin's bag, a Pokeball falls out, hitting the ground and sending out the 'Mon inside.
Ecto: <Did someone say fetch?!>
Atrin: Ecto, Shadow Ball!
Ecto pants happily before firing off a shadow ball at a zombie.
Person, or Idea?
The horrid sight of the undead, rotting Mightyena swarming towards the group gives Mitchell a moment's pause. He sets his teeth and readies the candlestick as a weapon, ready to repel any of the undead that reaches him.
Edmond and Gavroche, seeing the lifelessness of their opponents, hold nothing back. Edmond grapples one Mightyena in a Vital Throw and slams it onto the ballroom floor, while Gavroche sinks his teeth into the neck of another Mightyena with a sickening Crunch.
As swiftly as the vision appeared, it vanished. The Tera Orb in Mitchell's hand now glowed with a brilliant light. Mitchell was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained his focus and turned his gaze to Ms. Dendra's Medicham.
"Medicham!", Mitchell calls, as he throws the Tera Orb at her. "TERASTALIZE!"
The Tera Orb flies in an eerily steady arc , before opening right above the Medicham's head and showering her with light. Instantly, columns of prismatic crystal erupt around her, before shattering to reveal her transformed.
Every part of the Medicham's body was now covered with a sheen of light pink crystal. Atop her head, a crystal formation resembling a human eye was visible.
The Medicham cheered in her customary way, Ms. Dendra hooted and hollered, and Director Clavell and Nurse Miriam politely applauded.
"Excellent work, Master Rhodes," Director Clavell said. "You passed the test."
Mitchell sighed in relief as he retrieved the Tera Orb. "Thank goodness," he said. Then, taking a closer look at the Medicham he had just Terastilized, a question popped into his head. "Say, that's a Psychic-type Terastalization, isn't it?" he asked Ms. Dendra. "I'd have thought your Medicham would have Fighting as her Tera Type."
"Oh, it's not that strange," Ms. Dendra nonchalantly replied. "We do ESP at Alfornada often enough for her to be Psychic in Tera Type."
"Wait," Mitchell asks. "ESP? Like, Extra Sensory Perception?"
<Emotional Spectrum Practice!>, a very familiar voice said.
"Emotional Spectrum Practice," Ms. Dendra said, at the exact same time.
"Oh," Mitchell replied, not quite understanding at the time. "I suppose-"
He then stopped. That other voice had caught his attention. He turned his head in that voice's direction, and saw something that surprised him.
Eight Rotom Phones were floating in the air, angled in a way that they would have seen the entirety of Mitchell's test from their position. On each screen, one of Mitchell's eight Pokemon were visible in locales from all across Paldea: Gavroche in Cortonado, Auguste in Artazon, Rebecca in Levincia, Oliver in Cascarrafa, Esmeralda in Medali, Edmond in Montenevera, Christine in Alfornada, and Vasilissa in Glaseado. The eight of them congratulated their trainer, in their own distinctive ways.
Mitchell awkwardly waved to his team in response. "Er, thanks, pals," he said. "But there's one last thing to do. Right, Director?" he asked.
"Indeed," Director Clavell said, as he tossed three identical Pokeballs from his left hand. Out of them emerged a Sprigatito, a Fuecoco, and a Quaxly. The three of them were rather overawed by the large environment around them.
<No pressure, Chief,> Rebecca called to Mitchell. <Pick whoever you like.>
<If you can't decide, there's always the image thing we showed you,>, Auguste added.
<Yes, the technique of rhyme and verse.>, said Oliver. <Just close your eyes and imagine what you need.>
Mitchell nodded, then turned to Nurse Miriam. He had one question he needed answered before he decided. "What happens to the two I don't pick?" he asked.
"We'll keep them safe," Nurse Miriam replied. "Don't you worry. No matter what, they'll be loved."
"That's a relief," Mitchell replied, banishing the intrusive thoughts of the Pokemon he didn't pick becoming possessed by dark forces from his mind. With that, he took a look at the three Pokemon before him and thoughtfully scratched his chin.
"Have you decided?", Director Clavell said.
"I will," Mitchell replied, "in the blink of an eye."
With that, Mitchell shut his eyes.
Edited by AnotherMan on Nov 15th 2023 at 8:22:05 PM
Fwomph
The Hamlet, The Weald
Eerie silence, the world cast into grey by the ashes only punctuated by the occasional flicker of black from local birds darting overhead. Is there ought to say, between these heroes? Perhaps now is a good time to explain...
Levincia City
You command what is already in action...
-The bird, this flying death, continues to screech as it is cut and burnt and falls fully to the ground. But it is not a living thing, it is not even truly animated by biological means so while great gashes are left in its being and the flames have blackened so much it still tries to claw and gnash its way slowly forward using its wings as dragging legs to try and sink its inexorable march into something, anything-
Civic Area
Yeah hang on maybe we could do something with the sign, maybe if I put it in the offhand we could— wait would that even work— okay what if we— oh wait hang on I'm being strangled. One moment.
-Pent had gotten a little sidetracked imagining cool finishing moves and now had to deal with the very droll but unfortunately practical attack his foe pulled. The panic... Took a moment to set in-
-A grasping attempt to claw the offending hands off his throat. Prying, twitching... Something inside him doesn't let him die here-
-Obscura forgoes the link between wielder and implement, manifesting in a more natural and primal state. Flame, black flame, bursting forth from the corpus in an inferno fed by the panic. Pent whispers a futile 'Persona' under his gasping breaths. But this is not a mental realm, so all that answers is Obscura unbound-
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
The Attacker is struck with the flame, knocked back and into a light pole. It stumbles and twitches a bit, the helmet cracks a bit more, tufts of black hair tinged with white appears. The Pen blinks at the sight, but focuses on Its wielder.
Hey, bud. Ya okay? What the hell was that? How much power are you holding?
The figure continued to twitch, before letting out the first human noise it had all fight, a scream.
"Recall it."
"Uh... the emergency teleport hasn't been tested, we don't know if it will-"
"Do it."
The Menial complied and threw the switch, the signal was sent.
The Attacker stood up, and in a flash of blue vanished, the Pen left alone with a partially strangled Pentigan. It stepped over and lightly slapped Pentigan's face. Bud, bud, buddy... pal, friendo, my homeslice breadslice. Come on, you okay?
The shifts of the water below tossed and turned, it battered him and spat him out. Silas climbed out and looked about, the area had shifted once more, he felt sore, his head hurt, like it had been smacked against something. Well we did just take a nasty hit.
Did the injuries he confer here translate to the real world? Somewhat, more like both influence each other.
The shadows weren't here, wherever here was... good, he had time. They'll arrive. Nowhere is safe.
Keep moving, the area looked like... Lumiose, and also a blending of Black City... with a little bit of Angela as well. Notice the Sakura Logo.
Just keep moving, ignore the pain, he had to get out somehow.
The Mighteyna continued, but began to thin, as the group fought slowly around the room tera crystals began to grow. Growing on old rusted pipes, decaying furniture, even on the light fixtures, it ended when the chandelier in the center turned on... powered by the tera crystals.
"I..." Kevin began. "I don't know, are they supposed to do that?"
<Honestly we got no experience here, crystals growing isn't too unusual but I have no frame of reference,> Dallas responded.
Kevin blinked and his head hurt for a moment, looking down he swear he could see different outfits fading in and out across his body, what was this? It passed, did it happen to the others? He looked to Mitchell and Atrin. "You two okay?"
Curious Mind
Abandoned Hotel
Atrin: Yeah, I'm okay. Confused by all that's happening, but I'm okay. Good job, Fleurir and Ecto.
Fleurir gives a slight bow while Ecto pants happily.
Atrin: So, what do we do now?
Person, or Idea?
The presence of the Tera Crystals growing throughout the hotel, especially the ones powering the chandelier, cause something on Mitchell's person to react. As he and his Pokemon approach the chandelier, waves of nausea overcome them, and bizarre shapes overlay on top of them. They appear larger and more savage in one moment, smaller and crueller in another, or as they normally are in another, flickering between the shapes almost faster than the blink of an eye.
<Urgh,> Gavroche says. <Good think I skipped lunch.>
<Steady on, my friend,> Edmond says. <Our strength is still needed.>
Mitchell grits his teeth and swallows down his discomfort. "We'll manage," he tells Kevin. "It's not our first time near this much Tera Crystal, nor our last." Pointing at the chandelier with his candlestick, he adds "That would be part of the "other things" the crystals can do. We're about to see why Paldea doesn't use it everywhere, I think."
Cortondo Gym
Cortondo Gym Receptionist: Great! You're ready to challenge the Gym, but before you do, you'll need to beat our Gym puzzle - rolling a giant olive to the giant olive basket! Now, if you don't have any Pokemon suitable for riding, that's fine, we have some rideable Pokemon you can rent-
Poppy: It's fine. I have a Cyclizar.
Cortondo Gym Receptionist: That's great! Now, let's get you out onto the field!
Cortondo Gym Puzzle Field
Poppy then proceeded to get the olive into the basket within 1 minute and 30 seconds, while riding Donut.
Cortondo Gym
Cortondo Gym Receptionist: Excellent work! Now, all you need to do is win against our Katy, and the Grass Badge is yours!
Poppy: I've got the perfect team for Bug types. This'll be easy!
Cortondo Gym Battlefield
Poppy climbed the stairs leading to the Cortondo Gym Battlefield, where Katy was seen feeding her Teddiursa.
Katy: There you go, Teddiursa, all ready for our next battle. Oh! A new challenger!
Poppy: Yep. I've brought the perfect three Pokemon for the job!
Katy: Don't get too cocky there. My Bug types and I have a few tricks up our sleeves...
Both trainers take their positions.
You are challenged by Gym Leader Katy!
Gym Leader Katy sent out Tarountula!
Go on, Sunrise! I know you can do it!
Sunrise: Feel that heat, bug?
Sunrise's Drought turned the sunlight harsh!
Poppy: Sunrise, let's show them a sun-boosted move! Flamethrower!
The bulky Tarountula managed to take the hit.
Katy: Let's inconvenience the rest of her team! Sticky Web!
A web was laid around Sunrise's feet, which was hard to break from.
The opposing Tarountula fainted!
Katy: That was just the warm-up. Now for one of my trickiest Pokemon!
Gym Leader Katy sent out Combee!
Fwomph
Civic Area
-The danger had passed, but for the moment Pent was a bit unresponsive. That took a lot of energy, practically drained all his reserves-
...
-Eventually though, he registered the slap and glanced up-
Yeah. I... I'm tired but. Noone else around? Guess I panicked and didn't send my Obscura through you... Worked though.
-A stumble, a quick turn on the heel to press face-forward against the nearest wall for support-
It's fine. I'm fine. Just need some food and a nap.
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Cortondo Gym Battlefield
The battle against Poppy and Katy continues. Poppy may have just taken out Tarountula, but now comes the Combee.
The surprisingly speedy Combee managed to dodge it.
Sunrise was pushed back by the attack.
While Combee was hit by this attack, it didn’t seem too bothered by it.
It was soon apparent that Sunrise wasn't particularly fit to face this Combee, so Poppy decided to switch.
Come back, Sunrise!
Go, Stormwind!
Stormwind: Hello, ladies! Ready to have your socks knocked right off?
With his speed and flight abilities, Stormwind was a much better opponent for Combee.
Combee flapped its wings and blew Stormwind right into the air, making him lose his balance.
Poppy: Stormwind! Your ability!
Stormwind: Oh yes. I needed that wind. Thanks, Combee! Now, you ready for this?
Stormwind's Wind Power activates!
Despite receiving a facefull of electricity, Combee still wouldn't go down.
A disgruntled Stormwind decided to finish off Combee.
The opposing Combee fainted!
Katy: It's not the end. I've got one last Pokemon! You're in for a little treat!
Gym Leader Katy sent out Teddiursa!
Stormwind: A little teddy bear that isn't even a Bug type? You've got to be joking.
Edited by ThunderKitty86 on Nov 17th 2023 at 5:39:48 AM
The Pen manifested a fancy looking cane for Pent to use. Well pal, that was wild, there was something different about it. Didn't know you could do that.
It grinned a bit. Black hair and blue eyes, weird look, especially considering the all concealing biker gear. What could Sakura Genetics have against you of all people?
The last Mighteyna collapsed, the crystals finished growing, and Kevin just wondered what crazy shenanigans he was in. He turned around quickly as there was a creak of a doorframe behind them.
The laughter came back... but now it sounded younger, like a little girl giggling. It sent a chill up his spine. The undead, whatever that was, and an abandoned location that was leading him and the others in.
"What do you think?" He asked Atrin and Mitchell. "Continue on?"
Curious Mind
Abandoned Hotel
Atrin nods, petting Ecto to calm himself.
Atrin: Yeah. Let's keep going. I admit I'm curious where this goes.
Fleurir gives a determined nod as well.
Person, or Idea?
"We have no better choice," Mitchell says, grimly. "Whoever or whatever this is, it's a threat to the innocents. We must stop it."
Edmond punches his right fist into his left palm, affirming Mitchell's words. Gavroche, meanwhile, brushes off the detritus in his fur.
Levincia Gone Amok[itized]
Out of a churro store was a mid twenty-something Unovan man with a churro on his mouth. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and a pale, relatively untanned complexion that marked him as an outsider who hasn't actually gotten around to lying in the sun yet. He was of moderate height and had a lean, athletic build, wearing weather-appropriate clothing consisting of a short-sleeved Team Asimov T-Shirt and a pair of board shorts and flip flops.
There was a churro in his mouth, coated tip to tip in cinnamon sugar, which looked rather comical as it's framed by an expression of extreme bemusement over what is otherwise a frightening scene developing in the city. The general pandemonium that was previously surrounding him quickly cleared as the panicking crowd went in the opposite direction, guided by the crowd control agents of the urban guard who were themselves somewhat frightened by the turn of events.
"What is that bird?" Yelled many bystanders in Levincian and Paldean as they fled the scene. "What did we ever do to it?" "What was it after?" "Swellows can't grow that big!"
"Vacation ruined. Again." He muttered. "And me without a super suit."
He shook his head, took the churro out of his mouth and into a paper bag, and snapped out of his apparent stupor, though the frustration inherent in it remained. He knew what he must do, but he was quite ill-equipped to do it for now.
"Well, I always did want to be the hero as myself, huh, Drake." Tommy muttered to the happy yellow Joltik that popped up.
<Now's your chance.> Drake responded in monese.
Tommy nodded in agreement. He takes out a small string of Pokéballs from his black messenger bag. "At least this time I didn't come unprepared."
A ring came from one of his pockets. His phone, a brilliant metallic orange device that normally came in silver, floated up; on its screen was the face of happy, friendly Rotom.
"Don't fret," said Gimbal. "I got this."
"We don't have the time, mom."
"What are you talking about, Thomas? There's always time. You really think I'd have let this little thing slide when I found out if I wasn't sure you'd be protected in some way?"
"The city needs us now. Besides, I got a bone to pick with the one who's causing all this."
"Stubborn as always." Gimbal grumbled.
"I call it determination."
"Ugh, fine. Just haul yourself over there."
And he ran off, Pokéballs in hand.
He jumped over obstacles and barriers to his path with seeming ease, his body's reflexes taking most of the control as he parkoured his way to the site of the action. His eyes were mostly on the new villainess—if one could call her that—and the flying monster that served as her escort and main weapon.
Safe in the pockets, Gimbal surreptitiously kept track of her human son's location, sending a message back to a device in his hotel room.
Levincia, the epicenter
Seeing the chaos firsthand did not faze the intrepid Tommy Petersen. His eyes and those of Drake locked on to the floating villainess. While other figures were busy taking out the evil bird, he combeelined just past it.
To the Paldean onlookers, this seemed like madness (and pretty stereotypical behavior that marked him as a reckless Unovan—"were there any other kind?"). But there was a method in his madness.
Tommy was no fool. He knew what was going on. And the best way to deal with that giant killer Swellow was to take the battle to its puppetmaster.
"I know what you are, Midknight!" He yelled from below, "and I have a lot of things to say about your master. No, not the scary [Undertale] dude that made this too easy. The other one. That bird-person who brainwashed you. Arceus, this isn't even the second bird-person who I've beefed with. A bird-man ate my lunch one too many times and he still hasn't apologized for it—"
"<I think he already did; you should really let that one go.>"
"Not now Drake! The point I'm trying to make here is that you should stop threatening these people and that I'm gonna deck that bird-by in the schnoz, even if I have to do it by proxy by stopping you."
Behind Tommy were his Pokémon, a Galarian Meowth, a Pawniard, a Kabuto, and what first appeared to be a [Paleo Native American] petroglyph with a dome fossil that turns into a Runerigus.
"Everybody got that?" Tommy asked his team.
"<Ready as I'll ever be.>" Replied Randy the Pawniard stoically.
"<More or less!>" Nodded Shinji the Kabuto.
"<Darn tootin'! Good mornin' Levincia!> Replied Twenty-Four, the Cofagrigus. <"KAKAAAA! KAKAAAAAAA!!! RRRRRRIIIICOOOOOLAAAA!!!>
"<Finally! I've been itching for some action hero stuff for months!>" Bellowed Jerry the Meowth, impatiently tapping their feet while grinning at the giant bird-villain. "<Oh, and can you tone it down, Fossil Williams. Save your otherworldly howls of obtuse pop culture references to the bad guy.>"
Beat.
"Drake, aren't you gonna say anything?" Tommy asked the tiny Joltik on his scalp.
"<No, I'm good.>" Drake responded. "<Oh, wait. I do. IT'S GO TIME!>
With that, Tommy does an action hero-ey stance that would've fit him better if he didn't look like a teenyboppy Hollywood-flavored stereotypical nerd. The Cofagrigus, Kabuto, and Pawniard move behind their trainer instinctively. They knew where the big bird might likely strike. Drake hopped off Tommy's scalp, donning as close to a serious face as he can get while preparing an oddly powerful discharge. Jerry took out his claws nonchalantly.
"Okay then. Let's Dance!"
Edited by MasterJayAM on Nov 21st 2023 at 12:45:45 AM
Some Rando
Levincia
All its march leads it to is Kendall, the Unovan looking down at it with a shake of its head.
"Barely good enough to be a distraction," he dismissed, jumping into his own shadow before emerging beneath the avian aberration in his Dusk Lycanroc form with a crack of the earth beneath it.
While he threw it back down and brought a Rock Slide onto it, he sniffed out the area, trying to discern if there were more like it, or some kind of progenitor.
Kamui looked over the sides of the building she had perched on, similarly searching for whatever did this.
Hamlet
Back at the start of the trail, where Silas and Kamui first met up in this cursed place, all the fatigue that Kamui had denied herself the ability to feel caught up to her, the shapeshifted fox sitting down and sighing, falling backwards but not being too surprised by the sound of Lilac appearing with a flash, the Goodra gently holding her before she could fall.
"Doumo," she allowed before looking back at Silas. "… did I ever ask why you’ve come here?" She continued, already feeling the stickiness from contact from the Dragon-type, but acknowledging that she needed something soft, and Lilac needed something warm, after everything they’ve been through.
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]
"Came here because it's my home," Silas responded. "Got a call for help, so, I came."
It was an uncomplicated answer, it was the only one he needed. "As we can see, a friend needs help. Not much more needs to be said."
Roxy was grinning from ear to ear. "Bit of a chronic hero ain't ya?"
Silas looked over at her, a little confused.
Kevin didn't comment on the "The innocents" remark, he had been around the block enough to hear numerous kinds of superhero speeches... though he regretted not being in the neighborhoods when the Auric Avengers started appearing.
He marched through the door, there were more undead there... standing... nothing, their heads twitched but they did nothing to the group.
"Okay..." he muttered.
Dallas stepped forward slowly, and sniffed them. <Eck, they smell rotten alright... but they don't look like they've been dead long.>
The direction, the undead, the crystals... theories were forming in his head.
The attacker appeared and collapsed, several Menials picked him up and carried him over to a vat full of greenish blue liquid. Ripping the helmet off of their subject, they hooked an oxygen mask on and dropped him in.
Mr. Strings stepped over, staring at the figure inside, Gabriel soon walking over. "What in the distortion world happened out there?"
"A few factors, one is that the obscuric you picked is more physical and powerful than expected. Second is that the Jailer has its work cut out for it."
Gabriel grimaced and looked to the figure inside, black hair tinged with white that almost seemed to obey its own rules, an angular face with a singular scar running over the left eye. From what they could tell was that the entire socket had been damaged... and yet the eye was still there.
"You said your Jailer can control him."
"Gabriel, my friend... this is an auric blank. Something largely theoretical, few examples exist."
"I know he's a blank, that's why I had him captured... shame I couldn't catch his vessel, it left..."
"Is that a big deal?"
"It... it defies expectation, it holds secrets and technologies I can only dream of. I want it, if I could outfit the technologies it holds-"
"Easy now Gabriel."
Gabriel looked at the silver figure, and sneered a bit. "So, the harness... the Jailer. Remind me, how does it work?"
Strings looked a little proud. "The harness works off of old electromagnetic theories, as well as interacting with the implants he already has, it connects to his nervous system and lets my Jailer program control him to our demands. Probably one of the few ways to actually brainwash a blank... but it's not perfect. Short of a full on surgery he can fight it, if he's strong willed enough."
"Or if there's a glitch?" Gabriel asked.
Strings smiled. "Or if there's a glitch. Technology... so finicky."
"Then why not put him under for a proper implantation?" Gabriel added. "I want my assets fully under control, word has it an audit is coming my way and I want to show off what I have done with the limited resources my associates do give me. Having a blank under my control would do wonders."
"Easy now, I am most impressed by the left arm... it is a wondrous invention. Multi-stage transformation that seems almost psycho-actively triggered, and yet it has no structural faults. If I could meet the designer I'd gladly shake their hands."
Gabriel drew his attention down to the left hand, it was gloved currently. "You don't want to damage it."
"Not until I learn how it works. Once I can replicate it properly, then I'll put Zero here for a proper surgery. Until then, the harness is good enough."
Gabriel frowned and walked out, Mr. Strings hummed an old number to himself as he looked over the being inside the pod. You are an individual of steel... will you best these beings of psychic might? Will you prove yourself superior to my steel? That is all that matters... a reign of steel... come... show me what you can do. Jailer... keep me updated.
He turned and walked out, leaving the menials to monitor the vitals of the figure in the pod.
No voice to cry suffering
Megan: Vee...
Please fix me?
-...Vee takes a deep breath—-
Artazon Outskirts - South Province, Area Three - one month ago
—gan! Megan...!
Megan: Nn?
Vee: Megan!!
-Megan comes to-
-she finds herself pinned to stone by spears...of ice-
-it's so cold-
-she listens again for that voice not entering through her ears-
Vee: I don't—I can't—
-Vee doesn't do lost for words-
Vee: I don't have any more to burn.
-stomach, heart, brain-
-the voice flits through all three, afraid to touch, wrestling away the chill-
Vee: -softly- I lost track of him.
-the chill settles-
Vee: Jus'—we're fine, okay? We're okay. Jus' get up an'—
-again Vee makes her wish-
Vee: Live.
-Megan sighs-
-her breath doesn't mist so much as deposit-
Megan: Oh, Vee.
Vee: No. No no no—
Megan: We gave it everything we had. I'm content.
Vee: I'm not!
-Vee bangs Megan's fist on a wall-
-without Megan behind it, it doesn't go far-
Megan: Ow.
Vee: Yeah—okay. Latch onto that pain. Hold it in your mind. Let it blot everythin' else out—
Megan: Didn't really feel it. That hand might be a loss.
-she can feel her valiant Vee again refrain from devouring her liver in sheer frustration-
Megan: -hopeful- I don't suppose you'll be eating my heart in the marketplace?
Vee: Go to hell.
-Megan could try to convince her-
-it's a hard death; Vee could make it easier-
-then she could live-
Megan: Well, at least we're together.
Vee: Mm.
-Megan tries to get comfortable-
-it doesn't really work-
-between the cold, the squirming, some unidentifiable pangs-
-and that trickling feeling of blood trickling up her side-
-...up?-
Pollen: <Gh...kh...kh.>
-Megan's breath catches-
-Pollen looks—crushed-
Pollen: -chortle- <You should see the other guy.>
<...seriously, did you see 'em? I've got a bone to pick.>
Megan: -breathe- Oh, baby.
Pollen: -irritated- <I'm not a baby. And neither are you.>
<You were supposed to win.>
Megan: I know.
Pollen: <So what're you doing?>
-Megan, gods help her, rolls her eyes-
Megan: What I've always done.
Pollen: <Well, stop it.>
-Megan shuts her eyes, dropping her head back on the rock she's pinned to-
Pollen: <...y'know, we lost track of Daydre's birthday cake.>
-genuine alarm flashes over Megan's face-
Pollen: <'s fine. It's refrigerated.>
<You said we were gonna get sunflower seeds after this.>
-Megan starts trying to pull a spear out with frostbitten fingers-
Pollen: -snort- <Oh, don't even.>
-with one arm, the arm that's still moving-
-Pollen positions her needle above Megan's heart, tip down-
Pollen: <...when you get up, call Hiro. Or Daydre. Or anyone.>
<I'm gonna take a nap.>
-she braces herself-
Pollen: Nyx.
-she plunges it down, and Megan goes up in flame-
No mind to think. No will to break.
Curious Mind
Abandoned Hotel
Atrin: They're not attacking us? What's going on?
Ecto: <Maybe they're waiting for us to make a move first, then it's playtime!>
Fleurir: <We should be cautious.>
Atrin looks around nervously.
Person, or Idea?
Gavroche takes one whiff of the air past the door, then retches. <Eugh, that's foul!>, he complains.
Edmond and Mitchell, both duly warned, cover their noses with their free hands.
<Much as I'd like to attack,> Edmond cautions, <we need to know the stage and the rules first.>
"Here's what I think," Mitchell confides to Atrin. "Whatever's commanding these undead wants to see us up close."
Before they crush us, he adds in his own thoughts. Or try to, at least.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Mesagoza J-Con
Lian: "I'm Lian."
Between people introducing themselves, she takes a step back. Despite Stewart's efforts she seems more on-guard than ever.
... Oddly enough, though, her general mental presence is more... relaxed than the average Schoolkid's— at least one who's still under their command. There's still a lifetime of learned carefulness, but her Vibes are not as rigid as one would assume they should be.
off the shits
Mesagoza J-Con
Beck: A dream that may or may not have involved vomiting and someone complaining of the mother of all hangovers that I haven't seen since my days in university but that's neither here nor there.
Stewart: Binge drinking. How well do I remember. Anyway, Pleased to meet y'all. Don't drink alcohol while under aged.
Beat.
Stewart: Back home in Orre we take this shit very seriously.
Beck: Sorry to have bothered you all. We'll be on our way. We work at the J-Team's dirigible, the Stormchaser, just outside of town.
Stewart: If you need anything from us, just mosey on over and ask for our names.
He nods his head.
Stewart: Much obliged li'l ma'ams.
And with that, they make their way out of the stores, feeling a little bit of cringe each time they see another dakimakura or two.
Edited by MasterJayAM on Nov 20th 2023 at 9:29:34 PM
They didn't move as Kevin walked further, just turning their heads in an idle stare as he continued onward. He motioned for the others to follow him and keep close, didn't seem right getting them pulled into this environment.
The zombies around them were arranged into a line, a corridor, it was meant to lead them. Kevin took a deep sigh, he could get out of this if needed... he just needed time.
There was a faint glow coming at the end, whatever this was...
Silas marched through the streets, carefully observing the area around him. Soreness filled his body, he looked up to the darkened sky and saw two white slits... probably the "Eyes" of whatever was keeping him here. This was his brain... why couldn't he get out? It doesn't want us out.
It had to be something else, blank status meant regular mind control wouldn't work on him... would it? Psychic effects did nothing... right? It wants us dead.
He felt his head hurt as what felt like a jolt of electricity ran through his body. The eyes turned down to him, whatever this was, it had found him. We refuse to die.
The shadows started to return, Silas grimaced as he readied for a fight. We're so close to breaking this.
Silas looked up at the eyes, he could see the outline of what looked to be a face... he flipped it off. No clever words, it had access to his brain, it knew his thoughts.
The Shadows swarmed Silas once more.
Fwomph
Levincia City
-Midknight, the sharpened and twisted replica of the Nightingale, looked down at the approach of the civilian hero-
Uuuuuuunmasssstered.
-The voice, harsh and unpracticed, like every word is the first ever spoken by the being-
No threat. Just death. You will be obliged.
-Feathers like razors, forearms clad in blades. Midknight falls to the pavement and stumbles back onto its feet before charging forward in a berserk rush-
-Meanwhile, the construct bird is stymied again and again by the attacks. It looks to be in a bad state but it just won't stop trying to claw and move despite how little it is capable of doing now-
Civic Area
Well, I said so earlier they might be interested in Auric Spectrum genetics. They could have picked a fight they didn't expect...
-Leaning a little on the cane, Pent tried to call up memories of the description the Pen was giving-
Lots of tech too, real cyberpunky stuff. Problem is, that kind of 'ware and corporate intrigue is not my specialty...
-A few moments to pack away the sign and straighten out his coat-
But hey, we're friends with someone whose it is.
-A few stumbling steps, but eventually he stands in a twitching shadow and lets himself fall. He feels in the blind eternity beneath for familiar shadows and secret shrines in the Defiant Wing...-
Edited by Pentigan on Nov 21st 2023 at 12:22:03 AM
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
He would fall no where... the shadows and the secret shines were gone. The Defiant Wing was missing and Pentigan couldn't find it.
Oh... that's... that's not good is it?
Fwomph
Subwhere
-The way is barred, by light or by destruction he does not know which-
Yeah no that's a bad sign. Where would Silas—
-Black hair. Blue eyes.-
Oh.
It's clearly a case of backroom political albumizing.
Kevin stood and waited, the wait was always the worst part. He took a few deep breaths, steadying himself as Dallas scratched his claws against the dirt covered ground. Wick stretched a bit and began to think about what skills he did and didn't know.
Then...
It echoed throughout the ball room, as out of the windows and even patches of dirt came the Mighteynas. They had zombified further, rotting flesh and decay, roaring as they did.
Dallas watched as one got close, before spitting a jet of flame into it. Wick following with a shadow ball, knocking the thing back... and it ceased its animation, the glowing light leaving it.