Flying Colors
Thanks to Herb for spagging the second half of this post with me!
NyUA Courtyard
-A class has gathered in the courtyard, around the central battlefield.-
Dendra: Osu! Say hello to your battle instructor — the one! The only! The hot-blooded Dendra!
Students: (at varying amounts of synchronization) Hiiii, Miss Dendra.
Dendra: Haha, please— use "coach", "sensei", or just Dendra! Remember, this is a sport we're learning. Anyway!
-She strikes a confident pose.-
Dendra: My age? 25!
Kai: Wait you're younger than me???
Dendra: My hobby? Working out!
One of the older students: Yeaaaah!!
Dendra: My type? Why, strong and muscular Fighting-types, of course!
Kai: (Why did she phrase it like that???)
Dendra: And this class is where you'll get to learn all about the nitty-gritty of Pokemon battling!
A few students: Whoo!
Dendra: Now, normally that would be the end of my introduction, but for this semester's course, we've got ourselves a guest! So please, say hello to my assistant, Kai Amarin!
Students: (at even more varying amounts of synchronization) Hiiiii, M_iMsitsesr Kai...?
-The students all start glancing at each other in slight confusion.-
Kai: (Oh gods that was weird to hear.) Ahem, hello! It's lovely to meet you all.
Dendra: Kai here is none other than a Frontier Brain from Hoenn, so I'm certain they'll have all sorts of knowledge to offer. Why don't you introduce yourself?
Kai: Right, ahem, yes! Sanctum Prince Kai, of the Hoenn Battle Frontier. Uh, I'm 26, my hobbies are strategy video games, and... I don't specialize in any particular type, but if I had to choose just one, I'd probably pick Ground-types, I think.
-There's more chatter amongst the class.-
Dendra: Excellent! Now, I'm sure all of you have a lot of questions to ask Kai or myself, either about ourselves or about Pokemon battling itself, so let's combine that with class introductions, shall we?
Kai: I'll be helping keep up with attendance, so I'll go down the list — last name alphabetically, but I'll be using your first names to call on you. And by all means, let me know if you'd rather be called something else. So, when I call on you, respond with a question that's on your mind, okay?
-As the class murmurs, Kai flips to the attendance list.-
Kai: Let's see... Naia?
-One of the younger students respond.-
Naia: Here! So, um. Are you a boy or a girl?
Kai: Oh, guess we're getting this out of the way immediately..
Another student: He's a prince, princes are boys!
Yet another student: I thought Miss Dendra said "princess"
Third student: Yeah, she's too pretty to be a boy!
Kai: Ahem.
-The students yelp and stop talking.-
Kai: To answer Naia's question, it's a more complicated answer than that. I'm close to a girl, but I use "Prince" because I'm not 100% of either. Sometimes I'm one, sometimes the other, sometimes neither or both.
Naia: Ohhhh like that weird robot thing that's both Gardevoir and Gallade?
-Confused murmuring amongst the class-
Kai: ...I'm afraid I'm not sure what you're referring to, but Gardevoir and Gallade are a good comparison!
Naia: In one of the books in the library, some researchers saw a robot in the crater that looked like both! It's supposed to be super strong!
Kai: ...Interesting! I'll take the compliment, I suppose. But yes, think of me as both, and I won't mind too much.
-Kai smiles.-
Kai: Instead of "Mister" or "Miss", I use "Mx", because I like to mix it up.
-There's a mx of giggles and exasperated groans among the class.-
Kai: Anyway! Next — Joaquin?
Joaquin: -the "yet another student" from earlier- Um, here. If you're a Battle Frontier person, that means you have super strong Pokemon, right? Can we see your strongest one?
Kai: Aha, well! I actually haven't brought any of my aces here to Paldea, because as an assistant to this class, I'm starting with an entirely new team! I'd like to grow stronger alongside all of you. And besides, it's not super safe for me to be showing a Ho-oh off in public like this.
-There's an immediate cacophony as Kai mentions Nix.-
Kai: But! Maybe near the end of the class, you'll get to meet some of my older teammates. I think you'd love Spectrum, she's a Flygon and she's... a character, let's say.
-The cacophony settles into "ooh"s-
Kai: Anyway, next — Maria?
Maria: -teenage student- Here. For Coach Dendra — why is there a type chart? It feels like things should be a lot more complicated than "birds do double damage to muscley Pokemon" and stuff like that.
Dendra: Haha, that is a good observation! There's a lot of thought about why, and there's not always a solid answer, unfortunately. Part of it is a matter of standardization — there's a lot that shows that just feeling like interactions between types of Pokemon make sense, makes those resonate more — and with millions of people agreeing on the same thing, that has a real effect on battles as we know it. And with so much mythology and science reflecting somewhere between fifteen and eighteen types, it seems like it loops back into that being the truth!
Maria: ...That's weird. What if people thought there were like, sixty types? What if I said "battles with me will have 62 types" and I believed really hard in it?
Kai: Oh gods that would be a mess
Dendra: ...That's a fun idea to play around with! But our class is focused on what the League accepts as standard, so I'lll ask that you keep that in mind for the sake of class.
Kai: I've been through a few Leagues, and I'll agree — if League officials start thinking that something's weird about your Pokemon, like they don't line up with typical types — such as if they were Deltas from Holon, or if they use moves that seem like Shadow moves, they'll start limiting what you can use in official settings. Or start giving you other issues.
-Dendra coughs, and leans over to Kai.-
Dendra: We're not supposed to tell students about the, erm, S-type.
Kai: O-oh. Right. Um. I'll— I'll do my best to damage control.
-Kai coughs awkwardly, and looks at the list again.-
Kai: Ahem— Tai?
Tai: What are Shadow moves?
Kai: Fffff— Er, so. Sometimes, if a Pokemon really, really doesn't like its Trainer...
-They glance at Dendra, who gives a careful nod-
Kai: They, ah, use moves that... can hurt themselves and the Trainer. It's different from moves with recoil, it hurts in a different way. That's why being kind to Pokemon is so important, because there's a huge difference between the kind of friendly fighting that battles offer, and the kind of pain that causes. And the League can tell when that sort of cruelty is shown on a stage.
-There's an awkward, uncomfortable quiet amongst the class. Kai exhales, glancing at Dendra with a 'please take over before I accidentally cross another line'-
Dendra: ...It's a tricky thing to talk about, which is why we really shouldn't be saying much about it, but I do want to emphasize — if you are dedicated to Pokemon battling as a sport and an art form, it's important to remember that things can go badly. That specific extreme that Mx Amarin mentioned is not easy to reach, and anyone who does see it will know that it's deliberate, but there are situations where battles can get dangerous. It's the League's job to make sure it stays firmly in the realm of sportsmanship.
-The class murmurs a bit, and Kai gives a quiet sigh of relief at the lowered tension.-
Kai: Right— now, let's keep these introductory questions a bit lighter, shall we?
-They glance at their attendance list-
Kai: Let's see... Bailey?
-Kai glances at the class, before locking eyes with a fellow purple-eyed individual. She's not particularly remarkable - even those purple eyes are mostly hidden behind a veil of dark hair. But there's a glint of recognition and a moment of hesitation before she answers in a quiet, raspy voice.-
Bailey: ...Here.
-There's a moment of awkward silence as the class waits for a followup question. A few students shuffle a couple steps away from Bailey. After a few seconds without anything further, Kai offers a smile, as friendly as ever.-
Kai: Anything coming to mind, Bailey, or should we move on?
Bailey: ...May I use a tablet? I'm not very good with a pen and paper. I'm dyspraxic.
Dendra: O-oh, ah, don't worry, we won't be writing much in this class anyway—
Kai: Even so! I think I've got a way we can make that work.
-They tap their watch, and after a moment— -
Myra: <wait you're talking about me>
-Myra jumps out of Kai's phone, finds the Pokedex tablet she used to use, and hovers over to Bailey.-
Kai: Bel— Bailey, meet Myra. She can help you out in this class.
-Bailey's eyes - or at least, what little of them is visible beneath her fringe - widen, and she shakes her head.-
Bailey: No, I- I-I'm fine. I have my own partner Pokemon. I just wanted to know if it would be okay.
-Kai blinks, and slumps a bit.-
Kai: Oh, okay.
Dendra: A Rotom-assisted tablet isn't a bad idea for this class, admittedly — in a battle-centric class, it would certainly help to avoid accidental damage.
Kai: Unless she's afraid of ghosts.
Dendra: Oh right that's a thing that happens
Bailey: N-No! I'm not afraid of anything! Especially not ghosts! I just...
-She glances down, her hair falling to completely cover her face.-
Bailey: You shouldn't worry about me.
-The tone of the whole class shifts with the intent to move on from this point, except for Kai wincing and doing their best to ignore the sudden mild headache they are now experiencing.-
Kai: If you're sure, Bailey. Just, by all means, let me know if there's anything we can do to help.
-Myra sighs and hovers back to Kai, returning to their phone to keep hacking Candy Crush and turning it into candy-themed Breakout instead.-
Kai: A-ahem, anyway...
-Kai keeps going down the list. Most of the class maintains their distance from Bailey, but one in particular does actually shuffle over next to her. Kai notices, but pretends not to. Bailey also pretends not to, but that's harder to do when the person in question starts whispering a little too loudly.-
Maria: Heyhey. You said Bailey was your name?
Bailey: ...It is. I thought I said not to worry about me.
Maria: Yeah, but the psychic thing you did with it was really cool.
Bailey: ...I didn't do a psychic thing.
Maria: Hehe, yeah you did, you just did it again. It's like, for a moment it made me forget, but then I remembered again, y'know? It's cool.
-The colour drains from what little is visible of Bailey's face. Her usual methods aren't working, they've somehow stumbled at the barricade Maria presents. She's going to have to pretend to be... normal.-
Bailey: Haha, right on, my dude! How about that ludicrous display last night?
-The whole class turns toward her in confusion and then promptly carries on as if it didn't happen, but Maria cracks up.-
Maria: Oh man, you're hilarious. Hey, after class, wanna sit with me at lunch?
-She wasn't prepared for this. Who would be prepared for this? What kind of person just... walks up and starts being friends at you?-
Bailey: Heck, that's bodacious, pal!
-Kai does their best to stifle their snort of laughter. Maria laughs without any such restraint.-
Maria: Super bodacious, pal. I'm Maria. I, uh, said that earlier, but there it is again. Maria's me. I'm she.
Bailey: Yes, I knew that already.
-blink-
Bailey: I mean, uh, you said that already. I'm Bailey. I also said that earlier.
-Maria giggles.-
Maria: Yeah, you did. What else do you know already— actually nevermind Mx Amarin keeps glancing at us, I don't wanna get in trouble for chatting too much. T-T-Y-L?
Bailey: What does that- oh! An acronym. Clever, if inefficient.
-She clears her throat and looks down.-
Bailey: I'd rather avoid their attention too. So... tee-tee-you-el?
-Maria just grins and fingerguns, and goes quiet as the class continues. Despite their best efforts, Kai can't help but smile noticing the two, but carries on as if the conversation never happened.-
Edited by BittersweetNSour on Nov 28th 2023 at 11:31:46 AM
A Marvel nerd who likes to just live his life.
Stormchaser, Many months ago, Interrogation Room
This is a continuation of the big Spagpost me and JG are working on. A special thanks to him for working on this with me!
Igor: Oh, silly me. I forgot to provide context.
He stops himself. Meanwhile, Tommy looks at Tony and raises his eyebrows, with a smug, sly expression on his face that basically screams "we got 'em". All those years of being the assistant errand boy for journalists have finally paid off. Tony eyes him back, giving yet another dumb smirk. Stephen is more focused on what Igor has to say to notice.
Igor: What the hell. If Dr. Coleman couldn't retrieve me, I doubt anyone else could. The School creates mostly two different kinds of cloned humans. The first is the testing-lines, which they internally call Schoolchildren. Between every one to five years or so they make a new batch of them, starting with their DNA samples. They make up to 118 of them at a time, though they're not activated in the same year. They produce them through a specific age, see if their skills are up to stuff, then if they pass they're allowed to live. The moment Igor says that last part, Tony and Stephen freeze up, with the former's pencil falling to the floor.
Tommy: What do you mean "allowed to live?" What happens if they don't?
There was a noticeable hint of rage in Tommy's tone.
Igor: They're liquidated, usually by hiring a Templar or a Schoolchild who did pass to do it for them. Though after that it'll be a miracle if they last for no more than a few decades after. They weren't meant for long-term service. They sputter out and die due to congenital defects that get worse as they age, far more than baseline humans made the natural way.
It's at this point where Tony is getting visibly furious, with Stephen looking absolutely disgusted as well.
Tony: Are you saying...what I think you're saying?
Stephen: <No...they can't actually be this rotten...can they?>
Tommy: I see. And of the Templars?
Igor: Refinements on the Schoolchildren's genetic template, meant to serve as enforcers, staff, and bodyguards. Your friend over there, they're actually a Templar, too. There's a few of them who defected to the J-Team last I heard, plus quite a few Schoolchildren. Truants, as they're called.
Tommy: Does the School make it standard practice to look for these Truants?
Igor: Oh, absolutely. They send templars after them and are made an example of. Though if they're in this giant tin, they should be relatively safe. Templars are a cut above production-line Schoolchildren. Whereas Schoolchildren are born with several genetic defects and sputter out eventually, Templars usually don't.
Tommy: You mean, like, die?
Igor: The production-lines don't live very long, I'm afraid. You'd be hard-pressed to find any of them lasting 20 to 30 years. Templars usually don't have their genetic defects and can last for about as long as a born-human. Give or take 10 to 15 years.
Igor chuckled.
Tommy: What are you laughing at?
Aaaaand that did it right there. Tony's patience was literally thrown out the window. He slammed both his hands on the table where Igor was and loomed over him with a look that would've stopped his heart if it could kill.
Tony: You really think is funny to you? You're laughing. This organization sends people to hunt down schoolchildren who are only really trying to escape the hellhole they're trapped in. They don't even get to live for that long because of their defects, and you're laughing....just how sick, ARE YOU?! AND YOU WORKED WITH THEM, KNOWING ABOUT ALL OF THIS?! YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SICK!
Stephen was also feeling the fires of rage build up inside him, but the moment Tony went crazy, he actually was terrified to say anything at the time, and looked concerned at the way he was acting.
Igor: Were you gonna say "inhuman," punk? I am a Pokémon. The foibles of your species are inconsequential to me. We live, breed, eat or get eaten. That's all she wrote.
Tony rolls up his sleeves and starts to approach Igor.
Tony: Alright, slime boy, I'll show you what "inhuman" really looks like. COME HERE, YOU SICKO!
Igor: I'd like to see you try.
Stephen begins to freak out and tries to get in the way of both of them.
Stephen: <THE BOTH OF YOU! You stop this at once! You're making too much of a scene here!>
Tommy releases a Runerigus from a Pokéball in his back pocket. It appears to have a dome fossil embedded in one of the rune stones that makes up its body. Igor was not particularly pleased to see him.
Tommy: Enough, you two. Stephen's right. We're not escalating this. Though if you lay one finger on my friend here, my companion is prepared to call your Darwinian bluff.
Runerigus: <Goooood morning Hisuiiiii! See we have a douchey little museum thief trying to antagonize the good guys. The psychic hippo behind the glass told me everything I needed to hear and if you insist on turning this into a battle we'll make it a 2 to nil record for UMNH 24, and speaking of eat or be eaten I'm hankering for a jello sandwich to, ahem, finish what I started.>
Stephen: <Ahem, fellow Ghostmon? Don't you already have the knowledge to know that we ghosts cannot really consume physical matter? Also that has literally nothing to do with the events going on as of now. Wait... aren't you the same Runerigus that got in the way of the museum heist Igor was talking about?>
Twenty Four: <Well he didn't know that (until now). And it's an old force of habit. See back in the Cambrian age that sort of survival rule actually applied. And the very same, Stevie. Name's Sturgess Fossil UMNH 24. Former lover, single father of 20, a Beater of cocky dittos. Pleased to meet you.>
Stephen: <Hmm...what a peculiar name. It's nice to meet you too! Can I just call you 24 for short?>
Twenty Four: <Call me anything you want: Adrian, Cy, Sean, Maxwell, Fender, Koda, Mr. President, but not Andrew 'cause my older bosschild there's an Andrew. But 24 is good.>
Twenty Four does an "I see you" gesture at an annoyed Igor, who really resents seeing his old enemy. Tony, while still being pissed, relishes at the sight of Igor seeing the mon who bested him before.
Tommy: It's human nature to get angry at injustice committed by other humans. I'd appreciate it if you don't ever make light of the atrocities your old masters committed ever again.
Tony: Yeah, unless you want me to get my Eevee to thrash you up.
In one of Tony's Pokéballs, a voice could be heard faintly screaming.
Autumn: <LET ME OUT ALREADY SO I CAN KICK THAT DITTO'S ASS!>
Igor: Show's what you know. One, tell that Eevee that Dittos have no need for asses. Second; Humans are pretty bad at following all that justice nonsense only you and the Palafins ever seem to care about. For your companion's benefit, I chuckled because I said "usually". I was the replacement for a particularly defective Templar with freezing powers. Don't think even you goody-two-shoes types would find him sympathetic.
Tommy: Principle of the thing but go on.
Tony: Really? Still sounds like you showed no sympathy, but sure, whatever. Also one of your Templars has ice powers? Who does he think he is? Snow Miser?
Igor: Loves assignments that authorize deadly force. Thinks he's hot shit, but he has this absurd flaw in his genetic programming; he can't turn off his powers. Too much of a liability to send out in public in covert missions, so the guy I work for got me to do that instead while the Templar got gruntwork retrieval assignments that rely more on brute force. Never let a defective human do the work a Pokémon can do.
Tommy: Wow. Insensitive much?
Tony: Hm. He sounds like what would be the School's last resort. Who even is this guy anyways?
Igor: I'd say something about being in a grand centuries-long Eugenics experiment requiring some degree of insensitivity, but actually, that guy's a douchebag. An especially dangerous one. Shitting on him is evergreen.
He briefly transforms into a Trevenant as he said "Evergreen" and then returns to being a human afterward. That pun made Tony chuckle a bit, but not enough to calm down his rage toward him.
Igor: I know y'all have a thing for sympathizing with the School's byproducts but ask Ciara themself: we're talking Grade A human garbage.That's what they turn templars into. The worst possible violators of your species' flimsy insipid moral codes. They'd feel at home in a congress or a parliament.
Behind the glass, Nick and Ciara looked on.
Nick: Wait, really?
Ciara: I've heard enough. Nikola, turn on the Intercom. They need to hear it from me.
Edited by ThanosBoi on Nov 29th 2023 at 7:28:45 AM
Fun isn't something one considers when I watch or read stuff with people with costumes and capes, but that does bring a smile to my face.
Kevin blinked. "How old are you?"
"That doesn't answer my question."
Kevin sighed, and then gestured to Atrin. "And for what Atrin said?"
<Can't?> Wick asked a little confused.
Kevin looked to Wick, who was looking very worried. Kevin refocused, keep talking, get as much information as he could. "Okay, so your handler is gone, you are responsible for the zombies here, and you haven't tried to kill us again... why?"
Kevin didn't like the implications of that, he came across a large hole in a wall, a faint blue glow coming from it. He looked down, in a pit was a large metallic pyramid in the pit, surrounded by zombies.
Curious Mind
Abandoned Hotel
Atrin: And there's no other way out for you?
Atrin shakes his head.
Atrin: The crystals growing more would be bad, right?
Ecto and Fleurir stand at the ready.
Person, or Idea?
<So she does know Monese,> Gavroche remarks, noticing Sam responding to Wick.
Edmond grunts in response. He now knows to watch his words carefully.
Meanwhile, Mitchell considers what Sam just said. Her ramblings about a secret organization ruling the world in secret reminds him of rumors he had heard in his scant correspondence with the J-Team. What were they called again? The Institute? The College? Whatever their name was, they were bad news, and what they had done with Sam likely made her, to some degree, a victim.
"So you want freedom," Mitchell says, "but you can't grant it to yourself, which is why you lured us here." He gives a cryptic smile. "What if I told you that you can leave this heritage site without destroying it? Have you considered that there is an escape route you simply cannot see?"
The tone was... annoyed.
Kevin clenched his fist, whatever this organization was, it was a debased evil.
<That sounds a lot like-> Dallas began.
Kevin clasped his ears on his head, despite the voice being largely mental.
Silas found himself in... a city... again?
"Huh... seems... kinda familiar?"
"Yeah... what was the last thing we did with a city?"
Silas thought back to the trials... the events... the deal, a pit formed in his stomach.
"Hate that fucker, but he provided... that's the worst part."
It was at this point that Silas realized where he was, and doubled over in pain when a gunshot rang out. He clutched his side, blood trickled down... he hated that in this mentalscape he could bleed.
He looked over, on the other end a street was a man in a black and gold suit, with hold hair, wearing a gold skull mask. "YO!"
Silas took an inhale, and let the metal skin return. "You."
"Yeah, me!" Coyote responded, he seemed to even have a few extra Lucario like features, judging by the tail. The thick Galarian accent seemed more exaggerated than ever. "Listen I know you're on a quest to reclaim yourself, and cool look. Very chic, but I can't let ya get any further!"
"Bit more personality in you than the last one huh?"
"Naturally! You always did put more work into me, those private sessions with Alice really helped didn't they? So, this is the part where I-"
Coyote barely dodge out of the way of an aura sphere, Silas stared him dead in the eyes. "Shut up. If you've got personality... then let me win and let us get out."
Coyote had a sad smile. "You know I can't let you do that," he said, racking his shotgun.
Coyote opened fire, Silas dashed to the side and charged forward. Coyote smiled and his hand a metal claw extended, striking into Silas. Silas tucked back and shook himself, this was gonna be harder.
Coyote started to rapid fire, Silas used extreme speed to dodge around, Coyote didn't even see the stab with an aura blade coming. He flew backwards, landing on his feet, discarding the shotgun as more Lucario like features overtook him.
Gold, it had to be gold, the Coyote personality loved gold.
The two charged forward, metal claws extended in a clash. Sparks flew, the metal snout of Silas's burst form split into a jagged jaw, biting into Coyote's shoulder before throwing him. "Hahahaha! Very good! Very good indeed!"
Silas leapt upwards, intent on ripping into Coyote's stomach, Coyote got back on his feet and dodged. "It didn't feel right, having you run through a maze, not like this. I'm so... put together, I had to fight you directly."
The two locked hands, Silas eying something in Coyote's jacket. Coyote kicked Silas back with a strike to the stomach.
"I'm the nicest one, the one that can make actual expressions, emote."
Silas tried not to listen, though he could feel the glower of Knight in the back of his mind at the comment. "It's so easy with me! You aren't you, you aren't the Silas that cares about screwing up his interactions, the one who gets exhausted showing what you're feeling. Me? I don't care, I have no reason to, I can be as expressive as we want because I have no concern for others getting upset!"
Silas clenched his fists, now this? This is what was missing from his last fight. It worked, Coyote got in close and wrapped his hands around Silas's neck. "It's easier being me."
Silas choked, he could feel the air leaving his lungs, would he get sent back? Would he have to start all over again... something, dangling in Coyote's jacket, it was there again. It was a handle... to something. Silas's hand darted for it, drawing it and pointing it at Coyote's head.
*BAKAM*
Coyote stumbled over, Silas started to breath easier, the metal armor fading away. He looked over, Coyote's mask was gone, the human face was back... and there was little blood or gore despite the large chunk of his face missing. Instead a white blue miasma instead.
"Nice job... been dreaming of a blaster like that huh?"
"You were leading me."
"Had to, you're still me after all. Listen, sorry about the things I said. I know we're not really filling Knight's contract very well are we?"
"No... we're not."
"It's not easy, I get that," Coyote said, starting to fade. "Just keep at it, I get the feeling after this you're gonna have some very new ways of expressing yourself."
Silas smiled a little bit. "Steal from the rich?"
"And give to myself," Coyote responded, fading out.
Silas stood up, his wounds stinging. "Okay... okay... how much further to go?"
Curious Mind
Abandoned Hotel
Atrin frowns.
Atrin: The people that did this to you sound truly awful. I'm so sorry.
Person, or Idea?
Mitchell, Edmond, and Gavroche all flinch at the psychic yell from Sam. Edmond more so, due to his Psychic type weakness. Gavroche less so, due to his ongoing friendship with Christine.
She must mean Terastalising herself, Mitchell thinks. Better use her terms, though, while we're still negotiating.
Mitchell steps towards the hole where Kevin stopped, and he looks down at the pyramid in the pit below. To his eyes, it has the appearance of a relic of ancient power, rather than the life support coffin it seems to be.
"If we weren't here," Mitchell says, "your plan might have been the best option you had. Better to paradox out and spend what few moments you had free, than to remain trapped in there with only your puppets for company."
<Sensei,>, Edmond says. <Whatever you're thinking->
Gavroche shooshes Edmond. <He's got a plan,> he says. <Or a pitch, at least.>
"But, we're here," Mitchell continues, gesturing to himself, Kevin, Atrin, and their Pokemon. "And through us, you've got another option: genuine, therapeutic healthcare." He sweeps his cape around himself as he continues his speech.
"It's clear what that Pyramid's doing to you. It keeps you alive, but only as a battery, so that organization can study and use your powers. Beyond here, though, we have hospitals and healthcare systems. They would treat you as a person, not a tool, and they would do their best to heal you. You could heal beyond the need for life support just to continue living. You could gain the use of your limbs. Even if you couldn't, you'd still get far more freedom than being sealed in that coffin you're in now."
Mitchell extends his hand into the void, towards the pyramid.
"How does that sound?", Mitchell concludes. "Would you let us show you this way to your treasure?
There was silence for a moment, Kevin looked to Mitchell and arced a single eyebrow.
Kevin was eying Mitchell very hard, hoping for a response.
Silas stepped in, the realm was... different? It was certainly different, it looked like a hotel hallway, it seemed familiar honestly. Why was it so large?
It was at this point that Silas started to recognize these halls. This was the Hotel back in Kalos, where he first met Roxy... when he-
He pushed himself to the floor as an aura beam fired.
<Good, you remembered.>
Silas rolled over, summoning Knight for the metal skin... he needed an idea of what this thing was. It reminded him of a burst heart somewhat.
<Leave me locked up a lot, I don't appreciate that. You get us into trouble, so much,> It was Stylus, distorted of course, like everything in this mentalscape. He seemed to be a much larger Lucario, with a faint metal sheen, like somebody upped the iron content in his body.
<Don't think they'll even let me out... so... I'm not gonna give them a choice,> Stylus responded, before drawing his own aura blade.
Silas drew his, he flexed the left hand a bit, it felt good.
<Two... two aura blades. You make a new move for a new form, and you have to go extra with it.>
Silas blocked it out, it was just anxieties exaggerated by the program holding him. Coyote confirmed as much, just had to push past.
Blades clashed, Stylus, now that Silas got a closer look, was haggard and miserable. He'd need to swap form more, let that part of him out a bit more often. He'd gone through this all before, why bring it up again?
<Is a lesson ever so simple as to be learnt once?>
Silas kicked Stylus back, he needed some space, but he was right. Lessons took a few tries to get, spirit quests weren't one and done deals.
Actually.
Stylus charged forward, Silas dodged, and then took a risk. He pulled Stylus into a hug.
<Uh, what do you think you're doing?>
"I get it, you're upset because you're among my least used, the only one I use less is Mando."
<But, the Jailer program->
"Only has so much hold over us, we've proven that. We're getting out of here, all of us."
Stylus blinked, and then frowned. <You'll forget about me, about your promise.>
"And I'll learn it, again and again, until we get it right."
Stylus smiled a bit, and then faded.
"You know the last two aren't gonna be that simple to handle."
Silas looked to Knight, and shrugged. "Figured they wouldn't be. It's just that out of all of my faces, my masks, Stylus doesn't deserve any of this."
Knight nodded. "Well, like I said. Two left... and then we're out."
Mr. Strings observed the progress made, he'd get out, he'd get out very soon... It's a shame the others had vanished.
"Still... secrets in your head are now mine."
Gabriel marched in. "Get him ready," he demanded.
"Hm?"
"The Auditors are here. We need to demonstrate we have a Blank on hand ready."
"Ah. Right."
Curious Mind
Abandoned Hotel
Atrin keeps quiet, though his face shows a mixture of fear and sympathy. He gestures for Mitchell to speak.
Fleurir: <Is this wise?>
Ecto: <I do not know, but if we can help someone, we should!>
Person, or Idea?
"You'd be surprised," Mitchell says to Samantha, "at just how many groups have the resources to fix you. Groups your organisation never told you about, that is." He then glances to Kevin and Atrin, giving both a reassuring and confident glance. "As for who can pull you out," he continues, "you're looking at them."
<Oh, here we go,> Gavroche says, resigned to what's about to happen.
<Sensei, you don't mean->, Edmond tries to say, before being silenced by a thumbs-up from Mitchell.
"Me and my dear Pokemon companions," Mitchell continues, "can open up the Pyramid, by force if necessary. Then, once you're free of that equipment, I'll use this to keep you alive."
With that, he pulls a Pokeball-like object out from beneath his cape, with the hand that wasn't holding a candlestick. It glows vibrantly with the light of Tera energy within, subtly different from the light from the Tera Crystals growing throughout the hotel.
"One use of this, and you won't need to wait for the crystals to grow any more," Mitchell says. "You could paradox out, right here, right now." His smile grows wider, as his mind becomes more aware of exactly how dangerous the game he's playing is. "How does that sound?"
No voice to cry suffering
Paldea, West Province, Area Two - some time ago
-Abilene holds up a rack with three Z-Crystals-
-again, Megan rests her arm on her Z-Ring—again wills the light into it and through the gems-
-Water, a trickle of what it once was-
-Psychic…less than expected. oddly not reassuring-
-Ice-
-pouring, colored a frigid lavender-
Megan: Am I generating it, or...?
Abilene: It's just not leaving.
-they sit with that for a moment, within Megan's unnatural chill-
-she shivers—those graying strands of her hair have gone white, she'll need to dye them again soon-
-and she feels…-
Megan: ...and because I'm not Aura-sensitive...
Abilene: Hogwash.
Megan: ...oh! Then you mean—
Abilene: Yes, that little factoid our foes and popsci would have you not believe.
Megan: "Anyone can channel Aura."
-Abilene rolls her eyes-
Abilene: Everyone channels Aura. Every moment of every day.
-she curls her hand into a claw, grasping at an intangible something-
Abilene: It isn't some numinous force, separate from you.
-and tightens it into a fist, wisps of blackness squeezing free—condensing to ribbons around her knuckles-
Abilene: It sits under your skin, like your liver and nerves, fueled by and fueling your body. Thoroughly intertwined, inseparable, and the idea that you need to connect to—some cosmic skein—to touch what is already yours is laughable.
-she lets her irritation, and its power, go-
Abilene: One channels it by breathing—by walking—by feeling—and...and...
-the silence is a little too smiley for Abilene to continue-
Abilene: -belated- ...you know this. I know you know this.
Megan: You're cute when you're explaining things.
Abilene: ghk
-well, the irritation's back-
Megan: -giggle, brief-
-yes. irritation-
-Abilene huffs, filled with…irritation-
Abilene: Well, if you're in good enough spirits to tease me—
Megan: No, no, not that, I swear. Keep going.
Abilene: Please. Enough people condescend to you.
Megan: -growl- No, I—
-she smiles-
Megan: It'd help.
Abilene: ...alright.
-she clears her throat-
Abilene: To sum it up, yes. You should well be able to clear an affliction of essence—perhaps not by expelling it in an energy blast, but the usual ways one does. Reach the heart via tending the body.
Megan: But…?
Abilene: But it hasn't.
Megan: …and maybe it's…?
-Abilene sighs, sharp, from deep in her chest-
Abilene: Because your Auric system is so far from normal.
-Megan strokes her wrist across the Pyukumuku in her lap-
No mind to think. No will to break.
Flying Colors
Textspace
From: Kai
Hey so uh
Remember the little kid version of you that the School sent after us
That's not even rhetorical that's a legit question, do you remember her, her whole thing is memories
The Wanderer
West Province Cave, past
Salandit #1: -Is immediately fainted by the Psybeam-
Iridium: Alright Del Lurra, use Mud Sh-
Flittle: -Immediately floats ahead and blasts the next closest one with a Psybeam-
Del Lurra: <Okay...>
-She spits up mud on the next closest ones instead-
Oedi: -Rubs her legs together to make a most unpleasant sound-
Salandit #3: -Firing an Incinerate- <Stop that!>
Oedi: -Jumps to dodge as Ammit takes the Incinerate-
Ammit: -Tackling Salandit #3 into another- <I still think this is dumb by the way.>
Flittle: -Just keeps blasting with Psybeam until the remaining Salandit are fainted-
Ammit: <...>
Iridium: -Grabbing the Berry bag- Yay, we won!
-She immediately twitches in place for reasons she's not clear about-
Salazzle: -Climbing in from a higher entrance- <Okay what's going on he-
-Sees the human and assorted mons standing over her defeated Salandit minions and holding her "rightfully" stolen Berries-
<Can't get good help anywhere these days.>
-Eyes narrowing as she jumps down-
<Guess I'll have to deal with you morsels myself!>
Flittle: <Oh yeah? I'll beat you just like all the rest of these guys!>
Salazzle: <Guess I'll start with some fried chick!>
-She fires a Flamethrower, which Flittle tries to charge right into-
Ammit: -Annoyed- <Wait!>
Del Lurra: <I got it~>
-She wags her tail and throws a bunch of mud right into Salazzle's face, causing the Flamethrower to go wide and miss-
Salazzle: -Has momentarily forgotten about her opponents as she tries to clear the mud off her face-
Aurum: -To Iridium- <Best leave kid, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, and we got what we came for.>
Ammit: <Aurum's right, let's go!>
Flittle: -About to try blasting them with a Psybeam-
Del Lurra: -Jumps up to grab them with her mouth- <Oh no you don't~>
Flittle: -Angry as she impotently fires Psybeam- <Hey, let me go!>
Iridium: -Immediately books it alongside her mons-
Some time later
Flittle: -Eating an Oran Berry- <I didn't get to beat up that Salazzle... but I did get to beat up those other guys, so I guess you held up your end of the deal.>
Iridium: Okay, so does that mean you're joining us?
Flittle: <Guess I don't really have much else to do so... okay!>
Ammit: -Not exactly enthused- <This mon is going to get us all liquidated...>
Iridium: -Getting out a Quick Ball- Alright, welcome to the team Struthie.
Flittle Struthie: -Taps the ball and is absorbed-
Iridium: -Lets Struthie right back out-
Oedi: <Okay, so what now?>
Ammit: <We continue on to the Segin Squad Base. With all its Dark-types...>
Edited by rmctagg09 on Dec 2nd 2023 at 11:35:17 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Not A Lawyer
Mesagoza, Seabreeze Cafe
-At one of the many cafes across the city, a purple-haired girl in a black letterman jacket is sitting at a booth when someone else joins her, carrying two coffees and wearing sunglasses indoors.-
Kahlia: Thanks, Aero.
Aero: What can I say? I see a pretty girl sitting all alone, I've gotta make sure she's looked after.
-Kahlia chuckles.-
Kahlia: You flirt. I wouldn't have been alone if you hadn't offered to get drinks.
Aero: Then consider this an apology for leaving you pining.
-Kahlia takes her drink, still smiling.-
Kahlia: I like the new-and-improved Aero. Was he really hiding inside shy little Amel all this time?
-Aero hesitates slightly, glancing down.-
Aero: ...Kinda? It's more like he - I mean, me - was hiding behind Aeroraptor's mask. But then someone helped me realise that I'm still just as cool as him even without the mask. I'm just even cooler with it on.
Kahlia: Heh. No arguments here. Give them my thanks if you get the chance, will you?
-Her phone pings in her pocket. She pulls it out to check, heart leaping as she sees who the message is from... and then falling as she reads it.-
From: Kahlia
yeah i do, unfortunately
despite the little psycho's best efforts
why do i get the feeling that you messaging me about her can't mean anything good
Flying Colors
Textspace
From: Kai
Yeah so I've got. Good news and bad news??
Actually it's the same news
Long story short I'm keeping an eye on her
Short story long, I've got this assistant teacher gig at NyUA for their battle studies classes, and she's a student there. Not entirely sure what the School's play is here (the bad capital-S School, not the good school i'm actually working at) but either she's spying on me or me being here is managing to throw a wrench in their works by pure chance. Either way, uh, thought you should be aware.
...The kid herself seems pretty awkward. Try not to be too angry at her? It's her higher-ups that are the real monsters. I'm trying really hard for a kill-them-with-kindness angle here.
Plus, it looks like she's been adopted by a wild extrovert and is scrambling to cope with that. That alone is kind of hilarious.
Not A Lawyer
Mesagoza, Seabreeze Cafe
-Kahlia's breath hitches in her throat. The bustling of the cafe around her fades away, replaced by a loud ringing and the thumping of her heart. Aero notices her distress and lowers his sunglasses, looking concerned.-
Aero: Everything okay?
Kahlia: ...Yeah. I mean, no, not really, but... I gotta figure out how to process this.
-After a few moments of deep breaths, she begins typing out a response.-
From: Kahlia
okay
that's a lot to take in
thanks for letting me know, at least
fuck if i know what their play is either but they sure as fuck didn't care about you getting caught in the crossfire last time
and they don't like witnesses
she hasn't tried anything yet has she?
because trust me, i know what it's like to be a victim of those fuckers, to have them make you hurt people you don't want to
but that doesn't mean she's not still dangerous
Flying Colors
Textspace
From: Kai
Yeah, I know
I haven't seen any other School agents lately, though it's definitely possible there are other plants at the academy. I'm going to make sure to keep an eye out, not only for Bailey (her name in the attendance system) but also Maria, the one who decided to impose friendship on her. Bailey can't do anything to me, and it seems like Maria's immune too, but I'm going to make sure nobody else puts her in danger either. The problem is balancing that with the aforementioned friendship — I want Maria to have people to rely on if things get dangerous, because they undoubtedly will, rather than to freak out and abandon Bailey.
And, y'know, I'm just an assistant. And I've already gotten the sense that faculty politics are a bit fraught here. I'm fully ready to abandon the teaching job and go full J-Teamer when I need to, but that's a big red button I can only use once.
Not A Lawyer
Mesagoza, Seabreeze Cafe
From: Kahlia
wait it's possible to be immune?
teach me your secrets o master
hahaahhaaaa i'm joking but actually please do because i'm still fucking terrified of mini-me
not cool to admit i know but it's true
it's fucked up knowing she exists in the first place, right?
i almost wish she had managed to slurp my brain like a capri-sun, then i wouldn't feel so gross and violated and have to deal with all this fucking trauma
sure i'd be a vegetable but mable that's worht it
fuck i'm freakimg out
-Something grips Kahlia's shoulder, and she wheels around, only to see it's Aero.-
Aero: Hey. Hey. It's okay. Focus on me.
Kahlia: ...I-I...
Aero: Do you want to get out of here? We can head back to our room. You look like you need some space right now.
-Kahlia nods, shakily, and looks back down at her phone.-
From: Kahlia
thank you for telling me
i think i need to lie down for a while before we can talk about this again
Edited by Herbert40k on Dec 3rd 2023 at 5:46:54 PM
Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.
Flying Colors
Textspace
From: Kai
Believe me when I say I know exactly how you feel.
Get some rest, I'll talk to you more about it when you've recovered a bit.
I'm really sorry for causing this
Not A Lawyer
Mesagoza, Seabreeze Cafe
From: Kahlia
no, you didn't cause this
you're doing the right thing here
just promise me you'll stay safe
-Kahlia drops her phone back in her pocket, and allows Aero to lead her out of the cafe.-
Trans rights are human rights. JK Rowling preaches hate. If you sit at a table with five bigots and say nothing, there are now six bigots.
Levincia
Tommy and his pokémon regrouped. They may have failed to land anything on either the villain or the construct for now, but they were not injured on the first charge. The sudden flush of adrenalin and endocannabinoids that resulted from evading the charging villain gave the Unovan quite a euphoric rush. His face formed a cocky expression.
Now Tommy was no stranger to this sort of high. He mused that it was the best part of his other job. The other was how cool it would've looked.
"Olé!" He yelled. He does deign to admit when a move impresses him, even if it came from someone who was turned into a villain.
Hey, when in Paldea...
As if to continue this Taureador charade, he gestured once again to Midknight. Maybe playing the distraction can give his team or Kamui the opening they need to take her down, maybe get at the thing they need to free her. While he taunted the villainess, he used his aura senses—as underdeveloped as they may be—to look for where that object might be.
Of course, his ability to act is limited by his own charade. Tommy Petersen was still a civilian and had to act the part.
Sakura Genetics
Pris sends a message.
"Roger wilco. Murph will need access to more than just Sakura's security system, too. Their databases should make it easier to pinpoint just where they might be hiding them, then we can make a combeeline toward that. And grab anything incriminating along the way."
There appears to be a bit of lag between the messages.
"Don't worry about me, though. I'm using a bunch of proxies. Got the best VPN money can buy, which is incidentally just within the PEFE budget if we ever need to use it. But even the best VPNs have a bit of a speed issue when you stack 'em. Gah, stupid lag."
Another message, from Murphy, appears.
"Ready when you are, Nightingale! Just show me where to go."
Within her apartment, Pris began to type in the key words about the company and its history. The Bolts have faced off against evil corporations before, but in two of those cases they were the well-documented former enemies of PEFE. Something about Sakura Genetics felt different to her, even when taking account of the side effects of the meds that made her woozy. What she finds, perhaps, will give her a better clue about what in the world is going on.
Edited by MasterJayAM on Dec 3rd 2023 at 5:13:54 PM
Silas entered, looking about... the environment was... well it was a castle. "Huh..."
Knight scratched the area where his chin would be. "Evocative isn't it? Why does it feel familiar?"
Silas ran a hand over a window and looked out, seeing what looked to be a village of sorts being overlooked... it was here he recognized the location. "This is Castle Lycanrow."
"Deep cut."
"There's only one me that could be here."
"Yes, the one that still wears the bone white mask."
The two began to comb over the environment, wondering where Jackal could be, there was no sign of him, they backed into each other. "Just had to face the part of me that's the stealthy operator."
"He isn't used much these days."
"I beat Delta, that was my big goal, now I can focus on directing my resources as needed," Silas said. "Speaking of which, I have to thank you."
"For what?"
"For breaking me out."
Knight turned back to Silas. "What?"
"I heard your whispers, the burning sensation, you got me out."
Knight gripped Silas tight. "That wasn't me."
Silas's eyes widened as he considered what had saved him, only for a sudden gunshot to ring out, and Knight to push him down to the floor.
Silas stumbled back and behind a pillar of the castle, he looked out, off in the distant wielding a big old fuckoff rifle was Jackal.
"Target sighted, marking for termination."
Silas let Knight vanish, and the metal skin return. You have this.
Silas darted his head around, the whispers were back. Yes. I'm here to help.
Why? What did it want? To apologize, for everything I've done.
Another gunshot tore the pillar apart, Silas took off sprinting. He had to keep moving, he had to stay ahead and keep out of the sights of Jackal. Don't ever stop, you can handle him.
"Not bad, but you made me to be a professional."
Jackal was the consummate professional, the one who wore a costume to hide himself, to detach. Silas could handle that, it was just bad luck that he currently had an aimbot to assist. A trick, but one you can handle. They had to cheat, but you'll get out.
When he got out... what had been going on while he'd been stuck in his own head? Where was everyone? Where was Roxy? From what we last saw, safe...ish.
Silas kept darting around, Jackal dropping the rifle and grabbing a machine gun, opening fire. Adapt and change, of course Jackal had no other advantages, he had relied upon tricks and technology, as well as the others. Silas would need to change that.
"Adapt and overcome, that's the mission statement."
"And the mission will get done," Silas said leaping out from cover, Jack dropped the machine gun in response.
Aura Blades, end this, quick-krrtzzk
-ly. Silas stumbled and even Jackal doubled over, something had just happened. "No, not now."
Silas didn't know what that meant, but he looked to Jackal, who scrambled to his feet. Silas didn't know what to feel staring at... well... himself. Jackal was a very personal creation, a name reclaimed from the man who mocked him, and a mark to fight against evil in all the pernicious corners it hides in.
Still. "Sorry."
Jackal didn't have time to responded before he felt an aura blade run through him. [[evil: "Th-the mission..."
"We'll complete it. There's something else here, and we need to face it."
Jackal faded, and Silas turned, to face a being made of a white burning light. "Hello."
Edited by EchoingSilence on Dec 3rd 2023 at 7:06:26 AM
A Marvel nerd who likes to just live his life.
Stormchaser, Many months ago, Interrogation Room
This is the conclusion to the big Spagpost me and JG were working on. A special thanks to him for working on this with me, it was really fun!
Nick obliges. Tony and Tommy hear a hum from the speakers behind them. Stephen and 24 turn to hear it.
Ciara: I know what he's talking about. I've had the unfortunate experience of working for him. That Templar who Igor effectively supplanted, his name is Whitt. He's a monster. Not even the most murderous my former masters produced, but one who I personally hate. He threatens both the Truants and Civilian victims with a smug coldness. And he is not above harming children. His heart is indeed as cold as the rest of him.
Tony: Now that doesn't sound like the kind of guy the cops can just... lock up... I mean I have a lot of contacts from other stations, they keep me up to date with everything. But he'd probably just freeze everyone without a single thought. I sure hope we never run into him... Damn... this School is really starting to make me mad and give me the creeps.
Nick: We caught him once. He got free. He's not someone an ordinary person can stand a ghost of a chance with. No offense, guys.
Stephen: <None taken. Right, 24?>
Twenty Four: <Ten Four, Steve.>
Nick: This is why PEFE takes everything about these guys seriously. This guy can give a superhero a run for their money. And with an organization behind him that's centuries old, we're not ones to take chances. Tommy, I know you wanna snoop around and take your new friend with you like this is some sort of adventure story you liked as a kid come to life, but we're dealing with much more than your average Scooby Doom villain. I'll say this only once. If you find anything suspicious, come to us first. Let us handle this. We'll tell you when you can tell the cops or the media. None of that derring-do crap. And definitely no running to your overbearing J. Jonah boss.
Tony: OK then, I understand. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt because a piece of info put someone I know in danger. And you also gotta be aware that not everyone you know is really on your side. Don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine, right, Tommy?
Tommy: Correct. We shouldn't be irresponsible with information.
Nick: Attaboy!
Igor: Are you done?
Tony: I think... for now at least. But don't get too cocky, I'll be making sure you go to the slammer for everything that you've done. That's a promise.
Igor: Pokémon can't go to jail, stupid humans.
Nick: Don't count on it, Blobby. There's probably a zoo we can send you to.
Stephen: <That could work, and I'm sure once we tell all of your new roommates what you did when you arrive, you'll be able to make a lot more new friends!>
Ciara: Trust me, not being some rich pop psychologist's right hand mon is punishment enough for him. Anything he deserves, I'm more than happy to subject him to, within the limits of what counts as Pokémon cruelty. In any case, his crimes are less than that of the Templars or our former masters. While he's by no means innocent, they're the greater evil.
Although he wanted Igor to suffer a more fitting fate, Tony decided to agree nonetheless with the idea of sending him to a zoo. After all, it was close enough to a prison for him anyway.
Tony: A zoo works. All that matters to me is that he's behind bars one way or another.
Tommy: So, I can't punch him?
Igor: Go ahead, nerd. I'd like to see you try. He, he, he.
Ciara: Well, if you say so, Igor.
Tommy stood up from his chair and approached Igor, who was also now standing. There were so many ways this could play out, and Igor was well aware of it, given that the smug face he's used to straight up mock the duo interviewing him was still on his face. The scenario was easy to predict. Nebbish Tommy tries to throw an ineffectual nerd punch and Igor conveniently turns into a rock or steel type, then swats his assailant to the walls.
Only that didn't happen. No sooner than Tommy came within range that Igor received a quick and swift punch in the gut. A very hard one. To Igor it felt a bit like getting hit by a Machamp that was holding back, or if he wanted to scoff, a somewhat underleveled Tyrogue. That was not a punch from a nerdy human being. He keeled over and temporarily started to morph into magenta goo before reforming in his human disguise.
The punch was hard enough that Tommy felt Ditto slime on his hand, which he promptly tried to wipe away with a handkerchief.
Tommy: Here's the thing about underestimating others, Igor. It goes both ways.
Tony and Stephen looked astounded at Igor getting what he deserved. Tony was the most excited to see it though, after him being smug throughout the interview it was marvelous to see Tommy put him in his place. But now, it was his turn to show Igor a piece of his mind. Walking over to the once-smug ditto, he'd grab his hands and pull him up until he was standing. And that's when he pulled back his right hand, ready to sock Igor in the nose.
Tony: Here's something "Inhuman" for you!
He swings his fist point blank at his face. Igor was already stunned and could barely even muster a token defense against the kind of punch he knew an adrenalin-pumped human was more than capable of delivering. As he was ultimately made of a slimy protoplasm, he couldn't really bleed in any real sense, let alone show signs of distress. But the cocksure shapeshifter's ego was visibly bruised.
Tommy: I think we made our point vividly clear, you piece of sh-.
Igor: No kidding. Ciara, get me out of here.
Nick: That about wraps it up, boys. Any more and it's physical assault and the 'Chaser will throw you out.
Nate the Slowbro, telepathically: ~Stormie let you have that one since she's had the unfortunate displeasure of listening to all that BS. But the J-Team got in trouble once for beating up an already-defeated bad guy; she will take action if you attempt to do even more. And that goes double for you, 24.~
Twenty Four: <Eh, I already beat him. There's nothing to contest.>
It's then that Stephen turns to look at Tony with a stern gaze fixated on him.
Stephen: <You hear what they said Tony? You really need to try to tone down your anger when it comes to these sorts of things, even if the person you're interrogating has little to no morals. I just don't want you to lose yourself to the darkness inside of you, and I'm sure the Stormchaser and everyone here doesn't want that either. Please, promise me you won't go off on another criminal like that again.>
Tony paused and thought to himself for a bit. Stephen did have a point, but at the same time, he still thought Igor deserved getting a smackdown, and so did The School for all the things that they were getting away with. He couldn't just sit around not doing anything knowing what he knew now, he had to take action to put a stop to it. One way or another. But he knew that didn't want Stephen or anyone else to worry about him, so he decided to give in to making sure he didn't end up becoming too ruthless.
Tony: …Okay. I'll try to keep myself from lashing out like that from now on. I promise.
Stephen: <Thank you. I like it when you notice your mistakes and try to fix them.>
Tommy: That was certainly enlightening. But not in the great thinker sort of way. More of a jerkface Ditto being nonchalant about his participation in an evil ancient international conspiracy that involves more than museum thieves and gene pirates and crosses over to some illegal genetic experimentation and widespread child abuse done by a centuries-old pseudoscientific cult. Like, iceberg levels kind of enlightenment. You get it, right?
Igor: You talk too much.
Tommy: It gets the job done. Looks like we're in for a looooong and agonizing next couple of months. I'll show you my murder board later.
Tony and Stephen's eyes instantly bug out of their skulls.
Tony & Stephen: You have a WHAT?!
Tommy: Y'know. Murder boards. Those large cork boards with notes and pictures and clippings that you string together. It's a visual aid one of my work friends and I have been using to chart things since we first started working at the Stormchaser. Are they not called that?
Tony: Oh don't worry, we already know what a Murder Board is, seen plenty of them back at the Jubilife Police Station. The Chief wouldn't let us know more about what those were about though. Something more serious I bet.
Stephen: <Yeah, we're more surprised by the fact that you had one this whole time and didn't tell us earlier! You never thought that informing a detective about this would be useful at all?>
Tommy: I didn't think of it at the time. Look, I've got a lot on my mind right now, but now that we've established that, it's as good a time as any. We can go pick it up from my quarters. Nick will get us a few more cork boards if we run out. We've got a long way ahead before we find any more leads, and that's already taking this need-to-know from PEFE into account.
Tommy paused for a breath. There was a certain weight to the way he said "got a lot on my mind right now," as if that was just scratching the surface of what's going on. As he said that, he grabbed a spot in left forearm and winced a bit. Tony thought he noticed something peculiar about the way Tommy was grabbing his arm, like the way he was clenching it in pain was like something had hurt him there. But, he decided not to look into it at the moment, after all, they both had bigger Magikarp to fry anyways.
Tommy: We'll talk more over drinks, if you'd like. You over 18?
Tony: Umm…well…
Stephen: <No. No he's not. Not yet. He will be though this Halloween.>
Nick, via Intercom: We all know what you're like drunk, Tom. Get yourself and the kid a coffee. Or a smoothie. Whichever works. There's this tea shop that sells the best probiotic yogurt drink at Celestic Town proper.
Tony: Yes, thank you Stephen for reminding me that I'm still a teenager. Arceus, I wish I could grow up faster…
Tommy: I know what that's like. I was the youngest guy in most of the places I worked. I started working with the nature show people just as I finished college. I was 19 at the time.
Tony: Hold up…you went to college when you were 19?! You must be one smart cookie then, heh.
Nick, via Intercom: Went? He graduated when he was 19. A lot of smart cookies in my family, but Tom here's an out and out supergenius.
Tommy: Just barely, though. I had to juggle several jobs at the time. Entrance exams and academic credentials, that stuff's easy. Finish an undergrad thesis while being a delivery boy? Not so much. My life became so much easier when I only had to hold down tw-- one job.
Nick: Well, you didn't need to pay for anything, so it could've been worse.
Tony: Back to talking about drinks though, I can drink coffee, just with cream and sugar though.
Stephen: <And as for me…I get my energy from fear so I can only really absorb that from people who are…well, afraid. All this talking is starting to make me a little hungrier again.>
Twenty Four: <Wanna bug the Ditto again?>
Stephen: <As a matter of fact. Yeah, why not? What do you think, Tony?>
Tony: You two knock yourselves out!
And they both float off.
Tommy: And there they go. There's a Starmiebucks at the outskirts of Celestic. My treat, of course.
Nick, via Intercom: Be careful. Tom's part [Dutch].
Tony: Oooooh! I'd love to! We can talk about all sorts of stuff there! In fact, I have so much I want to say, like what's your favorite superhero? Do you like horror movies? How long have you been working with the J-Team? You come across any bad guys that gave you a run for your money Do you-
Tommy: Hey, settle down.
Drake, popping out of Tommy's scalp again: <He definitely reminds me of someone.>
At this point, Tony had gotten glimpses of it during their interrogation of Igor, but seeing Drake yet again, along with him running his mouth off, sent him over the edge and into complete awe and excitement from seeing the adorable yellow spider-like mon.
Tony: *GASP* IT'S THE FLOOFY MON! HE'S SO ADORABLE I CAN'T TAKE IT AAAAAAAAA
Tommy: He he. He does have that effect. We'll have more time to talk about it when we get there.
Tony: YES! Welp, what are you waiting for then? We're burning daylight here! Last one there's a rotten Exeggcute!
And with that, the group made their way to the Stormchaser exit, and their adventures as a duo began. As far as their partnership was going, everything seemed to go well for their first time working on getting into The School together. Tony was really confident that this was going to be a fantastic experience working with a guy like Tommy. But little did he know that he had no idea what he was really getting into, and the horrors of what he would discover…
Fun isn't something one considers when I watch or read stuff with people with costumes and capes, but that does bring a smile to my face.
Levincia, Past
Kamui's Mindscape
混乱できるか制御できる精神がないかも…noteReality
As Talbain saw his Fire-type Fox Pokemon freeze in place at the sight of being charged, the weremon growled, Snarled, before Kamui panicked and attempted to halt the charge with an Extrasensory, stepping back as the invisible wall covered her retreat.
Civic Area, Past
Lamb gripped her bow, heat coming from the hand doing so, before she gave it a little twirl with a wisp leaving a trail of fire from both ends of it.
"You have my bow," she allowed.
Edited by AbsentCoder on Nov 29th 2023 at 7:56:30 AM
[Insert Unoriginal Stinger Here]