No voice to cry suffering
Paldea, Casseroya Lakeside - less time ago
Tatsugiri: <Hi! I'm a Tatsugiri! What's your name?>
Pyukumuku: -...-
Tatsugiri: <Don't have one yet?>
Pyukumuku: -...-
-the Tatsugiri gets bored and wanders off-
Pyukumuku: -...-
-to the picnic table, not far away-
Abilene: —and an Aura Nexus may well flush your system…
Megan: -drowsing- Mm.
Abilene: …or amplify the aberrance. And even reaching one is a trial...
Megan: Darn.
Abilene: In the meantime, from a professional standpoint: you are expressly forbidden from asking your Vampireon to bloodlet the ill humours away.
Megan: -sleepy- 'lready told you, she doesn't want any of this.
Abilene: That's not—whatever. For your hands, you may be in luck. Several rare varieites of herb in this Region suggest relevant curative properties. Unfortunately guarded by enormous Titan Pokémon, strengthened by their steady diet of it—
Megan: -perking up- ...wait, that!
Abilene: Ah, so your memories don't decei—
Megan: -points- Catgirl HRT arc! :D
-...-
Abilene: ...don't...call it that......
Megan: -blink- Is it not the same thing?
Abilene: I am finding a form more amenable to my needs.
Megan: As a catgirl.
Abilene: It's just a cat. Instead of just cactus.
Megan: Cat-tus.
Abilene: Perish.
Megan: Mwah. You don't like Cacnea?
-Abilene's Parasect* steps in, smooth-
Penicillium: <Well, the revised form does suggest improved capabilities across the board, including several particularly pertinent to dungeoneering...>
-and trails off-
-Abilene's looking bewildered, wholly toward Megan-
Abilene: -helplessly- The metaphor's a bit on the nose, don't you think?
-Megan, a Slowpoke, says nothing-
Abilene: Stop feeding people Slowpoketail.
Megan: No, I know. You're vegetarian. ^_^
Abilene: That's—that's not why—
Megan: If it helps, I like that you're prickly! You're tough, you stand up for yourself—like, you're a girlboss. Hardcore.
Abilene: I would like to be something else.
-given a moment, Megan makes a familiar little peep, lifting her wrist to rest on Abilene's cheek—skin to human skin-
-Abilene, too subtly to see, nuzzles in-
Abilene: ...you're so cold.
Megan: -sigh- Yeah.
-the Tatsugiri keeps wandering-
Edited by Asterisk395 on Jan 4th 2024 at 9:05:58 AM
No mind to think. No will to break.
Gabriel sighed as Zero floated in the tank, the meeting with the auditors was a disaster, and it was only thanks to timely intervention that he wasn't facing worse consequences. Mr. Strings however was taking it well, much to Gabriel's annoyance.
"Strings, did you or did you not set up that scenario?"
"Gabriel I am insulted you would think so little of me."
Gabriel shot Strings a very displeased look, and placed a hand on the tank. "Do the surgery."
"You may lose that part of him that makes him so effective-"
"I don't care. He made a mockery of my Dark Troopers in front of the Auditors, he is unstable and twitchy," Gabriel said. "Something within his makeup holds what makes him a blank, if that is done away with, I still have an effective weapon."
Strings let out a noise that sounded like a sigh. "As you wish."
Gabriel turned and walked out, saying as he left. "And we'll make sure his pokemon team are synced as well. Can't risk a breakout!"
Strings smirked to himself. "Doesn't know a good thing when he sees it... too obsessed with psychic might to see the strength of steel. Well... Silas... I look forward to seeing you handle your way. If you can get past the Jailer, it'll all be worth it."
Silas stepped tentatively into the world, he looked about. "Aren't I supposed to be free by now?"
Knight appeared next to him. "Not really, the Jailer has assumed our identities right? There's only one left to face."
Silas blinked. "What? There's one more? I already faced all the other ones, who could be left?"
Knight stared at him, Silas blinked and realized, there really only was one left, the one behind the mask, ever single one. He felt a knot form in his stomach, he felt like an idiot for not realizing it sooner. Knight patted him on the shoulder and gave a thumbs up.
"We beat him, we're free. That is the deal we got given by Mr. Strings."
"Don't expect him to hold up his end."
Silas stepped forward, the area beginning to form. It was a rainy rooftop, of course it had to be rainy, his overdramatic brain wouldn't let it be anything else, the look on Knight's "face" said that he approved.
a rainy rooftop in Lumiose, probably the Gym Tower. He rolled his neck a bit, standing there on the other end was an armored figure, who turned around, bone white masks displaying different expressions at the end. Silas rolled his neck, a popping noise came from it.
"You made it. Good."
"Didn't expect anything less."
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Mesagoza J-Con, Far Past
... With everyone else gone, Lian looks at Iridium again.
Her expression is... mixed. She seems sympathetic, but also guarded.
Lian: "I can't say I'm entirely unhappy to see you, after everything, but if you try to kill me or bring me to them... I won't hold back. If you ever feel like... getting suspended, though... we might see each other again."
And with that she blends in with the crowd and disappears.
Casseroya Lakeside
Away from everyone else, Someone picks up Vee by the scruff.
off the shits
No voice to cry suffering
Paldea, Casseroya Lake
-Megan's arguable most dangerous Pokémon is a curious creature-
-since Evolving past Eeveedom, she's continued evolving into a sort of water spirit-
-through a combination of listlessness and self-possession, every part of her grew ro resemble every other part—at once eye and ear and gelatinous tongue-
-all just water-
-vampirism cost her half of her vision's spherical shell, but gifted empathic scent and heartbeat sense-
-the little clicks of her echolocation float out over the lake's flat surface-
Vee: -yelps-
-so she's picked up by the scruff, and in her total surprise instinctively and immediately goes hopelessly limp-
Vee: <How???>
-the lake rears up to strike whomstever the fuck, somewhat sluggishly-
No mind to think. No will to break.
The Wanderer
J-Con, 2023
Iridium: -Just stands there for several seconds- ...
-Before she turns around to see...-
Chloe: -Drinking from a smoothie cup- Hey Chiyo Jr.
Iridium: -Glaring- You two. 1.0 Batchmates.
-The faintest rainbow glow starts appearing-
Where's the big one?
Abe: -Waving hands- Let's not get into any fights, isn't that right Chloe?
Chloe: -Laughs- She's not even a threat to us, why would I go and fight a little kid? Especially this one in particular.
-To Iridium directly-
And I'm sure the School would've taught you starting a fight here would be dumb anyway.
Iridium: -Stops glowing, but the glare still remains-
Chloe: Sorry about your friend there kiddo, your Batchmate I'm guessing?
Iridium: That's none of your business.
-Staring-
...Yes.
Chloe: -Blowing over some cash- Go buy yourself something nice kid, you look like you need it. Take it as a freebie from your Aunt Chloe. That is the term right?
Abe: I think so, this stuff in weird.
Iridium: This doesn't change anything, I'm still going to beat 1.0 one day. Maybe you guys too.
-She takes the money though-
Chloe: -Shares a look with Abe-
Iridium: They're too strong for me to beat... I need to get stronger. I think I know how, but first... maybe I should get something nice.
-She stalks off-
Chloe: ...I'm worried about them.
Abe: Me too, but she's not in a place where she'd take the offer of leaving. We should tell Chiyo and Tagg about this.
Chloe: -Pensive- Yeah.
East Province, past
Iridium: -Stops in front of a light green crystal formation with an entrance in the center- I think there's... something in there.
Ammit: <If so, we shouldn't get too close.>
-The entrance then starts to glow just as Nicky and Kendra catch up, filling everyone's eyes with blinding light-
???
Iridium: -Eyes adjust as everyone finds themselves inside some sort of crystal room- Huh?
Nicky: This is really feeling like a Max Raid Den right now.
-At the center, the brightest glow erupts as a black Tauros with blue highlights in its fur appears, a Grass Tera Jewel atop their head-
Nicky: Is that a Paldean Tauros?
Kendra: Guess we're gonna have to battle. Not our favorite thing.
Nicky: There's nothing to be done about it hon.
-Getting out a Poké Ball-
Go Horatio!
Kendra: You too Mary!
Iridium: Go Oedi!
-The Liepard and Indeedee take their places alongside the Nymble, as Ammit's already out, as all four cry out their challenge-
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 4th 2024 at 11:52:54 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Paldea, Casseroya Lake
Ama: "I could smell your self-loathing and angst from across the lake."
She puts Vee down and raises her hands in casual surrender.
.... It does seem kinda like she came out of nowhere, huh.
Ama: "To answer your question: illusions can be used for many things. I shouldn't be wasting aura doing parlor tricks, but you know how it is."
Ama: "You are angsting, yes? My senses haven't dulled that much? I'm only 44, I hope I'm not losing my edge already."
(She doesn't look young but she doesn't exactly look 44 either. [Asian] genetics? Vampirism? Both?)
Ama: "I came over to give some unsolicited advice."
off the shits
No voice to cry suffering
Paldea, Casseroya Lakeside
-Vee lets out an offended burble-
Vee: <Evil milfdre!!>
-when she's set down, she does like the Terminator inversion instead of turning around-
Vee: <An' excuse you, I exclusively use my Aura for petty bullshit an' am proud of it.>
-she sniffs, pointedly-
Vee: <...like what happened to your self-loathin'? Should be able t' sniff that out from under anythin'.>
-and sniffs further-
-if a brief uncertainty crosses her face, it settles with her breath-
(-after all, this Vee's not even in her late teens—the thought's even more outlandish-)
Vee: -grin, pointy- <Ooooh, can I guess? Is it 'don't pick a fight with yer doubles'?>
-she says, with that little tail-flick she does when she's feeling fighty-
Vee: <Is it 'always lay hands on the foxcatthing made of teeth'? Sorry, ain't got those.>
-and no, Ama can sense(?) pretty clearly the tension strung all through her—like a bottle crushed by a rise in air pressure-
Vee: -concerned, eyeballing- <...is it 'ask fer burn balm'? Geez, what happened to ya?>
No mind to think. No will to break.
"Anything left to say?" The Jailer asked, his masks rotating around his face.
"No," Silas commented. "Nothing left, just get out of my head."
"Doesn't matter now, we're slated for some fun little invasive surgery. I'll be a permanent part of your head."
Silas gripped the sword tight. "I've got time."
The Jailer let out a rumbling laugh. "Sure you do, at least you think you do."
Zero was loaded into a pod and placed on the belt, Strings keeping watch. Would he get out before he entered the auto-doc? Would he not? Losing access to that arm and the technical implications of transformable bionics, as well as potentially losing the thing that made Zero so valuable...
It was a waste. A waste he couldn't stand, but it was no longer up to him, Gabriel had made that clear. Maybe Zero would escape, maybe he'd be too late.
Actually... what if he was too late? Strings grinned, this may be worthwhile after all.
"Give up, just accept it, you're not getting out of here," The Jailer said.
Silas took a tentative first step. "If this is it, I'm still gonna try. This is my only chance..."
The white flames engulfed him as he triggered his EGO burst once more, blade still in hand. "...To make this right."
The Jailer's masks spun, an angry one selected, the two started to pick up speed. Getting closer and closer, blades crossed. The Jailer was matching every swing, every parry, Silas was facing a foe that was his equal. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
Silas tossed an aura blast, the Jailer dodged and threw a focus punch. Silas stumbled back, dropping the sword. Metal claw and he rushed forth, slashing at the armor, the Jailer's mask swapped to a more amused expression. He threw an aura blast himself, Silas took the brunt of it, this was his mind and he wasn't just going to let him get away with this.
"This is our brain."
"Our mind."
"And yet, you're not welcome here anymore."
The answer was somewhere before him, somewhere in this match, with every blocked attack. Every matched hit, maybe it was in the masks, they had to represent something... what was he missing?
Distracted, the Jailer knocked Silas flat on his ass and brought his blade over him. "Nice try, but this is the end of the line, prepare to get sent back to the start... say hi to Mando for me."
Silas's eyes widened, that was it. The Jailer brought the sword down, only to be met with the darksaber. Jailer barely got out of the way, Silas got up, Mando by his side. This was the answer.
Jailer barely had time to say anything before a shot rang out, punching a hole through him, he turned to see off in the distance, Jackal. He let out a growl of rage, but didn't have time to stop before Silas and Mando took off.
"This is my head."
"You're not welcome," Jackal called out.
Mando swung the dark saber, cutting off the hand holding the blade, Jailer was on the defense. He narrowly avoided another shot but felt his side get a jab of Silas's aura blades.
"I'm not a weapon for some madman," Mando said.
<I'm a man of many faces,> came another voice, right as into a flying dropkick came Stylus. Jailer crumpled over, his masks spinning as he tried to find the right one.
"Now kindly... get the fuck out!" Came another voice, right as a knife struck Jailer in the back, Coyote had arrived.
Jailer sprouted extra arms, letting out a distorted roar, he wasn't going to let it end this way. But even then, for all his power, he was only one entity... Silas had numerous identities to pull from. He looked to all of them as they surrounded him, he wouldn't go out this way!
Mando was first, Stylus threw an aura storm, Jailer dodged but got impaled with the darksaber. Then came Jackal and Coyote who just grabbed whatever weapons they could dream up and opened fire. Finally was Silas, who leapt into the fray, Knight appearing beside him as they started to hack and slash.
The Ego burned away on Silas, as he threw one last punch, Jailer couldn't react, only watching in horror as an absolutely furious expression was burned onto Silas's face... right as he the fist connected.
Jailer broke into countless pieces, the rain stopped, frozen mid air.
Silas's brain was his again.
Strings watched as the pod entered the auto doc, nothing could stop it now.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Paldea, Casseroya Lakeside
Her deadpan breaks for a second and she looks mildly offended.
Ama: "What did you just call me?"
The deadpan returns.
Ama: "Anyway, no. To all of those."
She counts out on her fingers.
Ama: "1. I'm better at hiding it than you, 2. I was subconsciously holding back don't @ me, 3. I already have nerve damage in my hands, what's a little more, 4. I fought someone with fire powers. Don't ask."
Her eyes flick across Vee's body, and with how attuned Vee's senses are she'll probably get the feeling she's being gently aurically probed.
Ama: "Mm. Maybe I've had reason to relax lately, who knows."
She gently lowers herself to the ground and crosses her legs.
Ama: "... I haven't had reason to interact with you much here, but I know you. You get prickly when you're defensive. That's something you share with you, if you catch my drift."
Ama: "So, even if I couldn't feel your aura, I'd probably be able to tell you're going through your period of stereotypical vampire angst. My advice concerns that."
off the shits
Misunderstood Mimiga
Tossing and turning in their slumber, Halis is currently experiencing an internal crisis...
The once green hills and rolling lands of the mindscape have turned dull, the sun itself having turned a dim red color as well, as though the star itself were burning out. Halis, in the castle's throne room of the mindscape, is completely and totally alone... aside from a mirror they're holding up.
They look into it, again and again, each time seeing something different. A human, a Pokemon, a different Pokemon than their usual form, an outright fairy in all senses of the word, even an armored tyrant that looks to be based on Morgul, their cursed sword... The multiple different identities are confusing them and worrying them, though there is one in particular they don't understand.
Halis: "My human form, I understand. The Lopunny form, again, I understand, those are both me. The fairy, I mean, I am one basically, so yeah. Even that weird armored form I don't recognize, I can only assume that's what Morgul ultimately wants me to become since it looks a lot like it... but why that of all the things? Am I so insecure that even my own Pokeform failing to adhere to the rest of myself is causing that much of a distortion?"
What the mirror shows them, time and time again, is an actual Fairy-type Pokemon, even half-Fairy types, instead of their imbued fae nature causing them to have effectively an engineered Fairy typing even as a Lopunny with none of the advantages of such.
Seeing one more of those half-Fairy types staring back at them, though, enrages them enough to throw the mirror aside, holding their head as they sit on the throne, their internal castle having been otherwise completely deserted.
Halis: "That is NOT ME! I... I can't possibly want something like that... that'd mean I was wrong, and I can't be wrong." <I have to be the Lopunny that I am...>
They don't even notice that they shift forms midway through saying that, as if enforcing their own internal narrative.
Halis: <But then, what am I? WHO am I? A mischief-maker that shows up once in a blue moon? A disgruntled J-Team mook that wants more power than they deserve?>
They walk over, picking up the mirror, somehow unshattered in spite of the impact of their throw.
Halis: <Who am I!? Please just give me a clear answer...>
...It remains blank, as if fearing to even answer the question.
Morgul looms nearby, floating over the bed and staring directly at Halis as they sleep. Thankfully, Strobe is also keeping watch over them as this goes on.
Strobe: <Don't even THINK about trying anything on them. They've got ENOUGH problems without you trying to corrupt them.>
Morgul: <Corrupt? No... save. Mine is the iron grip of salvation.>
Strobe: <NOBODY with good intent talks like that!>
Halis awakens due to the noise.
Halis: "...Could both of you please quit it for like... 5 years? Maybe 10?"
The sword and the bunlike Porygon both stare at Halis for a moment before backing off, the sword into its corner and the Porygon into the PDA, which Halis takes and looks at for a moment.
Halis: "Should I...? No, nobody cares that much, right?"
They sigh before sending a message anyway.
To: J-Team & Friends
anyone else ever get weird nightmares about like... yourself??? not just like yourself as in the "real" you, i mean like the you thats inside you that you really wanna deny exists but also exists anyway because you're secretly massively insecure
wait you guys are insecure right? like im not just imagining that part or misremembering
Dunsparce Cloud
East Province Area Three
Ever: (reading a sign) A terribly unimaginative name. Almost as if the people in charge of such things were doing a rush job.
Ceruledge: <You aren't persuading me.>
Ever: Are you sure? I give very interesting names.
-they give a look at the Ceruledge standing next to them, who looks as disappointed as an animated suit of armor can-
Ceruledge: <I doubt very much that I have anything to learn from you.>
Ever: I dunno, I've got thumbs. That makes me pretty popular with a certain crowd.
Ceruledge: <...I do not require thumbs.>
Ever: I can open cans.
Ceruledge: <...>
Ever: I can read books.
Ceruledge: <I can read...scrolls.>
Ever: What's on scrolls these days?
Ceruledge: <...That's besides the point. You've yet to make a decent case for why you're worth my time.>
Ever: And yet, you're following me around.
Ceruledge: <I challenged you, and you've yet to send out a champion. I won't sully my blades on an unarmed...whatever it is you are. Fight or flee.>
Ever: Come on. Humor me.
-they hop up onto the sign, swinging their legs. The Ceruledge glares at them-
Ever: I'm a great battler, you know.
Ceruledge: <Then fight me.>
Ever: Yeah, I've got two Pokemon with me. One's a baby, and the other...well, that wouldn't work out for you.
-they give the Ceruledge an up-down glance. She points a blade at them-
Ever: At all. One per region, I swear to Reshiram.
Ceruledge: <You know what? I think you're a coward.>
Ever: Probably! But I think you're going to have to make up your mind without the fight you want. It'll be good for you.
Ceruledge: <I'll do no such—>
???: YOU
Ever: Me?
-there is...something there-
-vaguely human-shaped, but shrouded in visual static, difficult to look at-
-it holds out what might be a limb-
???: I HAVE...RETURNED
Ever: Oh, it's you. Hi again! Did you recognize me?
???: I HAVE NO NEED OF SUCH PEDESTRIAN MARKERS AS SIGHT TO KNOW MY OLDEST ENEMY
Ever: I'm not even twenty-eight yet. 
???: WE MUST FIGHT
Ever: Must we?
Ceruledge: <Yes!>
Ever: Oh, right. You're here. Uh...yeah, sure, okay. This is a whole thing.
Ceruledge: <You'll battle that but not me?>
Ever: Like I said. Whole thing. One sec.
Ever: Oh, sweet, got my old title back— hey, hold on, what the fuck? Necrosaint?
Bug Necrosaint: WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE
Ever:
Bug Necrosaint: I'M A CHILD
Ever: Well, that doesn't even make sense from a linear perspective.
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
Orre, Somewhere in the wastes...
It's dark.
The stars are shockingly bright, though.
In the distance, the cities glow, but their lights are special.
Mandated to never encroach on the brilliance skyward.
It's why Vulture stayed.
That, and the pain.
He had been "hunted" more times than he cared to count. But none of them were as stubborn as this one.
He flexes his fingers, newly returned, sinew and cartilage reformed from physical illusion.
He admits, the pain was nice.
But the sheer impersonal methods this... thing used were abhorrently boring.
And he was growing... tired of this.
He steps out with regenerated legs, the stones impaled through him slowly ejecting themselves.
But despite all of that, he now knew. Even a mannequin's poker face can be seen through... with enough intimacy.
Yes...
The Wanderer
Tera Raid Den, past
Nicky: That jewel, I think it's supposed to be Grass-type when it's like that.
Tauros: -Immediately uses Bulk Up before ramming Ammit with an Aqua Jet-
Ammit: -Takes major damage- <Ack!>
-She spits out an Incinerate-
Kendra: Mary, use Reflect!
Mary: -Casts a barrier-
Nicky: Horatio, use Foul Play!
Horatio: -Rushes at Tauros to flip it over-
Iridium: Oedi, use Pounce!
Oedi: -Leaps at Tauros-
Tauros: -Staggers back as it's hit by the various attacks and sends a wave of energy out-
-And a crystalline barrier sphere appears-
Nicky: -Eye widen- What?
Horatio: -Goes for another Foul Play-
Tauros: -Takes noticeably less damage before responding with a Bulk Up/Double Kick combo-
Horatio: -Takes major damage- <Ack!>
Nicky: Horatio!
Kendra: Hang in there!
Iridium: -Pulling out a Tera Orb Okay Oedi, now's our chance! Time to Terastalize!
-The Orb glows as she throws it up-
Oedi: -Is surrounded by crystal and bursts out covered in crystal, with a Bug Tera Jewel on her head-
Iridium: Use Pounce again!
Oedi: -Crown glows as she jumps on Tauros-
Ammit: -Uses Incinerate again-
Tauros: -Crystal starts to crack-
Iridium: It's almost beaten!
Kendra: We've got this!
Horatio: -Goes for a Play Rough-
Ammit: -Incinerate-
Mary: -Uses Psychic-
Oedi: -Does one last Pounce-
Tauros: -Staggers from the attacks, Tera Jewel broken-
Nicky: Sally, now!
Iridium: -Pulling out a Net Ball and throwing it- Okay!
-The Ball glows as it's enveloped in crystal and hits Tauros, before the crystal shatters and the Ball drops to the floor with a click of finality-
Kendra: -To Iridium- Wow, good work out there kiddo.
-The area is then enveloped in light-
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 5th 2024 at 11:49:44 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Dunsparce Cloud
East Province Area Three
-Ever sends out Cornelia-
Cornelia: <Hi!>
-she looks at the Ceruledge-
Cornelia: <Food?>
Ever: Not right now, kiddo.
Ceruledge: <I wouldn't allow it.>
Ever: We're dealing with that guy.
Cornelia: <Huh. What's his problem?>
Ever: I have been wondering that for some time.
Bug Necrosaint: ARE YOU NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY
Ever: ...Do I ever?
Cornelia: <Is he food?>
Ever: -sigh-
Bug Necrosaint: SLITHER WING! GO
Ever: Oh, hey, you took my advice! You're naming your Pokemon!
Bug Necrosaint: WHAT— I'D NEVER TAKE YOUR ADVICE
Ever: Oh, well, uh, that's called a Volcarona—
Bug Necrosaint: WRONG
Ever: ...Okay.
Slither Wing: <Ten thousand years and this is all that stands in my way? You said this would be a challenge.>
Ever: Haven't lost to you guys yet, and it'd be pretty embarrassing to go breaking my streak now.
Slither Wing: <It will be a day of firsts for you, then.>
Bug Necrosaint: End this quickly! Superpower!
Ever: -eyebrow raise-
-Slither Wing charges forward on all fours-
Ever: Huh. This is a first, I don't often get lucky.
-and crashes straight through Cornelia-
Cornelia: <Whoa.>
Bug Necrosaint: WHAT TRICKERY IS THIS
Ever: Really basic trickery, honestly. Alright, gig's up.
Ever: I mean, wow.
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
The Wanderer
East Province Area One, past
-As vision returns to everyone's eyes the crystal formation disappears, leaving behind the Net Ball-
Nicky: Well that was definitely... something.
Kendra: No worse than the vampire, right?
Nicky: True.
-To Iridium-
Well, we should probably get going, but maybe we'll do the scenic route instead of just warping over. That, and I'm not sure if I feel up for a dive after all of that.
Kendra: Would you like to come with us Sally? We'd love to have you.
Iridium: Uh...
-Picking the Net Ball off the ground-
I think I'll stay here and train Bulbal, and my other mons. There's... someone I need to beat, and that won't happen if we don't get stronger.
Nicky: -Shares a brief look with Kendra-
Kendra: You sure kiddo?
Iridium: Yes. Thank you, though.
-Getting out a Rotom Phone-
I can order you guys a Flying Taxi.
-And not too long after, one appears-
Nicky: -Stepping on- This is definitely different from the Corviknight in Galar.
Kendra: Agreed. Those funky little parrot guys can lift a lot apparently.
Nicky: -To Iridium- Once again, you're not a bother if you want to come with.
Iridium: -Shakes head- It was... nice meeting you two. Safe travels.
Nicky: Actually.
-Getting out her phone-
How about we exchange numbers?
Iridium: -Takes a couple seconds to think about it before responding- Okay.
-They then exchange numbers-
Nicky: If you want to talk, we'll be there.
Kendra: See you around Sally.
-And the Flying Taxi lifts off-
Let's get to work Ammit.
Ammit: -Nods-
Nicky: -Watching Iridium and Ammit turn into dots as the Taxi flies towards- I hate the School, what it did to our Chiyo, what it's doing with Sally. And there's a lot of kids out there who are just like her. Or like, that train that Chiyo rescued us from. I hope those people we freed are doing okay.
I still see Gerald and Hortensia in my nightmares sometimes.
Kendra: -Leaning against the window- I know what you mean. Poor kid, she seems very love hungry. Let's just hope that the School will be nothing more than a bad memory for them sooner rather than later.
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 6th 2024 at 5:27:12 AM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.
Sunyshore Salon
-Metal Burst-like shards continue to fire back at Flamel until Gale's bubble covers them, which results in a tenuous lack of rebuttal.-
Angelica: Oh? A fair duel? I'm afraid that implies that I see you all as capable of standing as my equals, and considering you lacked the basic comprehension that even Caterpie are born with - that pain resulting from your actions should be a deterrent - that I would rather spend my time punishing you.
-The mirrors begin to shine as the glass seems to melt away, and the walls of the salon seem to fall away into a large, grey city intersection, much like one would see in Black City, but... colder, in an emotional sense.-
Angelica: All you have to do is follow the rules... and die for my amusement.
-Where the walls once were, words scrawl themselves into the "air".-
Touch a live wire with your bare hands
Throw a match into a full grain silo
-Under them, however, a scratchy scrawl forms, as if someone were scraping them in from the other side.-
VzE A ZTEEL, ELE<TRI<, ANI> FIRE MOVE
No voice to cry suffering
Paldea, Casseroya Lakeside
-at the probe, Vee starts literally frothing at the mouth but it's fine-
Vee: -gurgling- <...peachy.>
<Take a picture. It'll last longer.>
-Vee doesn't feel the same under Aura Sense as she looks-
-she's like…a circulatory system separated from the body-
-like if you removed the blood from its tubing and it retained its shape, arteries and all-
Vee: -glares-
-or it should-
-she's dry-
Vee: -wiping the foam from her…lips?- <Well, cool beans. Li'l vacay with the Pokédex folk.>
-she's younger than the Vee Ama knew—more restless—a spring of pure water choked with holy ash and leaking into the soil-
Vee: -glancing at Ama's hands- <...>
-she's hungrier than the Vee Ama knew—for not only sustenance but safety, for her and hers, and will bite and bite and bite until she has it-
-and more than that hunger, there's a craving, with a stake driven through it and into the ground-
Vee: -not asking, frowns-
-the admission of familiarity sates that craving—just a bit—dropping her to her haunches like a punch to the chin-
Vee: <...I've been a vampire for years, ya know. This ain't new.>
-she blinks the stars from her eye and comes back swinging—metaphorically speaking-
-literally, she leans forward from her seated position and glares a Trainer's glare up at Ama-
Vee: <...this ain't more than I can handle. I'm me.>
-her gaze is about as searching as Ama's, and finding less-
No mind to think. No will to break.
Somewhere in the Orren Desert
-Deziree looked to the left.-
-She then looked to the right.-
-Sand.-
-More sand.-
-Sand sand sand.-
-Sand.-
-Except where she was standing.-
-Which was rock.-
-Which, despite Twitch's insistence that "rock" was merely "pre-transition sand" and "nothing notable", was quite notable.-
-Because it was metamorphic rock.-
-Which meant that this used to be one of Mt. Battle's lava tubes.-
-But it was way further from Mt. Battle than it had any right to be.-
-So she kicked it.-
-Despite being a tried and true scientific experiment, this produced no result of any real note.-
-The rock was a pillar and, according to Vega, her husband's Excadrill, it went down a very long ways before it hit bedrock, where he wasn't allowed to dig.-
-So, she chipped a chunk of rock off of the larger rock to take back for study.-
-Deziree sighed.-
-Why can't ancient volcano gods have better bookkeeping?-
-Suddenly, the loud *crack* of a Teleport can be heard. Deziree looks over.-
-Standing there, aglow with both light and flame, was a Magmortar.-
Magmortar: <STAY YOUR HAND, HUMAN, IGNORANT MORTAL THAT YOU ARE! DESECRATE NOT THIS HOLY SYMBOL OF VOLCANIC MIGHT! AVANT, AND RETURN THE PIECE THINE HAST DAMAGED FROM MY LORD'S PILLAR!>
-Deziree gives the Magmortar an amused, if slightly befuddled, look.-
Deziree: Uh... no.
-The Magmortar's bluster is cut off like a kinked water hose.-
Magmortar: <No?>
Deziree: Well you see, I have a permit.
Magmortar: <A permit?!>
Deziree: Yes, you see, the local Heatran's a family friend, and-
Magmortar: <Let me see this "permit"!>
-Deziree sighs.-
Deziree: Alright. Ms. Fowling?
-A young woman with black hair, a pencil skirt that she probably shouldn't be wearing in the desert, and a subtle lavender blouse, walks up with a large stone slab cradled in her work-gloved hands.-
-The Magmortar inspects it, pulling out a pair of octogonal(?!) glasses to read it thoroughly.-
Magmortar: <Galvani-Morton family... caretakers... laws of inheritance... exceptions for adopted family... codes for the ascension of Noble Pokemon... Ah, here we are. "The family, as defined by this tablet, has unrestrained authority in the identification, preservation, or possible resource utilization of any geological asset, with the sole exception of the lava tube inside which I may reside. Should any other deity, Legendary or Mythical, seek to contest this, they may seek audience with myself at the Mt. Battle summit.">
Deziree: There. Feel better?
-The Magmortar starts looking indignant. Without the corona of light and fire, Deziree can finally make out the brown and red stripes where the flame patterns should be on the Magmortar's hide.-
Deziree: Hey, are you one of those... EX? Alpha? Noble? Whatever the term for a "divine servant" is nowadays?
Magmortar: <As I matter of fact, I am! And who does this Heatran think he is, handing out carte blanch authority to humans like you!>
Deziree: He's still in his mountain, if you want to talk.
Magmortar: <I just might! No Heatran has overruling authority over an agent of Groudon!>
-The door to the hovertruck opens, and a certain seventeen year old walks out, sunglasses hiding her purple eyes.-
Ludmilla: Something wrong, mom?
Deziree: Just talking with a fed, dear!
Ludmilla: A fed?
-She looks the Magmortar up and down.-
Ludmilla: Doesn't look so tough.
-The Magmortar spins around to her and is about to spit fire, literally and/or metaphorically, when he catches a whiff on her.-
Magmortar: <... Why do you smell like that?>
Ludmilla: Deodorant.
Magmortar: <No, not physical smell. Divinely. Where did you pick up that scent?>
Ludmilla: Aside from the local Heatran? I was in Alola and might have met that Heatran, too.
-The Magmortar goes pale before Teleporting away a split second later.-
Ludmilla: ... What was his problem?
Deziree: I dunno. I'd thought we'd already met most if not all of the E Xs in the area.
Ludmilla: You're just saying that because Grandpa Mountain only has the one Slugma he's been training.
Deziree: Hey, my point still stands.
Dunsparce Cloud
East Province Area Three
Ever: Alright. So. Guessing that's not your usual Volcarona.
Slither Wing: <You guess correctly!>
Bug Necrosaint: I TRAVELED BACK INTO YOUR TIMESTREAM, YOU SEE
Ever: Where to? I didn't get the impression there was anything that interesting about my timestream—
AU, Dream World, PMD-A, B, and P, Entralink, Ultra Space, Glitchspace, Infinity Keystone Stuff—
Ever: ...Right.
Bug Necrosaint: AND NOW I HAVE FOUND THE ULTIMATE WEAPON
Ever: Still no actual training, though. Alright, watch and learn, Indigo.
Ceruledge: <Indigo?>
Ever: We'll workshop it. Lace, let's begin. Nasty Plot.
Lace: <Hee hee.>
Ever: ...You could be a little nastier about it.
Lace: <I've only got your nastiness to work with!>
Ever: Yeah, this is what I mean when I talk about walking your own path. You've gotta find your own malign intent.
Bug Necrosaint: SUNNY DAY
Ever: Interesting.
-the sun breaks through the clouds-
-the Slither Wing's wings shine, opening up and absorbing the sunlight-
-the space between its segments starts to glow red-
Ever: Physical attacker, draws power from the sun. Not the quickest.
Bug Necrosaint: FLAME CHARGE
Ever: Fire-type?
-the Slither Wing bursts into flames, igniting the grass around itself-
Ever: Guess not. Lace, Burning Jealousy.
-the flames abruptly turn purple-
-and explode-
-leaving behind a very unconscious Slither Wing-
Ever: You know, it is generally pretty obvious when a Pokemon uses a move of its own type. And as any good Grass trainer oxymoron, that will tell you, you have to be remarkably careful about just when you let the sun in. Especially if you're working with Pokemon who are weak to fire.
-they gesture at the Slither Wing-
Ever: So... what's next for you? Where do you go up from whatever a necrosaint is supposed to be?
Bug Necrosaint: I GUESS YOU'LL FIND OUT
-and they're off-
Ever: I really need to start clearing up some of these recurring weirdos.
-they turn to the Ceruledge-
Ever: So. Have I impressed you?
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Paldea, Casseroya Lakeside
Ama's hands are... familiar. The same shape and size as Daydre's, but there's a few scars here and there.
The scars are old. Definitely from before she came to this timeline.
Despite Vee's general demeanor she reaches over and scritches Vee under the chin. The motion is somewhat subconscious, like she's done it many times. It's subtle, but Vee might notice a certain tremor in Ama's fingers that Daydre's don't have.
Ama: "Well, the vampire angst doesn't really go away. Sometimes you'll think it's gone, and then it decides to rear its ugly head again."
She withdraws her hand.
Ama: "... I would know. I've only been a vampire for 20 years, but that's still longer than you."
Ama: -Squinting out across the lake- "If you're anything like the other Vee, sure you can handle a lot. But if Atlas had a choice he wouldn't be holding up the sky, would he?"
Her gaze is like the smoldering remains of a bonfire. No longer the raging fire it used to be, but you can still burn yourself on it, and with the right stimulus...
Ama: "So what specifically is eating you? Is it the theoretical eternity? Is it the hunger? Feeling like a parasite? Some other fourth thing?"
off the shits
Misunderstood Mimiga
Somehow, in the short time between the initial message being sent and waiting for a response of any kind, Halis's room on the Stormchaser appears to have destabilized into, for lack of a better term, empty space that you can breathe in, complete with the sight of distant stars and zero gravity. As a consequence, Halis is just floating around, contemplating a lot of things at once, and the door to enter is also simply floating nearby, though from the halls of the Stormchaser itself you'd think the room was perfectly normal until you "step" inside.
Halis: "...I don't recall being able to do this before, but I kinda like it. You think they'd let me keep it like this?"
Strobe, struggling to simply move away from the PDA due to a lack of gravity, is clearly less happy about this situation.
Strobe: <ABSOLUTELY not! I DEMAND you return your room to proper condition, IMMEDIATELY!>
Morgul seems completely indifferent to this, being singleminded as ever.
No voice to cry suffering
Paldea, Casseroya Lake - like an hour prior
Tatsugiri: <Hi!>
Pippy: <Hallo!>
-Vee lifts her sleepy head-
Vee: <Heya. How's learnin' t' read goin'?>
Tatsugiri: <Oh, I already knew that.>
Vee: -blink- <Kantonian?>
Tatsugiri: -headtilt- <Is there a difference?>
Vee: <...>
-Pippy tele-calligraphies several characters in the sand-
Pippy: <What does this say?>
Tatsugiri: <Dunno. A human didn't write it.>
Vee: <......>
Pippy: <(...are we weird? Are we the weird ones?)>
Tatsugiri: <What am I learning today?> 😮
Pippy: <Uh. I was going to hand you our notes and let you pick out something you liked.>
Tatsugiri: <There's a lot of things humans didn't write in there.> :c
Pippy: <Yeah it's a group effort.>
Tatsugiri: <Weird.>
Pippy: <...I'm the only one here with good handwriting.> -v-
Tatsugiri: -points- <You don't have hands.>
Pippy: <...go ask Megan if she has introductory kanji on her phone.>
Vee: <Oh, I've got her phone.>
Pippy: <Why do you have her phone? Take this to Megan and see if she has introductory kanji.>
Tatsugiri: <But what're you doing?>
Vee: <Loungin'.>
Pippy: <Fishin'.>
-the Tatsugiri gasps-
Tatsugiri: <Dondozo time??>
Pippy: <Yes—>
Tatsugiri: <Dondozo not food time??>
Vee: <Yes.>
-the Tatsugiri squees, puffing up her sac-
Tatsugiri: <Pick out a smart one!!>
-she hops up and flips the phone over her head, settling it in a nook with her tail-
Tatsugiri: <Ohhh, I hope it's fast—I hope it's strong—We'll take the world by storm!>
-and hops away-
Vee: <...is she gone?>
Pippy: <You're asking me?>
Vee: <I ain't got depth perception, P'.>
Pippy: -bemused- <Flexing lens is still better than Empoleon land eyes.>
Vee: -growl- <Volume modulation.>
Pippy: <Yes, Vee, her ears can't pick you out a mile away.>
Vee: -huff- <Little shit.>
Pippy: -squawks-
Vee: <Like I respect it, but also?? What??>
Pippy: -shaking- <Vee. Really?>
-she takes a moment to parse the particular nature of his laughter-
Vee: -gasp- <...I was not that bad!>
Pippy: <Vee, you were worse.>
Vee: <Wasn't a smart-aleck!!>
Pippy: <No, you just picked a fight with everything bigger than you.>
Vee: -huff- <Growin' Pokémon thrive on challenge—>
Pippy: <Everything was bigger than you.>
Vee: <You weren't!!>
Pippy: <That made me an accomplice.>
Vee: <You're a sucker for a damn brat, apparently.>
Pippy: -prim- <I am fond of people who care.>
Vee: <Passion junkie.>
Pippy: <Terminal underdog.>
Vee: <Yeah, well,>
(-she eyes the closing distance between them-)
-her colors flicker-
Vee: <...yeah.>
Pippy: <...do you need to eat?>
Vee: <Ain't hungry.>
Pippy: <...you pick a fight with everything bigger than you.>
-...-
-she grabs the stupid crystal-
Paldea, Casseroya Lakeside
-for the second time in as many days, Vee surrenders-
-besieged by pity, starved of nerve, she waves her flag and takes the scritches like a mon-
(-her purr sounds a little like a carbonation fizz-)
-she feels normal—like water, maybe tinged with paint-
-if she feels Ama's tremor—-
-well, that note in her voice could be for a lot of reasons-
Vee: <I had this stupid thin' just the way I liked it, 'fore this.>
-as if daring her to protest, Vee flops sideways across Ama's leg, going bonelessly limp the way only Vaporeon can-
-and to spite her own timidity—and any listeners—she snarls what she says next-
Vee: <Knew what I was—who I was—where I came from, where I was goin'—an' I liked it.>
-she yowls-
Vee: <I liked who I was.>
-she sniffs the air, furious—the wind changes direction half a dozen times-
-no trace of whatever's hunting her—she drops back across Ama's knee, seething-
-the temperature's dropping-
Vee: <Vy Nguyen's proud. She's strong, an' a little stupid—different from how the other idiots're strong an' stupid. She fights.>
-she curls into herself-
Pippy(?): <Because she cares. She doesn't call it that, but she cares.>
-tighter-
Megan(?): Oh, Vee? Haha! No one gets—I'm a nice girl. Vee's not nice, but—she's good. She chooses to be good, and—isn't that the best?
-and tighter-
Megan(?) & Pippy(?): She's amazing.>
-she looks up, eye wild—the Mimic fading into what's hopelessly her-
Vee: -desperate- <Give me your sky. Give it to me. I'll cut it ta pieces—I'll swallow it whole. An' when it squashes me flat, we can hold hands an' laugh.>
-she shrieks out a Mightyena laugh, a mad cackle swallowed by the lake's still water-
Vee: <Daydre, how do ya stand it? Bein' different? Gettin' weak? Growin' old?>
-she bares her teeth-
Vee: <I'm supposed ta love me. How can I love—dreaming of tearin' out their hearts an' eatin' 'em?>
-Vee hyperventilates polar gales-
Vee: <Is it bein' a vampire that makes me wanna hurt 'em? Jus' claw an'—tear until—fuckin' Whitt can't touch 'em?>
-her claws close around empty air, possessive-
Vee: <They'd let me! You know they'd let me! I can't want this!>
Paldea, I Forget What Area This Is And Honestly So Do You
Abilene: Hm.
Megan: -getting her hair stroked- Hm?
Abilene: Apropos of nothing, I feel like hurting Ever.
Megan: 'kay. Tell 'em I said hi.
Wisp: I'll pencil it in. :3
-Abilene lays her Megan across the picnic table, gets up, and goes-
No mind to think. No will to break.
Dunsparce Cloud
East Province Area Three
Ever: So Indigo's out?
Ceruledge: <Yes.>
Ever: Hm. Steel?
Ceruledge: <This is bronze.>
Ever: ...Right. Sky?
Ceruledge: <I don't fly.>
Ever: Powder?
Ceruledge: <What?>
Ever: -flinging up their hands- I don't know! Cornflower?
Ceruledge: <...>
Ever: Yes, I know, it's not—
Ceruledge: -drawing herself up to her full height of slightly less than Ever- <I like it!>
-Ever blinks, and the Ceruledge immediately snaps back into military posture-
Ceruledge: <It's acceptable.>
Ever: ...Of course it is. Welcome to the team, Cornflower. Hi, Abilene, by the way.
Dunsparce didn't stop being a thing or anything.
No voice to cry suffering
Paldea, East Province Area Three
-Abilene Macraul struts forth across the stone, her stride shod with flowering foliage-
Abilene: Ah, a Fuckhands the Blue. And their Ceruledge. Will wonders never cease.
-said with the rough intonation and air of one's mother-in-law running a white glove along a countertop-
Abilene: -tapping up- Still free associating your way through naming schema, I see.
-she tsks, and lets it hang with the dust in the air-
Abilene: -to Cornflower, saccharine- You poor dear.
Liliaceae the Petilil: -held in her spare arm- <Mother, that's impolite.>
Abilene: I'm what we in the business call negging, dear Lilia. Observe a Memito in the wild.
Liliaceae the Petilil: <Otay.>
No mind to think. No will to break.
East Province, Area One
Iridium: -Holding her new Grass Badge- That's another Badge down.
Ammit: -Now a Crocalor- <Well it wasn't too hard, thanks to me.>
Iridium: -Clenching her fist- Now we're one step closer to beating 1.0.
-It's then that a rift opens in front of her, voices coming out of it as figures enter view-
???: -An [Asian] woman- Nicky are you sure we entered the right rift, this doesn't look like Mesagoza.
Nicky: -A Black woman, looking around- You're right Kendra, it seems my Sight was a little off, but one more jump and we'll be able to get there and see Ch-Notices that they're not alone, and the striking similarities of the child in front of them to people they know-Oh, hello.
Iridium: -Tentatively- ...Hi.
-Both sides kinda stare at one another before Iridium decides to speak up again-
Are you guys... J-Teamers?
Kendra: -Waving hands as she also comes to recognize who and what she's staring at- Oh no, we don't really do J-Team stuff, though we run in similar circles. What's your name kid?
Iridium: ...Sally.
-Pointing to her Crocalor-
This is Ammit.
Kendra: Nice to meet you Sally and Ammit, I'm Kendra.
Nicky: And I'm Nicky, but I figure you knew that already. Pleasure to make your acquaintances.
Iridium: -Heat What was with that... weird portal thing?
Ammit: <That wasn't teleportation from what I could tell.>
Kendra: Well, Nicky here can see dimensional rifts with her Aura Sense and draw them out, so we use it to travel around.
Iridium: -Confused- You can do that?
Ammit: <Did she understand me? She must be like Iridium.>
Nicky: It's not a common ability, I'm the only Auric I know who can do it.
Iridium: I can't use the Sight all that well yet.
-Starry-eyed-
That's really cool.
I want to know...
-Changing subjects-
Similar circles huh? Do you know Dr. Tagg?
Kendra: -Eyebrow raise- "Dr." Tagg? I thought he didn't like being called that.
Nicky: I guess when you're a teacher titles become necessary Kendra.
-Smiling-
But yes, we know him, we're friends through a mutual spot.
Iridium: Then maybe I can learn from them...
-To Nicky and Kendra-
I'm Dr. Tagg's apprentice, can you guys teach me things too?
Kendra: -Scratching head- We're not fighters or anything, Tagg could teach you better where that's concerned.
Honestly Chiyo could too...
Iridium: What about that rift thing Ms. Nicky?
Nicky: -Smiling- You're a sweet kid, but you can just call me Nicky. It's not really something I can teach though, it's just something I could always do. I can give you a bit of a pointer though.
Iridium: Um, okay.
Nicky: If you want to strengthen your Sight, the best method is practice. Do you find it tiring to use?
Iridium: -With a very Tagglike facial expression- ...Yes. It's very annoying.
Nicky: Just keep using it, and eventually it'll become as easy as breathing. And with that greater understanding, you can do other things. A very dear friend of ours gained a useful new ability that way, and I'm sure you have the potential to do the same Sally.
Iridium:' Okay Ms. Nic-I mean, Nicky.
Kendra: We can at least help you with that.
Iridium: -Spotting something behind Nicky and Kendra- Is that one of those Tera Dens?
-She runs ahead-
Nicky: -While Iridium isn't paying attention- Arceus, she's so... adorable.
Kendra: Chiyo and Tagg make a really cute kid, huh? Even if it was through a baby extruder.
Nicky: -Nudging Kendra's shoulder- Let's try to catch up to her before she goes inside.
Kendra: Right, we did tell Chiyo we'd help them out, even if this was earlier than we were expecting.
-They start walking after her-
Edited by rmctagg09 on Jan 2nd 2024 at 12:54:03 PM
Eating a Vanilluxe will give you frostbite.