Lumiose City
Dune: I... got angry at my parents. When they told me that they were going to split up, my mom taking Rachel and my dad taking me, I exploded. I trashed my room... the hallway... the kitchen... I cut myself up real bad, and I almost hurt my sister through the whole thing. I hid in the outskirts of town for a week after that, before finally realizing that nothing I did could change their minds.
Lumiose City
-Herbert watches Joseph go, then turns to Leonard.-
Herbert: ...That was mean.
Leonard: Perhaps. Not that I particularly care, mind you. Two guests is more than enough, and I'm fairly certain that the boy I just turned away has been stalking me for some time now.
Herbert: I don't think he... actually, knowing Joseph, I'm probably not qualified to comment.
-They keep walking until they reach the base of a large and lavish apartment building overlooking Centrico Plaza.-
Leonard: Mine is on the top floor. Give me a few minutes to make it presentable, and then I'll be back down to collect you.
-He heads into the building, leaving Herbert and Crow by the door.-
Dangerous Dugtrio: -Gets knocked out by Aaron's Seed Bomb and the power of the harmonica-
Gible: -Growls-
Oh come on, you're not beating us.
Gible: -Goes for a Bite-
Okay, let's put him out of his misery.
Lepi: -Uses Bug Buzz, amplified by my harmonica-
Gible: -Faints in midair and lands at my feet-
Aaron: <Well this was weird.>
I'll say, let's get out of here before they get up.
-And we depart-
Hugging a Vanillite will give you frostbite.Lumiose City
-Herbert shrugs, then leans against the wall of the building.-
Lumiose City, Leonard's Apartment
-After a quick elevator ride and a jaunt through the corridors, Leonard comes to his apartment and digs his keys out of his bag before unlocking the door and stepping inside. Even with the windows open, the main room is unusually dark and shrouded in shadows which seem almost solid.-
Leonard: Arceus, I can't see a thing in here...
-He flicks on the light switch, but the darkness persists and the light level remains dim at best. However, it is just about bright enough for Leonard to make out the silhouettes of a hulking Abomasnow and a gas-mask clad figure lurking in the corners. He drops his keys in shock.-
Shard: Leonard Cain. Was wondering when you would get home.
Leonard: What the- thief!
Shard: Ostensibly true. Not here for your money, however.
-Instantly going on the offensive, Leonard sends out Greninja.-
Leonard: Take care of this interloper, Greninja! Use Power-Up Punch!
Greninja: <Can do.>
-He darts at Stalagmite and delivers a sharp blow to her stomach, but the massive Abomasnow barely even seems to register the attack.-
Shard: Wood Hammer.
Stalagmite: <Oh, good. I get to break him.>
-She slams into Greninja with a heavy punch, dealing heavy damage and sending him flying across the room, though he lands relatively gracefully on the kitchen counter and retaliates with a Dark Pulse.-
Greninja: <Is that it?>
Stalagmite: <Quite obviously not. I would've hope you'd be intelligent enough to realise that.>
-Shrugging off the damage done by the Dark Pulse, she swings at Greninja with a Razor Leaf, knocking him off the countertop and to the floor.-
Greninja: <Urk... have to pull back...>
Shard: Excellent work, Stalagmite.
Leonard: As if I'd let myself be so easily bested by some common mugger! This isn't nearly over yet!
-He reaches for his belt to draw a second Pokeball, only to be blown off his feet and slammed against the wall as Stalagmite sends another Blizzard in his direction.-
Leonard: Oof!
Stalagmite: <It seems that your reaction times haven't been honed to the degree that mine have. Mental conditioning is important, you know.>
Shard: Not letting you do that again. Don't want to risk battle with professional trainer. Would rather end this as quickly as possible.
-As Leonard attempts to heave himself to his feet, Shard delivers a sharp kick to his ribs and sends him sprawling to the floor again.-
Shard: Simply require Key Stone for own purposes. Would say this is nothing personal, but would be lying. Find men like you dispicable. Embody everything wrong with Kalos. Believe that inherited fortunes and obsolete titles somehow place you above others. Lost in your own imaginary world that exists only to serve your lust for wealth and pleasure. Eagerly await the day you will be brought down to the level of those you sneer at. Until then, forced to tolerate parasites like you.
-She pins Leonard to the ground with a foot and starts gathering a blade of Obscura around her hand as Stalagmite steps forward.-
Shard: Still... I'm sorry it had to reach this point.
-She stabs the Obscura blade through Leonard's shoulder at the same time as Stalagmite stomps down on his other arm with a dry crunch, causing him to cry out in pain. Shard takes advantage of his helplessness to rid him of his Mega Ring in one swift motion.-
Shard: There. This should do. Should also ensure you are unable to use anything similar for a while.
-She recalls Stalagmite and turns away as Leonard weakly props himself up into a sitting position.-
Leonard: I'll... ack... I'll have you put away for this, you-
Shard: Unlikely. Don't intend to be caught, and doubt a second confrontation would end well for you. Will be long gone before you pick yourself up anyway.
-With that, she strides away, the shadows congealing around her until they conceal her from view completely. Leonard gives a weak groan and cradles his shattered arm.-
Leonard: ...Bitch...
Lumiose City - About twenty minutes later
-Herbert is just finishing composing a text to Joseph.-
If you're crazy, then I'm crazy too.
Actually that's probably not terribly reassuring. But you're probably more weird than anything. Which probably does weird out people you've only just met.
From: Herbert
-With it sent, he then checks his Poketch and looks back up at Crow.-
Herbert: ...It's been about half-an-hour. What's taking him?
Falchion: <Maybe he just ran home and locked the door to keep you lot out.>
Elsewhere in Lumiose City
Two familiar young kids are playing in the city streets. One of them is trying to climb some of the buildings.
Amber: Hey Rems! You really should try this, it's fun!
Cupid: <Yeah! I'm getting a good view on the quickest path to all the restaurants from up here! ovo>
Remy: -Fretting- Amber! That's not safe! At all! Besides, you might wreck that expensive red blouse you're wearing!
Amber: Oh c'mon Rems! I do this all the time, what's the worst that could ha-
Amber slips from her perch and starts falling.
Amber: GAH!
Remy: AMBER!
Amber shuts her eyes, waiting for the painful impact...
Which doesn't seem to come, in fact, she realises that she's falling slower than before. She slowly opens both of her eyes as she is placed gently on the ground.
Remy: ...Huh?
Amber: What just happened?
???: You two youngsters should really be careful when deciding to climb musty, old buildings. One can't be too sure of one's footing after all?
Remy and Amber turn around to face a familiar honey-haired man, who look on to them with a soft and sincere smile.
Constantin: Thankfully there are some people around here willing to catch people as they fall, so to speak~
Amber: So wait... you did that?
Constantin softly nods, Amber runs over and hugs him.
Amber: Ohthankyouthankyou THANK YOU mister~!
Cupid: <Yeah! If you weren't there, she'd be finished!>
Remy curiously approaches Constantin, petting Emile softly as he does so.
Remy: What is your name mister?
Constantin: -Bows- You two can just call me Constantin.
Amber: Ooh! Can I call you Cons instead?
Constantin: -Chuckles- As you wish.
Remy: Constantin...That name is oddly familiar...
Stone Emporium
Cleo: -Looking at the Shiny Stone she was able to barter- I knew those haggling skill Grand Uncle taught me would come in handy Welp, c'mon you two, lets go.
Cleo and Montu start walking out, but Pakhet stays behind as her ear twitches.
Montu: <Pakhet? Something not right?>
Pakhet: ~I get the feeling something is not quite right...~
edited 27th Feb '14 5:51:48 PM by PippingFool
I'm having to learn to pay the priceLumiose City
"Well... I think leaving that anger bottled inside you isn't good for you, you should find something to let the frustations out with. I usually try to get rid of any and all frustations by practicing against some nearby trees or smashing some rocks. It's a good way to relieve stress. I'm sure you can find a way that suits you."
Lumiose
-text back-
edited 27th Feb '14 5:51:56 PM by ILoveDogs
Lumiose City
-Herbert blinks at his Pokegear.-
...Okay, I take back my earlier text. You cray-cray.
From: Herbert
P.S: Even if your psychotic boyfriend wasn't dead, talking to him would only end up creating more crazy.
-He then looks back up at Crow.-
Herbert: ...Should we go up and knock on the door or something?
Lumiose
-text back-
edited 27th Feb '14 6:02:58 PM by ILoveDogs
Lumiose City
Herbert: Alright. Shouldn't be too hard to find his place - I don't think I can manage to get myself lost in an apartment building...
Falchion: <Oh, I'm sure you can find a way.>
-The two of them head inside and up to the top floor, presumably listening to terrible elevator music on the way. It doesn't take Herbert long to figure out that the apartment with the ajar door belongs to Leonard, and he pushes it open.-
Herbert: Hey, anybody ho-
-He takes a moment to observe the scene in front of him, then pulls out his Pokegear and sends Joseph a quick reply.-
brb dealing with crime scene
From: Herbert

Lumiose City
Crow: "Oh, okay."
-He follows-
"Don't worry, murder is a sign of affection." - An amalgamation of Dunsparce