PJ: "Well shit, I didn't think you'd take that personally. Or well, I hoped you wouldn't. Either way, I'm sorry. But, yeah, I'm with Finley, better that we have a Reset Orb to fall back on if this goes awry and nobody plans on kidnapping us anytime soon."
*The allusion to the whole Agarthan orb incident stirs up some ill memories, but I figure it better to make some piss-poor joke about it instead of lingering on a reminder of how I still have yet to properly contribute anything to the group.*
PJ: "That aside, I'll do what I can to help. I mean, it's about time I did something actually helpful around here, right? And even if something does go wrong, hey, we can work it out."
Are you ready? Go live!Yeah. Man, I think I'm getting pretty pumped up about this. (I say.) You excited about this, Del?
Well, I think so. (Delilah says.)
Well, now we just wait until the thing starts, I reckon. (Marsha says.)
(At the Mended Egg Cafe, Lucy will not stop talking to Benji and Dinah about everything that's gone on with her today and her excitement about being in the singing contest.)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
It's a risk I'm willing to take, Fin. And... *she looks at the two, regarding the reset orb* The thing about the reset orb is...I've given it a bit of thought before coming to you, and well...I need to do this alone. *Jani tells them both bluntly, her nerves acting up again* Andy tried something similar and he got clocked right away by a bunch of psychics...I need to make sure nothing goes wrong. No signs that it's going to happen, is happening, or ever did happen. That Tilly...she's a freaking sleuth. *exaggerated by paranoia, Jani isn't completely off the mark as she continues*
It needs to happen when virtually everyone else is with her...eating together, at the event which I'd prefer not to miss, but priorities...or whatever... *giving them both the "mildly nuts" look again, rings visible around her beady eyes, her overanalysis concludes* There must be zero signs for her to pick up on — absolutely nothing she can investigate.
*breathing a bit heavily, Jani cools her nerves before addressing both Finley and PJ*
Anyway, the reason I need your help is because of, well, logistics concerns. First is the mail...I can't have my new self accepting courier deliveries for Jani, after all, and my picking it up as the new me would clue others in...so I need one of you to sub for me. I don't think Tilly will pick up on this... *with that out of the way, Jani's expression turns to a more serious, pleading one* ...the other...
I can't ever tell anyone else about it. The more people who know, the more likely it is to slip. *her nervousness shines through as she states* I'm going to have to pretty much craft a persona, fast, and AFTER I find out what I get...so, I kinda need you two to help me transition back into the group...
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.Yeah, I guess so.
(I say to Marsha. I decide to speculate as to what we can do for the moment:)
Anything you guys wanna do? We could perhaps...hmm.
(I put a hand to my chin to think.)
Hmm? What are you doing near our house?
(Lucille, whom decided to walk around for the moment, asks Lilly.)
edited 30th Oct '17 3:49:48 PM by Team42Larson
June 27thDana is still in the market. She only overheard snippets of Niles and Lilly's conversation, but what she did glean made her want to get the former a gift even more.
So it seems like he wants a hat.. lemme see if I can get one of those.. She slinks off to the store Niles went to before.
we will survive.(Before I can make a suggestion, a bunch of very excited-looking female Rock and Poison type Pokémon go flying past us into the hotel.)
Whoa, where are they going? (I ask. Then suddenly I remember the band from earlier back when we were trying to get Lucy to the Cafe that was surrounded by a bunch of screaming Rock and Poison types.) Wait...is that band we bumped to on the way to the cafe in the hotel? (I ask.)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here.""I'm also solid. You can trust me... I can handle the mail, if you want." Finley says.
I'm Huney B now. Okay?(I shrug.) We don't have anything better to do. Let's go.
(Delilah and I head inside the inn, with Marsha waiting to go in with Marlon (and Marlon and Dieter presumably following).)
(We begin approaching the conference room. The closer we get to it, the louder the shrieking becomes and the thicker the crowd becomes.)
Hoo boy... (I say.) I think I know where they are.
It almost sounds like someone dumped sharp stones on the ground in there and then put a bunch 'a people inside. (Marsha says.)
I'd normally argue with that, but I have to agree with you, Marsha. (Delilah says.)
edited 30th Oct '17 4:44:46 PM by kablammin45
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
*emboldened by their acceptance, Jani looks to PJ and Finley and gives them a wide dirt-group-hug* Thanks, you guys...you don't know how much this means to me...
*shortly after, she realizes* ...though come to think of it, you'll need a way to know it's me after it happens...hmm. *looking off to the side for a moment, she starts pondering* Huh...could be something weird like "correct horse battery staple", but that'd draw attention...huh.
...and I'd want to make it fast...
How about, "It's such a wonderful day"? Actually, no..."gorgeous"...if someone comes to the group and says "It's such a gorgeous day", you'll know it's me.
*Jani giggles slightly at the prospect* It's almost like a secret agent flick!
*Lilly snaps out of her stupor* Oh, sorry — thought everyone'd be here. D'ya know where the folks I came with this mornin' went?
edited 30th Oct '17 4:31:52 PM by sarysa
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.PJ: "'Gorgeous'... Nice. It's uncommon, but it won't attract attention. I dig."
Are you ready? Go live![Okay, okay, just...take a breather...that's, that's...oh, my head...] "Whew!" [That was...wow, don't I feel woozy...I reach into my bag and take out my concussion juice. I pop the top, take a sip and...nothing...stupid medicine, not workin' when yer supposed to..."
[Arright, these stay here 'n I'll come back for them like before...and now I'll...whoop! Arright, that's better. I push open the door to the stall and go to stumble out the bathroom door...completely inconspicuous. I slowly make my way back to the hotel's entrance...now all I need to do is sign up...again!]
"Moooom, why'd you have to wake us up? "Because we need to eat?"
Ferra's two children waddle behind her as they walk down the stairs and into the lobby. Lagi, the Lairon, blinks and hangshis head, following sluggishly behind his Bagon brother and about struggling to keep awake. "Eating's underrated!" "You mean overrated?" "I KNOW WHAT I MEANT!"
"Kids, behave. This is the first day of the music festival, I don't want to have to leave you out of it." "Yes, ma'am..." "Yes, ma'am."
Ferra hangs her head. She knows the kids aren't going to enjoy the festival, not as much as the tournament, and certainly not as much as she did a couple years ago. It was so fun: heading over the night before with a couple of girlfriends, meeting some old friends who made the trek out to Gleamscape after their apprenticeships were up, seeing Merna and Bob sing on stage...
"...you two remember Uncle Bob, right?" "Yea, he gave us those sparklers." "Why do we call him Uncle if he isn't your brother?" Ferra laughs. "Well, Bob was really close to me and Merna when I was young, so he was like a brother." She stops speaking and smiles...it was such a surprise to see him on stage. "Did I ever tell you two he was here when mamma went to Gleamscape a couple years ago..."
edited 30th Oct '17 4:56:09 PM by BlackMageAnolis
(Marsha grips Marlon's arm herself and shakes her head at the screaming masses.)
(Belle is still sitting there under her tent when she sees a Salazzle somewhat uneasily walking out of the hotel.) Excuse me, are you all right?
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here.""A-actually...," Sushi starts, before trailing off, deciding it's probably not too important a detail.
Sushi's cheeks flush a deep red as Aspen hands back the eyepatch.
"Th-thanks, I-I will! I'll definitely be there! For sure!!!"
Sushi reapplies the eyepatch, before turning around and waving goodbye.
"They invited me backstage," Sushi says, their voice growing a few octaves higher. "I'm gonna be backstage with Carbon Footprint oh my god,, I have to tell the others!"
With that, the pink cat goes rushing out the front doors, and out of the building.
As this is done, a dark shadow looms over Belle's tent.
edited 30th Oct '17 5:16:18 PM by Afterwards
she magnificent my bastard till i complete on her monster"Buh—" [I stop myself from blurting our Belle's name in my stifling stupor and stagger on over towards the counter. I had that bag of Poffin Puffs, where'd the hell did it go? Oh, it's no worries, I'll just find another place to get some grub once I get my stuff back.]
"I'm...I'm, muh, muhhhh, here fer thiii...thaa...the singin' contest." [I lean on the counter again, bending myself over it, breathing.] "I'm...I'm gonna be a...a bit...'f tha's okay..."
[For some reason, the way I'm situated, my gaze looking out the tent, I start to feel a little uneasy, a little...frightful...]
"...I was sitting in the audience, waiting for Merna to perform, when the lights came on and out comes Bob, and I knew it was him cuz he had that stupid plaid bandana—" "Hey, mom, what's all those people there for?"
Oh, the gaggle of squealing fangirls. It's for some new-fad band; she had to pass by them when she and Merna were out on the town, they looked like a nightmare. Even in her youth, she was never into any of the newer bands, she always liked the folksier smaller feel of a— "Hey, isn't that Merna's new bag?"
Merna? She's still here? She scans the line for that giant backpack she got a couple days ago, you can't miss it— "MERNA!"
The giant bag in the crowd swivels around and a reverberated squeal breaks through the cacophony. Spouting a bevy of "Excuse me"s and "Sorry"s, Merna pushes through the line, each step closer to the conference room's entrance earning her a dejected "Watch it" or an exasperated "Really?"
Finally, she makes it to the end of the line and slows to a stop in front of Ferra, bending over to catch her breath.
"Merna—""I'M SORRY I'M SORRY! I just wanted to see what was going on and what the line was about so I got in line but then more and more mons came and I was stuck in line so I kept going along with it even though I couldn't see and I know I was supposed to be out of Gleamscape by now but—" "Merna!"
Merna glances away from Ferra, expecting her punishment like a guilty student in front of an angry schoolteacher. Ferra certainly looks like someone who's plotting out said punishment, going through every possible option to set her on the right path from her misdeeds. "...maybe we could get you on a carriage."
Merna blinks, then laughs at herself. "Right...carriage...
The thought hadn't crossed her mind. Sure, she was low on funds at the moment, but a carriage ride to Hoard shouldn't be too expensive...at least it would be faster.
"Hey, Miss Merna," Lundi says. "Maybe you could get a carriage later and sing in the contest, like you did a couple years ago!"
"Yea, yea," Lagi chimes in. "Mom always talks about how good a singer you are! Maybe we can see you!"
Ferra looks down at her two kids with a hint of confusion, but then smiles warmly at Merna, silently urging her to take this opportunity. Merna thinks to herself: maybe she could spend a little bit longer in Gleamscape. From what she's heard everything's been going buttery smooth in Hoard, and with her original plan, she would've gotten there during the night anyway. She shrugs and says, "Oh, why not? We can get a carriage at any time, right!"
"Alright!" "This is gonna be so sweet! We get to see Miss Merna sing!" And so the four make their way to the tent, the kids galloping forward towards it while Ferra and Merna walk slowly behind...
edited 30th Oct '17 5:34:18 PM by BlackMageAnolis
Carbon Footprint, huh? (I say. Interesting name for a Pokéband.)
Well, thank you very much for being interested in the contest. (Belle says as she hands Eliot the sign-up sheet. She's a bit worried about how exhausted this Salazzle seems to be, but before she can say anything, the young Bagon and Lairon come running up to the tent with Ferra and Merna coming behind them.) Oh, hello, which of you is interested in signing up for the contest?
(Then she notices the shadow coming over the tent.) Hello? Who is there? Are you here for the singing contest, too? (Belle is looking slightly harried.)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here.""Nah," says the shadow. It walks around the side of the tent, revealing itself to be a notorious pink Torracat.
"I've never really been able to sing, and that hasn't changed since I came here. But..."
Sushi turns to Eliot excitedly. "Dude, guess what? You'll never guess!! Guess it!!!"
edited 30th Oct '17 5:47:28 PM by Afterwards
she magnificent my bastard till i complete on her monster[Oh, god, I didn't expect anyone else to come in! Fuck, fuck, what's she doing here?!] "Please...will...will ya knock that off, ya stupid..."
[...oh, no...ohhhhhh, noooooo...what is she doing here?! I thought that was gonna be some random stupid blip in Hoard, why the hell is she here in Gleamscape?!]
Lundi and Lagi approach the counter excitedly. "Merna's gonna sing for us!" "Yea, Merna wants to sing!"
"Guys, guys!" The Pawniard waves at the two boys, an embarrassed look in her eyes. The two kids hoo and hum and move back to give her some space. Ferra hasn't said anything yet, looking oddly at the Salazzle before shaking her head.
"Sorry about those two, they're just excited. You remember me, don't you? I signed up for this a couple years back?" With some reluctance, she reaches over to grab the sign-up sheet and pen from the exhausted Salazzle, who, for a moment, looks as if she's having a mini heart attack, and begins to sign her name.

should've waited for Cali, blanking to make a better post ahead
*at the bar, Tilly never heard Andy mention Finley and Jani talking because Andy should've never seen Jani be flagged by Finley outside of the restaurant, so she's still reading her book*
edited 30th Oct '17 3:44:59 PM by sarysa
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.