Shapeless wisp of wind
"…" I watch as she walks on by. A lump begins forming in my throat, but I have to say something. I swallow. (Can't show any sign of weakness. That's why I joined in the first place. She made me stronger.) "… Very well."
If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away.
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
I might take a bath myself, too. ( Marsha says.) I'll let Marly go first, though.
( I sit down on a chair and bury my face in my claws. As much as I don't want to be, I'm getting afraid of facing L'Arachel again. One wrong move and I'm dead, or worse, forced to become one of her Combee slaves.)
Stay strong, stay strong, stay strong...
Blissparce
I mean, he accosted all three of us girls, me, Tiff, and Izzy at one point or another. (Mia says to Taylor A.) Especially me, for reasons that are probably obvious if you just look at me. (Mia briefly runs two of her hands down her brawny but shapely figure and continues.) He went after Izzy several times, too, though, which was really annoying because Izzy didn't really know how to handle being hit on by him at first.
(Sunny bristles at this last point.) Your poor sister...Harvey was such a miserable creature with no respect for women...
Edited by kablammin45 on Aug 9th 2018 at 11:48:59 AM
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."
We dare you to say his name
Main Group (Inn)
Well damnit Eliot, what other choices do we have? Hold hands and sing Kumbaya, my lord and hope she listens?
I say as I turn to head through the halls of the inn as described, eventually making it to said bathhouse. I sit down on a bench at about the midpoint of the room and start unwrapping the bandages from previous fights. I begin to run some water when..a familiar voice rings out.
Hey buddy, remember me? Yeah, I’m sure you do. It’s your conscience speaking.
What do you want from me this time? You drove me to help kill Belladonna. Even though she honestly deserved it.
You....you’ve been fucking up in battles recently, haven’t you?
Yeah, so? You win one, you lose one.
C’mon, man. Don’t you want to eventually settle down with Marsha? Find a way for everyone else to get home? You can’t keep up being the hero and seemingly failing, can you? Look at yourself, you’ve gotten injured in every recent fight of yours, and Anastasia almost killed you.
He’s right. Do I really want to keep being the hero?
But I want to protect everyone, not just her.
You can do that! You can still help everyone! But do you think being a heroic Gallade for any much longer will do you any good? You can still do well in battle and help everyone out otherwise, but for Pete sake, you can’t keep thinking that you alone can save everyone in a battle. Just, for physical and emotional reasons, being a Gallade isn’t your style anymore.
The mirror suddenly begins to bend and twist as though it were the Kiefer Sutherland movie Mirrors and once again this very Swampert illusion speaks to me.
Your choice, man. It’s a fresh start for every aspect of you.
The mirror Swampert quickly fades and I’m left wondering what the hell that was, but now knowing that I need to find a way to make this a reality soon enough. I start washing myself down quickly, and then rinsing, and then finally drying off as I get the hell out of there as soon as I can.
He’s right. I can’t take many more physical hits in battle, and I can’t act like the hero either. And heh heh, maybe Marsha would like the form I’d take too..but she clearly wouldn’t be the primary reason-more like one of many.
I move to rejoin the others in the lobby, deep in thought, though I do ask a question.
What is that difference, Soten?
Kevin, after some more offscreen because god I forgot about him investigations, returns to the inn.
Blissparce
Tiff sighs.
What an enormous womanizer he really was...but we still have to bring his killer to justice.
Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 9th 2018 at 3:31:19 PM
Tell....everyone....
Holstown Inn
(I lie there in my bed, waitng for this day to pass. Yet I couldn't. I'm not sure why, but I just couldn't sleep. Could it be because of my injuries? The others? Me? Whatever the case, I stood up and left the room. At the hallway I saw the Gallade pass by, looking like he recently cleaned up. I looked at where he went and walked there. Maybe this will help clear my thoughts.)
(I followed the trail of discarded water, not even paying attention to anyone around me. To anyone that saw me, they would think that I had just crawled out of the earth. The trail ends at the back of the inn, with a small house waiting for anyone willing to enter. I shambled to the door, but not before stopping to see the Swampert. I raised my head to look at her and spoke, my voice straining due to the injuries.) Are you going first?
"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, Mythra
At the heart of the world...
Holstown, Inigo's Inn
"I'M JUST SAYIN', WE BARELY GOT A LICK ON HER!" [I scoff and head off to Dana's room as Noriaki had said. Slowly whittling the door open, I manage to get inside without dropping Dana. Looking around, I simply place her on the nearest bed, then take a moment to rest myself, sitting down beside her...]
[...there's gotta be something...something that doesn't involve going to her, obviously, but...what are we gonna do?]
Woodruff simply lets Eliot go off, turning his attention to Soten with intrigue. "...I'm...gonna guess you lack that, uhh...'intense, sinful hunger'?"
Blissparce, At the Inn
"Oh." Taylor B somewhat realizes how dumb of a question that was, all things considering. "...m-maybe that was a bad question to ask." "Yea, no kidding, he tried to take me home once, woul'ja believe that?"
"...wait what" "Aaaaaanyway, maybe this was a crime of passion after all! She was one of the first to be killed, and she was with him relatively recently...maybe someone went and...well, revenged her." Taylor B would normally correct her here, but...she didn't mention that to anyone? Was it because of him...he had clout to be sure, but...she was a police officer, she could've said something to the others, right? Could she?
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
Eh, you can go ahead 'a me if ya want, Grigs. (Marsha says.) All things considahed, I probably got less dirtier dan everybody else anyway.
( I'm still sitting there eating another Poffin, wondering what'll happen to us next.)
Blissparce (Inn)
So...you're saying that this person thought that Harvey killed her and so he killed him out of revenge? (I ask.)
I didn't even know he even had any real lovers here. I only ever saw him hitting on Pokémon. (Mia says.) This is news to me.
Of course zat mon would do such a thing like zat.... (Sunny says.) Do you have anyone in mind who could have done this? Pardon...
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."
"Vocês terem a certeza? Os assassinatos se parecem com eles era feito por Pokemon diferentes?"*
"life is just a series of increasingly canon-eluding ao3 tags" ~ everydunsparce "Keep your hellfruit away from me, tempter" ~ also EveryBath House
(I nod to her as I walked in, taking my glasses off and setting them near the towels. I walked inside to the tub and poured out the water, letting it soak in and wash away the blood staining my down and feathers. Afterwards, I had taken a seat and looked at my reflection. As soon as it was full enough for me, I had stopped the water and went back to the reflection. I wondered about what happened today, between the fight with both Dorian and L'Arachel. At first, I felt relieved that I didn't resorted or slipped into the Frenzy against the former, until that episode from the latter had cut it short. Is working with her really that bad? It's not even for the power, but a chance to take away the pain and sorrow. I closed my eyes and lied on my back, with only the motions of the water reaching my ears. After a while, the pain in my chest faded away, while the feeling of my dream taking its place.)
(Peace. All the worry and fear soon gave way to peace and love. Then, a voice had joined the harmony of the water.) There's no reason to be afraid. No reason to run away. Know that in your heart, I am always with you. (My eyes had opened to see the ceiling of the bath house, my head turning to where that voice came from. Nothing, just my imagination. But, that's just enough. Enough to give me a reason to stay.)
(I breathed easier, but the pain returned, although reduced. I had washed away the dirt and blood that persisted. Soon after, I drained the water and dried myself off. I put my glasses on and made my way out, almost revigorated. I looked at Marsha and spoke to her, my voice returning to normal.) It's all yours. (I made my way back to the inn, this time to the lobby.)
"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, Mythra
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
Thanks, pal. (Marsha says. She's still wonders a bit at just why Grigori was such a wreck after that particular battle, but eventually shrugs and heads on to the baths.) Man, dat watah's gonna feel good...
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."
Anyways Here's Darude Sandstorm
After a long days work, a Kanghaskhan is pulling her cart home from the market, having sold all of her crop for the day. Taking a rest, she wiped some sweat off her brow and squinted at the horizon.
"...wha."
Something was heading towards her and judging by the dust cloud it was kicking up it was coming fast.
"..uh oh."
She quickly dove behind her cart as a metal ball blew past her.
"...great. More excitement."
The ball skids to a stop in front of the Holstown sign.
It spins out and speeds into town...
GIVE ME YOUR FACE
Konknitive Dissonance
[Inigo's Inn]
"Well...", said Noriaki, "That is a bizarre question, Soten. You seem to be a man of good value and moral, a true warrior, but the likes of Dorian and L'Arachel... They are... Villains, for lack of a better term."
"I was expectin' a response like that", said Soten, looking rather serious, "... What if I told ya that we ain't that different?"
"What...?"
"Me, Neph, and the other mercenaries of those long lost villages... We think we're fightin' for justice... But a "just fight"? I'm tellin' you there's no such thing. What anyone calls "justice" is an excuse to fight, more or less. A battle's a battle."
"Soten, you're not...?"
"Trust us, Nori", Nephenee chimed in, "The big guy isn't trying to be one of those mons that like to act high and mighty for mocking "both sides" or anything like that. His point is, this world's tough. Hard for little seeds to just go ahead and survive in a good place because the more you stand up for yourself, the more people try to fight you. Before you know it, you're all trying to outgrow each other."
"Yeah... Look, all I'm sayin' is that they've got their fight, and we've got ours. And they just so happen to be growin' in to each other's range at the expense of the other."
Noriaki comments, "But what they're doing is..."
"Yeah, it's pretty damn bad", said Soten, "But life isn't about right and wrong. Power. That's all it is. These seeds tryin' to just grow and survive... In their struggle to just stand up for themselves and live, they end up takin' everything from those around 'em. Like a big tree blockin' off sun for the smaller one. Before they even realized, they became a bloomin' villain. But that same power... Depends on the heart and will of it's owner. If we don't use our power just 'cause we're scared of it, we're done for."
Noriaki slowly looks at his own wing. That last bit seems to have resonated somehow?
"But even then, if we become too obsessed with it and go too far, we end up another blooming villain that forgot what it was like being one of those seeds", said Nephenee.
"As for right and wrong... Well, goin' through life, we all end up questioning that to ourselves and those around us. The answer we find may lead us being someone's hero or villain, but still be the other to someone else. But the best we can do is protect what's important, regardless."
Noriaki stared at his wing longer. He recalls once again the young woman his age from his previous dream, the feeling of brotherhood L'Arachel's Vassals once gave him... And also, what it feels to be a part of this group before looking out to them.
"I... Believe I understand", the Dartrix said, returning the wing to his side.
Soten breathed out a bit and said, "We all got our own war."
[L'Arachel's Manor]
L'Arachel moves to a seat in the foyer and rests there for now.
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
( I notice Noriaki and Soten, Nephenee, and their friends having a conversation about...something that I'm not sure what. I let out a small sigh.)
( Wanting someone to speak to, I begin looking for someone not currently locked into a conversation.)
(Marsha is currently still contentedly lounging in the warm water in her bath.) Ahhh...
Edited by kablammin45 on Aug 10th 2018 at 7:43:49 AM
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."
We dare you to say his name
Inn
Fully coming back as Soten's speech concludes...which certainly does resonate..enough for me to comment based on recent events.
You are goddamn right.
I then walk over to Dinah, noticing that she seems to be in thought as well.
Overwhelming, isn't it?
Blissparce
...Seriously? Wait, do we have any way to know of who his most recent lover was?
Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 10th 2018 at 10:48:59 AM
Tell....everyone....
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
That's putting it lightly... ( I sigh, resting my face on my arms.) Never did I ever imagine that I would ever be wrapped up in something like this...in fact, until I met Benji, I never thought anything like what I've been through these past few weeks would happen. Me helping depose Dorian, finding love, leaving Agartha at all, deciding to become Lucy's adoptive mother...it really is overwhelming.
( Lucy and Benji...) I still hope I live through this and will be able to see Benji and Lucy again. I'm really beginning to miss them...
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."Holstown Inn
(When Soten mentioned the fear of power, I closed my eyes. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I am afraid of myself when I shouldn’t be. But as Nephenee pointed out, that power will corrupt me. If I let go, someone will get hurt, someone will die. Maybe it’s not as uncontrollable as I made it out to be, but that bring up another question? How can I control it? Every time the Frenzy comes out, I feel like my body’s on auto-pilot, looking for the nearest thing to kill. It ran on nothing but pure instinct… which is why it keeps telling me to not get myself killed! Of course! Maybe the Frenzy is not just that lust for bloodshed that I keep pushing back, but rather, it’s my own instinct I’m restraining. I’m restraining it to keep myself at peace to protect her, to protect everyone, to protect both it and myself. Yet, I’m not sure how I can control it when it does come out, but that is sure to point me at the right direction.
(With that realization in mind, I opened my eyes and faced the group.) I understand it now. I shouldn’t be afraid of myself anymore. Thanks, I needed that. (With my mind cleared, my spirits were lifted. I’m practically a new man, well, owl but it still stands.)
"I treasure every day with you, darling." "No need to be so sappy, love." "You know that's how she is, Nia." - AU!Pyra, Nia, Mythra
We dare you to say his name
Main Group (Inn)
Well...
I place my arms flat on the table. This has been rather overwhelming at times, especially now.
I mean, you could write them a letter or something.
Tell....everyone....
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
I think that would be an excellent idea... ( I say.) I need to know how Benji and Lucy are getting along anyway.
( I get up and begin looking for a piece of paper to write on.)
Gleamscape
(In the meantime, Lucy and Benji have since resumed their own respective forms and are en route to the beach, per Benji's suggestion earlier before lunch.)
So, Lucy, did ya ever learn to swim? (Benji asks Lucy.) And by that, I mean did ya learn to swim as your normal self? Not as a Lapras like that time you switched bodies with Eliot?
Um...kinda? (Lucy says.) I used to swim in the creek where I used to live, but it wasn't very deep.
Well, when we get to the water, you can show me what you can do, how about that? (Benji offers.)
Okay! (Lucy nods.)
(They soon reach the water. They move to a quieter and more secluded part of the beach and Lucy eagerly gets into the water.)
Okay, kiddo. (Benji says, sitting down on the beach.) Show what you can do.
(Lucy nods and begins swimming around. She noticeably begins (clumsily) swimming around like a Lapras.) How's that? (She asks.)
Heh heh, yer swimmin' like a Lapras, I see. (Benji says with a chuckle.) Nothin' wrong with that, though. As long as it works for ya.
But how do I swim like a Riolu, though? (Lucy asks.)
Hmm... (Benji gets up and moves to the water. As he does so, he shrinks down into a Riolu form (one slightly bigger than Lucy).) Just watch me carefully, okay?
(Lucy looks on as Benji begins dog-paddling around in the water. After watching Benji for a bit, Lucy begins mimcking his swimming movements.)
Hey, you're catchin' on pretty fast, kid! (Benji says.)
Really? Great! (Lucy says, continuing to swim around this way.)
Not sayin' ya have tuh swim like this from now on, but it is faster than tryin' tuh mimic a Lapras, just sayin'. (Benji says.) It'll help if ya get in trouble in the water.
Okay! (Lucy says, swimming a bit further away.)
Uh, don't swim too far out, Lucy. (Benji warns.) You might-
Eep!! (Lucy wanders into a rip current and begins getting pulled too far out into the water. Benji quickly assumes Marsha's form and swims to Lucy's rescue, pulling her onto his back.)
Yeah, dair's dose pesky rip currents out dair. (Benji says.) Ya hafta be careful when swimmin' in places like this.
Uh huh. (Lucy nods. Then she notices something.) Are you Miss Marsha right now?
Well, ya know she's a much faster and stronger swimmer than me, so, hey, it worked out, just sayin'! (Benji laughs.)
(Benji swims against the current and gets himself and Lucy back to shore, whereupon he turns back into his own Swampert form.) Yuh know, it's no wonder nobody else is over here with currents like those, just sayin'. How about we move tuh where everyone else is and swim there? It seems safer there.
Okay, Papa! (Lucy nods, moving towards the busier part of the beach.)
(Benji smiles as he follows Lucy that way.)
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."
At the heart of the world...
Holstown, Inigo's Inn
"...so...what is our power? Us?" Woodruff, if his assumption is correct, can't help but feel as if Soten's words are also wishful thinking...living out in the slums of Silversand would contradict that assumption right quick.
Blissparce, At the Inn
"Could be a she, you never know," she says to Goobert, then turns her attention to Tiago. "And yeaaaaa, the murders do look pretty different. The other ones have all consistently had puncture wounds as the primary cause of death, which, I mean, props for consistency, but this one was...not that."
"W-well, her name was...was..." ...this was tougher than he imagined. "Bland?" "N-no, who would name s-someone that? No, it was...Band?" "Bran?" "Ann?" "Fan?" "Man?" "No, we just established she was a girl."
The two turn back towards the others, somewhat embarrassed they can't even remember the victim's name. "But yea, she was...with Harvey for a time...generally...around him...under his arm..." Taylor A looks to Taylor B, still incredibly unsure about this...Ann, we'll say. "What did he even see in her?" The Hitmonlee shrugs. "M-maybe we should check the f-files." "Right..."
"...but was she, like...funny or something?"
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
( Spotting a piece of paper, I quickly get to work on writing a letter.)
Dear Benji...
How are you all doing? Are you and Lucy getting along alright? I do hope you are.
If you are wondering about how I'm doing...well, I have had barely enough time to train because not long after you and the others left, we were unexpectedly accosted by some of Noriaki's old friends. Yes, they came here with him from his world. Their leader, L'Arachel, is an incredibly vicious creature who uses moves that not even Pokémon who know Pokémon moves like the back of their paw recognize them. Noriaki said that she was using magic, magic that can turn Pokémon evil, like Nyquil, or turn them into mindless Combee slaves...I hope none of us ever fall victim to any of those fates.
Being caught up in this is terrifying, but I at least have gotten some training in so I am not entirely defenseless. I know moves such as Bulldoze, Earth Power, and Low Sweep. I don't know if I will be able to hold my own if I'm by myself, however. We have already been in a fight with a Lickitung granted unusual power by L'Arachel, and everyone else did much of the work. I hope that I'll come out of this...alive, most importantly, but also with the proper experience to be able to protect Lucy and you if I have to.
I hope we stop L'Arachel and return to you and the others soon. I think I may be ready to return to Silversand after this. I'm not sure I would want to continue living this way given the rampant danger Goobert's friends all get involved in on seemingly a regular basis. Please give this some thought. I don't want you or Lucy to end up as psychologically scarred as I already am.
Love, Dinah.
( Now to find a carrier Pidgey...like that one right there by the door. I give it to them and return to everyone else. I spot Marsha entering, presumably after she just bathed.)
Man, dat was great...did I miss anythin' while I was gone? ( She asks.)
I simply wrote Benji a letter. ( I tell her.)
Oh, dat's good. ( Marsha says as she sits down at a table.)
Blissparce
(I rub the back of my neck.)
I am wondering what SHE saw in HIM. (Sunny says, crossing her arms.) If she knew what Cosby did to me, she would have left him in a heartbeat...
So you mean "haha, funny" or "I'm freaking nuts" funny? (Cortez asks.)
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."
We dare you to say his name
Inn
As I watch Dinah write her letter Marsha happens back upon us. Before I could share what I saw, though..
Do you guys ever get visions?
Blissparce
I dunno, she reeeeeally seems like the “nuts in the head” kind.
Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 11th 2018 at 4:05:43 AM
Tell....everyone....
Anyways Here's Darude Sandstorm
The metal ball swings in, causing some bystanders to jump back in fear. It lands with a loud thud right in front of the Inn.
GIVE ME YOUR FACE
La Lézarde
Holstown (Inn)
I mean, I dunno. I've had tons 'a weird dreams, though. (Marsha says. She's momentarily distracted by the sound of something out in the front of the inn crashing and looks that way.)
( I'm about to sit back down myself when I hear a commotion outside and see a...a huge metal ball of some sort? Oh no, I hope this isn't a "present" from L'Arachel...)
Did anybody else see this? ( I ask no one in particular.)
Edited by kablammin45 on Aug 11th 2018 at 6:17:54 AM
"Pardon me, that extremely loud and extremely deep voice you may have just heard. It was me. Oh, it is such a long story..."
Mila
Holstown, Inn
Mila's head is spinning slightly from the speech, having touched on issues that still plague her, and she's not entirely sure whether or not she agrees with it. Trying to protect others, sure, but how could they call anything of what happened 'protection'? It just couldn't fit to her, especially not with todays events. Still, maybe it was worth trying to understand it, instead of just hiding in her own thoughts. They hadn't been doing her much good recently, anyways.
Still, one thing catches on her mind.
"So what... if we don't want to be evil, we have to ignore power? Do we just leave her alone? Do we just let her take Niles and say that she thinks she was right?"
I need to update these things more often
Konknitive Dissonance
[Inigo's Inn]
"I meant somethin' more like we need to be aware of and know our power and really think on the hows, whys, and whats of applying it."
Noriaki looks like he's about to say something, but he hears the loud noise from outside the inn.
"...?"
Edited by Konkfan7 on Aug 11th 2018 at 10:24:59 AM
[Holstown]
Noriaki looked to Lane and responded, "We got in to a clash with L'Arachel, she jumped us... We are heading inside now to rest and recover, come along."
[Inigo's Inn]
Entering the inn, Noriaki responds to Eliot and Marlon's inquiries, "Dana's room is the second to the left hall I believe. And Marlon, I do believe there is a small bathhouse at the back of this inn that you can find if you keep following one of the halls. I may go there myself in due time."
Those entering find seats in the lobby and collapse on to them, taking some berries to heal.
Nephenee at this point had come out and was informed what had gone down.
"Damn... I didn't think there'd be a reaction so quickly, I'd have come along if I had even a feeling she woulda made an appearance..."
Soten just sighed and got up, walking closer to the center of the room, but closer to Noriaki specifically.
"Oy.", the Armaldo said, "These mons you lot are going up against and that we've been with ya for some... Dorian, Hector, that fancy Vespiquen and her boy-toys..."
"Yes", said Noriaki, adjusting his fringe, "They are all very powerful individuals with intense, sinful hungers that they end up harming others for the sake of."
"Well yeah, but let me ask ya all...", Soten said, more directed to everyone present, "... Ya know what the difference is between them and me?"
Noriaki looks confused, but intrigued.
"...?"
[L'Arachel's Manor]
" I am saying that I might have ", said L'Arachel, speaking as if she stepped on an ant. The Vespiquen adjusted her cloak and moved on ahead to the foyer, Montresor following behind.