Holstown, Inn Bathhouse -> Out of the Inn Bathhouse

"...O—oooooooh..." [I climb out of the tub myself, shaking out my fur as well.] "Are you—" [I sigh.] "—are y'sure we need t'do this? What if it's a...what if it's a trap? I mean...y'didn't talk t'Niles himself, didja?" [I see my stuff's still in the corner outside the door to the bathhouse...what a relief, no one walked off with it.]

[Still a little wet, I whisper to Dana,] "Y...y'think y'could do that for me, too?"

Holstown, Pub

"Yea, good luck with your father!" Woodruff downs the last of his beer and joins Kevin's side. He blinks...his vision's a little blurry...he tries rubbing his eyes, maybe something's in it.

Blissparce, On the Way to the Body

Taylor B notices the Bisharp, a familiar face, and waves to him...doesn't seem like he's getting a response

Edited by BlackMageAnolis on Aug 26th 2018 at 7:55:40 AM

Holstown Inn

"Whether we trust her or not, we're not giving up on Niles, okay? I'm going, and you can come if you want, but you're not stopping me."

Autumn takes on the same tone and stance as earlier in the day, reinforced now by Mila's acceptance and willingness to go along with her search. She was going to find Niles and figure out what was wrong, and she was going to fix it. She was glad, somewhat, that the ones Noriaki seemed to have been working with were willing to help, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they'd be springing at an opportunity to fight.

" We're doing this peacefully, okay?"

Holstown Inn, Bath house

"Not Niles, but this is the best chance we have, and I'm worried what they'll do if we don't at least try. They said to go north, over to a cliff in a clearing. Come on, I don't want to waste time..."

Seeing that the three are out of the bath and (mostly) dried off, Mila moves over to the door and pushes it all the way open before beginning to go back towards Autumn, hoping that the others would keep up with her. It takes some level of control to not rely on Agility, but she knows that she'd just lose them if she tried to go as fast as she could, and speed wouldn't save her from whatever L'arachel and her cronies might have in store.

"Wonder what that guy's deal is..." Rich(?) said as the Bisharp walked by.

Holstown Inn, Bath

"I don't think you have enough cold tolerance for that..."

Dana speedwalks after Mila. This was probably a trap, but.. What if it wasn't? What if no one came and they lost Niles even more.. Dana shakes her head, as if that'll help clear it.

Leaving Pub

You okay, Woodruff?

Kevin asks as he starts on back to the inn. As he approaches step-by-step closer to the inn, he starts reasonably inferring that things are happening; hence some sounds of conversation that he’s hearing. He stops and looks over to Woodruff.

Is it just me, or is there something going on in there?

Blissparce

Yeah...it was bad...and I don’t think she knows you guys even exist.

Tiff sees the Bisharp but says nothing.

Inn

I’m comfortably sleeping in our inn room. It’ll be quite hard to wake me up, man.

which just means I’m not having Marlon be part of this.

Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 26th 2018 at 9:11:48 AM

City Block. Pokémon: Weedle

"Wow. I have become a Weedle. Now I will complete a goal I always wanted to do."

Weedle slides to the end of the city block

"Make the universe do Not Always Working stories!"

Hey! We got a Discord server if you wanna join and get the lowdown on things.

Holstown (Inn)

O-Of course... ( I nod at Autumn. My goodness, though, things just keep coming up...)

( I look over to Soten and Nephenee nervously.)

Blissparce (En route to the crime scene)

Well...here's hopin' we find her, eh? (Rich says.) Figure she'll want t' go to the spring.

Obsidian Castle - Production Complex

Vlad leads the royal trio into a large chamber that's crisscrossed by several tall hallways. Cut through the center of the hallways were deep crevices with flowing lava at the bottom, lighting the hallways and the chamber from below. The crevices met in the other half of the chamber away from the group, forming a pit. Black stone railings lined the edges of the crevices, and a bridge of dark stone spanned the crevices every few hundred yards. Workstations were spaced every few feet along the sides of the hallways, with the anvils being nearest to the crevices. There were some red torches along the side of the walls just like the first floor of the grand hall. The second floor of the complex were stone balconies with metal railings, the passages of the balconies being narrower than the passageways on the first floor of the complex. The were bridges on the balconies too, but they were narrow as well. Along the balconies were cranks that were connected to black chains that went up before disappearing into the ceiling. Suspended at different height levels were stone platforms that were suspended by black chains at each corner, with said chains disappearing into the ceiling as well.

None of the workers were at their posts. They were all in the central chamber sitting in chairs facing a black casket on a central podium at the edge of the pit, their heads down in sadness. Some were Aerodactyl, some weren't. On the podium were a stone speaker stand, currently unoccupied.

Vlad turned to his new guests.

Vlad: Stay here for a moment.

Then Vlad went to a female Aerodactyl with gray skin that was slightly less dark than Vlad's, who is wearing a simple but formal dress. Vlad talks to her for a few minutes, the female Aerodactyl taking a glance at the new arrivals as she responds to him. Then Vlad returns to his new guests.

Vlad: I'm going to join my son and my foreman in retrieving the will, my father was a bit of a tricky sort. I've let my wife know the situation with you, she'll take things from here. So just take a seat, perhaps introduce yourselves, until I come back.

And with that Vlad goes down one of the hallways and passes through one of the doorways.

Holstown, Inn Bathhouse

[I head out of the bathhouse and grab my things...I look back up at Mila.] "But...consider this for a moment, this doesn't occur to you that maybe this isn't the best course of action? What if...what if they just goaded us there without actually...bringing him there? Do you really think they're people of their word?" [...I know I've put myself in an odd position trying to reason with Mila while taking her form, but sue me, I didn't have time to change to anything else, and this seems like it's gonna be a night trip.]

Holstown

"Yea, yea, I'm..." Woodruff lets out a massive belch, then wipes his mouth. "Yea, is fine." He's a bit of a lightweight, it seems.

He looks over towards the inn...his vision is getting worse. "I don...I don see nothin'...see nothin' funky go'n on..."

Blissparce, Nearing the Body

Finally, the site of the corpse draws near, as Mia and Tiff would know from before. Nothing from before has been disturbed...the head is still disconnected from the head some two feet away from the body (Amaranth's doing, Taylor B supposes), the tail is likewise disconnected though hangs closer to its original placement on the body, and the cadaver itself is still laying on the bushes, with nary an indention or trail of blood in the grass, the only tossed-up ground being from the gash marks in the dirt.

Taylor B approaches the corpse, looking in horror...good lord, this was...insane. He looks around...he's not sure what else he can gleam from the crime scene alone, so he looks out towards the trees. "...t-try looking for a-a...a-a...tree with stripped bark. It g-got struck with lighting l-last year...i-it's right near wh-where a lot of the bodies have been found..." He offhandedly gives another quick glance at the other Rich before looking back to the forest.

[Inigo's Inn]

"Yeah, I know, it seems likely that we may be walkin' in to a trap", said Soten, still scratching the back of his head, "But That's why we should go along regardless, to make sure these two are safe."

"And seeing as to what we've seen of these guys already... I think it's scarier to imagine what sort of "precaution" they may have if Mila there doesn't go by their terms", said Nephenee, shuddering for a moment.

[Leaving Bathhouse]

"I most certainly believe this to be an attempt to lure us out for malevolent intentions", said Noriaki, walking along, "But knowing them, if their demands are not met, they may do something... Rash."

"... I would not put it above them to sacrifice him right there and then, even if he is one of their own now. Especially if they are using him to call Mila out."

Holstown (Inn)

( I swallow nervously.) Of course...well...I suppose I'll go get my blouse and make sure I'm ready to help... ( I say, retreating back into mine and Eliot's room to slip my blouse on. I then come back out to wait for everyone else alongside Soten and Nephenee.)

I hope nobody else gets seriously injured again like before... ( I say as I button my blouse up.)

Blissparce (Crime scene)

Bleech, somehow it looks even worse than before... (Mia groans upon looking at Harvey's body again.)

(The minute I see the first signs of the dead Heliolisk, I feel myself growing sick to my stomach and feeling light-headed. I quickly turn away and heave up some Sludge Wave gunk. I can't do this, ugh, yuck, gross! Nasty!)

(I notice Rich approaching me.) Arr, ye aren't gonna be able t' stomach this, aren't yeh, matey? (He says to me.)

No... (I groan, embarrassed that I just tossed my cookies in front of everybody. I'm giving some serious thought to Rich using his curse on me again, because otherwise, I'm never going to contribute to anything during this leg of the mystery.) Think you're gonna have to use your curse on me...

Hrm...well, if it'll help yeh stomach this better... (Rich says. He slips his glove off. I brace myself as he places his claw on my shoulder.)

(Almost immediately, I feel my antennae starting to shrink, spikes growing from my back, my entire body seeming to thicken, and...oh man this is freaking weird, it's ligggaaaargraghhhhh......I look around meself and feel me thick green hide fer a moment. Aye, what's done is done. I jest manage t' catch his glasses as they slide of me smooth face before they fall ont' the ground. Arr, never was th' type 'a person who could wear 'em.) Whoop! Whoop! Arr, that'd be a nasty surprise for Goobert when he comes back, him findin' his glasses broken...

Aye! ( Th' real Rich says t' me.)

( I decide t' stick Goobert's glasses on top of me crests and head over t' look at th' dead body with everyone else.)

Arrrr...what a mess.... ( I say. I look up 'n see that his bloody head is all th' way over there.) What in th' name of Mike did whoever did this DO t' this feller?

Aye...messy, ain't it? Cannae fault Goobert for gettin' sick. (Th' real Rich says.) Even I'm feelin' a bit sick t' me gut...

Holstown, Leaving Inn

Dana keeps quiet as Noriaki affirms her prior worries.

"... I'm with Noriaki. This smells like a trap, but at the same time I don't want to risk something happening if we don't go..." Dana trails off, beginning to think. We're going to get him back... We're going to get him back... Even if it's not now, we will..

".. Um, hey, Noriaki? Do you still have the stuff Niles left behind?"

Meanwhile at the Garmid Forest...

(Inside the bunker, the Carbominable stood in front of an irate Turtonator and a disgruntled Weavile in his office. At the door, the albino Bisharp stood guard, just in case. The Woolly Crab spoke to the two, keeping an even temper.) So Hartwell, you're upset that Gideon had stolen your "land mine."

That took me a lot of resources to make and this asshole just wasted it like candy!

   Ever heard of "field testing," dipshit? You should be greatful that thing worked in the first place!   

Gentlemen, gentlemen, please. There's no need for this aggression. (After a few moments, Umberto continued, looking at Hartwell.) I understand your grievance against Gideon, but your project has indeed worked as intended: a means of defending the bunker from any intruders, despite what happened prior to it's... activation. I believe Gideon had done his job of defending this place, even if the method was questionable.

But that's not why I'm here! I'm here because he just used it just for his sick kicks!

   I gotta have something to do when I'm doing guard duty. I mean, just sitting out there for hours, hoping for something to happen, it's just torture!   

(Umberto interrupted, sharper this time.) Gentlemen! Need I remind you of the two rules?

(Gideon replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.)    Never betray the family and never sample the merchandise. Yeah, yeah.   

And he hasn't gone against either of them. And if he ever does, I'll deal with him. (Umberto turned to Gideon.) Do I make myself clear?

(With a smug smirk, the Weavile replied.)    Crystal.   

You're dismissed. (With that, Hartwell and Gideon had left the room, with the former clearly upset with the situation. Malachi soon followed, returning to his post, but not before he ran into the "siblings." The Golisopod spoke to the Bisharp.) So, what happend, Mal?

   Gideon somehow lured a Tauros into Hartwell's contraption. Janus is currently gathering whatever's left of the body.   

(The Absol scoffed.) No surprise there. We know how that prick works. Still, a damn shame someone had to pay the price.

I wish they didn't, but what are you gonna do? (The isopod shrugged and he left for the barracks.) Anyways, it's getting a little late for me. Night, guys!

Night, Cass.

(The rest of the night continued with no further incidents either from the inside or out, besides the blowing of cold air through the night.)

"-hic-"

Phil is rolling about.

"Guysh...I have lost -hic- the plot."

He bumps into a post.

"Oof. Shomething shomething Shilvershands. Victors."

"Omg...omg."

"Who wants to go get cake?"

Holstown Inn, Bath house

Mila shudders as Nori brings up his fears, and increases her pace as he speaks, not wanting to waste a single moment. She'd love to be able to explain her reasoning better to Eliot right now, but she simply doesn't think they have time, and the deliberate speed in her motions mirrors that conviction. As they're about to turn the corner to join back up with Autumn and the others, she says one last thing to Eliot.

"Whatever ends up happening, I'm not sitting by and failing to help again. You can leave if you want."

Holstown Inn, main area

" It's gonna work out, we're gonna find Niles and get him back."

Autumn's resolve isn't exactly convincing at the moment, but when she sees Mila coming down the corridor she rushes over to her and falls into step with her, watching the raichu intently to see where she's leading. Moments later, however, she looks up and realizes that there's another, nearly identical raichu following along, and she takes a moment to try to figure out the source of the duplicate.

"Come on, we don't have time for this, why are there two of you? Scratch that, just where do we go?"

"North, come on, follow me."

Mila pushes the front door open, bracing against the chill but not slowing down, leaving the explanation of the ancillary situation to Eliot, if he should so feel like it. She hopes that at least her comments makes it clear that she's the "original" Mila.

Holstown, Heading Out

[I sigh, pull my shawl over my smaller frame and come into the main area to see...oh, right, yea.] "Uhh, it's Eliot, if you..." [...I don't hang on that...]

[I mostly stay quiet for now, my wits about me. We're really going out and doing this...and either we'll get to see him again—maybe not exactly primed to speak, but we'll see him again—or we won't and it would have been a trap. And we don't really know which way it'll go, will we. It's like...it's like that fucking coin flip. The one with the gas station attendent, Chigurh with a pistol under the table. Or maybe not...it sure as hell feels like it. L'Arachel's got us with the coin, gun just out of sight and we can't even see it. And like Noriaki's said, she's gonna want us to be there for it, we can't run. I hope he's just talking from emotion and not from experience...]

[I rub my face...I got to find the time to change back. They're gonna keep moving...maybe it won't be an issue. I mean, honestly, I think it won't be...will it? Shit, I...oh, whatever. What am I doing focusing on myself like this anyhow? Focus, just focus...we need to get Niles back. I rock back and forth nervously...I just needed a little bit longer in that bath, but now I don't think I can go back to it. Back to that...zen, I guess. Or maybe I can...maybe this back-and-forth isn't helping.]

Holstown

Woodruff lets out another belch, somehow recognizing the Electrode despite his newfound stupor. "No, no...no caek for me, stomacch's...bleeegh..." He certainly feels his stomach rumbling...he ends up leaning on Kevin for support, his eyes trained towards the inn.

"...are...are thye leavin' againe?"

Holstown streets, close to inn

Kevin helps keep his fellow Silversander as steady as he can be whilst also helping Phil to the best of his ability before carefully leading them to the Inn.

Alright, we're almost there, get you two to some beds...what are they doing?

Kevin says upon in fact noticing a small group beginning to make their way out..

Hey! Where are you all going?

Blissparce

Ugh, and to think we'd be seeing this thing again...ugh...

Tiff does what she can not to throw up herself as she observes the body again, being seemingly unaware of the fact that now three Tyranitars are now behind her. She then realizes this as she tries to explain.

What the hell there's now three of youuuuuuuokay, what likely happened is that someone killed him while in the air, and then picked up his body and threw it a ways, hence the gouges you see littered around here.

The growing number of Tyranitars (which had her recall the Chandelure) in conjunction with seeing the body again, isn't doing Tiff's stomach any favors..

Gleamscape, an inn

It seems that an ordinary Chandelier is hanging in the main room of one of quite a few inns of Gleamscape...except that's not what this is. The "eyes" of a Chandelure open up and the creature yawns. She sighs as she floats down from where she was resting. Floating over towards a mirror she takes in her figure...including the peculiar green and magenta flames that burn above her "arms" instead of the typical blue you'd see a Chandelure have.

Arcsdamnit, how did I let myself slip this far...?

Unfortunately for her, a Sylveon's "ribbons" accidentally brush across her as the Eeveelution walks past her.

Hey pal, can you watch where you're gonna stand-

Suddenly, he starts to feel himself contort and change into the form of another Chandelure...as do the six or seven others in and around this one area.

Oh no...not again..

The once-standing Sylveon darts around in confusion and panic.

Hey, what's the big idea, pal? What kinda kooky shit didja invest your time into doing? Why am I like this?

I didn't-

The other six Chandelures are also all equally panicked, and shout out in unison.

You better fix us you-

Despite the fact that this actually lasted for about five minutes or so, the Chandelure-Melani as she is known, has been through this time and time again, so it felt like 30 seconds-sighs as she eventually watches everyone turn back into their normal selves.

Melani sighs, leaves the inn, and wanders about Gleamscape, eventually finding an alleyway (about two blocks down from where Delilah and co. are staying in fact), for herself to sleep in.

If only I could ever find the supposed others like me...find out how to live as normally as I can now..

She drifts off to sleep.

Edited by Team42Larson on Aug 28th 2018 at 6:41:14 AM

[Holstown, Outside Inn]

Noriaki follows Mila but turns ti acknowledge Kevin, "One of L'Arachel's underlings requested in a dream that Mila meet with them in a glade at the edge of the woods, north of here. She is going, but some of us are coming along for security."

Rolling along with the group, Nephenee added, "Come along if you feel up to it, but also keep in mind we need to keep the group small-ish."

Noriaki also responds to Dana's inquiry, "Ah yes, I do. He left his hat and bandanna, along with a scroll for learning Flame Burst. I believe the last one was a mistake on his part."

The Dartrix pulls them out and holds them out to Vulpix.

Edited by Konkfan7 on Aug 28th 2018 at 5:54:29 AM

Holstown (Inn)

( I notice that Eliot still appears to be a copy of Mila. I hope he gets the chance to return to his own form soon, because I feel like this could get confusing...)

( Staying close by Soten and Nephenee, I follow everyone out of the inn. I'm dreading what's coming next...)

Blissparce (Crime scene)

Arr, looks like it might be it? ( Th' real Rich says t' Tiff. He looks t' me and th' other Rich.) Any thoughts, mateys?

( I'm jest comin' t' the same solution as th' real Richie.) I guess, so, matey, but remember that th' three of us 'r probably goin' t' come up with th' same solution anyway.

Edited by kablammin45 on Aug 28th 2018 at 5:52:41 AM

Front of Inn

Okay yeah, I'll come.

Kevin carefully makes it to the entrance of the inn, making sure Woodruff is comfortable as they go up. Stopping to put Woodruff on a bench and comfortable, he looks down toward his fellow Silversander. He also does what he can to help Phil.

Okay, just catch your breath Mr. Woodruff, Phil, I'm gonna go help these guys with getting their friend back.

Assuming that Woodruff and Phil have in fact gotten comfortable, Kevin returns to the others.

I'm ready.

"Yeah... I dunno mate-" That Rich hiccups and turns back into Dieter.

They just kinda... stay silent.

Holstown, Leaving

Dana takes the bandanna and wraps it around her neck.

".. I think taking the hat would be a bit much, but maybe if I wear this I'll trigger something in his mind.." She laughs hollowly.

"That's probably wishful thinking, though.."