Kitchen

Kevin sighs.

Look man, I know I shouldn't have stuck my tail in any of that nonsense. I'm coming off probably the most stress I think I've ever had getting wrapped up with these guys again, finding that kid..you know. I just wanna get this kid home to his mom, go back home to Silversand, and just take a break. Dad's probably worried sick about me.

He finishes his last pancake and stands up.

Edited by Team42Larson on Mar 29th 2019 at 12:57:16 PM

Manor (Kitchen)

Yeahs... (Marsha has a has a small smile on her face after the quick smooch from Marlon and turns to Autumn and Mila once the question of where Nyquil is comes up.) Yeah, I don't think I ever saw da Fireball come in heres. Hope he's still doin' okay.

Maybe we can take some Leppa Berries with us for you to have on the journey back? (I suggest to Sally.) And Woodruff's right. Perhaps your mother and father are in town waiting for you...

Blissparce

Yeah, we're going to need it... (I hear Taylor A mutter as we begin to move out and towards the town hall. I really can't help but feel that he's right and that we ARE going to need it...)

(As we leave, a Kadabra and a Medicham are conversing not very far in the opposite direction of where we're going.)

...and you've been keeping in touch with Drake as he and Greg study thi-... (The Kadabra says before trailing off as she catches us leaving the police station and heading directly toward town hall.) Oh sh-... Maurice, I just remembered something very important, I'll have to finish talking to you later.

Oh, no problem, Dole. I understand that you're a busy woman. (The Medicham says.)

(Without even saying a proper farewell, Dole runs off to find her remaining cohort Cedric.)

(We arrive at town hall. All things considered, it wasn't that far of a walk from the police station.)

Remember to hold your temper, Nomémia. (I hear Mrs. Dos Santos say to Mia.) I know you're angry and I'm angry, too, but we need to apprehend her as quietly, and as non-violently as possible.

Yeah, Mamá... (Mia replies.)

(We enter the front room. Man, I never thought I'd enter a town hall that looks like this. Leaves and vines hang from the wooden ceiling and walls, there are patches of grass coming out of the dirt ground here and there, and there's even a small patch of small Berry bushes in a flower bed in the middle of the room.)

(We go around the bushes to the front desk and to the reception desk where a female Conkledurr sits reading.) Oh, hello you all. How may I help you? Is there something important going on?

We need to talk to the mayor and his assistant about the murders. I-It's very important... (Taylor R says, motioning to his and Taylor A's sashes, and then gesturing towards the rest of us.) They're all with us.

Oh...well, go right up the stairs. First door on the right when you get up there. (The Conkledurr tells us.)

(Amy is currently calmly looking over some papers in the mayor's office like nothing is wrong. Her mind is clearly other places, though.)

L'arachel's Manor, Kitchen

"... Y-you think so?"

Sally looks up to Woodruff and Dinah, staring directly at them as she tries to tell how convinced they are of what they're telling her. It's clear that she wants to believe it, though after the previous day perhaps she's worried what might happen if they can't find her parents.

"I see... Come on, let's go check on him, Mila."

"Right— hey, is that?"

As Mila gets off of her seat and leaves the table, her ear catches the calls of the Ralts she'd seen attempting to corral others the previous day. Unsure what they want but assuming it's something to do with Autumn, she pulls the Braixen along to see what the matter is.

"Wait, I think I recognize you... you're with the Foxfell guard, right? What are you doing here?"

Kitchen

As the rest of us prepare to move out Hallie looks up at Speck and floats up toward him upon realizing something-she knows where the thief took the pendant!

Speck, can we talk in private?

Having realized they should probably stop making pancakes as they have done more than enough, the ex-vassals rested. Montresor used Psychic to cobbled together and bring a cup of Perism tea to Yasuhiro, sighing to himself. Yukari and Zelgius waited on the Skorupi before they started getting up.

"I am sure the officers around here can assist in that as well, hopefully", Noriaki said to Claude, getting up with Hikari, "Well then, we should begin heading out."

With that, the Decidueye began walking out of the kitchen, through the foyer, en route to the front area of the manor to leave.

Edited by Konkfan7 on Mar 31st 2019 at 5:31:21 AM

Leaving the Manor

(With that being said, I followed Nori outside the manor. Soon, the two mercenaries and the knight and his ward followed suit.)

Manor

Dana enters the room. Upon Nyquil... politely telling her the room was taken she hesitates a bit before leaving.

Kitchen

Jyut enters the kitchen. And does. Something.

I dunno who that was, but goodbye, I guess. Nap time!

Manor

(Seeing the others beginning to move out, the bouncers get up and begin following Noriaki, Zelgius, and the others.)

Need a lift out, Marly? (Marsha asks Marlon, reaching out a hand.)

(Meanwhile, Speck slowly lowers down from the ceiling and hangs in mid-air in front of Hallie.) Yesssss? Heeheehee...

Y-Yes, Sally. (I tell Sally, picking her up and preparing to follow everyone else out since they seem to be leaving.) The sooner we return to town, the sooner we can see if your parents are already there waiting for you.

Edited by kablammin45 on Apr 1st 2019 at 8:00:55 AM

Leaving kitchen

Y...yeah. I'm getting more stable in the leg but I'll need more time to be able to walk on two feet on my own power again.

I grab hold of Marsha's hand and look ahead, waiting for her to start us on. Man, I've never actually realized how massive her hand is compared to my otherwise lack of one...with its three fused fingers, and that being it. I call ahead to anyone still in range.

Who else is gonna go find out what's up with Niles? Should everyone else just start ahead and let the others catch up?

Kevin hops up, preparing to leave but hoping Woodruff can walk and talk with him; also wanting for the kid to keep up with him. Of course, they're now getting to get this kid home. After all this time.

Speck, that thief went to Foxfell. I know he did. We're wasting our time here.

L'Arachel's Manor, Heading Out of the Kitchen

"Nah, it's alright," Woodruff reassures Kevin. "...I get it, bein' worried like that...bound to find out sooner or later anyway, right?"

He then looks back at Sally, then to Dinah, remembering his parents were still asleep. "Ahh, shit, I gotta go get my parents...shouldn't be too far behind ya!" As the others are exiting, Woodruff slips past and makes his way back to the sleeping quarters to wake his parents up.

Seeing the tea in front of him, Yasuhiro wastes no time in downing the whole cup, spilling some on the counter as he gulps it all down. "Wheeew!" Shaking his head, he feels...nothing yet. It's gonna take some time, like all things do. That headache's still a bitch, though. Grumbling to himself, he scoots off the counter and nearly pratfalls onto the floor, catching himself as one of his legs buckles. Stumbling about, he looks to Yukari, then follows along behind her and Zelgius.

"Say, Yukari," he asks her, clutching his head with one claw, "if we get into town, and you see me eyeing the booze, don't be afraid to swat me, arright?"

"Oh, thank Arceus," they say, breathing a sigh of relief. "I came here to look for Zalk? ...wait, I don't know if you would—he's a private investigator, he lives a block off the main street, he's a Furfrou, he's got eyes like...like diamonds—like a Talonflame, he's—" They shake their head, that's not important. "Well, he was looking for those within Foxfell who'd disappeared thanks to the Vespiquen, and...he entrusted me to find him if he were taken as well, and..."

...the Ralts looks around. "A-as you can see, that's hit a bit of a snag...oh, I hope nothing's happened to him...b-but at least I've found you again, princess!" They give Autumn a pained smile.

...everyone else is starting to leave...might as well saddle on out myself. I push away all the blades formerly attached to the cloak, get the pile under the lip of the counter, before getting up and readjusting my injured arm. It's here when I hear Niles is still unaccounted for...as much as I'd want to just leave him behind for now if he so wants it, the group's probably gonna drag their feet waiting for him...I elect to head out with the others for now.

Blissparce, Town Hall

"Okay, thank you!" Taylor A marches with the others, fists balled, ready for a throwdown! ...or maybe just a talkdown...or a defenestration! She's heard about those, maybe they could do something like that! Walking up the steps, she feels her heart racing: finally, the town won't be plagued by these cruel murders! All the murderers will be behind bars, victims avenged, all that good stuff! And more than that, she's gonna get it for fucking with Mr. Oliviera...fucking with all of them.

Finally, she manages to get to the door. "Okay, if she tries to run, block off the door!" Turning back towards the room, and by extension their target, she slowly, agonizingly turns the knob, pushing the door open with a long, grinding creeeeek. The mayor's attention is grabbed immediately.

"...oh, Taylor," Mayor Higgins says to the Servine stepping inside and, past the threshold, the multitude of others behind her, including another Taylor.

"...th-this isn't about the new tariffs, is it," he asks nervously. "I know word hasn't gotten out past the office, but you know how the wind can be, carrying words on it like leaves or paper—" He stops himself, going bug-eyed for a second, and frantically looks over his desk before breathing a sigh of relief, laughing to himself as he holds up the paper signing the tariffs into law.

L'arachel's Manor, Exiting Kitchen

"Zalk... I'm sorry, it doesn't ring a bell."

"We figured out the disappearances, though... at least relating to her."

Mila stares off towards Sally as she makes the comment, having picked up at least that she'd still been missing her parents. She hoped that it had nothing to do with what apparently had happened in the catacombs the day before.

"Right. Was there anything else you needed— and before I forget, I should tell you that I'm not going back to Foxfell. Not yet, at least."

"You two talk, I need to find Niles. I'm sorry."

Mila rushes off towards the upper areas of the manor once more, though she tries to conserve her energy after the scare the night before. She still has no idea what brought on that momentary paralysis, but she'd much prefer if it never happened again. She just needs to find Niles, or Dana.

"Hhrmph."

It's the "if" that gives Sally a reason to doubt. And that's all it takes for her mood to sour once more, and for her to retreat into her shell as Dinah begins to carry her once more. Admittedly, her anger is preventing her from being afraid, whether she recognizes it or not.

Koss follows along, with nothing to say and nothing better at the moment to do. He'll give Eliot time with the others before he pulls him aside to try to figure out more about his situation. Maybe he'll think of something himself in the meantime.

Manor (Heading out)

Hope da Fireball hurries up and gets out heres... (Marsha says as she begins to move out.)

Oh...heeheehee... (Speck giggles. He's a bit disconcerted that they came all this way for nothing, but regardless he turns himself upright and prepares to head out with Hallie.) Well, we'll head that way then!

(I sigh as I carry Sally out of the manor. I can just feel her frustration. I hope and pray we do find her parents back in town...)

Blissparce

Yeah... (I say to Taylor A as she opens the door, putting my hands on my stomach and muttering:) Man, between Rich and Mia's brawn and my belly I don't think anyone could get through this door if they wanted to...

(Once we're in and the mayor and Amy acknowledges us, Taylor R speaks up:) W-We're not here to talk about that... (He says.)

We're here to talk about the the murders. (Mia says.)

Oh? Did you find out anything? (Amy asks. She looks back and forth between us and the mayor a few times.)

Sim...my children and their friends apprehended one of the murderers. (Mrs. Dos Santos says. I notice Amy looking visibly confused.) He told us that you were behind everything.

(Amy gasps, looking dumbfounded at us coming in and accusing her.) Maria, are you out of your mind? Do you actually think I would arrange a series of murders like this?

Well, the evidence ain't lookin' great, lass. (Rich says.)

Yeah...uh...Norwood said the Viral Aggression had to do with all of this. (I add.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Apr 2nd 2019 at 12:29:49 PM

Leaving Manor

Yeah, I really don't understand what else is left here for him to want to see it for the last time before we blow this popsicle stand...

I follow suit with the others in exiting the manor.

Yeah, I guess so..

And there goes Woodruff yet again, zooming off with the intent to wake his parents. Kevin wonders why he wasn't born a Sentret, or at least born a mon that doesn't become so bogged down by this shell on his back. He looks back toward the Teddiursa, motioning for him to follow.

With not another word Hallie fades out and begins to head off toward the place she hopes has her pendant...

Ugh, I feel like shit. Physically and mentally. Special mention to my chest, which still stings from yesterday's incident. As I lie in bed, my mind does some last minute thinking. (Who was the person I just told to piss off? Mom? Ma? Dana? It's gotta be one of them… they're the only people who'd bother to try talking to me anyway.) That thought came with a sense of uneasiness. (They're just trying to help, aren't they? Why do I keep pushing them back?) My body settles in and my eyes shut. "Dana, I'm sorry…" I feel myself fall into slumber as the sun continues to rise. "Please come back."

L'Arachel's Manor, Upper Levels

"...Mila." I see she decided to help expedite this. "So...where do you think he is?"

L'Arachel's Manor, Kitchen

"...you're not?" The Ralts looks at Autumn with confusion, though they wait for Mila to be off to continue.

"But...I thought you would've moved past this childish moment. The others here, I'm assuming you've been with them all this time...they were utterly battered last night. Your...Raichu..." They decide not to be presumptuous, as much as it would overjoy them to confirm. "...friend, I couldn't help her to move at all! This doesn't happen often, does it? I'm thankful it happened here, for my sake and for the rest of those who were taken, yet..."

Blissparce, Town Hall

Mayor Higgins stares in shock for a moment, somewhat unable to comprehend what the others are saying. So, instead, his mind pivots to familiar territory, and he lets out a belly-laugh to show the utter ridiculousness of this situation, nearly falling off his desk in laughter...it just can't be true! It's so...comical, it's...

"That's...insane...to think my...assistant would be assisting with those...those murders, it..." There's a pit in Rave's stomach...it...can't be true...

"Not just that, Mayor," Taylor retorts, cracking her...knuckles?, as she sizes Amy up. "The Mrs. is right, she's behind everything! That Bisharp she was working with spilled the beans!"

"...th..." Rave looks to Amy, a look of utter desperation on his face, they have to be wrong, they have to be... "...this...isn't true...is it?"

L'Arachel's Manor, Outside

Jack follows the others, rubbing his head and letting out a yawn.

Jack: Ugh...I feel like I've been zoning out these past couple of days, like I'm on a bad trip or something....

It then occurs to him the implications of what he said.

N-not that I know any of that stuff firsthand, I was only being metaphorical!

Leaving Manor

Jack. Where the fuck has he been?

So that's the justification for you having up and dissappeared? Our backs were against the wall, I had a piece of pillar slam into my leg...just don't do it again.

Outside L'Arachel's Manor

Jack: Hey, not my fault some Combee shoved me down a hidden passageway and I lost consciousness from the fall! Didn't know when I came to, but I spent a good few hours trying to find my way out from that moldy maze, and all I have to show for it is a damn book I found in there!

Indeed, one can see a rather old book that doesn't look like it's been used in a long time sticking out of one of Jack's pockets.

Leaving the manor

Dang, I didn't see yas get knocked inta dat pit. (Marsha says, figuring Jack must have been knocked into the pit that was opened up in the foyer in the commotion of the first fight with L'Arachel last night.) Sorry yas were stuck down dair so long without anyone lookin' for ya, Cabin Boy. Dat had ta stink...

(She exits the manor, presumably with Marlon still close by her.)

(Meanwhile, as the bouncers go on, Cole looks to Zelgius.) Are you all still planning to head out from here back to Shinrin?

Oh, we have to go, everyone! Our pendant needs us! (Speck lets out another giggle and floats away through the ceiling.)

Blissparce

(I can already see that Amy is looking visibly more uncomfortable and looking like she wants to leave the room. I think we've seriously got her cornered now. However, she eventually shakes her head and gives us a hard stare.) I...I...I did what I had to do to protect Blissparce. Almost all of them had it.

And you thought the best solution was to arrange their murders?? (Mrs. Dos Santos asks.) You couldn't try to help them?

Do you think I knew how to do that? (Amy snaps.) Every moment the potential vectors spent lurking around here was another moment closer to our destruction. We had to eliminate them before Blissparce destroyed itself like Hiveton and Milklett.

O imbecil...then why didn't you ask FOR help? (Mia fumes.)

Yeah! Dieter and I know some guys who could have helped you out here! (I point out, getting a bit nervous.)

Surely you know how high tensions are around here with what happened to Hiveton and Milklett! (Amy says.) If anyone found out that the Viral Aggression was in our midst, word would spread around town, the entire town would fall into a panic, and everything would fall apart anyway! I'm trying to keep the town safe!

NO, YOU ARE NOT!! (Mia shouts, curling up her fists tight. I can tell that she so wants to beat Amy up right now...)

Miss Dala, what you are doing is not just evil and wrong, it's outright cowardly. With proper explanation and preparation, I'm sure the people of Blissparce would have understood what was going on. I'm beginning to think that the only thing endangering our town and terrorizing everyone is not Doença Da Raiva, but you. (She says to Amy, sounding incredibly calm but still absolutely furious.) All you've done is terrorize and damage the lives of many of our people, including our family.

I've BEEN thinking of you and your family. (Amy shouts, her voice coming out as more of a snarl. I can see tears in her eyes.) I've been thinking of all our families, including my younger sister and her sons who will grow up without their grandparents because of this wretched disease! Do you it think it didn't pain me whenever I found out someone carried the Viral Aggression? Including Izabel?

Must not have pained you enough to tell us what the hell was going on before murdering her!! (Mia shouts.)

Edited by kablammin45 on Apr 3rd 2019 at 8:01:14 AM

Leaving Manor

I am in fact keeping close pace with Marsha.

How did you not even see-never mind. So...you found a book in there? What's in that book anyway?

Edited by Team42Larson on Apr 3rd 2019 at 8:32:54 AM

Outside the Manor

Jack nods at Marsha.

Jack: Yeah, the passageway I ended up taking lead right to a hidden panel at the kitchen. May or may not of startled someone when I came out, was too tired to care or notice. By then it sounding like everything was winding down so went outside to take a breather. I was so exhausted that I ended up falling asleep on the grass for the night.

Upon hearing Marlon Jack faces him.

The book?

Jack takes the old book out of his pocket and blows a layer of dust off of it. It's a faded red book with fancy old text on the cover.

If I'm reading the cover right... it seems to be a cookbook.

"Don't worry, I will", Yukari sneered at her retainer.

"Yeah, I think so", Zelgius responded, "I imagine the princess here's been gone long enough, and we've been fighting for L'Arachel here on Harnicara for some time now, I don't doubt at least one of us got some infamy over our heads now around here. It'd probably be for the best we left as soon as possible."

"Ah, Jack, pleasure to see you again. Glad to see you are alright, despite your predicament earlier", said Noriaki, looking over the group, "Are we all together? I imagine Mila is still checking on Niles? I do hope he is alright. And where is..."

Nephenee scuttled closer, saying, "The two beetle boys went back to Holstown with some of the kidnapped folk from there much earlier, they said they didn't want to keep their people waiting from hearing about our victory. The Nidoking copper took a bunch of mons from Narcia and went back early himself, said he wanted to deliver his report back to Narcian as soon as possible. A bunch of his men are staying here to continue assisting your old pals in fixing their mess."

Noriaki nodded before gazing back at the manor.

"... I truly do hope his condition has fully improved", Hikari whimpered, "... And that he can leave behind everything that she made him do."

Leaving the manor

I see... (Marsha says.)

(She looks at the cookbook he found.) Well, I'm just as garbage at cookin' as Benji is, so I don't really have much use for it.

Well, don't be a stranger, Zelgius! (Dodie says.) Tell Mouse we said hi if you ever find where she went, okay? Stay safe, too.

Welp, guess we should be on our way ourselves. (Cole says.) Where did we decide we were going again?

Becchel, Cole.

Right, right... (Cole nods. He turns back to Zelgius.) Good luck out there, Zelgius. And to Yukari, too. Hopefully things will go well when you get back there. Give us a ring if something goes wrong.

L'arachel's Manor, Upper Floor

"I... don't know, we'll just have to try all the doors."

Mila starts with the nearest rooms, hoping that she won't disturb any of the still-resting mons. Not that they should still be asleep with the growing bustle of the remaining individuals waking up once more. As she continues, fruitlessly to start, she remembers something and makes another comment to Eliot.

"How are you feeling, and with the... issues you were having?"

L'arachel's Manor, Kitchen

Of course they were going to judge. For some reason, Autumn had noticed, her position made everyone feel like they had a right to tell her what to do and how to act. It was reminding her now of just one of the reasons she left in the first place.

"sigh... that's none of your business, especially talking down to me like that. Go back home and ask Winter if you're so worried. As for my friends, I'll— I'll take care of them."

Admittedly, there was something there that the Ralts has brought to her mind. Even if she didn't want to fight, she had an obligation to make sure everyone was alive and well. She could still learn how to treat them, and make sure they didn't get hurt. Maybe Koss could teach her something.