The Dragalge, Daniels, looks pretty proud of the praise. "Thanks, sir. You won't have your trust in me misplaced!"

Meanwhile, Dieter, who's shed the illusion and now is looking like the Girafarig form they were cursed to lets out a yawn and a stretch as they come out of room 2. They notice the Fennekin looking a little nervous and decide to try and get their attention. "Uh... hey."

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Sep 12th 2019 at 10:07:56 AM

(I don't entirely recognize this person, but they're trying to get my attention, so it'd be rude not to respond.)

Oh... is there something you need? I'm not really useful for much, though...

(Even though I'm trying not to make it sound painfully obvious how outclassed I am by everyone else here, I can't help but let it slip out like that.)

Judy's (Front)

Mornin', matey. (Rich greets Grigori.)

(Liesl and Cortez come in right behind Grigori, followed by Mother.)

Good morning, everyone.

Hello, Mother.

Are we ready to go waste this Gorebyss yet? (Cortez asks. He looks more anxious to get going than he seemed last night.)

(Before anyone can answer him, though, the doors behind the front desk open and Judy, Bo, and two Hitmonlees I don't recognize come out, arms full of plates of pancakes, waffles, and omelets.)

Morning, guys! (Judy says.) Whew, hope this is gonna be enough to tide everyone over for the journey!

Room 10

(Marsha makes sure Marlon gets safely up to his feet.)

Let’s see if everybody’s ready, eh?

Edited by kablammin45 on Sep 13th 2019 at 6:38:57 AM

"Oh, uh, I don't need anything, just saw you looked nervous and uh... don't think I've... seen you before, actually."

"Whew, I'll sure hope so, ma'am!" Daniels replies, his eyes clearly smiling looking at the food.

(I take notice of the breakfast being brought in, but opt to wait until things have been laid out before trying to get anything. Or... maybe I should have someone else get things for me? I don't know what the rules here are or what I can even have...)

It's just... crowds. I don't handle them well. At all. Also, no, you haven't, I only came in here last night.

Room 11

Rex wakes up and opens his eyes, having slept fairly well; the hotel room is much more comfortable than sleeping outside on the ground.

Next to him, Bailey is still asleep. Not wanting to disturb his friend, Rex decides to quietly head down to the lobby by himself to check up on the others. He hopes Bailey will not worry too much if he wakes up in the meantime and sees him missing.

Room 10 to front

Yeah, let's do it.

I say, briefly pausing to reach for the door handle, opening it in one quick turn. I stop to let Marsha go through first, then once she does I hobble into the hallway and turn to head down to the front area where indeed, there are others already beginning to congregate around, ready for the day ahead. I also catch what appears to be a glimpse of...breakfast? Nice..

Looks like they've got breakfast for us. Least that's covered...

Front

Addie welcomes the freshly-awoken faces into the inn before Judy comes out with the food in hand.

Aye...g'mornin. We got that breakfast here for the lot of yeh now. Come now, eat up! We all gotta long day ahead. Gettin' to that island ain't gon' be easy a'can tell ya that.

Ophelius gives Daniels a look of approval and allows his subordinate to go ahead and get his food while Ophelius heads over to Judy, his sister.

Judes...Roy's son is here. What am I gonna do? He still thinks that the Gorebyss got his dad after all this time.

Whispering Pines, Judy's

Daniels nods at his boss, then goes to dig in.

Dieter meanwhile responds to Igni. "Oh, heh, that's fair... I get that. And, huh, last night? Guess I didn't see you when we got here then and stuff..."

To be fair, I didn't approach you either, so, uh... Anyway, since I don't actually understand what I'm allowed to take, I think I'll just, uh... w-wait for someone to tell me. Yeah...

(I really don't want to accidentally overstep my boundaries here, and I'm already uneasy from the crowd.)

Inn

(The other Dragalge spoke up with noticeably less energy than his compatriot, but no less confident.) All we got to do is just find a Gorebyss, put her down, and that'll be the end of it.

(As he followed the other Dragalge, I kept an eye on them. Awfully eager to accept a job, especially one with hundreds of innocents on the line. Especially with that little. Then again, the reason we had so much when we fought L'Arachel was because of her having so much specialists. Now, we're not entirely sure what else the fish has besides a magic serum and a bunch of puppets. I went to get something to eat for today without saying another word.)

Judy's (Front)

Oh, good, I'm starvin'. C'mon fellas, let's eat! (Marsha says.) Don't have much time ta waste!

No we don't... (I say to Marsha, shaking my head as I go to get something to eat myself.)

(The Benjifam soon joins everyone and gravitate over toward the breakfast area themselves, as do the cursed mons. Georgina, Patch, and a few other survivors who are up already are already seated in the breakfast area.)

Mornin', gang! (Benji cheerfully greets everybody.) Anythin' important we miss?

(Judy catches her brother speaking to her as she moves to put the plates she's carrying down.) Wait, that's him? Wow, this is gonna be awkward...you gonna try telling him what happened yet?

The Front

I make my way up to the front where things are indeed beginning to grow quite busy as everyone begins to shuffle about in preperation for what we have to do today. The food is laid out, about the most basic foods you could really ask for when obviously you find yourself in the world of Pokemon, where everyone (yourself included) is some form of animal. I've grown used to it, but fuck, I miss the feeling of being able to just go to town on a burger, especially ones where I can just slap on some bacon...mmm. But I know I'll never get that back. As I close in I address everyone else.

Well, I can't say what'll happen today buy at least we have semi-viable backup...I hope.

As I go to grab myself some pancakes, seeing Benji's presence allows me to formulate an idea. I quickly make my way over to him.

Yo, Benji...I got an idea. You wanna be my doppelganger again? I'll need someone who can cover me if we get into something and another me would probably help the most. You think that the doppelganger form can use any of my moves?

Ophelius motions his second lackey to go ahead and grab himself some breakfast as well before looking back toward his sister.

I can't. Not yet. Clay and I agreed last night that we can't tell him until we have a heart to heart with him, in private. We took him under our wing after Roy died and we can't risk him cutting us off at such a moment like this, not when thousands of innocent lives might be at stake...

Ophelius looks down the hall. Stellan still has yet to come out, but will shortly...

Addie carefully approaches Igni with a plate of pancakes, speaking in a calm, almost motherly demeanor, confused as to the mon's demeanor of...being scared and hiding out from others? And also Dieter, being nearby as it is.

C'mon now, don't be shy. I'm sure you have pancakes before, haven't yeh? And what about you, what'd yeh like?

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 13th 2019 at 7:26:10 AM

The Inn

I spied the one they called Marlon walking out on crutches. Seeing him in his current state didn't really stop me from going right over to him and getting in his face.

"What is going on? Why am I an anchor? What are you? What is everybody else? I was told you used to be human to."

The Front

Hold that thought for a sec, Benji?

Who is this Dhelmise? Why did they suddenly get in my face? They came right out and said that they were human, but why in front of such a crowd? Whoever they are, certainly didn't expect them to just come right up in my face about it.

...Yeah, I am, but was really getting my face necessary? We'll talk on the way there, alright? Not when we're trying to get ready for that. Lesson #1: don't go willy nilly with your status. Lesson #2, don't interrupt someone else's conversation. We clear? Otherwise, welcome to the club.

I look back to Benji.

You down?

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 13th 2019 at 7:38:16 AM

Pancakes... Uh, I mean, yes, I have had them before. I just... wasn't sure if any of it was for me or not. I don't want to overstay my welcome, after all.

(Even here, in a confusing world like this, there's kindness to be found. It's honestly a bit... touching. It reminds me of home.)

...Home...

(I'm then reminded of how wonderful a feeling of being home is, and it almost makes me cry a bit.)

"Heh, it's fine, I get that. I think we can-" Dieter begins before Addie cuts in. "Oh, pancakes would be good. That or waffles..."

Daniels loads up on pancakes and sticks by his companion, either not noticing or not seeming to remark on the caution Grigori seemed to display.

The Inn, Lobby

I pause. The one called Marlon gave me a dressing down. I was unaware I had to keep my status secret. I realise that maybe coming up to this clearly injured owl thing was maybe a mistake, especially if everyone looked up to this guy as a leader.

"I'm sorry. You must have a lot on your plate. But I'd like to be able to sit down and talk soon."

Judy's (Front)

Well, to be honest, I was thinkin' I'd be Marj the whole time since water wouldn't affect me that much as a Noivern, just sayin'. (Benji remarks once Marlon and Wreck have finished talking.) Push comes tuh shove, though, I could probably still be your double, yeah.

(Judy looks down the hall as well.) Not sure when else you're gonna talk to him about it... (Judy says. After a moment, she sighs sadly. The topic of Phoebe, just in general, seems to bother her.)

Think I'm gonna dash to my office real quick. I'll be right back. (Judy says, lumbering down the hall.)

(Sitting down with my food, I don't feel like I really know what to talk about. I've got too much on my mind about this whole thing...worrying about what will end up happening once we get out there, once we find Goobert...)

(I find myself only taking small bites of my food because of this. I really should eat more, but I just don't have an appetite at all...)

The Front

Alright. Sounds like a plan to me, then.

I say, resuming my grabbing of the plate of pancakes I eyed up just a moment ago. As soon as I manage to grab them in a free hand I hobble over to a nearby table (leading Marsha there and inviting her to sit with me), where I look back toward Wreck, I'd assume his name to be that, at least.

I do, yeah. That's my best friend who got captured, among many innocent mons who were in the wrong place, at the wrong time, I might never walk normally again, it's just a smorgasbord of things that can, and have, go wrong. I just wanna get on the trail to that island so we can start on saving him.

My voice grows rather ragged toward the end, honestly from a mixed feeling of emotion from anger to exhaustion. These past five days have not been quite kind to me, I can say that simply.

Addie trots over to bring Dieter their waffles when she can't help but particularly note Igni's sudden change of stance yet again.

Are yeh alright? Am I bringin' up anythin'? A'can hear whatever it is if yeh need someone t'listen.

Ophelius has to bite his tongue as he watches Judy dart off to her office, then watching the hall again to see if Stellan would come out and start the inevitable reunion between himself, Clay, and the Alolan Golem. Five years ago when Roy died, Stellan needed father figures in his life at his most vulnerable, just beginning his first steps out into the world. Clay and Ophelius, while juggling their own lives of being both military and family men (both having to care for their sisters while other family members couldn't), agreed to take on this task. Yet they did so while having to hide the real truth from Stellan, which felt worse than any lie they could've told either Bonnie or Judy. And that would be because Roy became their brother through their service days. So many times they wanted to tell the truth, but couldn't. They made a promise to Roy after he died, that Stellan will one day have to know the truth. Is that day almost here? While a much bigger calamity than anything the three ever faced is knocking on the door? Neither Ophelius nor Clay have seen the Alolan Golem since the day he announced he'd be setting off to begin life as a treasure hunter, two years ago.

Fuck. He's coming out of the room now. That's Roy's kid.

Ophelius points out to his men. Stellan lumbers into the hallway, still groggy, and cranes his body so that he gets a full view of them. Can't be, he thinks to himself. Two years of having not seen them, and there they both are at once. Stellan walks into the front area, where he first spots Clayton.

Clay...? Is that really you?

Stell? Stell! It's uh...I can't believe you're here right now! You've grown all sturdy since we've last seen you!

I'd say the same about you. Are we gonna get to this or what? Phoebe has gone on for too long and I'm gonna knock some sense into her, and then I get my father back.

Clay feels a slight twinge of sweat run down his body. The kid really still believes this, the first words Stellan spoke to either him or Ophelius in two years, and still, he believes that Phoebe captured Roy. This makes things a whole lot harder.

Edited by Team42Larson on Sep 13th 2019 at 9:13:37 AM

Oh, it's nothing... it's just that I feel like this is a nice place to be, that's all. It's the exact type of feeling I've been needing since I first got here, to be honest. So, uh... t-thank you.

(Given the amount of neutral and even negative emotions I've been having, I'm definitely not embellishing how important it is. With that said, I quietly start taking bites out of the food brought to me, and with those two things combined, for the first time since I got here, I'm genuinely happy with things, even visibly so.)

Having already begun eating breakfast, Noriaki looked around and felt a sense of gloominess.

"It's strange, isn't it?", he said aside to Hikari, "How much we've always admired the strange and perilous adventures we would read about in books, but now that we're experiencing them for ourselves more and more firsthand..."

"It's much more taxing than we ever considered, yes", Hikari breathed out. "Perhaps it's the lack of true, proper rest. When we were servants of L'Arachel, we would often cycle through who went out doing tasks for her and who handled the simpler tasks. Perhaps we never truly thought about the system behind that..."

Dieter thanks Addie for the waffles then sees Igni happy and commenting about how it feels like home and just smiles as they eat.

I rouse from my slumber, noting that mostly everyone else is awake.

(Not my fault that still sleep like a rock in this 'form' if one could call it that.)

Entering the lobby, I look for the innkeeper for breakfast. (I rarely went without breakfast, even as a human...)

"My word what happened here?" A voice called.

"One that callsss herssself Phoebe ransacked this village." Jorg appears from the shadows.

Judy's (Front)

(Once Daniel looks toward the lounge he'll be able to see that breakfast is already set up.)

I hear yas. (Marsha says to Noriaki and Hikari as she has a seat.) At this point, I just wanna take a long vacation from doin' anythin' like this aftah we take care of this little mess.

(Benji nods at Marlon, then goes ahead and shifts into Noivern form.)

(In the meantime, Lucy notices the newly arrived Fennekin and Dhelmise. She seems especially fascinated by Wreck, having never seen a Dhelmise in her life.) Who are they? (She asks Dinah.)

(Dinah remembers seeing them out of the corner of her eye last night, but never learned about who they were.) I'm not sure, Lucy. Please don't stare, though.

(Lucy nods and goes back to her pancakes.)

(Patch seems to have as little of an appetite as Delilah does currently, simply sadly staring down at his plate of food. The pancakes remind him of the kind his father would make, which only makes him wish he was eating those pancakes with his family instead of these pancakes with a bunch of people he barely knows aside from Georgina. He sniffles a little.)

(The same cannot be said for June, who finishes her plate of food in minutes flat.) Wow, this was good...

(Cortez similarly finishes his plate in a hurry because he wants to go ahead and keep going toward the spring before Phoebe tries to destroy it. He sits there fidgeting as we watches everyone else finish eating.)

The Inn

I eye the pancakes Marlon picked up. Am I hungry? Do I even need to eat? I know I can drink. I don't feel hungry. I decide to forgo the pancakes for now and sit across from Marlon.

"So who is this person you are going after?"