ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

Roland rolls his eyes. Nothing's ever easy...

Richard and Lucille's

Can't be. They were just fine on their funding weeks ago!

Rich, dear, you don't exactly...associate with them directly. They send you out on these missions and then they send you the check days later.

Luce, I know that, I didn't think paying those kids for helping them out was gonna lead them to running out so fast.

The two boys take in the conversation between husband and wife before speaking up once more.

So what do we do? The guys that are out there are already dealing with trying to get those funds back, but we have our own issue to deal with..

Indeed. You boys can stay here for the night if you wish, while Rich and I try to work out how to proceed with this. Our guest rooms are just down the hall here.

The boys look again between one another and nod in agreement.

Oh, why thank you! I'm sure we won't make any mess in the rooms and leave them exactly as they are now.

And so the boys head off to bed, leaving the husband and wife stoll in the kitchen. Rich flaps his wings just enough to land on the table beside his wife as they prepare to continue the conversation.

Silversand

So...I'm guessin' Malcolm's lettin' ya stay at his place, eh? (Marsha asks Madeline.)

(Madeline nods.) Just until Josh and I can have our own place, whatever and wherever that ends up being.

(Marsha is quiet as she thinks of what to say next.) I'm...uh...I'm sorry ya lost yer place at Hoard.

Well...it's...it's just...whatever. It wasn't all that great a place anyway. (Madeline says.) I wish I had seen what was going on sooner so maybe we could have left there with at least some of our things instead of nothing...

Hey, least yas were able ta find a new job heres...even if it was mine, heh heh. (Marsha says.) How did ya end up with the job anyway? It sure seems like ya got it awfully quick.

Well, I guess I had some help. One of those folks with the Guild here, some Conkeldurr named Giada, took pity on us when she saw Josh and I living in the unfinished houses they were trying to build. (Madeline explains.) I suppose she couldn't bear seeing a young mother with an almost two-year-old child homeless. I tried telling her that we would be fine, but she wouldn't hear it. So I gave in and went with her to find a job.

Was bein' a lifeguard yer first choice? (Marsha asks.)

No, honestly, I wanted to be a dojo instructor again, but the dojo here wasn't hiring. (Madeline says.) I didn't consider becoming a lifeguard until I told Giada about how I was also a swimming instructor for young Water-types at the Hoard dojo, and she suggested that we go look into me becoming a lifeguard since two positions were open. I applied, and they decided that my experience as an instructor at Hoard's dojo was enough experience to get me the job as a lifeguard, so they hired me along with that Floatzel with the really fake-sounding surfer accent.

Gotchas... (Marsha says.) Good thing ya had someone nice enough ta help yas and the lil guy here aftah what happened in Hoard, eh? Two someones if we include Malcolm. And now ya have a fun job here on the best beach on Denalsi!

I guess it's sorta fun... (Madeline says, stirring around the ice in her drink cup.) Aside from certain things...

Whaddya mean?

Well...for one thing...I dunno, the kids seem...a bit rowdier here than in Hoard. (Madeline says.) You saw what happened earlier with those kids trying to stand on that Linoone?

Yeahs, there's a reason this beach usually has two lifeguards. (Marsha says.) Do they listen to yas?

Sometimes, other times they just ignore me. One kid even stuck his tongue out at me. They seem to listen to more to Dave if he talks to them, though. (Madeline says.)

I figure that's just 'cause the kids and their families are more used ta him. He, his fiance, and his two kid brothers are on the beach a lot and I know the four of 'em would organize and play games with everybody. (Marsha says.) Meanwhile, you just showed up heres so yas are probably a stranger to 'em.

Thats true, I suppose. So what should I do to get the kids to listen to me and-... (Madeline starts to ask before she looks at little Josh to see that he has fallen asleep in the middle of eating his last few bites of sandwich.)

Oh, he's already asleep... (Madeline says.)

Hey, how about ya go ahead and put him ta bed and I'll meet yas at yer chair in the mornin' ta give yas more advice? Marly's gonna be busy tomorrow mornin' anyway. How's that sound? (Marsha proposes.)

I guess that would work. (Madeline says as she gently picks the sleeping Sobble up.) I'll see you then. Thank you.

No problem! You guys have a good night. (Marsha says.)

(As Madeline carries Josh up to Malcolm's living space above the deli, Marsha finishes her sandwich. " She seems alright." She thinks to herself. " If I can help her get used ta bein' a lifeguard, I think the beach is gonna be in good hands...")

Richard and Lucille's

Rich, you can't seriously be thinking about going back out there, are you? As far as I'm concerned you're not on their payroll given—

That's the thing, Lucy, that's the thing! Even though I'm only Freelance I still feel a connection to them. Those kids need the money, and I feel obligated to help the mons that gave me my big break. And then I still owe Tom for that favor...

The Xatu sighs and looks to her husband again.

Rich, I appreciate how hard working you are. But, I've just missed you so much. It's only been five days since you've come home and there you go again...

Then wait, what if we went together? I can still do my obligations, and we can have that time together. What do you say?

Well...I kind of have my reservations on that, but, if you really want to take me on this vacation...I need a night's sleep to think this over.

That's fine by me, Luce, I don't intend on just leaving first thing. Why don't we just go to sleep and think this through in the morning?

Lucille nods and the couple fly up to their second floor room, and both eventually fall asleep.

The Bedsheets, Lucifuge's Office

[...there's a low, tensed, slow gasp of air leaving my body as if I was all but a corpse letting out one last breath. Why must things not be so simple.]

"...lord, what is it."

The Bedsheets, Lucifuge's Office

Lucifuge:    "Hey now, it shouldn't be anything you all can't handle, right? Especially considering the things you've been getting up to this past month..."   

PJ: "I'm sorry, what's that supposed to mean?"

Lucifuge:    "Oho, don't you worry about that. I've just heard a few whispers through the grapevine, is all."   

Samael: "Or the ghostvine, right?"

*Samael gives an expectant smile to Lucifuge, who is much less amused.*

Lucifuge:    "Sammy, now's not the time."   

Samael: "Right, sorry."

*Samael drifts over to a corner of the room, clearly feeling a bit awkward.*

Lucifuge:    "As I was saying, I've got something in mind that would be right up your collective alley. But first, a little question: have you ever been to the town of Glastone?"   

PJ: "I... don't think I have, no." *I look back at our group.* "Anyone else? I mean, I did sit out on a bunch of stuff these past few weeks..."

(OOC: Now that my college semester's more or less done, maybe I can actually post with some semblance of frequency now!)

Bedsheets

I went there with my mother once when I was very little, but I haven't been there again since then. (Delilah says.) I don't even remember what the place was like by now.

And I haven't been there at all. I've definitely heard the name before, though. (I add.) What's going on there?

"Can't say I've even heard of the place, let alone been there" Royal breathed out.

The Bedsheets, Lucifuge's Office

[Glastone...I think I've seen...] "Hang on..." [I pull out the marked-up map of Denalsi from my bag. After a cursory glance, my gaze happens upon the name.] "It's...it's over near Hoard, huh." [And 'it shouldn't be anything [we] all can't handle' (Lucifuge 43157)...I can't wait for, uhh, kidnapping Dittos, or kidnapping Vespiquens, or...kidnapping Agarthans, was someone kidnapped?]

Lucifuge's Office

Not me. (Near Hoard... near where this "Serris" got his start and right where the whole place fell apart. Doubtful he's still there. It'd be stupid to come back to the scene of the crime.)

Edited by Ore-O on May 6th 2020 at 3:29:26 PM

Roland shakes his head. He's admittedly a bit disappointed. Kinda wished they'd send him somewhere he knew.

Somewhere else on Denalsi

A lone Aggron walks the forests. This is Madera, the very subject of Tom's searching over the last several weeks. He stops against a tree, dazed.

Oh...my head...how do I keep blacking out like this? Where even am I?

The Aggron tries to recollect himself as he looks around the forests of an area he doesn't exactly know.

(Okay, I woke up, then right after I blacked out...just like every day recently...I know what Viral Aggression is...but why am I getting hit so much worse with it? I hope I haven't actually done anything too bad while I end up in that state..)

He keeps wandering on. He doesn't know it yet, but Tom's kids, Richard and his wife, and...yes, even the authorities, are all trying to converge on him. The unfortunate thing is, he doesn't know why. As he inches closer to the road that leads up to Hoard, he begins the process of trying to piece together how exactly he's gotten here.

But soon he will.

The Bedsheets, Lucifuge's Office

"We haven't been there, but... what exactly do you mean when you say it's up our alley? We're not usually the ones trying to find the conflicts we've gotten into— they've done a pretty good job so far of finding us."

Though she'd predicted it earlier, Mila can't help but be a little frustrated when she hears that there's more work that needs to be done before getting to the funds. She only hopes that the task will be relatively quick, or that some of the resources will be made available early so that the guild can get back on its feet and not suffer from an extended period of downtime.

"If you're about to tell us to fight something, you're going to want a different group."

Hearing the Princess's last comment, Roland awkwardly looks off to the side.
Fighting is... sort of his specialty.

Bedsheets

(I notice Delilah start tapping her foot. I see Roland also looking sort of awkward after what Autumn just said, too, giving me the feeling that both he and Del are both feeling awkward for similar reasons.)

Edited by kablammin45 on May 12th 2020 at 11:13:38 AM

The Bedsheets, Lucifuge's Office

Lucifuge:    "Fighting? Hey now, I wasn't saying anything about fighting anyone! I mean, it's possible that could happen, but still, awful rude to put words in someone else's mouth, you know."   

PJ: "Okay, just... who would we be fighting and what do you even want us to do in Glastone?"

Lucifuge:    "I was about to get to that. Now, news of this isn't terribly widespread at the moment, but rumor has it that a certain malady may be brewing in the town."   

PJ: "A certain malady?"

*That's odd. None of us are doctors, what use would we be in... wait. Wait a second...*

PJ: "You don't mean... VA, do you?"

Lucifuge:    "That, I do. A good number of you were in Hoard or Silversand when things went sour there, yes? I'm sure you'd understand just what sort of disaster there'd be if the place truly is on the brink of an outbreak."   

PJ: "Yeah, no kidding..."

*Okay, there goes the confidence I just built back up before marching in here. Maybe I'm too used to taking it easy here, but... I don't wanna have to deal with Viral Aggression again, I'm not ready for another mess like Hoard.*

Lucifuge:    "So, yes, my request is for you to go to Glastone and make sure things are under control there. Is this easier said than done? Perhaps. But I have reason to believe that you all can be trusted with this."   

Lucifuge's Office

(Хорошо^note Great. Exactly what we needed. More VA. On top of the mission I already have. The fact that it's only rumors don't exactly spark confidence. If there are other tasks, he would have likely presented it to us. At least, I hoped. Who knows what he'll pull on us. No doubt some of us aren't exactly raring to stop it given past events. But given the choice between that or poverty, I made my stance clear.) I'll go, but give us some time to sort things out.

Bedsheets

(Hoo boy, I was wondering when we'd get involved in something about the VA again. I can't help but feel a bit uneasy thinking about the things that happened last time we were involved in this (whether we were together or in different places). But if the going gets rough, at least I think I'll actually be able to hold my own this time without getting knocked out almost immediately thanks to the training I've been through.)

(I uneasily look at the others before I give my own two cents.) Well, I guess if it's just going out there to make sure things are okay, that sounds doable. Is that all you want us to do up there?

What if it seems that the Viral Aggression IS there, though? (Delilah chimes in.)

"I'm guessing if there is a case there we're gonna have to knock it outta them?" said Royal. The topic of Viral Aggression and Vectors came up a lot in the rundown he was given earlier of what goes on with this group so he had a decent idea of how this might work.

"I get some of you may be worn from this but I'm more than ready to go. I need to get stronger, anyhow."

Guest Room, Guilford house

It's been a fairly restless sleep for me thus far tonight. Matter of fact, I've just snapped back awake. I know I should be putting the adventuring to the side for now, but this whole situation everyone else has gotten themselves involved in is....worrying, to say the least. For a multitude of reasons.

For one, I'm not there with them. I know what one would probably say anyway, I play the hero way too often. And I know I do, I'm learning to curb this behavior. Yet, what really bothers me is that this financier they're trying to convince to help the guild just comes off as far too mysterious for my liking. Second, even if I was there my right leg is simply still in no shape to really feel safe trying to take the lead role in our group in these fights.

But that's where I'm going to change this. Tomorrow morning if this doctor looks at my leg and finds that it's actually much better than anyone could've suspected, I'm gonna gather myself (and Marsha up, for that matter) and we're gonna get back out there after the others. I still have to observe Doctor Star's Orders and keep myself on a regiment of...well, limiting myself as much as possible, but I will come back and better than ever.

Just hope we aren't too late and too many hands don't get forced before we do.

The Bedsheets, Lucifuge's Office

Lucifuge:    "Worst case scenario, yes, you will probably have to knock some skulls together. In fact, it'd be most beneficial if you could help keep the peace around there before reporting back to me. An outbreak or rampage would definitely not be in anyone's best interests, especially not mine."   

PJ: "Oh, so you have personal stake in this? Is that why you're sending us out there?"

*Lucifuge quietly chuckles to himself before responding.*

Lucifuge:    "I wouldn't say it's personal, but I do have stake in a lot of things. If it makes this any easier on you, then feel free to think of me as a good samaritan who's worried about the folks living there. You'd be doing them a favor as well, making sure everything's under control."   

*Dammit. This guy strikes me as a hell of a slimeball, but he does have a point there. It would be kinda shitty of us to just ignore the whole thing, even if we're getting involved for Lucifuge's sake.*

PJ: "You know what? Fair enough, I guess." *I turn to look back at the rest of the group.* "What do you all say? Is this our next mission or whatever?"

Bedsheets

(I still can't help but be unsure about this, but we can't exactly just walk away from this other town if there's possibly VA in it, especially since we've seen what it can do to towns firsthand.)

I guess I'm game if everybody else is. (I reply to PJ.)

I'll go, too. (Delilah nods. She looks at everyone else to see what they say.)

"Yeah I'm good to go" said Royal, nodding his head a bit. "Needed an excuse to see more of this world anyway."

Lucifuge's Office

I've already said I'm in and I'm not changing my mind. (Ideally, we'll be looking up and down the place for a few hours and there would be no sign of VA. But given that we're pretty much curveball magnets, an ideal situation's not exactly in the cards. Still, better than sitting there and letting the situation boil over.)