[I can feel something go off in me.] "Okay, we are not doing any tournaments, any side things, maybe we can buy some stuff if we really feel like it, but no. Tournaments." [I whip around, pointing at PJ.] "And that goes for you, too, mister—"
[I mull this over for a bit: shoot, maybe I shouldn't have singled him out. Since he is infected with that Hate Plague, and considering what happened last time we all turned on him, I...I wouldn't want him to storm out on us again. I calmly approach PJ, adopting a calmer demeanor.] "Um, don't you, umm...don't ya think that this...this Plague of yours would probably be, I dunno, spurred on by all that...fighting, all that aggression in there? I dunno, maybe y'could j'st...lay low in Hoard, cut some slack?"
edited 31st Jul '17 7:16:00 PM by BlackMageAnolis
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
*Voxno-V opts to keep mental notes of this to write down later, as it presses further* Could you tell me more about these behavioral shifts? and let me assure you that I have no intention of incarcerating your co-worker.
How did she behave before, and after her..."changes"? Did she meet up with anyone unusual around when you noticed the shifts?
edited 31st Jul '17 7:19:58 PM by sarysa
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.Well...Bella was pretty cheerful. I don't think I ever saw her without a smile...but I guess that's not the main point, huh? I do remember seeing her with another Ribombee a couple of times within the past week. It was after the first time she met him that she started acting funny, if I'm remembering correctly. (says Rilla.)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."*Belladonna lands atop Eliot's head and has a seat without so much as asking him. I'm a little bothered by this (partially because that's my seat), but I let it slide since I'm on good terms with her.*
Belladonna: "Well you see, Hoard has been known to hold tournaments every so often for discounts, monetary prizes, and other such benefits. I'm personally more interested in the competitive aspect to it. I've been honing my skills for the longest time, this is a prime chance to put them to the test! Registrations are still ongoing, so I should be able to get me and Paddy signed up for it!"
PJ: "Uh, Bella, I never agreed to this."
Belladonna: "Oh! Oh, no you didn't! I'm terribly sorry, I just assumed that this would interest you, so I figured we could both enter the competition."
PJ: "I mean, I guess I wouldn't mind entering..."
(It'd give me the perfect opportunity to go all-out, after all.)
Belladonna: "Ah! So should I sign you up alongside me?"
PJ: "I'm not signing on just yet, though. Eliot's right, I've still got my VA to worry about. Just let me think about it, alright?"
Belladonna: "Okay, if you say so."
edited 31st Jul '17 7:29:02 PM by CaliburnAbsoluteEX
Are you ready? Go live!
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
*the top of Voxno-V's eye actually stretches upward a little as if it were expressing surprise, fascination, or both, breaking the normally stable demeanor of said form* Fascinating. *regaining its neutral composure, Voxno realizes there isn't much left to follow here*
Thank you for your time, and I apologize for any inconvenience. *Voxno bows, and waits for the Rilla's response*
*after which, Voxno exits the restaurant, opens its notebook, and furiously writes up a storm...while leaving a certain suspicion out for now, as it double-times to catch up to the party*
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.[I chuckle bitterly when this Bella chick perches atop my head, a little perturbed by it. It's as by that action, a natural law of the universe had been broken. After she and PJ finishes chatting, I gently grab her off my head and bring her in front of me, opening up my hand in case she wants to sit in it or fly off or something.]
"And hey, assuming PJ's not gonna wanna do this—" [A very good assumption.] "—maybe, if this tournament is a tag-team thing like I...well, I'm just kinda guessing it is, but maybe we could...find someone else to enter in alongside you in Hoard?" [I eye the others.] "Certainly not anyone from our entourage... Just give it some thought, Miss Bella?"
"Tournaments are just a bad, bad idea. You get beat up, no matter what you do. That's just a lose-lose."
Please come onto Discord, Taco. There's something we need to discuss.
Long live the New Bev.[I stare at the others, stupefied, mouth agape as I'm unable to speak outside of a string of confused "uhh"s. Damn it, oh, damn it. Maybe this was my fault, maybe I shouldn't have made such a big deal about it. I sigh in frustration: they really shouldn't get involved in this tournament.]
"Look, maybe...maybe we could come back and do this...later? From what I've read—" [I wince a little as I say that. I told myself not to put too much trust in that book.] "—Hoard doesn't seem like the place we'll be able to stay in for...very long. And if we play our cards right and find Jani quickly, we won't have to."
"Yeah, I agree with Eliot and Finley. As cool as this might sound to some of you, can I please remind you of the fact that we're going here to find our friend and check to see if the town is infected? This isn't the time for sidequests; maybe once we're done with our other business we can think about it."
Mila sighs, and adds an edge of desperation to her final point.
"And, please, don't split us up. I don't know that we can handle it with some of us dealing with their own issues already."
Mila's eyes quickly dart towards PJ, then focus on Finley.
I need to update these things more often*Belladonna chuckles at Eliot's request.*
Belladonna: "Of course, you don't have to worry about me and Paddy teaming up! I wasn't planning on that anyways if this ends up being a tag team tournament."
PJ: "That makes sense. Since we're both the same Pokemon, and we both have similar fighting styles, it'd be hard to take down a pair that has a decent counter to our skills."
Belladonna: "Exactly! Plus, being on separate teams means we could wind up facing each other! And I would love to see what you're capable of firsthand, Paddy!"
PJ: "Alright then, I suppose I could oblige you when we get to Hoard, even if I'm not in the tournament..."
(Though actually, now that she's talking about it and everyone else is interested, I guess I wouldn't mind signing up for the tournament...)
Are you ready? Go live!"Yeah..."
Cyk decides not to let Sushi out of her sight.
Just made a server on discord.Come join me.Exshiv gave Jack a tour of the city, explaining the history of the place as he did so, such as that Exshiv was the founder of the city and that he was a renowned fighter before his retirement to this place.
Exshiv stops in front of the training area and turns towards Jack
Exshiv: So, where were you heading before you decided to drop in on the hidden city of Crystal Cavern?
Jack: Well, my group was heading towards Hoard before I decided to split off to see if the rumors about this place were true.
Exshiv: Hoard eh? Are you aware that there's an upcoming fighting tournament in Hoard?
Jack: No actually, this is the first time I've heard of it. Wouldn't mind joining it, to be honest.
Exshiv: Well off that's the case...
Exshiv looks down in thought for a moment, then looks back up at Jack
Exshiv: Say, what was your name again?
Jack: Jack.
Exshiv: Well Jack, do you happen to know the move Metal Claw?
Jack unsheathes his Metal Claws
Jack: Yes, but I just recently learned it.
Exshiv: Well then, would you like to master it before you go?
Jack: Most certainly!
Exshiv floats into the training area, which is a square area in the center of the city that's composed of the same glittering stone as the buildings. The training area is surrounded by giant glowing crystals of various colors. Jack enters the training area and Exshiv turns towards Jack.
Exshiv: I may not know the move Metal Claw itself but I am familiar with its overall movement. I may be an ex-fighter but I'm more than willing to help out new fighters. Your sparring partner for the day shall be me!
The League of Heroes[I grimace at Bella. I'm not one to pin these sorts of things down on a single person, but I get the feeling she may be spurring this on perhaps a little too much. Maybe it's cuz I was a flaky ass dude who didn't really entertain the thought of violence as something to get enjoyment out of all that often, but it's a little weird seeing how excited she's getting for this.]
[I think back to what Morbitesse talked about the night before we left Orichalcum, how some level of aggression and fight-over-flight is just ingrained into a Pokémon. I dunno, maybe it's something I'm missing here, not originally being a Pokémon and all, but it could just be that. Hell, this place isn't really all that advanced: I would expect a tournament or two to take place in this world. This could just be something to look forward to.]
[That doesn't mean I have to accept that, though. I huff and move my way to the front of the group, content with leaving the others be. If they wanna fight, let 'em; I could give a rat's ass as long as my sorry ass isn't dragged into it.]
"The cat? The one who did, uhh... this?" She points to her scar.
And then notices Mila looking at her. "Is something wrong?"
Long live the New Bev."Gah! Why does nobody listen to anyone else? Why are you all stuck in your own bubbles?"
Mila stops in her tracks as she glares at the rest of the party. It's clear there's residual emotions from recent events in her anger, but she's focused on the tournament for now.
"Have you even noticed what Eliot's acting like now? Are you really all so stuck to your own pet ideas that you're willing to forget about Jani? Is this what we've come to? Oh, no, the Viral Agression can wait. I just want to fight people for fun, not because our future depends on it. Seriously. Get some sense in your heads and maybe be responsible for once. The rest of us can't handle all of you."
I need to update these things more often"Shut up, Mila! What's the point of having these new abilities if I can't even put them to use?! Not everyone here is willing to talk and hug it out, you know! And sometimes, we have to fight back, otherwise, we die!" I stop talking. (… I should never have opened my mouth…) I turn around and head to the back of the group again.
If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away.

(Hmm, I wonder what this tournament is even about...)
June 27th