ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

[More walking, alright, nothing I'm not used to. I think I may have seen her before as well...in the hospital lobby, wasn't it, when I was talking with PJ. I mean, it could've been a different...Noivern, was it, but considering Guy and maybe Fin knows her, yea, no doubt it's the same one.]

"So what's this Chairgon guy...hehehee, Chairgon, good lord that's awful, wh, what's he like, what's he do?"

---

The Malamar turns away from Voxno, deep in thought. He had seen a Dugtrio today, a rather argumentative bunch, but not a Diglett.

"Can't say I have."

edited 4th Aug '17 2:34:07 PM by BlackMageAnolis

*Belladonna does her best to stifle her laughter through Jani's delusional rant, and still has an amused smirk on her face as Jani continues past that.*

Belladonna: "Okay, gonna sidestep the whole 'disease' thing, because none of the Diglett I've ever spoken to have mentioned any of what you've said. And believe me, some very good friends of mine were Diglett, too. There is no such 'Eloi' tale in publication, at least as far as I know, so on that front you're wrong again. In terms of all those human technologies you mentioned... Some of the greatest minds in the world still struggle with recreating or refurbishing ancient artifacts, I highly doubt your kin has reached such levels of advancement. And besides, cell phones? Genetic engineering? Star Trek? Those don't even sound like things that exist. I'd appreciate if you would quit trying to bluff me with these empty feats. Now, all that aside..."

*Belladonna folds her arms as she rerails the conversation.*

Belladonna: "So, I'm supposedly a willing carrier of Viral Aggression, is that it? Delivering this pox onto others as I see fit? And Paddy is another of my 'victims'? Alright, say that this is true. Why should I confess to you? True, you seem to be nothing more than some delusional thug who I doubt anyone sensible would listen to, and I question why Paddy would ever dare to associate himself with you, but it still stands to reason that you could get the word out."

*Belladonna shrugs as she finishes her thoughts.*

Belladonna: "Well, not like that matters. You know what? I'll let you come to your own conclusion. Believe me at face value when I say I'm not a carrier, or insist to yourself that you can see through my so-called 'lies'? Up to you, really. If you choose either and you end up being wrong, the consequences could prove dire. Now then, if that's all, I have other business to tend to."

Are you ready? Go live!

(I respond to Eliot.)

I don't know, but common sense says he's probably related to the Lars character we keep running into.

Tell....everyone....

*unable to get a read on the Malamar, perhaps due to the Dark/Psychic typing, Voxno-! didn't pick up the part about the Dugtrio. aside from that, the drab atmosphere triggers a shift to Unown-V form◊, which also changes the voice a bit if the Malamar even cared* Understood. If you happen to come across her, please let her know that her party is looking for her. I have the suspicion that she may need your printing services in the future.

*not particularly put off by being left hanging, Voxno-V simply asks* Shall I simply leave payment on the desk?

Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.

[...who?]

"Lars? Who was that?"

---

"...I'll keep that in mind."

He then approaches the counter, the printing press slowing down but not quite stopping. He glares at Voxno for a moment before replying, "That will be 5000 Poké."

As they walked through the hallway and into the much larger, rectangular room that was the Merchants' Council Assembly Hall; a locale not entirely unlike the British House of Commons in times past; Ripley turned addressed each of the party without adjusting her view in the slightest.

"You may have seen me when I met with your friend Guy at the Silversand Hospital, yes. We dragons are hardly the most inconspicuous of creatures at the best of times, and that goes double for us Noiverns. As a species geared towards loudness, I had to put a lot of care and effort into being quiet and subtle. Though I'll admit, I'm not above a fruit basket on occasion. But, you're not interested in me, so..." she paused, looking up at a large window overlooking the hall, opposite from their current location.

"Since you asked, Mr. Eliot..." she began again, "Chairgon Merqury is the head of the Merchants' Council, and has been since its inception over a century ago, when he established the town itself. Yes, I'm sure you pictured him as the epitome of youth and vigour from the statues, but he is much older than he appears. He witnessed Hoard when it was but a mere collection of huts in a cave, subsisting off mushroom stew. It does much to... engineer humility... as I'm sure you can imagine."

She took the group through another door, unlocked for her by a guard of unimportant species, and up a set of stairs leading to the room overlooking the council hall. "I already know of your group's rather unfortunate run-ins with Lars. I can only apologise on behalf of the Merchants' Council for his actions; the rest of us are a very humble and non-bragging collection, we wouldn't want ourselves associated with up-front brutality. We prefer behind-the-back brutality."

It wasn't long before they ascended the stairs completely, and walked up to yet another large door, this one very ornate and copper-plated, much like the statues back outside. Ripley knocked on it three times. *Clong clong clong*

edited 4th Aug '17 2:52:55 PM by PresidentStalkeyes

"If you think like a child, you will do a child's work."

Guy looked rather nervous all of a sudden. "Um... Merqury is the forgiving type, right? I hope he doesn't bear any ill will for us beating his son up more than once."

edited 4th Aug '17 2:50:21 PM by Weirdguy149

It's been 3000 years…

"Hey, I don't mind Lars at all. He's pretty cool, wouldn't mind getting in another scrap with him. Kinda missed out on the last one anyways..."

edited 4th Aug '17 2:58:35 PM by CaliburnAbsoluteEX

Are you ready? Go live!

(I second Guy's worries.)

Yeah, is he? Although I wasn't really there for the other times that the group fought with Lars.

Tell....everyone....

"Lars? Heh... that guy was a screwball."

“How long has it been? 23 days?”

"Enter..." the voice of Merqury could he heard calling from the other side of the door.

Before going through, Ripley turned to face the others, whispering. "Before we go in, just remember... be calm with him. Be patient. Don't mention Lars... not because you... well, brutalised him. He... they're not on good terms, shall we say. And most importantly, don't call him a king. Fan told you already, I'm sure, but this is important."

With that out the way, she pushed the huge door open, beckoning the party through. Beyond them was the oblong-shaped gold-plated platform upon which Merqury's relatively plain-looking wooden desk sat, at which Merqury himself was slouched, a few bottles of beverage in front of him; some empty, some not. Next to him was his Turtonator bodyguard Turtledove, looking as surly as ever, and behind him, the large window overlooking the massive assembly hall.

"Hmph... about time you showed up. I was starting to worry that all the hoo-hah I put my bureaucratic corps through to grant you special travel privileges was wasted," he said, clearly entertaining the thought of kicking back another one of his bottles, but this time he was able to restrain himself. "As I'm sure you've been told; I am Merqury, Chairgon of Hoard. You have met my son, but I assure you. I am nothing like him. Do not treat me like a child, and we will get along just... peachy. Do I make myself clear?"

"If you think like a child, you will do a child's work."

"Yeah..."

“How long has it been? 23 days?”

(I take in the room that Merq made for himself and then step before him.)

Yes, we hear you loud and clear.

Tell....everyone....

Noriaki bows respectfully and answers, "Crystal clear, Mister Merqury."

Guy simply nodded. "Understood."

It's been 3000 years…

Finley looks again at Ripley. She remembers her being directly in front of her... Ah well.

"Crystal, sir." Finley says as she walks in.

"... now, is there a reason you wanted to see us?"

Long live the New Bev.

Mila follows in and brings up the back of the group. She doesn't say anything as she enters, but she nods silently at Merqury's statement. She can't help but feel like they're about to get mixed up in some political machinations.

I need to update these things more often

*I bow to Merqury.*

"Pleasure to meet you, sir. I promise to treat you with the utmost respect."

Are you ready? Go live!

The Kommo-O slammed his palms down on the desk in front of him, pulling his chair in to lean on the desk, tenting his clawed fingers. "Good. Now... as I understand it, you are, all of you... humans. Somehow... transformed and flung into the future. Now, I have no interest in deducing the hows and whys of this, but all I know is that in the short time any 'human' can be here, they can... what's the saying... shake up a storm. For instance... you've heard of Serris, haven't you? The CEO of SuperiorFarms, Incorporated?"

edited 4th Aug '17 3:23:23 PM by PresidentStalkeyes

"If you think like a child, you will do a child's work."

The Serperior? I haven't met with him personally but I know of him from everyone else's conversations about him.

Tell....everyone....

"I can say, he's not quite like us. He seemed awfully intent on building his own society or whatever... we're just here trying to figure out how to get by. And, maybe... to get back."

Mila speaks up, trying to get her voice to carry from the back of the group. However, she doesn't seem too confident in her words.

I need to update these things more often

PJ: "We have indeed come into contact with him, sir, and we are aware of both his status as an ex-human and his influence throughout the island's economy. Furthermore... You wouldn't mind if we made a request that our status as ex-humans remains confidential, would you?"

Are you ready? Go live!

"Y-yea," [I say, stepping up to bat. Might as well be the bold I was planning to be, as it were.] "—most of us met him back in Orichalcum, though he didn't come in with us. You're definitely right about the "shaking up a storm" bit, we've had..." [I cringe a little.] "—quite a few predicaments in the past week or so alone."

[I look to PJ for a moment, then say in like,] "Yea, that would be lovely."

edited 4th Aug '17 3:25:41 PM by BlackMageAnolis

"That'd probably save us some encounters, yeah.."

off the shits

Merqury suddenly looked a bit more... irritated, as Ripley and Turtledove glanced at each other in anticipation.

"Yes, well... I don't need to tell you how wealthy he's gotten. And all he needed to do was introduce some... convoluted process to somehow make fertiliser from thin air. But what not a lot of Pokemon know is that he's my protege. Hoard was his first stop upon arriving in this world, or so he told me. That money is my money. That... damned BrainStorm Brewery he's 'renting' on the outskirts of town? MY brewery! MINE! And that... damn snake, he cheated me! Filed a patent behind MY back!" he started yelling, thumping his chest in his rage.

Ripley quickly stepped in. "Chairgon, you must calm down! The whole point of this meeting was to ensure that such a... betrayal does not happen again. Isn't that right?"

Merqury slumped in his chair to regain his bearings. "Yes... you're right. ...I can keep this information secret from the mon on the street, but I cannot say the same for Kapitani Khmalidze. I trust I do not need to tell you who she is... whoever she works for, they want your intelligence as well. Your... human wisdom. Your 'fire'. Whatever the hell it's called, I don't give a shit... but I want to know as much as possible. I won't let Hoard get left behind again. Your technology, your science. Computers, industry, calculators, anything! I want to know!"

As he seemed to start getting a little overexerted again, Ripley stepped forward. "We will make sure to reward you handsomely for any technical information you can offer us, of course. Even more so if you have documents."

"If you think like a child, you will do a child's work."