ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

I didn't bother coming up with a different name for it. "Piano Man by Billy Joel."

edited 6th Aug '17 11:20:15 PM by shrubBird

"Yeah, sing it, then man." The Farfetch'd leaves the stage.

I take a deep breath. (Just imagine she's here.) I envision a girl at the piano. (Help me out here, sis.) I put the harmonica to my mouth and play a brief tune.
It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in
There's an old man sitting next to me
Making love to his tonic and gin\\ Another tune.
He says, "Son can you play me a memory
I'm not really sure how it goes
But it's sad and it's sweet
And I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man's clothes."
La la la… li li la… la la li li la la la…\\ I play short sequence.

"That's the tricky thing, though!" Finley exclaims. "If I say 'do you like me,' she'll panic either way! If she does, she'll think a gig is up, but if she doesn't, she'll think I'm vain or something. It's a lose-lose!" Just admit you don't know what's going on. "... Okay, what I'm trying to do is ask you what I do."

"I-I'm shurre she'll be fine," Sushi slurs as Nyquil walks onto the stage. "Woooooo!" She cheers for him eagerly.

I'll get Finley, I'll be back, tho...

Andy looks out of the club, spearing the coversation. He drunkenly informs Hey, f-Fin... Mila's sad... or throwing up. I'd comfert her, but sheese in the ladie's room... He staggers back in.

edited 6th Aug '17 11:28:26 PM by TacoBadger

She's not going to throw up, but Mila nevertheless takes up that position, her head hanging over the lip of the toilet and her tail swishing under the locked stall door.

What have I done? It was my actions and thoughts that got me into this mess. If I had said something sooner, or even just ignored that damn voice in my head, we wouldn't be here. And why did I have to panic then, in front of everyone? I don't even know for sure if that's what Eliot and Finley were discussing, but what else could it be? I have to be up front with her, there's no other way. No other way that doesn't end terribly, that is.

*meanwhile, in a different bar three buildings down from the inn third one we've realized, isn't it? with a far dingier atmosphere, Jani has given into her hunger and she pops up inside the establishment...not missing her mark this time, mainly due to it being a familiar location*

*the proprietor, a Garchomp, is somewhat hesitant when Jani emerges* You again... *he states, and continues while pointing to a crack running down the floor and up one of the walls* ...you do realize, you still need to pay for the damages from last night, right?

*to which Jani replies* ...I know. I'm pretty sure my next residual should cover it. It should have arrived by now, but... *to which the Garchomp replies* Ah, talkin' 'bout the mail delay, eh? Yeah, the Carrier Pidgeys are gettin' held up by those mercenaries. But back on topic, yer lucky that only the only the wall and floor coverings were damaged. Should be a cheap fix...but watch yerself this time.

*the Garchomp wonders to himself* (How did a lass like her get so screwed up, anyhow?) *before asking out loud* Well miss, what'll it be. *going for cheap, Jani replies* Some Kalos fries, and whatever drink can kill as many brain cells as possible...

*not sure what Jani means with that remark, the Garchomp assumes* Strongest drink in your price range, eh? Cheri vodka it is.

Ok, now I really go to sleep.

edited 6th Aug '17 11:36:23 PM by sarysa

Finley looks at Andy, notably panicked. "Shit, what? Uhm... okay, Eliot, answer is gonna have to wait, I have to talk to her now." Without another word, she zips inside the bar and works her way to the bathroom.

"Okay... just prepare yourself here..." She takes a few deep breaths, looks at the mirror next to the bathroom to check if she's okay. She looks fine, no look of tension or fear or anything... alright.

She opens the door and looks around the bathroom.

"Mila? Are you alright? Andy said you're sick. Do you need help?"

[I watch as Finley leaves for Mila.]

[I smile. I'm sure it'll work out alright.]

[I enter back into the bar, taking a deep breath. Smells like alcohol and...yea, alcohol.]

edited 6th Aug '17 11:39:52 PM by BlackMageAnolis

Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright
I play some more and pause for a bit.
Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
He gets me my drinks for free
And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
But there's someplace that he'd rather be
He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me."
As a smile ran away from his face
"Well, I'm sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place."
La la la… li li la… la la li li la la la…
Now Paul is a real estate novelist
Who never had time for a wife
And he's talking with Davy, who's still in the Navy
And probably will be for life
Playing some more, I realize how difficult this is for me.
And the waitress is practicing politics
As the businessmen slowly get stoned
Yes they're sharing a drink they call "Loneliness"
But it's better than drinking alone
I keep playing.
Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright
Putting my mouth to the harmonica, all I can think of is how out of breath I am.
It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been coming to see
To forget about life for a while
(Come on, last stretch!)
And the piano it sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you doing here?"
La la la… li li la… la la li li la la la…
Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright
I play one final sequence, holding the last note for a bit before finally stopping.

Sushi wipes a single tear from her eye as Niles finishes his song. "That was beautiful...."

The Farfetch'd reluctantly claps. "Not half bad, buddy." He hands Nyquil the tips and takes the harmonica. "Alright, third to last singer tonight. One Nathaniel!"

edited 6th Aug '17 11:50:22 PM by TacoBadger

Mila hears the door open, and her heart stops for a beat. Then she hears the voice, and it stops for a few more. Eventually, once she finds that she can breathe again, she slowly stands up, unlocks the stall door, and goes face to face with Finley.

"I-I-I— I can't..."

Mila looks down to the ground, and tries to slow her breath once she notices that she's hyperventilating. A few moments later, she tries again.

"I'm... so sorry. I was trying to hide... how I... how I— what I felt... about... a—about y—y—-you. I don't know... what you think about— about me. About how... I've been... acting. But— but I don't want to lose you. I should... I should have said what I really felt— what I really wanted to say... back then. And now I— I've gone and messed it up."

Not really bothering to wait for a crowd response, I step off the stage, slowly walk towards an open seat, and crash into it. (I feel… lightheaded…)

Andy grins at Nyquil. Good job, Nyquil.

[Having sat down, I...]

[God, that was...it was just...incredible. I stare transfixed for a moment...the harmonica still haunts me. I cover my mouth, my vision starts to blur...]

[Shit, here I am bawling like some mother-in-law at a funeral. I slump down at my table, an odd mixture of sobbing and laughter escaping me.]

[I would have never thought I heard that song again...not any song. I thought they were gone. But they're here. It was here.]

[I need to thank the kid, Niles. That was...it was amazing... Thank you.]

"Uh huh…" was all I managed to get out. I was panting very heavily, wheezing almost. I could barely breathe.

edited 6th Aug '17 11:51:04 PM by shrubBird

"Yeah, you did great, Nyquil!" Sushi exclaims.

As he's announced, a cloaked figure with a guitar strung onto his back steps up to the stage.

"Hey," Sushi wonders aloud. "Why does that guitar look familiar....."

The figure removes his hood, revealing himself to be a Brionne in an eyepatch. One of his bobbly thingamabobs on his head appears to be damaged.

The Brionne gracefully accepts the mic from the Farfetch'd and sets up on stage with his guitar, then begins to play a rendition of Simple and Clean by Utada.

Sushi suddenly goes quite pale.

Ohhhhhh shit, we have a breakdown. Something feels off this time, though. Last time, she could spout out advice she heard fine, but this one feels so much different. She's the problem this time.

"Uhm..." Finley pats Mila on the head. "Hey, it's okay. Nothing's wrong... it's alright to be worried about all of that. There's tons of reasons to be. You don't have to be ashamed, but you didn't have to worry about hiding it. I understand completely why you did what you did." Finley kneels down to make better eye contact with the girl.

"Look, is there anything I can do for you? Do you just want to talk about this?"

Andy looks at Sushi. What's wrong, Sushi?

I listen to the song being played and the sides of my mouth twitch upwards a bit.

"I, uhm... I can't remember but, I think I've seen this guy before. I think he's like, bad news?"

Nathaniel starts heading into the first chorus, singing his heart out for the audience.

Mila tries to focus on what Finley is saying, but she can only pick out words at a time. "it's alright to be worried about all of that." "You didn't have to worry about hiding it." "I understand completely." "Do you just want to talk about this?" She freezes for a moment, before responding.

"That'd be... good. Maybe... if I could have a moment to rest? Or do this somewhere... somewhere not here."

[I rub my eyes, grab a napkin, blow my nose...someone else is playing. I look up: the song's familiar. Funny...from one of the lyrics, I think I heard it from some video about sad moments.]

[I see the others ahead... I decide to move towards them, taking my napkin—and another—with me and finally sitting beside Niles.]

"Y'did good, kid," [I say, patting him on the head and ruffling up his fur a little.]