*Bella and I are talking to each other in some back alley in Hoard about the tournament...*
PJ: "I only gave the board a glance, but I know for a fact that I'll be going up against him."
Belladonna: "Well, that's quite a pickle, isn't it? You are quite a formidable fighter, but then, you have no real way of efficiently taking on Fire-types..."
PJ: "Well, chip damage counts as damage, right? So what if it's a war of attrition, longer fights are more fun, aren't they?"
Belladonna: "True, but I still worry that you might-"
*Then Jani pops in uninvited
. I'm pleasantly surprised by her presence, but I can tell that Bella likely isn't.*
Belladonna: "Oh. You again. I must say, you've done a decent job of cleaning yourself up."
PJ: "Oh, hey Digs!"
*Bella turns to me, clearly unamused.*
Belladonna: "What's she doing here?"
PJ: "Maybe it has to do with our talk yesterday? I dunno, ask her."
Belladonna: "Jani, was it? What brings you here today, shouldn't you be preparing for your match?"
PJ: "...Y'know, speaking of matches, we should keep better track of who's going up against who, shouldn't we?"
Belladonna: "That's a topic for later, Paddy."
edited 28th Aug '17 1:00:50 PM by CaliburnAbsoluteEX
Are you ready? Go live![Stumbling out of the room, I make my way over to the buffet area, saying hi to whoever's still sitting inside there. Getting a plate, I just get a single Poffin Puff and sit down, not really feeling all too hungry. I'm not wearing my shawl...really, I shouldn't be bothered by it, but for some reason, I feel kinda naked without it...]
[I have to wonder about yesterday. I had my talk with Bella...then I ran into Ferra again...I seize up a little: that was too awkward, she seemed...really hurt by seeing me as a Smeargle. And I...I honestly don't know why. Was it because of the bracelet, maybe, it would've given her a level of trust in me, but...]
[I dunno, maybe I shouldn't be so hurt about it. I'm probably not gonna see her again, so it's kind of a lost cause trying to worry about it. I take a bite out of the puff, staring at the wall opposite to me...]
*Yalta walks up behind Eliot, having just returned to the inn after a walk around town.*
Yalta: "Hey. You were one of the firsts, weren't you?"
Are you ready? Go live!"JESUS—"
[...my puff's on the floor. You sick...bastard...]
"...hey, yea, yer the guy we met that first day..." [I have to think for a moment before remembering I'm a Smeargle again—maybe spending a day and a half as a Salazzle, one who had to constantly reidentify himself to other people because of that, wasn't the best idea—and I continue,] "You...you're here for the tournament, aren't you..."
I've been sitting in my waiting area, getting bored, and standing up to look for something to do. I notice the board with all today's matches. I don't pay attention to the others, I'm just looking for my name. I manage to find it, along with my opponents name. ("Mystic Whirlwind?") I sigh. (I wish I knew who everyone was…)
If I don't clash, I don't change. The world ends at my borders, and the best moments slip away.Yalta: "Among other reasons."
*Yalta looks down at Eliot's dropped Puff.*
Yalta: "Sorry about your breakfast. I can get you another before we speak, if you wish."
Are you ready? Go live!Yalta: "Making sure you and the other ex-humans are doing well, finding leads on Viral Aggression and what spreads it, a little shopping... And you?"
Are you ready? Go live!
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
SOME ALLEYWAY (Two hours before the tournament)
*Jani has a bit of a Stepford smile on her face as she tanks Bella's barbs, looking right at her* Bella! It's nice to finally have a chance to make amends. To be honest, that was a better reception than I was expecting...or deserved after our last encounter.
This is indeed about our talk earlier. I don't know how much PJ told you, but while we were chatting, I realized that I was going about this all wrong. Something PJ said in particular struck a chord with me. *anticipating what PJ might say, she preempts with* No, not that...something else...
...that at first he felt "different" shortly after fighting Dras-Il...
*Jani thinks on it for a moment, realizing she might have dropped some semi-privileged information, and backtracks slightly* ...actually, I might have heard it from one of the others, but having had time to think on it rationally, this condition isn't going anywhere anytime soon. So I figured, I was a fool to harass someone who's in the same boat as me, when I could just Take a Third Option, and...
*Jani promptly digs underground for what seems like an eternity, long enough for Bella and PJ to talk among themselves, but eventually a tightly sealed sack emerges from underground in an upright position*
...go after the underlying issue instead? *she grins and just stays there, having no real way to open the sack, nor wanting to rob the duo of the experience*
ARENA (Present)
*Birch leads in with* Welcome to Round 3 of the Hardcheese Amateur Tournament - Singles Division! Remember folks, Round 4 will be tonight at 5pm sharp, but your day tickets are good for both bouts. Retconning the whole "no reentry" day ticket, and this is why
*while Elm introduces the first contestant* Our first contender is a Gallade who swept through his first two opponents with relative ease. Will his opponent this time take him out of his comfort zone? Give a warm Hoard welcome to: Magic Marlon!
edited 28th Aug '17 2:01:24 PM by sarysa
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus."Just...fucking about, really..."
[My gaze falls away, becoming vacant, unfocused.] "...I gotta be honest, the town's wearin' thin on me. Watching the tournament was fun, but I don't think I'll be able to go back, not with my funds. Not to mention the...well, the shit I got caught up with a couple days ago, but...eh, you don't really need to hear about it."
[I slouch a little in my seat, my voice growing weary, tired.] "Really, I should've stood by my first decision about the tournament. We shouldn't have done it, it's just been...a needless distraction, and meanwhile, there's a goddamn revolt effort the guild's apparently a part of, and then there's Bella with her fucking with PJ and just the general shitstorm surrounding her, and fucking Marlon thinking he's gonna be all high and mighty with trying to kill her, and the VA could be spreading through the tournament, and I kidnapped my best friend with a cloth I stole because I'm a goddamn idiot, and—" [I start gasping for air, my eyes water a little, my fists ball...]
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
*Elm mentions* Quite the crowd pleaser, eh Birch? *while Birch replies* That he is, Elm. His challenger is a Tangrowth who really put a stranglehold on his prior opponents. Give it up for: THE TANGLED UP TERROR!!
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.(The Tangrowth walks out onto the field, waving with his long vine-y arms. There is audible booing from the crowd.)
(Vince looks at his opponent. Upon seeing that it's Marlon, he bursts out laughing.)
Bwar-har-har! I'm fighting the pretty boy after all? Har-har! Hope ya don't get too dirrrrty! Arceus knows how many showers ya take a day to wipe off the slightest fleck of dirt! Beeeeelch! (Vince seems to have had something to drink before getting onto the arena.) Awwwright, pretty boy, let's dance!
edited 28th Aug '17 2:23:41 PM by kablammin45
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."
Purrloin Jani by shrubBird
Looks like we have some real polar opposites going on here. It's clear who the audience favorites are!
That it is, Elm. *to which Birch segues into his standard opener* The stage is clear, the fighters are pumped! Get ready, get set...IT'S TIME FOR A POKÉÉÉÉÉÉ-BAAAAAAATTLEEEEEEEEE!!!
Current WHABP alts: Jani (Sarah) the Purrloin, Hudson the Togetic. Tilly/Lilly (Digletts) are being Put on a Bus.(Vince is knocked down onto his back. He immediately pulls himself back up to his feet with some of his vines.)
(hic) Oh, you're comin' in strong, eh? (Vince grunts, staggering a bit.) Well, whaddya think of this?
(Vince throws out several vines with intent to use Power Whip on Marlon.)
"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."

"Good."