ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

inb4 it's several days before this gets continued

*while Jani rests up in triage, a familiar Dugtrio pops up from underground, with the precision one would expect from a pro* Boo! *he jokingly says, which startles her* Aah! ... Har har, very funny.

*with a smug sense of satisfaction, Digda remarks* That trick always got ya, but I'm sure you don't know what I'm talking about... *Jani simply nods, but says with a hint of irritation in her voice* Are you still on that, old man? We've never met before...hell, I haven't even been in this w...err, this neck of the woods before two weeks ago!

*Digda does a close inspection of Jani, who doesn't really move much due to the aches, pain, and fatigue. He remarks as he goes along* Eyes...exactly 1.3cm from the nose, 2.0cm apart... *looking closely behind her, he continues* ...that birthmark on your back, hmm... *then looking down on her head, she continues* ...bandages AND scars. Head wounds are a common problem for our kind, but it...nah...

*Jani is visibly annoyed by now, so Digda facetiously relents by saying* Guess I'm mistaken, huh? Calm down miss, calm down... *he's lying, but it deescalates the situation as Jani's expression neutralizes* Actually, I came here to congratulate you. The announcers can't tell, but they're not battlers...your opponent is something else, and by something else I mean unnatural. Call it a battler's instincts.

*Jani's visibly impressed by his intuition, though her expression shifts to one of concern as Digda looks her directly in the eyes, and remarks* On a whole different level as a certain other unnatural battler, mind you...

   (He knows...)   

(While we wait for Eliot's next move I look to Goobert.)

Can I be honest with you, as my best friend? I'm actually really freakin' nervous about this whole thing.

edited 10th Sep '17 3:59:32 PM by Team42Larson

Same here, pal...I've been nervous ever since I found out about this whole mess in the first place, honestly. (I say.)

edited 10th Sep '17 4:01:42 PM by kablammin45

Yalta: "I'll watch from afar as well. Should intervention be required, I won't hesitate to jump in."

*Belladonna is looking around the waiting areas, trying to look for the triage.*

Belladonna: "Paddy should be in the triage... though where would that be? Ugh, I'm usually so much better with directions..."

What makes me really nervous is, well call this irrational, but what if one or the other sniffs out the plan and wreaks havoc before we can do anything?

Then...I dunno, but it'll be really bad... (I say.)

(I begin gripping and yanking on my antennae again.)

As Yalta said, we need to be ready for anything, so I guess that's something we can do? Let's just watch and see what ultimately happens.

(I nod and turn my attention to the scene unfolding in front of us.)

(I do the same.)

[Going ahead and looking around, I eventually spot Bella within the vast halls of the arena.] "Bella," [I call, running towards her.]

Philly is a round.

...Getit?

GETIT?!

*Bella pauses as Eliot addresses her, and she turns to face him.*

Belladonna: "Oh, a... person. Hello. ...Where did you learn my name, exactly?"

(I faintly hear the conversation beginning.)

Well, they found each other.

(I simply nod in silence...still gripping my antennae so hard I feel like they'll fall off.)

[Oh, huh. Wait, so she doesn't know what I look like? Hell, she can't tell who I am, either? Not by the torn, flaring red shawl—which I shimmy about as a reminder—or my Smeargle-ness—which I exemplify by bringing my tail out from underneath the shawl—not one bit, eh? I guess I was right to think this was a fresh start.]

"You don't remember? From yesterday? It's me, Eliot."

*noticing Jani's nervous demeanor, Digda adds* Now, now...don't worry kiddo, I'm not gonna judge you or anything. I know full well what's going on, or at least...I know that you're likely an unwitting victim. Might explain your sudden change in personality... *Jani scowls, which causes Digda to relent* ...ahem, well regardless of well...it DOES change a pokémon's personality. Significantly, in fact.

*Jani sighs and looks around cautiously once more, before asking quietly* I don't suppose you happen to know how to cure it, do you? *to which Digda replies* Afraid not. Once you get The Surge, you have it until you expire...the pro circuit's become a rough landscape lately, where... *Jani's puzzled expression causes Digda to shift gears* ...The Surge...it's what you have. What, do you have a different name for it?

Viral Aggression. *Jani whispers, to which Digda replies* Ah, so that's what those soldiers were mumbling about. Though between you and me, I took the back door after the first checkpoint...one of the perks of being able to go anywhere, eh?

*Digda paces back and forth, not unlike Jani, as he says* Anyway, The Surge is pretty much why I'm here. Last season, we had three fatalities on the C tier alone. This season, it's been twelve...my opponent had it last season, very nearly would have killed me if I didn't throw the match. Decided to break away for awhile and do a bit of private investigation. *he then turns to Jani and says* I never thought it would make such a virulent leap onto the amateur circuit. It's been, what, four of ya out of 64? That's just counting singles, of course...

*he looks to the side, lamenting* And to think, even little Milly has fallen victim. What would Doug and Triss say?

*a bit slow on the uptick due to her injuries, Jani asks the idiot question* Who is Milly?

*Digda turns and looks Jani directly in the eyes, saying* Take a guess.

edited 10th Sep '17 5:10:56 PM by sarysa

Belladonna: "Oh, Eliot... Oh, Eliot! Good gracious, I- I apologize, I should've er... More immediately recognized you, heh..."

*Bella, feeling a little embarrassed, puts her hand to her forehead.*

Belladonna: "Feeling a little lightheaded now that I think about it... That aside, uh... Well, it's funny to see you here, though in hindsight I should've expected another meeting with you... Say, you wouldn't happen to have an Oran Berry to spare, would you? I fear that Aerial Ace may have struck me a bit harder than expected, not to mention how my Moonbow technique tends to wear me out much quicker... Strange, feels as though I was both overexerting myself and holding back at the same time."

edited 10th Sep '17 5:28:14 PM by CaliburnAbsoluteEX

"Ma'am, I don't even know what an Oran Berry looks like, though I think we may still have a bag of berries somewhere, someone..." [Oh, wait, that was a little silly of me.] "Actually, I don't know if you...enjoy being called 'ma'am', um, PJ said you were about his age when I spoke with him." [I laugh preemptively to a biting joke.] "I mean, unless yer fibbin' to'm, of course, n'yer some kinda old crone—hehehehehehhh!"

Wonder what they're talking about.

(I say, still only faintly hearing the conversation.)

I hope it's not something that she plans on doing... (I whisper.)

Better hope not. I heard something about her overexerting yet holding back.

(I say.)

Belladonna: "Lying? To my Paddy? Oh, come now, I wouldn't do that! There's a special kind of trust we share, one I'd never dream of violating. I'm still in the young adult range, I'll have you know. Honestly though I'm more focused on the fact that... You seriously don't know what an Oran Berry looks like? Next you'll be telling me you've never seen an apple before. Gods, did someone spill water on me, or..."

*Bella brushes her bloody wound with her hand, taking a look at the lime-green fluid she leaks.*

Belladonna: "Well blast, I suppose I'll need to get this checked out..."

(I'm able to hear a specific part of this next part of the conversation, and turn to Goobert.)

"Special bond?" It's not a bond at all, she's lying, as we know.

edited 10th Sep '17 6:37:46 PM by Team42Larson

(I quickly nod at Marlon. I can't believe I'm watching such an adorable-looking but utterly depraved individual.)

(I twinge at the overall implication. She's as young as he is. That means if they enact this fantasy...fuck. I also still hate how she calls him "Paddy.")