ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

*Jani sighs, and says* I'm facing them the only way I know how... *before turning to Marlon to add* ...I'll be back at the mayor's tonight. I won't be going anywhere...I couldn't even if I wanted to...

*she then turns back to Teller, and takes another sip*

(Marsha, Benji, and Dinah look at each other in concern. It seems that none of them are absolutely sure of what to say.)

edited 8th Oct '17 8:58:39 AM by kablammin45

I...see. Sorry that it even had to come to this for you, Jani...

(I aside to our small group, me (?), Marsha, and Dinah:)

Well, what else can we do? I don't want to leave her here, but she really doesn't want to go back.

Should we just give her some time alone to think about this or somethin'? (Marsha suggests.)

I would hate to just leave her here, though... (Dinah says.)

*Tilly gets in on the whisper-fest, admitting* I doubt my presence here is making things better. She's capable enough, and she has the Joltik with her...

Yeah. She also would know her way back to Agartha if she needed to. But if we leave now, what else can we do?

(I ask our small whispering group.)

Guess we can just explore this place some... (Benji says, speaking in his normal voice since they are all whispering.)

Guess we could..

(I say, while still looking at Jani, confusedly. I turn to Teller:)

Hey, is there anything in town we could go do or see?

edited 8th Oct '17 9:41:16 AM by Team42Larson

*Teller nods to Marlon* Of course — heard yer friends met the High Oracle a number of times, plus we've got shops and such not unlike other towns. There's the guild office, of course...though a few residents they may remember are likely nowhere to be seen at the moment...

Well...now that we have a general idea of what's around here, what say we go out there and see if we find somethin' interestin'? (Benji asks the others.)

High Oracle...? (Dinah repeats. Whoever this is sounds like a very special person indeed.)

I don't think just anyone can see them, bookworm. (Marsha quickly points out to Dinah.)

Well, of course... (Dinah says.) Sounds interesting all the same, though.

(High Oracle? I feel like I know that name from somewhere. I think Koss is here as well. I turn to our small whispering group:)

Yeah, I'd be up for exploring this place a bit.

(I say, beginning to get up. As I do, I pull a small amount of Poké to pay to Teller for myself and Marsha's drinks.)

edited 8th Oct '17 9:58:49 AM by Team42Larson

(Marsha, Benji, and Dinah gather their things up and prepare to leave.)

Well...let's see what this place is about, fellas, whaddya say? (Marsha says.)

Much oblige. *Teller says to Marlon, adding* I'll make sure nothin' happens to either of them...

*meanwhile, Tilly simply states to the Goo Crew* Looks like I'll be following you for awhile...

Sounds like a plan.

(I say to both Marsha and Tilly. I prepare to leave, offering Marsha my hand, while also saying to Teller:)

Thanks again!

Andy shrugs. I think we stick our nose into a lot of things, which lends its way to more danger.

Hearing what Jani plans to do, Andy responds, Why don't we just leave?

*The dribbling sound of the rushing stream serves as background noise to me as I lay hidden in the shade of a bush along the outskirts of Orichalcum. It's the same place I tried talking to Mila back during the morning of day 3, when I was an actually tolerable person who knew how to make amends and not the utter wreck that I am now. Speaking of Mila...*

(Are Mila and Finley okay? Is everyone back to normal? Maybe if I stuck with the group, I'd know the answers to these questions, but no, I had to run off after breakfast because I don't now how to deal with my problems. Or everyone else's problems for that matter. I try, but I fail, and I just end up making things worse. Then when I actually do get something right, we're set farther back than we were before I "fixed" it. Maybe it was dumb of me to run off, maybe I could've actually done something to help if I bothered to try. But no, here I am, sulking like the shitty excuse for a companion I am... At least I'm not a Ribombee anymore, I'd probably be a danger to everyone else on top of being a liability...)

*There's a strange feeling in the back of my mind that I feel as I stew in my misery. It's sadly familiar, an acute mixture of contempt and anger, only this time it's not directed outward, but inward.*

   (God, what the fuck is my problem?)   

*Teller nods a curt farewell to Marlon, and Tilly starts following in kind*

*Jani asides to Andy, quietly* Leave? As in leave-leave? How may times'veIdone that already...and how far has it gotten me? *she sighs* ...I can't just leave...they might depend on me... *she opts to be vague about who "they" are*

(As the group exits the bar, Dinah looks around and notices something else.)

Wow...I'm seeing a lot of Pokémon I haven't met before... (Dinah comments.)

What are you seeing, Dinah? (Benji asks.)

That Helioptile over there... (She points to a despondent-looking Helioptile nearby.)

(Marsha and Benji look where Dinah is pointing.)

Wait a sec...isn't that PJ? Didn't he turn inta a Helioptile? (Marsha asks Marlon.)

(I squint my eyes to look at the Helioptile. Shit, it is PJ.. I make an observation:)

Yeah, it is PJ.

(I try to call out to him:)

Yo, PJ! Over here!

Andy asks on, But you were a random stranger who they decided to keep hostage just because you happened to be in their daughter's body. Now that last part's not anyone's fault, but keeping you hostage is their fault, and you should have a no-tolerance policy on that shit, Jani.

edited 8th Oct '17 11:09:15 AM by TacoBadger

*The moment I hear my name, I tense up. Hoo boy, so much for my hiding place. This is not something I was ready for. I do my best not to have any outward reaction and I slowly inch further back into the bush, hoping that they'll lose interest (which I know they won't, but hey, I dunno what else to do).*

It's not...it's not that simple... *Jani downs a bit more of her second vodka* ...it's not them holding me hostage, at least...not anymore...it's...it's me...

*Tilly gives a simple dirt-wave to the Helioptile, not really knowing him all that well*

edited 8th Oct '17 11:32:42 AM by sarysa

Hey, come on! We won't hurt you! Everything's fine now.

(I try to call back to PJ.)

Yeah! Everyone misses ya, PJ! (Marsha says.)

You know him? Is he okay? (Dinah asks.)

It's a very long story, Dinah... (Benji explains to Dinah.) Best not to ask him about it, just sayin'...

(Dinah nods.)

(Urgh, guess I might as well dignify them with a response. There's no way I'm getting out of this anyhow...)

PJ: "Somehow I doubt that."

(Yeah, that works. I can see where this is going and I really am not looking forward to this.)