ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

Before I walk out the door, I look back at Benji. "When I come back, I want a sandwich, and if I don't come back, whatever." I take my leave. I have no idea where he went, but I'm going to find him.

"..."

Finley realizes now that she has nothing to do. Because of this, she marches out, heading to the drawing room. There, she grabs a sheet of paper and quickly writes something up.

"Hey everyone! Just writing to let you know that this room is still open! I'm just in here. Pop in, I won't mind!"

"- Finley"

With that, she puts the note just outside the drawing room and closes the door.

Then she gets busy.

[Oh, that's simple enough to dodge. I duck off to the side, nearly losing my balance in the process, but I'm able to stop myself from falling. I get back into a proper upright stance, holding my hands in front of me.]

[Before I can act, I'm somewhat paralyzed, not by fear, but by indecision: what should I do, what can I do? I remember from earlier, I dried off my shawl with my body earlier...could I still do that? Again, I feel myself heating up, holding that heat in the same way I did earlier, though this time to a greater intensity. The others may notice the pink parts of my scales heating up, even creating a small amount of light as they appear to bubble like magma.]

[...and now I still don't know what to do... I just stand there, taking a defensive stance, waiting for Marlon to strike again.]

edited 19th Oct '17 10:34:43 AM by BlackMageAnolis

(I look to Marsha and Goobert, asking:)

Do any of yas want ta go after my next turn?

(I look back to Eliot as I note that some scales start to flash up on his body-almost lIke magma, but don't yet comment on it. Figuring that that was easy enough for him to avoid, I decide to send a charge beam his way.)

(Noticing that Lucy is crying, the Xatu makes her an offer:)

Hey, kid, I know what I could do for you. See, I'm an author, and what I have for you is a set of my books. I heard from my friend in the library that you were reading one of my works and I thought that you'd like to have them all.

(The Xatu uses her psychic powers to lift a bag from her seat at the bar over to where she and Lucy (and Benji and Dinah are too), leaving the bag at enough of a distance of Lucy to reach. At the top of this pile is Ping the Psyduck, the book that Lucy read at the library.)

edited 19th Oct '17 10:45:23 AM by Team42Larson

(I look at Marsha.) You want to go?

Sure! (Marsha says.) Are ya ready for dis, Eliot?

(A geyser of water erupts from beneath Marsha and rushes toward Eliot.)

(Benji nods at Niles' suggestion.)

(Lucy seems shocked at the Xatu's generosity. She looks at the Ping book on top. It's one of her favorites.)

Wow...t-that's pretty cool, right, Lucy? (Dinah asks.)

Yeah... (Lucy says, still not significantly perking up although she is genuinely grateful for the gift from the Xatu. She looks at the Xatu, still with those sad eyes.) Thank you...

edited 19th Oct '17 11:04:21 AM by kablammin45

[Marlon fires off a beam, my hearts skips a beat for a moment: I think I feel time slow down a little. I act in reflex, ducking under the beam, making myself small, then springing towards him, moving past Marsha as I do. I take a bounding step, then I fling myself into the air. I then pivot myself around, intent on swinging my tail right into his side. As I swing my tail, it lets loose small orbs of flame that burst into embers upon impact before fizzling out.]

edited 19th Oct '17 11:05:08 AM by BlackMageAnolis

*the consensus is mixed on whether or not to banish Dore, so Teller instead decides to float over and briefly accost Niles before he leaves* Kid, before you head out that way...there's something you should know about this "Dore".

*it is at this point that Teller tells Niles absolutely everything he's picked up about Dore...at least everything that's relevant to Niles*

*the sisters are just watching the stream sparrers at the moment. Lilly casually asks Tilly* Do ya think we'll end up fightin' like that some day? *to which Tilly can only respond* It may be inevitable if this is a protracted journey — and most definitely if Jani comes around.

"What...?" (Why would he...?) The fact that I don't understand is frustrating me even more. I just don't get it. But right now, I need to keep composure. "... Okay. Thank you for telling me," I say, no hostility in my voice. I walk off and let my calm facade fade. (Damn it... I need answers. I'm going to find him... and then I'll-!) ... (What am I going to do?)

(Eliot rushes over, and-to my surprise-he swings his tail at me, unleashing some embers. Although I dodge the embers, the tail contacts me. I stumble a bit, more surprised than in pain (although it does sting, leaving a slight mark), and look to Eliot:)

Wow, I didn't think you'd be able ta do it.

(I look to Marsha, expecting her to try something else next.)

Anything for a reader of my works. Name's Lucille by the way, but you could also call me Lucy.

(Lucille offers out a wing for Lucy to shake.)

edited 19th Oct '17 11:20:42 AM by Team42Larson

Whoa! Nice one, Eliot! (I say to Eliot after he pulls off these maneuvers.) I could almost swear that you had been a Salazzle all your life pulling things like that.

Yes, that was excellent! (Delilah says from her spot nearby.)

Yeah, great! (Marsha says. Then she turns to me.) Hey, big guy, anythin' you've got for Eliot?

Well...uh...I can try something, yeah. (The first move I think of using is Ice Beam. I build up cool energy within myself and fire a small Ice Beam at Eliot.)

Nice to meet you... (Lucy says, smiling a bit as she finds it amusing that she just met someone with the same name as her. She returns the handshake.)

(Dinah turns to Benji in concern.) Benji, what do we do? I feel like there's something that we have to do for Lucy.

Well...I'm just not sure, just sayin'. (Benji says. He looks at Lucy.) Hey, uh, kid, you have anyone you can stay here with?

(Lucy looks sad again.) No...both sets of my grandparents are already...and I don't have any other family here...I'm gonna have to go to an orphanage now, aren't I? Aren't I?

(She buries her face in her arms again and begins bawling again. Benji and Dinah look at each other, worried.)

Okay, any ideas, Dinah? Should we just take her under our wing and bring her to the rest of the party or somethin'? (Benji suggests.)

(Dinah shrugs.) Perhaps...?

edited 19th Oct '17 11:31:47 AM by kablammin45

"Well," Noriaki says in response to Jani, "I arrived on the same day as you, I believe you appeared a few minutes after I did. Everyone else was rather welcoming, thankfully."

[Touching down, I nearly fall over, though I manage to regain some semblance of balance.]

"Uh, thanks," [I call out, about to turn around. I'm actually kinda surprised at the warm reception of my—]

[A cylinder of ice smacks the side of my face, catching me completely offguard. Spinning around, I eventually catch and stop myself, nearly doubling over. Recovering from the whiplash of that, I feel my cheek with my hand, the remnants of the ice that had stuck onto my face melting off as I do. I look up at Goobert and smile: no real harm done, but he got me good.]

[Guess it's my chance to respond, but with what? Maybe something like a...a Poison-type move? I huff, expelling purple gas from my nostrils—wait! I blink: yea, something like this.]

[I straighten my stance and turn my head towards Goobert, unleashing a cloud of that same purple gas in his direction. Watch out! It's poisonous!]

(Upon seeing the purple and poisonous-looking gas coming my way, I gasp, cover my face, and drop down onto the ground, afraid that I'll get horribly ill again if I breathe in the slightest ounce of the cloud.)

...Sorry, I just don't want to take any chances... (I say.)

(Dinah turns to Lucy.) Um, Lucy? Would you like to come with us and meet our friends?

(Lucy simply shrugs in response.) I don't know...I guess...

Don't worry, kid, these fellas are really nice people, just sayin'. (Benji says.) Come on.

(Lucy sniffs and gathers up the books Lucille gave her.) Well...you lead the way...

Okay! (Benji says, starting to go.) Oop-! Wait, Niles told me to order him a sandwich! You go ahead and take her over there, Dinah. I'll catch up!

All right, Benji... (Dinah says.) C'mon, Lucy.

(Lucy nods, and turns to Lucille as she and Dinah prepare to leave.) Thank you for the books, Mrs. Lucille...

(I too drop down to avoid the gas cloud. Once it passes, I hop back up onto two feet and draw in some more power. After doing so, I draw forth a Leaf Blade and form it into a few leafy throwing stars, tossing them at Eliot.)

I don't have much of an opinion on this subject, sir, madam, but I agree with your points. Incidentally, are you heading to Gleamscape? My husband I live there. He's also an author. You may have red his book Strange cases of Pokémon evolution and other oddities. And you take care now!

(Lucy says to Dinah and Benji.)

edited 19th Oct '17 1:09:37 PM by Team42Larson

*Jani smirks* Well, I know that much from the others...but what was going through your head the moment you arrived? *Jani presses further, but in a "curious" kind of way* In my case, I woke up...who knows how long I was dreaming. I knew right away that I was underground...buried alive for all I knew. To be honest, I was wondering at the time if I really was alive, and not some sort of sentient zombie.

*sighing at her own ridiculous story, Jani adds* It's amazing the kind of tricks the mind plays on you when you're way out of your element.

What's that purple stuff? *Lilly asks her sister, who responds* I believe it is poison gas. I've read that it saps the strength of the victim, but by its own, it's by no means fatal.

Hey, I have read his book. (Dinah says.) It's really interesting. Well...I guess we'll be going for now. See you in a little while, Benji.

Bye... (Lucy says to Benji and Lucille. The Krokorok and Riolu leave.)

(Benji waves good-bye to Dinah and Lucy and turns back to Lucille.) I couldn't tell ya, actually. I'm travellin' with a bunch of other folks and I think it's up to them to decide. We actually were on the way over there other day, though, but circumstances caused us to end up in Agartha. Long story, but at least I got to meet up with Dinah, that Krokorok. She's a really swell person, just sayin'.

(Benji quickly orders Niles' sandwich. Unsure of what should be put on it, he just orders him a Wiki Berry sandwich.)

So, um, do you like to read, Lucy? (Dinah asks Lucy.)

Oh...yeah...M-...Mom always told me I needed to read. She always left me at the library so I could do that, but I told you that already. (Lucy says.)

Hmm... (Dinah says, intrigued.) You know, my own mother is pretty much the reason I got into reading so much myself. I... (Dinah shudders.) I also lost her...

Really? You lost your mom and dad, too? (Lucy asks.)

Yes, but I don't like talking about it... (Dinah says.)

S-Sorry... (Lucy says, a little embarrassed about bringing it up.) I guess we have some things in common, huh?

I guess so... (Dinah says.) So...um, what other books do you have in that bag, Lucy?

(The two continue conversing as they head toward the Frau's place.)

edited 19th Oct '17 1:25:14 PM by kablammin45

"Ah, yes", said Noriaki, "I was rather startled. Going from an advanced primate to a more avian creature can be a bit of a jarring transition, but thankfully Dartrix's wings act almost similar to hands anyway. All I knew was I had to find someone, because I was not yet aware of the societies Pokemon had built in this world, and for all I knew it could have been a... "Eat or be eaten" world I awoke in."

(There he is!) "HEY!" Wow, that sounded really aggressive.

[I'm about to rush on Goobert when somethings jab me in the arm. Leaping back, I look at what hit me: little leaf things, must be from Marlon. I rub my arm: it's not bad, maybe bruised. Taking aim at Marlon, I breathe in and fire a streaming burst of fire (what I cam only assume to be Ember) right for him.]

Dore turns to Nyquil, and nods his hilt. Evening.

(I stand my ground and block the attack with a Protect, but a small amount of fire creeps through as I can't block in time. My arm is singed:)

Hothothotowwww...

I imagine that she is. She seems pretty well-to-do, all things considered.

(Lucille says to Benji, wanting to make some small talk with Benji while he waits.)

I haven't really thought of how to approach this. "Are you proud of yourself?" … It's a start, I suppose.

*I get up, having finished my sulk. I can't say that I feel much better now, but at the same time, staring at nothing while you pick apart every action you've made in recent memory can get kinda boring after a while. I ask myself, how many people are even still here? I know that a lot of people left to checkk out the town, but I can't be the only one left here with Morby, right? I hop down the stairs and peek into the discussion room, where I spy Morbitesse reading a novel of some sort. She notices me and waves, and I wave right back at her. She returns to her book following this exchange as I, not wishing to further disturb her, go back to thinking of what I could do. I think Grigori was also here, I guess I could talk to him. At the same time though, I did say to myself that I'd stick with Finley during Mila's absence... and then I completely blew her off because of my brooding or whatever. God, why do I call myself a friend when I have a track record like this? I scan the hallway as I ask myself this when I see a note on the door to the drawing room. Seems Finley's inside. The only thing that bugs me is why the note was even written in the first place. Wouldn't it be assumed that we'd be allowed in unless otherwise stated? Why did Finley feel it necessary to write up a note permitting us to enter the room?*

PJ: "Huh, why's...?"

*Eh, minor detail, I suppose. I push the door open slowly, hoping in the back of my mind to add some unnecessary dramatics to the simple action of entering a room.*

(Marsha quickly spits out a small stream of water onto Marlon's arm.) That help, Marly?

(In the meantime, I stand back up, build up energy, and spew a small Dragon Pulse in Eliot's direction.)

Well, she's more modest than she appears, just sayin'. Lives in a small apartment in Agartha and stays there readin'. (Benji says.) And she's pretty sweet, too. She braved a cave and an angry Onix just to get my money purse back to me. She's just great.

(Benji rests his arm on the bar and looks up with smile as he says this.)

(As Dinah and Lucy get closer to the Frau's place, Lucy looks in awe.) You're all here?

Oh yes, (Dinah says.) Mine and Benji's friends are good friends of the Frau's.

(As they get closer, they can hear racket coming from our training nearby.)

What's going on over there? (Lucy asks.)

I'm not sure...I hope there isn't any trouble. (Dinah says.) C'mon, let's go.

(Dinah picks up the pace and Lucy tries to keep up as she drags her satchel of books. Dinah quickly begins carrying the books for Lucy and they continue toward the source of the noise.)

Dore looks confused, and fully turns now. Am I proud of myself? What kind of a question is that? Is this about the Riolu from the bar?

edited 19th Oct '17 1:49:29 PM by TacoBadger