Week 17.

[azumods]

WEEK 17 There are disturbances in Veilstone. Although perhaps saying that there are disturbances in Veilstone is understating it; the first thing that's going to be immediately noticeable is the fact that there are few to no people outside of their residences. They're still there, they're definitely present in town, and it doesn't look like Team Galactic has done any mass recruitment recently; at the same time, they don't seem inclined to leave their homes unless their task is absolutely necessary. The reasons why will soon become apparent, the longer you remain in the city; soft bursts of force will ripple across the city from time to time, and every time they do something shifts. The edges of buildings will suddenly decay, aging before your eyes into something that seems to have been abandoned for years; sometimes parts of the streets will vanish as you walk, turning into something hard and rocky, seemingly still untouched by human intervention. Occasionally the leaves will turn bright colors and drop off of the trees, only to regrow anew again almost immediately. Perhaps most tellingly is the fact that your concept of the passage of time is no longer entirely halted - you're aware that time is certainly passing, though it's difficult to say in what direction. It's obvious now more than ever that time exists in a sort of fourth dimension, coming at the world from a different angle entirely to the more planar space that you're still not certain you're perceiving correctly; throughout all of this, the Team Galactic base remains sealed. Whatever it is you're going to do about this, you might want to formulate a plan of some sort this week. CURRENT LOCATION: VEILSTONE CITY POKEMON AVAILABLE: WITHIN CITIES SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY [OOC: Welcome to week seventeen of Azume; feel free to make as many top levels as you'd like and tag out to other characters! This post is for all of your interactions this week... at least until the weekend.]

Comments

SUNDAY

[azumods]

investigation...?

[eudaimonikos]

[So, this is all pretty weird, right?

Michael spends a chunk of his morning walking around Veilstone. True to his earlier concerns, he's kept his Pokemon away, and he avoids the side of town where the Galactic building is. Sure, it's probably pointless. They're a huge obvious group; no way they're gonna actually pass unnoticed for long. Still, that's no reason to go parade alone on their doorstep. He'll just stick to the southern end of town. There's plenty of time distortions down here. He follows them from spot to spot, watching keenly.

After a while, he starts trying to stick his hands in there. Just to see what happens.

Later on, he'll be in the Pokemon Center, making another batch of chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. Someday, someone should teach him how to make anything else. At least this time is much more contained. He's only there for about half an hour, just long enough to make a single tray's worth, and he doesn't leave it out for everyone when he goes.

Instead, he heads down to one of the houses, knocks on the door, and promptly tries to let himself in.]

Hey, Liam?

centre

[niceoppai]

Cookies again, huh? Guess it's your specialty by now.

[azumods]

[Well, when it comes to what happens if you shove your hand in a temporal disturbance, as it turns out it's...well.

Congratulations, it's fucking nothing!

...That is to say that it doesn't seem to hurt you any, and there aren't any weird adverse effects. Which in itself might be pretty strange, but yeah. You're good.

As for Liam...

You can let yourself in; it isn't locked. He's got the weird culty television stuff on for white noise in the background, probably, seeing as he isn't watching it; he's not...really doing much of anything else, either. No handwriting practice today, at least; he'll just watch as you come in. Hi, Michael.]

MONDAY

[azumods]

[bloodspent]

[So, this is. Weird? It's fucking weird, and it's weird in a way that Jake isn't used to, but it's honestly so far removed from everything he's dealt with back home that he can't really complain too much about it, either. It's a novel sort of everything's-going-to-shit, and at the very least he finds he can't whine too much about creativity in one's apocalypse.

That said, it's been a while since they've been in Veilstone - Veilstone means the department store, and the department store means clothes. He's never really been one for a lot of clothing and material things, despite his fixation on money back home, but you know what, he doesn't trust that he's not going to end up in snow hell again and Sinnoh is just generally kind of cold and perhaps most importantly Cvetka owns one of his nicer jackets, so he should probably look for something that's at least vaguely warm?

...Perhaps this is why he's got the giant sea slug out with him in the store today; he can be found just sort of back there with the camping stuff, draping blankets over her back one at a time. Seeing if she likes them?]

Look, I get that it's not the same, but I really want my damn jacket back. Just pick one, yeah?

[...Seeing if she likes them.

Once he's done with that, though (and Cvetka has contented herself with a blanket covered in patterns that are truly worthy of a Peruvian folk band), he'll be up on the roof of the department store, near all the vending machines and such; he doesn't seem to be doing much, leaning up against the railing and watching the occasional burst of whatever the fuck hitting the city and changing things in some way. Considering, more than anything.]

...If that's what it looks like, we are so fucked.

roof

[discutio]

[He really didn't know if this perception of time was better or worse than how things had been, but Ignis was leaning towards 'worse' for how disoriented he felt. Sitting on a bench near the vending machines with Hemera at his feet, he picked his head up out of his hands and tried to focus on Jake's voice.]

Don't tell me, let me guess. Everything's distorted to hell and back.

roof

[niceoppai]

No kidding.

[Chelsea has her Electabuzz out, who's curiously tossing pebbles off the roof and watching them land on things that are suddenly older or newer than they were a second ago.]

Think it'll turn us all old? Or into babies? Or skeletons!

Roof

[takestheblame]

[Well that isn't ominous at all!]

What does it look like?

[Ennlighten someone who has no idea what's going on, Jake!]

Roof

[eudaimonikos]

I put my hand in one.

[Of course you did, Michael.]

Department Store

[anythingforyou]

[...Oh no, that's absolutely adorable? Camilla's got some stuff in hand, but when she walks over and sees Jake and his slug friend, her expression becomes one of amusement.]

Trying to get your dear a new security blanket, I take it?

TUESDAY

[azumods]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...you know... Kayneth kind of gets why people aren't really going outside here! It's fucking insane! Like, okay, if he wasn't potentially in the thick of things, but he was. So he's just... kind of staying in the Pokemon Center for the most part, looking out the into the street and kind of... taking notes in mild horror? Yes. There's that.

If you walk in, well, he's going to address you, probably...]

So. We're... probably going to fight whatever's responsible for this at some point, provided we don't find a more diplomatic solution.

Is anyone actually going to find our wills if we write them?

[ugh. okay. Later in the day, he decides to risk it and head to the Veilstone Department Store with his Pokemon, just... to sort of give them something to do? They were getting pretty bored in the Pokemon Center, and it might be kind of fun to do some fashion therapy? He's gotten a lot more Pokemon since he's last been here, so he's going to try to figure out what would be the best accessories for a cell, a pig, and a rose... so he's going to be trying stuff on them!]

Pokemon Center

[eudaimonikos]

Even if they do, they're not gonna send it back to your world.

[thanks michael]

Hey, check this out. [He leans down and just fucking swipes his hand through a different century or whatever.]

store

[niceoppai]

[Chelsea is fitting her Electabuzz with a scarf while Lemonade compares her existing hat with one on the rack.]

Oh, hey, Kayneth! Had the same idea? Hey, d'you think if those time pulse things hit a hat, it'd turn back into flax or straw or whatever it's made out of?

[anythingforyou]

[Man, this whole thing with Veilstone is weird as hell. Camilla's been doing her best to just kind of stay in the Pokemon Center, but even she's been a bit antsy, despite how almost tired seeming she looks. Work has to get done, plans have to be made, and precautions have to be taken, and that's what sees Camilla in the Department Store today, seeming to sort between various levels of potions, some fabric that she's had to go digging for, and a TM for Protect.]

Alright, as long as I do this right, I should have a tiny bit left over...I may simply need to go around town again, but this should be enough.

[Arion toddles up next to her, and she finds herself going to idly pet him a bit with a smile.]

You know, I have been meaning to get you something darling to wear. Why don't I see if there's something here that suits you? Those bowties won't fit very well, but what about a headband?

[Considering the response she gets is a bit of a rousing yap of a No, she'll be putting a raincheck on that. She still smiles, though.

Outside of town, once Camilla's paid for her stuff and stepped out a bit despite her better judgement, she'll be going more towards the outskirts of town with her entire entourage out, and she seems to be kind of...at a loss of how to use the TM she's got? She looks between the disc and her team for a moment.]

...Okay, do any of you have any idea how to use this? Frankly, I'm at a loss.

[The squad seems to talk among themselves for a moment, seeming to consider what to do--quickly shifting a little bit when the weird shit around the city messes with an area nearby, before Arion trots on up and gently headbutts the disc a bit. It seems to work--though Camilla almost drops the disc as she watches it glow, it seems to die down after only a few moments, leaving Camilla a little speechless.

And Arion? He's quick to test out his new little move, and it's one Eda in particular claps at when she sees it--a green barrier seems to go up, protecting him from any harm. Camilla seems to clap.]

Oh, wonderful! I'm oh so pleased that worked! Now, come on, all of you--let's see how many of you can learn this, hm?

[And thus, Camilla's team all became protect spamming assholes. It's something she's more than happy to share if one wants, of course. One might likely see her and her team practicing putting up those protective barriers and stress testing them if they come in later, however, experimenting with moves and the like.

Once evening rolls around however, is where things get...interesting. Camilla's definitely been taking up patrol a bit more since Cyrus reset the world, but she's spending it in the Pokemon Center for a little bit this time; Arion and Altena are on her lap as they watch her knit a little bit, pink and red yarn looking to make a blanket of some sort.]

How does this look, Altena? [The Glameow looks over, oddly alert for her usual sleepiness, and gives a gentle nod of her head in response. It gets Camilla to smile.] Good. I'm glad it's something that you'll like, dear.

[And for a little while, she stays like that, gently greeting anyone else who comes into the Center.

...Of course, it doesn't stay like that forever; once an hour or so passes and Camilla seems a fair way done and ready to head back out, Altena meows a bit to get Camilla's attention.]

What is it, de--

[...What she finds is that Altena is still very, very good at getting the drop on her. Altena looks to Camilla with a blue glow in those eyes of hers, causing her trainer to still for a moment and falling asleep where she sits. Nighty night, Camilla.

That's when Altena gets Arion's attention, and the two try to move out of the Center of their own accord and look around town a bit. They can report back to her in the morning like nothing happened! Totally! ...As long as they don't bump into anything. But once they get outside, one might find them squabbling a bit amongst themselves as they walk. Altena's helping to guide Arion around to avoid any disturbances that pop up around them, but they are still being bratty.]

Outskirts

[eudaimonikos]

Ooooh, what'cha got there?

[Michael is just. So obviously angling to get in on that TM thing.]

department store

[enjoymyatelier]

Hm. You know, I'm not entirely sure what you should do with him, honestly.

[...look. he's gotta return some favors, since Camilla's helped him outfit his own Pokemon to a degree...]

If not a headband, maybe a hat?

WEDNESDAY

[azumods]

[radiantflame]

[All throughout Wednesday, Morag can be found at the gym with her trio of 'mons. She has been pitting them against each other in one of the boxing rings, watching them intently as they practice their strongest attacks. Her serious demeanor is even more grim than usual, and she seems determined to push them as hard as they can take.]

Again!

[Once more, Sorcha and Jurgen launch at each other with powerful kicks and slashes, while Agatha discharges a blast of static electricity that nearly knocks them both off guard. Morag gives a slow nod as she observes them. If anyone approaches, she'll give them a quick glance before turning back to her team.]

Have you come to train as well?

[By nightfall, she's finally giving her team a break, and has gone to poke around the warehouse. It doesn't look like she's all that interested in getting inside- she's peering into windows looking for signs of life.]

warehouse

[semistableman]

[It's probably not completely a surprise that Bucky shows up at the warehouse at night, too. It's not like he sleeps regularly, and sometimes it's just best to get close to one of the mysterious places where things are definitely going down.]

...see anything?

gym

[niceoppai]

Yeah, kinda. [Chelsea lets out her four Pokémon, who react with a mix of curiosity and trepidation to the gym equipment.] Figure I shouldn't be slacking. Who knows what's next, right?

Gym

[enjoymyatelier]

...

You know, we're probably not going to get much out of battling the wild Pokemon, so certainly.

[takestheblame]

[Kiryu tries his best to stay away from the time distortions. Time itself may be breaking down all around him, but that's no excuse to stop training his team.

Which is why it bears fruit. Skorupi -- Aka -- seemed okay with fighting when he wasn't clinging to Kiryu's head. He had gotten over being ambushed, and had gotten invested into fighting, especially when he had to train with Snorunt -- Haruka. And now, after all that time, he finally managed to defeat her. Haruka is hit with a poison sting, making her collapse. The excitement of triumph brought forth an evolution, much to Daigo's anger.

Daigo, still small and adorable, seems to have gotten fed up. He throws a tantrum, ranting loudly, while the rest of the team watches. Minutes pass, he's still going, until Aka had enough, he approached and, with one of his new pincers, bonks Daigo on the head. The bear stops, startled, and even more when he starts glowing as well]

...hm?

[Finally, what Daigo had been hoping! It was his turn! Kiryu had seen in a picture how large Daigo would be if he evolved, but seeing it himself was unlike what he had expected. One moment Daigo is small, throwing a tantrum around, the next moment he's watching him get much larger, taller than him. The size of a grown bear, really. Once the light fades and Daigo's bowtie snaps and falls to the floor, there's a much larger Pokemon than before. Daigo doesn't take it with as much outwards enthusiasm as Kiryu expected, instead he snorts, staring at his paws, as if saying 'finally' and nothing else]

Your work has finally paid off. Congrats.

[More like there finally was another Dark-type in the team]

THURSDAY

[azumods]