NeoAJ

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

I know I appreciate the casual pace...

Corrected and Connected

Atomik had the book thrust into her hands by the leader of the team, and she wasn't quite ready for it, almost fumbling the tome in her hands. "Gee, thanks Crystal!" she said. While she wasn't very good at detecting sarcasm, Atomik could occasionally dish it out. "At least I'm not first I guess..."

Hearing what Cypher and Crystal had wrote down in the book upon its request did set the gears in motion of Atomik. Shoot...I dunno...They sound like actually important things to them. Like personal things. I...I don't think I have anything like that. What would I really give up? I...I don't think there's anything there that I would give up. She looked around. Crystal was talking to Apex, likely to try and get caught up on what happened while everyone was separated. Cypher was still strolling around the small room, taking in the sights of the strange building that the team had found themselves left to explore. BreGle was...waiting for her... OK...

Looking around the room the answer was made somewhat clear. This team, this world, even her current body. There was thing responsible for all of it and in the end, it's been the main force for good in Atomik's life and it was something she valued above all else. That's why it didn't take much convincing for her to join this team when asked those few years ago. So deliberately she wrote down as she said it outloud, "The Digital...World." She wrote the shorthand form on the designated page and closed the book before tossing it towards BreGle. "OK, I think that's good enough for me. Whoever wants to go can go." She didn't give BreGle much choice in the matter but it was doubtful Apex would come over while still talking to Crystal.

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

All Nataly could do was shrug when Ling mentioned Tristam's ...mediocre alchemic abilities. He was better than Solomon. That crap he was trying to peddle tasted like sour water. You could shove an entire lime into the thing and it wouldn't improve that taste. He got pretty sour when Tristam started making drinks too, and hasn't really gotten over it since. Kinda shut himself away. Ah well. He was a tool.

"Hmmm, I don't as much now as I used too," Nataly admitted to the Nightshade. "I mean yeah, when I was a little younger, I'd be all over it, going out during the breaks. Instead of practicing my craft, I would down some craft beverages. But, I mean, we all do stupid stuff while we're young, right? Now, I'm a little more serious about it. Plus it's a lot cheaper to spend my time at the Academy instead of in town buying stuff I don't need, you know?" She looked down at her robes. "Course that storm did do a number on my robes. I really shouldn't have worn them out like that. So yeah, I guess that's one reason to go in town...but yeah."

Corrected and Connected

So I was holding off posting because volunteering to go first is definitely not something I think Atomik would do. However, if it will help move things along, then I will work on something to get the ball rolling up again.

Pokémon: Warriors of Sengun (Up To Four Spaces Open)

"Which one of y'all's from Unova? Heard a lot of awesome stuff about that place."

Hearing her hometown fully absolved Robyn from of her trance...mostly... "Oh, yeah, it's definitely awesome. You should totally go some time. Hit up Castelia when you get there, it's not got the arenas that Nimbasa's got but the shows are awesome. You sound like you'd be the kind of guy who dig it, Ezra." She was finally coming back down from the clouds. Ezra? All the names in the world and they couldn't think of one better than Ezra?

Nina was still staring wearily at her new teammate, while the pink ball of fluffy was curled up using it's own tail as a pillow. Robyn looked over at the other two. "So...did I basically just catch a ditz? This Pokemon chases it's own tail and sleeps. I dunno how useful it's gonna be..."

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

After taking the contents of the vial in her mouth, Nataly instantly started to feel the soothing effects. Her ankle wasn't bothering her as much anymore, the feeling was beginning to return in her hand, and she didn't feel like murdering that crazy commander anymore. This was proving to be pretty good stuff...although not as good as some of the party drink Tristam cranked out. Still, it definitely did the job. And it seemed like Ling was just as miffed as the rough landing as she was. At least she had a sword or something to busy herself with. Nataly just stood there holding the empty vial like a frosh trying to hide the fact they couldn't take anymore fire water.

"I'd prefer to avoid both those things," she commented as she moved to hand the empty vial back. She looked back over her robes to see how much damage the flaming shrapnel had done to it, but they were still wearable. Just definitely not as elegant or pristine as they once were. "I didn't do a good enough job so far, lousy driver...or storm...whatever..." She held the glass in front of Ling, as if subconsciously asking for a place to put it while she still examined her weapon. "So, Ling, right? I think I've heard your name before. Tristam was always complaining about you showing him up I think. Probably why he kept making the drinks for us. But you're clearly better right? I mean, that medicine was almost as good as that Siren's Kiss stuff he makes, and that's him trying to make stuff that tastes decent. So...that mean you just spend all your time studying back at the academy?"

Corrected and Connected

"Great work."

Atomik looked up and smiled. "Hey, when I wanna do stuff, I do it well. No worries, chief." She had almost finished the carving. It wasn't perfect, some of the lines were slanty in the worst way, but they worked enough. There was no mistaking the word "TRUTH" in the step. So once the floor above opened up, it just made Atomik feel better about her assumption and where this controller was trying to guide the group. It didn't make her feel good about immediately figuring out the kind of trap that whoever this hacker was had laid out for them, but it did make her feel better about closing the gap as quick as she could.

As Crystal led the way into the upper floor, Atomik followed behind her until she stopped. Crystal was sure she heard something, but Atomik had no shot at confirming such a thing. Crystal went back to the stairs assured she heard something, which turned out to be the missing members of their squad, which was a plus in their favor. Having everyone together could only enhance their chances of surviving their current predicament. Crystal was certain the next puzzle was vertical, which played into Apex's favor. Atomik just stood back. As far as she was concerned, she did her job. She figured out the riddle. If Apex was able to solve this next problem, that was just fine by her.

Corrected and Connected

I have a post ready to go and it will materialize when I return my laptop to wifi compatible areas. It won't be much, but it will advance the plot.

Pokémon: Warriors of Sengun (Up To Four Spaces Open)

“‘Scuse me,”

The sudden sound of speech caused Robyn to break out of her basking in the glow of Nina's first win. There was a guy standing there, pretty good looking guy actually, with the tan and the wavy hair and the athletic surfer body and the...everything... Robyn had to shake her head for a second to bring herself back to reality, especially since the mystery man kept talking.

“What’s uh, what’s this cutie’s name? Never seen one where i’m from.”

Nope. Didn't work. "Uh...this is Robyn...I mean...wait...I'm Robyn...This is Nina...Yeah." She held the Petilil up to the man. "Nina."

"Petiiilil!" Nina waved a nub at the man and the Oshawott on his shoulder. Robyn did recognize the little Water Pokemon from the matches she saw at Burgh's. Usually if they were still an Oshawott they were handed a swift defeat or Oshawott would evolve right after.

"Um, yeah, what she said. Totally. Hi." She was feeling a little flustered at how badly she was flubbing this introduction, so Alix and Ato coming along the trail was a welcome reprieve.

"Well then. Looks like you took care of everything."

"Yeah. It's all right. I think Nina's still, like, a bit skittish when it comes to battling other Pokemon. But she did good!" Nina bounced in Robyn's lap upon hearing the praise. "Oh...right..."

She pressed the Pokeball's button and released the newly captured Pokemon back onto the grass. As the white light emerged, the pink and cream colored Normal-type shook it's head while looking around. "Nyanya? Nyaaaa...."

"So yeah, I dunno what I just caught. Never seen it before, but it was chasing Nina. Any you guys got a clue?" Nina was looking down at her supposed teammate, still upset about being treated like a toy, while the Pokemon curled up on the grass after it was satisfied there was nothing to chase.

Elementals: The Scarred World (Semi-Open)

The search for access to the outer shell of the Commander's ship was a fruitless one for Nataly. The ship's inner defences seemed rather impenetrable, and there was no clear path to get to the outside. It was while she was having a look around when the point became moot.

"Mages, brace yourselves. We are not going to be quite as....airborne for a little bit." WHAT?!? "No worries, we'll be able to fly afterwords." WILL I BE ABLE TO FLY AFTERWORDS?!? ALAINIA DAMN IT! The commander appeared to be hunkering down as best he could. "Hang on tight. And...don't mind the screaming you'll likely hear. That would be them getting what they deserve." This crazy bastard is really doing this. Alainia save me from this madman!

After scouring the area for something that would serve as a proper anchor, Nataly settled on a pipe hanging out from the side of an inner wall and wrapped her arms around that sucker like it was a stuffed animal following a night of corn vodka. She could hear the engine rumbling stop, and then a thud as hull met earth. Nataly felt her legs push against her for a second before the rumbling as the ship skidded along died down. And then the screams. And the whirring of the blades. She even thought she could hear the splatter hitting the remaining shreds of ice coating the hull. All she could do was shut her eyes and hold onto that pipe that was her only link to a world without the shrieks.

Finally after a tense few minutes all that was heard where the whirs of the propellers, Nataly allowed her feet to drop back down to the floor of the ship and she finally let go of the piping. "....Well, hopefully most of you survived that...That was...quite the ride." NO SHIT! THAT'S LIKE SAYING THE ACADEMY IS A NICE SHACK! Nataly was less concerned with what he had to say after that and more with her own well being. Adrenaline had concealed most of the injuries from the ordeal. Now they were making themselves known. Her ankle was sore, not limiting, but still a little tender. Her robes were singed half to ash. Definitely was smart wearing these onto the battle field. Smooth move, hun. Her right hand was still a bit numb from all the exposure to the storm but other than that, she was one of the lucky ones from the looks of things. The Nightshade was offering some home remedies, which were nice but unnecessary. Vana was definitely on board that train and she deserved it, going full hero in getting her and Eve off that rail. "If no one else is gonna have a drink of that, I'll take a swig. After dealing with all that bull, I'd even take some of the leftovers from last night."