@Shifter_Master She kind of doesn't. Mariette's always been a loner. She considers Deni and Eli extensions of her own will, and will depend on them for everything, yes, but anyone else? Even Violet and Sakura, her new friends through various circumstances, are not people she naturally thinks to involve in her own business. "Friends, not allies" is slightly what she's thinking. If anything, she might actually be afraid she'll get them hurt, too, for involving them.
... But that's just what I'm currently thinking that her mindset would be. If that's not as fun because it'd prevent the Djinn Sisters from getting involved... ... ... Heh. I can have Eli show up to talk to them, if Mariette ever lets her off on her own. Hah.
Mariette quickly reached for the red crystal she could use to contact Justine, getting a grip of it but stopped herself from using it. … She could already imagine how that conversation would go. It wouldn’t help. Instead, she threw it across the interdimensional apartment. It could remain there for a while.
‘Deni! Oh, Deni…!’ Eli was loudly sobbing, for as far as they knew she had died. Caroline wasn’t the type to leave her victims alive, as far as they had gathered. The harpy-girl was on her knees in their interdimensional apartment, while Mariette stood by the wall. The only sound in the room was Eli’s sobbing.
‘…’ Mariette stared into a wall. They had known this meeting could have been dangerous. She had warned Asengav that she could need recovery, if the deal went south. It was possible Justine had intended on double-crossing her, after all. She had not expected the deal to both go through AND that she’d be attacked after it. But, to think not even calling Asengav could… Mariette had gained the firepower she needed, but she had paid with…
Mariette started walking steadily across the room, and opened a portal in the direction she was walking.
‘Eli. We’re leaving.’ Mariette told her. This time without Deni’s cheerful encouragement towards whatever they were leaving to do.
‘B-but… without Deni… I can’t…’ Eli was sobbing, the liquid harpy looking over at Mariette with tear-filled eyes.
Mariette merely turned her head towards her underling.
Eli recoiled, eyes blinking wide as she saw Mariette’s eyes. They were… flaring with anger. Frustration and pain, and a willingness to use it. There was no loss of control, her cold, underlying logic still working, but there was a new, burning intention, that was ready to hurt. There was no way their next venture wasn’t decisive in nature. Eli’s insides were still quivering from loss, but… that look on her mistress was entirely new to her. Mariette was going regardless of if Eli was coming or not.
‘… Yes, Mistress.’ Eli said, fishing up her pen and notebook with her wings, before treading slowly after Mariette. The eye-patched girl nodded with satisfied determination, before turning and walking through the portal. It was time for a new direction, a change of pace. She knew what to do.
@Pyromaniacwolf That's fine. As long as I know, it's all fine.
[@All] My apologies that the post took a while, and for any decrease in quality. I didn't intend my replies to be a weekly thing, but quite a lot of things to do combined with a slight illness made things very difficult for me. Anyways. Tell me if I made any glaring mistakes. There you go, otherwise.
@Joshua Tamashii You can just say "Amelia does nothing" if you want, and I can just keep typing a bit. Hopefully much sooner.
‘Oh.’ Lorette made a noise of realization, eyes widening a little. ‘Yeah, that would make some people panic, but…’ Lorette looked from Amelia to the two Team Virtue members and didn’t entirely see how this situation came about. Still. Amelia had turned to these two.
‘Like… Amethyst!?’ The red-haired one glared at her. ‘How… DARE you compare us with such thieving scum!? That’s it! We’re bringing you back, all the way! Unruly children need to- Wait, you’re really not going to go anywhere? Just stay here? While we watch you to make sure you don’t try anything?’ He seemed to change what he was saying mid-sentence, his angry glare switching to one of slight surprise. Gastly and Mareep still remained in place as the two Virtue Grunts exchanged looks, whispered some low-tune words to one another, occasionally glancing at the two girls, mainly at Lorette and the Ledian. Some doubts might be being expressed at their chances of actually taking the two of them on, not knowing Amelia had been thinking of doing it herself.
‘ALRIGHT! Stay RIGHT there! We’re calling Elite Jonas and will be reporting your location! Don’t even think of trying anything!’ The red-haired one eventually called and pointed at Amelia, while the white-haired one pulled around and took out a phone to start dialing a number. They were also still getting considerably soaked in the rain, still, and at least Mareep seemed rather bothered by it, inching closer to a tree on the side to take cover under.
Up to Amelia if she wanted to say anything additional or just watched.
There was a couple of moments, before apparently the white-haired guy got into contact.
‘Sir. This is Grunt Randy and Grunt Mark. We’ve located the target at a shrine deep inside Silent Forest, not the Silent Shrine.’ The red-haired guy turned and looked at his companion as he spoke. ‘She had an idea of why she was pursued and mentioned you as “your friend with the Bonsly”. We are sure it’s her.’ He then turned and looked over towards Amelia.
‘No sign of a Drifloon, sir. She said to tell you the Drifloon was being friendly and that you scared it.’ The guy told, before nodding to something he heard, and then speaking. ‘Yes, sir.’ He said, before ending the call and looking to Amelia. ‘Elite Jonas says he’s very relieved to hear you’re alright.’ He then turned to his companion. ‘We’re ordered to return. Let’s go.’ He said, returning his Mareep to the Pokéball before turning to leave.
‘Wha…’ Red-haired grunt blinked in surprise. ‘Wait, what? I don’t… understand…’ He said, briefly looking over Amelia in confusion, before returning Gastly to the Pokéball and dashing after his companion.
‘… Huh. So I guess you’re free to go?’ Lorette asked, looking a little confused herself.
The first slab crashed into the floor, rolling over and creating more cracks in the already fragile-looking building, but it had not hit Ralia or Del. Teleport had taken them away. Conkeldurr held the other slab ready to throw… yet could but blink as they didn’t reappear.
Now, the obvious solution would have been to turn and look around, but Froakie ran, jumped and Quick-Attacked at his face, this time disturbing Conkeldurr. Froakie seemed to have taken the order as that he was to distract the opponent. Conkeldurr turned to glare at him, also intending on swinging the slab, when Froakie got extremely close and shot out all the bubbles he could. Enough bubbles to fill a shrine, all up into the muscular Pokémon’s belly. Even Conkeldurr had to take a step back to lighten the load, when…
‘CONK…!?’ The Pokémon let out a bit of a yell as Del latched on and pierced the Pokémon’s skin with a Poison Skin to the back. He stabbed multiple times, and with the bubbles from the front he was taking damage from two different directions at once! Then Ralia unleashed her Confusion as well, hitting the mind of her opponent and making him stumble a bit. It seemed the big Pokémon was unsure how to handle this when…
‘JUMP!’ Hector commanded. Conkeldurr proceeded to slam the slab down into the ground and launched himself up into the air. With the Pokémon’s super-strength, launching like that was easy. Del, still stuck with Poison Sting, was on for the ride regardless of if he wanted to or not. Then-
CRASH!! The Pokémon impacted the roof, Conkeldurr’s back slamming into it and cracking it, multiple further cracks spreading over the heads of the audience… er, was this place really still safe…? … Then they fell. With them fell several pieces of debris from the small piece of ceiling they had just broken. It left a hole to the second floor, as well as gave an answer to the question of why there was nobody on the second floor. Del had taken the full brunt of the impact, and… Well, unfortunately, even with the defense-bonuses and Conkeldurr’s debuffs, the difference in ability was still a bit too big. One more turn of debuffs probably had done it, but as it was Del came tumbling down unconscious along with the grunting enemy. He had been damaged too, that qualified as Struggle, but Conkeldurr had way more health.
‘Er, well. Oh, well!’ Hector commented, initially looking a bit disturbed at the hole in the ceiling and the cracks around it, then shrugging and regaining his battle-grin.
Del had fainted. However, with his attack, the rules of the engagement had changed.
‘Conkeldurr…’ The huge Pokémon grunted, having lost his smile, his free hand going behind him and rubbing the hole where Del’s poison stinger had latched on. It had successfully sent its venom into the bloodstream of the opponent, and Conkeldurr’s glare grew hostile as he felt the pain. Enemy Conkeldurr was poisoned!
‘Ooooh… Looks like we have a time limit…’ Hector grinned. ‘The Froakie! Catch up and Wake-Up Slap!’ As he said, Conkeldurr glared at Froakie, who had jumped aside when the falling debris had been coming, and now blinked in realization he was being targeted. He made ready to Quick-Attack out of the way, even as Conkeldurr raised the arm with his remaining slab. Ralia was currently behind Conkeldurr, and he hadn’t looked at her.
‘… Go for Wooper! Flabébé take Vine Whips!’ Cathia quickly commanded as the two Pokémon she was opposing split up. Flabébé quickly flew in the way of Sprout’s Vine Whips, but her light weight combined with the fairly strong attacks damaged her quite a bit, but nonetheless she insisted and met with the vines, taking grave damage in return. Speaking of grave damage…
Onix hit Wooper’s Water Gun straight on. The huge rock-snake cried out as the fluids sunk into his rock-body, making him stale and damaging him excessively. Yet, he wasn’t out. And, in fact, he had arrived.
Onix slammed his huge head into Wooper, sending her flying back to Dawkin. That was one too many hits for Wooper, who fainted due to all the damage she had accrued during the course of the battle. But, she had hardly left without a scratch. Onix was heaving, obviously greatly distressed by the water that had taken root in him, damaging and almost taking him out in one shot. Yet, he was still in the game. But now, both he and Flabébé had suffered considerable damage…
‘… And onto Bulbasaur!’ Cathia called, pointing to the grass-type. ‘Rock Throw! Tackle…!’ She was sounding a bit desperate.
Onix, despite his damages, glared at the remaining opponent and fished up a fairly huge boulder with its massive tail before hurling it towards Sprout. The Flabébé also turned to head for Sprout, to intercept him after the boulder with a Tackle, it seemed like.
Dawkin, of course, could send out another Pokémon and act immediately. Cathia would focus on Sprout regardless right now, however. And, of course, Martin could give his next command.
There appeared to be an agreement on that they could travel together a while longer.
‘Don’t worry! You can train on the way through Route 5, right? You’ll be so ready to take on the Gym!’ Joshua encouraged, smiling as to encourage Erika about it.
‘Besides, Gyms are there to test you.’ Ewan told. ‘You won’t know if you’re ready until you’ve taken the challenge. There are no consequences of attempting. By doing so, you’ll learn how far you have to go.’ He said, in a neutral tone. Perhaps his own way to encourage.
Later, inside the Explorer’s Guide Service…
‘Heh. If you like being pecked by birds, then the Mountain Valley’s for you. It’s the far easier path, though, I’d recommend it to your everyday traveller seeking a comfortable trip. Buuuuuuut…’ The girl smirks. ‘Mt. Strength is a lot more fun. Depends on your definition of fun, I suppose, but those caverns are sure to change anyone heading through it, one way or another. So, one map of Mt. Strength, it is?’ She asked, grabbing a thin but wide book off the shelf, opening it briefly to show the unfoldable contents, able to stretch further than the cover of the book itself, which binders looked made to simply protect the map when not in use. One glance over this told that the map contained geography seen from above outside, as well as showing one considerable network of tunnels below, and lines showing recommended paths through and optional trips for the adventurous.
If she did want to have it, that’d be 1000P.
‘Dawnstone. Of all the rocks. Hah.’ The girl leaned back in her chair and looked up into the roof, biting the stick in her mouth. ‘The Desert Mines find all sorts of rocks. Dawn Stones occasionally among them. But, I’ll be frank, they’re a rare commodity. Of all rocks, they show up a little wherever they please, and are just plain rare. You might be able to buy one in the Stone Store of Raremine, but you better be ready to cough up cash. If the nobles haven’t bought them all already. There are collectors that LOVE to get their hands on rare stones like Dawnstones. I know the owner of the Private Palace is one, and more may be living in Freecape Town or the top of Worldedge City.’ She shrugged a little.
‘Either way, you picked the hardest rock to be on a lookout for. But honestly, they could be basically anywhere. You just need to be lucky enough to find one.’ She considered for a bit. ‘There might be some in Mt. Strength. Miiiiight.’ She added, a little playfully.
She breathed out a little in accepting disappointment when it was clear she wasn’t going anywhere. But, she smirked at that last part, looking up at the slightly blushing Erika as she pulled out her phone again.. ‘Sure. Register it under “Elana”. That’d be me. You’re free to call if you need my services and I’m not on any other job.’ And then Erika could have her number.
@Pirouette I approve of sneaking in posts. Alright, that's a nice piece of post. Nicely posted!
Dawn Stone, eh. ... ... ... ... ... Oh, geesh. These stones seems to be basically the only ones with no clear pattern of where they show up, they're just rare. XD ... I'll see what I have her say. Haha.
That'll do. We just wrapped it out without taking considerable time talking about less important things and got a move on. That should free us up for future actions. Yupp.
The evening continued after Amber had left. The Djinn Sisters, Mariette and Deni eventually got to order, and by now it seemed the excitement had waned, so Deni made sure to drag in Eli as well, because it was to be a complete dinner with all friends present. Out of the three in Mariette's group, Deni was obviously the most active individual present, asking the Djinn Sisters about their pasts just because and asking what their plans for the future and such potentially were. Eli sometimes asked if Deni was being a bit nosy and prepare to lecture her sister, but Deni just grinned and continue talking.
Mariette was mostly quiet, but Violet made an effort to try to pull Mariette in to conversations at every opportunity but wasn’t very pushy about it. It was somewhat successful, Mariette spoke if she found she had something to say on the subject, mostly an opinion or a preference. But she wouldn’t speak of her past or current plans, only casual things. Turns out not even Deni or Eli knows her past. Hm.
Where Mariette was silent about herself, however, Deni was more than happy to talk about Deni and Eli’s past before they were Magical Girls, and about various troubles the two had before finally Asengav split them up. That they were two girls in the same body that sometimes switched places. Told about times when the wrong girl became in charge for a current event, seeing how Deni was a socially outgoing and sought out activity while Eli was a shy but talented girl that preferred to keep to herself, mostly, and so they had varying skills that didn’t always show up at the right time.
As for their future plans… “Eh, better you don’t know about them~”, Deni put it with a wide smile.
Deni was totally interested in the weirdest wishes the Djinn Sisters had granted, and if there were any hilarious stories of wishes gone wrong or hilarious in general that they were willing to talk about. Eli was totally interested in that, too, eyes shining a little, but wasn’t as vocal about it. Mariette wasn’t particularly interested, listened.
Violet hit it off with Deni and commented on the similarities between the two pairs of twins. Violet was free with various stories of odd or humors wishes but didn’t reveal any of the stipulations that they face with their wishes outside of the only three per person.
During the evening, Mariette got her milkshake. She became visibly surprised when intaking it, staring at the “milk”, in alarm, before taking more of it. It was… delicious, in a way that Mariette had never consumed. It somewhat overwhelmed her, which was clear for all to see. Deni shared that they mostly ate the sandwiches provided by the fridge in their interdimensional apartment which Asengav had provided to them, as well as the food Joe made them, but Joe was by no means a chef and gave them no sweets. So this was Mariette’s first interaction with actual dessert. “Don’t get her addicted~”
The part about Joe had just slipped out of Deni’s mouth, they weren’t actually supposed to talk about Joe because Joe didn’t want visitors from Mariette’s life. So, “please forget we mentioned him, okay~?” … And Eli was like “You mentioned him, not we” and another such exchange.
Violet teased Mariette lightly about having a sweet tooth while simultaneously planning on spoiling her with sweets at every opportunity. She acknowledged Joe but was willing to not bring him up again.
Mariette didn’t really react to being teased about having a sweet tooth, but after enough sweets she'd encounter another feeling she wasn't too familiar with. The feeling of being absolutely full. She didn't usually eat very much, you know. Then her willingness to eat drastically diminished. All the more for Deni and Eli! ... Oh, and the two of them could EAT, likely way more than the others at the table (devourers).
And then the dinner continued until everyone was full and satisfied and had spoken together plenty as friends do, before Sakura paid for the meal, and then Deni and Eli could say they had a good time. They thanked the one who provided the money and then said they’d see each other again before Mariette and the twins went away through a portal. Deni said the the three owed them one because of paying, and she’d see if they could pay them back sometime. But for now, onto other things.
Savo
Xaltwind
Framing A Moose
Ariamis
Not a Sayan
SkyeOfStars
Remram
Apollosarcher