Level 19 [2 VIDEOS / ACTION FOR GOLDENROD / THE JUNCTION]

[rocketralph]

VIDEO 1

_{[The camera pans slowly across the rubble piled in the Goldenrod streets as Ralph makes his way out of town. He yawns loudly from off-screen.]}

Sheesh, and here I thought we had a wild party. You...guys remember that, right? Because I'm pretty sure I didn't do all this in my sleep...everyone alright? Ah--darn it, hang on. 'Gear's tryin' to give me some kinda alert.



VIDEO 2
_{[The feed flicks on again much later--again the camera is pointed at the path. Trees lay in great heaps and a few wild Pokemon scatter as the big man passes them by. As he walks, a chorus of Pokemon cries can be heard. The 'gear flips around to show Ralph's chin as he lifts his head and goes on the alert. He stops walking and the cries crow louder. It's a panicked chant of SU DO WOODO! SU DO WOODO!.]}

Oh jeez! The reporters weren't kiddin'!

_{[With a little fumbling, the ruckus is finally revealed. The Sudowoodo are in an uproar, flailing all across the path.]}

Comments

Action

[a_sin_for_him]

[It looks as though the city has been bombed. What in god's good name had happened while they were away? Whatever's happened, Lust doesn't like it. The rubble and damage - though her own home is fine - give her an uncomfortable sort of feeling.]

[But there's nowhere to go, exactly. The reports of blocked roads aren't exaggerating. Which is how she finds herself staring at a writhing mass of wailing tree bits. Oh good god.]

[She's sitting off to the side of the road, on an upturned tree, scrolling through her Pokedex when Ralph shows up, Guttle at her feet. She's actually wearing her own clothes, something she hasn't bothered with in some times. She's hardly made up or put together, but she's wearing her own clothes.]

[The trip to the moon, fuzzy as some memories are, had done her good.]

They're in a panic. I haven't the faintest idea what to do.

[rocketralph]

_{[Ralph puts up his gear and jogs the rest of the way to the scene. It's then that he notices his moon-wrecking buddy. Something's off about her today and he doesn't think it's the best idea to mention it.]}

I can see that...

_{[He stops next to her log and rubs the side of his head. Oof. He's still feelin' some of those bumps to the head from yesterday...if it really was yesterday.]}

We can't possibly catch them all. Can we?

[a_sin_for_him]

There has to be an easier way. Maybe we could just....herd them?

[Her voice doesn't hold much hope for that. If they weren't in some grips of panicked madness, perhaps. But in this state?]

[She slips her gear back into her bag and stands up, lips tight.]

They're very upset.

[rocketralph]

Herd 'em, huh...

_{[Ralph strokes his chin as he watches the rock-types panic. He gets an idea. It's not a good one. Suddenly he throws his arms into the air and rushes towards them.]}

URRAAHHHHH! GET ALONG LITTLE DOGGIES!

[a_sin_for_him]

[They're going to try literal herding, alright. Lust has seen those prairies and plains films. She likes the men in the big hats, they tend to wear snug jeans and bulge out of their checkered shirts in the shoulder area.]

[She's had just enough of her daily wine to shrug and turn to the wailing Sudowoodo. She smooths her leggings and t-shirt before following Ralph's lead.]

[The only thing she can call to mind to shout is 'yeep yeep', which she's relatively certain is what the bulging big hat men yell at the herd animals.]

[This is a terrible idea.]

[rocketralph]

<sub>[It is a terrible idea.]

[As the cowpokes grow closer to the stampede, their hollering and waving arms only aggravates the Sudowoodo. Instead of clearing the path or simply choosing a direction, several of them lock arms to protect the few Bonsly that were also scurrying around.]

[And then, the begin using Rock Throw.]

[Ralph ducks where he stands, covering his head.]</sub>

Lust! I'm not sue this is gonna work! Ow!

[a_sin_for_him]

Oh dear god....

[Lust flings up her arms, recoiling from the rocks. In theory, that had been a perfectly sound idea! They're trying to help!]

Come on!

[She tugs at Ralph's arm - they've got to get off the path until the barrage stops!]

They'll stop eventually...

[rocketralph]

_{[He let himself be led and once they were out of rocking range, Ralph rubbed a slowly darkening bruise on one of his knuckles.]}

Eventually might not be soon enough. I've got Sonic with me...and he knows Watergun. But I don't really wanna fight 'em either.

[a_sin_for_him]

No...they're upset and frightened. Guttle has plenty of water moves himself, but...

[Fighting them just seems cruel. It's not as though they understand what's happening to them.]

[Lust sighs and purses her lips. They're upset. They're distressed. They need to be calmed. What could possibly calm them? Well. There is always the old standby, when it comes to soothing beasts.]

What if we sang to them? That always works in stories when wild creatures are upset.

[rocketralph]

_{[Ralph makes a face.]}

Sister, if I sang to those Pokemon they might up and keel over...but you could do it! I bet you've got a great voice!

[a_sin_for_him]

I do, but I'd feel ridiculous doing it alone. You can't sound that bad.

[Or so Lust assumes. And she really doesn't want to do it by herself. Not with Ralph right there. She doesn't sing in front of other people. Not anymore, anyway, she'd done so sometimes where Scar could hear, but that had been different.]

[rocketralph]

I've had plenty a' people at Tappers tell me they lost hitpoints just from listening to me. Trust me, it's not pretty.

_{[Ralph frowns back at the panicked not-trees for another beat before his face lights up. He turns back to Lust.]}

Hey! Do you have a Pokemon that could sing instead?

[a_sin_for_him]

You realize I'm going to demand a demonstration, one of these days.

[No one can be that bad. She refuses to believe it. Out of tune, off note, but what Ralph's describing?]

And I do, actually, I have Chanteuse. We vocalize together when no one else is home. You aren't bothered by Jigglypuffs, are you? Some people are.

[Well, one person. But if one person's bothered by a thing, it stands to reason others might be. And Jigglys can be...odd. And off putting.]

[rocketralph]

_{[OH thank goodness! He'd hate to drive a wedge in this friendship with his horrible voice. Her question confuses him though.]}

Not at all...who'd be bothered by a Jigglpuff?

_{[said the man who had Clefairy issues.]}

[a_sin_for_him]

People are bothered by all sorts of things.

[But that's all Lust needs to let her attention adoring Jigglypuff out.]

[She has to wait for Chanteuse to stop prancing and posing upon being let out of her ball - Lust rarely keeps her Pokemon confined, but current events make it a bit of a necessity at the moment. The Jigglypuff looks like she's mugging to an audience that isn't there.]

Just...give her a moment. If you clap, this will wrap up quicker.

[rocketralph]

<sub>[Ralph offers up a wide shrug. Fair enough! When Chanteuse appears, he has to raise a brow at the Pokemon's antics. She kind of reminds him of another Pokemon he knows.]

[He feels like he can see where this is going.]</sub>

Got it. _{[He sends up a round of applause for the pink puffball.]} Glad you could join us!

[a_sin_for_him]

She's quite the little diva.

[Lust applauds out of rote, well used to Chanteuse and her demands for praise and affection and attention.]

Alright, alright, that's enough. We have a concert to perform. For a far larger crowd than simply Ralph here, come along.

[The promise of a big concert is all Chanteuse needs to obediently fall in beside her trainer and join her in the road. She's always wanted to perform professionally!]

I don't suppose we could request a bit of at-the-ready shielding, should it turn out that Sudowoodo hate music in all its forms?

[rocketralph]

_{[He rubs his chin as he looks around at the destruction.]}

Suppose I could build us a barricade...or we could climb a tree.

[a_sin_for_him]

I was thinking more along the lines of being ready to lob a log between us and the panicked masses, but whatever you think best.

[Chanteuse is already in the middle of the road, primping and preening in preparation for her big debut. This isn't the venue or audience she's been expecting, but there are so many Pokemon to watch her!]

[rocketralph]

_{[Or...that. That could also work. Ralph has yet to admit that he's always a little shaky on his feet every time one of those Weird Weekends passes them by. He has to re-learn his limits as far as his strength goes all over again.]}

On it!

_{[Keeping a wary eye on the panicked pokemon and that may or may not turn into a raging mosh pit, Ralph skulks across the road and finds a log that's as big around as his leg. With a loud grunt he heaves it up into his arms and sends Lust a firm nod.]}

Let 'er rip.

[Video]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[It's been a little bit since Wrath woke up to a seemingly-empty house, so he's calmer than he was before.]

[Though his face is still puffy and red when he responds.]</sub>

... Those ugly trees are really mad!

[Video]

[rocketralph]

You can say that again, squirt.

[a_sin_for_him]

[Lust nods in return and lifts one hand, index finger extended. She draws Chanteuse's attention, the pair standing facing one another in the road. Thank god it's only Ralph that's here to see this. She doesn't do this sort of thing in front of anyone else. It always feels...silly. Something more suited a little girl than a former eldritch femme fatale.]

[She clears her throat and begins vocalizing, the Jigglypuff immediately joining in. Lust keeps the tempo with her finger, not bothering to sing actual words, just what she hopes are soothing sort of sounds.]

[The effect is a pretty one.]

[rocketralph]

<sub>[Ralph grows still and listens. Say, that isn't bad! That isn't bad at all! Lust joining in manages to keep him from growing drowsy under the pink Pokemon's spell.]

[Slowly but surely, one by one, the imposter trees stop their flailing and turn toward the duo to listen. The dust starts to settle and the Sudowoodo's eyes grow droopy.]</sub>

It's working...it's working, keep going! You ladies are killin' it!

[Video]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[...!]

[HE CAN?]</sub>

... Those ugly trees are really mad!