victory_road | BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!

[She turned to him somewhat sharply, not meant to be imposing. At least at that time. Okay, maybe a little. To assume someone of her social standing wouldn't be able to procure something like a drink was...understandable. After all, no one knew of House Dimitrescu. But the people here would know she meant business, in due time. If she were to be here much longer.

You don't mess with a Dimitrescu, and live to tell about it.]

I have said that, did I not? When I said to reward you with a beverage, I did not expect for your hands to reach your wallet.

Uh huh.

[For all what she intended to do, her grace helped him catch on that she meant for this to be a lesson. Which was only initiated because Gonta at least seemed receptive to the idea that people should be kind because they were, not by their appearance or title.

So...she continued, placing the lens in her frames carefully. He still seemed to be kindly listening to what she was saying.]

Being a "gentleman" is subjective like that. You have to let your actions speak for themselves; and because it's the right thing to do, not because you want to be seen as something.

[He's startled as she turns at him and takes a step back! Now for some more nervous chuckles while hoping she's not mad!]

Of- of course! When you lay it out like that, it does sound really obvious! [Considering he's just recently been dumped into this world, he's assumed most strangers are in a similar boat and most likely don't have money to throw around. Plus being treated by someone seems too good to be true!]

I accept! Please buy me a drink, ma'am!!

The Toucannon doesn't seem to care too much about the verbal objection - but he is not a fan of that bark, doing his best to brake in midair and answering with another squawk.

He catches sight of Millennial Tree Cookie, and... apparently this metal dog situation is more important than his efforts to eat his trainer. So he swoops down and wheels around to land behind Millennial Tree Cookie and Earth Colt, staring affrontedly at Shadowmaru like a petulant child hiding behind his parent.

And he squawks again.

Meanwhile, Millennial Tree Cookie twists around warily to watch Bitingbird's change in path. "...Are you ready to settle down, then?"

Apparently, he's actually not to bothered by the metal dog situation, himself - even if he might not have quite remembered yet that he's heard about something like this here.

Edited 2021-05-31 00:36 (UTC)

[Ochako sadly just nods along to that first bit, glad that Hawks at least got the rundown of this place from someone else - it really makes sense, he was always so well informed - but she looks a little bit...worried? What will happen if Hawks loses his quirk? Will his wings just simply fall away, like the feathers of a wilting flower? How sad is that for a Hero so used to just flying freely... There's also the ugly side of her who's envious, too, wondering if he's just special that he gets to keep his quirk, because he's a Pro.

Thankfully, that part of her gets crushed right away, because Ochako's head lifts up, eyes wide. Wait...what? Poeople get their powers and forms back sometimes?]

Wha--...no one told me that, I. [Looking down at her hands, or more specifically the tiny pads on her fingertips, then furrows her brows and takes a deep breath. Before approaching her massive Swablu and simply...deadlifting it up and over her head as if it weren't the size of a house.] Ah...AHHH!! I-I-IT WORKED!! IT REALLY WORKED, I...!

I-I HAVE MY QUIRK BACK, TOO!!

What's a kami? Is that one of the sidhe?

[Mebh has heard plenty of stories from her mother about the sidhe, and the Tuatha Dé Danann, the gods the people of Ireland worshiped long ago. In fact, the whole reason there are Wolfwalkers in the first place is because her tribe refused to give up the old traditions when Saint Patrick arrived.]

You don't seem like other wolves I know.

[Jumping slightly with a quiet 'oh!', Ochako blinks owlishly under the wide brim of the hat as it's placed on her head. She really wasn't joking about it suiting her a bit better - the lighter color of the sunflower's petals compliment the chestnut color of her eyes and hair, and the white is a good pair to her naturally warm wardrobe and youthful air. But mostly she's just a bit flustered by the gesture itself, turning a little pink(er) around the cheeks.]

Ah...ehehe, you think so? Th-Thank you, ma'am, you're much too kind...um!! What about this one for you? It's not exactly a sunhat, but...

[Marching over toward a stand on the opposite the row they were at, Ochako takes a dark, felt hat from its place and holds it up. It's simple - just one color cloth with a matching bow, but it's the simplicity that seems to draw Ochako in. Like the woman herself, and her ensemble, too - simple, not overly detailed or with a great flourish, but elegant and certainly catching.]

I bet you'd look even more beautiful in this one!!

The sudden outburst has her startling, all other expressions on her face disappearing into a mask-like affect. "Whatever."

Fine, if younger Felix is going to be like that, she isn't going to help him. She turns to start walking away.

[And that in and of itself is SO FUCKING WEIRD to him? It's Guzma's turn to raise his eyebrows because seriously, what the fuck? Is this weirdo really a goddamn newbie? He's how old? Probably around Guzma's age...which is mid-twenties (26 to be exact), so to be that braindead when it comes to Pokemon is actually kind of startling.]

The heck...you really never seen a single Pokemon battle before or something? Were you actually born in a nest on some reclusive mountaintop or something? Or in a cave?? They let you weirdos just waltz into any convention nowadays if your cosplay's good enough?

[It managed to get through to him, for the most part. She's given him a lot to think about. Although ideally, he'd like to act and look like a gentleman. But this experience has reinforced the utmost importance of the former. He nods thoughtfully as he takes her words in and commits them to heart.]

Sorry, Gonta is not a very smart boy. But... Gonta thinks he understands what Nice Lady means. Gonta has to do what's right and not worry about looking like a gentleman or not! Gonta... can be a gentleman, even without dressing like one...

[A firm nods.]

Lots to think about!

Yeah, I did, but be glad I ended it, too, you dang freak.

[Guzma returns the still furious Pokemon to its ball, then is immediately pulling off his hoodie, tossing it to the ground and then following suit with his white tank under it. He doesn't exactly have a cloth or a towel or anything so...this'll have to do. Noivern is probably in that mess somewhere, too. Guzma's forgotten about it entirely.]

You need to wash your face off right dang now - Ariados silk can be poisonous and slow acting. You won't know how bad it is until you scratch at it in a few days and peel off your freaking skin. You got any water? An antidote or Pecha Berry? How're your eyes? Mouth, too. Didn't ingest any'a that, right?

Elidibus says nothing at first, merely stealing another sip of juice.

He smiles, "It tastes much sweeter stolen from your fingers."

Taking a step back, the Emissary looks up at Dave, meeting his eyes directly. As they hold, the shorter man gives his head a sharp shake, and the strange distracted haze seems to fade from pale eyes. A spark appears instead, his lips quirking into a smirk.

"I am unsure of what this 'anime' is you are referring to, though perhaps you misunderstand my station. A villain I have been, but also a hero when times have required such a service."

A pause, before he raises a hand and coalesces a ball of shadowy magic upon his palm.

"Perhaps not monsters, but would you like a demonstration? I would love nothing more than to provide one."

And he did want to show off, but he would never phrase it that way.

[Well, well. Hawks isn't entirely surprised to find out that he's not the only one operating under an information disadvantage here. He got a rundown of what's happening in general from someone else shortly after his arrival; the discussion just hadn't gone as in-depth into things like pokémon typings. Things like "why am I here and what do you mean I'm being press-ganged by Team Rocket" had kind of taken precedence.

He's a little confused, because he'd been under the impression that the people of this world - aka, people familiar with pokémon - are aware of these kinds of shenanigans happening. But he supposes that either this guy missed the memo, or somehow he doesn't realize that Hawks is definitely not a native.

Mistaking his look for cosplay, for instance.]

Nope, never seen a single pokémon battle. To put it real mildly, I'm not from around these parts. Just woke up here a few hours ago, displaced from where I'm supposed to be...and where I'm supposed to be doesn't have pokémon at all.

And by the way, this isn't cosplay. [To illustrate, Hawks spreads his wings and flaps them sharply, twice. It's enough to whip up a wind strong enough to flap Guzma's jacket.

They're big wings. And they move as naturally as a bird's, which would be a quality of cosplay that Guzma's probably never seen.]

There's a mechanical-sounding huff. Heavy footsteps of metal on concrete, and the big dog robot drops into a sit in front of them. Cocking his head to one side. Exactly the way a real dog would.

Except he doesn't have a tail, that would just make this scene.

"Your bird is extremely energetic, I see."

No judgment here. Just casual observation.

That is truly strange - though MT supposes it might not be if he were more aware of current technology? Hmmm.

On the other hand, he might not have room to talk at all, seeing as how living cookies don't exactly seem to be the norm here, either... and yet, here he is. He drops down off Earth Colt's back, a distance of just a few inches, and smiles a bit wryly up at the robot with a small nod of agreement. "That, he is. I must thank you for distracting him, even if I suppose it was not intentional. Until now, that energy had all been directed toward me."

Shadowmaru cocks his head again, the other direction. Listening. Trying to place the voice - he's absolutely sure he knows it. And with his usual systems in place, it's simple enough to pull the memory files.

A dance partner. A conversation over the network.

"I know you, do I not?"

Not exactly a lot of other places left.

[Though if she being in the Crystarium was a surprise, her being in the Crystarium working as a bar wench a hundred years later is probably even more so.

She doesn't protest it happening, even if she does feel a little tense and resistant to it before she just...gives in, heart aching--a good ache, though she doesn't know how long this will last.]

What is this place? I've certainly not seen anything like it.

[It's too quiet, too peaceful. No one is armed--she hasn't even seen so much as a dagger.]

I mean, we are literally below the Goldenrod Radio Tower and surrounding buildings.

[Sorry. He had to make the joke.]

More seriously... we're expected to be visible as Rockets but not necessarily recognizable as ourselves. Grunts, especially, are meant to seem interchangeable to the public. That's why there's a uniform, complete with hair-covering hat and a mask to obscure some of our facial features. A lot of our colleagues go beyond that for disguising themselves for public-facing missions--I personally favor attaching more prominent facial hair with spirit gum, color contacts, and a judicious amount of stomach padding--but you don't have to. Keeping separate pokemon teams for Rocket missions and our public identities isn't a bad idea, however.

[Felix is about to tell her to quit buttering him up, but he can't get a word in edgewise between all the rapid-fire questions.]

Stop.

[He pinches the bridge of his nose briefly.]

That's too many questions at once. Ask them one at a time.

[Despite saying so, his brow furrows as he tries to remember everything she asked.]

The motions are necessary, but they vary depending on the class techniques used, not by spell. So I'm not sure how specific they need to be. Uh...

[What else did she want to know...]

I wouldn't say it's tiring, but it does take a certain kind of energy. Different from physical fatigue. Those who are more advanced develop greater reserves of that energy and can keep casting far longer than I can in a single battle. Oh - and I know one other lightning spell. I can demonstrate that one too, if you like, although the end result is more or less the same. Other than that, I possess a general sensitivity for magic and better defenses against it than someone who knows no magic at all. And I can do this.

[He holds out one hand and gathers magical energy in his palm, causing the same ambient static as before, but much less intense. Electricity crackles and sparks around his hand, but otherwise doesn't do anything.]

Edited 2021-05-31 09:39 (UTC)

[Well. So much for not being outdone! Glenn blinks at Cecil for a moment, then whistles, impressed.]

Speaking of marvels to behold, what the hell was that?

[The conversation doesn't deter him, though, and he takes just a moment to take a few experimental slashes at the air, feeling the difference Cecil's magic made. Then he grins.]

Well, whatever it was, let's see what it can do.

[Rather than cast again, he twirls his sword back into a ready position and dashes toward the massive Gigalith pounding on the walls. His first few strikes do little to dissuade the rocky beast, its exterior sturdy and strong.

So Glenn pauses, gathering his focus and centering himself, before he launches into a swift flurry of strikes from every direction, darting to and fro almost faster than a human ought to be able to move. As he does, his Crest activates - a sigil of blue light, shaped like a stylized sword-and-shield combo, that shines faintly in the air behind him.

On the final strike, the poor Gigalith suffers the consequences of the combined might of the Crest of Fraldarius, the Astra combat art, and whatever Cecil did to Glenn:

It flies through the air away from the castle, already fainted by the time it's in midair. It's blasting off.]

Edited 2021-05-31 10:10 (UTC)

Aye, I saw as much, seemed the best option of what was left really.

[He's more surprised he managed to miss her, though he would be sure to get a few jabs in about her working as a bar wench if he knew. Did the Warrior of Light ever tell her he was around? Hm.

He gives her a friendly one arm squeeze before he pulls her back where he found her as he was passing by. It's just polite to make room for other giant pokemon walking by instead of taking it up with his Ponyta after all.]

You're in Goldenrod City, in a region called Johto. It's....well, nothing like the First in any case. [He gestures to Lamimi, whose snoot was probably way to close to Cylva's face sniffing curiously at her.] The people here battle with these creatures, Pokemon, though its more a sport to them than anything serious. Their whole society practically revolves around them.

Speaking of, meet La- [He stutters slightly, realizing just now who he's been naming his whole team around. A notch softer now:] Lamimi, my Ponyta.

Nah, they're called Pokemon. Don't know how they compare to Dream Eaters, but there's hundreds of 'em, and they've all got different types and abilit-

[Ooh! Time for Slash to boldly return to the fray and wow Sora with his intellect and charm!

He materializes some ice around his claws for emphasis.]

Such as the ice type, slayer of dragons! And the dark type, mysterious and alluring~

You’re smart enough to get that, I think you’ll be fine. It means you have the emotional maturity to do the right thing.

As long as you stay committed, you’re doing better than most.

[Poor literacy aside, he understands that. Kevin would never, and he was able to form full English.

This guy wasn’t smart but he knew that, yet compensated by trying to understand.

He...wasn’t bad.]

And it’s Daria.

[Emotional maturity? That sounds very gentlemanly! Gonta's smils grows prouder, and he blushes.]

Ah... Sorry. Gonta forgot to ask your name. Gonta is happy to meet Daria! Gonta's name is Gonta Gokuhara.

Magnificent. Spectacular. This is such an astounding sight he's lost for words-

And for that matter, immediately ignoring any warnings and instead approaching the dragon as one might (cautiously and properly, to his credit) approach a large dog. "What a lovely coat she has! Is this a mantle of petals which form her wings? She's absolutely splendid!"

And...there are more!? "Why I would love to meet them! If they themselves are willing of course!"

BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST!

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no I love her so much <3

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