You Wouldn't Pirate the Recap Episode

[15:01:35] <~Aori_Radidjiu> OKAY!  So.  Thursday, May 6th, 11:00 AM.  Melanie Ipu wakes up in a bed, facing an unfamiliar, white ceiling.  Next to her is a girl reading a book, a Togetic sitting in her lap and reading along with her.
[15:03:31] <Melons> Am I dead? Pretty sure I'm dead. That would make sense. I mean, the white ceiling is odd, maybe the whole Heaven and Hell thing is minimalist and the floor is red. Does that mean I'm in Hell since I'm looking up at Heaven? Or am I in between. Pretty sure I'm not on the floor though.
[15:03:34] <Melons> Melanie tries to sit up.
[15:06:16] <~Aori_Radidjiu> There's a series of bandages that constrict your torso, you notice as you sit up, but you're able to sit up just fine. There's some slight pain in your ribs, and you realize that your left arm is hooked up to an IV, as well.
[15:08:53] <~Aori_Radidjiu> The girl sitting next to your bed sets her book down on a little nightstand and smiles.  "You're awake!" It's Mirai, of course, and she's dressed in her usual white dress and red flower.
[15:09:32] <Melons> If I can feel pain I'm definitely in Hell. Although I'd expect some sort of introduction for it? Or something fiercer. Really, they must be slacking if this is all the pain they have to offer. Wait, that's a voice.
[15:09:45] <Melons> She turns her head slowly towards Mirai. "...what are you doing in Hell?"
[15:11:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She gets a devious grin.  "I'm in the form of your lover to torment you all the more!"
[15:11:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Then her face goes back to a smile.  "Naw, you're alive."
[15:11:55] <Melons> "Huh...we won then?"
[15:14:24] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Barely!  I tried carrying everyone off on my own, that didn't work out, but I managed to get some people to help me carry you guys off, as well as Lani and the others on the ship, and we got you guys to a hospital in Ark as fast as we could!"
[15:14:52] <Melons> "So...we didn't lose anyone?"
[15:16:05] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She scratches her cheek.  "We couldn't find Mako, and still have no idea where he is.  Med is doing some business with Lecia in Conch, at least, that's what Mistral told me!"
[15:17:38] <Melons> Mel grinds her teeth and lets out a big sigh. "Well...I fucked up and we lost Mako...awesome."
[15:17:51] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "But you, Lesieli, Mackenzie, that headphones guy, the cute girl, and the guy in the labcoat, we got all of you!"
[15:18:53] <Melons> A brief frown at not being the cute girl.
[15:19:28] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You're cutest when you're angry, you know~"
[15:20:00] <Melons> "Stop being a telepath."
[15:20:17] * Melons tries to stand up.
[15:22:56] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Something in your ribs hurts, but otherwise you SEEM to be all right.  "Might not want to move TOO much.  You got some regenerative therapy or whatever, so most of the stuff that broke is fixed up, but the doctors said your cracked rib still hadn't finished healing!"
[15:25:33] <Melons> "Will flips and shit actually slow down the healing process or just hurt a lot?"
[15:28:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "They'll just hurt, I believe they said you should finish healing that up by the end of today!  You got a pretty minor treatment of regenerative therapy, as you weren't like, missing limbs or something, but that Mermaid girl...she's still out of it, but they said they COULD regain the rest of her foot with enough treatment." She shudders a little.
[15:28:48] <Melons> "Oh, I forgot about her...that's good...we'll probably want to tell Lecia about her. Where's my stuff?"
[15:29:27] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She picks up a bag next to her seat.  "They wanted to put it all in a locker or whatever, but I told them I'd hang on to it!"
[15:30:40] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "A-also don't be too loud.  Lesieli's in this room too, she hasn't woke up yet."  She points to a curtain on the opposite side of the bed from her.
[15:31:43] * Melons rifles through it, putting on her usual stealthies and whatnot over the bandages. She stops briefly to inspect the sword with a frown before putting it whereverthefuckshekeepsit. "She's probably fine, she's a god or something."
[15:34:02] <Melons> "Speaking of which..." Mel inspects Mirai closely for post-deity differences.
[15:34:39] <~Aori_Radidjiu> (Mechanical heads up: Mel healed 4 WHOLE INJURIES.  Technically the injury she healed for that sleep was from the day before yesterday, and she's spent a large part of yesterday and today being cared for in a hospital~)
[15:35:20] <Melons> 2d6+7 Perception is probably a thing that would be rolled even if it's obvious there's no difference
[15:35:21] <DiceMaid-9001> Melons, Perception is probably a thing that would be rolled even if it's obvious there's no difference: 12 [2d6=2,3]
[15:35:43] <~Aori_Radidjiu> No difference that you can tell!
[15:36:10] <Melons> "No follow-up on that whole being possessed by a slutgoddess thing?"
[15:36:58] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I don't remember any of it!  I do have a new dress and a bunch of matching blue makeup, though!  I think that might have been a gift?  Kind of lame."
[15:38:03] <Melons> "I don't want to see the color blue ever again." Which may be hard considering two of her pokemon are blue, one would be if it were alive, and her own eyes are blue. "Is there a PC thingy anywhere? I wanna do the switch thing."
[15:44:54] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh, yeah, there's a PC here.  You sure you wanna' get up and not just wait for your rib to finish healing?"
[15:45:53] <Melons> "There's an evil organization killing mermaids and corrupting pokemon and probably a bunch of other horrifying shit. It's only one little rib." This is going to suuuuuuck.
[15:47:50] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Mirai escorts Mel out to make sure she doesn't flop out or anything
[15:47:58] <Melons> "Besides, if I fuck it up by moving, that Lecia chick can probably give me a metal rib or something. That'd be sweet. Or Med's dad can just teach me how to not die!"
[15:49:35] <~Aori_Radidjiu> And then we shift over to Cerise, who's waking up just about now!  In a hospital bed.  Amelia from the JUSTICE is sitting down next to her bed, her arms crossed, looking a bit bored.
[15:51:15] * Cerise rolls over several times in a crocodilian deathroll, turning her into some sort of cherry burrito with the hospital sheets.
[15:51:22] <~Aori_Radidjiu> The ceiling and walls are painted a dull white, and there's an open window with sunlight streaming out, it looks like it's about Noon, if you had to guess!
[15:51:35] * Cerise then begins groaning pitiably and in an exaggerated manner
[15:52:54] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Amelia blinks a few times, then stands up.  "You all right, Cerise?  Did they damage your spirit?  The doctors said your body was going to be okay, but I dunno'!"
[15:53:20] <Cerise> "I don't know. How do I check?"
[15:53:52] * Cerise sits up suddenly, and begins inspecting herself for a broken spirit
[15:56:34] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Amelia tilts her head.  "Well, I mean, you're just wearing a hospital gown, so you could check if your body's okay by just looking under it, but uh..."  She frowns in thought before punching a fist into her other hand.  "You could try and see if you can flare yourself up with a kiai, you know, when you yell really loud to focus yourself?  I know all about doing those!  That's how I fire
[15:56:34] <~Aori_Radidjiu> myself up, like HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"  She grips her hands into fists and starts yelling like a DBZ character.
[15:59:50] <Cerise> "Uhm."
[16:00:05] <Cerise> "Nah let's just say my spirit is fine."
[16:00:45] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Well, if you say so..."  She sighs, a bit disappointed.  "So what were you and Heath doing with those guys anyway?"
[16:01:04] <Cerise> "So since I'm alive and stuff, I assume we beat the badguyman? What'd they do with him? And what about the people from that other ship, are they okay? And is Heath okay?"
[16:01:20] <Cerise> "Oh well we found badguys. In a cave. And mermaids. But they're mostly dead now."
[16:02:54] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Heath's okay, the people from the other ship are okay although apparently they're missing one person and another one is doing some business in Conch?  And uh, we're in Ark, because there's no big hospitals in the mermaid place.   Who's mostly dead, by the way, the Mermaids or the badguys?"
[16:05:14] <Cerise> "The mermaids!"
[16:06:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Aw, so the badguys are still out there?"
[16:07:02] <Cerise> "I don't know, probably! How long have I been out?"
[16:07:36] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She deflates a little, and then suddenly stands straight up.  "Wait, that means we could still catch some!  That's great!  You're great!  I wish we were better at finding real badguys...um.  You've been out for a little over a day!  Since yesterday morning.  And it's like almost noon, so yeah."
[16:09:04] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Jack and the others are looking over Heath, I'm in here with you because we're both girls."  =|
[16:09:29] <Cerise> "I don't get it."
[16:09:49] * Cerise sits over the side of the bed, and begins to stretch.
[16:10:05] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I don't either!  But uh.  We were talking while you were gone and uh.  Did you want to go and...join that other group?"
[16:12:21] <Cerise> "Uh."
[16:12:30] <Cerise> "Maybe! I... I don't know!"
[16:13:40] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Well, I mean, you don't seem happy with us, and you seemed to do really good with that other group, and Heath doesn't really seem so happy being with us either, and that other group has someone missing and they had someone leave and they're kind of short on people or something..."
[16:14:41] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "And speaking of having someone leave, Rick wants to get that guy on with us because that guy's a policeman or whatever and could probably help us get a better success rate at actually catching real badguys and...well you get the idea."
[16:15:45] <Cerise> "I... see?"
[16:16:36] * Cerise is actually really confused. What's this talk of policemen or whatever?
[16:17:32] <Cerise> "Well uh, maybe that'd be good for you? So. Yeah."
[16:17:39] <Cerise> "Anyway let's go see the others."
[16:17:40] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Yeah..."  She gives out a SIGH.  "I wish we could be better and that we didn't have to restructure I mean I don't dislike you or anything but...I mean, you seem to be on a totally different wavelength from the rest of us.  I dunno'."
[16:17:58] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Amelia was never the eloquent sort
[16:18:12] * Cerise pulls the sheet off the bed and wraps it around herself like a big cape.
[16:18:53] <Cerise> "Yeah I guess. Very well said!"
[16:19:17] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh uh, we've got your dress in a locker, lemme go get it."  she goes to a locker near the corner of the room and unlocks it, pulling out a scratched and cut and somewhat bloodied dress.  "Here it is!"
[16:21:05] <Cerise> "Thanks!"
[16:21:09] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "...maybe I should have grabbed another one from your wardrobe, sorry."
[16:21:18] * Cerise pirouettes over and takes it.
[16:21:42] * Cerise wads it up and throws it at the nearest trashcan
[16:22:02] <Cerise> "Heh, it's okay. I'll get my stuff later."
[16:23:49] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "B-b-but you're wearing almost nothing!  Um..."  She rummages through her bag and eventually pulls out a somewhat hastily folded dress.  "I-I have my backup!  You could use that!"
[16:23:51] <Cerise> 2d6 FREE THROW
[16:23:52] <DiceMaid-9001> Cerise, FREE THROW: 4 [2d6=2,2]
[16:23:59] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Missu.
[16:24:10] * Cerise :(s
[16:24:17] <~Aori_Radidjiu> You throw your dress at the trashcan near the corner
[16:24:22] <~Aori_Radidjiu> And instead it goes out the window above it
[16:24:32] <Cerise> "It's okay we're in Ark right?"
[16:24:39] <Cerise> "So I don't need to wear much!"
[16:24:44] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I guess..."
[16:24:46] <Cerise> "Besides, blanket."
[16:25:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh, sure, blanket!"
[16:25:09] * Cerise draws it around her like a cape again, using the front part of it to shield herself, batman style.
[16:25:40] * Cerise stops being then and continues towards Heath's room! Only then she realizes she has no idea where she's going.
[16:25:46] <Cerise> "So where are Heath and the others?
[16:26:54] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh!  Um, I know exactly where they are, uh, Heath is over this way!"  She opens the door and motions and then sort of freezes up.  "Oh.  You've uh.  Got an IV in your arm."
[16:27:18] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I think the IV things can be unplugged and dragged around wtih you though!"
[16:28:20] <Cerise> "Oh, er, right!"
[16:28:41] * Cerise does that. Or obviously did that because the alternative is that she'd been dragging around WITH HER VEINS IDK?
[16:29:03] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Or ripping it out
[16:30:33] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Amelia leads you out, down a hall, and eventually to a room that has HEATH in it.  He's sitting up, looking a bit groggy but otherwise okay.
[16:30:51] <Cerise> "Hello everyone~"
[16:31:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Jack and Rick look up, neither really waving or anything, but Heath gives you a wave.
[16:33:48] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Rick speaks up.  "Are you supposed to be a superhero or something?"
[16:34:24] <Cerise> "Or something!"
[16:34:32] * Cerise sits down at the foot of Heath's bed.
[16:34:40] <~Aori_Radidjiu> He adjusts his glasses.  "I see."
[16:34:41] <Cerise> "So what happened, huh?"
[16:36:03] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Heath stays quiet, but Jack speaks up.  "Some girl was trying to drag a bunch of unconscious people with the help of some pokemon and she asked us for help!  And then you guys were with them.  You guys got into a scuffle with some shady types or whatever?"
[16:53:21] <Cerise> "Shady types indeed. SHADOW TYPES maybe!"
[16:54:01] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "As in Shadow Pokemon?"  Jack HMMMMS, and Heath nods.
[16:57:50] <Cerise> "I think that's what was said, yeah."
[16:58:24] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Well...this definitely is something worth investigating.  Dunno' if they'd still have anything left over in their base, though.  The Mutiny's crew are all pretty beat up, probably need some time to rest and get themselves together, but WE...well, three of us, anyway, are in fit condition and could totally find any leftover leads that might be there."
[16:59:08] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "...oh, um.  Cerise.  Maybe Heath too.  Did you guys...want to leave?"  Jack frowns, pushing his usually up hood back.
[16:59:52] <Cerise> "I dunno! I wasn't planning on it. And then Amelia was all 'but you should actually' and gave some pretty good reasons. So maybe I will."
[17:00:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Well, give it some thought, I guess.  Go where you think you'll be best off.  You get the idea.  Maybe go see that other crew and ask them if they're okay with it."
[17:02:15] <Cerise> "Hm, yeah I get it."
[17:02:58] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I mean, honestly, I'm a bit jealous of how you managed to find such a big lead while you were off with them!"
[17:04:08] <Cerise> "Well, maybe you'd find more big leads if you weren't busy trying to enforce tiny things!"
[17:04:27] <Cerise> "I heard you're getting some sort of Polis-Man. Maybe he can help you with that?"
[17:04:51] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Yeah, maybe..."
[17:06:55] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You didn't really see this, but there was one time Rick, Heath, and I went out and found a big lead, went straight for it, called you two girls to come after us, and when we got ot the place, there was another PIRATES crew, the S.S. PERFECTION, that was leading a bunch of guys out of the place.  Right under our noses.  We didn't tell you two before because we were kind of embarrassed."
[17:07:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "And here it is, something similar happening again."
[17:07:10] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "We've got to step up our game.
[17:07:11] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "
[17:11:07] <Cerise> "Uhm."
[17:11:10] <Cerise> "Yeah. Well."
[17:11:13] <Cerise> "I'm sure you will!"
[17:11:31] * Cerise awk
[17:11:45] <~Aori_Radidjiu> He looks like he's about to say some big, inspired speech, but smiles instead at your comment.  "Thanks."
[17:14:51] <Cerise> "Right so."
[17:15:03] <Cerise> "I guess I'm gonna... go get my stuff from the ship."
[17:15:06] <Cerise> "Good luck and stuff!"
[17:16:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Amelia, why don't you go with her, show her where the ship's docked."  Amelia reluctantly nods.  "Okay, sure."
[17:17:13] <Cerise> "Heh. We're uh, ovary buddies again!" Cerise says as they step out of the room.
[17:17:15] <Cerise> "Sorry?"
[17:18:16] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She shakes her head.  "It's fine!  I'll deal!  Besides, like I said, I don't dislike you or anything!  I just...feel a little awkward."
[17:19:06] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "...maybe I'm a little too attached to Jack, is all."  She frowns.
[17:19:53] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "...actually, if you leave, that means I'll be the only girl!  Huh."
[17:20:28] <Cerise> "Yeah! And then you won't have to do stuff like this because there won't be girls to do it to!"
[17:21:01] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Maybe!"
[17:23:16] <~Aori_Radidjiu> And so she helps get you checked out of the hospital and leads you off to the ship and other offscreen things!
[17:25:01] <Cerise> Woah!
[17:25:30] <~Aori_Radidjiu> NOt the lewd kind of offscreen things, of course!
[17:26:36] <Med> quick, make a charm check that says otherwise
[17:26:58] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Amelia doesn't swing that way
[17:27:04] <Med> quick, make a charm check that says otherwise
[17:28:11] <Cerise> no >:T
[17:28:35] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Meanwhile, Mel is downstairs, sans IV and with Mirai, after doing some checkout stuff so that Mel can leave if she wants!  They've managed to find the PC, too!
[17:29:27] <Melons> Why do I need to checkout to leave? I leave when I want! Mel pokes at the PC, not entirely certain how they work. "...is there a way I can send things back home instead of leaving them stuck in a PC?"
[17:30:16] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I believe you can set it up that way if you've got a home that has like, some kind of ranch or tutoring facility or something."
[17:30:44] <Melons> "Pretty sure we had a thing for that..." Help file, I choose y- oh god there are so many words and things to click.
[17:31:38] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh yeah, your parents are tutors, right?  Um, let's see, my parents worked with Pokemon and medical stuff, I believe I know a little bit about how to set this up..."
[17:32:19] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Mirai takes a turn at the PC, asking for some personal information and location codes and all sorts of junk, but eventually this leads to having to call your parents.
[17:33:10] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Call them y/n?
[17:33:14] <Melons> With dread, Mel y's.
[17:34:42] <~Aori_Radidjiu> The PCs are equipped with one of those videophone things that you see in the anime ALL THE TIME, so Mom's face pops right up on the screen.  "Snow Point Tu- Melanie!?"
[17:35:01] <Melons> "Um...hi!"
[17:35:44] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Or you could use your own phone which totally has a skypething or whatever, the fluff doesn't matter too much
[17:36:11] <Melons> Should've just asked Lecia to hack it. Presumably the PC is used.
[17:36:41] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "How are you?  I wasn't expecting a call from you after those emails, but this is great!  I should get your father~"
[17:37:30] <Melons> "It's...not like I hate you guys..." Mel turns to Mirai briefly with a rather overwhelmed look. "Um...I have a broken rib or something, but otherwise fine?"
[17:37:50] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Hello Mrs. Ipu~!"  Mirai waves.  "Yeah, that's correct."
[17:39:56] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Ah, is this one of your crewmates, Melanie?"  Mom waves back.
[17:40:15] <Melons> "That's...Mirai...the girl I mentioned in the e-mail..."
[17:40:50] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh.  Oh!  H-hello!"  She's caught a little off guard but seems still enthusiastic
[17:43:22] <Melons> "Yeah...so...I've like...kissed her...and stuff...or...I'll...stop...now..."
[17:44:18] * Melons is avoiding eye contact with anyone soooooooooo hard.
[17:44:23] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Y-you can call me 'Mom' if you want, M-Mirai!"  She's nervous but wants to be nice sobad
[17:46:00] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Okay Mom!"  Mirai replies without skipping a beat, and Mom blushes a little.
[17:46:09] <Melons> Mel eeps a bit at the suggestion before looking to Mirai for her reaction. "Oh! Don't...she...doesn't...it's...oh...alright then..."
[17:47:29] <Melons> "Um...so...I was wondering...I have like...9 pokemon now...which is more than six...so I need a PC thing...and you guys have space...so...you know..."
[17:48:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh, you want us to take care of your spares?  Sure, we could do that!"
[17:49:17] <Melons> A rather non-awkward smile grows on Melanie. "How...do we set that up?"
[17:50:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Well, you see..."  Mom walks you through the steps of it, giving you instructions on all the technical stuff.
[17:51:38] <Melons> Ado, Koa, and Kei (the Mienfoo) are ultimately sent to Snowpoint.
[17:52:33] <Melons> As well as a message for each of them, generally just lovey things for the first two but a promise to get Kei when Med returns with the Mawile.
[17:52:33] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Ado is glad to see Mom again!  Koa seems a bit unfamiliar with the place, but doesn't seem to have any problems with being there
[17:53:10] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Kei seems listless at first but perks up when you inform him that you'll pair him back up with Fangs.  He seems to be okay with this arrangement.
[17:53:24] <Melons> "Thanks!"
[17:53:58] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You're welcome, we'll be sure to take good care of them, don't you worry!"
[17:54:40] <Melons> "Oh...there was one more thing...how do you guys know the Mizous?"
[17:58:35] <Melons> Mel's face has become rather apprehensive upon mentioning the name.
[18:11:09] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh, the Mizous?  Your father and Akio were old friends, they met while we were in university, Akio went there to lecture a bit right before we graduated, and then we traveled with him for a while!  But we eventually split up.  He asked us to go teach [REDACTED] about tutoring for a while, we actually had him live with us, although you didn't pay him much attention.  He stayed in
[18:11:09] <~Aori_Radidjiu> our actual business building, not the house,a nd you didn't come over there very often, so I guess you don't remember!"
[18:11:31] <~Aori_Radidjiu> ([REDACTED] being Shadow Claw's name)
[18:11:55] <Melons> (Goddamn Missingno, fucking up sounds)
[18:12:13] <Melons> "Oh...that's...weird..."
[18:13:14] <~Aori_Radidjiu> You vaguely remember some foreign kid, but he could've been a client rather than an apprentice for all you knew!
[18:13:38] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Well, 'kid' is relative, he was about 19 then.
[18:13:45] <Melons> An infant.
[18:14:04] <Melons> "I guess that's all I needed...I'll...call again some time...or something..."
[18:14:29] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Okay!  I'll look forward to it!  Bye Melanie!  Bye Mirai!"
[18:14:36] <Melons> "Bye...love you, Mom..."
[18:14:54] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Bye Mom~"
[18:15:36] <Melons> Click. Or boop. Or pop. What sound effects do PC-phones make when you hang up?
[18:15:51] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Zoop~
[18:15:54] <Melons> Zoop is good.
[18:20:23] <~Aori_Radidjiu> And now we move on to Mackenzie Frazier.  He wakes up, lying in a hospital bed, a white ceiling above him, and with a woman looking over him.  There's light streaming in the window, and whoever she is is on the phone.  "Yes, yes, just remind him what's in his contract, as he clearly seems to have forgotten.  Got it?  Good."  Oh god it's Jennifer.  Sitting right next to your bed.
[18:22:19] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She hangs up on whoever, muttering "The nerve of some of these guys..."
[18:26:13] <Mackenzie> "Good morning..."  Mack acts unfazed by waking up to the sound of getting chewed out, and seems more occupied with seeing if any of his pokemon are there.
[18:27:49] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh.  Good morning, Mr. Frazier."  Jennifer puts her phone away.  Ross and Veronica are on the foot of your bed, both taking a nap.
[18:30:03] <Mackenzie> "This wasn't how I planned on showing you how wrong things have gotten, but maybe that's for the best."  He's very relieved to see Ross and Veronica, but otherwise his tone is very flat and not emotional.
[18:33:35] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Mmmm, this wasn't how I was planning on discussing things either, but here we are."  She adjusts her glasses and wrinkles her nose a little.  "So. I'll wait for your explanation, then.  Do choose your words carefully."
[18:40:11] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh, I almost forgot, before you begin..."
[18:40:55] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She rummages in her purse and pulls out a phone.  "The man who brought me here had to step out for a bit to handle some business, but he told me to give you this new phone if you woke up while he was gone."
[18:42:00] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Some bald man in a suit."  She sets the phone down on your bed.
[18:43:14] <Mackenzie> "...Thank you.  The man in black?  His name's Gran."  He leaves the phone where it is.
[18:46:31] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Yes, he introduced himself and everything.  Strange, that one."
[18:46:49] * Mackenzie takes a deep breath. "The first thing I want to tell you is that nothing I've told you thus far has been a lie so far as I've known when I said what I have. That's the most important thing I wanted you to know." Mack closes his eyes and thinks for a few seconds, before continuing. "When this all started, it was presented to me as something so absurd that it couldn't have been
[18:46:49] * Mackenzie real. I thought it was a private invitation to audition for a new movie, and since I was supposed to be on vacation, I didn't think there would be any harm in checking it out." Mack looks over at Jennifer, and his face gets very serious. "It was all real, though. I'm in the employ of an organization aiming to weed out a secret shadow group fronting themselves as simple pirates, and by
[18:46:50] * Mackenzie the time I realized it was all real, I was much too far involved for simply leaving to be an option. That's why I was secretive with the contract. I wanted you to know that I was serious by speaking your language, and I wanted to be assured that you would not try to let this information out."
[18:49:24] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Well, for what it's worth, I haven't spoken of any specific details to anyone yet, besides saying that you've been caught up in something or another.  I wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth before I went out and spoke on the specifics to anyone else."
[18:58:49] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Do go on, though.  I'm listening."  She folds her hands on her lap.  Her phone goes off but she ignores it.
[19:09:23] * Mackenzie stirs Veronica, and invites her to sit on his lap. "It started off quaintly enough. We went to an icy cave where it was said that amateur pirates dwelled. In there, I found a talking Ursaring who swore up and down he was a human until I tested his theory with a pokeball. He and his three Teddiursa are now part of our crew. There was also a strange room that didn't fit in with
[19:09:23] * Mackenzie the rest of the cave at all, and it was full of strange recording equipment. It was using... Do you remember Smeargle Cards?"
[19:09:58] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Yes, I do."
[19:13:51] <Mackenzie> "We ended up leaving that room be, but...  Now that I think about it, that room was likely linked to what happened yesterday.  Anyway, some of the other crew members found and captured their first shadow pokemon, but that was all that was noteworthy there.  After that we went to Berry Island, but that was uneventful, and then we also located and captured some pirates in a cove that was
[19:13:51] <Mackenzie> very...  ghastly.  Actually, haunted.  Because there was a shadow Haunter that we captured when we brought those pirates to justice."
[19:16:50] <Mackenzie> "Next, we went to find a stolen shipment of lasers.  Large, weaponized lasers.  We were led to a house where an exchange was supposed to take place, but the building was set up, and we barely escaped that building alive.  Afterward, though, we chased down the ship that was firing at us, and we managed to take that crew of pirates down without any fighting."
[19:17:38] <Mackenzie> "I did not meet the person who sent us to that building, but it seemed very much rigged up to trap us in, as if they knew we were coming...  I'll have to ask the others about that, too."
[19:19:41] <Mackenzie> "Most recently, we went to Ark City, where we discovered that there was some sort of curse on the city, polluting the rain with some form of dark energy, and causing select people--specifically women--to become uncharacteristically angered and violent.  We later learned that these women were descended from mermaids, and we were led to the island Mermaid Haven...  Which as it turns out,
[19:19:42] <Mackenzie> is actually also a haven for mermaids.  Or it was."
[19:21:56] <Mackenzie> "When we reached the mermaid haven, it was...  The mother lode of real evil.  The mermaids were all cursed, and incited into a frenzy by the full moon, they all slaughtered one another...  When we realized what was going on, we were flanked by a group of scientists, the people that did this to them.  I attempted to blend in with them to learn what I could, but before long one of our crew
[19:21:56] <Mackenzie> members went insane and ratted us out, and also tried to kill us."
[19:24:11] <Mackenzie> "We made it out with our lives thanks to a goddess who had led us there, but...  We all got separated.  We managed to find a lone survivor of the mermaids, and hopefully she made it out okay.  We got attacked by a straggler scientist, who was talking about their research being ruined, and he nearly killed us before we took him down.  I hope we managed to capture him and bring him back
[19:24:11] <Mackenzie> to the ship...  He's our only lead left, and also our biggest one yet."
[19:24:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I can see why you thought this was a movie contract."
[19:24:42] <Mackenzie> "It's insanity."
[19:29:43] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I'd have a hard time believing you if that Gran hadn't given me a rundown of your work as well.  Suffice to say I understand your situation is one of general insanity.  I'd been ready to be much harsher with you, but now I'm not sure what to think."
[19:31:26] <Mackenzie> "We could make enough money to make Visiwa look like peanuts if we produce a movie adaptation of this."
[19:32:01] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She grins.  "We could make a whole franchise out of this."
[19:32:24] <Mackenzie> "I can't survive this without your support."
[19:35:52] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Ah, here we go."
[19:36:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Are you sure you can keep this up?"
[19:39:46] <~Aori_Radidjiu> She pulls out a cigarette.  "Mind if I smoke by the window?"  She's gotten out a notepad and written down notes on what you've said while you were talking, and is putting it away about now.
[19:47:20] <Mackenzie> "I don't know if I can make this happen, but if I don't have a director, I'm bound to make some error I won't wake up from.  As I sat here and told you what happened, I realized at least three connections I should have made already."
[19:56:45] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I don't talk about this often, but about 10 years ago, right after I got out of primary schooling, I went into the military.  It was one of those study programs they offer, join the military, get your schooling while you're in it, they pay for it, you get the idea.  It was supposed to be a pretty cushy affair, while things are messed up in some areas, you have to agree that the world's
[19:56:45] <~Aori_Radidjiu> relatively peaceful, but..."  She shakes her head.  "They had to call some people in to help with border disputes over by Okowa."  She gets up and starts lighting a cigarette, with or without your permission, over by the window.  "And let me tell you, I saw some shit there.  I wasn't ready for it, and am glad I made it out of it, and this rubbish, you don't sound ready in the least
[19:56:46] <~Aori_Radidjiu> for it either."  She takes a drag, then exhales some smoke outside.  "That's why I started smoking, you see.  If you want me here, I'll be here, I guess.  My job is mostly phone calls anyway, and I've been putting off some vacation days for a while."
[20:04:12] <Mackenzie> "I wasn't expecting any more than an advisory position...  You know, helping me keep events in order, contacting people in advance, giving me directions from the ship..."
[20:05:01] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Oh, good, I'd prefer it that way."
[20:16:28] <Mackenzie> "...I need to see if the mermaid we saved is alright.  She was extremely badly wounded."
[20:16:47] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I haven't been given any information on that, you'll have to ask someone else."
[20:17:25] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I'll be leaving to get some of my affairs in order, I believe most of your injuries have healed, so you should be fine on your own, yes?"
[20:18:06] <Mackenzie> "Yes.  I'll go find some of the other crew members and see if anyone knows how she is."
[20:19:12] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Then I'll be off."   She puts out her cigarette on the windowsill, and makes her way to the door.  "See you in a bit."
[20:39:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Les!  You wake up from the blackness, opening your eyes to see an unfamiliar white ceiling, with light streaming in from a nearby window, and a curtain on one side of your bed.  Nobody's in the room with you.  Everything's a little hazy since you saw that scientist guy and tried to tackle him and then you got really angry and...uh...what happened?
[20:41:17] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Isis and Fluffy are on your bed, looking at you with worried glances.
[20:41:43] <Lesieli> "Nnnggghh"  She stirs and gropes around for her fluffy, staticy pillow.  Where or where is he
[20:42:23] <Lesieli> Grabs him and squeeezes the everlasting fluff outta him, still half asleep
[20:52:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> Fluffy's used to it, so doesn't complain.  Isis puffs up her cheeks, a little disappointed that SHE doesn't get any attention, but she's interrupted by Sullivan jumping up in front of her with a "Min~!"  Er, that is Sullivan, right?  There's footsteps from the other side of the curtain, and then someone walks in!  It's...
[20:52:22] <~Aori_Radidjiu> ...you still can't remember his name.
[20:52:49] <~Aori_Radidjiu> But he's here!  For whatever reason.  He sits down on a chair next to your bed.  "So she is here, that's good..."
[20:53:49] * Lesieli cracks her eyes open just a bit "Hmm?  Why're you in my room?"
[20:54:28] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Because I'm visiting, of course!"
[20:57:23] <Lesieli> "Sneaking into a girls room while she's sleeping though, that's kinda . . ."
[20:57:44] * Lesieli mumbles the rest of whatever that was
[20:57:51] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "It's not like you own it!”
[21:00:10] * Lesieli Takes a moment for that comment to register, but her eyes pop open as she quickly sits up  "Wait, what?  Where's -
[21:00:14] <Lesieli> "
[21:02:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You're in a hospital, you know!"  He grins.  "My, seems you're still pretty groggy and out of it."
[21:03:45] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Besides, Shelley wanted to see her brother." The Minccino on your stomach nods enthusiastically.  "You're not going to keep family apart, are you?"
[21:03:48] * Lesieli flops back down, flimsy hospital bed creaking as she does so "Ah, guess that makes more sense, no wonder this bed doesn't feel so comfy"
[21:06:54] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Someone informed me that you'd been hospitalized, so I figured I'd go visit!"
[21:09:01] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "How are you, anyway?"
[21:09:52] <Lesieli> "Wait, if you're here, then where the heck am I?  Weren't we like, on the other side of the region?"
[21:10:55] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "We're in Ark City, at the moment. I was actually out here for some business and happened to find out you'd been put in this hospital."
[21:13:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> He scratches the back of his head a bit, and then grins.  "I was running an errand for Ms. Hana, you see."
[21:14:47] * Lesieli peeks out the window "Ah, so we are, so we are.  Man"  She flops down again, despite already being flopped down, rubbing her forehead "I have NO idea what's going on anymore"
[21:20:14] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "She sends her regards, as does her grandmother and your parents!  And of course I am too."
[21:22:38] <Lesieli> "Hnnn" She grins, "that sounds nice~  We'll probably be stopping by there sooner or later"
[21:22:45] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You doing all right with your job?" He leans in a little, resting his head on his hand.
[21:22:58] <~Aori_Radidjiu> propping his arm on his leg
[21:23:11] <~Aori_Radidjiu> A pose kind of like The Thinker
[21:23:43] <Lesieli> "Well, haven't been fired yet have I?  That's always a good sign"
[21:23:53] <Lesieli> ". . . I haven't been fired, right?"
[21:24:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I haven't heard anything of the sort, so I'd say no!"
[21:29:14] <Lesieli> "Well good, just wanna make sure they didn't secretly abandon me here or something.  That'd be embarrassing~"
[21:29:18] * Lesieli chuckles lightly
[21:30:39] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I believe one of your crewmates was on the other side fo the partition here, but they seem to have left!  I guess they're feeling better now.
[21:30:41] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "
[21:32:52] <Lesieli> "Heh, good to hear, good to hear" She cuddles the ball of fur even tighter, bits of static running off onto her skin
[21:34:57] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You gonna' sit here a while?"
[21:35:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> You feel a bit sore and tired, but you certainly don't feel like anything is broken.
[21:36:03] <~Aori_Radidjiu> More like you've been laying in bed a bit too long.
[21:40:23] * Lesieli sits up again "I dunno, not sure what else to do really.  I'm sure someone'll come get me soon enough"
[21:41:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I spoke with a Nurse, and she said that you should be good to go as soon as you wake up, gave me a key to the locker they put your things in." He holds it up.
"Want me to help you out?"
[21:46:03] <Lesieli> "Nngh"  She doesn't really give a very intelligible response
[21:50:25] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You all right?"
[21:57:43] <Lesieli> "AAAGGGHHHH"  She suddenly screams and leaps out of bed on top of him, tears streaming as she buries her sobbing face into his chest  "WhattheheckamIdoinghereimsofreakinguselessicantfighticanttrainicantdoanythingrightimjustagiantwortlessliabilitywhoshouldneverhavebeenaskedtojointhemandnowtheresterriblepeopledestryingwakinoherselfnadallicandoisscreweverythingupandjust. . ."  rambling on and...
[21:57:44] <Lesieli> ...so forth, crying all the while.
[22:00:06] <~Aori_Radidjiu> He gives you a big hug, patting you on the back all the while.  "Hey, I think you're capable of great things, and besides, I heard you guys captured someone and saved someone's life!"
[22:00:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "...I didn't get many specifics, though."
[22:03:24] * Lesieli ignores his attempts at comfort  "and let dozens more die I haven't done anything helpful at all the entire time we've been out here and just keep messing everything up an "
[22:05:33] <~Aori_Radidjiu> He's not letting go, he's just kind of squeezing you tightly.  Not uncomfortably so, but pretty tight.
[22:10:34] * Lesieli keeps sobbing and rambling for several minutes, though eventually it starts to slowly die off and calm down
[22:11:08] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "There there~"  He doesn't seem to mind all that much.
[22:16:59] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You better now?  Need anything?"
[22:18:28] * Lesieli Slowly she calms down and stops rambling, using his shirt to try and dry the tears a bit, responding only after a decent length of silence broken by just the occasional sob.  "I really do have no idea what I'm doing out here though"
[22:21:50] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Do you need help, then?"
[22:24:06] <Lesieli> "More than anyone has to offer I bet"
[22:25:47] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Les, I'll help you out if you need it!  I know you're capable of more than you think, and that's why..."  He starts to say something, catches himself, and then continues.  "That's why you were picked for this job in the first place!"
[22:31:49] <Lesieli> "Fine, teach me how to not screw up everything ever then"
[22:40:42] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "It's not easy!  But you start by focusing ont he world around you, finding out the needs of the people you're working with, how you could help them be better as well.  You don't get better on your own, you help everyone else get better, and they help you get better in turn, you see!"
[22:42:42] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "If you guys as a group are having trouble, it's not just one person's problem, it's everyone's problem, you all have to work together on it."
[22:42:51] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "That's what I think, anyway!"
[22:48:06] <Lesieli> "Oh sure, that'll be easy.  They all hate me by now anyways I bet."
[22:48:30] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I never said it was easy!  Being good isn't easy, if anything, it's being bad that's easy!"
[22:54:41] <Lesieli> "Ngh"  She grunts a reply, seeming to be running out of excuses.
[23:02:22] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "You think you can do that?"
[23:02:22] <Lesieli> And finally she realizes she's been clutching his chest this whole time holy crap what am I doing.  She suddenly shoves off him and flusterdly sits back down on the bed
[23:02:48] <~Aori_Radidjiu> He smirks.  "Feeling better?"
[23:03:24] <Lesieli> "Fine, I suppose I'll keep trying.  I guess.  Though I still feel completely lost in this whole thing"
[23:04:13] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "I could stick around for a bit if you want.  I'm not in a hurry at the moment!"
[23:12:49] <Lesieli> She wipes the last remnants of moisture from her eyes, straightening herself up as best she can  "Sure, if you want to I suppose.  Guess I should go find the rest of my team, huh?"
[23:13:26] <~Aori_Radidjiu> "Yep, you should.  Let me help you get straightened out, then."
[23:20:31] * Lesieli doesn't object, at least
[23:21:02] <~Aori_Radidjiu> And here is where we end our look into the lives of this crew.  At least, until next time.
[23:21:26] <Lesieli> When the pokemon shall run amuck and mess everything up, hooray!