You Wouldn't Pirate a Witch

Jun 16 16:46:34 <Knox>	Granted our dear Melons is the initiator this time, Knox is probably in his room, possibly contemplating suicide to get out of the Cute Contest. ...or maybe not.
Jun 16 16:48:07 <Melons>	There's a single sharp knock at his door followed by a few more hesitant thuds.
Jun 16 16:48:37 <Knox>	"It's open." he calls over.
Jun 16 16:51:14 <Knox>	When Melanie enters Knox's room, he's in front of his chest of drawers mirror, practicing facial expressions. He's dressed like http://paradoxhaze.wdfiles.com/local--files/knox/nowinashirt.png  and on the dresser next to him is an Illumise you're sure he didn't own before. It's just sort of contentedly flickering. Charybdis the Tentacuddle squelches adorably nearby as well, and Fangs
Jun 16 16:51:14 <Knox>	seems to be busy playing some sort of board game with Spectrum.
Jun 16 16:52:09 <Melons>	After a delay that almost seems like she hadn't heard him, the door slowly slides open, Melanie standing there in full witch raiment, with her new hat pulled down to cover her eyes. She shuffles in and closes the door behind her but remains silent.
Jun 16 16:56:35 <Knox>	Knox glances behind himself when he hears the door open but no response. "Bit early for halloween, isn't it? ...Nah, ust shitting you. It's a good look. Weren't they selling those in town? Think the kid might have been eyeing up some of the dresses they had..."
Jun 16 16:56:46 <Knox>	He seems to be feigning ignorance.
Jun 16 16:57:36 <Knox>	Not even in a particularly guiley way, though. Mel has him kind of redhanded, even her intuition can pierce that.
Jun 16 16:58:41 <Melons>	"You uh...you didn't...you shouldn't...you really didn't have to do that..."
Jun 16 16:59:41 <Knox>	He seems a bit surprised for a moment, and then the gears in his head turn. Should he keep lying? ...Nah, he respects Mel's intelligence more than that. "I know I didn't. I wanted to. Isn't that enough?"
Jun 16 17:00:26 <Knox>	"Surprised you figured it out so quickly. Did Mirai catch me going into your room, or was it just that obvious?"
Jun 16 17:00:49 <Melons>	She shifts uncomfortably in place. "You mentioned needing money..."
Jun 16 17:01:13 <Knox>	He snorts. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Jun 16 17:02:38 <Knox>	He turns away from his dresser. "Well, do you like it, or what?"
Jun 16 17:03:13 <Knox>	"Dumb question, I guess. You wouldn't be wearing them if you didn't."
Jun 16 17:03:27 <Melons>	"I...have never really..." She pulls the hat down further, muffling her words slightly. "You're the second person...outside my family...to have ever given me a g-gift..."
Jun 16 17:06:04 *	Knox walks over and tips the brim of the hat up. "You're welcome." He's not really 'invading personal space' close.
Jun 16 17:09:02 <Melons>	As is standard procedure, her eyes are downcast and her face red. "I...you...uh..." She has a pokeball clenched between her hands.
Jun 16 17:10:00 <Knox>	"Alright, take a deep breath and fucking sit down or something." he pulls his desk chair over and has a seat on his bed.
Jun 16 17:10:24 <Knox>	And from here he just waits for her to form her words.
Jun 16 17:12:25 <Melons>	"J-Just...just take it...I want...to give a gift too..." She thrusts her hands forward, holding the pokeball out for Knox.
Jun 16 17:13:06 <Knox>	"You already did, you realize." he says a bit flatly, before looking at the pokeball. "What's this, though?" he takes it.
Jun 16 17:14:09 *	Mayuri (mayu@sux-DCC9351A.lightspeed.rcsntx.sbcglobal.net) has joined
Jun 16 17:18:16 <Melons>	"Um...well the one before...wasn't...really...uh...meant...like...i-it's...well I had a Crobat...but I can't really give him the attention he deserves...and it's a little cold back hom for flying types...so I thought...maybe...you wanted..."
Jun 16 17:23:42 <Knox>	"Your Crobat...?"  he's quiet a moment, looking at the pokeball. "...Alright. He'll have to go through the same training I put the others through, and I could really use a flying type, but..." he's quiet a moment. "You honestly trust me to take care of him? Fangs is more or less happy as long as she gets to see Kei. Are you sure he'll.." He's quiet a moment, not really finishing his
Jun 16 17:23:42 <Knox>	thoughts, but he nods. "...yeah, okay. I'll do my best, I guess. Will the Crobat be alright with this?"
Jun 16 17:25:20 <Melons>	"He's pretty nice actually...although he might bite you...or me if he can...he likes to bite out of love, it's pretty cute."
Jun 16 17:26:07 <Knox>	"Huh." it doesn't seem like he has much of a problem with that. "Alright. What's his name?"
Jun 16 17:26:27 <Melons>	"It's...uh..." She drops her voice to a whisper. "B-Batso..."
Jun 16 17:27:57 <Knox>	He -almost- cracks up but stops himself. "...Batso. 'kay. I'll try to take good care of him. Thanks."
Jun 16 17:30:18 <Knox>	He sits there, expectantly.
Jun 16 17:31:43 <Melons>	She kind of grabs at the edge of her new cape and stands there awkwardly. "Um...y-yeah..."
Jun 16 17:34:52 <Knox>	"What's with you all of a sudden? Did I embarass you or something?" Knoxtuition is go. "Or maybe it wore off. With the amount of stress relief drugs being peddled in Ark, I wouldn't have been surprised if that was your 'preparation' for the contest. Whatever the case, relax. You don't have to be embarassed to talk to me or shit."
Jun 16 17:35:47 <Melons>	"N-No it's...it's different...very different...I uh...um...c-can you keep a secret?"
Jun 16 17:36:16 <Knox>	"You're asking me this knowing full well what I saw that night a week ago."
Jun 16 17:36:21 <Knox>	"Of course I can keep a secret."
Jun 16 17:36:41 <Melons>	1d6-2 I CAN SEE THROUGH YOUR LIES!
Jun 16 17:36:43 <DiceMaid-9001>	Melons, I CAN SEE THROUGH YOUR LIES!: 0 [1d6=2]
Jun 16 17:40:19 <Melons>	Melanie makes sure the door is locked before rushing over to Knox, getting all up in his personal bubble, her nose inches from his with an expression between horror and awe. "IdidsomethingIprobablyshouldn'thave!" Her eyes are occasionally becoming very reminiscent of TV static. "I..." She taps her head. "The thing I trapped in my head..is now me."
Jun 16 17:41:31 <Knox>	He squints a little, looking at her eyes, but doesn't lean back. "What? What do you mean it's now -you-? This doesn't sound like a body-grabbing case."
Jun 16 17:42:39 <Knox>	His own expression is something between confusion and intrigue.
Jun 16 17:44:02 <Melons>	"W-We...uh...kind of m-merged...like...um...well...a-after the other night...sh-she...it...was in my head, right? And..uh...well...some stuff happened...a-and...I k-kind of...shared my body...which means...I'm like...the s-same thing?"
Jun 16 17:45:29 <Knox>	"Oh. Well... congrats." he actually looks a bit relieved. "Sounds like you got to help it like you wanted, and it got to be free like it... you? wanted. And you're still at least half Melanie, right? You probably got some perks out of it, too. Sounds like everyone's happy. Except probably people like Lecia."
Jun 16 17:46:48 <Melons>	The moment Lecia's name crosses his lips Melanie finds a way to get even closer "Canwetalkaboutheranddreamstuffrealquick?!"
Jun 16 17:47:07 <Knox>	"Personally I'm just fucking relieved it didn't turn out to be some evil eldritch abomination trying to replace or manipulate you. It's not really often you -can- trust things in your head that aren't you." And when she leans in he scoots back just a bit. "Uh, sure."
Jun 16 17:48:26 <Melons>	She drops down onto his bed, playing with her hat a bit. "I forget...how much did I tell you about Missingno and how much did I lie about?"
Jun 16 17:49:18 <Knox>	"Yes, I can instantly know how much you lied about." he says sarcastically. "Just cover whatever you feel's relevant."
Jun 16 17:50:00 <Knox>	He makes room for her, turning to face her.
Jun 16 17:51:07 *	Vandaeron (Vandaeron@sux-41637921.altnpa.east.verizon.net) has joined
Jun 16 17:56:53 <Melons>	Her eyes widen a bit at the revelation of his secret power. At least, before she finishes parsing the information and scowls briefly. "O-Okay...so...um...y'know how the Aetherfucks rewrote shit? Well like...all the shit that WOULD be but wasn't had to go somewhere, right? It's like...kind of...the difference between what should have happened and what we now know to have happened is still around as eraser shavings. Because it got
Jun 16 17:56:53 <Melons>	 erased. And then you know, leaves the little...annoying...pink rubbery things...and normally you just like throw those away or drop them on the floor or something. But...since they're not like...literally those...they're more...uh...something. Like, those fucked reality eraser bits collected in the nightmare...and...um...like...combined to form Voltron. But instead Voltron was the terrifying first incarnation of Missingno you'r
Jun 16 17:56:53 <Melons>	e lucky you never saw. So it was...it should have existed...but it was the bits that didn't...and when I talked to Lecia and that Swanna slut while I lost my body...they didn't seem to give any fucks what it was, just that it was disruptive!...and...uh...where was I going with this..."
Jun 16 17:59:35 <Knox>	"I'm surprised I'm following this so far."
Jun 16 17:59:40 *	Knox waits for her to continue.
Jun 16 18:02:30 <Melons>	"Oh...yeah...so...well...I found that...I'm not...not as good..." She looks like she's ready to cry again but manages to continue. "...I'm very disappointing compared to how I would have been...but...well you know...I'm...still...me. But they didn't like Missingno because it wasn't what should have been, but neither am I!...and...I don't think...Lecia should be either...she's not even from here!"
Jun 16 18:11:33 <Melons>	She looks up at him as though she'd asked a question.
Jun 16 18:14:00 <Knox>	He snorts. "Are you really that eaten up about who you could have been? That has no real bearing on you now. And just look at you, you've combined with what's basically a god composed of bits of reality itself. How the fuck is that not impressive? Hell, if you're right, you may even be the key to getting rid of Aether's worst influences on this world. You're pretty much a deus ex machina
Jun 16 18:14:00 <Knox>	without the machina. Lecia's been helpful but she's hardly some perfect, omniscient fucking being who knows what's objectively right or not, so who gives a shit what she thinks about Missingno? Didn't she say she named it after some video game thing, anyway? Probably colored her perceptions all the fuck over.. You're you, whatever you're comprised of, and you should be fucking proud of
Jun 16 18:14:01 <Knox>	that fact."
Jun 16 18:15:13 *	Lenore (Revolution@sux-1B6987ED.hsd1.in.comcast.net) has joined
Jun 16 18:15:39 <Knox>	"I'm curious on who I was, too, bu t more for the sake of knowing and fucking up what Aether did."
Jun 16 18:16:32 *	Aori_Radidjiu has quit (Ping timeout)
Jun 16 18:20:46 <Melons>	"...I...don't see what's impressive about typing IDDQD...in any case, the bigger deal was the thing she didn't like about it is the thing I AM! And...well...I don't know if Mackenzie even understand any of the dream shit, I mean he seems to have some weird dream shit himself, but he probably doesn't know the difference between a cleanse tag and a sale tag. The kid seems to mostly be along for the ride. And Lesieli..." Melanie si
Jun 16 18:20:46 <Melons>	ghs and her mood dims. Well...I mean it was kind of dim...but not...whatever... "...I don't...know how well we're going to be getting along...on like three levels..." She counts on her fingers silently before nodding. "Yep, three. There are of course quite a few others on the boat, but they're not...they're not really privy to the same information...I need you to know that you are the only one I can trust with this information
Jun 16 18:20:46 <Melons>	 at the moment, so...if shit gets...well...bad...I don't know how...but...you'll be my only hope. Probably."
Jun 16 18:25:14 <Knox>	"So I'm Obi Wan Kenobi now, am I?" he jokes, accidentally revealing a tiny bit of nerdiness on his own end, but then he seriouses up. "...alright. You're putting that much trust in me, so I'll do my part if shit hits the fan. Don't worry."
Jun 16 18:26:40 <Melons>	"Oh and if you fuck up, know that I am a petty creature with a fondness for revenge."
Jun 16 18:26:43 <Melons>	4d6+4 Pokerface
Jun 16 18:26:44 <DiceMaid-9001>	Melons, Pokerface: 19 [4d6=5,4,4,2]
Jun 16 18:26:52 <Knox>	1d6 Intuition
Jun 16 18:26:53 <DiceMaid-9001>	Knox, Intuition: 1 [1d6=1]
Jun 16 18:27:23 <Knox>	He gives her an unnerving squint.
Jun 16 18:28:08 <Melons>	To be fair, she probably finds butterflies unnerving. Even the normal kind.
Jun 16 18:29:05 <Melons>	"..." She pinches his cheeks.
Jun 16 18:30:11 *	Lenore is now known as Aori_Radidjiu
Jun 16 18:30:27 <Knox>	"...Was there anything else we needed to cover he-" and his cheeks are so pinched. "H-hey!" he bats at her hands. "You can't just do that shit to a guy of my temperment, you'll give me a bad rep." Seems he's mostly kidding.
Jun 16 18:30:56 <Knox>	3d6 focus to avoid becoming flustered
Jun 16 18:30:57 <DiceMaid-9001>	Knox, focus to avoid becoming flustered: 9 [3d6=1,4,4]
Jun 16 18:31:04 <Knox>	Nope, he is so flustered.
Jun 16 18:31:12 <Aori_Radidjiu>	^ is what I was about to say
Jun 16 18:31:32 <Melons>	"It's last minute training. You didn't forget what you're about to be doing, did you?"
Jun 16 18:31:58 <Knox>	"Ugh, you had to go and remind me."
Jun 16 18:32:29 <Knox>	"Well, at least I can -hopefully- look forward to it as a possible opportunity to show up Mack and Mayuri. ...Though I doubt that's happening."
Jun 16 18:33:11 <Melons>	"I think literally every single other person on this boat would be a better teacher than me for learning how to be cute, including Mister Puppy, but presumably you'd blubber like I would if you tried asking any of them for help, hmmmmmmm?~"
Jun 16 18:36:09 <Knox>	"Yeah, good luck, I'm not going anywhere near that." he shudders. He gets up off the bed again. "You know, I've never even watched a contest before... but here's the thing." he faces his mirror again, straightening his hair and checking his appearance. "I know it's all a load of showy bullshit. It's for 'cuteness' but people in general are lazy and gullible. Most don't really care about
Jun 16 18:36:09 <Knox>	things like talent, or hard work. They come to shows to be entertained. And with the right mindset, I don't doubt they can be manipulated just the same."
Jun 16 18:36:57 <Knox>	"All you have to do is convince people you're entertaining, and there's no difference from the real thing."
Jun 16 18:37:45 <Melons>	Melanie PTSDs a little bit while Knox is distracted by his own looks. "...Mayuri is going to have you weeping by the end of it isn't she."
Jun 16 18:38:54 <Knox>	"As long as I get third place prize I don't give a shit how badly she beats me. Wouldn't mind a chance to show her up a little, though. As for how nauseating it's going to be... I -really, really- fucking wish I could have a stiff drink right about now."
Jun 16 18:39:24 <Knox>	The Illumise was returned during the serious talk, by the way.
Jun 16 18:39:34 <Melons>	"...have you...ever performed in front of throngs of judging plebs with their eyes boring holes into your soul?"
Jun 16 18:40:41 <Knox>	"Only during Speech in high school. Fuck that shit." he looks back at her though.
Jun 16 18:41:11 <Melons>	"That was in a room full of other people that hated doing it. No talent shows, plays, concerts, performances, anything like that?"
Jun 16 18:43:17 <Knox>	"Do I seem like someone who craved the limelight? No, I was more of a social outcast. No extracurricular activities, no piano recitals, nothing like that. I wanted as little to do with everyone else as possible because it was all the same, mind-numbingly boring shit. Even the local punks stayed away from me."
Jun 16 18:44:05 <Knox>	"Why, did you?"
Jun 16 18:45:57 <Melons>	"...you know, they say after a couple times you get used to it. But I'm pretty sure it's why I'm...like I am. They just keep staring and watching and...and laughing. Or feeling sorry because they think they're better than you...you know, maybe I WILL watch it after all..."
Jun 16 18:49:07 <Knox>	"Really? Well, your choice I guess. There's some unopened bags of popcorn in my duffle bag if you want."
Jun 16 18:50:09 <Knox>	He doesn't seem to be as bothered at the prospect of being laughed at as Melanie is, but... for a moment he glances at her, just briefly.
Jun 16 18:50:39 <Melons>	She quickly averts her gaze at that moment. Making eye contact would have been awkward!
Jun 16 18:52:39 <Melons>	"Oh...uh...Batso's favorite music is...anything with a lot of bass...I think listening to that high-pitched shit all the time as bats do tires him out..."
Jun 16 18:53:38 <Knox>	He looks back at the mirror, frowns into it, somewhat satisfied and stretches. "Alright, well, guess that's that." He glances at her, and grabs his MP3 player from the dresser. "Yeah, I might have something for him."
Jun 16 18:54:59 <Knox>	"You can get me the rest of the details after the show. Not like he still can't hang with you if he wants to, though."
Jun 16 18:56:19 <Melons>	Melanie nods a bit. "Alright...good luck being cuter than king of the dorks and a magic fairy princess. And all of the other people on this island that are leagues more adorable than you. Frankly you might just be the least adorable person ever." She gives a cheeky smile, though it accidentally turns into a normal one.
Jun 16 18:57:40 <Knox>	He laughs a bit. "You're preaching to the goddamn choir. Have fun looking like a badass witch, I guess."
Jun 16 18:58:19 <Knox>	"Anyway I'll take that as a compliment."
Jun 16 18:58:32 <Knox>	"Let's get the fuck outta here."
Jun 16 18:59:55 <Knox>	He smiles, too. the same sort of genuine smile when he woke up on Jackknife, before grabbing Illumina's pokeball and heading to his door.
Jun 16 19:00:21 <Melons>	She hops off the bed and slips past Knox towards the door. Fucking acrojumpers. "Oh, I also want to find out whatever the fuck Luna was talking about, we may have some work to do after the contest. She might be exorcising shadow pokemon thinking that they're just dick ghosts or something. So...uh...see ya." Abscond.
Jun 16 19:00:36 <Melons>	6d6+3 Inb4 critfail
Jun 16 19:00:37 <DiceMaid-9001>	Melons, Inb4 critfail: 28 [6d6=4,5,4,4,2,6]
Jun 16 19:00:56 <Knox>	AND THAT IS </mini>