[Game] Lord Windos' PokeRole Adventure: Celadon City Vandel

[Lord Windos]

......Do you her whispers?

Spoiler

Weavile looks just a tad offended for a second, really.  (Which definitely interrupts any purring he'd been doing)

As does Reiner for just a moment.

...though it's soon followed by a heavy sigh with closed eyes.  "...given what nearly happened here in this very room after four years...can't say I blame you too much for not wanting to fully trust us with such a delicate mission after just one..."

Weavile quickly deflates a little himself alongside Taylor, I imagine.  Particularly since he's one of the primary reasons they got caught back at the Dragon Shrine originally...as much as he doesn't like it, there's not really any way to sugarcoat that fact right now...and the droop in his ears makes it quite obvious, really...while he is quite cocky and confident most of the time, he does feel bad about what his actions caused 4 years ago...even though you'd be hard pressed to get him to admit that most of the time...Taylor of all people implying his skills are lacking definitely takes a little spring out of his step, though...

Silence.  Painful silence.  Reiner knows he's far from the only one who didn't like what Taylor just said...he just hopes that the obvious eavesdropper that he can't do anything about doesn't think too ill of Taylor since it is rather valid reasoning...(and Reiner indeed knows that she is definitely listening in, even if it is only because Taylor mentioned her earlier...)
[......I Would Do No Harm Or Misfortune To Taylor Dragonsong, Dragonstrike. Even Though She So Sorely Deserves It So. She Is Reiner's. To Do With As He Wishes. For Better.....Or For Worse. If He Does Not Wish For Me To Punish Her.....So It Shall Be......]
Oof.

And that's probably when Reiner asks about the scars, if only for a slight topic change.

Thing is, though...while he IS concerned that a Dragonsong 'Mence munched on Taylor...he finds that...odd. Again, why was a Salamence patrolling the Secret Breeding Grounds?  As far as he knows, they aren't usually used as guard Dragons by the Elders...they're much more likely to use bulkier Dragonair, Dragonite, and Kingdra for guard duty...particularly Extreme Speed using members of the Dratini line, which can deliver quick ambushes and/or warnings much faster than most other Dragons usually can...a Salamence is hardly a subtle choice beause of its more violent tendencies...and Fly doesn't afford it many advantages over a Dragonite in the Dragon's Den, either, particularly since a Dragonite can also use the move, and the Elders definitely have access to HMs...oh, and Salamence can't swim nor use Water HMs, either, unlike Dragonite and Kingdra...

Hmmmmm...time to dig for more info.

"...why did it take you a year to find Lucy?  It was only a week after she'd been birdnapped when you started looking, and she was obviously still somewhere in Blackthorn, right?"

Watch them echo and resound......

For an instant, Taylor appeared completely flabbergasted at your extraordinarily mild reaction to the news, and then even more taken aback by how accepting you were about it. What? Whatwhatwhatwhat? How?! How in the Underworld can Reiner be so....so blase and chill about THAT?! She basically declared she had no faith in him at the time and left him hanging COMPLETELY, which was almost certainly responsible for them being separated for a little under half a decade and about three quarters of the Taroushit his dealt with all this time. 

She was expecting to be verbally hogtied and absolutely butchered by him due to his/his family's infamously bad temper, but.....but not this! Not this at all! Weavile's sharp decline into despondence rather vitriol also caught her off guard, as seeing him of all Pokemon get moody instead of mad was an unpleasant surprise, to say the least.

What...in the world...."......I Hardly Understand His Mercy With You Either. After All He Has Endured From You, Within And Without.... .....But That Is A Part Of What Makes Him So Wonderful. You Do Not Deserve His Grace, Yet He Gives It Anyway..... My Love.......A Dragon King Both Terrible and Kind......"
Altogether, your old partner was feeling very mixed up, confused, and arguably even worse than before. Sometimes, acceptance and understanding does not absolve one of grief, shame, or guilt, but only magnify it in their mind.

"......That's it? That's......all you have to say about that? About me keeping you in the dark, out of the loop, and practically dumpster firing you 'cause I didn't had a lick of confidence in you, Weavile, and Kingdra? ......Why? Why ain't ya madder at me? Thought you reach across the table and throttle me half to death after revealing that rotten kernel of truth, or at least kick me out of your suite and want nuthin to do with me EVER. Expected Weavile to add to my collection of scars too, even! But....not this. I know I'm not in the position to ask you anything, but.......why?"
".....I Admit, I Am Curious To Know Too. .....But She Is Also Right, In That She Deserves Nothing Good From You, My Love....."
After you answer her, she lapses into moody silence for several minutes as she did her best to re-gather her wits and regain a semblance of her former composure and swagger, and answers your next question with a ghost of a smile.

"Heh heh....so you ARE curious about that, huh? Well, I'll spill the Pokebeans. Heh.....say what you will about the Elders, but they can be - and often are - the craftiest, sneakiest, resourceful, and most secretive buggers this side of the world. Guess all that age and experience they have is good for something other than gripping, shoddy rulership, and turning them into hidebound bastards, eh? Anyway, searched for her everywhere in Blackthorn the first week, even the Dragon's Den, but like you she wasn't anywhere. Yet I knew without a shadow of a doubt she was still in the city, as I know those old bastards would sell or outsource my Lucy, not with how ludicrously precious she was. So.......I decided to switch tracks of investigating entirely. Instead of sleuthing around in the dark or out of sight, I decided to start searching right under their nose. "

"*Smiles wickidly* Heh heh.....that's right Reiner, I went undercover. Disguised myself as a lowly peasant maid, and infiltrated the Dragopolis, where all the Elders and their retainers live, right in the thick of the Blackthorn Aristocratic quarter, and Rx'yamz-zma's Doraut (Draconic for Rayquaza's Seat), where all the Elders work. Was hella risky, and slow beyond belief, but if they was anyway to suss out where the hell they Pachirisu's my girl away, then gathering information and rooting around the nerve center of Blackthorn was it. Its also part of the reason why I never got into touch with ya, since I was in deep cover, but......*Frowns*....I bet I could have managed to anyway, if I wasn't intent on shutting you out. *Shakes head, and slyly grins* Heh heh.....and you know what's the best part? They never suspect me once. Completely pulled the Mareep's wool over their eyes, and learned so many juicy things you'd think you were in a orchard of Berries, ripe for the picking, heh heh!"

"Turns out they were holding her in a place they called Forger's Firmament. Essentially, it's a black ops, super secret version of the Dragon Shrine, scaled up by a factor of umpth million. Any sensitive intel or Important Texts, any BEYOND priceless treasures, any dangerous or esoteric artifacts or weapons, and any persons or Pokemon they want vanished or out of sight? Goes right in there, and never comes out without the Elder's supervision, and not without the Head Elder's approval. Part of it includes another Secret Breeding Grounds, where they house all their super rare and dangerous Dragons and their Eggs, and conduct their most secret and.....out there breeding projects and experiments, and that's where they were keeping Lucy and......*Wrinkles nose is disgust* You know. Against her will. Yeah. Was boiling pissed when I found that out. *Voice darkens* ...Took all my restraint and then some not to quietly go on a throat slitting spree on those responsible for her treatment. "

..."......If You Had Done That, I Might Have Looked Upon You More Kindly, And With Less Reservations. For Even In Your Betrayal To Reiner, You Would Have Done A Great Service For Him, By Exacting JUDGEMENT And JUSTICE With Their Executions."

"*Coughs awkwardly, then continues in her normal voice*....All of it is located right underground of Dragopolis, and its only entrance is hidden within the heart of Rx'yamz-zma's Doraut. It's patrolled and guarded only by the most Elite Blackthorn Dragon Tamers that are sworn to secrecy and were practically raised for the job, and a bunch of tough, mean old Dragons from the Elders they rotate in and out of duty that'll maul anyone they ain't familiar with on sight. Which I guess included me, given that 'Mence that found me didn't take too kindly for my 'tour' of the place, heh..... "

...".......You Can Not Fault A Dragon, For Guarding Its Domain. Especially From Intruders And Interlopers Like You......."

"*Frowns* So.....as you can probably tell, Lucy was being held in the equivalent of a hidden ultra max security facility. Finding out about the place wasn't easy, and learning anything about it was frustrating AND dangerous like a ornery Dragon. *Rolls eyes* And don't get me started on what it took to actually break into and get out of that labyrinthine nightmare of a monster den. I've cased and robbed one of the Sterling Family Banks before, and it was even half as difficult as pulling off a stealthy heist on the Firmament. Heck, I , THE master thief extraordinaire - if I do say so myself-, almost got killed down there by freak chance. If the Dragons down their had KILL on sight orders.....well, that just says it all, eh?"

...".........The Dragon Clan Still Uphold Their Responsibility, After All These Eons........ It Would Be Admirable......Were It Not For The Nature Of Their Sacred Duty........."

"Once I learned all that - besides the murderously defensive Dragons part, of course - by that first year's end.....*Grimaces*....well, it just re-affirmed my decision to keep you out of my plans. I already doubted you enough before learning everything to just exclude you entirely, but everything I uncovered about the Forger's Firmament just screamed 'Here There Be DRAGONS, Both Metaphorically and REAL' , so it made it all the more suicidally stupid for me to consider bringing green horn thieves like you along. *Frowns Deeper* ......Nothing was stopping me from simply coming back and training you up with me to pull of that rescue of the century, though, no matter how long it took. Its not like Lucy wasn't going anywhere and they knew about my plan, so I had all the time in the world to get us all prepared if I wanted. *Bows Head* .....But I didn't. I wanted to rescue Lucy and punish those Elders ASAP for forcing us all into a bad deal. Didn't want to waste any time doing that, or take ANY risks that could sink my plans like the Titanic. Heh...didn't want to put you all in danger too, but....that was only a side concern of mine at that point, since....you know. Not going to repeat myself there. Again."
".....I Agree. You Should Not."
An uneasy silence fell upon the living room for a few seconds at that reminder, before your old partner *Sighed* and gave you a wane smile.

"Welp, since I told just about everything concerning Lucy, might as well fill out the rest of the details. *Shrugs* You know, for completeness sake, and....*Smile gets a bit brighter* heh, well, you'll see. Part of my plans for after rescuing my girl included raiding the entirety of Dragopolis and the Elders of a good chuck their valuables, both as an extra 'Fuck You' to them and give them a bigger mess to distract and divide their attention. From the Firmament, I left all the treasure there alone, as I didn't know what most of it was worth, other than the fact the Elders of bygone times deemed it 'worthy' to keep it down in there, and that taking any of it would probably cause me more problems than not. Same with the artifacts or weapons I came across, as I didn't know what they did or how to use them, but did know that if I took them the Elders would definitely been more earnest in finding their thief when they discovered my handiwork. *Chuckles* .....Weeeell, except for this cloak I'm wearing here. Bet you've already noticed its unique properties already, but just to show off a bit...."

She motions with it for a second at the table, causing it to instantly change color, texture, and appearance to match the object and everything between it as closely as possible, before within it back to her side, where it promptly resumed its mimicry of the coach.

"Heh heh....pretty sweet, eh? Its called the Keckleon's Cloak, and it not only perfectly blends into the environment, but it conceal everything I have on me flawlessly, doesn't make a sound and reduces all the noise I make to boot, and has a crapton of storage space that's easy peasy to sort through and can fit almost anything in it. Stumbled upon this baby in a remote, dusty storage room, with instructions on what it was, did and how to use it oh so helpfully in a scroll beside it, and like hell I was going to turn my nose up at a thief's wet dream like THAT! Replaced it with one of my own spare cloaks that looked like it and made it dusty to keep anyone from figuring out I nicked it, then went about on my search! This was all after I got munched on by that 'Mence, by the way. If I had it with me then, all......our troubles would have been....avoided. *Blank Face* Huh....when I think of it like that, it makes this score bittersweet, eh?"

...".......Indeed It Does. Indeed It Does......."

"*Sighs* ....Let's not think of it that way then, nope. Anywho, I of course rescued my Lucy from the Firmament's Secret Breeding Grounds, but I also took the opportunity to raid the entire hatchery of all the Eggs it had. *Smirks* That, more than anything else, was the biggest score I made that night, and one that hurt and probably still is hurting the Elders immensely to this day. What do you think of that, Reiner?"

Oh my. Oh my.

To put into perspective the sheer audaciousness and costly impact of her Egg napping, note that the breeding of Dragons: A) Is Hazardous to varying degrees (Depending on the sub-species you're working with), B) Takes a Long time to do, as Dragons don't breed all too often and seldom lay anymore than one Egg at a time for months, if not years, C) Raising Dragons takes a Looooong time and is Hazardous for patently obvious reasons, and D) Dragons with even half decent pedigrees and untrained are worth their weight in gold, and the price only balloons from that point on. Add in the fact that these were not only Blackthorn Dragon Eggs, but were the latest offspring from Top Secret and experimental breeding project personally overseen and managed by the Elders, and.....let's just say the ramifications of her theft were astronomically huge, and leave it at that. 

By the Dragon Gods......".......Despite My Animosity, I Can Not But Help Admire And Be Impressed. At The Lengths She Went Through To Rescue Her Ward......And To Also Reap Vengeance Against Those That Wrong Her and Reiner. ......This Does Not Absolve Her Of The Sins and Wrongs She Committed Against My Love........But It Shines Favorably On Her, None Of The Less."
"*Wickedly grins* Sold the Eggs off later for an nice sum later, but most of that money towards paying off old debts and......*Frowns briefly* well, searching for you. That didn't pay off so nicely, but I've already beaten on that Ponyta enough for one night, so no more talking about it. *Waves it off* 'Sides, any Poke spent on you in Poke well spent, even if it turned out in vain-ish. And......*Raises hands* that's about it, I guess *Clasps them*. I've done told you about all the things I've done for Lucy, all my plans laid out in magnificent detail, and telling ya that I didn't just straight up abandon you on purpose. Should be everything, except what I've been up to since I left ya mom's, but there are other days we can talk about that, because frankly? I'm all talked out now, and I really don't want to make anymore big speeches tonight, unless I have to. Ugh......all of them made me crappy, you crappy, and given me a parched throat. Enough is enough. *Sighs* Man, I would dig a glass of water about now......"

And with that, Taylor quiets down and straightens up from the couch, eyeing you with curiosity and uncertainty as she awaits your reaction to this latest and hopefully (to her) last tale of the night. Its been a wild and tumultuous trip down memory lane for her and for you, so perhaps its time for a rest stop for the night, like she said...

[Dragonstrike]

......Do you her whispers?

Spoiler

Weavile looks just a tad offended for a second, really.  (Which definitely interrupts any purring he'd been doing)

As does Reiner for just a moment.

...though it's soon followed by a heavy sigh with closed eyes.  "...given what nearly happened here in this very room after four years...can't say I blame you too much for not wanting to fully trust us with such a delicate mission after just one..."

Weavile quickly deflates a little himself alongside Taylor, I imagine.  Particularly since he's one of the primary reasons they got caught back at the Dragon Shrine originally...as much as he doesn't like it, there's not really any way to sugarcoat that fact right now...and the droop in his ears makes it quite obvious, really...while he is quite cocky and confident most of the time, he does feel bad about what his actions caused 4 years ago...even though you'd be hard pressed to get him to admit that most of the time...Taylor of all people implying his skills are lacking definitely takes a little spring out of his step, though...

Silence.  Painful silence.  Reiner knows he's far from the only one who didn't like what Taylor just said...he just hopes that the obvious eavesdropper that he can't do anything about doesn't think too ill of Taylor since it is rather valid reasoning...(and Reiner indeed knows that she is definitely listening in, even if it is only because Taylor mentioned her earlier...)
[......I Would Do No Harm Or Misfortune To Taylor Dragonsong, Dragonstrike. Even Though She So Sorely Deserves It So. She Is Reiner's. To Do With As He Wishes. For Better.....Or For Worse. If He Does Not Wish For Me To Punish Her.....So It Shall Be......]
Oof.

And that's probably when Reiner asks about the scars, if only for a slight topic change.

Thing is, though...while he IS concerned that a Dragonsong 'Mence munched on Taylor...he finds that...odd. Again, why was a Salamence patrolling the Secret Breeding Grounds?  As far as he knows, they aren't usually used as guard Dragons by the Elders...they're much more likely to use bulkier Dragonair, Dragonite, and Kingdra for guard duty...particularly Extreme Speed using members of the Dratini line, which can deliver quick ambushes and/or warnings much faster than most other Dragons usually can...a Salamence is hardly a subtle choice beause of its more violent tendencies...and Fly doesn't afford it many advantages over a Dragonite in the Dragon's Den, either, particularly since a Dragonite can also use the move, and the Elders definitely have access to HMs...oh, and Salamence can't swim nor use Water HMs, either, unlike Dragonite and Kingdra...

Hmmmmm...time to dig for more info.

"...why did it take you a year to find Lucy?  It was only a week after she'd been birdnapped when you started looking, and she was obviously still somewhere in Blackthorn, right?"

Watch them echo and resound......

Spoiler

For an instant, Taylor appeared completely flabbergasted at your extraordinarily mild reaction to the news, and then even more taken aback by how accepting you were about it. What? Whatwhatwhatwhat? How?! How in the Underworld can Reiner be so....so blase and chill about THAT?! She basically declared she had no faith in him at the time and left him hanging COMPLETELY, which was almost certainly responsible for them being separated for a little under half a decade and about three quarters of the Taroushit his dealt with all this time. 

She was expecting to be verbally hogtied and absolutely butchered by him due to his/his family's infamously bad temper, but.....but not this! Not this at all! Weavile's sharp decline into despondence rather vitriol also caught her off guard, as seeing him of all Pokemon get moody instead of mad was an unpleasant surprise, to say the least.

What...in the world...."......I Hardly Understand His Mercy With You Either. After All He Has Endured From You, Within And Without.... .....But That Is A Part Of What Makes Him So Wonderful. You Do Not Deserve His Grace, Yet He Gives It Anyway..... My Love.......A Dragon King Both Terrible and Kind......"
Altogether, your old partner was feeling very mixed up, confused, and arguably even worse than before. Sometimes, acceptance and understanding does not absolve one of grief, shame, or guilt, but only magnify it in their mind.

"......That's it? That's......all you have to say about that? About me keeping you in the dark, out of the loop, and practically dumpster firing you 'cause I didn't had a lick of confidence in you, Weavile, and Kingdra? ......Why? Why ain't ya madder at me? Thought you reach across the table and throttle me half to death after revealing that rotten kernel of truth, or at least kick me out of your suite and want nuthin to do with me EVER. Expected Weavile to add to my collection of scars too, even! But....not this. I know I'm not in the position to ask you anything, but.......why?"
".....I Admit, I Am Curious To Know Too. .....But She Is Also Right, In That She Deserves Nothing Good From You, My Love....."
After you answer her, she lapses into moody silence for several minutes as she did her best to re-gather her wits and regain a semblance of her former composure and swagger, and answers your next question with a ghost of a smile.

"Heh heh....so you ARE curious about that, huh? Well, I'll spill the Pokebeans. Heh.....say what you will about the Elders, but they can be - and often are - the craftiest, sneakiest, resourceful, and most secretive buggers this side of the world. Guess all that age and experience they have is good for something other than gripping, shoddy rulership, and turning them into hidebound bastards, eh? Anyway, searched for her everywhere in Blackthorn the first week, even the Dragon's Den, but like you she wasn't anywhere. Yet I knew without a shadow of a doubt she was still in the city, as I know those old bastards would sell or outsource my Lucy, not with how ludicrously precious she was. So.......I decided to switch tracks of investigating entirely. Instead of sleuthing around in the dark or out of sight, I decided to start searching right under their nose. "

"*Smiles wickidly* Heh heh.....that's right Reiner, I went undercover. Disguised myself as a lowly peasant maid, and infiltrated the Dragopolis, where all the Elders and their retainers live, right in the thick of the Blackthorn Aristocratic quarter, and Rx'yamz-zma's Doraut (Draconic for Rayquaza's Seat), where all the Elders work. Was hella risky, and slow beyond belief, but if they was anyway to suss out where the hell they Pachirisu's my girl away, then gathering information and rooting around the nerve center of Blackthorn was it. Its also part of the reason why I never got into touch with ya, since I was in deep cover, but......*Frowns*....I bet I could have managed to anyway, if I wasn't intent on shutting you out. *Shakes head, and slyly grins* Heh heh.....and you know what's the best part? They never suspect me once. Completely pulled the Mareep's wool over their eyes, and learned so many juicy things you'd think you were in a orchard of Berries, ripe for the picking, heh heh!"

"Turns out they were holding her in a place they called Forger's Firmament. Essentially, it's a black ops, super secret version of the Dragon Shrine, scaled up by a factor of umpth million. Any sensitive intel or Important Texts, any BEYOND priceless treasures, any dangerous or esoteric artifacts or weapons, and any persons or Pokemon they want vanished or out of sight? Goes right in there, and never comes out without the Elder's supervision, and not without the Head Elder's approval. Part of it includes another Secret Breeding Grounds, where they house all their super rare and dangerous Dragons and their Eggs, and conduct their most secret and.....out there breeding projects and experiments, and that's where they were keeping Lucy and......*Wrinkles nose is disgust* You know. Against her will. Yeah. Was boiling pissed when I found that out. *Voice darkens* ...Took all my restraint and then some not to quietly go on a throat slitting spree on those responsible for her treatment. "

..."......If You Had Done That, I Might Have Looked Upon You More Kindly, And With Less Reservations. For Even In Your Betrayal To Reiner, You Would Have Done A Great Service For Him, By Exacting JUDGEMENT And JUSTICE With Their Executions."

"*Coughs awkwardly, then continues in her normal voice*....All of it is located right underground of Dragopolis, and its only entrance is hidden within the heart of Rx'yamz-zma's Doraut. Its patrolled and guarded only by the most Elite Blackthorn Dragon Tamers that are sworn to secrecy and were practically raised for the job, and a bunch of tough, mean old Dragons from the Elders they rotate in and out of duty that'll maul anyone they ain't familiar with on sight. Which I guess included me, given that 'Mence that found me didn't take too kindly for my 'tour' of the place, heh..... "

...".......You Can Not Fault A Dragon, For Guarding Its Domain. Especially From Intruders And Interlopers Like You......."

"*Frowns* So.....as you can probably tell, Lucy was being held in the equivalent of a hidden ultra max security facility. Finding out about the place wasn't easy, and learning anything about it was frustrating AND dangerous like a ornery Dragon. *Rolls eyes* And don't get me started on what it took to actually break into and get out of that labyrinthine nightmare of a monster den. I've cased and robbed one of the Sterling Family Banks before, and it was even half as difficult as pulling off a stealthy heist on the Firmament. Heck, I , THE master thief extraordinaire - if I do say so myself-, almost got killed down there by freak chance. If the Dragons down their had KILL on sight orders.....well, that just says it all, eh?"

...".........The Dragon Clan Still Uphold Their Responsibility, After All These Eons........ It Would Be Admirable......Were It Not For The Nature Of Their Sacred Duty........."

"Once I learned all that - besides the murderously defensive Dragons part, of course - by that first year's end.....*Grimaces*....well, it just re-affirmed my decision to keep you out of my plans. I already doubted you enough before learning everything to just exclude you entirely, but everything I uncovered about the Forger's Firmament just screamed 'Here There Be DRAGONS, Both Metaphorically and REAL' , it would be suicidally stupid to bring a green horn thieves like you all along. *Frowns Deeper* ......Nothing was stopping me from simply coming back and training you up with me to pull of that rescue of the century, though, no matter how long it took. Its not like Lucy wasn't going anywhere and they knew about my plan, so I had all the time in the world to get us all prepared if I wanted. *Bows Head* .....But I didn't. I wanted to rescue Lucy and punish those Elders ASAP for forcing us all into a bad deal. Didn't want to waste any time doing that, or take ANY risks that sink my plans like the Titanic. Heh...didn't want to put you all in danger too, but....that was only a side concern of mine at that point, since....you know. Not going to repeat myself there. Again."
".....I Agree. You Should Not."
An uneasy silence fell upon the living room for a few seconds at that reminder, before your old partner *Sighed* and gave you a wan smile.

"Welp, since I told just about everything concerning Lucy, might as well fill out the rest of the details. *Shrugs* You know, for completeness sake, and....*Smile gets a bit brighter* heh, well, you'll see. Part of my plans for after rescuing my girl included raiding the entirety of Dragopolis and the Elders of a good chuck their valuables, both an extra 'Fuck You' to them and give them a bigger mess to distract and divide their attention. From the Firmament, I left all the treasure there alone, as I didn't know what most of it was worth, other than the fact the Elders of bygone times deemed it 'worthy' to keep it down in there, and that taking any of it would probably cause me more problems than not. Same with the artifacts or weapons I came across, as I didn't know what they did or how to use them, but did know that if I took them the Elders would definitely been more earnest in finding their thief except when they discovered my handiwork. *Chuckles* .....Weeeell, except for this cloak I'm wearing here. Bet you've already noticed its unique properties already, but just to show off a bit...."

She motions with it for a second at the table, causing it to instantly change color, texture, and appearance to match the object and everything between it as closely as possible, before within it back to her side, where it promptly resumed its mimicry of the coach.

"Heh heh....pretty sweet, eh? Its called the Keckleon's Cloak, and it not only perfectly blends into the environment, but it conceal everything I have on me flawlessly, doesn't make a sound and reduces all the noise I make to boot, and has a crapton of storage space that's easy peasy to sort through and can fit almost anything in it. Stumbled upon this baby in a remote, dusty storage room, with instructions on what it was, did and how to use it oh so helpfully in a scroll beside it, and like hell I was going to turn my nose up at a thief's wet dream like THAT! Replaced it with one of my own spare cloaks that looked like it and made it dusty to keep anyone from figuring out I nicked it, and went about on my search! This was all after I got munched on by that 'Mence, by the way. If I had it with me then, all......our troubles would have been....avoided. *Blank Face* Huh....when I think of it like that, it makes this score bittersweet, eh?"

...".......Indeed It Does. Indeed It Does......."

"*Sighs* ....Let's not think of it that way then, nope. Anywho, I of course rescued my Lucy from the Firmament's Secret Breeding Grounds, but I also took the opportunity to raid the entire hatchery of all the Eggs it had. *Smirks* That, more than anything else, was the biggest score I made that night, and one that hurt and probably still is hurting the Elder immensely to this day. What do you think of that, Reiner?"

Oh my. Oh my.

To put into perspective the sheer audaciousness and costly impact of her Egg napping, note that the breeding of Dragons: A) Is Hazardous to varying degrees (Depending on the sub-species you're working with), B) Takes a Long time to do, as Dragons don't breed all too often and seldom lay anymore than one Egg at a time for months, if not years, C) Raising Dragons takes a Looooong time and is Hazardous for patently obvious reasons, and D) Dragons with even half decent pedigrees and untrained are worth their weight in gold, and the price only balloons from that point on. Add in the fact that these were not only Blackthorn Dragon Eggs, but were the latest offspring from Top Secret and experimental breeding project personally overseen and managed by the Elders, and.....let's just say the ramifications of her theft were astronomically huge, and leave it at that. 

By the Dragon Gods......".......Despite My Animosity, I Can Not But Help Admire And Be Impressed. At The Lengths She Went Through To Rescue Her Ward......And To Also Reap Vengeance Against Those That Wrong Her and Reiner. ......This Does Not Absolve Her Of The Sins and Wrongs She Committed Against My Love........But It Shines Favorably On Her, None Of The Less."
"*Wickedly grins* Sold the Eggs off later for an nice sum later, but most of that money towards paying off old debts and......*Frowns briefly* well, searching for you. That didn't pay off so nicely, but I've already beaten on that horse enough for one night, so no more talking about it. *Waves it off* 'Sides, any Poke spent on you in Poke well spent, even if it turned out in vain-ish. And......*Raises hands* that's about it, I guess *Clasps them*. I've done for Lucy, all my plans laid out in magnificent detail, and telling ya that I didn't just straight up abandon you on purpose. Should be everything, except what I've been up to since I left ya mom's, but there are other days we can talk about that, because frankly? I'm all talked out now, and I really don't want to make anymore big speeches tonight, unless I have to. Ugh......all of them made me crappy, you crappy, and given me a parched throat. Enough is enough. *Sighs* Man, I would dig a glass of water about now......"

And with that, Taylor quiets down and straightens up from the couch, eyeing you with curiosity and uncertainty as she awaits your reaction to this latest and hopefully (to her) last tale of the night. Its been a wild and tumultuous trip down memory lane for her and for you, so perhaps its time for a rest stop for the night, like she said...

[Do forgive my skepticism, oh Queen of the Underworld.  When one is in a position such as mine, you can't help but be wary on occasion.]

"...I've spent the last four years blaming myself for a lot of the things that have happened as well, Taylor.  And while I've had my...reservations...it's good to know you never really gave up, even when it seemed you had no other choice.  It's a lot better than what I ended up doing, really...four years is a long time to think about what you could've done differently...heck, even a week can be a long time to be doing that..."

In short, he's not really sure that he really deserves such dedication from Taylor.  Yeah, she made that promise and everything, and she did her best to keep her end of it...

...but what did he do?  Up and vanished himself when he began to lose faith that she'd come back, and started pursuing his own plans on his own.  Despite all that time the two of them spent together, and even after Taylor had...

...it's funny how things work sometimes, isn't it?  Guilt is quite the funny little emotion sometimes...

...and he still hasn't told Kingdra to this day about that final event, for fear of what she might have thought of Taylor after he'd lost faith that she'd return for one reason or another...

...they say one good turn deserves another...but when neither feel they are deserving, what would you call that?  It's a question with many answers, and many potential resolutions, both good and bad...
...anyways...the next few minutes are a good opportunity for Reiner and Weavile to regain their composure too.

...which is a good thing, because the last part of Taylor's story...ooh...boy...

...what a doozy.

The breeding grounds that Salamence had been patrolling weren't the ones in the Dragon's Den, but another set hidden in the heart of the city...along with who knows what else...heck, that's probably where the Elders had also been keeping...

...tonight sure is certainly full of unexpected revelations, isn't it?  One can't help but count their blessings when details such as this come to light...

Honestly, Reiner doesn't have much to say about the finale or isn't immediately sure what to say.  He does find one part of the last portion of Taylor's story strange, though.  And it's strange enough that he can help but ask...

"...they were...but why are they that interested in a bird pokemon?  I know they don't usually have electrical abilities that strong, but...she's still only a bird pokemon, right?  Don't tell me she's actually..."  Oh yes, yes she is, Reiner.  But I know that you'll have to hear it from Lucy's trainer herself before you'll actually fully believe it...hehehe...hope she's got her sources straight.
Oh, and also...

"...ah, right....if you need a glass of water, I can let Mr. Mime know you need one.  I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help."

[Lord Windos]

Whispers, whispers....

Spoiler

[Do forgive my skepticism, oh Queen of the Underworld.  When one is in a position such as mine, you can't help but be wary on occasion.]
[.....You May Call Me By My Name, Dragonstrike. You Have Earned That Right. I Do Not Fault You For Your Caution Either, For It Is Most Wise When Dealing......With One Such As I......]
[.......I Must Go Now. The Time Has Come......To Resume The Duty I Took For My Love. Good Bye.......]

"...I've spent the last four years blaming myself for a lot of the things that have happened as well, Taylor.  And while I've had my...reservations...it's good to know you never really gave up, even when it seemed you had no other choice.  It's a lot better than what I ended up doing, really...four years is a long time to think about what you could've done differently...heck, even a week can be a long time to be doing that..."


In short, he's not really sure that he really deserves such dedication from Taylor.  Yeah, she made that promise and everything, and she did her best to keep her end of it...

...but what did he do?  Up and vanished himself when he began to lose faith that she'd come back, and started pursuing his own plans on his own.  Despite all that time the two of them spent together, and even after Taylor had...

...it's funny how things work sometimes, isn't it?  Guilt is quite the funny little emotion sometimes...

...and he still hasn't told Kingdra to this day about that final event, for fear of what she might have thought of Taylor after he'd lost faith that she'd return for one reason or another...

...they say one good turn deserves another...but when neither feel they are deserving, what would you call that?  It's a question with many answers, and many potential resolutions, both good and bad...
...anyways...the next few minutes are a good opportunity for Reiner and Weavile to regain their composure too.

...which is a good thing, because the last part of Taylor's story...ooh...boy...

...what a doozy.

The breeding grounds that Salamence had been patrolling weren't the ones in the Dragon's Den, but another set hidden in the heart of the city...along with who knows what else...heck, that's probably where the Elders had also been keeping...

...tonight sure is certainly full of unexpected revelations, isn't it?  One can't help but count their blessings when details such as this come to light...

Honestly, Reiner doesn't have much to say about the finale or isn't immediately sure what to say.  He does find one part of the last portion of Taylor's story strange, though.  And it's strange enough that he can help but ask...

"...they were...but why are they that interested in a bird pokemon?  I know they don't usually have electrical abilities that strong, but...she's still only a bird pokemon, right?  Don't tell me she's actually..."  Oh yes, yes she is, Reiner.  But I know that you'll have to hear it from Lucy's trainer herself before you'll actually fully believe it...hehehe...hope she's got her sources straight.
Oh, and also...




"...ah, right....if you need a glass of water, I can let Mr. Mime know you need one.  I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help."

.....Fading away.

Taylor stared at you, boggled eyed and opened mouth like a freshly caught Goldeen, both for what was said and not. That guilt has been eating at him all this time too about her, and that he sympathizes, nay, empathizes with her plight (If you could even call it that, bah....). And, perhaps most predominantly of them all, he's the one that feels the most wanting and repentant after everything has been said and done ever between them since that debacle at the Dragon Shrine, that he considers her faithless machimations and outright betrayal, the very things that lead him down the black - murky gray path he took and caused him to suffer the most, to be the LESSER evils compared to his own, and, at the very crux of it, he forgives her.

Silent disbelief hung in the air between you two. . .

...until your old partner snorted a couple of time, before she broke out into laughter, head bowed back as she laughed at the pure absurdity and candid compassion between them. It soon petered out, her wiping tears from her eyes and regarded you with a.....well, you don't know quite what type it was, but she was smiling at you all the same

"Heh heh heh heh heh! Heh Heh Heh HEH......! Reiner.......you and I are real fine pieces of work, aren't we? You, a mafia don with a heart of gold, and me, a classy burglar with a conscious! Both of us sorry for what we've done, more than willing admit our fuck ups and live with them, 'cause we forgive each other but not ourselves! Yet, at the end of the day, we don't real give a Rattata's arse what's good or bad.  Only what we believe is right or wrong. Or, at least, not enough to let it bother us from doing what we want. Both of us free spirits, spinning our wheels, until we catch hold of something that propels us forward. Arceas, no wonder I fell in love with you. We were practically made for each other..."

Wait, what? What was that last part? Did she really say.....?

Before you could say anything (right at that moment, at least; there's always later on....), she smoothly continued, leaning back into her perch with a sense of renewal. She's not totally feeling better about herself or completely come to terms and moved on from the horrible things she did to you - not by any stretch of the imagination, as those experience were way to raw for her do that right now - but she could accept and bear it all much more than before, and for now, that was enough.

"Maybe there's hope for us after all, even if we don't deserve it. What do you think, partner? *Glances to the side* Heh, and you too Weavile. Can't forgot about our favorite black cat, can we?"

-Transition....Post Plan Description-

Your fellow thief extraordinaire gave you what amounted to a half disbelieving, half 'Are you kidding me?' Look that women get when a men is being particularly thick headed, before scoffing and shaking their head in amusement.

"Really, Reiner? After all this time, you didn't figure out Lucy was a fledgling Dragon to be? 'Specially since the Alteria and Sky Fall Dunsparse lines exist? I thought you were the Dragon expert between us, but I guess even some things can slip by ya. Well, let me inform ya about her species nice and quick. Lucy's is from the Yatagaryu line of Dragons, a lineage so rare its only be found 'commonly' in Tandor, being raised by very few of the Dragon Tamers there and breed only by a select few families in Tsukinami Village, who are very stringent of who gets one or not. They are said to command and create thunderstorms on a whim, and are considered by some as THE strongest Dragon type Pokemon in existent, bar Legends and Mythics, its draconic rivals only in Garchomp, Hydregion, and Goodra surprisingly - or not, depending on how you look at it - and its only true draconic counters being Luxelong and Mega Alteria."

Crickey! What a Dragon!

"  Finding them anywhere else? Nada, or only out there in the unexplored frontier. Heck, even in Tandor some people think the lineage is only a myth, or long has gone extinct. I'm perhaps one of, if not THE only person on this side of the hemisphere that owns one. Yeah, that's right, Lucy's THAT rare. When the Elders did their research and found out about her, they all damn near had a stroke, and immediately started making offers for me to give her up or stud her out, and when I told them to rightly fuck off they resorted to demands and threats, then outright shunning, ignoring, and blacklisting me when I didn't cave. Still didn't give a fuck then, since I was already a ghost in my hometown outside you, the Elders, and my....family, so them blotting me out of existence didn't bother me none"

.....Surprising revelation, that is too....

"*Quietly*.......I think its also why they took away our Dragon Scales back then too. Wanted to hold them for ransom in exchange for access to Lucy, thinking I'd finally consent by side stepping me entirely and targeting you instead. And.....well, we all know how that turned out, in the end. Not hundred percent sure of my hypothesis, but it seems like the sort of backhanded thing that bunch of old bastards would do, so I'm blaming them for that anyway. *Darkly* They don't deserve any better."

Oh. That..........if its true......it would explain a lot of the Elder's behavior. But, infuriatingly, not all of it. Grah....

"Oh, and if you're wondering how got Lucy......*Shrugs*.....well, I found her Egg on my doorstep one day, along with a handwritten book of info all about her. *Shrugs* That's it. If you were expecting some epic tale like the last one, then I'm sorry to disappoint. Only thing more I can tell you about that was that its was an gift, apparently, since her there was a note written inside the cover book that matched the handwritting indicating that. What did it say again....ah yeah! 'A gift, for great things to come, and experiences like no other.' and simply signed 'Z.' Message turn out too damn prophetic for my liking, but eh, what can you do about it?"

...

When you made your suggestion, she gave you a friendly smile and nodded.

"Yeah....that would be fine. But before that, I just remembered something important."

Then, without any chance for your input, your old partner reaching into her mystical cloak......

.....pulled out an Incubator holding an Egg....



....and the next thing you know, *Whoosh* you find it sitting on your lap. Taylor gave you another smile, this one warmer, peppy, a bit michevious, yet tinged ever so slightly with sadness.

"Got a gift for ya, Reiner. Surprise!"

[Dragonstrike]

[Keep up the good work, Giratina.  I have faith that it won't disappoint.]

Whew, this is a lot to respond to...

Well, first of all, Reiner also gets a little more flustered/reserved out of surprise when Taylor says that all of a sudden.  I mean, it's not that surprising, but ooh boy, it's definitely another thing entirely to have confirmation of any previous suspicions/hypotheses.
And Taylor basically took the words right outta my mouth, too.  Hehehe...they're more true than she probably thinks...
Of course, Taylor doesn't give him any time to immediately respond to that, so that gives him enough time to quickly *ahem* and say, "...er...yeah, maybe there is...partner."

Even as awkward sounding as it is, he does mean it.

Weavile's chuckling to himself (as he does find the current situation at least a little amusing, and it's helped cheer him up a little) when Taylor asks for his opinion.  He stops for a sec to ponder something about it...then shrugs.  And with a wave of his paw, says, "Eh, I'm sure you two can work it out.  I'm really just along for the ride as far as that goes.  I will admit it's certainly nice to see Reiner in slightly less dour spirits for once, though."  And then he resumes chuckling again as Taylor no doubt ends up surprised yet again.

Which gets a chuckle outta Reiner too.  "...yeah, he, uh...kinda picked up on how to use Assist recently.  Gonna solve a lot of our communication issues, that much is certain."

That oughta help distract from (some of) the awkwardness of the situation a little. ;P

-----------------

Taylor's explanation of how ludicrously rare and powerful the Yatagaryu family of Dragons is definitely provokes a little bit of a sense of wonder and surprise from Reiner.  He knew Lucy was unusually strong as far as her control over electricity went, but to think it was because she has ties to the draconic, and that the Elders were seemingly willing to do almost anything to get their hands on that power...well, suffice to say, Reiner's own expression also briefly darkens when Taylor says they don't deserve any better than what they got (though obviously not for all the same reasons that Taylor's expression did).  Though I will say that forcing someone into a bad deal by exploiting their connections to someone they care about is certainly a new low...just not the lowest 'new' low they've pulled off...
...the mention that Taylor apparently received Lucy as a gift from someone addressing themselves as Z...well, when Reiner hears that...he just kinda quietly sighs, as he instinctively knows that it's more than a simple letter or abbreviation (because how else am I going to explain that IC, right?), though Taylor might mistake it as meaning something entirely different given the context of the situation.  "...well, it's definitely not an 'epic origin story'...but I suppose they don't all have to be, do they?  Still, that's quite mysterious...and that is weirdly prophetic...but I guess owning such a ludicrously rare and powerful pokemon is just bound to cause situations like those anyways, right?"  In no way does Reiner want to hint that he might know who gifted Lucy to Taylor.  He definitely isn't pretending to know why Z gave the little birdy to Taylor, though.  There's no way he could, really (besides the gifter himself saying exactly why he did so, anyways).  Funny how even now, he is still showing up in Reiner's life in some fashion or another, isn't it?  Though I also suppose that once you've learned of the existence of something beyond what's 'normal', it's impossible to ever see things the same way ever again, isn't it?
But what probably interested him more was Taylor mentioning...she has family...in Blackthorn?  He could never get her to talk about her past over the course of the 3 years they got to know each other...but now that he thinks about it, Taylor's been dropping hints about her past all throughout the conversation...she must definitely be a little more flustered than usual if she's dropping so many hints...though Reiner's not sure if she's doing it on purpose or not...

...hang on...does it have something to do with...?

...that's when he reaches into his boot to pull out the knife that Taylor had given him 4 years ago.

As he examines the Dragon Fang Knife and the name engraved on its hilt, the last name scratched out to the point where it's all but unreadable...his gaze happens to flicker from the blade to Taylor's face, as he's not sure what he'll see from her reactions...

What he sees from Taylor is a bit of...resignation/acceptance amidst trying to stay as straight faced as possible, I guess.  She'd obviously known this was coming ever since she gave him that knife.  As Reiner examines the weapon, she probably stays silent, waiting for his reaction...

...what makes it click though isn't what he reads from Taylor's emotions.  No, the key to this mystery is...

...her scars.  As Reiner holds up the weaponized Dragon Fang...a fang designed to rip and tear through flesh, made all the more deadly by its surprising durability and the care taken to make it even sharper than before...now that he actually looks at it a little more closely, and if he uses his imagination a little, it almost looks like it's...the same...fang that...

"...Taylor...is this fang from...a Salamence...?"  
Hehehehe...oh, the almost poetic irony of it all for both of the humans present...it's not just any Salamence Fang, Reiner...
If Taylor doesn't want to do another long winded speech, that's okay.  Reiner has just enough puzzle pieces to figure out some of Taylor's backstory on his own now.

---------------

As for the egg Reiner receives towards the end of the conversation...

...well, he'd recognize that color scheme anywhere.

Another moment where Reiner just kinda stares and blinks in surprise before he verbally reacts.

"...an egg...so, they got one outta her after all, and it was among the ones they 'relinquished'...huh...a, uh...I'm sorry, but what species is Lucy again?  Yatagaryu is the final form, obviously, but what about the others?  And...you're sure it's okay for me to...ya know, nevermind.  I can just ask Lucy myself soon enough, right?"
Oh, and one more thing: Merry Christmas, Reiner!  The timing of this is just too good, lol.  Even if it is (probably) currently the middle of Spring in your universe, given the theme of the Flower Festival and all...

Just try not to shock everyone to death with your new gift...

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

[Keep up the good work, Giratina.  I have faith that it won't disappoint.]

Whew, this is a lot to respond to...

Well, first of all, Reiner also gets a little more flustered/reserved out of surprise when Taylor says that all of a sudden.  I mean, it's not that surprising, but ooh boy, it's definitely another thing entirely to have confirmation of any previous suspicions/hypotheses.
And Taylor basically took the words right outta my mouth, too.  Hehehe...they're more true than she probably thinks...
Of course, Taylor doesn't give him any time to immediately respond to that, so that gives him enough time to quickly *ahem* and say, "...er...yeah, maybe there is...partner."



Even as awkward sounding as it is, he does mean it.

Weavile's chuckling to himself (as he does find the current situation at least a little amusing, and it's helped cheer him up a little) when Taylor asks for his opinion.  He stops for a sec to ponder something about it...then shrugs.  And with a wave of his paw, says, "Eh, I'm sure you two can work it out.  I'm really just along for the ride as far as that goes.  I will admit it's certainly nice to see Reiner in slightly less dour spirits for once, though."  And then he resumes chuckling again as Taylor no doubt ends up surprised yet again.


Which gets a chuckle outta Reiner too.  "...yeah, he, uh...kinda picked up on how to use Assist recently.  Gonna solve a lot of our communication issues, that much is certain."

That oughta help distract from (some of) the awkwardness of the situation a little. ;P

-----------------

Taylor's explanation of how ludicrously rare and powerful the Yatagaryu family of Dragons is definitely provokes a little bit of a sense of wonder and surprise from Reiner.  He knew Lucy was unusually strong as far as her control over electricity went, but to think it was because she has ties to the draconic, and that the Elders were seemingly willing to do almost anything to get their hands on that power...well, suffice to say, Reiner's own expression also briefly darkens when Taylor says they don't deserve any better than what they got (though obviously not for all the same reasons that Taylor's expression did).  Though I will say that forcing someone into a bad deal by exploiting their connections to someone they care about is certainly a new low...just not the lowest 'new' low they've pulled off...
...the mention that Taylor apparently received Lucy as a gift from someone addressing themselves as Z...well, when Reiner hears that...he just kinda quietly sighs, as he instinctively knows that it's more than a simple letter or abbreviation (because how else am I going to explain that IC, right?), though Taylor might mistake it as meaning something entirely different given the context of the situation.  "...well, it's definitely not an 'epic origin story'...but I suppose they don't all have to be, do they?  Still, that's quite mysterious...and that is weirdly prophetic...but I guess owning such a ludicrously rare and powerful pokemon is just bound to cause situations like those anyways, right?"


 In no way does Reiner want to hint that he might know who gifted Lucy to Taylor.  He definitely isn't pretending to know why Z gave the little birdy to Taylor, though.  There's no way he could, really (besides the gifter himself saying exactly why he did so, anyways).  Funny how even now, he is still showing up in Reiner's life in some fashion or another, isn't it?  Though I also suppose that once you've learned of the existence of something beyond what's 'normal', it's impossible to ever see things the same way ever again, isn't it?
But what probably interested him more was Taylor mentioning...she has family...in Blackthorn?  He could never get her to talk about her past over the course of the 3 years they got to know each other...but now that he thinks about it, Taylor's been dropping hints about her past all throughout the conversation...she must definitely be a little more flustered than usual if she's dropping so many hints...though Reiner's not sure if she's doing it on purpose or not...

...hang on...does it have something to do with...?

...that's when he reaches into his boot to pull out the knife that Taylor had given him 4 years ago.

As he examines the Dragon Fang Knife and the name engraved on its hilt, the last name scratched out to the point where it's all but unreadable...his gaze happens to flicker from the blade to Taylor's face, as he's not sure what he'll see from her reactions...

What he sees from Taylor is a bit of...resignation/acceptance amidst trying to stay as straight faced as possible, I guess.  She'd obviously known this was coming ever since she gave him that knife.  As Reiner examines the weapon, she probably stays silent, waiting for his reaction...

...what makes it click though isn't what he reads from Taylor's emotions.  No, the key to this mystery is...

...her scars.  As Reiner holds up the weaponized Dragon Fang...a fang designed to rip and tear through flesh, made all the more deadly by its surprising durability and the care taken to make it even sharper than before...now that he actually looks at it a little more closely, and if he uses his imagination a little, it almost looks like it's...the same...fang that...

"...Taylor...is this fang from...a Salamence...?"  
Hehehehe...oh, the almost poetic irony of it all for both of the humans present...it's not just any Salamence Fang, Reiner...
If Taylor doesn't want to do another long winded speech, that's okay.  Reiner has just enough puzzle pieces to figure out some of Taylor's backstory on his own now.


---------------

As for the egg Reiner receives towards the end of the conversation...

...well, he'd recognize that color scheme anywhere.

Another moment where Reiner just kinda stares and blinks in surprise before he verbally reacts.

"...an egg...so, they got one outta her after all, and it was among the ones they 'relinquished'...huh...a, uh...I'm sorry, but what species is Lucy again?  Yatagaryu is the final form, obviously, but what about the others?  And...you're sure it's okay for me to...ya know, nevermind.  I can just ask Lucy myself soon enough, right?"
Oh, and one more thing: Merry Christmas, Reiner!  The timing of this is just too good, lol.  Even if it is (probably) currently the middle of Spring in your universe, given the theme of the Flower Festival and all...

Just try not to shock everyone to death with your new gift...

The thief extradordinare chuckles as she catches you marked reaction to her casual declaration of love, leaning forward towards you with the most impish grin, mischievously glinting eyes, and innocent tilt of her head that was certainly thought provoking.

"Glad to hear. Thought I had to kiss ya again to get my point across like last time, but thankfully you spared us of that awkwardness. Unless......you're still a bit unclear on things? Hm?

.........Dear me, you can't tell if she's teasing your or not like old times (but up to 11!), but either way she feel open to about any answer you give her. Ho ho ho....

Reiner's Awkwardness: not cleared. Not by the tiniest margin, noooo.

At this point (before he gets to a-speaking), Weavile's barely restraining himself from breaking out into full blown snickering , holding a claw to his face and resting his bottle of milk on the table to not accidently spill it in his merriment. Ah, now this is rich and sweet, like a nice juicy steak! It ain't the same as the fun they all got up to in the face, but its even better, so no complaints in his fellow thief's advances here!

When the sly feline does speak up, Taylor does a double take and stares at him bug eyed and in shock, then at you when offering the explanation for his sudden capacity for human speech, before she plopped backwards into the with a half bemusement, half 'what can you do about it?' acceptance.

"Well, that's certainly a creative application of a Pokemon Move right there. Guess I'm not alone in that sort of experimentation as I thought as I was, heh heh. I'd be more surprised, but Mr. Mime demostrate Pokemon can speak humanese just fine, and after everything's Kyubi told me about what you've been up to lately and herself, and how swell our talk has been, I guess I'm just rolling with the Sucker Punches like a Machamp now, eh? Doesn't hurt I've been through my share of out there stuff too, but still.....talking Pokemon."

-------

Despite how in tune and on point she's been at reading you/the situation (if just not being entirely understanding of it), she completely misses the deeper implications behind your reaction to how she came into possession of her thunder bird/Dragon, and *Sighs* along sympathetically with you, nodding her head with closed eyes.

"Righty-o and righty-o, partner. Still, wish I knew who game me Lucy so I could thank them properly for that, but tis not to be, I guess."

....
....
.... (.....And They're not responding. Good?)

(...)

One more thing to add about her expressions at Reiner's comparisons: her body goes still as a rock, though her posture/position doesn't change. After you posed your question, though.......she just gave you smile. A sad, careworn, reserved, and dull smile. The exact same smile she gave you whenever you tried to pry and tease out answers about her family or her past.

Its not a straight answer, and barely even an answer at that, but you didn't have to be Alexandria to not understand what it meant.

----

Taylor chuckles again at your stunned reaction, as she derived no end of amused for getting them out of you, just like old times when she showed off some of her tricks, trinkets, and the embarrassing tidbit of Knowledge about you. Never gets olds, heh heh! When you ask more about the Egg and if it was really okay for him to have it, her smile turn a bit more bittersweet, but not enough to indicate any real drop in her mood.

"Her lineage's Evolutions starts with The Storm Chick Volchick, then The Three Legged Voltasu, and finally the The Stormbringer Yatagaryu. First couple of stage are Electric/Flying type, but Yata itself is a Electric/Dragon through and through. Loses an Immunity that way and gains all the Weaknesses Dragons have, but it can learn Magnet Rise pretty easily to negate that and gains a whooooole lot of power, heh heh, so its not too much of a problem."

"Was pretty wowed and furious when I discovered it myself, since my girl had a baby but.....not by her choice. She was feeling a bit mixed up herself about her Egg, so when I asked if it was okay if I gave it to you, she indicated it was fine by her. Lucy likes you, felt you were - and still are, in my opinion -  trustworthy and....well, plain worthy enough to care for her firstborn, and she dodged her issues with them by foisting them on someone she knows would be able to take care of them without problem or qualm, so its aces partner! Think of it as a present for all the good times we had, and all the birthdays and Christmases I missed [Don't question why a Christian holiday is celebrate by the Dragon Clan of Blackthorn, just roll with it!] ! If you want to get her permission directly though..... *Smiles* Then lead the way, partner. After I get my drink, of course."

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

The thief extradordinare chuckles as she catches you marked reaction to her casual declaration of love, leaning forward towards you with the most impish grin, mischievously glinting eyes, and innocent tilt of her head that was certainly thought provoking.

"Glad to hear. Thought I had to kiss ya again to get my point across like last time, but thankfully you spared us of that awkwardness. Unless......you're still a bit unclear on things? Hm?

.........Dear me, you can't tell if she's teasing your or not like old times (but up to 11!), but either way she feel open to about any answer you give her. Ho ho ho....

Reiner's Awkwardness: not cleared. Not by the tiniest margin, noooo.

At this point (before he gets to a-speaking), Weavile's barely restraining himself from breaking out into full blown snickering , holding a claw to his face and resting his bottle of milk on the table to not accidently spill it in his merriment. Ah, now this is rich and sweet, like a nice juicy steak! It ain't the same as the fun they all got up to in the face, but its even better, so no complaints in his fellow thief's advances here!

When the sly feline does speak up, Taylor does a double take and stares at him bug eyed and in shock, then at you when offering the explanation for his sudden capacity for human speech, before she plopped backwards into the with a half bemusement, half 'what can you do about it?' acceptance.

"Well, that's certainly a creative application of a Pokemon Move right there. Guess I'm not alone in that sort of experimentation as I thought as I was, heh heh. I'd be more surprised, but Mr. Mime demostrate Pokemon can speak humanese just fine, and after everything's Kyubi told me about what you've been up to lately and herself, and how swell our talk has been, I guess I'm just rolling with the Sucker Punches like a Machamp now, eh? Doesn't hurt I've been through my share of out there stuff too, but still.....talking Pokemon."

-------

Despite how in tune and on point she's been at reading you/the situation (if just not being entirely understanding of it), she completely misses the deeper implications behind your reaction to how she came into possession of her thunder bird/Dragon, and *Sighs* along sympathetically with you, nodding her head with closed eyes.

"Righty-o and righty-o, partner. Still, wish I knew who game me Lucy so I could thank them properly for that, but tis not to be, I guess."

....
....
.... (.....And They're not responding. Good?)

(...)

One more thing to add about her expressions at Reiner's comparisons: her body goes still as a rock, though her posture/position doesn't change. After you posed your question, though.......she just gave you smile. A sad, careworn, reserved, and dull smile. The exact same smile she gave you whenever you tried to pry and tease out answers about her family or her past.

Its not a straight answer, and barely even an answer at that, but you didn't have to be Alexandria to not understand what it meant.

----

Taylor chuckles again at your stunned reaction, as she derived no end of amused for getting them out of you, just like old times when she showed off some of her tricks, trinkets, and the embarrassing tidbit of Knowledge about you. Never gets olds, heh heh! When you ask more about the Egg and if it was really okay for him to have it, her smile turn a bit more bittersweet, but not enough to indicate any real drop in her mood.

"Her lineage's Evolutions starts with The Storm Chick Volchick, then The Three Legged Voltasu, and finally the The Stormbringer Yatagaryu. First couple of stage are Electric/Flying type, but Yata itself is a Electric/Dragon through and through. Loses an Immunity that way and gains all the Weaknesses Dragons have, but it can learn Magnet Rise pretty easily to negate that and gains a whooooole lot of power, heh heh, so its not too much of a problem."

"Was pretty wowed and furious when I discovered it myself, since my girl had a baby but.....not by her choice. She was feeling a bit mixed up herself about her Egg, so when I asked if it was okay if I gave it to you, she indicated it was fine by her. Lucy likes you, felt you were - and still are, in my opinion -  trustworthy and....well, plain worthy enough to care for her firstborn, and she dodged her issues with them by foisting them on someone she knows would be able to take care of them without problem or qualm, so its aces partner! Think of it as a present for all the good times we had, and all the birthdays and Christmases I missed [Don't question why a Christian holiday is celebrate by the Dragon Clan of Blackthorn, just roll with it!] ! If you want to get her permission directly though..... *Smiles* Then lead the way, partner. After I get my drink, of course."

"...er...nope, everything's clear...just...*ahem*...give me a little time..."

Annnywaaaaays...Reiner's trying to move on from that topic for the time being, so hopefully that gets the point across.

"Weavile's not the first pokemon I've seen use that trick, actually.  A Persian I ran into recently was taught to do the same thing by her previous owner, so it was less experimentation and more Weavile picking up that trick on his own somehow.  And Weavile's also the...fourth pokemon actually able to replicate human speech verbally that I've encountered [OOC: Reiner doesn't really count Kyubi as a talking 'pokemon'].  The first one I met was a Meowth, and believe it or not, he apparently learned how to do so entirely on his own.  Cost him the ability to use any and all pokemon moves, though, so he's absolutely zero help in a fight where high powered attacks are being thrown around, and it also means he's definitely talking naturally instead of relying on Assist in any way.  Strange as it is to say, talking pokemon ain't much of a surprise for me any more."  Reiner shrugs.

Reiner raises an eyebrow when Taylor implies that Kyubi was rather...honest, and it definitely prompts another question from him.  "...and what exactly did Kyubi tell you about herself and what I've been up to, if I may inquire?"

----------

That smile along with her other body language is really all the confirmation Reiner needs.

"...well...ain't that ironic...mauled and nearly killed by the family dragon...huh..."

Reiner puts the Dragon Fang Knife back in his boot.

"...well, I know you have your reasons.  Probably not a story for tonight, though.  However, since we're on a related topic...well, in case you're interested, I might have a way to fix some of the damage that 'Mence caused to ya.  Not sure it'll be able to fix all of it, but it could maybe help patch ya up just a tad bit more in a mere few hours.  Fair warning, though, it's rather...strange.  And probably going to be very uncomfortable in...certain ways, if you want to try it.  Probably not something that'd be done tonight, either, given the...drawbacks it has.  100% temporary ones, I can assure you, but important to note nonetheless."

------------

Sounds like we're headed to the training room soon to finally meet Lucy in this campaign, then!

After Taylor gets a glass of water from Mr. Mime, that is.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

[quote pid='57553' dateline='1545785385']

"...er...nope, everything's clear...just...*ahem*...give me a little time..."

Annnywaaaaays...Reiner's trying to move on from that topic for the time being, so hopefully that gets the point across.

"Weavile's not the first pokemon I've seen to use that trick, actually.  A Persian I ran into recently was taught to do the same thing by her previous owner, so it was less experimentation and more Weavile picking up that trick on his own somehow.  And Weavile's also the...fourth pokemon actually able to replicate human speech verbally that I've encountered [OOC: Reiner doesn't really count Kyubi as a talking 'pokemon'].  The first one I met was a Meowth, and believe it or not, he apparently learned how to do so entirely on his own.  Cost him the ability to use any and all pokemon moves, though, so he's absolutely zero help in a fight where high powered attacks are being thrown around, and it also means he's definitely talking naturally instead of relying on Assist in any way.  Strange as it is to say, talking pokemon ain't much of a surprise for me any more."  Reiner shrugs.
[/quote]
[quote pid='57553' dateline='1545785385']

Reiner raises an eyebrow when Taylor implies that Kyubi was rather...honest, and it definitely prompts another question from him.  "...and what exactly did Kyubi tell you about herself and what I've been up to, if I may inquire?"

----------

That smile along with her other body language is really all the confirmation Reiner needs.

"...well...ain't that ironic...mauled and nearly killed by the family dragon...huh..."

Reiner puts the Dragon Fang Knife back in his boot.

"...well, I know you have your reasons.  Probably not a story for tonight, though.  However, since we're on a related topic...well, in case you're interested, I might have a way to fix some of the damage that 'Mence caused to ya.  Not sure it'll be able to fix all of it, but it could maybe help patch ya up just a tad bit more in a mere few hours.  Fair warning, though, it's rather...strange.  And probably going to be very uncomfortable in...certain ways, if you want to try it.  Probably not something that'd be done tonight, either, given the...drawbacks it has.  100% temporary ones, I can assure you, but important to note nonetheless."

------------

Sounds like we're headed to the training room soon to finally meet Lucy in this campaign, then!

After Taylor gets a glass of water from Mr. Mime, that is.
[/quote]

Judging by the knowing smirk she was shooting you in between chuckles, she perfectly understood the point being made, and it brought no end of amusement to the thief. Or should I say thieves, as Weavile is still snicking/smirking along with her, occasionally waggling his eyebrows suggestively. The little scamp!

Taylor raised an eyebrow at your banal declaration, before shaking their head and shrugging her shoulders.

"Man, and I thought I was chill, but look at you, cool and calm like a Frosslass.... Don't know about you, but hearing a Pokemon talking like us will always be a novelty for me. I mean, come on, talking Pokemon! That's almost as awesome as Dragons, partner!"

At your latest question your old partner goes silent and unreadable as she mulls it over, before she let closed her eyes and heaved out a *Sigh*, slumping backwards into the couch and looking/feeling.....overwhelmed and more guilty/ashamed

"Suffice to say, I know your girl is more than a little foxy for you. Said you used some kind of......ritual to bring her back to life like.....that on accident, using the lifeforce of her old......master with their permission.  Told me everything she knew and picked up about you since you two......meet too. *Shrugs* Well....not everything. She avoided talking about most of the pals or Pokemon you made and caught this week, being rather vague and double speaky about them except for 'The Vampire' - sure warned me plenty about them, and I'm damn glad she did - , and flat out stonewalled me about what you were up to yesterday. Said I had to ask you about that, as it was 'not her place to disclose any of these topics in great detail.' "

In other words: 'Kyubi spilled the beans on everything she knew/was involved in, but kept everyone's/your Pokemon's/Mew's identity and their personal details except for your's and Riza's a secret, said nothing about the entirety of Friday, and distorted the truth surrounding her resurrection.' It also sounds like she was generally vague and nondescript even about the stuff she told, letting Taylor draw her own conclusions and leaving you to fully fill her in later if you choose, except for......well, most stuff about herself and.......

"Wasn't really going to bring just how much I knew about ya, or her........foxiness and relationship with you, but *Shrugs* ....well, you asked. In case you wondering, I'm........still a bit....well, a lot wierded out  by all that *Waves a hand* about your girl, but.....shit happens, and you.....uh......handled it the best you could. Bah......it's freaky, but Kyubi seems like a....nice enough chick despite it all. Oh, and she mentioned she didn't mind if I was to......become your girl too, since it was.....uh.......'Reiner's place to decide which and how many women will be his mates, and whom he mates with.' *Glances of to the side, looking supremely Skittish*.........Yeeeah......I guess......sharing is......caring for her....?"

........Since this topic has reached MAXIMUM DISCOMFORT, might it best to transition after from this scene? Or at least this portion of it?

---

Predictably, Taylor doesn't say anything in response to your own speculations save for her to keep smiling, but she does relax when you move away from the topic of her family, though only enough for her to grow surprised and skeptical of you claims to fix her, ahem, damaged goods, before she shakes her head.

"......Hm......Think I'll pass on that offer, partner. Not 'cause I don't think it won't help, as I know you wouldn't be offering a wonder treatment option for my missing boob if you thought it be too dangerous, but because......*Shrugs*  I'm sorta fine with it? Been going about like this for so long that getting that being half and half feels natural, so getting any of my old boob back would probably throw me off too much like when I first lost it, and I really don't want to go through that shindig again. Took me a year to fully get used to it last time, so I rather it remain the last time if its all the same to you, Reiner. 'Sides.......one of my boobs more than plenty for the two of of, eh?"

Your awkward embarrassment  shall be eternal, and so will her amusement. Rejoice.

(Will write up a separate post for the Lucy Meeting + Other stuff later! Now (or soon enough), its time to FINALLY get start on progressing Arial proposals, both to Riza and.......well, that's They're business at that point, once I get the madman over to them.)

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Judging by the knowing smirk she was shooting you in between chuckles, she perfectly understood the point being made, and it brought no end of amusement to the thief. Or should I say thieves, as Weavile is still snicking/smirking along with her, occasionally waggling his eyebrows suggestively. The little scamp!

Taylor raised an eyebrow at your banal declaration, before shaking their head and shrugging her shoulders.

"Man, and I thought I was chill, but look at you, cool and calm like a Frosslass.... Don't know about you, but hearing a Pokemon talking like us will always be a novelty for me. I mean, come on, talking Pokemon! That's almost as awesome as Dragons, partner!"

At your latest question your old partner goes silent and unreadable as she mulls it over, before she let closed her eyes and heaved out a *Sigh*, slumping backwards into the couch and looking/feeling.....overwhelmed and more guilty/ashamed

"Suffice to say, I know your girl is more than a little foxy for you. Said you used some kind of......ritual to bring her back to life like.....that on accident, using the lifeforce of her old......master with their permission.  Told me everything she knew and picked up about you since you two......meet too. *Shrugs* Well....not everything. She avoided talking about most of the pals or Pokemon you made and caught this week, being rather vague and double speaky about them except for 'The Vampire' - sure warned me plenty about them, and I'm damn glad she did - , and flat out stonewalled me about what you were up to yesterday. Said I had to ask you about that, as it was 'not her place to disclose any of these topics in great detail.' "

In other words: 'Kyubi spilled the beans on everything she knew/was involved in, but kept everyone's/your Pokemon's/Mew's identity and their personal details except for your's and Riza's a secret, said nothing about the entirety of Friday, and distorted the truth surrounding her resurrection.' It also sounds like she was generally vague and nondescript even about the stuff she told, letting Taylor draw her own conclusions and leaving you to fully fill her in later if you choose, except for......well, most stuff about herself and.......

"Wasn't really going to bring just how much I knew about ya, or her........foxiness and relationship with you, but *Shrugs* ....well, you asked. In case you wondering, I'm........still a bit....well, a lot wierded out  by all that *Waves a hand* about your girl, but.....shit happens, and you.....uh......handled it the best you could. Bah......it's freaky, but Kyubi seems like a....nice enough chick despite it all. Oh, and she mentioned she didn't mind if I was to......become your girl too, since it was.....uh.......'Reiner's place to decide which and how many women will be his mates, and whom he mates with.' *Glances of to the side, looking supremely Skittish*.........Yeeeah......I guess......sharing is......caring for her....?"

........Since this topic has reached MAXIMUM DISCOMFORT, might it best to transition after from this scene? Or at least this portion of it?

---

Predictably, Taylor doesn't say anything in response to your own speculations save for her to keep smiling, but she does relax when you move away from the topic of her family, though only enough for her to grow surprised and skeptical of you claims to fix her, ahem, damaged goods, before she shakes her head.

"......Hm......Think I'll pass on that offer, partner. Not 'cause I don't think it won't help, as I know you wouldn't be offering a wonder treatment option for my missing boob if you thought it be too dangerous, but because......*Shrugs*  I'm sorta fine with it? Been going about like this for so long that getting that being half and half feels natural, so getting any of my old boob back would probably throw me off too much like when I first lost it, and I really don't want to go through that shindig again. Took me a year to fully get used to it last time, so I rather it remain the last time if its all the same to you, Reiner. 'Sides.......one of my boobs more than plenty for the two of of, eh?"

Your awkward embarrassment  shall be eternal, and so will her amusement. Rejoice.

"...it's less of a novelty if you're around them more often, to be honest."

Ah, good.  Kyubi kept the important details Reiner will have to explain himself secret.  Great (and I mean that unironically).  "...yeah, uh...Ms. Sterling's perceptions on some things weird me out a little too, but she is a good person at heart...*ahem*...anyways, moving on...yeah, that 'Vampire'...the good news is she's terrified of me, and with good reason, so I doubt we'll see any trouble from her...if we ever encounter her again, that is.  Not much more needs to be said about that, really.  Can tell you the full story later, but she hopefully won't be much of a concern at this point."  Well, only most of the full story, in all likelihood...

...nor do any of the previous topics need to be further elaborated on for that matter...moving on!

-----------

"...well, fair enough, I suppose.  Just...don't be surprised when I bring up a related topic later.  This particular item has...other useful applications, to be brief...even as strange as they are...*ahem*..."

That probably piques Taylor's interest/curiosity/'what the heck?' instincts a little, but given that Reiner should be making it clear that he'll explain later, she will probably just leave the topic well enough alone for the time being.

...and he's clearly trying to talk about other topics, so...

...in any case...time for that reunion with Lucy!  (After Arial's stuff and Taylor's glass o' water, of course, as stated previously.  Besides, I'm sure we're all ready to move on to other topics at this point.  There'll be plenty more time for stories later.)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Arial was left with nothing to say towards his girfriend. He understand the situation she is suffering right now. He also have done so many bad things in the past, and have took lifes too with the think of survive. Some he feel guilty, and other not so much. But the situation of Riza was very much different from his...to be forced to hunt, kill and drink blood just to survive another day...he feel stupid to bring such topic towars her.

He aproach Riza and give her confort hug, since its all he can do. "...I sorry. I shouldnt have say that to you...I indeed a terrible boyfriend." He grab both Riza hands and make she look to him. "Listen Riz: You are not a monster. A monster would not feel guilty or bad to do the things you did. Even with you appearance, deep inside you, you have a human soul. As much you cant change the past, you can choose another path now in the present." Arial then look with eyes of someone who also done bad things.


 


"...I have also done bad things too Riza. Like you I also have killed to survive. Alone with a cold city where only the strong survive. Like you, I have lived and fight to survive and sure the lifes of my "hive": My cat Gaspar, my Wise Meteor Baltazar and my Saber Cat Metalynx. I not better than anyone, and I could never judge you." Arial then aproach Riza and hold her face. "Because, despite everything I have done and suffer, I could still learn to like the world. I may hate humanity, but I learn to love this world...And I also learn to love you too..."

Arial then smile to her. With honest words. "...yeah. Its true what I mean. I felt this...conection between us. In the begining I feel sympatethic towards you, but...when time go have foward, with the more interactions we have having, I could feel myself more and more fall in love with you. I dont care about the appearance of your body, but the beauty of your soul."

Arial then kneel and grab her hand. "Thats why I have a important question to you." Arial then hold the Nuclear Ball of Geingeroach, like some sort of ring of wedding and look deep in Riza eyes. "Riza Bete, would you accept me, Arial CopyCat Swhrodinger as your boyfriend? And you would accept be my girlfriend?"

(3)(1)(1)(4)(2)(2)
Arial's Evasion Roll: DEX (3) + Fight (3) + Evasion (1) - Unexpectedness (2) = 4D6 Dice
(4)(5)(3)(4)

Riza nearly slammed you into the ground when you barely touched her, the unexpectedness of your gesture coupling with her intense distress promptly hear to instinctively lash with a quick jab from one of her concealed extra arms! However, you react quickly in time to dodge under the blow by leaning far back, before you like a Wobbuffet you bounced can clamped your arms around the reformed bloodsucker with great earnest as you apologized and forced her to listen as you told her the truth.

...

Normally, the Bug Metahuman would have easily wrenched herself free from your grasp and either start flailing about in blind panic, and/or dart away from parts unknown once she recovered from her minor breakdown and suddenly realizing she Struck at Arial. The only person that truly cared about her, the one person that not only believed in her, but would defend and stand up for her, despite being so so very undeserving. The one person that made her feel special yet normal, and not the HORRIBLE MONSTER that she was. And she nearly harmed him with her careless, stupid stupid stupidness!  

To treat him anything less than total subservience , respect, and compassion was already tantamount to Very Bad, Don't Do Ever!!!' , but to actually try to inflict Damage on him, even unknowingly? [u]Terrible TERRIBLE!!! Do Not Deserve Him! Not Deserve!! Flee! Flee Into Darkness. Let Consume Her, Until Weak. Empty. Gone. She Deserved That. For Trying Harm Arial. Her Saver. Her Warmth.

However......she couldn't. 

She was unable to.

Because you were holding her. Holding tight. Holding her steady and firm. Holding her close.

Telling her she was not Bad Monster. Telling her that she was still Human. Telling her that she could be Good.

He shared his own pain as well. His struggle with own Hive of Pokemon. With Tiny Cat, Rock Wizard, and Big Cat. Told her he was nobody, and not see her as Monster, Never Could.

Out of everything Arial said to her,though, it was the very last things that caught her attention, seized her out of the mire of Grief Panic Shame Guilt Shock , and pierced straight into her Heart Mind.

He said that he loved her.

Not happy with.

Not care for.

Love.

It was such a simple word. It held the meaning of something so vast, grand, nebulous, shift, yet so easily understood, sought after, and found in everyone. 

Really, it was.

For every living, barely sentient thing on this world knew what is was, in some form or another. 

Some knew it as a Mother and Father to their Child, and Child to Mama and Daddy. 

Others knew it as the Bonds of Friendship, of Companions, of Seniority and Wisdom, some forged through Happiness, Sadness, even Anger, and other through Life, Age, and Hardship. 

Many knew it as passionate, as the fiercest Blaze, some warm and mellow, as that of a campfire, and some saw it as cooling, cold, yet still sparking, like lingering embers of a Fire of yor. 

Few knew it as unfair, or cruel, like the roasting summer rays, or tough, harsh, and unyielding, as the stiffest winter's breeze. 

Fewer still saw it as a Tool to many ends, or Currency to horde, invest, and spend, or a Toy to play with and break as they please.

Virtually everyone knew it through Mentor-ship and Support at one point, while thankfully scant only knew it only as Themselves.

Love is such a simple word that can mean anything.

So what does it mean to Riza Bette?

Companionship. Solidarity. Acceptance. Mutual Defense. Kindness. Caring. Warmth.

Warmth.

Arial gave her all these. Unconditionally, and without asking for anything.

Arial made her feel those things. For herself.....and for him.

Him.

That was it.

All this time, all these strange, yet familiar feelings.

It was Love.

She Loved Him, and He Loved Her.





Riza almost didn't notice the Nuclear Ball he present to her, and the offer he made, so wrapped up by the Truth he told her, the Truth she now realized and knew. She was still, so still that a Rock type would mistake her for a rock. Yet still, she listened. 

She had no real concept of this 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend' he was speaking of, or if she did, they were long since forgotten by now, lost in her own stunted, twisted, regressed, and warped little mind. She hardly understood why he was giving her a Bug Pokemon, another to include in her Hive, one whom she could feel its agony, hatred, and despair, and understand so well. 

She did, however, completely understand one thing. The most important thing of the all.

She wanted to be with Arial, be his Mate......and so too did he want her.

Automatically, the woman rest her hand on the Nuclear Ball, and with a barest flicker of her Will Mind, she hushed its inhabitant, soothe its broken spirit the best she could, and lulled it to slumber, like she had with some many others of her Hive and Bug Friends of Past. All with ease born of experience and familiarity. You could feel it all, hear it all, as if it were you she was speaking deeply.

There there, Lead Bug. Rest, Be Well. New Days Will Be Better.

Riza grasped the ball, and took it from you with delicate hesitation, bring it to her belt beneath her cloak and clipping it there with the rest of her Hive, all without her hooded gaze deviating from Arial's.

Then, slowly, ever so slowly with her other hand, she reached for her hood, and folded it back to let you see her.

Her appearance was still as unique and bizarre as ever, and the lighting of the warehouse was hardly doing it anymore justice either.....but I imagine neither she nor you cared all that much about that.

Very carefully, Riza reached forward for you with one pair of arms, then another that slowly slide out of their cover- almost fearfully, too as if she shatter you or the Love between them - , and gently returned your hug, closing her eyes and pressing her forehead against yours.

It was the closest thing to a kiss she had, as he mouth was not fit for such a task. At least, not yet.

No words were spoken by her.

You understood her perfectly well.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Spoiler

Arial was left with nothing to say towards his girfriend. He understand the situation she is suffering right now. He also have done so many bad things in the past, and have took lifes too with the think of survive. Some he feel guilty, and other not so much. But the situation of Riza was very much different from his...to be forced to hunt, kill and drink blood just to survive another day...he feel stupid to bring such topic towars her.

He aproach Riza and give her confort hug, since its all he can do. "...I sorry. I shouldnt have say that to you...I indeed a terrible boyfriend." He grab both Riza hands and make she look to him. "Listen Riz: You are not a monster. A monster would not feel guilty or bad to do the things you did. Even with you appearance, deep inside you, you have a human soul. As much you cant change the past, you can choose another path now in the present." Arial then look with eyes of someone who also done bad things.


 


"...I have also done bad things too Riza. Like you I also have killed to survive. Alone with a cold city where only the strong survive. Like you, I have lived and fight to survive and sure the lifes of my "hive": My cat Gaspar, my Wise Meteor Baltazar and my Saber Cat Metalynx. I not better than anyone, and I could never judge you." Arial then aproach Riza and hold her face. "Because, despite everything I have done and suffer, I could still learn to like the world. I may hate humanity, but I learn to love this world...And I also learn to love you too..."

Arial then smile to her. With honest words. "...yeah. Its true what I mean. I felt this...conection between us. In the begining I feel sympatethic towards you, but...when time go have foward, with the more interactions we have having, I could feel myself more and more fall in love with you. I dont care about the appearance of your body, but the beauty of your soul."

Arial then kneel and grab her hand. "Thats why I have a important question to you." Arial then hold the Nuclear Ball of Geingeroach, like some sort of ring of wedding and look deep in Riza eyes. "Riza Bete, would you accept me, Arial CopyCat Swhrodinger as your boyfriend? And you would accept be my girlfriend?"

(3)(1)(1)(4)(2)(2)
Arial's Evasion Roll: DEX (3) + Fight (3) + Evasion (1) - Unexpectedness (2) = 4D6 Dice
(4)(5)(3)(4)

Riza nearly slammed you into the ground when you barely touched her, the unexpectedness of your gesture coupling with her intense distress promptly hear to instinctively lash with a quick jab from one of her concealed extra arms! However, you react quickly in time to dodge under the blow by leaning far back, before you like a Wobbuffet you bounced can clamped your arms around the reformed bloodsucker with great earnest as you apologized and forced her to listen as you told her the truth.

...

Normally, the Bug Metahuman would have easily wrenched herself free from your grasp and either start flailing about in blind panic, and/or dart away from parts unknown once she recovered from her minor breakdown and suddenly realizing she Struck at Arial. The only person that truly cared about her, the one person that not only believed in her, but would defend and stand up for her, despite being so so very undeserving. The one person that made her feel special yet normal, and not the HORRIBLE MONSTER that she was. And she nearly harmed him with her careless, stupid stupid stupidness!  

To treat him anything less than total subservience , respect, and compassion was already tantamount to Very Bad, Don't Do Ever!!!' , but to actually try to inflict Damage on him, even unknowingly? [u]Terrible TERRIBLE!!! Do Not Deserve Him! Not Deserve!! Flee! Flee Into Darkness. Let Consume Her, Until Weak. Empty. Gone. She Deserved That. For Trying Harm Arial. Her Saver. Her Warmth.

However......she couldn't. 

She was unable to.

Because you were holding her. Holding tight. Holding her steady and firm. Holding her close.

Telling her she was not Bad Monster. Telling her that she was still Human. Telling her that she could be Good.

He shared his own pain as well. His struggle with own Hive of Pokemon. With Tiny Cat, Rock Wizard, and Big Cat. Told her he was nobody, and not see her as Monster, Never Could.

Out of everything Arial said to her,though, it was the very last things that caught her attention, seized her out of the mire of Grief Panic Shame Guilt Shock , and pierced straight into her Heart Mind.

He said that he loved her.

Not happy with.

Not care for.

Love.

It was such a simple word. It held the meaning of something so vast, grand, nebulous, shift, yet so easily understood, sought after, and found in everyone. 

Really, it was.

For every living, barely sentient thing on this world knew what is was, in some form or another. 

Some knew it as a Mother and Father to their Child, and Child to Mama and Daddy. 

Others knew it as the Bonds of Friendship, of Companions, of Seniority and Wisdom, some forged through Happiness, Sadness, even Anger, and other through Life, Age, and Hardship. 

Many knew it as passionate, as the fiercest Blaze, some warm and mellow, as that of a campfire, and some saw it as cooling, cold, yet still sparking, like lingering embers of a Fire of yor. 

Few knew it as unfair, or cruel, like the roasting summer rays, or tough, harsh, and unyielding, as the stiffest winter's breeze. 

Fewer still saw it as a Tool to many ends, or Currency to horde, invest, and spend, or a Toy to play with and break as they please.

Virtually everyone knew it through Mentor-ship and Support at one point, while thankfully scant only knew it only as Themselves.

Love is such a simple word that can mean anything.

So what does it mean to Riza Bette?

Companionship. Solidarity. Acceptance. Mutual Defense. Kindness. Caring. Warmth.

Warmth.

Arial gave her all these. Unconditionally, and without asking for anything.

Arial made her feel those things. For herself.....and for him.

Him.

That was it.

All this time, all these strange, yet familiar feelings.

It was Love.

She Loved Him, and He Loved Her.





Riza almost didn't notice the Nuclear Ball he present to her, and the offer he made, so wrapped up by the Truth he told her, the Truth she now realized and knew. She was still, so still that a Rock type would mistake her for a rock. Yet still, she listened. 

She had no real concept of this 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend' he was speaking of, or if she did, they were long since forgotten by now, lost in her own stunted, twisted, regressed, and warped little mind. She hardly understood why he was giving her a Bug Pokemon, another to include in her Hive, one whom she could feel its agony, hatred, and despair, and understand so well. 

She did, however, completely understand one thing. The most important thing of the all.

She wanted to be with Arial, be his Mate......and so too did he want her.

Automatically, the woman rest her hand on the Nuclear Ball, and with a barest flicker of her Will Mind, she hushed its inhabitant, soothe its broken spirit the best she could, and lulled it to slumber, like she had with some many others of her Hive and Bug Friends of Past. All with ease born of experience and familiarity. You could feel it all, hear it all, as if it were you she was speaking deeply.

There there, Lead Bug. Rest, Be Well. New Days Will Be Better.

Riza grasped the ball, and took it from you with delicate hesitation, bring it to her belt beneath her cloak and clipping it there with the rest of her Hive, all without her hooded gaze deviating from Arial's.

Then, slowly, ever so slowly with her other hand, she reached for her hood, and folded it back to let you see her.

Her appearance was still as unique and bizarre as ever, and the lighting of the warehouse was hardly doing it anymore justice either.....but I imagine neither she nor you cared all that much about that.

Very carefully, Riza reached forward for you with one pair of arms, then another that slowly slide out of their cover- almost fearfully, too as if she shatter you or the Love between them - , and gently returned your hug, closing her eyes and pressing her forehead against yours.

It was the closest thing to a kiss she had, as he mouth was not fit for such a task. At least, not yet.

No words were spoken by her.

You understood her perfectly well.
[/u]

When Riza unconsciosnouss attack with one of her extra arms, Arial was already expecting that. He was able to dodge in the last second, and was able to hug her, with all the care and love he was able to do. It was something crazy and risk, but he is not called madman for no reason right?

Arial feel no fear. He see Riza face, many times this week. He doesnt fear her face in the moment they have meet. Not even now, after have such strong bond and love for her, that could change. Arial was left a big speechless when Riza have returned the hug, the form she is returned his love. He also close his eyes, enjoying this little moment with his girlfriend.

He never felt this way. This kind of emotion before for anyone. The only kind of love he experience was the father love he received from Orlando who was always a father to him. And the love and care he felt for his Pokemon who is pratically family to him. Arial feel like the world around them have freeze, and the only who exist is them. The world could end in that exatcly moment, and Arial could not even notice. All he care in that is stay with her.

The Mad Cat and the Metahuman Bug Lady. Two people who find their paths in the most ways: One was abandonned from his family when he was a baby, become member of a crime organization, become mad with psychic torture, and then was throw to a crazy and strange world of Cursed Arms and Legendary Pokemons. The other have been alone, with no one to care for her, trying her best to survive in this wretched world, and in the end, have become a abomination to the eyes of many.

Despite their pain, loneliness, and suffering they fight and survive, and finally able to meet in this strange and chaotic city. They have walked in three paths: The fear. The hate. And the loneliness. The fear of life. The strong fear in giving up of live and run away, but who make them strong enough to surpass fear and test them. The hate who banalized once the love. The emotion who make someone stronger for a time, but as time pass, the heart of a person grown weaker. For a long time, that was the emotion who drives Arial to survive. His hate to the world, and the humans who abandonned him.

And finally the loneliness. The emotion who appear in the most darkest times. Loneliness in not have the embrace of someone. The hug of a familiar. To not have someone who care for you. That was the emotion Arial feel sometimes, even with their pokemons. And that was the emotion Riza feel for such long time.

Pain, suffering, strife, hatred, melancoly, injustice. Both of them do their best to pass though all kinds of difficult paths in humans life. Their deserve that moment.

After a long time who was almost like take hours, but it was just minutes, Arial open a smile and one of his eyes to look at his girlfriend. "Welp, I will understand that as a yes." He smile at her and give her a kiss in her forehead. "I love you, "ladybug". And I will do."

After such moment he grab her hand. "So, how about we go to the rooftops? After such long time trapped inside a place filled with Nuclear Pokemon (no offense Sekmet, you a sweet thing) I miss a lot look the sun, the moon and the stars. Do you want it Riz?" Say Arial with the most shiny and stupid smile he ever do in his face, like a sly and cute cat and saying the nicknames he once gave to her, "Riz" and "Ladybug". And chuckling a bit with her (possible) green blush she always do when she is feel embarassed.