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Yarr, Gimme my Booty Wench?; Side Character Introduction (Title by Hoogo)
Topic Started: Jul 3 2010, 08:07 AM (272 Views)
KJ Edge
Member Avatar
Donatello
The man was definately a pirate. He had that mildly inebriated look about him; confusion mixed with contempt, and possibly a hint of constipation, on his sea-weathered face. That really said it all. Even the automatic doors were something he seemed to sneer at as he entered the Berry Burger Brasserie. Perhaps its unfair to judge a man on their entrance alone. Certainly the man had endured tough times of late, so he couldnt be blamed for his temperament. His gait couldnt be described without the mention of the stomp in his stride, and he hid his limp very well this way. Still, the blue pin-striped suit and slicked back hair fooled noone. The man was an old pirate.

Starkly lit, the eatery was mostly empty. A cashier thumbed lazily through a magazine while a greasy teenager flicked sauce packets over the grill with his spatula at the back. In a corner booth were the young couple in love; a boy who thought the leather jacket made him look older, a greedy arm around his swooning girl, sharing an untouched Bluk Burger Combo Meal Deal. A group of railworkers sat near the windows quietly crunching down fries. They shared dirty jokes about pikes and railing and tunnels in a more polite manner than was really neccessary. It was the typical setting of a small burger place fifteen minutes before midnight.

Not typical of the customers here, besides the pirate, was who said pirate had been arranged to meet with. He saw the black rose in the breast pocket. The agreed object of identification. That was the person. He tried not to stare at the hair. It was obviously a wig, a shimmering blue and purple thing like a tinsel mop which was immensely distracting. That wasn't the half of it though. The probable pirate, who it can be revealed is named Johnny (since no confidentiality agreement was ever signed , surname undisclosed), also reknowned Leader of the Mayriver City Water Gym, had gained new insight on the meaning of "androgenous tonight. He was a proud sea goer, well travelled, and likely prided himself on being able to identify a lad from a lass within the first few crucial seconds of meeting one in a seedy bar. It was going to take him longer for this one.

After five minutes of introductions and the obligitory humming and hawing on it, they got to the point. Johnny acted like hed swallowed a bug after he said it, so his new company repeated it.

"Possessed, you say?"

Johnny nodded at the question more abjectly than he'd intended. It had likely taken him weeks to track this person down and now that they were face to face it appeared he was no longer sure about the whole thing. The lipgloss seemed to perturb him a great deal.

"I be told ye were the best," he tried, slipping into that sea-salted accent, looking everywhere but at who he was speaking to. "That it's ye area of expertise?" The longer he sat here the less confident in the situation he was getting. After so long Johnny still hadn't been able to work out if he was discussing things with a man or a woman and it was making him visibly uncomfortable. Or perhaps his discomfort stemmed from his impending admission to his supernatural prediciment.

"Sorry but I don't think I caught your full name," he said after a moment of silence, not giving up on his pursuit of the truth just yet.

"Taji L. Redsteak," was the reply. Another moment hung there to let that sink in. Tajis voice gave him no clue, it was clear and almost melodic but not paticulaly high pitched.

"That ... sounds completely made up," said Johnny, trying not to seem accusatory.
It does sound made up.

"Well every name is made up isn't it?"

Johnny supposed that was true. Having arrived at the table before him, the Gym Leader hadn't had much to go on regarding Taji below the neck. It was a cold night and Taji L. Redsteak chose to wear a lime green scarf and an ash-grey, figure concealing coat.

"What's the L stand for?"

"Mystery!" Taji said, voice sparkling like the wig under those bleak fluorescent bulbs.
Johnny swallowed and watched the oblivious table of railway workmen with their greasy burgers, almost envious. Taji knew that look. They didn't have to deal with this sort of thing, it said. Everything had been going extremely well. Now it had become extremely troubling becase of That Thing.

Finally he decided that he would just go with his gut, or at least what his gut had finaly settled on which amounted more or less to flipping a mental coin, and decided that Taji was definately the man for the job. He gave Taji a decisive look which was also something Taji was familiar with. He wasn't wearing any makeup, which really didn't account for anything anyway, but if he had a proper hair cut Taji would probably make a very handsome man. A smile came across Taji's face, all bright and straight toothed. With the sparest strokes from a beautician Taji would probably make a very pretty woman too... Johnny shook his head. If he didn't stick to one perspective he'd be here all night, or end up somewhere worse.

Taji had been waiting for this shift in attention from Johnny and got to his feet. He seemed to take on the barest hint of a swagger around the shoulders. "Let's get started then Mr Johnny," he said, leading them out the door. "You probably want to know more about me?" he said to Johnny who had been watching this metamorphisis with jaws agape. The Gym Leader caught himself and nodded, grunting affirmatively. "That's fair. Anything in particular you want to know?"
He thought for a moment, glancing at the warm glow of the Berry Burger now shrinking behind them.

"Have you alway been a... " he wasn't sure why he hesitated now, since he was pretty fine about saying it over the phone if just a little embarrassed. Remembering how serious his situation was Johnny surged ahead. "...an exorcist?"

Taji tilted his head, his hair shifting audibly. "Not always," he started, reminiscence then catching him by surprise. "Eternity is a long time. I remember in one of my past lives I was a famous witch called Fusco Witham. You may have heard of her? I was a pretty big deal six hundred years ago."

Johnny, taken offguard by the cold weather and Taji's 'history', took a moment to catch on.
"I've never heard of her... uh.. of you?" He fumbled for something intelligble to say but there was nothing there when he reached for it. Taji considered this with a nod.

"Well not famous in this region," he ammended. "Had all sorts of fun back in old Kanto. Well... that is until the whole burning at the stake thing." Taji stopped suddenly and Johnny followed his gaze to the sky. "Wow would you look at that," said the apparent exorcist to the bright moon above. The troubled trainer wasn't exactly in the frame of mind to appreciate the sight and rubbed an arm trying to keep himself warm. If it had been any other night he might have shared Tajis sentiments.

"So then... you remember your past lives?" said Johnny curiously, apprehensive. He still wasn't sure about... anything at the moment. He wasnt sure why he asked the that followup question.

"Indubitably. I have memories going as far back as the caveman days too," Taji continued, "well, a cavewoman to be exact. Who was named Hrrnkk."

Johnny, distracted from his trouble for a moment, nodded, admitting to finding it rather interesting that Taji believed in this sort of thing, but then he remembered his original question.

"Thats nay exactly what I meant-"

"No of course not. You were asking about this life time." He pulled his gaze from the sky, took a deep breath and started walking again. His hands went deep into his coat pockets. "Maybe you've seen me on TV, though it has been a couple of years. I was a top televangelist before the studio's radio tower rusted out."

Johnny felt something click in his lately fuzzy head. "You're a priest?" The tone of his voice indicated that he felt he shouldnt have been surprised. Taji did a movement halfway between a nod, a shrug and very nearly shook his head.

"I did some preaching, not any more. I still have a column in the Opaddeka Delibird though. Just a tabloid paper but it helps pay the bills. In between exorcisms I do some courier work too. Postal service. "

There was silence following this. "Exorcisms aren't as popular as they used to be, Mr Johnny. Movies kind of gave the whole thing a bad wrap. A person needs to eat."

"I suppose so," was all the Gym Leader could manage.

"You suppose a lot of things, Mr Johnny." Taji said, but without illhumor. No notable reaction from the alleged which surprised him. "So enough about little old me, it's time we got into more details about your problem."

The trainer nodded and stopped in his tracks. They had reached the Mayriver City Gym apparently without him noticing. He hadn't even told Taji this was where he wanted to go.

Johnny stared dumbly at the door until the defunct televangelist turned freelance tabloid journalist working as a mail carrier while occassionally moonlighting as an exorcist drifted into his field of vision.

You mentioned it on the phone, Mr Johnny, he said by way of explanation. You really seem to be out of sorts if you dont mind me saying. Taji used his most concilitory tones, aware that the mood of the Gym Leader had changed the closer theyd gotten to the Gym. He wouldve guessed that coming back home, as it were, might have made Johnny relax a bit. Judging by his now near zombie-like state at the precipice of the doorway this was having the opposite effect. Perhaps this was serious. The pokemon is inside then? It was like coaxing a small child back into their room after theyd heard noises coming from under the bed. Not like the pirate who had swashed into the Brasserie at all. Johnny seemed to pick up on how unseemly this was for his reputation and cleared his throat, straightening.

Yes, he nodded. He stood there for just a moment too long, bracing himself like he was about to tear off a bandaid, then shoved the Gym doors open. Taji half expected some dramatic rush of wind to come through or a shadow to leap at them, but this wasnt his first rodeo and that sort of thing rarely ever happened. What actually happened was the echo of their entrance then nothing. He heard Johnny breathe, relieved, and any axiety he still had he hid well as he marched inside.

The Gym was dim as the main lights werent on at this time of night. The initial area stretched on, full of fountains and pools, their surfaces still as mirrors with none of them in use by anyone, man, pokemon or otherwise. It smelled surprisingly of the sea rather than the chlorine Taji had expected. They passed what appeared to be life guard towers. These didnt even reach halfway to the almost impossibly high roof, wide parasols atop each one.

When did you become the Gym Leader here? Taji asked to fill the silence as they ventured on. The quiet pools, glistening under smaller lamps gave the place an appropriately eerie feel. It was deceptively warm too. The place would be any water trainers dream.

Many years ago, said Johnny, pausing to check on a panel on the wall. Brushing the tinsel from his eyes Taji saw him press deliberately on an unmarked panel, a faint light appearing beneath his hand, then a door in the north-east corner of the room slid open.

Quite high-tech, Taji noted. But that was a non-answer.

He followed the leader through the door, also checking over his shoulder and spying a similar outline on the opposite wall in the other corner of the room. Many years ago wouldnt happen to be as many years ago as when Team Aqua was reportedly disbanded?

This didnt seem to have an affect on Johnnys stride and they made their way down the narrow steel corridor where one last door awaited them. He did huff in response though.

You usually do this kind of homework on all of your clients, Mr Redsteak?

Just confirming a rumor Mr Johnny. Being a Gym leader makes you a very prominent figure in Opaddeka.

For pokemon trainers perhaps. Not a mailman.

They stepped into the room but before Taji could really take it in Johnny stopped and spun around. Taji caught himself and avoided cannoning into him, but Johnny was mere inches away from his face. Ye better be threal deal, sonny, he said, his voice deep and low, but unthreateningly calm. Before the storm as it were. It was obviously a tone hed earned in his years on the high seas, dealing with others of his ilk. His ilk being fellow businessmen and men of trade of course. What I have in here is no ... no ordinary ... problem. I couldve brought in any medium or channeller worth their salt, but this was no affair for a mere trainer. He closed his eyes and Taji noticed the slightest tremor through his body, which caused the leader to bring a fist up to the wall to steady himself. I searched ye out coz I heard ye are an expert in these darker matters. Darker matters whichin I delve to the darker circles for service. There they would not treat my offer lightly. So unless you have made some terrible, vengeful enemies in low places, I hope ye are capable of handling yeself when demons call. He glared at Taji, who watched him with mildly scientific curiousity. That seemed satifactory for the old pirate. After catching a soft scent of perfume and he pulled back, slightly confused beneath his scowl.

He allowed them deeper into the dark enclave where there was the low gurgling of water filters in the air. Taji realised they were surounded by gallons of water held in massive glass tanks. They glowed green and cast the Gym Leader with an alien mutedness. He was staring down the far end of this aquarium where the lights above each tanker grew dimmer, fading into gloom. It was a kind of aquarium. Taji noticed that there werent any pokemon in the surrounding tanks.

I had to move the others to another tanker room, Johnny said, as if he had anticipated Tajis questions. Ready?

Was that a question for me, or for yourself Mr Johnny? Taji moved past the former Aqua Executive without the least bit of trepidation. You probably wouldnt creep yourself out so much if you turned on some lights in here.

That would not be a good idea, Johnny said, following Tajis brisk pace but barely able to hide the dread in his voice.

I insist. He threw a smile over his shoulder. It was supposed to be reassuring but in the green underwater light he looked more like a shiny haired ghost. Swallowing his pride and remembering his past exploits, the Gym Leader obliged, but grabbed Tajis shoulder before they reached the last tank. His grip seemed a little firmer that neccessary, and Taji could tell that the man was holding his breath. He pulled his suit sleeve back, revealing his watch-sized poketech and waved a finger over it. There was the distant thunk of metal as the lights on the ceiling came on, starting from the aquarium entrance. They shone down the hallway behind them, brightening the room more and more with each successive clank, until finally everything was illuminated.

Johnny had his eyes closed and was bracing himself for something. It never came. After a moment more of nothing happening he opened on eye warily.

Its a slowpoke, said Taji flatly.

Yes, Johnny added, slightly putoff by the unevent.

Suspended in the liquid behind the glass was the pokemon so apparently inept at seeming like a threat to anything, scientists had classified the species as, empirically, the Dopey Pokemon. It stared out at Taji in the way that only a creature with the suspected intellect of slightly higher than a mossy brick can. He tapped on the glass, not expecting a reaction. The slowpoke began drifting to one side, eventually turning belly up. Taji could hear faint echoes of snoring through the glass.

This thing appears to be sleeping with its eyes open.

Its a demon, man! Johnny declared, hurt by the slowpokes uncooperativeness in front of company. Struggling with the lack of evidence the Gym Leader rubbed the back of his head irritably. Usually when thlights go awn it goes all... mental... The slowpoke gently bumped against one side of the tank and floated into some seaweed. Maybe... it senses ye presence? The demon knows its about to face thexorcist! Johnny was grasping now, hoping he wouldnt sound crazy to a man who wore Giftmas decorations on his head.

Perhaps, agreed Taji , not one to pass up undeserved credit. This was usually how many of his exorcism trips ended. The worst of it was over once hed found the where the client hid his cache of illegal booze. But something didnt sit quite right with the experienced exorciser. The Slowpoke almost seemed too dopey. Having seen many dopey things in his many lifetimes he could tell when somoeone was trying to act the part, as he had often been required to do much the same himself. And he had done his research on Gym Leader Johnny. The man had been more than just a high ranking executive of an organisation with apparent criminal ties. This was not a simple misunderstanding or trick of the light. Lets get him out of there for a closer look.



Even with the notably normal outward appearance being displayed by the slowpoke, Johnny was approaching the task of fishing it out of the tank with much trepidation. This from a man Taji later learned, from the man himself, had once wrestled a giant octillery while fending off another hungry sharpedo with his prosthetic leg.

Taji waited patiently, standing on one of the platforms above the tanks that they had to climb high ladders to get to. Removing the slowpoke from the tank involved the cranking of some levers, and a section of the floor in the slowpokes tank slowly began to rise to the surface. The pink monster breached without so much as a tailflick. Gingerly, Johnny brought it to shore onto the metal platform.

Kneeling on the wet floor Taji ran a hand over the slowpokes back. It was warm and appeared healthy as far as he could tell. He lifted its tail, let it drop to the ground. The slowpoke stared straight ahead. Johnny hovered behind him nervously.

And you had him checked out by a nurse from the pokemon center already? asked Taji, producing a brown woven satchel from his coat which he unbuttoned then unrolled across the floor, exposing its contents.

I had every doctor and nurse and marine specialist in the Upper Shelf examine him, he said, slightly distracted by the tools he saw Taji had at his disposal. The memories of those examinations focused him. He almost bit the head off of each one but they found nothing phsyically wrong with him. Scanned his brain too, after going through six sets of restraints, and it came back all normal.

Taji held his hand over each object from his satchel, considering them individually, as he searched for what he was after. Johnny saw some familiar, some unexpected things; a wooden stake, a Gold Ho-oh Pendant, a Silver Lugia Spearhead, half of an ultraball that had swirls of blood red paint on the surface, a piece of tainted moonstone, a Jirachi Wishing Star, just to name a few... various religous items, superstious nicknacks and things he thought might have well have been props from a movie. Out of everything Taji finally picked up a fork. It was a seemingly ordinary bit of metal cutlery which even had a peice of old spaghetti stuck to it. That was because it was just an ordinary fork. Taji carefully picked off the string of pasta, popped it into his mouth and sighed happily. The fork spun between his fingers then he caught it so that it was being held like a knife would be held if the intention was to stab something.

Without hesitation he did, right into the base of the slowpokes tail. It groaned audibly, flinching at the sudden impact and moved itself about half a foot away from his attacker. With a look very near to wariness it eyed the fork in Tajis hand. Johnny wasnt sure what to make of it at first, and said so.

That... he stopped himself, reconsidering. Thats not right.

Taji put the fork back with his other tools and rolled up the satchel.

You are the water pokemon expert, he said, getting to his feet. This is a slowpoke.

And... he reacted straight away to the fork! Johnny stepped back despite sounding slightly relieved that his story had been validated. The exorcist nodded.

The jig is up.

This the slowpoke seemed to understand and his round eyes suddenly narrowed, an actual expression materializing on its face. Its tail flicked up and it hissed at them, angry. Its rage appeared to increase with each passing moment, its body shuddering in waves, the slowpoke starting to snap his jaws aggitated. The lights began to flicker above them and Taji was sure he felt the sturdy platform trembling.

It pounced with all the unholy speed nature never afforded a slowpoke and was onto Taji, knocking him down. Struggling against it he managed to shout No! to the Gym Leader who had a pokeball in hand and was only moments away from unleashing something ridiculous like a gyarados.

The slowpoke barked and hissed at him, making noises unfamiliar to even Johnny who had seen this display multiple times already. Finally Taji was able to grab it under its forelegs and threw it back into the tanker, causing a bigger splash than physics and the laws of displacement would have accounted for. Taji got up and began to rolling back his sleeves.

What now? What is it? demanded Johnny, wiping the water from his eyes.
I dont know, Taji said, then shrugged.

The gym leader was incredulous and grabbed him by the shoulders.
How can ye not know? he shook him.

Its definately not a haunter playing tricks, Taji said, the Gym Leader stopping when he heard a strange noise from the tank. The water had begun to churn and bubble. Couldnt be a shuppet. Even a slowpoke isnt a doll. You know, usually its just some ghost pokemon playing tricks but this definutely-

I already told ye this werent any ordinary thing! If I thought a damn ghost trainer could take careo dis I wouldnt have- Johnny was livid and in a panic, but his tirade was cut short by a sudden burst of water from the slowpokes tank. The wave knocked both of them off of the platform. It wouldve been a deadly ten foot drop if Johnny hadnt been through worse on the stormy seas and had the upper strength to hold onto a railing with one hand while carrying the exorcist in the other.

Tell me Mr Johnny! came Taji, now shouting over the swirl of water sloshing from the aquariums. Do you have on your property any ill gotten loot?

What the hell are ye talkin about ye daft nutter? Johnny almost couldnt hear him over the raging water.

Team Aqua was many things, Mr Johnny! Some detractors may even have claimed it was a cult!

Grab onto the ladder, son!

Taji was swung towards the ladder and he slammed into it, letting go of Johnny and feeling the sting of metal on his face as he clasped onto the rungs. He shook it off, watching as the incredibly athletic old man flung himself onto the same ladder just a few feet above him.

Others would just say it was just a group of misguided worshipers. They slid down the ladder at a mere ankle straining speed and arrived on relatively safer ground. But you did believe in something, Executive Johnny. The soaked gym leader glared at him, more furious at the current situation than in Taji himself.

What are you getting at boy?

Do you have any orbs here? he said, as if asking the man at the pokemart if they had any potions in stock. Johnny stared at him blankly. Perhaps around this size, probably azure in colouring, sapphire maybe, ultramarine even... There came a screeching noise from the slowpoke tank, like a steelix had been wrung through a furnace. There was the muted crackling of glass. Neither man had to shout Run! and they were already halfway down the greenlighted corridor. Taji persisted as they bolted.

Mr Johnny, your gym may survive the torrent and be rebuilt, but pokemon arent all as hardy as you may think.

I am Aqua Executive Johnny! he interjected, bellowing. I am leader of the Mayriver City Water Gym! They reached the end of the corridor and the door that would lead them back into the main training area. Johnny hit a panel on the wall and a strange metalic popping could be heard echoing throughout the building. You think I wouldnt be prepared for a little water in my gym? Then the tanks shattered. Water crashed into the hall, a pink figure rising from the raging torrent at the far end and screeching terribly. As water flooded towards them the slowpoke rode the wave, chasing them down.

Johnny and Taji spilled into the pool room, where Taji now noticed large holes had appeared across various spots on the gym floor. Drainage.

Okay thats sort of impressive, he admitted, pounding along the steel floor as he caught up to the Gym Leader. They made their way to another room where a large door blocked their way, just as Taji could hear the distant roar of the water getting more urgent. Again Johnny pushed his hand onto an unremarkable panel on the wall which read his palm with a hum. The door let him through with a hiss of steam. They piled in, and after the first door shut itself Johnny swung back another. The secondary door had a big metal wheel on it, used as a crank. It was very much like the hatch of a submarine. Johnny spun it with a mighty spin that sealed the rest of the gym closed behind them.

For the entire time that Johnny and Taji had been together the Gym Leader had been amazed at how calm the exorcist was through it all. It was probably what he shouldve expected anyway. Here now, for the first time since their meeting, Taji seemed surprised.

What is this place, he managed after a long bout of staring. Johnny didnt seem prepared to answer straight away and kept walking, expecting Taji to follow. Theyd stepped into, for all intents and purposes, what appeared to be a cave with walls of deep blue rock. They glistened with moisture and natural cystral, small metal spotlights on the ceiling lighting the tunnel dimly. Everything was awash in blue. Everything being the piles of treasure along the cave walls. It was like a scene from a movie, with piles of golden coins and pearls and jewelery strewn along the floor.

All procured in legal diving expeditions, I assure ye, said the pirate with a straight face.

They were going downwards ever so slightly and the path turned and twisted past the basement level where the ridiculous piles of treasure got larger, as if they were diamond encrusted stalagmites steadily growing taller over time. Finally they made it to a clearing where a stone pedestal stood in a pool of crystal clear water. A point of strange light from the ceiling above it highlighted the pedestal dramatically. Wow seriously? said Taji with barely concealed incredulity.

Johnny stopped a few feet before it, looking as guilty as a pirate could manage before his most recent and now most prized possession. The exorcist sighed and it echoed. Youve had this sort of thing down here and youre telling me you dont know why your slowpoke out there is acting strange?

On the pedestal was a small sphere, glistening like a crystal ball. Saying that it was blue would be quite the understatement. It seemed to contain whirling energy within that caused it to shine with an eerie luster. Johnny may have tried to stop Taji from approaching it, but thought better of it... he instead tried to rationalize the whole thing.

You know who I was in the past, he said gruffly, and you know what this means to me. To us.

Sort of, said the man in the tinsel wig. He leant closer to the blue orb, inspecting it with unblinking eyes. But I know this.

There was a distant boom. Some silver coins rolled off thier piles from the tremor. Its supposed to be bluer. He turned towards where they had come, where the booms echoed and grew louder.

The pirate spun around but before he could ask Taji what he meant he heard the groan of iron being ripped open. There was rumbling, the walls of the tunnel bouncing the roar of noise. Their ears were drowned with the call of the ocean. I hope youre not one of those pirates that ironically cant swim.

The hatch, freed from its duties as blastdoor, hit a rock on its way down the stairs and spun narrowly away from them and crashed into a chest of pearls. The wave was close behind it but Johnny was there, his hand erupting with light as a pokeball in it spilled its contents. The red jewel of the starmie was almost blinding as it spun to meet the wave. An energy shot from it in a cold beam, the water crackling and crunching as it was churned into ice. The water that was too fast to be caught rushed around the growing shield of ice but the starmie dealt with it by exploding more cold from some unseeable arctic reserve, and turned it all into ice. Still the water kept rushing in. The pink demon was screaming as it arrived. The sound boomed off the tunnel, amplified and distorted and angry. Blood curdling.

Johnny turned around to see Taji with his hands atop the pedestal.

What are you doing? he demanded.

Exorcising.

Taji snatched the orb, took a moment to study it in the light, looked over his shoulder at the crazed slowpoke rushing over the starmies freezing wave, saw Johnnys eyes widen in disbelief as he raised the orb over his head.

Only Taji heard the sound, and he felt it in his arm. As the orb shattered against the stone pedestal he let himself smile. Its a hard feeling to describe, to release this kind of energy into the world after perhaps a millennia of being confined in a container not much larger than a baseball. It was similar to feeling one gets when releasing their pokemon from the pokeball, except the pokemon was the whole universe, and it was trying to suck you in at the same time. Not quite like that, but it was a difficult thing to describe. What Taji saw was slightly easier to depict. There was a swirl of shadow and light from the point of impact. It was shapeless and grew and grew and grew. It sounded angry, it sounded happy. It was free and it screamed. Whether it was a alive or not depends on perspective and definitions. But it was present. Its presence filled the room and pressed down on everything. It only lasted a second. A woosh and it was all over. Taji managed to keep his wig on.



There wasnt as much water as there appeared to have been. Johnnys drainage system was really quite remarkable. Also quite remarkable was the landlocked pirates grip. It was only thanks to Johnnys shaking with rage that his hold on the exorcists throat loosened enough for him to steal some breaths. He managed to choke out some syllables to explain that the smashed orb wasnt what the executive had thought it was, as if the explosive shadow puppet show hadnt been enough indication.

If it wasnt the Blue Orb, then what was it? he snarled, pushing Taji dramatically against the wall. He mouthed a few more times, ineffectual in making any more words with his air cut off. After a moment of letting his anger fume out he released Taji. To his credit the exorcist just cleared his throat, as if he hadnt been turning blue through lack of oxygen.

Its kind of like a pokeball, he began, voice steady. But older than even the first known apricorn ball. Johnny stood dejectedly at the pedestal, picking up a shattered piece of his orb from the stone. They werent usually very sturdy, and only lasted a few days tops. I havent seen these things anywhere outside of museums though, and never with something still inside. Archeoligists even suggested that they werent neccessarily used for pokemon.

The gym leader cursed under his breath. He mustve been sure hed found the key. A way to bring the dreams of Team Aqua to fruition no doubt.

And what was inside this one then? he said, curious as to what he had sacrificed perfectly good wailmer tanks to.

Now that would be giving it away.

You dont get paid until you do.

Ill be getting paid for this, even if its not from you. Taji seemed to have forgotten about Johnnys choke hold, but he was pretty sure the pirate wasnt going to go for the jugular again at this point. The exorcist had done his job, even though he wasnt sure what hed exorcised was. Whatever it was it was probably not a pokemon. But it certainly had a connection to this little guy.

They both looked down at the slowpoke that lay dumbly in the 5 inches of water of the aqua cave floor. You dont need to explain, he said to the pirate, where realisation was dawning on his swarthy face. But Ive read about your deep sea expeditions in the Pleselpus Ocean. Salvaging treasure from wrecks on the ocean floor... there are things down there other than water pokemon.

The sailor told his tale anyway, as if he was finally able to unload his problems . From the faraway look on Johnnys face Taji could almost see the shadowed wreck resting against the rocks, leagues beneath the sea. The anticipation felt moments before plunging further into its icy depths to make the first discovery... the orb glowing there in the darkness relighting all of the Aqua Executives dreams. He admitted to ignoring all of the other treasures on that crashed ship just to bring the orb back as quickly as possible... it was a quite an exciting story that the old pirate told. But he still left out the part about how he procured that ill-gotten slowpoke which the ungodly presence trapped within the ancient orb just happened to tie itself to. Perhaps he didnt know.

Maybe you can find out, he said to Taji, placing a pokeball into the exocists hand. It held the weight of a slowpoke weightlessly. Letting Taji borrow it so that the gym leader could concentrate on his obligations to the Mayriver Gym was the story, but whether that truth held water is up for debate. Just know that the Leader is undoubtedly a happier man now. The Mayriver Gym has returned to its normal, cheerful air. But all challengers beware. The man is definately a pirate.




****




The head editor of the Opaddeka Delibird said nothing for a while and just stared at the screen. This is a very long article, said the balding man. He turned the laptop around on his desk at the writer sitting in the chair as if to make a point.

I do charge by the word.

Only words that are true, Taji, he said taking off his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose.

And every word is.

Is that right? He faced the screen to himself again and scrolled through the piece, pointing pointedly as he pointed out the points he wanted clarification on.

You really met with Johnny the May River Gym leader?

A nod.

Because he wanted you to exorcise his possessed slowpoke?

It wasnt exactly possession but thats the most appropirate term. Something that an Opaddekan audience would understand.

This Taji, in the article, appears to be a man. I thought you were a woman.

Oh does it say that? Taji was genuinely surprised and gave this some thought. I sometimes forget.

The editor tried to ignore this. Hed been struggling on how to deal with this freelancer since the interview, whether he shouldve been hitting on her or not as per his usual procedure . She appeared to be a she... and thats how he was going to keep thinking of her despite the supposed mixup in the article.

And he showed you his expansive underground treasure trove that he built the Mayriver Gym over?

The Pirate in the old Aqua Exec is still sailing strong, she said smiling.

You didnt really turn up anything new in the Team Aqua thing. You told me that was your angle of attack for the article... but this seems to be more about this... slowpoke exorcism.

Taji pretended to be distracted by her painted fingernails.
I try to entertain while I inform, she said.

You may have wanted to inform me that you moonlight as an exorcist too. He crossed his arms, as his belly didnt let him rest them on the desk. I dont remember seeing that in your resume.

You customise your resume for particular jobs. Exorcism didnt seem like it was must know information here.

This is really... he tabbed through the article again skimming over the details. Its really unbelievable. Marcus had been editor of the Opadekka Delibird for almost ten years now and hed seen and read his fair share of wild and imaginatives stories. Admittedly hed printed much more suspect pieces than this over the years. Its not very believable.

"So what do you believe in?" asked the exorcist from across the desk.

"Believe in?

"Yeah you know. Faith, religion, that sort of thing. What are you, Mr Marcus? You a Star Wisher? Arceus Faithful? Do you hear the call of Tentacthulhu?"

"Um... I'm not...I don't really..." Marcus never was the religous type. The closest thing could associate to a religious experience in his life was his morning espresso, four sugars. Even stupestitions had no bearing in his mind. "Does that matter?" said Marcus, worried that he hadn't prepared for this test.

"Oh not at all, but sometimes people prefer things done a certain way depending on who they think was the Creator, or Destroyer. Back in the Mewish church I'd put on the Mewtunic and everything. Comforts people."

Considering Taji's current outfit Marcus was starting to think he had preferred if his exorcist journalist came prepackaged with some form of belief system in place. Something he could work with.

"So then... what are you? A Mewish preacher?" he said hopefully.

Taji smiled wryly.

"Ah, not exactly. Recently got onto a new thing. She deliberately waited for Marcuss go on face. Oh, you know, the Zennith. Its all bout the Zennith, and reaching it."

"What? Whats that? The editor had come across all kinds of stories but this was something he couldn't remember hearing about. What's the Zennith?"

"Ah it's Opaddeka's most pervasive religion. You probably worship without even knowing. Taji stood, picking up her shoulder bag as she got ready to head back out. She had some letters to deliver. Her editor almost got out of his chair to follow her out.
Worship what?

The mighty Zenni, said Taji. She winked. It sparkled. Money makes the world go round after all. The editor slumped back into his chair tiredly, giving a snort despite himself. At the door to his office Taji paused, smiling brightly at the man. And I know youre printing that. You have my bank details, Mr Marcus. Ill call you when I have another story."


How are you doing that with your mouth?


Minto's APL: 25.5
Minto's MPL: 1
~

Minto's Proffle!
:lp : 10

Herman's APL: 5
Herman's MPL: 1
Hidden Bounty:7000z


Herman's Proffle!
:lp : 47

Posted Image|Posted Image
L|E|N|B|T


40 :lp frm mods
19.7 :gexp frm mods ~ 44 MP --- 11.9 :gexp from Little Cup
~ Forte ~ Taji
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Angel
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I Am The Coolest Person And You Should All Know It
A good old exorcism tale... it's a classic and hard to pull off without ripping off some other literary work or movie. Thankfully, you managed to make it original. It's like the retelling of an old movie, but done the way it was supposed to be done with the appropriate special effects and plot. Still, enough about me reminiscing about old times, let's get down to business.

Overall the story was solid. No real plot holes or loose ends to tie up and that's always a plus. The inspiration behind Taji did seem somewhat "been there done that" but you handled it beautifully so kudos to you. Made me think a little of Constantine when she pulled out the "Exorcism Kit" with all the little do hickeys and what not.

There were some errors with spelling and grammar, along with some sentence fragments, so you should consider getting someone to proof read it for you in the future. Either that or read it out loud to yourself to try and pick out the errors and correct them. Some names that should've been capitalized weren't, among other small details.

That's pretty much everything really. Now after adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and applying a non linear equation or two, we arrive at a the rewards.

Rewards:

KJ: Taji gets 12 :ffexp and a :slowpoke Lv. 5 and gender of her choice. In addition to that, she gets the standard trainer package which includes :poketech , :escaperope , 5000z, :pokedex and 5 :pokeball .
Me: .4 :gexp2

Edit: It appears that I made a small mistake when grading this. My misinformation lead me to subtract 5.0 :ffexp to your rewards thinking that it was necessary in order to obtain your Pokemon. So please add the extra :ffexp to your obtained rewards. My apologies for any inconvenience this may have brought you.
Edited by Angel, Jul 16 2010, 06:55 PM.
Posted Image
Sprite by Kaiz
APL: 67.6
MPL: 50.0
Current Landmark: Radloff City
Current Destination: Wherever Raikou is
Current Quest: Raikou Hunting!
Party
Posted Image :ml :lvl 71 :hp 213 :happiness x3Posted Image :ml :lvl 69 :hp 138 :happiness x10Posted Image :ml :lvl 67 :hp 201 :happiness x3
Posted Image :ml :lvl 66 :hp 198 :happiness x5Posted Image :ml :lvl 65 :hp 195 :happiness x2Posted Image Egg :lvl ?? :hp ?? :happiness x??
LP
Feel free to pm me for a mod!
"Hey...opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, but you don't always have to show yours off."
~Mav
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KJ Edge
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Donatello
Thanks!

All that exp goes to Sandy the Slowpoke, named through chat of course.
Ping! Level 13! Ping!

And without further ado, Taji will leave Escennia straight away! As suggested by chat! (ASBC!)

How are you doing that with your mouth?


Minto's APL: 25.5
Minto's MPL: 1
~

Minto's Proffle!
:lp : 10

Herman's APL: 5
Herman's MPL: 1
Hidden Bounty:7000z


Herman's Proffle!
:lp : 47

Posted Image|Posted Image
L|E|N|B|T


40 :lp frm mods
19.7 :gexp frm mods ~ 44 MP --- 11.9 :gexp from Little Cup
~ Forte ~ Taji
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