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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 20, 2018 6:57:27 GMT
"Yeah. Personal is right." Clay runs a hand through his hair. "Mine was playing off this weird thing Lady Ashandra dropped to mess with my head when I visited the Fire Branch a while ago. A, uh, reliable source says what she said wasn't true though. So if it's a message, whoever it's from doesn't know something we don't about that, they're just pulling out some sort of worry that was already in our heads and using it to screw with us." His lips twist in something that isn't quite a snarl or a sneer or a frown, just a weird look of distaste and discontent.
"Maybe they're just trying to get our attention back on the other messages, I dunno. Sure doesn't seem like it worked. But I don't think I like somebody messing with my head like that, even if they've got something important to say. And I like it even less when they do it to my friends. I wasn't even worrying that much about Ashley before the dream, but you and Rei were screwed up over the whole romantic thing already." He's getting caught up enough to forget that he was trying to tread carefully around that subject. "Seems like it at least kicked you out of that weird funk, if that was what did it, but I know it made Rei worse. She didn't wind up doing anything dumb but it scared the crap out of me and Holly for a while there. So I don't care if it's Crystallia or Darkry or any other legendary Pokémon, even if they meant well I am gonna have words with them sometime."
Tavi bristles a little, reacting to his trainer's tension, and Peng looks up and prods Clay's arm with his leek. Clay lets out a long, harsh breath, calming down a little. "Sorry. Got kinda worked up there."
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 20, 2018 7:08:18 GMT
Tiki doesn't react much to Clay's words, and pushes food around on her plate. No way in hell is she bringing up what went down in her dream. She just shakes her head, and sighs. "....I could really care less about these dreams. I'm done with them. I got other worries."
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 21, 2018 2:48:55 GMT
Clay drums his fingers on the table. "... Well, it's better than the creepy fake happy, but I'm not wild about the whole not-caring thing. Whoever's sending the dreams being a jerk doesn't stop this from being important." Granted, he's not sure what they can do about it at the moment - especially since he thinks Rei took that book with her on her trip - but at least thinking about it would be better than apathy. "Honestly I kinda think the 'other worries' are what the last dream was about to start with. They think we're getting distracted. Wish they'd give us more of a hint, if they're so sure we have to be the ones to deal with this..."
Maybe he should ask around, see if anyone else in the guild has been having these night terrors. It might be their entire little group, but he's not sure if somebody in one of the branches they haven't been in might be getting these dreams too and just not know that they aren't the only ones.
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 21, 2018 5:47:47 GMT
Tiki finished her food, sighed, and stood up. "Ugh. Whatever. I don't care what it wants. It has nothing to do with me. I need to be getting back to training. If they show up again, we got the psychic branch to catch them. Although...they seemed to do such a great job last time..." Tiki rolled her eyes, and looked to Clay. "Need anything else from me?"
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 21, 2018 22:23:18 GMT
Clay recalls his Pokémon and pushes himself to his own feet to look Tiki straight in the eye. He still has to look up to do it, even if not as much as he does to Rei. Quietly, he says, "We were the first two who had the dreams, remember? Us, Sano, and Divini - and Sano's off doing his own thing and I think Divini quit the guild completely. Rei and Holly didn't get them 'til later. So I'm pretty sure it does have something to do with you. If you don't want to deal with it, then fine. But pretending it doesn't matter doesn't make it not real."
He breaks the held gaze with a shake of his head if Tiki hasn't looked away already. "You don't have to be happy. I know you're hurting. But please don't act like your weird idea of how to fix a broken heart is the only thing in the world that matters."
Clay's hands clench into fists for a moment. His toes curl up, too, actually, before he forces himself to relax all four limbs. "I really don't think you and Rei beating each other up is going to fix anything. I dunno, maybe I'm just a stupid monkey boy for thinking there's something better you could be doing with your time than making someone who cares about you fight to stay your friend."
He grabs his staff from beside where he was sitting and turns as if to leave. Privately, he's hoping he'll have stung Tiki enough for her to respond. He's so tired of standing there watching from the sidelines while his friends tear themselves into pieces, of being scared that this time Tiki's going to do something genuinely dangerous or Rei's going to throw herself in front of something she can't handle. And it makes him sick to his stomach that "tired and scared" is what he takes away from this. Apparently that's what being guilty feels like, at least when it's being guilty about not wanting to watch your friends self-destruct.
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 21, 2018 22:48:52 GMT
Tiki clenches her fists, and teeth as Clay goes off on her. She quickly stomps in front of him, and gets back in his face. "You're right, Clay! I will not deal with these stupid dreams! I'm not happy! I am hurting! And, you should be happy you don't feel as horrible as I have! You can think whatever you want, but this fight is happening either way!" She then shoves Clay's shoulder. "Or, are you saying you want to pick a fight right here and now!?" Tiki glares, and sneers at Clay.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 21, 2018 23:27:44 GMT
Clay grins at that. Or something. It's not a happy grin, but it does show quite a lot of teeth. He sways back slightly when Tiki pushes him, as much for effect as anything else, then straightens back up. "Not right here and now. We'd upset all these people trying to eat breakfast."
His hands don't clench this time - his expression is aggressive, but his posture isn't. More satisfied than anything. After all, he's deliberately being provoking. "I'd be happy to fight if that's what it takes to get your heart beating again. Get some fire in your eyes instead of ice, it looks much better on you."
Somehow picking a fight with Tiki honestly helps kill the guilty feeling a lot more than treading on eggshells ever did. He eases back on it a little now. "Or any other way I can help. Just because I don't feel as horrible as you do doesn't mean I'm happy about the way things are. I'll fight you if you want. Just don't close up on us like you've been doing, huh?" Honestly, he's okay with letting Tiki ignore the dreams... for the moment, anyway. Just as long as he can make her care about something, even if it's beating him up.
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 22, 2018 0:08:05 GMT
"Don't you mock me! Fine! Meet me outside!" Tiki heads back to her room to assemble a team, and then storms outside. Fighting Clay was not in the cards, but now she was ticked off. This would be a decent test to check far she had come, and how much further she needed to go. She taps her foot impatiently as she waits for Clay to show up.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 23, 2018 21:13:19 GMT
Clay wonders, distantly, if he might have pushed it a little too far. He remembers that Tiki likes knives, like certain other people he fought recently... but then, the Dark Branch girl with the knives sounded like the reasonable one.
He rounds up the rest of his own team thoughtfully. On the one hand, he doesn't want to go too hard on Tiki... but on the other he's well aware that Tiki has fewer losing streaks than he does and her Pokémon are probably actually stronger. So, fine, then. Tavi and Peng are joined by a considerable portion of his A-team - Fan, Sandy, Flower, and Baloo. "Okay, guys. Tiki's going to be a tough opponent, but this is still a friendly fight. So try not to do anything permanent."
He meets her outside, hanging on to his staff tightly. "So. Are we going, or just our Pokémon?"
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 23, 2018 23:02:16 GMT
Tiki is fiddling with her knife when Clay finally shows up. "Yes. We are going. It'll be us, and 4 pokemon. Get ready." Tiki tosses out a ball, and Star pops out. She crouches low, and growls at Clay. This was going to be good.
Tiki-20
Star-15 (25 from Juggler)
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 24, 2018 5:25:21 GMT
"Four, huh? Okay then." He raised his eyebrows when Star came out - looks like Tiki is starting strong. Fan's the logical one to face off against her, but then again... maybe someone tougher would deal better with Star's probably strength.
"Let's go, Baloo!" The little Pancham stomps his feet as he's released, and pounds his fists together even in the face of his larger opponent.
Clay: 17
Baloo: 15
(tie roll: YYmcpjV51d6)1d6
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 24, 2018 5:34:17 GMT
"Let's go, Star! No holding back!" Tiki words inspire the Companion, and as etheral cards float around Star, she flings one at Baloo.
Tiki binds Plainly Perfect--
"Target: Your Pokémon
Effect: While this Feature is bound, instead of rolling for damage with Normal-Type Moves, your Pokémon acts as if they rolled the maximum value on their Damage Dice Roll. Plainly Perfect only works for the first instance of the Damage Dice Roll on Critical Hits."
Trump Card vs Baloo
AC 2 vs U8l9Zc0z1d20
DMG: 41 Norm spec + 1d10 (Adaptability)
Tie:1-61d20·1d10·1-6
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 24, 2018 5:45:33 GMT
Baloo doesn't look pleased with that at all - the ethereal card leaves a nasty slashe, showing blood even through his fur. Clay winces in sympathy and rumbles out to him, "Right, hit her hard, buddy!"
Baloo charges in, aiming a flurry of blows at Star. Unfortunately, only one strike seems to hit home.
Clay's Swift: Channel Baloo
Clay's Standard: Bind Spirit Boost. Baloo gains +5 bonus damage on Physical attacks.
Baloo uses Arm Thrust!
AC 4 vs rDQmQJWb1d20
Five Strike roll: 1d8
Hit 1 time! 1d8+26 Physical Fighting damage1d20·1d8·1d8+26
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 24, 2018 6:01:28 GMT
Star is only nicked by an attack. She glows slightly as she encourages Tiki to fight on with a few yips. Tiki moves in close, reaches back, and lets out quite a powerful scream.
Star uses Helping Hand:
Helping Hand grants the target +2 on its next Accuracy Roll this round, and +10 to its next Damage Roll this round.
Hyper Voice vs Clay & Baloo
AC 2 vs dn7zJBzZ1d20+2
dmg: 2d10+41 norm spec All legal targets are pushed back to the squares immediately outside the blast, away from the user. 1d20+2·2d10+41
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 24, 2018 6:21:41 GMT
Clay vaults back away from Tiki when he sees her draw in a breath, remembering how powerful her screams could be. It takes some of the edge off, but still leaves his head ringing, and poor Baloo down for the count.
1 AP: Clay uses Flip Out! Use Splash as an interrupt to gain 8 DR versus the triggering attack. Clay gains +2 Evasion until the end of his next turn.
He plants his staff, breathing hard, and switches the unconscious Pancham out for a new Pokémon - Flower, twirling her black arms with her ghostly flame dancing behind a glassy face. In a voice of hissing, crackling flames, he calls out, "Burn the fox down!" Flower obliges happily, hurling a ball of flame at Star that splashes out around her, potentially hitting anything nearby.
Clay's Standard: Switch Baloo for Flower
Clay's Swift: Channel Flower
Flower uses Flame Burst on Star!
AC 2 vs zCVimmw01d20
2d10+28 Special Fire damage, and any targets cardinally adjacent to Star lose 5 HP.1d20·2d10+28
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 25, 2018 17:59:05 GMT
Well, going down just to being slugged by Tiki is a little embarrassing for Fan, even after she weathered an Octazooka to the face. Then again, it's probably not as embarrassing as not having managed to take down a single one of Tiki's Pokémon will for Clay when he wakes up. He knew he was going up against a superior opponent, but not quite that superior.
Of course, now Tiki has an unconscious Clay on her hands.
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 25, 2018 18:06:29 GMT
Tiki recalls her pokemon, and takes a moment to catch her break. Her vocal cords got pushed pretty far in what feels like a long while. She looked over at Clay, and sighed. Well her anger was sweated out, and she just beat up the one person around here who wasn't entirely done with her crap. This was just a taste of what was coming when Rei came back, and that was going to be much MUCH worse. Tiki still needed to help Clay. She had her big Nidoqueen carry Clay, and Tiki gathered up any of his pokes into their respective apricorn balls. One trip to the infirmary later, Tiki needed a rest of her own, and then it was back out for training that she had missed. Not much rest would be had as she went over everything that just happened, and what was to come.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 25, 2018 18:13:29 GMT
Clay is up fairly quickly, thankfully. It's Peng he's a little more worried about, and gets another scolding from the healers about pushing him too far - they don't seem to believe right away that most of the punishment Peng took came from one scream. And when they do, the lecture switches to taking on opponents way out of his league.
Given that they'd seemed to give up on him before now, Clay wonders if this is more about them being worried about the circumstances. They'd hardly be the only ones.
Once he has a chance, he glances around to see whether Tiki's still around resting up or if she's already gone off to finish training. Clay's own training is obviously going to need to go a little lighter today...
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Post by oddeyes on Apr 26, 2018 0:14:02 GMT
After a short rest, and settling her thoughts...for now...Tiki was outside ready for more training. Her battle with Clay, while rough emotionally, did get her pumped for another fight.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Apr 27, 2018 4:52:48 GMT
Clay hauls himself out of the infirmary a short time later. Meditation for today's probably a lost cause, but he can at least train some on his own time. Some of the rest of his team, anyway; the participants in that unfortunate battle are going to need a rest, especially poor Peng. Looks like Tavi won't get his competition today after all. He's gotta remember to ask how Tiki did that trick that took Peng down so hard, so he can at least look out for it in the future...
Great, Instructor Mason is probably gonna ask about this, too. Clay... doesn't exactly expect him to lecture, but he's certainly going to be concerned, and Clay suspects this was not exactly the proper way to handle a depressed friend. Maybe losing was better than winning, on that front, but he wishes he could say he'd planned that one out.
Clay rounds up Red Child, Kaa, Mufomono, and, after a little thought, Thunder as well, to add to the still-standing Sandy and Tavi. Then he sets about looking for some training that will be low-impact, at least on his own recovering injuries.
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