It's not an exaggeration to say that the past few months have been rather ... exhausting. So exhausting, in fact, that it feels like the first free evening in ages (which is factually untrue, but irrelevant right now). It's definitely been a long enough time for Fenelle's stash of sweets to have gone entirely empty. Dee could supply demself simply with sugary beverages, but ... for all that hard work in the past weeks, dee would like more of a treat. It also doubles up as stress-baking, really, so it's a win-win situation.

Successfully occupying a part of the kitchen, dee has been busy. It's about making sweets for at least an entire week for dem, after all - the timing needs to be absolutely perfect or der carefully constructed plan would fall apart, resulting in slightly overbaked or underbaked goods. In fact, there's only a brief respite planned in, just to have a window of making sure that everything, really everything, has gone according to plan.

Or, as dee looks up from the packed counters and ovens for the first time in several hours, to notice someone nearby as well. The smell of baked sweet and heated sugar probably has filled a good portion of the Dining Hall, though it also mixes with the smell of late dinner for some few. Some already baked and finished cookies and biscuits and pastries are already laid out on cooling sheets, ready to be put away into the myriads of tupperware also lining the counters.

Owlishly, dee blinks at the other person.

@open trick or treating mission

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It turns out that night shift might be a good opportunity for Fenelle to prove demself - looking over the ship's controls is both exciting and nerve-wrecking, but gladly dee has steeled them a fair amount. It's also reassuring to have Alba Evovae as a research person awake as well, even if dee isn't sure how much expertise he might have with technology.

It turns out, however, that the threat of the night might be entirely different.

Fenelle frowns as the hue of the controls in front of der eyes shifts, blinking rapidly a couple of times. For a few moments, that seems to fix the off-colour, but it returns once more. A definite vision compared to the glimpse out of the window before - a sign of progress and danger. Dee stands up, trying to get a last look to make sure the piloting's going to be smooth, however. Der vision warps, turning to ...

Are they gonna haunt me forever now?

Streets of Mossdeep City - before they've been burned. They're probably rebuilt right now - it doesn't matter.

Dee turns as der Rotom wristwatch announces Underboss Cillian Quinn moving, and dee stands straight at his words - whether or not they've been an explicit command, dee would treat them like that to keep der mind off the dreamscape visions. But it wouldn't be all that easy to push through towards the sleeping quarters ... two Paradox pokémon manifest as well, and dee couldn't help but think how fitting that might be.

Underboss Quinn makes the first moves, giving Fenelle a moment to consider der steps. Dee then taps der Rotom wristwatch, signalling for it to come out momentarily to Astonish the Iron Hands while dee calls for der Grimmsnarl as well, signing for it to use Spirit Break on the Great Tusk.

tl;dr
- excited to look over the ship tech
- momentarily captured by visions of pre-war mossdeep
- follows cillian, uses rotom and grimmsnarl to help with the battle against the paradoxes
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It's almost too easy. Damien follows the other with a nod, chipper as before and perhaps even with more bounce in their steps. ""Don't worry, I'll be - well, as quiet as I can be." It's hard to remember sometimes what makes noise and what not, though it won't really matter for long ... They signal for their Rotom to enter the system, they enter the passcodes they've figured out before ... but doing things remotely is so tedious, and indeed. It's way faster this way.

But, Fenelle might've underestimated the League's security a tad bit. As the download's almost finished, another passcode is required - and this time, there's a notification showing up on every screen, too, notifying everyone with eyes (and possibly ears, dee isn't sure about audio cues) that someone's trying to download a massive amount of data. Clicking der tongue, dee hits the computer to eject the Rotom back into der wristwatch as dee whips around towards the other in the room.

Time to take care of everyone, apparently.

The pokéball in der hand is well-used, with scratches all over it. Some of them seem to be made by claws - as if the pokémon itself might have held and regarded this ball multiple times. And multiple times, it came to the same conclusion. Dee tosses the pokéball with force to place the Grimmsnarl right in-between dem and the three pokémon of the other - good choices, though that's perhaps the only compliment dee could spare right now. After a second of thinking, dee also pulls back der sleeve to activate the Mega-Accessory, powering up der Grimmsnarl. Without command, the Grimmsnarl lunges forward with Bite at the Metagross.

Xuying Zhou
post count: 5
50 MP involve the pokeballs of your pokemon in a meaningful way (e.g. type of pokeball described to reflect the pokemon or character, damaging them, seizing them).
50 MP describe your character's pokeball throwing style.
10 MP mega evolve your own pokemon in your thread.
50 MP have your character make a regrettable decision or make a sacrifice. (regrettable choice: mega grimmsnarl in a room with electricity hinthint)

It seems like Professor Eva Morales - Eva - truly is knowledgeable about the text ... which is both fortunate, as Xuanyi would be interested in discussing it further, as well as unfortunate, as Fenelle demself hasn't given it that much detail to properly hold up against the young lady who did spend all of their time reading. Still, their bright eyes might consider bringing the topic up another time, before Xuanyi hastily remembers that introductions have never been made.

"I shall then, Professor- I mean, Eva," Xuanyi smiles, finger-spelling the name in lack of a proper sign name (as they've also finger-spelled their own name just now). The introduction moves onto a more somber topic - the thought of Sootopolis, flooded though also reclaimed, in a way. There's a flinch denying the reassuring touch of the shoulder, immediately followed by an apologetic smile.

(Tactically, Fenelle ponders if that might've been bad - but there's boundaries people draw, though it feels unfortunate in this moment ... but, as much as it fits der actual identity, it also fits this version of der past.)

Eva's words do manage to bring a smile to their face, however, an stray ray of hope that persists through the darker reality. "That's ... that's true, indeed," they agree slightly flustered, but nod along with more resolve. "It's ... it's very reassuring to hear this from you, Eva, I'm very thankful."

With this shimmer of hope, there's also something else happening - something that their Porygon2 informs them of, as they're standing with the back to the stage. It's also not something they generally perceive much, given that they can't hear music, though the general idea of a music live performance seems to bring them joy, too. "Oh! Melody's performance is now! I've- I've seen quite a few choreography videos to 'Mechanical' in particular." (And Fenelle has to admit, those were good dances - though there's little dee can say about the music itself.)

The Porygon2 tablet repositions itself, finding a good spot between Eva and Xuanyi so that the latter could look at the screen also while looking at the stage performance, and also minimises the text display a bit to make room for a sound wave display to generally give an idea of the current song.

prompts: 3 (rewards in pc)
have your character reflect on their flaws.
reference your character's partner pokemon in some way.
reference one of melody's songs or albums in your post.

xuanyi hover credit

It's ... odd for Fenelle to actually have it work here. But maybe the Rocket felt bad about only having it go through horrors and terrors day after day - maybe it is a very awkward attempt at both money and allowing the ghost type to live out its ... well. ghost typeiness.

It does seem that the other ghosts prefer solitude, though it's hard to get away from Rotom completely, as it taps into the computers and goes to control the lighting. At least one good thing's come out of Fenelle's obsession with mood and storytelling, even if it's also bitten dem more than once: Rotom knows how to put on a show.

Subtlely, it works on helping the other ghosts like Makoto Kurumi's Shiro and Vespa Baskerville's Amalthea to shine their best, letting the light flicker eeriely or be out completely until the best moment. In the case of the latter, it's mostly just that - letting the light flicker to have the face occasionally be shown, but mostly obscured in shadows.

Makoto Kurumi Elise Calcifet Vespa Baskerville Evelyn Vespera minerva valentine Marvie Hiiragi Shred

Fenelle blinks with compassion and a friendly nod at Vespa's words, managing to put away the feeling of exhaustion dee already feels. It seems like wartime really wears on der ability to keep that civilian persona going - it's less of a game and more of a chore, but dee should be better at chores ... ... anyway, dee actually seems to wait for a moment for the pokémon to also thank dem because that's a whole lot of coins.

However, a romantic distraction comes and ... wild. Dee hasn't ever considered romance unless it's in a fake context, but even dee can see something ... odd going on. At least it's quickly passed - and actually gave dem another opportunity to have a look, seeing a Gallade that's training just a bit off ... and discreetly, caught into a pokéball that der Ralts slips into der bag.

At Vespa's words, the Poryphone beeps excitedly, and one of the autism gang steps up, too - a Milcery that's looking quite content with herself, and exitedly gestures for the Poryphone to show another picture. "Someone else started gambling, at least for one figurine." It's a pretty sick looking sword from a weapons collection.

Vespa Baskerville
catching gallade

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Fenelle only gives a single nod at the Leaguer's words, preparing fully for a terastallization to happen - fire with fire, and everything. Or maybe a mega evolution or anything ... but there's simply the Mawile, getting blasted by the second, more powerful Mud Shot. There's a smirk on Fenelle's face, a shit-eating grin to fuel the fire more.

However, it also dies.

How the fuck did a greenhorn like that get a Type:Null?!

It's a beast that dee would also like to have on der team - even if there's a good chance dee will never utilise its full potential because friendship is a hard thing to do. But not impossible, either, as dee learns in the company of Makoto Kurumi ... a feeling of comfort that dee can't fall back to in this very moment, however, as the Type:Null's Iron Head splits right through the crystalline coating of the Hisuian Goodra, sending it back to Fenelle in a flash.

"Upping the stakes, huh," an electric voice murmurs in Fenelle's stead, as Fenelle puts out der next fighter. If it comes to this, there's only one match-up in der current team that wouldn't instantly go down - and it's perhaps also perfect for what dee intends to do, even if in the other extreme. Riling up and clowning as a court jester enters the stage, though it's not in any way less dangerous because of its silly appearance.

The orb devoid of expression, with a lanky body to make up for all the mockery. Its first order is Calm Mind, boosting its own stats as it moves to take off its head - perhaps to bow, before tossing it high into the air.

Fenelle doesn't expect it to stay long - but that damage should be a significant help later on.

calla roth
post count: 4
25 MP for knocking out another Pokemon in your skirmish thread.
50 MP reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way.
50 MP use a legendary, mythical, ultra beast, paradox pokemon in a way that reflects your character or highlights another character.
50 MP include a motif or recurring symbol of some kind in your thread. (riling up, mockery, clowning)

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Damien nods empathically at Xuying's remarks about Hoenn being exceptionally strange. "Right? I haven't been to the region for too long and it's already going well over my head. But I'm glad to play my part here," dee signs with a grin that is only fake - a front to the anxiety and nervousity this young lad feels. (And, perhaps, a double meaning.)

However, the question about where dee needs to go makes der confidence waver for a moment- have they been discovered? But there's been no prior indication for that, so it should be ... still, there's a moment of pause as dee collects demself again, replying a heartbeat too late, "Oh, really? I need to do that, too! But I wasn't told that there'd be two of us," dee says, but shrugs, "But hey, should get the work done more quickly if we tag-team for that."

And once in the database room and with Rotom inside of it ... it would be showtime.

Xuying Zhou
post count: 4
50 MP have your character self-doubt or cast doubt on another's confidence/allegiances/beliefs, etc.
50 MP include a motif or recurring symbol of some kind in your thread. (anythign theatre and story telling)

There's always a last for everything, just as there's a first for everything. While der second hand looks way better than the first one, it's still ... not exactly favourable. And as dee would always be a gambler in one way or another, a new game would bring a new hand as well to contemplate while reading the idle chatter from around the table.

It doesn't distract der thoughts too much, however, as there's two things occupying der mind ... what dee has seen outside the window, and what others might also have perceived, what dee might know of Dream Mist (which, arguably, not a lot), and ... der new hand. Thanks to years of keeping der composure, dee doesn't lose it as der final hand is revealed.

Though dee closing der eyes for a moment might be a give-away, as if dee is attempting to catch up now already on any sleep dee might lose over the upcoming night.

tl;dr
- fen wanna gamble for another hand lol
- just contemplations, nothing much

hand one pair
91SkVCw|

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Now that Fenelle's in the shadows, dee takes out der Rotom wristwatch again, being able to get a live feed on what's spoken as well as being able to communicate with the two grunts under der "command" so to speak. They do not actually need a command for this first step, however, as Fenelle shrouds demself in the shadow for now, biding der time ... until it might be time to fully reveal, since dee doesn't think Airi actually realised just now.

"Your surrender," is the reply of one of the grunts, a calculating looking man that goes for a pokéball at the Ninetales' aggression. The androgynous person next to him doesn't hesitate, either, also taking out a pokéball.

"Though we don't figure it'll be easy."

The duo calls for pokémon that Fenelle actually trained - with Fenelle holding onto the trump cards in this battle once dee would find a moment to complete the ambush. For now, the duo uses der Bronzong and Swampert while the other four remain in Fenelle's hand. A beast ball that seems to shimmer red with fire from within, a simple yet often-used pokéball for a Grimmsnarl ... an actually polished though slightly slimy pokéball that belongs to der Hisuian Goodra, maintained by himself, and Rotom ... a ball that is dusty with lack of use since it's always out somehow.

Immediately upon release, Bronzong goes for a Rain Dance to weaken the other's fire type, while Swampert immediately charges onward with Water Gun, aiming to hit the Ninetales square in the face.

AIRI WATANABE
post count: 4
50 MP include a motif or recurring symbol of some kind in your thread. (fairytale/storytelling motifs)
50 MP involve the pokeballs of your pokemon in a meaningful way (e.g. type of pokeball described to reflect the pokemon or character, damaging them, seizing them).
10 MP have your pokemon set weather, terrain, or a magic, trick, or wonder room in your thread. (just gonna claim that real quick even if it's not technically fen ... it's der pokémon :rofl: )

Xuanyi is relieved as the other doesn't seem to take it too badly, and releases the vicegrip on their now slightly crushed pastry ... well, they could've also remembered to take a plate, but at least it hasn't fallen onto the floor now ... And before they could apologise another time, Eva makes a quip that prompts a slightly intense stare as they try to figure out if Eva means the scolding, or if it's a mere quip to lighten the mood.

Another moment passes, then Xuanyi smiles with pink flushed cheeks, still looking extremely embarrassed about the mishaps. There might also be another glance over their shoulder, seeing if their parents maybe have seen that, before they whip back around to Eva - but not with enough force to send their twintails flying.

"Yes, I will! So sorry again, I ... was a bit too focused on, eh, something else." They glance at their pastry.

(Fenelle thinks about the other topics occupying der mind. A steadfast loyalty to Rocket that dee keeps under wraps in these circumstances. It's nothing dee has ever questioned - or maybe sometimes ...)

They direct their gaze towards the floor again, before continuing to sign, now with calmer movements, though still clumsy with the battered pastry in hand, "Uh, I was thinking about what I read about, about the- Draconology texts by Mrs Morningstar." However, it's also apparent that the thought itself also fills them with a vague kind of horror, though it's not exactly apparent why that might be - or the distance between them and the Porygon2 tablet might be telling.

"Uh, I- I am, I'm Xuanyi De Laurierwylle, pardon the late introduction, uh- Dr Eva Morales. Very honoured to make your acquaintance, even if the circumstances are ... not really favourable." They let out a sigh, thinking about the destruction back at their home, too. "They've been lucky that they haven't been at home when it all happened." Still, the thought of the fierce battle brings an expression of deep sadness with an undercurrent of fear onto their face that they hastily try to mask with a pleasant smile.

prompts: 2+3
reflect on your character's current loyalties and faiths, specifically regarding the league.
reference Hoenn's dragonology text, written ICly by freya.
lament over the war and/or the state of the region.

xuanyi hover credit

Fenelle frowns pensively at Makoto Kurumi's question, staring more intently at the window again. Out here, they should be fairly isolated from many lifeforms, though it's not impossible for them to meet infamous aliens (probably just more pokémon ... or maybe something else entirely) out here. It doesn't seem to be just that, however, given that several's attention might be trained on the window now.

And for a glimpse.

Der eyes widen with confusion, forcing them to stay open, but perhaps the same glimpse that Naomi Sato has seen is then gone once more. It oddly feels like it's just been seen outside of the corner of der eye, too, or perhaps just before dee has closed der eyes to blink ... but it's definitely gone now.

"I believe ... what could it be?" dee ponders, noticing one head scientist leaving the table to go talk to ameena abadi. Dee looks at them with a creased eyebrow, pondering ... Dream Mist? But der attention is then called back to the cards and another hand.

tl;dr
- stares out the window at makoto's question
- catches a glimpse of smth (perhaps what nomi saw), then sees her walking away from the table to talk to ameena
- believes to lipread "dream mist" but then focuses on Gambling lol

hand 2nd attempt: two pair
sl7STi3I