bottlecaplogs | September Catch-All

Wow! You really were a famous detective, huh? [This... sounds extremely sarcastic, but that's just his nature. He's actually impressed. Flowey was so focused on his nightmare scenario of being trapped in some weird time loop that he isn't controlling, he didn't even think about that.] That's a great hypothesis!

Actually... Emporio and I were talking. I'm sure you were thinking along the same lines, but we were speculating that a Legendary Pokemon that must have brought us here and turned us into Pokemon. [There are too many coincidences and little oddities that add up-- the way the forest was glitching, the way some Pokemon go missing multiple times, the fact that Pokemon go comatose like dolls with their strings cut. He'll explain if Akechi asks for more clarification.

... Although Flowey is naturally biased to think of the world as a game, and so he had felt like some sort of 'game master' had brought them here. It was his own peculiar line of reasoning.]

It might've called us here because nobody else from this world could break the cycle. It had to take drastic action because this may be the world's 'last chance', don'tcha think? When we were walking to Death Blood Murder Skull Town- [And yes, he will say the full name,] the forest was really weird. Even without the fog, it was like reality was breaking.

...Breaking how, exactly?

[His head tilts, but his attention remains firmly in place. This is a significant lead, one most certainly worth following up on...

The question is, how do the discoveries at Furnace Mountain fit into the big picture?]

Like it was a game glitching. Even without the fog, there were parts that were... weird. Unreal. Those parts of the forest kept alternating between North, Middle, and South. And isn't it weird how we got there in just one day, even though Mightyena said it should've been impossible?

It could be something about the Forest specifically, or it could be a Pokemon was using some move. [Whether it was to help or hinder them, he can't say.]

... There have been other cases of disorientation, though. I heard that voice in the abandoned archives building in Heavy Downmoor. Once, I became convinced that I wasn't actually who I thought I was. And this ISN'T just me. Haven't you noticed the same Pokemon go missing multiple times?

I have. And then there are those who seemingly lose the same item repeatedly as well...

[It's less severe but still worth noting. Repetition. Repeat missions. It all aligns with the sense of loops or cycles...

But this voice? Well, that's a fascinating segue, isn't it? So fascinating that Akechi finally seizes his chance.]

At any rate, our exploration at Furnace Mountain also yielded fascinating finds. Setting aside the immense heat and the peril, we found an obsidian spire covered in mysterious symbols.

[Bringing his wings together, he lets that sink in.]

But directly touching the spire assaulted our minds with a cacophony of voices. It was... overwhelming, to say the least, and we were unable to discern their precise words.

However, as we left, a mysterious voice asked, "Can you hear me?"

[... Well, that's unnerving.]

Did you reply? Or hear anything after that?

[He thinks about this new information. If it were a cacophony of voices, it might be more than one entity that they're dealing with... or maybe it's the same one who's spoken in his mind, and the others are trapped. Lost in time and space...]

... And have you ever heard that voice before?

No reply. The final voice was the clearest by far.

[Shutting his eyes, he tries to think if he had heard a similar voice before.

Then it hits him, and he straightens his posture, a serious look overtaking his features.]

When we searched for Zweilous, an odd thought overcame us. "Something important is... missing." While I can't say it was the same voice, it was an unsettling feeling, and I believe others involved in the search experienced something similar.

That was the Pokemon I was searching for when I first heard it! You know, when I felt like I wasn't who I thought I was!

[He doubts Zweilous itself has anything to do with it... that must have just been a time the voice broke through for several of them.]

... Missing? What's missing? [Could what the voice told them be connected?] Is there something we're forgetting?

Or was it that Zweilous felt something was missing?

[Something to motivate it to keep leaving, time and time again... Still, what Flowey just said is worrying, to be sure.]

We also must consider why these Pokémon repeatedly go missing and how they can evade detection by the clinic staff. On a wider scale, there are also the frequent attacks from Pokémon who can't be reasoned with.

True. Some of them seem like they can come to their senses, like the Pokemon with bounties on their heads.

[It feels too frustrating to settle for a 'wait and see' approach, but they have come across tidbits of information that way so far.]

The way I see it, there's three points of attack: question Pokemon like Ursaluna and Zweilous, question our fellow guildmates about their experiences with the voice, or try to follow up on that obsidian spire. That's the only way we might be able to contact the voice rather than wait for it to contact us.

[There's also following up on the guildmasters, which is also generally on his to-do list. He knows there's more that Ribombee isn't telling him. But, he isn't sure how much more he can learn from him before resorting to outright spying on him-- at least, without ranking up some more.

Flowey also considered doing a stakeout and waiting for a frequent runaway like Zweilous to get lost yet again, and then following them to see what they can learn... but that might be a lot of work for zero reward. Last time, his team found Zweilous napping in a tree.]

Your thoughts, Watson? [Realistically, Akechi would be the Sherlock Holmes. But it's funnier to try to get a rise out of him.]

[Akechi slowly inhales, but decides not to press on the Watson point. Knowing Flowey, he's likely trying to get under his skin, and they have far more pertinent matters to discuss.]

It may be worthwhile to divide and conquer. If we can find enough volunteers from the guilds, we could theoretically tackle multiple points of attack in one fell swoop.

[Surely there's enough interest. They may even learn more in the process.]

Of course, there's also the matter of the guild leadership to consider. I'm still not convinced it's as harmonious as it appears.

We could always ask your boyfriend, loverboy. [Oh, how he longs to love someone, anyone. Even if it seems a little gross to be all nose nuzzle kissy smoochy. He'll hide that emptiness behind mockery, as usual.] Hee hee.

Loverboy. Really?

[His feathers do fluff up a bit, but only for a moment. A slow breath in, a slow breath out, and he's back to perfect composure.]

Setting aside the blatant teasing, I do believe that Ren would be interested.

You know what they say: if the shoe fits...! [He cackles, pleased that he managed to ruffle Akechi's feathers.]

Anyway, sounds like we've got a plan! Let's loop in Ren at least. We should keep the guild leader investigation stuff between us so we don't get any unwanted attention, though.

Edited 2025-09-26 16:39 (UTC)

Agreed.

[He frowns, glancing around to make sure there aren't any eavesdroppers.]

I doubt it'd bode well if guild leadership knew we were wary. Mightyena-san might be more understanding, but the moment direct conflict arises between the guilds is the moment the status quo unravels.

[For better or worse...]

[... Suddenly, it all becomes clear.]

Golly! Then we oughta bring everyone together, don't you think? They can't fight a war if none of their foot soldiers will go to the battlefield!

[There are already lots of friends between the guilds-- and it's hard to prepare for resentment or even an inciting incident between the guilds. Still, Flowey thinks if they can get everyone on some kind of alliance...

... maybe war won't have to break out. Or at least, they'll have a group to lean on when all hell breaks loose.]

You think it will escalate to a war.

[Ha. Now there's a thought. Imagine, all the power that Pokémon wield, and yet...

Actually, come to think of it, that does raise another curious point, and Akechi taps below his beak again.]

...Haven't you found it strange how someone as small and unassuming as Ribombee holds so much power? It could simply be a matter of charisma, but what's especially strange is how willing he is to subject his guild members to the elements.

You don't?

[Okay, admittedly, his thoughts jump to war and violence and mass destruction very quickly. But still...]

In my world, humans and monsters went to war over just a hypothetical. [No monsters even took any human souls! Except once, but that was later. (Oh, fine, and a few times after that. Still.)] Nothing but fearmongering and hand-wringing. Now we've got three active governing groups that are always competing with each other over leadership, new recruits, points, and throw in a whole new town just for the fun of it, and you don't think it's gonna end in everyone trying to kill each other?

[... Well, maybe not if this mysterious legendary Pokemon shows up to antagonize them all. That would unite them, probably.]

Anyway, I do think that's weird. Seems like his favorites get better treatment, though.

[He doesn't even know the half of it since Tenna hasn't been recruited yet. He's mostly thinking about Firepaw (later known as Fireheart).]

Humans turn to conflict incredibly easily. My home nation has a history of imperialism and participated in a great many atrocities. Even in the present, my father spearheaded a conspiracy within the government and sought to rise to the top as the de facto leader.

[And Akechi aided him, but that goes unsaid, though there's a subtle growl to his words. A light ruffling of his feathers that swiftly smooths out.]

So, it's not that I don't believe such a conflict is possible, but these Pokémon seem more focused on kinder virtues without the same degree of greed and corruption that pervades human society...

[He pauses.]

But they are still individuals, and frankly, between the high status of the Lum Berries and Ribombee's own favoritism, it's clear that not everyone is treated equally. I do believe Mightyena-san is genuine, but because she's so genuine, it means she's forced to play nice even when the systems in place aren't entirely fair.

Golly, you've got more issues than I thought! [Ever the charmer, Flowey is.]

Sure, you said the same thing about imperialism, too. Humans can kind of suck! I guess we'll see.

Sounds to me like Mightyena gets the short end of the stick most of the time. She has to take in all the misfits that Ribombee and Polteageist don't want, after all.

Not always.

[Chuckling, he tips his chin up.]

Mightyena-san approached me before the announcement that the guilds would be taking in new arrivals. If I had to guess, she wanted to preempt Polteageist.

[UUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH......... every time he thinks about the fact that he got stuck in the "live in a roofless tree house with a stupid elitist bug as your boss" guild instead of the "luxury apartments and as many books as your heart desires" guild, he gets mad. Despite how much of a cold, logical manipulator he thinks himself to be, Flowey really wears his heart on his sleeve. So to speak.]

Gee, that's just dandy. You really lead the pack of clowns and rejects, oh great hero of justice.

[Something in Flowey's reaction gives Akechi pause. Then it clicks. An idea, a way to push back...]

You know, Ribombee strikes me as someone who cares a great deal about appearances. If enough within the guild were vocal about their needs not being met, he may feel pressure to do something in order to save face.

What, like, everyone complains at once? [He doesn't know what unionizing is. The idea is interesting... complaining will absolutely bar him from the running for becoming Ribombee's favorite, but that's becoming a pipe dream, anyway.]

Precisely.

[A wry smile spreads across his beak.]

Get the others who are lower on the social ladder to get vocal about it. Have them... spread gossip. If the townspeople start to question Ribombee's integrity, he'll have no choice but to bend.

September Catch-All

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