91st moon [the 4th Wall of Jericho]

[paladinlost]

[Ah, it's that time of the year again. And unlike last time, Cecil wakes up in his own bed (even though he'd been on his way back from Saffron when he fell asleep), surrounded by his own Pokémon (and Grimers, but at this point they're almost part of the family), and with his own belongings exactly where he left them (except for his left sock, but he's long learned to expect that).

He's safe, he's in a good mood, and he intends to stay that way for the rest of this madness. And this time, he's even in a position to share the joy with any visitors!

Which is why he's now grilling all sorts of food on a fire pit in his yard, while his Pokémon are bringing chairs and large cushions outside. That they manage to do so while linked to each other with duct tape is somewhat impressive, but he's too busy not burning a steak to admire their efficiency.]

Comments

[soggypastry]

['Sup, Cecil. There's a pink-haired lady making her way to you as a very bouncy Arcanine bounds about the yard, barking as she goes. Flare? Flare where are you brother?!

Lightning just leaves her to it; she doesn't have liquor this time, but she offers a smile as she sidesteps a Grimer.]

Seems like you've gotten used to this.

[paladinlost]

[SIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSS!!!!!! Sis you're here he missed you~ He'll be bounding up to her soon, just let him trip on a Goodra and almost drag an Arbok along first.

The way Cecil turns around to smile at Lightning while still keeping an eye on the meat is much more elegant, thankfully.]

After eight times, even these strange days lose their strangeness. Steak, wine, bread? I have enough to outlast whatever those mysterious crystals might be doing.

[He also has a set of Clefairy, Lilligant and Lapras, poking their heads around with hope in their eyes.]

[soggypastry]

[Lucky doesn't care that her brother's a clutz. She bounds straight for him, still barking, and throws herself at the pile to nuzzle and lick him like there's no tomorrow. Affectionate liondog is still very affectionate.

As for Lightning, she just makes an amused sound. Good old stable Cecil. Some things never change. Others, like that still somehow familiar Lilligant, do. She does, however nod at them. Give her a second guys; she'll be right there.]

So long as it only lasts three days. [A pause, then--wait. Crystals? Her smile drops into a frown.] What do you mean by crystals?

[paladinlost]

[All the affection, and all the liondog! And all the duct tape, too, but at least the adhesive is greatly weakened. Those doggy licks are probably stickier, by now.]

A few large crystals have been sprouting in various cities and giving innocent people headaches. But they've not killed anyone yet, and this world has seen worse.

[He starts rummaging through his pockets and takes out a small crystal shard as long as his pinky, offering it to her.]

[soggypastry]

[Stickier and they taste a little funky, but she really really doesn't care. Oh, it's been so long there's so much nuzzling to do the world could be on fire and she wouldn't care! ...Though the Flash Fire probably helps with that.],/small>

This might get worse.

[Said as she takes the crystal shard, holding it against the light. It seems unassuming and innocent, but after all her time back home...she shakes her head, handing it back and taking a step towards the trio.]

Things with crystals normally do. Keep your guard up.

[paladinlost]

[Flare would care, though. Mostly because some of his teamates would respond to a world of fire with Surf, and his beloved sister deserves better than all that nasty, sludge-infected water. Nothing but the best is acceptable for their reunion!

Cecil takes the shard back with a nod, putting it back in his pocket immediately.]

Of course. If nothing else, someone will surely try to steal every shard they can find, sooner or later. Even though there's more of a supply than a demand at the moment.

[The hope in their eyes turns into glee at that step. This isn't some sort of hallucination, right? Right?]

[soggypastry]

[Ah but the world isn't on fire and there's no water so it's already the best! She can't remember the last time she was this happy!

For her part, Lightning just shakes her head.]

For now. [Stepping closer to her former team members, then:]

They give you any trouble?

[Guys she's real can you pounce her already? She's half expecting it at any time now, but still walking closer.]

[susukodama]

[From under your chair, there is something singing.

Investigate? y/n]

[paladinlost]

[On the one hand, that singing sounds familiar and deserves a proper investigation.

On the other hand, that steak is smoking more than it should, and it looks like the fire is about to spread to the turkey. An unacceptable outcome.]

[susukodama]

[Indeed. That's important to take care of.

Whatever's under the chair will just provide background music while you do that. :)]

[paladinlost]

[Background music is a good thing to have, as this is the beginning of a great fight against the fire pit and its contents-

And then the turkey goes flying. Right at the chair, in fact.]

[susukodama]

Bebebe beEEE~

[Well that manages to knock the chair away. And knock the dust bunny underneath it in such a way that it starts rolling.]

[paladinlost]

That's- Ah!

[Mad scramble to grab that poor Suskodama before it ends up sticking to a Grimer. Or worse.]

[dragoon_pride]

[That's... unexpected. As Kain is wandering through this strange world he has a weird sense he's done this before, somehow...]

Cecil?

[paladinlost]

Ah, Kain. How nice of you to visit me.

[Just ignore the monsters. The duct tape decorating the yard. The burning meat. The toxic sludge.

Cecil is hoping very hard that Kain will not see the toxic sludge.]

[dragoon_pride]

[Toxic...]

I have no idea what I'm doing here... but thank you, I suppose.

[No.. really, toxic sludge?]

What's that?

[paladinlost]

[Damn it.]

...Local monsters. Unpleasant to see and smell, but relatively harmless until they attempt to hug you.

[dragoon_pride]

Ah, how helpful. I'll keep that in mind when I'm next waiting patiently for a monster's embrace. But, Cecil, what's that?

[The sludge he's pointing to, man. What's the deal here?]

[paladinlost]

A local monster.

[Is that sludge not obviously sentient and monstruous and enjoying a hot dog?]

And far from the strangest-looking species, too. Another greatly resembles the sort of bags the locals use to store their refuse.

[pinnedbangs]

[Came for the Cecil, staying for the food.]

Yo!

[paladinlost]

[Two or three years ago, that would have been the sign of a very suicidal mind.]

Hello! are you enjoying the visit and the biannual chaos?

[pinnedbangs]

The what? [Biannual huh? He's stuffing his face with delicious food, sorry.]

[paladinlost]

The, well-

[He just gestures around, somewhat in the direction of the street where tons of people can be heard.]

It's that time of the year again.

[pinnedbangs]

[CHEW CHEW GULP CHEW CHEW SWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLOW]

Huh. Never noticed. It's like this video game place is trying to celebrate a party or send everyone back to where ever they came from.

[paladinlost]

The accepted etiquette, when one hosts a formal party, is to invite each guest personally and accept their refusal if needed. I assume you received no such invitation?

[Rude, Johto/Kanto. Very rude.]