TESTRUN SHIT

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's a beautiful day in Ecruteak City. The sun in shining, there's barely any clouds in the sky, the birds are chirping, and it seems like nothing can go wrong on a day like today.

...Too bad someone's never been fond of peace and quiet. The bombs go off in the north of town at exactly 10:00 AM, and judging from the explosions, there were quite a few of them. Smoke billows from the Bell Tower, and judging from the citizens' panicked reactions, this definitely isn't normal.

Of course, getting into the Bell Tower is easier said than done, considering the fact that there's a building you have to go through first and several sages guarding it.]

Comments

[preybeforemeals]

[...Damn it. Okay. Just...let him think for a moment. He is going to be chilling on this ladder and trying to work this out for a second.

...You know what, because apparently this little exercise is going to make him use his entire team, he'll be calling Tizona out; ghosts have the fun property of being able to go through walls, so the beams shouldn't be an issue.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[They're perfectly normal beams, so sending a ghost on up through them is a perfectly valid strategy!

...However Tizona is probably going to notice that there is definitely someone over there near the ladder that leads up to the roof. They're looking out the window, but it's obvious that they're dressed in all black with their head covered with a hood, so there aren't any identifying features. There's also two Pokémon out with this person: a Gardevoir and a Gallade.

(And if Tizona is particularly good at picking up on Pokémon in the room, he'll probably sense another presence.)]

[preybeforemeals]

[...Tizona is a level 5 sword whose primary life experiences up until now have involved Tsukiyama grabbing him by the head and swinging him around. He's. He's not the brightest.

However, that's actually told him what he needed to know, that being that there's a goddamn person up there, which Tizona manages to convey to him eventually; time to send Renaud out, then. Telekinetically moving those beams is going to render the damn squid useless, but it's not like he'd be useful in battle anyway...]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Those are some heavy beams, so good luck Renaud! The person up there doesn't attempt to stop the removal of the beams. Once the beams are gone there's nothing standing between you and that person!

...Except a chasm where those two beams once were, um.]

[preybeforemeals]

[That's fine! He's actually not too interested in approaching, and he's content to remain where he is.]

A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, monsieur.

[His voice is loud enough to carry; unless this guy is functionally deaf, he'll hear it.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[He's not Naki, thankfully. The man standing there (and it is very obviously a man, what with the broad shoulders and everything) has turned to face Tsukiyama. He's wearing a plain, featureless silver mask to cover his face and he doesn't speak, instead giving a slight nod in greeting.

The Gardevoir at his side is the one he's using to communicate, though he doesn't try to barge into Tsukiyama's mind or anything like that. Instead the Gardevoir does the equivalent of a gentle knock, trying to see if Tsukiyama will allow the Psychic-type to communicate with him.]

[preybeforemeals]

[...Ah, that's strange, isn't it. He shakes his head a bit at that as though trying to clear it, but he doesn't seem to be actively resisting, either - as long as the damn thing doesn't sound like Kaneki when it speaks, he'll be all right.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Oh don't worry, the Gardevoir doesn't sound anything like Kaneki!]

Good morning. I'm surprised to see someone made it up this far.

[The Gardevoir is apparently translating the thoughts directly to you, so have fun with that.]

[preybeforemeals]

[...he is probably never going to get used to this. He's had a few experiences with Renaud and that one time Arceus got him to move by imitating Kaneki, but those have never really been like this.

That said, he just smiles a bit, raking his fingers lightly through his fringe.]

I'm surprised to see someone still up here! So that makes both of us.

[His gaze rakes over the person standing there; he should probably be paying more mind to the psychics than he is, but...]

And what should I call you, monsieur?

[sadisticwarfare]

I'm sure you already know the answer to that, unless you just so happened to find your way here without hearing my announcement a few days ago?

[preybeforemeals]

You seem a bit different than you did in that announcement. Or am I mistaken?

[...okay he's not trying to flat-out say it but that generic skinny dude was not you]

[sadisticwarfare]

[WOW THANKS ASSHOLE]

You're mistaken.

[RUDE AS HELL]

[preybeforemeals]

...My apologies, then.

[There's some slight hesitation behind it still, just because no seriously, that guy was Generic Nasty Skinny Guy #11 while you are certainly not-

...anyway.]

Are you enjoying the war?

[sadisticwarfare]

[We don't call Seth fat, okay. The Gallade and Gardevoir are looking a little nervous, but thankfully the question Tsukiyama poses settles both of them and their trainer.]

Of course. I wouldn't still be here if I was bored.

[preybeforemeals]

[Oh my god, he didn't call you fat, he just implied that you're not -

...oh.]

I don't suppose you have time for a few questions? Since your broadcasts tend to say you like evening the playing field once in a while...

[sadisticwarfare]

I suppose I can humor you.

[Just don't call him fat again!!]

[preybeforemeals]

[Okay, okay, apparently we started out on a bit of a bad note. Clearly, we don't call Seth fat.]

What is it you're attempting to...do here, exactly? Just war and chaos?

[sadisticwarfare]

I'm sure you've noticed how boring this place is. There's Team Rocket, but they don't act often enough for my liking. You can sum it up as "war and chaos" if you'd like; you wouldn't be wrong.

[preybeforemeals]

[Oh, that's interesting.]

It seems that we're destined to make this place interesting for each other, then.

[sadisticwarfare]

Are we? You haven't even introduced yourself yet.

[...Look, he's just going to pretend he never met you over the ugly sweater rack, this makes things easier on everyone!!]

[preybeforemeals]

Neither have you, not really, but that's beside the point, n'est-ce pas? You just want something to call me.

[And he just smiles again, slipping one of his hands behind his back while the other alights on his chest, and he bows rather deeply from the waist.]

Tsukiyama Shuu. The pleasure is mine.

[He straightens up easily once that's out there, however.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Indeed? Did you really come all this way just to have a polite conversation with me?

[preybeforemeals]

What if I were to tell you I admire men like you?

[sadisticwarfare]

[His default response was "You're a bit young for me" HANG ON LET HIM RETHINK THIS, this is awkward.]

I certainly won't turn down any flattery you feel like offering, but I'm sure you're here for some reason. If you wanted to talk to me you could have done it when I first announced my plans.

[preybeforemeals]

I could have, but I like it better this way.