View source for 3724/The Search for Malboro

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/01/24
|Location=Ivalice
|Synopsis=Lute, Echo, and Sanary head out on an airship to try and capture a Malboro, and run into Finna.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=188, 513, 640, 714
|Tinyplot=
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tchigolith Fenlands. It was a rather large swampy area east of the clockwork city of Goug, located on a peninsula in the southern reaches of Ivalice. Thanks to it's location, it was marshy, wet, poisonous, and quite fetid--the perfect spot to try and find a Malboro. As well as bombs, undead skeletons, the rare Coeurl, and sometimes even it was rumored that ghosts of soldiers killed during the 50 years war still walked here, trapped between this world and the next. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Echo found this to be a perfect spot for a casual afternoon outing. She had no difficulty in traveling long distances, but she'd have borrowed a small airship to transport herself and her human, un-winged compatriot, as well as use it to secure any 'catch' they might acquire should they get lucky and bag themselves a poison-spewing, spore sowing couch-sized fanged maw surrounded by tentacles and eyestalks. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other worlds are the BEST PLACES for acquiring new forms. interesting, freaky forms. When news of THIS particular creature reached her... Finna knew she had to at least SEE one, if not undertake the Sacred Hunt. Currently wearing the form of a pelican for the combination of aerial mobility, swimming, and looking damn BOSS among birds, she's searching across the swamps sleuthily.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grateful that in this form, the creatures' supposedly AWFUL stenches won't nauseate her so much. Maybe.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute is on the airship with Echo, standing near the edge of it. He looks down upon the swampy landscape, a... smile on his face, of all things. He hasn't been to this world before. He has read of some of its monsters, though. It's partially due to his former rivalry with a Trainer named Raven DeVanos. She spent many times in worlds similar to this one, with similar monsters. He felt a need to look them up, just to know the basics. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Since last week, he had a new interest in these monsters, though. A pet Malboro. It sounds /wonderful/. He's even picked a team of Pokemon specifically to hunt them, already. His six Pokeballs are on his belt. And, his I-Class Destroyer, Imima, is tagging along as well, resting on the floor near him. The twisted metallic spirit of war rests in front of him, preparing for what might be a battle. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Also with him? Several bags of meat, piled up near the edge of the airship. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "This is going to be /awesome/." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A swamp. Well, it's no lightning field, at least, and Sanary's actually sort of dressed for the location! Thick boots to keep the swamp gunk out, her usual coat for optimal movement and not worrying about excess weight, and excess weight in the form of her Charge Blade and two shields. She's tagged along for today's job, although she wasn't too pleased with having to ride an airship to the location. Wouldn't it have been easier to walk? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Judging from how swampy the area is and the local fauna she's seen in passing... Probably not. She's looking considerably calmer once it looks like they're getting closer to their destination, and her eye focuses on Echo and Lute while she scratches her back lightly with the back of her sword. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Looks like this is the place.. Uh. So what do these things look like?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Echo comes out of one of the cabins, pulling behind her what looks like... a little red wagon? A little red wagon stuffed with what looks like hunks of recently butchered beef, anyway--racks of ribs, a few legs, even an entire cowhead, and she's carrying what looks like hemp rope with hooks tied to the ends. She's wearing a face-mask and elbow length leather gloves, though whether they were meant for clubwear or utility purposes were unclear. Instead of a cocktail dress and heels for this outing, she's clad in what looks like a wetsuit, her legs stuffed into a pair of matching heeled thigh-length boots. Waders? Probably not, though they did look glossed to ward off the rain. This was probably the most practical thing anyone has seen her wear, before now. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Here we go, just need to find a good spot to hover and we can go fishing, I think--doesn't that sound fun, Lute?" she grins a little, perhaps making a joke about men and loving to fish. She starts by fitting the steer head onto one of the hooked ropes and tossing it over the side of the deck, tying the other end off onto a metal rung. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The presence of an AIRSHIP sends wildlife in the swamp scuttling. Creatures scurry away! The water churns a bit. And one unlucky startled frog vaults from the water's surface... and ends up falling right into the pouch of Finna-pelican's lower bill, snapped right out of the air with a lightning movement!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With muffled, high-pitched squeals of the WORST sort emanating from its pouch, the pelican is left peeeering upwards at the airship. Head tilting left. Then right.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute smirks at Sanary, reaching into his pocket. Despite this being a terrible wetland swamp, he's in his normal outfit. Labcoat and jeans, with no shirt. He pulls out a picture from his labcoat pocket, and holds it up to Sanary. A picture of a large green Malboro. "This, basically. We wanna get a nice good breeding stock of them for Echo. And for me. Should be a good profitable thing to breed once I get the Ranch fully going."He hands the picture to Sanary, letting her look over the horribleness. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute turns to Echo as she comes out, smiling a little. He flips back his hair a bit, staying close to Sanary, "Yeah. From what I read, they just sort of wander around, hunting. Can be pack animals, but are just as likely to be solitary. I couldn't find a /lot/ of info no their reproduction, but some of the things seemed to say eggs, others said spores. If we can find an egg, or a small one growing somewhere, that'd be /best/." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He walks over to the edge of the ship, looking down. He doesn't pay any mind to the scattering wildlife. Odds are the hunting animals like Malboro wouldn't be scared by such a thing. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then he spots a pelican that is still staying down there. Hm. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He reaches into his own bag of meat that he brought, pulling out a chunk of beef roast. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Bet you guys ten credits I can nail that pelican from up here." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And with that, he throws the beef straight towards the pelican. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "... Pretty. That's a..." Sanary trails off as she just keeps staring at the picture of the Malboro, grimacing after a few moments. Where does the mouth end and the face start? It's definitely not the sort of thing she's used to seeing, but at least... <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wait. That's exactly what they're hunting for today. "... Yeah, let's hope we find an egg. Otherwise, I might be able to turn it into a statue for a while." The healer taps on the side of her head where eye is, then laughs at the mention of fishing. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Definitely not the kind of fishing I do... Wait. These things are /fish/?" And then she's back to looking bewildered. Just what kind of creatures did she get roped into looking for? At the sound of a bet, however... "You're on. Don't think I've ever seen you throw something from this far, actually, so." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Only one way to find out. Sanary grins at Lute widely and steps aside, motioning at Echo to come over to watch the spectacle.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hmm, see if you can catch it, it might make good bait," Echo nodded a little, putting the yolk of the small wagon down as she reached up and brushed hair black hair back from her head--she had used a bandanna to tie it back, and pushed a pair of goggles up she had used to protect her eyes while chainsawing cow parts. Apparently she had just brought in a whole butchered cow to use as Malboro bait. She peered over the deck of the airship, her white wings tucked behind her back--apparently the wetsuit had holes made for them. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Beneath the pelican-Finna in the murky waters of the swamp, a few bubbles rose up from down somewhere in the depths--popping against the murky surface of the water. Nothing else could be seen, but /something/ was watching the white bird from beneath the surface. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah they're not exactly the gentle sort of tentacle creatures, Sanary-dear," Echo grinned a little sheepishly as she nodded to the cleric, patting her on the shoulder--hopefully her hand wasn't very bloody from sorting the bait. "Not exactly fish, they're like a kind of couch-sized carnivorous plant monster, well, omnivorous, they'll eat anything, I suppose," the bat lady nodded. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Down, DOWN goes the hunk of meat. The Pelican keeps canting its head about... except for one brief moment that's almost like comical greed! Up goes its spear-like beak! But... and, this probably isn't intentional...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WHUMPF!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead of the pelican being smashed hard and driven under the water... the beef hunk's SPEARED STRAIGHT THROUGH, and ends up lodged on the beak. The bird makes some screechy noises in protest - though they're mostly just loud squeaks. PElicans aren't very vocal birds!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The impact also has it now BOUNCING atop a small set of waves the impact startled up.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hard to tell if it knows anything's watching it or not...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But the bird starts flail-flapping its wings and scooting over the water as if protesting this development!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And the unlucky Frog continues 'screaming!'<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute looks towards the meat hurtling at the Pelican, even as talking to Sanary, "Ehh. /Worst/ case, if we get parts of one, we can have Confederate Science try to frankenstein us something up. But, getting one captured for me to tame, or getting an Egg that I could have imprint on me, would be /best/." A pause. "...And yeah, not fish. We're calling it fishing jokingly. It's best to just toss a line with some meat down, and try and hook something." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then the meat hits the Pelican. "YES! Direct hit! Man, years of throwing Pokeballs /really/ pays off!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute lifts a hand up, waiting for a high five from someone. And then he notices Echo with the chainsaw. "...I didn't know they liked it /that/ fresh." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Meanwhile, Lute stretches a little. From under his labcoat, about ten Unown appear. These letter-eye Pokemon fly out from Lute's body, and down lower. They start scouting out the surface, slowly looking for any signs of Malboros. The first sign of one, and they'll mentally alert Lute. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well... At least they've got good taste, I guess." Sanary stil doesn't seem too convinced about the wisdom in pursuing a Malboro, but if anyone can make it work? It's probably Echo and Lute. "Could be useful if you two figure out a way to control 'em. Might need a few more of those birds, though..." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A big toss of meat later, and the pelican gets its beak through that slab of meat! The healer looks rather impressed and even half-whistles to show it, although she does grouse a moment later while checking her pockets (and not noticing the handprint on the back of her coat. "... Ten, you said? Alright.. I'll get it to you once we're back home." She can't be too mad about it, at least. It /was/ an impressive throw! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Probably should've figured from the balls, but... Ah, whatever. Think I should head down with 'em?" She gestures at the Unown before turning to Lute and Echo again, an inquisitive look in her eye even as she gets her gear ready. Even if she's hoping there won't need to be a fight for wrangling a Malboro, she can't be too careful.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unbeknownst to The Finna, in her avian form, there is now a series of slick and slimy tentacles headed straight for the pelican's white and thrashing body under the now frothing surface of the brackly water. They were reaching out for her, trying to twine their slimy tendrils around the bird's body! Ruh roh. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hmm? got it from a good friend of mine, Negaduck, ever met him?" Echo grinned a little, setting the chainsaw down next to her. She didn't have a sawed off double-barreled shotgun nearby, so really didn't compliment the look too much. "Hmm, I think we might have a bite down there, Sanary-dear, can you perhaps tie a rope on and go down there for a closer look?" the bat lady grins fangily as she pats the cleric girl on the back, handing her a length of that thick-looking hemp rope. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She does however, high-five Lute, though given she's wearing the bloody gloves still this perhaps was not the best idea. Reaaally didn't think that one through. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute looks at his bloody hand. A pause. And then, a shrug. He just wipes it off on the side of the airship. It /is/ a rental. A bit of blood on it that'll be washed off later isn't a big deal. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He then goes about helping tie a rope around Sanary, to lower her down. He has forgotten to tie it to something else to anchor it, though, so someone better fix that before Sanary jumps. He ties the knots around her waist and torso, making it a bit more solid of a body-harness than just a knot. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "...Be careful down there. Okay?" He whispers this to Sanary, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek when he thinks Echo isn't looking. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He then moves to look over the side, "This bird is going to get /so pwn'd/." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The moment a slimy tendril wraps around one of the pelican's looooong legs it squeaks in protest again!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But... something WEIRD happens.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bird executes this bizarre sort of animal jiu-jitsu, whirl-squirm-flipping around and freeing itself of the grasp in under a second. The movement doesn't look... quite...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... Natural.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's so odd, so unfitting for the bird, that anyone trying to imagine what it would feel like to execute might WINCE. What's STRANGEST OF ALl is the way it skids across the water on its feet and wingtips a few moments later... retreating from the tentacles through a stunning display of backflips that dislodges the speared beef via centrifugal force. The meat's snagged again between its beak, almost as if the bird's wielding it as a weapon!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The frog appears to have been swallowed at some point in this display of acrobatics. One question does remain though.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How the heck is the bird STANDING ON THE WATER instead of floating with its body?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A bite? On closer inspection, it does look like there's something going on down there. The pelican is... avoiding the Malboro? "Impressive... Maybe we should bring that bird back with us." Sanary lets out a non-commital grunt at Echo's suggestion to get closer, but she does at least comply and helps Lute get that rope around her waist. "... Fiiine. Only because you're training me, though. And... Even though this is gonna suck." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Completely suck. But if nothing else, it probably wouldn't be too hard to petrify the Malboro if she could get close enough to it. Turning back to Lute, she smirks at the cheek-peck before tapping two fingers to her head in a quick salute at the two. Afterwards, she gets a foot up on the edge of the ship... Dramatically! "Wish me luck." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then she's off! The healer just dives right off the airship, falling headfirst and clearly not trying to look like one of those cool people in the movies. She flips herself around at the last moment to fall feet-first, pumping energy into her AANS to slow her fall, and... <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Still sinks into the swamp to just above her shins. How lovely. To make matters worse, she's landed not too far away from where the bird is! Naturally, the healer just holds up hand to try and look as non-threatening as possible.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "So good of her to volunteer for checking it out, I knew it was a good idea to bring the cleric along," Echo grinned a little, her yellow eyes watching the surface of the water that was now frothing, and which long dark gray tendrils were beginning to emerge from. Her eyes go wide as she realizes the bird has somehow freed herself and is now running across the water, causing the bat to lean over the ledge, trying to get a better look at what was going on there. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How did it--" Echo began, and then the dark blue/slate gray form of the Great Malboro erupted from the surface of the water, a couch-sized row of teeth greeting Sanary as she descended and dangled there, the water being pushed aside and acting as a sort of drag beneath her as it's weight displaced the loam and clay and water. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oh, looks like Sanary has caught it!" Echo grins, while taking one of those large racks of beef ribs attached to a hook and trying to send it flying into the beast's mouth! <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute stares down as the bird acts. He is, in fact, a bit in awe. He's seen movements like that before, but he is trying to place then. Something about the style, and the movements. He bites the side of his lip a little, frustrated. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What the hell is that bird..." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then Sanary is within the mouth of the creature. Lute stares, blankly. This is NOT GOING WELL. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'M COMING, SANARY!" Lute shouts, leaping off of the side of the boat. This is /not/ the best idea, but he wasn't intending for Sanary to be used as bait. He is also spacing the fact that he could have, much more simply, release one of his Pokemon to go help her. In fact, he figures that out midfall. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "GO, TENTACRUE--" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Splash. He hits the water near Sanary, his Tentacruel appearing within the water just after Lute hits. His timing kind of sucks. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Pelican is... rather distressed by this development! With a lightning movement, the bird seems to ROCKET across the water and kick up a spray of muck, SLAMMING itself into the malboro's... well. Center of mass. Under jaw? Something.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Weird, silvery light accompanies the impact, and there's enough force in that to rip off a cheap car door. Certainly enough to make the creature flinch.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hopefully.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sanary is quickly starting to regret her choices today. If making an ill-advised bet and landing knee-deep in swampy ass water wasn't enough, she's stuck face-to-face with a massive... Malboro? But the colors seem off. She keeps her hand raised in the same way she had held it up to the pelican, but somehow she gets the feeling such a passive approach won't work with this creature. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At least Lute's landing is about as good as her own. Plus, the pelican appears to be trying to defend her! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wait... What? The cleric has to do a double-take before shuffling over towards Lute, trying to get close enough to actually help him out of the water. "What the hell..? Oh. This is what we needed, right?" She doesn't have much time to wonder why the bird's doing so many distinctly un-birdlike things, instead refocusing her attention on the common enemy here: THe Malboro! <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's worked twice before, so maybe it'll work here. Channeling energy into her eye, she focuses her gaze on the giant tentacle beast before firing a grayish beam at it, trying to turn the thing to stone at least for a little while. It's slow moving, but she's hoping the Great Malboro is even slower.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Think we've made here boys," Echo wipes her gloved hands, standing up straight from having spied the strange supernatural way the bird seemed to be moving and standing on the surface of the water. "Either way, we have a malboro, now we just need to catch it without killing it--and before it eats Sanary," the bat put a hand to her chin, using the back of her glove, thankfully. "Hey, leave that couch-sized row of teeth and death alone, it never hurt anyone--it never even had a chance!" Echo holds her leather gloved hands around her mouth as she shouts at Finna-Pelican. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Great Malboro is ROCKED by the sudden slam to it's side, it's tendrils whipping about alarmed as it begins to emit a noxious and status-inflicting belch of air, attempting to inflict the (MINI) status and shrink the girl and the pelican nearby, as well as Lute as the three begin to surround the massive plant monster! <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Great Malboro's eyestalks whirl around to center on Lute's tentacruel and narrow somehow, as if sensing a rival... uh oh. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Capture it ALIVE?! Who do you guys think you are butting in on my Sacred Hunt?!" The Pelican SQUAWKS. In this light though... the noxious cloud of AWFUL breath has a weird effect. Silvery light shines under the Pelican's feathers. On its skin. Whorls and weird patterns that mesmerize the mind. And well, there's the fact that it spoke.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Spoke in a pretty recognizable voice.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bird's shape changes in a ripple of flesh. It executes a stunning backflip mid-change, landing delicately atop... a cattail. Somehow, even as Finna's human shape emerges and sprouts clothing over silver-tattooed flesh, the teeny, wavey, top-heavy plant doesn't break... It just bends slightly.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Just my luck. I go hunting and THIS happens!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute is shrunken down by the spray of bad breath. He, at least, has something to help him get up out of the water. His Tentacruel lifts the now Shinki-sized Lute up onto his back. And Lute crosses his arms, dramatically. He points towards the Malboro, dramatically. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You are /my/ pet now. I'm going to take you home and raise you. And any other Malboro that might be around." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And then Finna speaks up. Lute /stares/ at her, in a fair amount of awe. "--DAMNIT FINNA! What are /you/ doing here?! This thing isn't for you to hunt! It's for me to raise as a pet! Help us capture it, stay out of our way, or end up with me fighting you!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This would be more intimidating if Lute wasn't tiny right now. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "ANYWAYS. WRAP!" <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Tentacruel launches its tentacles forward, trying to ensnare the Malboro in them. But, seeing the number of tentacles both have, this is not /likely/ the best strategy. At least it might help distract the Malboro while the others do something more effective. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sanary's looking a little paler as she stays in that water, and that gaseous breath from the Great Malboro surely won't be good to breathe in. "Tch... What kind of defense is this even?!" Bringing up her shield to protect herself from making direct contact with the breath, she doesn't even notice right away when everything (other than Lute) seem to be getting bigger around her. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She does notice, however, that familiar voice coming from the bird-turned-giant-woman. "... Hey, you're... Uh. Finna!" Sadly, she appears to have forgotten Finna's name before Lute straight up says it. But with that shift in size, the gears in Sanary's head start to turn as she keeps her shield ready to keep herself and the Pokemon trainer covered. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Kick its ass, Kaelin! Let's see if I can fix something else, then..." Channeling energy into her eye once more, the healer turns her gaze towards Lute next. "Just hold still for a sec." She looks a little nervous, but eventually that effort starts to bear fruit as she activates the Esuna matrix, causing a blindingly green light to surround herself and Lute. With any luck, they'll start reverting back to their original size!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ahah, it was no bird at all, more than meets the eye, it's a foxgirl in disguise!" Echo points a finger accusingly down at the lunar exalt. The malboro's tentacles are soon joined by Lute's tentacruel's, meeting in a big frothing... tentacled mess! As her two compatriots are mini'd, Echo finds it necessary to jump over the deck of the airship for a bit and flaps her white wings--hovering about just above where the action is, she's also carrying one of the ropes with hooks and attempting to toss it into the malboro's mouth! <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Malboro seems to be holding it's own though, though it's struggling with Lute's Tentacruel. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sanary finds herself able to dispell the mini-status on her and Lute, thankfully unlike Ivalician white magic, it doesn't have a horrid percent-chance to land or not! <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Huuuuuuuuuh." Finna grins coquettishly, tapping a finger against her cheek. She is... wearing something a bit different today. Arm bands of silver. Not -quite- Moonsilver, but close. Lute might recognize them.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Finders keepers, but I'll let you have this one for some attention later! Or maybe its firstborn... if this thing even HAS babies." She wrinkles her nose at the distasteful creature. It's gotta reproduce SOMEHOW, right?<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even she, a Lunar, isn't sure she wants to think about exactly -how- it accomplishes that.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh that's sly.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's DEFINITELY teasing him in front of his allies in her own way.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute rapidly grows back to normal size. He does rather well at staying still, and even his Tentacruel, Kaelin, manages to stay up and tall. He keeps his arms crossed in front of him, looking straight towards the Malboro. He has to stay focused. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He then stares at Finna blankly. Before shouting, "OKAY FINE I'LL GIVE YOU ATTENTION! But later okay!" He seems actually a little caught off guard and surprised. And he is... blushing a bit. Huh. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thankfully, Kaelin is less distracted by woman than Lute. Though it holds its own against the Malboro, even it can't keep it up forever. Still, it's trying to hold her still until Sanary can weaken it, or Echo can hook it. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sanary's not quite sure what to even focus on any more. The tentacled monsters crossing way too many appendages together? The foxlady requesting their 'attention', whatever that implies? Echo hurling a rope at the Malboro? Or the Pokemon trainer getting distracted by the foxlady? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Might as well go in size order. "Er... Sure? I dunno what kind of attention you mean, but..." She shrugs lightly and gives Lute a quick pat on the shoulder before bringing her shield back up and lifting herself out of the swampy ass water with the anklets to float upwards out of it. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She's tempted to go after Echo to try and catch her, but the fact that she's some sort of bat-woman probably means she can land safely, right? Right. That leaves the tentacle beasts! Sanary's not one to stay too far from the fray unless necessary, and this time is no different. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So she flies straight for the Great Malboro, bracing the shield in front of her to try and just ram directly into its lower tentacles! Legs? Whatever else it might be?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Aww, looks like Lute has a friend down there," Echo grinned a little as she hovered in the air, her wings working double time to keep her in a hover. The malboro seems to be getting tired--they never were the most hardy of creatures, understandably. Kaelin seems to be much more of a handful for it, likely the much higher uses of 'wrap' it had than the Malboro had of it's tentacle. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "She's some kind of trickster fox, and can charm humans, not surprising," Echo snerks a little, noticing the effect on Lute. "Well, it IS Lute, so there is little doubt that this will be crushingly effective on him," Echo seemed a little cross but also quite amused at this, even as his Pokemon fought deathgrip-style with the Great Malboro. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Come on. Show me what you guys can DO!" Finna demands, her tone a strange hybrid of friendly amusement and sadistic jeering. HOW she's managing to remain balanced on a cattail sticking from the swamp amidst all the water thrashing and flailing tentacles and giant Pokemon bouncing around is anyone's guess. As it bends and sways she just shifts her balance ever so slightly to stay upright!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute is still a bit flustered, and blushing. But, he needs to focus. He reaches to a Pokeball again. RIGHT. He has more than one. And he has his I-Class Destroyer back on the airship if things get really bad. For now, though? Just another Pokemon. Something that can help keep this monster restrained. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At last, he finally manages to open up the Pokeball. He shouts, "GO! SAVANT!" With a flash of light, his Gardevoir appears. The Gardevoir floats in the air, the Psychic-type Pokemon trying to somewhat hang back while avoiding the poisonous swamp water. The Gardevoir focuses its Psychic Powers, trying to hold the Malboro in place. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Come on, guys! We can do it!" He says this mostly to amp himself up, and distract himself from the fact that he has suddenly realized each of the women present has at least some level of dirt on him, most likely. Especially Finna. And he is suddenly afraid of it blowing up in his face. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That so..? Huh." ... Wait. Was Finna flirting with Lute specifically? That's what it sounds like, if Echo's words and Lute's awkwardness are any indication. Sanary narrows her eye slightly as she shoots a look back at Lute and Finna, although she can't focus too much on them as she bounces off that surprisingly sturdy hide of the Great Malboro. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not that she probably wouldn't do the same with that same sort of power, but still. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Okay... Different strategy!" She coughs lightly landing in the water, sounding nauseous again. Circling around the Tentacruel and Malboro this time, she focuses on something a little more basic: Healing magic! Spotting the Gardevoir, she starts channeling energy towards both Pokemon at once, trying to boost their natural recovery while also giving them more stamina to go all out with!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:640|Echo (640)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the Malboro continues to struggle, it seems to be slowing as the gardevoir's psychic ability begins to work on it. Well, it wasn't necessarily a grass-type, that's for sure! "Alright, it seems like it's stuck, someone get that hook into it and we can try to haul it up!" Echo calls down, swinging that hook down and into the malboro's mouth. "Lute and Sanary, get clear!" the bat lady calls out, the healing magic apparently having a beneficial effect on Lute's Pokemon, at that. <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Remind me to take a shower after this, like ten thousand of them," Echo descends a bit as she begins to help with the... 'retrival' process. It would be wet, messy and likely disgusting. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:188|Lute (188)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With the hook into the monster, Lute gives the order to his Tentacruel. It pulls its tentacles back, Kaelin rapidly moving back. Neither want to be pulled up with the Malboro. That would, after all, be incredibly frustrating. The Gardevoir keeps up his job at keeping the beast at bay. But, it looks like they've won this, for now. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Lute sits on the Tentacruel, looking at Finna, Sanary, and Echo. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "...Yeah. I'm going to be showering constantly for a while too." <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He lays back, smiling. "...Of course actually training it will be the hardest part." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:714|Sanary Rondel (714)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Right. They /were/ fishing for this Malboro to begin with, weren't they? "Ah... Got it!" Sanary's not afraid to get her hands a little more dirty at this point, and she gets right in there to make sure Echo's hook is secure on the Malboro before scurrying away from the noxious creature. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Showers do sound pretty good around now... Hnn. Well, good work, team!" She grins broadly at ECho and Lute before turning her gaze back to Finna, looking... Mostly confused more than anything else. Should she even ask? <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Maybe next time. Everyone's ready to leave, after all, and she simply shrugs and climbs onto Kaelin to head up with the others.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:513|Finna (513)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"People told me these things were big, smelly, and ugly... the tales DIDN'T do the thing justice." Finna remarks, grinning rather sheepishly at the thing as it's being airlifted. She can genuinely say she did NOT assist Lute in capturing a new monster if anyone asks! That's a thing.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But beyond that... the foxgirl ends up scratching her chin. This has been a WEIRD little adventure... "'least I got a snack out of it..."<br> <br>


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