Offscreen Activities

[Fusion]

While recovering from the fight on the moon, Vix chatted with the Pseudo-S'more whenever she felt able, and sometimes she converses with Machop-S'more, making sure to tell him that she helped with some guild work when the fake S'more was still running the place.

Vix also dropped by Sunny, feeling at first like she had to apologize for how their fight at the colloseum went, but eventually her visits were just to talk to Sunny.

Vix has also sent Drake to check in on Giovanni from time to time, just to see how he's holding up. While Drake is there, he checks in on Soda as well, telling him that Vix wants to visit him, but she won't tell Drake why. Drake offers the two drinks, being sodas, and even offers some to Wheat.

Drake, whenever Groudon would have him, dropped by with more of that soda the big crayfish requested. Drake definitely let it slip a few times that he thought Groudon was badass.

Drake also visited Leg a couple times a week, asking her to teach him to make a doll, saying he just wanted a fun hobby and admitting that Leg's dolls all looked pretty fantastic.

 

[Dragonfree]

Dave more or less spent the timeskip at the infirmary after taking a particularly nasty beating against the Eternal Blacklight. Mia visited him a lot to talk and make sure he was recovering. A couple of times she reminded him that he was supposed to go to therapy.

After finally talking with Soda in person at the holding cells, he goes to speak to Joule about getting the trees that Flesh likes, and carries out any other errands Soda wrote down for him (within reason). He keeps visiting Soda regularly while he's in recovery.

 

[Fusion]

All that other stuff

Drake infrequently texts Karat, unsure if anyone else was. He keeps his messages brief, usually along the lines of: "hey dudes, just checkin in, seein how yall are holdin up. i can bring yall stuff if yall still aren't goin out in public," although he's more than willing to hold a conversation if or when Karat does.

 

[Negrek]

While Nate recovers, Rocky spends most of his time in the infirmary with him, usually engrossed in reading things on his badge. Even once Nate's able to leave the infirmary for short trips, Rocky sticks close by him at all times, the same as he did after first hatching. When the two of them return to their home, Rocky develops a sudden interest in gardening and spends a lot of time out in the house's flowerbeds. He only seems to leave the house when Nate's asleep or otherwise indisposed, and has been spending much more time at the library than usual.

Nate seems cagier and more jumpy than ever, and he still complains of headaches. He's prone to starting or turning suddenly, as though he heard something that wasn't there. He's started trying to sneak out without Rocky, but this has proved difficult because the familiar can always tell where he is even if he can't tell what Nate's thinking.

At Rocky's request, Nate accompanies him to the woods outside Treasure Town to check on Karat, if the guy actually decides he wants to come out and talk. Nate also goes to visit Chip, and is disappointed to hear about what happened to the parasite. He checks in on what the Porygon's working on now.

 

[Namohysip]

For the most part, the above things went by without incident. Of note, it seemed that the two S'mores have formed some kind of odd partnership, able to largely do a little under twice the amount of work than their previous administrative duties. The false S'more, however, is considering pursuing other passions if Machop S'more, once he has a new body, can handle the work on his own--which he can.

Giovanni is not very receptive toward Vix or Drake. Karat is responding curtly to Drake and Vix, but it's an improvement over no replies at all.

Chip has been working on using Poke Balls as storage devices without fear of them working on people, but is having trouble and hitting dead-ends. He fears that the project as a whole may be a bust, but Zekrom seems to think this may be a good thing.

To Nate and Rocky, Karat is slightly more receptive, and seems to be getting used to the two-in-one body. He is still hesitant to make a larger public appearance, and remarked that he would need a good way to do it.

--

During the time incapacitated, Owen was largely bedridden for most of it. Cal dedicated herself to taking care of Owen's needs instead of him taking care of her, and during the second week, Owen had a sense that Cal wanted this. He feigned being less capable for a while to humor her, and even Owen was unsure if Cal knew or not. But, in the end, it gave her peace that she was so close to him for what time they had left. And, for Owen, it gave him peace that Cal would be able to handle herself, and others, when he was gone. During the final days of recovery, Owen worked his way to a 'rapid' renewal, thanking Cal for her hard work.

Ever since then, Cal's general confidence for the future was glowing.

 

[Flyg0n]

Koa spent a great deal of his time in recovery trying to keep himself busy. Echo stayed by his side nearly constantly, keeping him company. Despite his best attempts to relax he can't help but feel on edge, his thoughts always wandering back to the fight, particularly to Soda. He briefly asked after Soda once.

He also made some effort to reach out to Xernatus again, just to see how he was doing, ask if he'd picked a name he liked, and if Xernatus was willing, he would make time to spend with him and talk. He would tell him stories about legendaries and about being a trainer.

Koa also spent many a stretch of time with Icetales, and developed quite a taste for tea, and regaled each other with various stories and legends of their own.

After some thinking, he asked Echo about what he'd do when Koa left. Echo seemed surprisingly unbothered, confident that between Luz and the others, he'd be happy, maybe he could help Luz with rescue missions or hang out on Cibus. He admitted he'd miss Koa, but he wasn't worried, since he knew Echo back home would take good care of him.

Echo spent the rest of his own time playing Delivery Bat for Team Spectrum, running errands, picking up food orders and otherwise making sure they had anything they needed.

 

[Namohysip]

Xernatus was in general responsive to a lot of Koa's approaches. By now, he trusted Koa more than anyone on Team Spectrum, and would defer to his judgement if it was safe to go someplace or not. Others have been more receptive to him as well, including Xerneas Deerling himself, though he was still seeking power to regain his former body--or at least, a new one, as he didn't want to take Xernatus' form. Mostly because that body was already too far gone.

--

Owen and Mellow spent some time together in the herbal gardens. They had a talk about parting ways and wrapping up any loose ends they may have had. As two Charizard affiliated with plants, there was an odd kinship between them that Owen remarked about often, which helped with gardening immensely. Owen also asks if Mellow is ready to say goodbye to Zinc, and receives a positive answer--Mellow, it seems, has things under control, which was good.

The real trouble came from Raven and Cal. The latter tried to encourage the former to be ready, and that they, with their own kinship, could brave it together after their hosts were gone. It was at least comforting to know that the Void Eternas of the Miracle Matters were able to find their niche; there was still hope for them, too.

 

[Dragonfree]

Dave spent the rest of his first therapy session with Fugu semi-hostile, but having exhausted his defense mechanisms a bit, he ultimately reluctantly answered her questions, admitting that he'd been in a pretty shitty state for a while leading up to the fight on the moon, that he drinks a fair amount on a daily basis, and that Shadow's feelings are things he feels (not like Fugu couldn't confirm that anyway with anyone familiar with Blacklight). He nonetheless continued to downplay these things as not very important and insist that he's fine now.

When Fugu asked about booking another appointment, he told her he'd have to check his schedule and get back to her.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa spent most of her recovery time reading or having low key chats with various Spectrum members. Luz would ferry her to her friends' places to hang out, and she did her best to take a genuine break from Spectrum business. In some ways, she was better than ever – back to being close with Astrid, quietly and privately in a relationship with Starr, doing well in therapy, not drinking hardly as much. In other ways she was struck by malaise, unmotivated and depressed, but she masked it pretty well. It wasn't like such feelings were unexpected, this late in the mission. Inevitable, even. Towards the end of her official recovery period she started sneaking out to train, against medical advice.

Some specifics:

Koa entertained Brisa with tales of their prior lives, discussion of battle strategies, and stories about his Legendaries.
Echo hung out with her alongside Luz to keep her company and bring honeycomb treats.
Brisa met up with Icetales on at least one occasion, and got to asking him about the state of his romantic relations, and they discussed courtship, heartbreak, and so on. Their perspectives on such things were rather different, and Brisa worries she wasn't able to help much.
Brisa would also watch Colo matches old and current with basically anyone who'd spare the time.
She also would have spent time with pretty much any Spectrum teammates willing.

Brisa would also have spent some time with a handful of locals and other outworlders, such as Team Spice, Truffle & Leg, Sword & Shield, Bone, Zekrom, and even Pop on one occasion.

Cal and Luz have discussed what to do once Owen and Brisa are gone, and made some provisional plans together.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa asks Owen for advice on upcoming Colosseum opponents.

She'd like to fight Flesh as promised, but perhaps she's strong enough to do so alone by now?
She'd like to fight the avian aspirant siblings, Meringue and Brulee. She watched Meringue fight once before, but how does Brulee fight?
She's also promised Koa that she'll fight Giratina with him. How does the dragon of the underworld fight?

 

[Namohysip]

Owen has a lot to say, having studied many of then extensively.

Flesh is one of the strangest fighters he'd ever seen, and he only really saw his capabilities in flashes. Owen advises that it might be impossible to bring Flesh down the traditional way. He's not as strong as Potluck, but if caught off guard, he might be unstoppable. Attacks done against him... seemed to make him stronger, not weaker.

Merigue, Brisa had experienced. But Meringue might have also gotten stronger since then, as his Legendary training progressed rapidly ever since his awakening.

Brulee, Owen advised, would also be difficult. When he's in trouble, he seems to repair all damage done to him so rapidly that unless you can defeat him all in one go, he will simply never fall.

Giratina twists the dimensions around her, and she's also hard to hit. Owen remarks that even with Perceive, he can't hit something that's simply not on the same plane...

Of those listed, Owen remarked that there was no way anybody of Team Spectrum could go toe to toe with Giratina. Flesh, he seemed a little more confident, but perhaps by now, it was possible...? Brulee and Meringue, however, were not as strong. Perhaps someone could take them on alone...

 

[Negrek]

Nate asks Rocky to write a letter for Karat, telling him that the Blacklight Mewtwo has recovered enough to leave the infirmary, and that he's being taken care of by someone who wants to remain anonymous, but looking for him around Parfait Way would be a good bet. Perhaps if Karat's feeling inclined to go out, he can check in on Mewtwo and see how he's doing. Mewtwo is trying to figure out what to do with his life, and how to make decisions without someone else to tell him what to do. Maybe Karat can help him out with that.

Rocky writes a letter.

Hi Karat,

I still don't know if that's a good name for you, but since you haven't told me anything else, that's what I'm going to use! I hope you and Deoxys are doing good.

Marshtomp wanted you to know that the mewtwo Giovanni brought with him is feeling better and doesn't have to stay in the hospital anymore! He looks kind of like one of us familiars now, but he's different, too. He's really nice! But he doesn't know what he likes or doesn't like yet, and he doesn't really know what to do without somebody bossing him around. Marshtomp thought you might know what that's like, so maybe you can help him, if you want. He's staying with somebody in Destiny Village that you're not supposed to say who it is (it's Diyem).

Bye, Karat! Maybe we can see you battle in the Colosseum sometime before Team Spectrum has to leave. That would be nice.

Your Friend,
Rocky

They'll leave that out in the woods for Karat to find if he's in a mail kind of mood.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa is still hotly pursuing her Colosseum career. Next up in the Omen Gauntlet, she and Starr intend to face Team Gyros.

What does Owen have to say about their fighting style? Any advice for the gals?

 

[Namohysip]

Rocky writes a letter.

This surprisingly appeared to have an effect, albeit a marginal one. Karat had finally worked up the nerve or whatever else he needed to show up in person to Destiny Village, on the request that people leave him alone unless they ask for an invitation directly. Pop offered him a place to stay in Destiny Tower for the time being, on a high floor so he could easily get to the top to absorb sunlight easier.

He said that he wasn't interested in speaking with Team Spectrum unless they asked nicely, and 'they weren't idiots.' Despite their best efforts in saving the world, he was skeptical of Team Spectrum's true goodness, and wondered if they'd only saved the world by sheer luck and guidance of others, rather than themselves. He wanted to see into their hearts. The phrasing would remind Nate of Rayquaza's challenge.

--

Next up in the Omen Gauntlet, she and Starr intend to face Team Gyros.

Pita and Nutmeg were very well-rounded fighters. Where Sword and Shield ended up specializing, their Cibus parallels had evened themselves out, covering their own weaknesses while dulling their strengths. Mew often fought with them, and Owen advised against going against all three at once unless they intended to bring a third member with them as well. Mew, while still young and impish, was as a Mew tends to be--troublesome, powerful, and full of unexpected tricks.

 

[Disco]

Raven finds out about what happened with Bahamut and tries to talk to him about it.

She tries very hard not to seem happy about the possibility of him staying in Cibus, and also the fact that they're kind of siblings, but it probably shows regardless.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa stops taking new clients and encourages her existing clients to seek replacement tutors or wrap up their training objectives in a timely fashion. She gives recommendations for alternative instructors she respects, writes final letters of guidance for long-time students, and puts some in touch with each other for after she's gone.

She does her best to visit everyone who's left a mark on her time in Cibus, from those she's challenged in the Colosseum, to those whose peaceable company she's enjoyed. She thanks them for their part in the best months of her life. She hopes against hope that she might see them again.

She spends the occasional moment, nestled here and there between items on her schedule, weeping.

 

[TheGOAT]

Astrid drops in on Kyurem with a batch of cookies, hoping to discuss mortality, the meaning of life, Ends, and of course, proposition a colosseum match.

 

[Namohysip]

It takes some convincing, but it seems like Kyurem would humor Astrid on a battle with two others, just like her siblings. However, it seems like she would only be willing to battle once. This would make developing a strategy around her quite difficult. She didn't seem that enthused... Perhaps she will gain the will to fight during the battle itself?

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa approaches Soda now that his recovery is in full swing. Assuming he'll even speak to her, she'd like to offer her friendship, and ask him to help tutor her in the use of Extremespeed, being another non-natural user of the move. She's curious whether he retains his Radiance after what happened on the moon.

 

[Namohysip]

Soda was receptive to a talk, though he appeared to be a little apprehensive. He wasn't immediately open to 'friendship' as requested, more like getting acquainted as allies. Some of it seemed to be due to guilt.

When asking about Extreme Speed, Soda would remark next that he probably inherited that from the Divine power of Arceus that he'd siphoned, even if it was only a small amount, due to the circumstances of how he'd joined God Squad to begin with. He still had echoes of all those powers within him, only a lot weaker. Weak enough that it was (probably) not dangerous to his mind or spirit.