Frontier Town Sun Stone Saloon

[Ambyssin]

Nova nodded slowly. "Understandable. Well, I was planning to keep to the town for the most part. But I suppose my presence would be a disruption in it of itself." There was a hint of a smirk Lucien couldn't see in his tone. "But if there's a big disruption, and you were to get separated in any resulting bedlam, you could make your way to the railyard site." It wasn't terribly subtle. "I'm sure the mayor would understand someone he trusts wanting to make sure it's safe."

He was fairly sure no patrons had been trying to listen in. But as an extra deterrent, Nova made sure the next part was a bit louder. "After all, it would set the town back a ways if anything bad happened there. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on it."

 

[Jackie Cat]

Lucien nodded.

"Yes, I... I quite understand. It's a particularly safe location, with the night crews such as yourself there to deter any unsavoury types. But... should you take an interest in attending the event all the same..."

Lucien let slip the slightest hint of fluster as he retrieved an invitation to the Gala.

"It would be seemly if you had some formal accessory with you, but this will get you in. I'm sure that however the evening goes, your presence would be a good thing. As it would in any circumstance."

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova discretely took the ticket and nodded his understanding. "So, one more glass for the road or do you need to be on your way?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Well, I..."

Lucien looked conflicted. Then he closed his eyes, smiled, and reached for the wine bottle again.

"One more, then."

<><><><><>​

 

[Hap]

After the fight, a group of them ended up at the Sun Stone Saloon, eating ice cream.

Ridley's choice of ice cream flavour was called chesto berry, but it shared its startlingly-blue colour with flavours like bubblegum or blue razz, and had the same chemical-blue taste. He was almost certain it contained 0% actual chesto berry.

 

[Goat]

Astrid went straight for chocolate strawberry -- a guilty pleasure for sure, but hell. She had a new body, so it was like her sugar limits had been reset, or something. And if there might be consequences for what had just transpired at the gala, she might as well indulge in the meantime.

One bite, then two more, and longer intervals after that before pausing to check for brain-freeze just in case her Ice typing wasn't enough by itself. It tasted... like sugar. Lots of sugar and various artificials sprinkled in to offer variety, or the illusion of it. She didn't care. It was the first true delicacy she'd tried here, a reminder that she had this privilege now, and that maybe she shouldn't waste it.

"Ice cream..." she muttered, taking another bite, "you scream..." and another bite, "...we all scream. AAAAAAAA!"

 

[Weazel]

Archie, having seen Corey off to the doctor’s on the back of the masked chimera, had found himself feeling dead tired and sore all over. Once the adrenaline had left his system, and the stress of what came next started getting to him, it hadn’t taken much convincing to get him to leave. Once that strange Cleffa – was it a Cleffa? – suggested an ice cream trip, well, he figured a little sugar wouldn’t hurt. And so, he found himself back in the Sunstone Saloon, occasionally sparing glances over at the screen that separated the private booth – where only recently he, Corey, Wes, and Bellatrix assembled to be given the very security job they’d just… Completed? Well, in a certain sense, anyway – from the rest of the first floor. It was like he kept expecting the screen to pull back and Mayor Volcian to step out from behind to confront them all over again.

He made himself refocus on his ice cream. Vanilla, with bits of frozen Yache berry mixed in. A Casteliacone, his brain helpfully informed him, though that wasn’t what they called it here. The berry gave the concoction a sour edge to the vanilla’s sweetness, and helped stave off any potential brain freeze so one could keep eating as much as they liked… He’d lived in Castelia at one point, hadn’t he? The Oshawott shook his head, he really didn’t need to be thinking about depressing things right now on top of everything else.

Instead, he looked over at his companion. After assuring himself of Corey’s survival, Archie had returned to Wes, only to find the Rockruff collapsed as well. Thankfully, that one didn’t come with any major health scares, and once the Rockruff was roused again the Oshawott insisted on dragging him along to get some food in him as well – Archie’s treat, within reason of course! He made okay money helping with bounty hunting, enough to blow on a nice meal before getting run out of town, but not exactly ‘fuck you’ money, as some might call it.

“So, I dunno if we ever did proper introductions,” he said. Obviously, they knew each other’s names and had seen each other around, and they’d just done a job together, but… Honestly, Archie just wanted to fill the silence. “I’m Archie. back home, I’m an Adventurer with my local guild branch. We do dungeon delving, outlaw capture, escorting, caravan guarding, all that sort of stuff.”

He shot the Rockruff a tired, but hopeful smile, inviting him to say something about himself in turn.

 

[HelloYellow17]

Why the hell am I here?

It had been mostly a blur, really—Wes vaguely remembered Archie nudging him and rousing him to his feet, mentioning something about food. For reasons Wes struggled to identify, he’d simply…trailed along. Despite longingly thinking of his bed back at the Traveler’s Haus. Despite the overwhelming exhaustion from that fight. Despite the fact that he was about to willingly tag along with a group of people he barely knew—one of whom looked like an absolutely deranged Cleffa, what the hell was going on there—which was, frankly, the furthest thing from a fun time in his mind.

And yet, here he was. Maybe it was something about the way Archie had grinned at him, warmly extending a welcoming paw as he invited Wes along. Maybe it was the way the others in the group chattered and laughed as they dug in to their ice cream.

Maybe, just maybe…it was because things had been a little lonely, lately.

He inwardly scoffed at that, but for once he didn’t have the energy to rebuff such a thought. Instead, he took a seat at the counter and ordered something that looked mildly appetizing, something called “Rocky Road.” He sure hoped it tasted better than the name implied, at least.

“So, I dunno if we ever did proper introductions,” he said. Obviously, they knew each other’s names and had seen each other around, and they’d just done a job together, but… Honestly, Archie just wanted to fill the silence. “I’m Archie. back home, I’m an Adventurer with my local guild branch. We do dungeon delving, outlaw capture, escorting, caravan guarding, all that sort of stuff.”

Wes was so tired he didn’t notice Archie’s question right away. He blinked as the words registered. “…Guild branch, huh? Never heard of one of those, but it sounds…exciting.”

He wondered what info to reveal about himself. “Well, you’ve heard it before, but my name’s Wes. I was, uh…human…before coming here. A trainer, actually. So it’s been a bit of an adjustment. To say the least.”

That was sufficient information to give. Right?

His brain lingered on Archie’s job description, particularly the words outlaw capture. “So…was it weird for you, then, teaming up with a bunch of bandits tonight?” He asked cautiously.

His ice cream was slid down the counter toward him by the host and he dared to nibble at it. Huh. Not bad.

And then, without any warning at all, one of their group freaking screamed. She looked for all the world like a Vulpix, except she was…all white? (Gods, between her and the not-Cleffa, this group was bizarre.) Wes jumped and shot her a reproachful look. “The hell was that for?”

 

[Weazel]

Archie nodded along to the bits and pieces Wes offered to share. Obviously, the Oshawott wasn’t going to pry too much! Wes did seem to have something of a temper, and he wanted to get off on the right foot with the Rockruff. He couldn’t keep keeping to himself and only relying on Corey and Tarahn for companionship, and he didn’t have Spencer here to rely on to do most of the talking while Archie was just the hanger on!

“A Trainer, huh?” The Oshawott hummed, taking a bite of his own ice cream. He’d never’ve guessed based on how well the Rockruff had done in combat. Wes had been right in the thick of it with him all throughout the fight. He did seem to have a mind for tactics though, exploiting weaknesses and creating openings, so, in that way, it did make sense. Wes viewed the battlefield with the eye of a Trainer. “Seem like you’ve adapted well to being in the thick of it instead of in the back shouting orders.”

As for Wes’s follow up question, that did give him some pause. He rested his muzzle on his paw, propped up on the counter in front of them, and frowned. “Well, I guess the most important thing to know is ‘outlaws’ aren’t always as, uh.. Badass? As the name makes them sound. Sure, it covers all the usual sorts of criminals you can think of, but it’s also used to describe, you know, troublemakers. Pranksters, pickpockets, shoplifters.”

The Oshawott made a vague shrugging gesture, before continuing, “Most of them, they get caught, they do some community service, they shape up eventually, everyone moves on happy. Obviously that’s not going to be enough for every outlaw, but the vast majority aren’t, you know, twisted beyond redemption? So, no, I wouldn’t say it was weird for me to work alongside bandits.”

He frowned, and sighed, “Still, I don’t know if I trust Sonora. That whole story of hers – victim of circumstance, treated unfairly by a cruel world, couldn’t find justice until they turned to crime… You hear that a lot, in my line of work, you know? So you do get a little… Skeptical, of the whole thing. And honestly, not a lot of outlaws are gonna have that come to Arceus moment where they realize they gotta turn their lives around without some outside force encouraging that moment. Plus, I don’t know. Sometimes, it seemed more like she wasn’t fighting to right some great injustice, it seemed more like she was fighting for her own vengeance?”

But, ultimately, the mayor was by far the worse between the pair. So, even if it resulted in them all waking up tomorrow with bounties on their head, Archie was happy they took him down. As for Sonora and her gang, “Well, the townsfolk seem to like her well enough based on my experience, and she’s got the perfect opportunity here to prove she really can be a force for good in the world.”

The Oshawott turned back to the Rockruff, asking half jokingly “How about you? Bet it’s not every day you join a ragtag bunch of misfits and help take down the government?”

 

[HelloYellow17]

Wes listened to Archie’s answer as he nibbled away at his ice cream. It was actually very tasty, and seemed to taste better the more he ate. He’d have to come back here again…

He nodded along to Archie’s thoughts, more or less agreeing with him until—

Still, I don’t know if I trust Sonora. That whole story of hers – victim of circumstance, treated unfairly by a cruel world, couldn’t find justice until they turned to crime… You hear that a lot, in my line of work, you know? So you do get a little… Skeptical, of the whole thing.

“I dunno,” Wes said, choosing his words carefully. “I think that was real anger there. Possible it was misdirected anger, sure—we don’t know enough to say ourselves. But you can’t fake that kind of righteous fury.” I would know. “Whatever her story, I think she wholeheartedly believes in her cause.”

Sometimes, it seemed more like she wasn’t fighting to right some great injustice, it seemed more like she was fighting for her own vengeance?”

Wes was quiet for a moment. “What makes you think it can’t be both?” he said softly.

“How about you? Bet it’s not every day you join a ragtag bunch of misfits and help take down the government?”

He nearly snorted at that. Gods, this guy had no idea how close to the mark he actually was. It would have been hilarious if he hadn’t been so scarily accurate.

He opted for a dry chuckle instead. “Nah. Not every day.”

 

[Hap]

“So, I dunno if we ever did proper introductions,” he said.

Ridley gave a little wave. "I'm Ridley," he said. He didn't think he'd directly interacted with either Archie or Wes before, although he remembered both of them from the Traveller's Haus dining hall debate. "I used to be human too."

“I dunno,” Wes said, choosing his words carefully. “I think that was real anger there. Possible it was misdirected anger, sure—we don’t know enough to say ourselves. But you can’t fake that kind of righteous fury.” I would know. “Whatever her story, I think she wholeheartedly believes in her cause.”

"I'm not sure it matters much either way," Ridley pointed out. Even before the events of the gala he'd been convinced that Sonora wasn't a bad person, but there was still too much he didn't know about this world for him to feel fully certain she was trustworthy. "We're all agreed the mayor was a piece of shit and that ousting him was the right thing to do, right? Regardless of what her motives were, Sonora was the one to set that in motion."

He shrugged. "I'm not sure any of us are familiar enough with this world to make any kind of reasonable prediction about where matters will go from here. All we can do is wait to see how things shake out."

 

[Tetra]

On any other day it would have been absurd, and he would have refused. His body ached and his mind raced and he was angry and annoyed and a thousand other things he couldn't place. But ice cream felt familiar, and it was a distraction, and right now anything was better than licking his wounds in his too quiet room without his team, without Kitto and staring at a wall.

So when the Cleffa offered, he reluctantly accepted, opting to go along with the sense of weary cheer. He ordered a chocolate ice cream with marshmallow and nuts for himself before heading to the table.

Great. Wes was here. He'd just have to pretend that Wes wasn't here. Picking a spot as far away from him as possible, he settled next to his Cleffa companion instead, who he was quickly deciding was either not a cleffa, or the strangest regional form he'd ever seen. Something about the way he fought reminded Koa of another pokemon...

Ridley gave a little wave. "I'm Ridley," he said. He didn't think he'd directly interacted with either Archie or Wes before, although he remembered both of them from the Traveller's Haus dining hall debate. "I used to be human too."

Interesting. "Koa," he offered, amiably, enough so the table could hear, but trying not to draw attention. He decided it was better not to mention being human. He nodded along with Ridley's reply to Archie and Wes, humming in agreement.

"Where are you from?" he asked Ridley curiously.

 

[Hap]

Ridley noted the way Koa avoided sitting near Wes. That was... interesting? Maybe?

"Where are you from?" he asked Ridley curiously.

"Galar," Ridley said. "Ballonlea, specifically, if that means anything to you." Would people from other worlds even use the same regional divisions Ridley was used to? He gestured towards Koa with his overly-blue ice cream. "What about you?"

 

[Tetra]

Galarian... So was he a Galarian Cleffa? He'd definitely never heard of that, but maybe it was a world thing? "Oh I know that town. I'm from Sinnoh actually, Canalave. Not close but I've read about it." He'd always liked the stories about Galar's ancient protectors.

"So are you a regional Cleffa? I saw how you fought and I was thinking ghost but where I'm from Cleffa definitely aren't ghost types. Or cloth." At least the burning question on his mind gave him an excuse not to dwell on the battle they'd fought

 

[HelloYellow17]

Ridley gave a little wave. "I'm Ridley," he said. He didn't think he'd directly interacted with either Archie or Wes before, although he remembered both of them from the Traveller's Haus dining hall debate. "I used to be human too."

Wes blinked as the not-Cleffa guy greeted him. Well, he seemed…friendly enough. And pretty ready to volunteer that he was a former human, too. Wes perked up at that.

"I'm not sure it matters much either way," Ridley pointed out. Even before the events of the gala he'd been convinced that Sonora wasn't a bad person, but there was still too much he didn't know about this world for him to feel fully certain she was trustworthy. "We're all agreed the mayor was a piece of shit and that ousting him was the right thing to do, right? Regardless of what her motives were, Sonora was the one to set that in motion."

He nodded appreciatively. “I agree. Regardless of what Sonora’s beef with him is…it’s good he’s out of the mayoral seat. And besides, it didn’t seem like Sonora was after his power or money, either. She just wanted him gone. I don’t care what her reasons were, because even without them, there was more than enough evidence proving that prick wasn’t fit to be mayor.”

Wes blinked again as someone down on the other end spoke up—oh. The kid. He looked a little worse for wear, but Wes supposed they all did to some degree. He clearly felt well enough to come here, in any case, and he was definitely, very pointedly ignoring Wes.

Well, that was fine by him. Wes was too tired to deal with this brat tonight, anyway. He returned to his ice cream.

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova had intended to go back to the Haus after dropping Corey off to get medical attention. But he saw his tired allies not returning there. Concerned, the null headed in the direction a couple of them had gone: the saloon.

He was not prepared to walk in and see some of them casually eating ice cream like it was no big deal.

"Am I having a fever dream?" Nova mumbled, standing dumbly by the front door.

 

[VeniaSilente]

After some work assisting the arrest of Ignatius, Kalas decided he needed some relax. He had first taken to wander around town in search for a good place to perch, but he had seen a number of mons in the Cloud Combating group heading to the saloon.

Piqued by curiosity, he decided to go in and take a look as well. After all, if he didn't feel like liking things, the saloon did have a roof to perch on.

Just as he had walked in, when he was hit with surprise from all directions. He saw one of the Pokémon that he had not recognized before, he had never learned their name. Archie was also there. And everyone was...

...eating icecream?

In this economy world?

Now Kalas' curiosity was piqued.

 

[Weazel]

Archie nodded. Certainly, he agreed Sonora’s anger was very real. And he didn’t think she was faking her belief. He could even agree, to some extent, that it very much was possible to fight for both personal vendettas and greater things at the same time. But…

“It’s just a difficult tightrope, I think,” he said, shrugging. “When you have a personal stake in something, it becomes easier to justify whatever action you end up taking. You gotta be able to know when to hold back, know what lines you won’t cross. Otherwise, eventually, you end up a lot like the people you’re fighting against.”

Well, thankfully it seemed like they were moving on to happier topics. The Oshawott smirked at the Rockruff as he chuckled. The way Wes emphasized his response suggested some interesting events in the former-human’s past. That definitely caught Archie’s attention. Still, he wasn’t going to pry, he was sure the Rockruff would tell him about it when he was good and ready to.

“Ah, just every other day, then?” he quipped, dryly.

They were soon joined by the strange… This couldn’t actually be a Cleffa, could it? It looked like one, but when it got up close it looked… Fake? Well, anyway, they introduced themselves as Ridley, another of their number that were once human.

“I’m Archie, and this is Wes, fighter of government tyranny in this world and his own,” the Oshawott joked, gesturing first to himself and then the Rockruff. Archie merely shrugged at Ridley and Wes’s continued talk about Sonora – he’d said his piece, they said theirs, it’d be a silly thing to argue over. “Well, it’s like I said, she’s got the chance to prove herself here, can definitely agree with waiting and seeing before we cast any final judgment.”

Actually, it seemed like the Cleffa was engaged in his own conversation as well as this one – speaking to a blue Electrike, who seemed to be pointedly ignoring Wes’s existence… And it seemed like Wes was doing the same. Oh boy, potential drama there? Well, Archie wasn’t dumb enough to kick that Beedrill’s nest, not when they were all dead tired from fighting already. Still, he gave the Electrike a friendly wave – the Oshawott definitely remembered him helping out in the fight against Sonora and then the Mayor, no reason to be rude to an ally.

“Don’t think I caught your name?” He said.

Astrid was here as well – Archie hadn’t seen her much since they ended up in the bar together upon their first arrival. She seemed to be, uh, enjoying her ice cream? He figured best leave her to it for now. And their little party was also soon joined by Kalas – who got another wave from the Oshawott – and the masked chimera who’d taken Corey to the hospital!

“Hey!” he called, waving said creature over, “Did the doctor say anything? Will Corey be okay?”

 

[Hap]

"So are you a regional Cleffa? I saw how you fought and I was thinking ghost but where I'm from Cleffa definitely aren't ghost types. Or cloth."

"What?" Ridley said in surprise. "Ah, no, I'm a mimikyu, not a cleffa." Well, Koa was from Sinnoh, and Ridley was pretty sure they didn't have mimikyu there natively. Other regions might not share Galar's strict laws around the import of foreign pokemon, but mimikyu in particular were a tricky species, and for someone unfamiliar with them Ridley could understand the assumption that he might be some kind of regional variant.

"Am I having a fever dream?" Nova mumbled, standing dumbly by the front door.

Just as he had walked in, when he was hit with surprise from all directions.

And their little party was also soon joined by Kalas – who got another wave from the Oshawott – and the masked chimera who’d taken Corey to the hospital! [...] “Hey!” he called, waving said creature over.

Ridley waved awkwardly at the newcomers. He hadn't actually spoken to either of them yet, but he at least recognised the RKS chimera from seeing them around the Traveller's Haus. (Actually, there might've been two of them? Ridley wasn't sure, and didn't know them well enough to tell them apart either way.)

Something occurred to him, and he added, "Hey, I've picked up that some of us are trying to be circumspect about our whole travellers-from-another-world deal, but I'm not sure why yet. Anyone here had a solid reason for that? Or is it just general caution?"

 

[UnknownUser55]

"...Hey."

The new voice had appeared to stem from the entrance to the saloon, belonging to Eco, who immediately had felt out of place as soon as she spotted her fellow comrades among the room. She shifted uneasily, with a weary look in her eyes.

"Er, was I interrupting something?"