Frontier Town Traveller's Haus - Lobby

[Jackie Cat]

Yeah, that was true, wasn't it? The Wayfarers had really come into their own since they landed, and no doubt they could more than go toe to toe with the average Lantern goon. Brisa couldn't help but grin.

"Best we get plannin'," she said, with a satisfied growl. "Though... What kinda odds have you been winnin', anyhow?"

She splayed and tensed a paw, flexing her forelimb.

"Feel like I oughta put y'all t'the test somehow... if'n you're up fer it?"

Her muzzle curved into a smirk, relishing the thought of fighting other battlehearts again.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Jade blinked for a second, then held her paws up quickly. "Whoa, I dunno if I'm ready for that," she said in a hurry, although the moment the words were out of her mouth, she realized how silly it was. They'd come out ahead with way worse odds than that. It just hadn't sunk in yet that she could think of herself as being a part of it, not when she was way more used to being a trainer than a fighter.

"Er, that is... yeah, okay I guess we've been winning some pretty big fights," Jade continued, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. "But that's only because we're a team, and..." There was no way she was going to get away with not saying what fights.

"Well, we went up again Moltres, and, uh..."—Brisa was staring at her, pupils dilated—"...the Escarpa chief."

Now she definitely had to tell the full story.

<><><>​

 

[Jackie Cat]

Restlessness haunted Jesse better than any ghost ever could. Apparently some poor critter was holed up at his old place, and something kept him from going back there. He took a room in town, and soon wondered why he'd bothered. His mind played tricks on him, telling him he was back in the cell, telling him it wasn't even night. He shifted, rolled, got up, washed his face at the tiny little metal sink, swore at himself under his breath, tried to play his little mental games that had kept him going before...

This was supposed to be home. He was back in Frontier Town. His mission far from over – and feeling strangely abstract, small and far away from this place – his next steps unclear. No Brisa, nor her wildfire of a girlfriend. What had he imagined doing when he came back? Well, he'd expected to be back more than a year ago, with a story to tell, one that would justify his absence. And then he'd always looked forward to finally sticking it to Voclain, of course. He'd made up his mind about that bastard a while back. But no – there was no Voclain. Not even his snotty little brat of a son. Whoever that kid had been had since been replaced with a polite young fellow who'd asked for a clean slate. You and me both, kid.

He found himself out of doors, blinking suspiciously at the gaslamps, disoriented by the newness. Some things were the same, sure, but it wasn't Greasewood at the bar, and nobody he recognised was ordering. He let himself out, mumbling something about looking for someone. Who, though? Come the fuck on, Jesse. There was nobody to go to, and he knew it. Oh he'd had friends, sure, but no blood-brothers, no partners-in-crime. The memory of those folks as he'd ever spent much time with had hardly sustained him this past year, had it? And after all this time, he doubted they wanted him showing up at their doors, all haggard and needy. Goddamnit. He felt like a fucking letter without an address to go to.

Before he knew it, it was fucking dawn, and he'd walked half the fucking town. His paws ached, as did his head, his heart, his stomach. He wanted a drink, and real food, and someone to fucking talk to who wouldn't look at him like he was a half-feral 'mon.

The path of least resistance was one he'd walked down enough times before. This time, it lead him to Dave's door.

"Ambrose," he barked, with a sharp knock. "You awake?"

 

[Butterfree]

Dave woke up to an infernal banging on the door and blinked blearily at the ceiling. The Haus. He was back at the Haus, and the voice at the door was... Jesse Stranger?

More importantly, he realized belatedly, he could sense Betel again. The slight Radiant hum that'd been gone since getting tossed into that dungeon - it was back.

His head jolted upward. Okay, okay. Betel was back. Thank fuck. He could hear light telepathic chatter - no one talking like anyone had died or anything. He should--

"You awake?" came Jesse's voice through the door again. Okay, fine, attend to that first.

"I mean, I wasn't, but thanks for checking," he grumbled, dragging himself out of bed. He opened the door, blinking up at the Delphox. He... looked haggard and haunted and like he hadn't slept a wink. Christ.

"Yeah?" he said warily, the Wayfarers momentarily forgotten. "What's up?"