Marril
01/08/2006, 05:18 PM
Wow, it's been ages since the last chapter. Truth is, I'm lazy, so I took the holidays off writing this. As a result, you may notice that this is more of a "filler" chapter more than anything. As in, it's fun and doesn't resolve the zomg-spoilarz stuff I've been doing last few chapters. Ah well. Time for the fun to start!
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"You came alone," Mikhail noted, simply pacing the perimeter of the outside of the coliseum with Tschel. "I thought you'd have at least brought Alex along."
"You'd think a lot of things," Tschel replied. "So what's this about now?"
"I thought I'd tell you the true story before you hear it from some... secondhand source," Mikhail explained. "Not too long ago, a man calling himself Executive Kenneth turned himself in to Lance, and has been thoroughly cooperative in questioning."
"I take it this Kenneth isn't the real one?"
"You take it correctly."
"So what do you have to go on?"
"Nothing much besides a badly-written, cryptic note," Mikhail admitted. "I think if I were Kenneth I'd be laughing my head off at this."
"That would do it for him," Tschel agreed. "So that's two guys you've lost?"
Mikhail winced microscopically. "Yes."
"That's gotta be harsh," Tschel said. "Especially with how long I hear you five have been together for."
"Over twenty years," Mikhail nodded. "Longer than you've been alive, actually."
"Must be like losing brothers," Tschel nodded. "So, this deal with the faux Kenneth is what you came to talk about?"
"Yes," Mikhail nodded. "I figured I'd tell you before you heard on some secondhand news station about it. You ought to know, after all."
"Being the boyfriend of Rei's son," Tschel elaborated wryly.
"Well, ah, er, I guess," Mikhail agreed.
Tschel sighed. "It's better to not think of how we all know each other, otherwise we come up with silly-sounding explanations for everything."
"I'm inclined to agree," Mikhail said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to."
"Knock yourself out," Tschel smiled. "Just, uh, don't run into people like Roland along the way."
"I'm better than the elite members of Team Rocket," Mikhail pointed out, deadpan. "I run into people like him on a constant basis."
Mikhail, leaving at a very brisk pace indeed, failed to escape Tschel's call of, "Hey! I thought you didn't have a sense of humour!"
Tschel stepped back into his hotel room to find Alex still asleep on the bed, his hair tousled as if he'd been rolling over a lot. He shook his head in amazement; Alex always managed to look cute like this.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Tschel wondered what he was even going to do about explaining all this to Alex. Sure, he had a right to know, but... Tschel sighed. He should just get this over with.
"Hey," Tschel nudged Alex awake gently.
"Mmph," Alex grunted, stirring. "WHy'd you have to go and leave me?"
Tschel chuckled. "So you noticed I left."
Alex shot Tschel a mock glare, his hair still tussled from sleeping. He couldn't keep it up, though, and broke out smiling. He sat up fully and hugged Tschel. "Glad you're back though."
Tschel smiled back. "So am I."
Parting, Alex asked, "Well, what was that all about, then?"
"Oh, right," Tschel laughed. "Well, I shouldn't really be laughing, but... Mikhail wanted me to meet him alone."
"What about?"
"Well, that's what's got me kind of confused... he was talking about how Lance in the Pokémon League's got some guy captive claiming to be Kenneth, but it's not the real Kenneth, so we're not supposed to worry, but... why would he mention this to me if I'm not supposed to worry?"
"Probably because he knew we'd find out about it somehow," Alex reflected. "He just didn't want us to worry about Kenneth because he knew Kenneth was all right."
"Think he might have mentioned that," Tschel admitted.
"Well, our next round is up tomorrow, we should get ready for it," Alex said. He then added sourly, "Not like there's anything else to do in this town."
"Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored," Marril repeated over and over to herself as she wandered down the streets of Nightshade City. For such an important town, there was nothing at all to do that wasn't directly related to the Neo League Finals. Sure, she could always go bug Alex, but that might not end well.
Not having a lot of money on her, Marril had consciously avoided the malls and other shops around, which might not have been helping. Oh well.
Marril's left ear twitched slightly. She stopped where she was, having heard a very familiar and rather... unwanted set of footfalls. Three of them. She sighed and braced herself for what was coming, then charged in head-on, as it were, by turning to her right and crossing the street.
Yeah, there they were, Marril saw them. Kani, Mariru, and Azure, the only other Orthan Marrils she knew existed. In addition to that, they were a rather unpleasant—to her at least—bunch, and Kani had taken an interest in her that she didn't exactly return.
"Hey, it's Marril!" Azure said, being the first one to see her. He then called out to her, "Hey, how are you doing?"
"Eh," Marril shrugged. She hoped Kani wouldn't say anything dreadfully stupid, but that was kind of like hoping Tschel wouldn't go out of his way to annoy her. It just wasn't going to happen.
"Want you to know you came to us, not the other way around," Kani pointed out, shrugging and leaning against a wall. "So, what's it today, beautiful?"
Marril groaned. "Nothing."
"Nothing it is, then," Kani shrugged. "Really, it's not a problem for me if you refuse to open up—" Marril scoffed "—but you don't have to act like a jerk about it."
"Says the guy who's racist against humans," Marril countered.
"Like I said, I'm not racist per se, I just don't like them," Kani said. "Honestly, aside from your former trainer, are there even any humans you can stand being around?"
"I," Marril started, but then cut herself off. Come to think of it, she really couldn't think of any answer to that question that could include the word "yes." It wasn't what she'd thought she'd answer.
"My point exactly," Kani said.
"Then again, how many other Orthan Marrils can I stand being around, eh?" Marril asked.
"Ouch," Azure winced. "She's got you there, Kani."
"Well," Kani said. "At least one more than the amount of humans she can stand being around, since she's here and all."
Marril groaned.
"So," Mariru said, clapping his hands together to break the tension. "How are your human friends doing in the Neo League?"
"Eh," Marril shrugged. "They're doing all right. I mean, they haven't lost yet, and they fought those crazy Brits."
"The guys with the half-Orthan Manyula?" Kani arced an eyebrow.
"You know it or something?" Marril asked.
"That Manyula," Azure shook his head. "That monster killed several Orthan friends of ours without provocation."
"Was its trainer with it?" Marril asked.
"Oh, he was," Azure spoke with bitterness. "We don't know where that monster came from, but it's not a Pokémon or an Orthan. Not anymore."
"Though if we're right, and we always are," Kani smirked. "Its trainer will do something stupid like have it try and attack Mewtwo. If he does, then there goes that problem right there."
"So you still think a Mewtwo's coming here," Marril said.
"Oh, we know one is."
"I've heard," Marril shrugged. "Just, you know, only a few psychics with some strange visions to back it up. Like that'll convince me."
"You sound like you've thought it over," Mariru pointed out.
"Well, actually knowing one of the human psychics who says Mewtwo's coming... yeah, I've heard about it a lot, so of course I've thought about how to disprove it," Marril shrugged.
"How'd this turn into a discussion about Mewtwo anyway?" Kani asked.
"Dunno," Marril snickered. "Just sort of turns out that way."
"Bah," Kani waved his hand. "Worthless."
"As if I'm anything else," Marril laughed.
"Well," Azure shrugged. "We won't argue if you don't really want us to."
"Thus I am infallible yet again," Marril decided to put some of her random nonsense into the conversation.
"I see why Pale Guy seems to hate you," Kani scoffed. He stretched for a second, and then turned halfway around. Before turning the rest of the way around, he added, "Well, we've got stuff to do—" ("We do?" Wondered Mariru aloud) "—so, yeah, see you around. Tell your pretty-boy ex-trainer I said good luck, eh?"
Then, flashing Marril what she was surprised to guess was a genuine smile, Kani strolled off, his two brothers following behind looking quite confused.
"I win again," Marril muttered to herself, confused but not willing to admit it. She never admitted it, after all.
She also hit herself in her confusion.
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That's it for this week, folks. Next chapter goes up when it goes up. Until then, remember to not hit yourself in your confusion. It hurts.
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"You came alone," Mikhail noted, simply pacing the perimeter of the outside of the coliseum with Tschel. "I thought you'd have at least brought Alex along."
"You'd think a lot of things," Tschel replied. "So what's this about now?"
"I thought I'd tell you the true story before you hear it from some... secondhand source," Mikhail explained. "Not too long ago, a man calling himself Executive Kenneth turned himself in to Lance, and has been thoroughly cooperative in questioning."
"I take it this Kenneth isn't the real one?"
"You take it correctly."
"So what do you have to go on?"
"Nothing much besides a badly-written, cryptic note," Mikhail admitted. "I think if I were Kenneth I'd be laughing my head off at this."
"That would do it for him," Tschel agreed. "So that's two guys you've lost?"
Mikhail winced microscopically. "Yes."
"That's gotta be harsh," Tschel said. "Especially with how long I hear you five have been together for."
"Over twenty years," Mikhail nodded. "Longer than you've been alive, actually."
"Must be like losing brothers," Tschel nodded. "So, this deal with the faux Kenneth is what you came to talk about?"
"Yes," Mikhail nodded. "I figured I'd tell you before you heard on some secondhand news station about it. You ought to know, after all."
"Being the boyfriend of Rei's son," Tschel elaborated wryly.
"Well, ah, er, I guess," Mikhail agreed.
Tschel sighed. "It's better to not think of how we all know each other, otherwise we come up with silly-sounding explanations for everything."
"I'm inclined to agree," Mikhail said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to."
"Knock yourself out," Tschel smiled. "Just, uh, don't run into people like Roland along the way."
"I'm better than the elite members of Team Rocket," Mikhail pointed out, deadpan. "I run into people like him on a constant basis."
Mikhail, leaving at a very brisk pace indeed, failed to escape Tschel's call of, "Hey! I thought you didn't have a sense of humour!"
Tschel stepped back into his hotel room to find Alex still asleep on the bed, his hair tousled as if he'd been rolling over a lot. He shook his head in amazement; Alex always managed to look cute like this.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Tschel wondered what he was even going to do about explaining all this to Alex. Sure, he had a right to know, but... Tschel sighed. He should just get this over with.
"Hey," Tschel nudged Alex awake gently.
"Mmph," Alex grunted, stirring. "WHy'd you have to go and leave me?"
Tschel chuckled. "So you noticed I left."
Alex shot Tschel a mock glare, his hair still tussled from sleeping. He couldn't keep it up, though, and broke out smiling. He sat up fully and hugged Tschel. "Glad you're back though."
Tschel smiled back. "So am I."
Parting, Alex asked, "Well, what was that all about, then?"
"Oh, right," Tschel laughed. "Well, I shouldn't really be laughing, but... Mikhail wanted me to meet him alone."
"What about?"
"Well, that's what's got me kind of confused... he was talking about how Lance in the Pokémon League's got some guy captive claiming to be Kenneth, but it's not the real Kenneth, so we're not supposed to worry, but... why would he mention this to me if I'm not supposed to worry?"
"Probably because he knew we'd find out about it somehow," Alex reflected. "He just didn't want us to worry about Kenneth because he knew Kenneth was all right."
"Think he might have mentioned that," Tschel admitted.
"Well, our next round is up tomorrow, we should get ready for it," Alex said. He then added sourly, "Not like there's anything else to do in this town."
"Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored," Marril repeated over and over to herself as she wandered down the streets of Nightshade City. For such an important town, there was nothing at all to do that wasn't directly related to the Neo League Finals. Sure, she could always go bug Alex, but that might not end well.
Not having a lot of money on her, Marril had consciously avoided the malls and other shops around, which might not have been helping. Oh well.
Marril's left ear twitched slightly. She stopped where she was, having heard a very familiar and rather... unwanted set of footfalls. Three of them. She sighed and braced herself for what was coming, then charged in head-on, as it were, by turning to her right and crossing the street.
Yeah, there they were, Marril saw them. Kani, Mariru, and Azure, the only other Orthan Marrils she knew existed. In addition to that, they were a rather unpleasant—to her at least—bunch, and Kani had taken an interest in her that she didn't exactly return.
"Hey, it's Marril!" Azure said, being the first one to see her. He then called out to her, "Hey, how are you doing?"
"Eh," Marril shrugged. She hoped Kani wouldn't say anything dreadfully stupid, but that was kind of like hoping Tschel wouldn't go out of his way to annoy her. It just wasn't going to happen.
"Want you to know you came to us, not the other way around," Kani pointed out, shrugging and leaning against a wall. "So, what's it today, beautiful?"
Marril groaned. "Nothing."
"Nothing it is, then," Kani shrugged. "Really, it's not a problem for me if you refuse to open up—" Marril scoffed "—but you don't have to act like a jerk about it."
"Says the guy who's racist against humans," Marril countered.
"Like I said, I'm not racist per se, I just don't like them," Kani said. "Honestly, aside from your former trainer, are there even any humans you can stand being around?"
"I," Marril started, but then cut herself off. Come to think of it, she really couldn't think of any answer to that question that could include the word "yes." It wasn't what she'd thought she'd answer.
"My point exactly," Kani said.
"Then again, how many other Orthan Marrils can I stand being around, eh?" Marril asked.
"Ouch," Azure winced. "She's got you there, Kani."
"Well," Kani said. "At least one more than the amount of humans she can stand being around, since she's here and all."
Marril groaned.
"So," Mariru said, clapping his hands together to break the tension. "How are your human friends doing in the Neo League?"
"Eh," Marril shrugged. "They're doing all right. I mean, they haven't lost yet, and they fought those crazy Brits."
"The guys with the half-Orthan Manyula?" Kani arced an eyebrow.
"You know it or something?" Marril asked.
"That Manyula," Azure shook his head. "That monster killed several Orthan friends of ours without provocation."
"Was its trainer with it?" Marril asked.
"Oh, he was," Azure spoke with bitterness. "We don't know where that monster came from, but it's not a Pokémon or an Orthan. Not anymore."
"Though if we're right, and we always are," Kani smirked. "Its trainer will do something stupid like have it try and attack Mewtwo. If he does, then there goes that problem right there."
"So you still think a Mewtwo's coming here," Marril said.
"Oh, we know one is."
"I've heard," Marril shrugged. "Just, you know, only a few psychics with some strange visions to back it up. Like that'll convince me."
"You sound like you've thought it over," Mariru pointed out.
"Well, actually knowing one of the human psychics who says Mewtwo's coming... yeah, I've heard about it a lot, so of course I've thought about how to disprove it," Marril shrugged.
"How'd this turn into a discussion about Mewtwo anyway?" Kani asked.
"Dunno," Marril snickered. "Just sort of turns out that way."
"Bah," Kani waved his hand. "Worthless."
"As if I'm anything else," Marril laughed.
"Well," Azure shrugged. "We won't argue if you don't really want us to."
"Thus I am infallible yet again," Marril decided to put some of her random nonsense into the conversation.
"I see why Pale Guy seems to hate you," Kani scoffed. He stretched for a second, and then turned halfway around. Before turning the rest of the way around, he added, "Well, we've got stuff to do—" ("We do?" Wondered Mariru aloud) "—so, yeah, see you around. Tell your pretty-boy ex-trainer I said good luck, eh?"
Then, flashing Marril what she was surprised to guess was a genuine smile, Kani strolled off, his two brothers following behind looking quite confused.
"I win again," Marril muttered to herself, confused but not willing to admit it. She never admitted it, after all.
She also hit herself in her confusion.
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That's it for this week, folks. Next chapter goes up when it goes up. Until then, remember to not hit yourself in your confusion. It hurts.