{RP} The S.S. Wishmaker - Tides of Witchcraft

[[Desolate Divine]]

Jon Drake
Does it really matter anymore? I suppose the exit of the Stadium...
Affected RPers: Discussing @Neo Shaymin's characters, but nothing major. Can be ignored if preferred.

Once the match was over, and Cassandra thanked Jon, he was surprised at her comments about being a good teacher. He thanked her for the match, feeling a little guilty that her career was ending in this low point, but also sticking by his guns. The words he said to her still rang true. Even though he was willing to look past his own ideals in order to achieve what he thought was a better result for everyone by covering up the mess, he meant what he said to them during that first meeting. They are gonna have to hit rock bottom and go through hell to learn from this, and based on the boos and jeers at Cassandra from the crowd, it was only the beginning for them.

He spent another hour in the waiting room, hoping to be able to escape the arena without media attention, however, as he left, he was flooded by cameras and microphones, recording everything, most likely to show on the late news that evening.

"Mr. Drake, people are dismissing your win as invalid, due to the events of last night's battle, what do you think about this."

"What do you have to say about the damage to the S.S. Wishmaker caused by your Latios, or the attacks it made yesterday afternoon?"

"Do you have any remorse for assaulting Ethan Caldwell yesterday evening?"

Jon ignored them, pushing past them, these vultures willing to believe whatever version of the truth would get them ratings.

"Do you think Cassandra Silvers and the other Diamond Ladies deserve the comments being made by internet trolls regarding the events of the last few days?"

Jon stopped in his tracks, hearing this, before turning to the reporter who asked.

"You mind showing me these comments?" Jon asked, "I have kept off social media this evening, given what was said last night..."

The reporter, surprised that Jon had acknowledged him after ignoring everyone else, before fumbling for his phone and opening twitter.

#CancelCassandra, #WitchCheats and #BurnTheWitch were trending, on tweets with equally nasty content.

"That cheating b***h deserves everything she gets and then some. Have her Pokemon taken from her, put her in a cell, and throw away the key."

"Would love five minutes with the three of them, purge style, no consequences. Can't convict if they never find the body can they?"


Jon seethed reading these comments, before facing the reporter, going against his usual No Interviews policy, with Alyssa being the only exception. He passed the phone back.

"I'm going to be dead honest with you." Jon said, "After I signed up for this tournament, I was recruited by the League, with a few others, to help figure out what was going on with the Diamond Ladies, and catch them out. People will say I'm a liar, who thinks he is some sort of cowboy, but I really don't give a damn at this point. I was the person who found the evidence of the witchcraft that was being used to cheat in battles, and helped to apprehend the three of them. That is why Latios did damage to the ship."

"And since then, the Diamond Ladies, Cassandra especially, in the space of twenty four hours, have earnt my respect in a way that nobody else could. They realized their mistakes, they took whatever measures they could to correct and atone for them, and Cassandra went into battle with Avery last night, completely legit, and took a win, before facing me tonight, giving me an incredible battle that I will never forget, better than some of the so-called professionals I met in the qualifying who had years of experience battling legit, but didn't have half the talent, instinct or bond with their Pokemon that Cassandra displayed in the finals. They were willing to give up everything, try to fix their mistakes and come clean, which most people wouldn't have the nerve to do being in as deep as they were. I agree with the ban, but think it's a shame that the League is now losing talent like that." Jon continued, "This is what I have to say about the Diamond Ladies. Their actions wronged a lot of people. People were cheated out of first place titles, prize money, and humiliated on false pretences. But if you aren't someone who fits into one of those categories, not somebody who faced them and was cheated out of something by them, but some self-righteous idiot sitting in the peanut gallery, who thinks they have any right to make these sorts of comments about them, I'd love to have a chat to you, right after you go f**k yourselves."

There was silence as Jon's expletive cut through the chatter, and shock at what had just been said.

"How f**king self-righteous can you be to judge someone who is actively taking steps to better themselves and fix the damage they did, as harsh as that?" Jon asked, "I have been a competitive battler for over ten years, and have battled enough people to know talent when I see it. Even without cheating, if any of these keyboard warriors had the nerve to face Cassandra in a legitimate battle, I'd back Cassandra any day over these pieces of s**t that only have the nerve to speak up like that when they are behind a Twitter handle."

"Also, to anyone who is willing to be this critical of the Diamond Ladies, and doesn't plan on changing their attitude, keep an eye on the news over the next few days. Some shocking news about a world famous battler is going to come to light, worse than any cheating scandal, and if you're going to tear into the Diamond Ladies this much, you damn well better be willing to go further when that comes to light..."

Jon turned to walk away, as the reported spoke up nervously.

"And what's next for you, Mr. Drake...

"I have an idea, but gotta flesh that out a little first. Stay tuned though. It will be big..."

************************************************** ************************************************** ****

Jon and Alyssa Drake
Jon and Alyssa's Room
Affected RPers: @Neo Shaymin (Text message sent)

Jon breathed a sigh of relief as he got back to his and Alyssa's cabin, where Alyssa was packing their belongings.

"Oh Mr. Drake, I'd love an interview!" Alyssa said jokingly, as she approached him, "You seem a little on edge Mr. Drake, is everything okay?"

"Just a bit anxious, that's all." Jon replied using his best media voice, "My mistress was supposed to meet me here, but I'm worried my wife will show up..."

Alyssa gasped, before gently punching him in the arm.

"In all seriousness, great job tonight." Alyssa said, before kissing him on the cheek and making her way back to the suitcase she was packing, "Though you're already trending again from that interview, even though it doesn't air for another half hour. Few spectators saw it and posted online about it."

"How did you see it?" Jon asked.

"An acquaintance from that network forwarded me the footage." Alyssa explained, "She knew we were married, and asked me if you were out of your damn mind."

"In all honesty, I'm seeing a lot clearer now." Jon explained as the Captain spoke over the PA system, announcing the ship docking.

"What time does our flight home leave?" Jon asked.

"1am." Alyssa replied, with Jon groaning. It was only 9pm now and waiting four hours for a flight when being harassed by media sounded like hell.

"We have time to kill. Anything you want to do?" Jon asked, "Maybe find a nice bar, have a celebratory drink?"

"Well..." Alyssa began, "I never got that interview with Cassandra, and I know it's not much, but I feel like nobody should have to quit like she is without being able to say goodbye on their terms..."

Jon realized what Alyssa was saying. The Diamond Ladies ban is already public, with the League being forced to issue a statement after the match due to the increasing pressure and questioning of their silence on the rumours circulating from the day earlier. It was already being twisted, with lies added in among the bits of truth, destroying their reputation more than it already was. People were truly savages.

"I have her number..." Jon said, "What if we invite them for a drink, and you have your interview there, if she is interested."

"Brilliant." Alyssa replied, her face lighting up, as she grabbed Jon's phone from the table, copying Cassandra's number into hers.

"Hey Cassandra, this is Alyssa Drake.

Great job with the match tonight. Screw what everyone else is saying. Walk with your head held high.

I know it's probably not much, particularly this late, but I was wondering if I could interview you. If nothing else but for you to be able to step down from all this on your terms. Be able to have the last word, and have one last nice moment before everything changes?

Don't feel obligated, but if you're interested, Jon and I's flight home doesn't leave until 1am, so we will be at Diesel Bar in Castelia City until 11pm. I'd love to share a drink and hear your story before we all part ways.

Hoping to see you again.
Alyssa."

"Sent." Alyssa explained, "Now help me pack, will you?"

"Sure thing." Jon said with a smile.

************************************************** ************************************************** ****

Jon and Alyssa Drake
Diesel Bar, Castelia City
Affected RPers: @Neo Shaymin

Bunnied with Neo Emolga's Permission to condense this into a single post.

It was 10pm, as Jon and Alyssa stood by a tall bar table, sipping their drinks, watching the highlights of the evenings match on the TV, which had segments of Jon's interview that had aired half an hour earlier, causing the few patrons nearby in the quiet bar to avoid him like he had some sort of Unnamed Global Pandemic Type Virus.

"You reckon they will show up?" Alyssa asked.

"I honestly don't know 'Liss." Jon replied with a sigh, "I get where you're coming from about giving her a chance to have one last say, but I also get the feeling she is equally happy letting people say what they want, and doesn't really care what they think anymore. It could go either way."

Alyssa sighed as she looked at her watch, before the sound of the door opened and a familiar voice ran through.

"How can it be this cold in the middle of summer? It was beautiful this afternoon!"

Alyssa's head perked up as she heard the voice and recognized Cassandra walking into the bar (OOC: Neo, if you want the other two there as well, have them. I only asked about Cass, but wanted to get a post up and this probably isn't good timing for your timezone). Alyssa pounced, rushing towards her, seeming nearly half her age with excitement, greeting her and ushering her to the table, where Jon said hello, before offering to buy her a drink.

"Look, this will be published, but I'm not doing this for ratings, or accolades as a writer." Alyssa explained, "I have always written with the desire to have my readers understand something better than they did before reading, so I guess I want to give you the chance to tell me what you want the people to understand. One last hurrah before you guys retire."

Alyssa got out her phone, opening the sound recorder, before placing it on the table in front of Cassandra.

"So what do you have to say? About the cheating, getting caught, the tournament, moving forward, anything." Alyssa asked, "I want to hear what you have to say."