TEST 8.

[azumods]

FLOW. The feeling of pressure in here is immense. It's stronger than it was with Darkrai, something you can feel down to your core, something that you couldn't shake off even if you tried; there's nothing to do but power through it. Saturn, for his part, either isn't feeling it at all or is incapable of reacting in any sort of appropriate way even if he could; he simply continues to regard you from across the room, his words hanging heavy in the room. It's a far cry from his behavior during the first month you were here; he was civil then, willing to do you favors in exchange for the chance to talk to you. It's plain that he will be doing no such thing today; it may be difficult to know where to start, really. Especially when your Pokémon don't seem to be doing well - whatever's happening here, they seem reluctant, even unwilling, to fight anything in this room. Perhaps it's not surprising; the energy in the room is likely familiar to them, and it's the sort associated with someone deciding to take their spirit away last time it was angered. Whatever the reason, you're on your own for now; whatever happens is your choice, and yours alone.

Comments

[anythingforyou]

[...]

You really are like a soldier for him. Even if you didn't like the idea of modifying such technology to ensure a more permanent effect, you'd still carry out your orders as if it's what you wanted all along.

It's almost pitiful.

[The words feel like bile in her mouth, but they're surprisingly genuine. Arion winds up butting his head against Camilla's leg a bit in concern at that, but she pays it no heed.]

[azumods]

I didn't like it because I feared it. I have no reason to feel that way anymore.

[...That's. Promising.]

[anythingforyou]

[...]

Cyrus took that fear from you, then, or are you simply putting on a brace face while knowing this is your final chance?

[azumods]

He didn't do anything that I didn't request personally.

[anythingforyou]

...You knew you were too weak willed, and sought to remove such liabilities from yourself with his help.

[That's. That's what she's getting here and somehow, she's not even close to surprised.]

[azumods]

I knew it for a fact after speaking to you.

It's fine now, though. It's been dealt with.

[anythingforyou]

...Truly, that's depressing. Perhaps even disgusting.

[And yet somehow, she can't help but think that would have made dealing with Corrin much easier. She hates that she can understand it, on some level, and she wants this to stop--

Camilla stands straighter, firmer in posture. A smile comes onto her face, slightly tired and perhaps just a touch pitying--and she laughs, with no derision in her tone.]

...But I suppose that's for the best, isn't it? We were never truly going to be friends, nor see eye to eye; no matter how much the others would have liked it so.

[azumods]

At least you seem to understand. I don't expect the others will, or at least they won't accept it easily.

[anythingforyou]

Well, of course not. Really, it disgusts me more that the reaction you had at that restaurant was apparently genuine; I thought you far more manipulative than you seemed to truly be capable of.

[That's stated with a bit more bite and the expression on her face darkens considerably. She's actually kind of angry? Like, how dare you??]

[azumods]

What did you think I was going to do? It isn't as though I was interested in stabbing you in the back. I didn't see any benefit in doing that at the time.

[anythingforyou]

[Okay, she's just getting even more frustrated now. Why couldn't you just be an asshole all along, Saturn.]

...Fine, I'll play along; why didn't you see any benefit in such a thing, then?

[azumods]

Because of those imperfections I've had removed since then. I wanted to see what you would accomplish, to see if maybe you could bring all of this to an end.

It's nothing that concerns me anymore. But at the time it was important to me.

[anythingforyou]

[...Gods she hates him, she hates him so much and this just proves it further--]

I cannot actually believe you. Or, perhaps more accurately, the person that you were.

[azumods]

And why is that?

[anythingforyou]

Because you're our enemy, despite everything? You don't sympathize with or actively have hope for your enemies on the battlefield.

[azumods]

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to. As I said, I don't tend to personally believe in lost causes.

[anythingforyou]

[...]

I suppose you're lucky in that regard. That such a mindset wouldn't be enough to see you branded a traitor or enough of a liability to be discarded.

[azumods]

It would if I refused to fight, or if I turned my back on our cause when I was needed. As it stands, I'm not willing to do that, no matter what I think personally about you.

[anythingforyou]

Well, good for you, then.

[That's flippant as all hell, and quite frankly, she's content to discard the subject before it goes further. She's not going to instigate without proper orders to do so, but...]

...I suppose there's at least solace in the fact that one part of that promise can be meaningfully fulfilled. As little as it likely means to you now.

[discutio]

...I’m sorry.

That you would harbor such twisted devotion as to see a flicker of conscience as a liability, to even this extreme...I’m truly sorry we failed in getting through to you.

[azumods]

[Mm.]

It's not as though any of this is your fault, if that knowledge helps you any. It's what I wanted.

[discutio]

I know. Worse, I understand the feeling.

[azumods]

You do seem to, in a way that most don't. I suppose I appreciate it, in some way.