Test 10.

[azumods]

EXPANSION Once again, that sense of pressure radiates through the room, the sensation that comes with standing before something that no human was likely meant to be in the presence of; the pressure is immense, something that Mars doesn't seem at all inhibited by, and if it's bothering Jupiter any it isn't evident in her demeanor, either. The challenge they've issued remains in the air between you, ringing out strong as they watch you from their position across the room, gazes sharp and cold. Your Pokémon don't seem to be taking this terribly well, though that's likely to be expected; it's the same sort of pressure that came with Dialga's presence - even if it's not currently in the room, not currently visible, there's the sense that there's something waiting just beyond the metaphorical veil. Something that shouldn't be angered or tormented more than it has been already; something that was there when the world began, and something that was likewise there when the world ended. Once again, it seems you're you're on your own for the time being; while neither of the women waiting for you seem angry, per se, they still seem very, very charged.

Comments

[anythingforyou]

[...

You know, Camilla and a few of the others have just come out of what may constitute as literal hell by this world's standards, and this. Is just icing on the cake, honestly. The true level of hell that she feels like she should have expected. Dear gods, this is a glowing glittery pile of yikes.

Camilla watches as Haar and Altena seem to hide behind Camilla's legs a bit, and honestly, she can hardly blame them. This is definitely one of their most frightening encounters yet.]

...We have been attempting to get into the habit of exercising caution, before we are to leap into such things. It would be hasty to run in so brazenly, after all.

[That just sounds like a one way ticket to 'do not pass go, space god unleashed and wreaking havoc'.

Camilla is doing everything to keep her tone very calm, though; after Saturn, she knows better than to expect this to go well and definitely to not be combative. She's not really addressing either of them, as much as the sentiment in the room, but she's...definitely not sure what on earth to say to this, and she knows it's bound to be a shitshow no matter who responds.]

[discutio]

[Ignis was, perhaps suiting his name, looking like he just walked through a literal fire. He and Hemera were both dusted with ash, and the former clearly very done with the matter at hand.]

I'm going to make this very simple for the pair of you. That chain I've no doubt is linked to the pair of you as it was with Saturn? Atop of being a monumentally bad decision to have taken upon yourselves, it's very likely to hurt you. Badly.

And this part may shock you, but we aren't interested in hurting either of you.

[azumods]

[It probably isn't really a surprise when Mars responds. Despite Camilla's attempt at being calm, Mars is anything but. She's still wired and manic.]

Caution? You guys? Yeah right, if you were going to be cautious, you wouldn't even be here!

[azumods]

Even if I ask you very nicely to punch me in the face? You didn't take me up on it last time, after all, and I still want to know why I decided I liked you.

[Her tone is still deeply amused, though.]

It's been a while. I'm surprised you didn't die at Lake Acuity.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Sena flinches a little at being addressed, but oddly enough, as both Jupiter and Mars continue to speak, he stands up a little straighter. It's like he's drawing courage from the threats the ladies make, and between that, the way his expression is mostly hidden by his eyeshield, and how he slowly turns to focus more on Jupiter rather than Mars...it really seems like he's a formidable rival, standing tall and determined. Even with Monta and Portus behind him looking somewhat cowed and apprehensive, it's an unexpected sight - one could argue that their apprehension makes Sena look all the better.

He raises a hand, as if to point at them...then waves it somewhat sheepishly.]

Aha...it's been a while, hasn't it...?

[And just like that, the previous impression is Gone. Great work, Sena.]

[discutio]

Because, much like with Saturn, you and I are both dangerously fanatical about the people we chose to follow.

[just tossing that out there.]

And I'm afraid I'm very hard to kill.

[anythingforyou]

[...Some part of her is at least glad Mars is still aggressively herself, despite it all. But good lord this is definitely a lot.]

And allow the disturbances that have happened to go ignored, while that god tries to take it out on the world at large? Surely, even you must notice what's going on here.

[azumods]

Eh, that's more her department.

[...Y'know, the little bundle of FIGHT ME over there.]

And trust me, Pokémon usually don't care too much if you're "hard to kill" or not.

[discutio]

Neither do daemons, and yet I'm still around.

It's been a while. I take it you've been well, as much as one can be with a horrible emotion-twisting chain presumably implanted in their body.

[azumods]

[...SENA...]

It has. Hey, kid.

[She shifts a bit; the smile she's got going on isn't nice, but it's something to do with her face.]

You remember what I told you, right? You're not going to be a little crybaby today. My dreams against yours.

[azumods]

You really want me to say something about that, don't you.

[azumods]

Oh, I know exactly what's going on here.

[She waves it off.]

You really could have turned around and walked away, though. You don't always have to poke your noses where they don't belong. But I guess that's just how things are going to be with you lot.

[discutio]

I might like you to acknowledge it so we can all spare ourselves dancing around the issue.

You can't seriously look at all that's going on and think that it's fine, can you? Surely you've some sense enough to realize things are well past having gone too far.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Look...he's doing his best...]

O-of course!

[And despite the stutter in his voice, his resolve can be clearly felt. The timidity and modesty...it's a part of him that will never quite leave. But the courage to move on despite that is something he's learned over time, and it's become just as big a part of him now.]

Just...It really is going to be you I'm going up against, right?

[The worry seems genuine. It's something he's been thinking about for a while, ever since Saturn.]

[anythingforyou]

[That sees Camilla's arms crossed, at the very least, though there's something of a smile on her face. If an exasperated one.]

Say what you will about us, Mars, but we are a stubborn lot. We always have been; not even a reboot of the world at large could take that away.

[...]

And besides that, it doesn't appear that you all have been managing that chain very well. It's certainly a problem that can't be ignored forever.

[There is the implication of worry there, but good luck fucking finding it. It's more of a blunt observation than anything.]

[azumods]

Funny thing about that argument. You act like we didn't go soaring past that point when we reset the world the first time.

[So yeah, she knows. She just doesn't care.]

[semistableman]

[Hi Jupiter, Bucky has two arms now.

He also just saw the cutest lesser deity so you know what, he's doing just fine now. He doesn't look too surprised that they're both here? It was bound to be at least one of them.

Flora's behavior is concerning, but he is doing his damnedest to make it not show on his face.]

Fancy running into you both at once.

[azumods]

Instead of what? I'm not going to let Mars get her overexcited face all up in it.

[...wow.]

[azumods]

Don't go expressing worry for your enemies, it's not a good look.

[It's dripping with sarcasm, so she probably didn't pick up on any actual worry there may or may not have been.]

What do you expect to do here, anyway? We could crush you right now, if that's what you're looking for!

[azumods]

Shocking, isn't it. So what's your plan for dealing with both of us?

[If anything, Mars seems a little too excited about this.]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Um, not her.

[He doesn't think Mars is all too interested in him, specifically. She just seems a lot more eager to smash...anyone, really.]

I meant, uh. That guy.

[Cyrus, he means. Doesn't putting in the Red Chain make him override you at some point or something? That's what Saturn implied...or maybe Sena's just reading this wrong.]

[discutio]

...It really doesn't matter to you at all? There's nothing and no one in this world you care about, to the point you'd rather see it all deadened and void of anything worthwhile?

[semistableman]

Don't know yet.

[He's not stupid enough to do anything when one or both of them have a god on a literal leash.]

[azumods]

I've got everything I could possibly want - this world is ours for the taking. Why shouldn't I be satisfied? It's not like I'm suffering any.

[azumods]

How boring. You'd better come up with something fast.