Yes, I'll meet you coming back when the universe has expanded

[azumods]

[Mars' chains had faded away as soon as the chains on Palkia had shattered, that unnatural red glow leaving her eyes; she doesn't stumble, to her credit, and seems to be trying to resist the urge to flinch or anything, but she's...not precisely looking too hot, either. Not like she's going to faint or anything, just like she's been through A Lot.

Jupiter is staying near her for the time being; ultimately, she's the one that addresses you.]

You guys can stay here if you want. Or don't, I don't care enough to insist. But we've got food and beds that probably beat the Center's, at least.

We'll be around, either way. Since I doubt you guys are just going to leave us alone after all that. Do what you want.


[OOC: Consider this a log to cover both any afterparty whatnot you want to get up to, as well as something to carry over into Sunday! Both Jupiter and Mars will be available for NPC threads on this particular log, should they be desired.]

Comments

[azumods]

Yeah, it's not exactly easy to deal with that sort of thing.

[...]

What were they yelling at you about? It's fine if you don't want to talk about it - I certainly wouldn't blame you - but I'm kinda curious.

[azumods]

Stupid stuff.

[She shrugs a little, focusing her gaze out that window.]

They were hammering on how everyone's got someone they're important to and everybody matters and all that. A bunch of stuff that's not true, pretty much, they're just spoiled.

[azumods]

[Mars turns her attention to the window as well, but it doesn't last for long. She's quick to look back at Jupiter with the last part, but it takes her a moment to figure out what to say.]

...Yeah, they're definitely spoiled. A lot of what they were saying to me made that pretty clear.

[...]

I promise I'm not going to argue with you or try to convince you otherwise, but you really think all of that isn't true?

[It's not exactly what she wants to get at, but it's probably the best she's going to get right now. She's trying, but boy is Mars bad at this.]

[azumods]

[Mmmm, she doesn't like it.]

I mean, yeah? That's just kind of how this stuff works.

[azumods]

[Yeah, she knows... For a moment she almost considers leaving it be, because now really isn't the time to push on something like this, not after dealing with everyone already pushing Jupiter on this, but...

Well, if she doesn't do it now, who knows if she ever will.]

...Look, I know this is going to sound stupid, and it's probably not the sort of thing you want to hear right now after dealing with all of them, but I think it's important to say it anyway.

You guys are all really important to me. Obviously Master Cyrus is, but you and Saturn are...

[This really should be easier to talk about than it actually is? Oh my god, she sucks at this.]

I don't think I could've done any of this today if I'd been alone. And yeah, a lot of it was screaming and threatening to kill people and it really wasn't one of my better moments, but I wouldn't have had the courage or strength to stand there and deal with all of them again by myself. They talked me down last time and I don't know what I would've done if it had just been me today.

But it wasn't just me, and it never is. I'm not alone anymore because I've got you and Saturn. And yeah, Saturn's kind of stupid sometimes and he can be a real pain, and you and I don't always see eye-to-eye on things, but you guys are really important to me.

I don't know if I can ever thank you enough for backing me up today. Or for just... being here for me, even when it's just because we're working together. It's good to know someone has my back.

[. . .]

Ugh, that's probably the most self-centered way I could've worded any of that, but you know what I'm trying to get at, right?

[azumods]

[She's quiet for a moment.]

Yeah, I get it.

[She shrugs, though.]

You're just going to get rid of all that, though, right? Both of you, for Master Cyrus. And I get that, too. It's not a big deal.

[azumods]

[Mars almost starts reciting her usual party line, that of course she'll do that, she'll always do whatever is required of her by Master Cyrus...

But Jupiter wouldn't say it if it really wasn't a big deal.]

...They kept asking me if I really wanted to give all of that up.

[She's quiet for a moment while she thinks about it.]

I've never hesitated about it, and I've certainly made no secret of the fact that I'm ready to do whatever Master Cyrus needs me to do.

...But that sort of thing... it always seems so far away. Yeah, it's going to be necessary someday. And yeah, I'm going to do it. But it almost doesn't feel... real, in some way.

When it comes down to it, I don't like thinking about it. I don't want to think about losing my feelings, and I really don't want to think about just... not caring about you guys anymore.

It's complicated, I guess. I'm not trying to say what we've done to the world is wrong or anything stupid like that because it isn't, I just... don't know how I really feel, if I stop and really think about it.

[That's probably the most painfully honest thing she's admitted and she really doesn't like it.]

[azumods]

[Why are we doing this. We both hate this.]

...Yeah, well. I'm going to keep looking after you guys anyway. Someone's got to when Master Cyrus isn't around.

[She shifts a little, awkwardly, though she's still focusing out the window.]

They kept going on about how I must be all lonely and stuff, because of how I think and because I like taking care of myself. They keep acting like I'm alone or something because I don't care about anyone outside of Team Galactic.

They can shove it, though. I've got you, and Master Cyrus, and I've got Saturn too even though he's gone from being weird and sad to just kind of weird. They don't get that.

Like I said, they're spoiled.

[azumods]

I'm glad it's you.

[But yeah, that's settled her at least; she doesn't like this either, but she's said what she needs to and she's content to drop it to focus on the much more important thing: dragging everyone, but especially Saturn.]

I guess they did start by running into Saturn, so they probably have a pretty weird impression of our organization anyway...

They're really spoiled though. Even when they're trying to prove they're not, the fact that they can throw everything they have at returning the world to the way it once was... It's pretty crazy. They're crazy.

[...She doesn't sound like she really minds all that much, though.]

[azumods]

[...Well, that first part is all manner of things she doesn't know what to do with. Ugh, you're going to make her go all soft and shit.]

I'm pretty sure Saturn likes them a lot, actually. Or at least, that's how it sounded last time I talked to him.

[She...tries to keep in contact with the little weirdo just to confirm that he hasn't died in a ditch or something. And make sure that he goes outside once in a while. GET SOME GODDAMN VITAMIN D SOMETIME, BOY.]

I'm kind of wondering if they're going to convince him to quit.

[azumods]

Normally I'd say there's no way, but considering these people? I wouldn't be surprised.

[She doesn't really sound disappointed or upset with the idea, that's just a thing she could absolutely see happening.]

I'm also not surprised that he likes them. He probably likes Ignis.

[mars why are you like this]

[azumods]

Oh, yeah. Look at them, they're both way too fixated on being "right."

[GUYS.]

[azumods]

Exactly! It's so infuriating! I don't know how anyone puts up with Ignis.

[...probably the same way you guys "put up with" saturn??]

[azumods]

You know what, at least you remember the guy's name. I've been calling him "the blind guy" this whole time.

[JUPITER, FOR FUCK'S SAKE.]

Kind of hoping Saturn doesn't just bail on us, though. I might have to miss him or something.

Pretty sure it won't be anything personal if he does, though. He's been messed up for a while.

[azumods]

[The first part gets her to laugh, but she settles easily.]

Yeah, he's been pretty weird - weirder - for awhile now. I guess I'd miss him, but... well yeah, like you said, it definitely wouldn't be anything personal.

[Saturn's just A Mess.]

[azumods]

[Mm.]

...Do you think it'd bother Master Cyrus, like they were saying?

[azumods]

That's what I've been wondering. I would never want Master Cyrus to be upset, of course. To be honest, it never really occurred to me that I could upset Master Cyrus, so...

[Mmm. She doesn't like it.]

I don't really know what to think about it.

[azumods]

...Yeah, I never really thought about it either.

[She doubts he'd be torn up over her any, but Saturn and Mars...

It's weird to think about.]

Nothing really seems to get to him, you know? He just kind of keeps going, no matter what happens.

[There's still something kind of bothering her about it, though, she just doesn't know what.]

[azumods]

Yeah, he's really strong. I have no doubts he can handle anything, but... I don't want him to get hurt, you know? I would never want to upset him like that.

[She's sure Saturn feels the same way, which might actually explain some of why he's so weird lately.]

[azumods]

[She kind of sighs at that.]

He's really not going to want to talk about this...

[azumods]

I know... And I don't want to do that to him either, but...

[She doesn't really have a good argument there. "I want to know" is just selfish.]

[azumods]

[...okay, this is going to be the clumsiest thing in the universe but- ]

It's going to be awkward, yeah, but it's better to maybe rile him up for a couple minutes over something that he can get over instead of screwing him up over something permanent, right?

[azumods]

[It may be clumsy, but you tried really hard and it is absolutely appreciated.]

Yeah, I think that's the best way to look at it. It's going to be awful for a little while, but once we know we can take all the necessary precautions to make sure he's never stuck with anything permanent like that.

[No one's gonna like it and she's going to spend at least half a year apologizing after the fact, but you know what, that works.]

[azumods]

You'll have to let me know what he says.

[...]

Unless you want me there, or Saturn I guess, but I don't know how helpful we'll be.

[azumods]

I think I'll be okay on my own. But if either of you guys want to come, I'm fine with that too.