azume | Second.

Second.

ENCOUNTER 2.

Saturday evening arrives, and with it the time to follow through on that invitation.

Upon entering the resort area, the group will be greeted - inasmuch as the emotionless can properly greet anyone - by staff that evidently works there. They don't appear to be affiliated with Team Galactic, at least not outwardly; they're all dressed similarly, but not in Galactic uniforms, and their hair is down and noticeably not covered in identical wigs. They seem to have retained some aspect of individuality, in other words, as opposed to being absorbed into what appears to be the Team Galactic hivemind, and while they don't seem genuinely pleased to see the lot of you, they'll smile politely as they usher you in, albeit in an odd, uncanny-valley sort of way that doesn't reach their eyes. A purely mechanical reaction, their bodies smile while they do not.

It's probably a little difficult to say whether that's preferable or not to the usual blankness you may be getting accustomed to.

However, they seem cordial enough as they escort all of you further into the resort proper, past several bungalows that likely contain a few rooms apiece for people to reside in for the duration of their stay. The walk will take you up a few sets of stairs built into the rock formation the resort is built upon, leading eventually to a restaurant that likely overlooks Lake Valor from the north side of the building - it certainly seems elevated enough, and the positioning is right. The seating area itself seems to have been prepared in advance for your arrival; rather than several separated tables, there's one long arrangement draped in white, with twelve chairs arranged down each side - twenty-four total - and one at the head of the table. That one appears to already be occupied with your host for the evening; the smile Saturn is offering is soft but it isn't nice, disingenuous in a way that's only slightly less unsettling than the mechanical expressions of the staff.

"It's good of you to join me." His voice is likewise soft but it isn't nice; just the same, he'll gesture at the rest of the table easily. "Feel free to have a seat, and keep your Pokémon out if it pleases you; this used to be a battling establishment, so the staff is more than accustomed to things like that."

Food will be brought out shortly after people are seated; there are no arranged seats, so you're free to sit wherever suits you along the table. It's likely noticeable once things are laid out that either the people here don't hunt or Saturn is aggressively vegan; either way, there's no meat involved and nothing that would insinuate that Pokémon were harmed in any way to obtain what's in front of you, though the food is still decidedly nicer and more substantial than anything you've had for the past week - high-class and freshly-prepared, and not...you know, relying on berries and nonperishable stuff from a department store shelf.

"Enjoy yourselves." Saturn's voice is still even, still calm to perhaps infuriating levels regardless of whatever the atmosphere in the room may happen to be, "since I did say that this was intended at least partially to apologize for the incident at the lakefront. And of course, you're welcome to ask whatever you like, seeing as you did have questions and I'm no longer strictly on company time. After all, a peaceful solution to this entire...situation is what we're all striving toward, isn't it?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Of course I do! You've basically said that we're a group of experiments, and now we've escaped and returned to normal - recovered from whatever Cyrus did to us. I would assume he'd want to know about that so the problem could be resolved.

[what are you playing at, Saturn-]

Or would your master simply not care that you've gone out of your way not to report an issue like this to him? What do you gain by staying silent?

[...she's getting really worked about this. Understandably so, but Rin can't help but cut in.]

Think about how you'd feel in his shoes. Our presence here is probably the first itch in a while that's scratched his boredom.

I don't care how bored he is - we're not toys here for his amusement!

[That came out a lot stronger than Rey intended - especially since it's directed at Rin - but she has had it up to here with this entire situation.]

I don't want fancy food and 'chats' with the people who brought us here, I want to go home.

No, I understand that. I'm just saying you're probably not going to get a better answer for what he gains by speaking to us like this.

[She gestures to the room around them, as if to draw attention to the utter lack of life and intrigue besides what's coming from them.]

This is it.

[She can feel her frustration continuing to pound through her body, but Rey manages to get it under control - enough to answer Rin without raising her voice again, anyway.

Breathe. Just...breathe.

She may not have the Force, but at least she can remember the basics of Luke's 'lessons'.]

This is it...?

Well, that and deciding how long he should let it continue on for.

[That he hasn't yet... That's our window of opportunity, Rin thinks to herself. She keeps her focus on Rey, however, until it slips back to her plate.]

I don't like it anymore than you do.

And what do you think is going to happen when he decides he's had enough of us?

[Rey isn't trying to be confrontational or sarcastic - she's genuinely curious as to what Rin thinks. Are they really just going to be able to walk out of here?]

[Rin opens her mouth as if to answer, and then glances at head of the able, and seems to think better of it. She waits for a louder discussion to go on over there, then looks back to Rey.]

Let's discuss it when we're alone.

Easy, Rey.

[sympathetic and gentle and without judgement, but she wants to make sure this doesn't escalate]

I know, but not all answers will come from one place.

[......

...why is it that she can handle anger, but the second someone is genuinely nice to her when she's upset, she just wants to cry-]

...I don't...

[look just give her a sec to turn away and sort herself out, she can't start tearing up right now]

You're right. I'm...sorry.

It's all right. We have each other's strength to rely on, remember?

[soft and sweet, because rey will never be free of emm being nice to her]

[what has she told you about being so nice to her, she doesn't like it

(she loves it)]

I know. It's just...frustrating. We're not gaining anything from being here.

[All signs of tears are gone, thankfully, so Rey turns back to Emmeryn, frowning.]

That isn't true. We already are gaining answers—not all, but some. We are establishing a rapport, a foundation.

All things in time. I know a slow going journey is a frustrating one, but have patience.

[.....hhnnghhhhh]

I suppose I see what you mean.

[...]

I'm not...very good at all this talking. If it wasn't obvious.

[Just give her a ship or a weapon and let her do something]

We are all lucky enough to each have our own strengths. I appreciate all that you are doing and all the efforts you have made.

Oh, don't misunderstand me - I'm going to be in a lot of trouble if I'm found out. Fortunately, those under my command don't speak with him, and even if they did, they say what I tell them to say.

[Which doesn't answer the question of what he stands to gain from this, but.]

[Yeah, she noticed.]

And you gain what from all this insubordination, exactly? Because if Cyrus is as powerful as you say he is, I don't understand why you're risking yourself like this.

I want to see what you're capable of, M-73. Personal curiosity. That's all.

[Hearing that ID number seems to strike a nerve.]

My name is Rey.

[That may have been said through gritted teeth, but to her credit, her voice remains steady.]

Rey, then.

[It doesn't seem to bother him any, that response. Just...okay, sure. Rey. Sounds good. Easy to remember.]

Again, you all had designations when you came to me, so it isn't as though I knew your names and elected to ignore them.

[Rey almost seems surprised that Saturn just...agreed to do what what she was asking - she's used to needing to follow up requests physically.

...

...one day, she might actually be able to leave her life on Jakku in the past, where it belongs. One day.]

It's fine.

[...

...right, there's food, isn't there. Picking up her fork, Rey stabs one of the vegetable pieces on her plate - with a little more force than was completely necessary.]

What exactly do you want to see, then, for your 'personal curiosity'? Because I'm struggling to get a handle on this 'Pokemon battling' thing, so I hope it isn't that. I hate watching them get hurt.

[...Uh.]

Don't worry, it's nothing like that. Though they don't mind battle, even when they were imperfect they never minded - we have several legends about how humans and Pokémon relate, actually, and battling comes up a few times. It's an interesting topic; as long as you don't bring weapons against them or strike out with the intention of harming them, it's all right.

[....Saturn she did not ask, but apparently you're...going to tell her...

...huh.]

So they actually...don't mind fighting one another? I mean, mine seemed almost enthusiastic - as enthusiastic as they can be, anyway.

[no, what's happening, she's supposed to be angry-]

...what do the legends say? About Pokemon and humans relating. Cynthia said they're our companions - is that true?

One of them talks about the reason Pokémon approach humans in the tall grass - they wish to prove themselves strong enough to be their companions, to help them as best they're able.

Another talks about how Pokémon and humans used to be one and the same; they would eat at the same table, and share close emotional bonds with one another without regards to species.

So I'd say so, yes.

...you sound like you believe the legends. I can't blame you - they're nice.

[Rey suddenly feels exhaustion settling on her shoulders, her previous anger slowly disappearing to give way to...sadness? Something like that. The more she considers Saturn's words, the more tired she feels.]

So you're not bothered by the fact that they're now...void? I've seen the Pokemon on the routes, in the tall grass. They just...stand there. I love my Pokemon, but the emotional bond is one-way. They're like little droids, waiting for orders.

You don't...miss the way they used to be?

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