Second.

[azumods]

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?"

Comments

[greydients]

[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.]

[azumods]

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.

[greydients]

[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.

[azumods]

[...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.

[greydients]

[....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?

[azumods]

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.

[greydients]

...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?

[azumods]

[...]

...My personal misgivings don't really matter. I'm aware they're a result of my own imperfections; this is the way things are intended to be, according to Master Cyrus' will.

[hyruglyphics]

Personally misgivings are the heart of a scholar, though. To find what feels erroneous, and to study and test for some other solution. Perhaps your feeling was correct, and perhaps the sum of data will prove otherwise. Presupposing the answer because of someone else's viewpoint cannot be the proper way to handle things.

... Especially in matters as to what is right and what isn't.

[niceoppai]

Yeah! And even if you don't believe it, who knows. I bet we'll find the answer and then you'll have to! I mean, these people are all really dedicated! You heard what Ignis said about himself, you know how smart Zelda is, how, uh... drill-sergeant-y Mòrag is...!

[hyruglyphics]

[ why are we praising her out of the blue . . . ]

[greydients]

So your master places his opinions over the legends of your world. He obviously thinks they're wrong.

[How horrifyingly arrogant. There's something about the way that Saturn constantly defers to his 'Master' that makes Rey's skin crawl. The man sounds terrifying - someone like Supreme Leader Snoke.

With the power to match, apparently.]

And that doesn't bother you.

[azumods]

Do you believe it does?

[That's not an answer.]

[greydients]

[STOP DODGING HER QUESTIONS IT'S REALLY OBVIOUS-]

I don't know you well enough to say for sure. But if I had to guess, I would say yes. You wouldn't have bothered sharing those legends with me if you thought they were wrong, or stupid.

[...]

What were your Pokemon like? Before your Master got to them.

[azumods]

[That gets him to visibly tense up, anyway.]

It hardly matters anymore.

[greydients]

[....oh.

...

......oh.]

...I don't get much out of my Golett, but before we left Veilstone city I bought it a hat. It's one of those 'beanies' you wear for the cold weather, and it's got this...I think it's called a 'pom-pom' on it? Anyway, I know it can't express itself now, but it's quite funny - it hasn't taken it off once. I think it's cute.

Did your Pokemon do anything amusing like that?

[azumods]

I don't see why you're asking me this - it hardly makes a difference now.

[god, why are you people insisting on being like this - ]

[greydients]

[Because something is going on with you and she thinks she's finally found it.]

Neither do the legends, but you still spoke to me about them. Why not your Pokemon?

[azumods]

Everyone in Team Galactic knows of those legends, as does your beloved Cynthia. I saw no reason to not tell you.

[greydients]

[Right. Excuse her while she eats another piece of vegetable - gently stabbing it with the fork this time.]

I don't understand why you invited us here if you aren't going to answer any of my questions.

[The anger her voice previously held seems to have dissipated, though - if anything, she's almost sounding...kind.

This conversation is starting to give her a sense of deja-vu.]

[azumods]

I'm answering the portions of your questions that are any of your concern.

[greydients]

[This man is exasperating-]

You're not my boss any more, you know. You don't get to decide what is and isn't worth me knowing.

[Oh yes, she overheard you mentioning that she was supposed to work for you. Lovely.]

But I am getting more and more sure that you are bothered by what your Master has done.

[Another piece of vegetable neatly disappears into her mouth, Rey happily munching on it as she says-]

Otherwise you'd tell me about your Pokemon.

[azumods]

That has nothing to do with you.

[He's obviously agitated, but there's less volume behind it than there was with Zelda, even if there's no less severity, god forbid we get people eyeballing the forks again.]

[discutio]

[excuse you he wasn't eyeballing anything]

[greydients]

[....ah. There it is.

Finally, Rey feels like she's getting somewhere.]

It's a sore spot, then.

[For once, that's not a question.]