⚔ // stress in solitude

[discutio]

[Once Saturn had left, Ignis took a slow breath to steady himself before standing and speaking again.]

I think we have a fair amount of things to discuss, after that. But we'll also need to rest and recover here; We may be able to take it at Saturn's word that he won't alert Cyrus to us, but overstaying our welcome by more than a couple of days is unwise--that means we need to take advantage of this as much as we can.

[Strategy was easier. The words came naturally, and he was able to hold focus.]

If anyone needs me or wishes to assist, I'll be in the kitchen. I'm aware we just ate, but I presume we'll all be more comfortable if one of our own makes breakfast in the morning.

Comments

[hyruglyphics]

[ So Zelda has three major things she's doing here over the course of the night and the next day. She did kinda... you know, be herself all over that dinner meeting there, so you can confront her if you want at any of these points! First things first though,

1) Going to the kitchen to help out Ignis and whoever else shows up... probably.
2) Inquiring to the hotel staff about how much a room costs and how much the various dishes they ate cost and then aggressively tallying these numbers in her little notepad, perhaps frowning to herself as she does and muttering about the total. People who saw her in the Department Store in Veilstone will note she did the same there.
3) Sitting by the edge of the pool. It's a small pool, but it's pretty, and it reflects a large moon in the sky. It's not quite full, but perhaps fittingly, to her it feels like a bright night You might hear her muttering to herself, ]

The moon rises once again...

[ And then laughing to herself, as if at some private joke.

... Not that she's in the water, though the Lickitung beside her as its tongue in there, as if fishing.

... Or you just just wherever else? Girl's got to go back to a room to sleep eventually too. ]

edge of the pool;

[ventulus]

[ There's a bit of silence, but then there's the sound of ... hurried footsteps?

There's Ventus who ran out over to the section where there's a pool, when he got the chance and he puts a quick stop, almost falling in during his excitement. He'll soak his feet in a moment, but...

Then he turns to face her, looking at Zelda with a inquisitive expression. ]

The moon rises again?

[hyruglyphics]

It's something I've said a lot recently, sorry.

[ She says it sheepishly, smiling up at him and waving a little. She tears her eyes from the sky. ]

[ventulus]

It's okay.

[ He smiles a little and then sits down, taking off his shoes and socks, before rolling up his pants so he can dip his feet in. ]

Is it a saying from back home?

[hyruglyphics]

Not quite, more just, something circumstances conspired to have me need to say.

[ventulus]

[ Ventus kicks his feet a little, watching as it makes some splashes in the water. ]

You mean all of the stuff that just happened? Or just our whole situation?

[hyruglyphics]

Before I arrived in Sinnoh, actually. [ She considers - ] I had to tell of my friend of mine about the coming of blood moons.

[ventulus]

Oh.

[ Huh... actually, he's never heard of that before. ]

The blood moons? What happens when a blood moon comes around?

[hyruglyphics]

It is a particularly phase of the moon, on certain unlucky days it occurs, and during that time the aimless spirits of monsters may be revived by their master, as his power grows temporarily.

[ventulus]

...Oh. It doesn't sound like a good thing, then.

[ Because, yeah. ]

[hyruglyphics]

It really isn't, unfortunately.

[ ... Well. ]

[ventulus]

But you know what does?

A meteor shower!

[ ...Ventus, pls. ]

And speaking of those, have you ever wished on a shooting star before?

[hyruglyphics]

[ Wished on... ]

I cannot say I've wishes upon a falling star before, no. Is that something you do?

pool

[bloodspent]

[You know what, Jake is here to get fucking soaked despite it being brisk as fuck out here, but he's not going to just do that while people are out here being pensive and Lickitung is...being...itself? So you know what, let's at least greet the girl and the tonguebeast.]

You seem like you're in an okay mood after all that.

[hyruglyphics]

I suppose so! ... I would consider my mood ultimately more pensive than anything.

[ Tensions did rise high but honestly it was less than she anticipated. So... She smiles for Jake, looking up at him from her sitting position. ]

[bloodspent]

[...Care if he sits down with you, or...]

I guess all that kind of warrants it, yeah?

[hyruglyphics]

[ No, she motions for him to go ahead. It's fine. She in fact scoots a bit closer to Lickitung, as if the space is more finite than it actually is. ]

Yes. The situation of our enemies has at once become more clear and... more complicated.

[ She can't help but think of her objection to Bucky at the meeting the other day.

... Hah, she was right. ]

[bloodspent]

[He'll join her, then.]

I don't know if I'd say it's become more complicated for me or not.

[hyruglyphics]

[ She tilts her head ]

Why so? You had watched the proceedings... what is your take?

[bloodspent]

You're probably gonna get mad at me if I tell you about it. You want to be mad tonight? Serious question.

[hyruglyphics]

[ . . . She considers, bringing her hands up together over her chest in that familiar prayer position. She glances at the water's edge, and... ]

As long as I am not frustrated. [ . . . ] I know my anger is not terribly intimidating, but I do dislike the sensation of being useless.

[bloodspent]

You're not useless.

[That leaves his mouth immediately after it pops into his head; he doesn't regret it any, nor does he dwell on it, he just shrugs and moves on.]

...I just don't feel like we should be giving that guy a pass just because he realized he fucked up after he got dicked over. He's part of the reason the world's like this now, yeah? A major part of it, if he's been doing all this "re-integration" bullshit.

I guess it's...sad, or something, that his boss didn't give enough of a fuck about him to leave his Pokémon alone? And I get that he's fucked up, but...I don't know, I don't like it.

[hyruglyphics]

[ ah. That's...

Honestly it makes sense, and she nods a little, trying to understand Jake's perspective the most. She frowns, but it's hard to frown a little bit because I mean. She was approved of by him that's great? ]

In truth, we do not have an option to punish him at the moment.

[bloodspent]

[You know what, that's better than he thought he'd get out of this.]

...Yeah, I guess that's true.

[hyruglyphics]

It is. That is the absolute fact that lies before us.

[ . . . ]

... I cannot deny that I spoke what I saw as truth back there. Given the option, I would spare him and I certainly would end the suffering of all of there... of all the people taken in by Galactic. I have not faced Cyrus or Mars or Jupiter, so I cannot know my response to them.

[ . . . ]

... But you are not wrong. He admitted complicity in terrible crimes, the sort which he shall need to spend a great deal of time in any new world to seek forgiveness for.