drops of jupiter.

[redbellion]

[ so that was a lot, especially since it was keith’s first time coming face-to-face with a commander. he knows everyone must be tired and emotionally drained, but they have a lot of things they need to talk about. things that can’t wait to be sorted out. he has to collect his thoughts first, though--he’s not sure how to feel about this exactly, but he knows he’s feeling a lot of things. keith needs time to process everything, and he goes off to be alone for a little while.

eventually, michael, kayneth, ignis, camilla, and bucky bring over some food for the gang. it’s a much needed meal, and maybe some people want to eat in peace. unfortunately, keith is keith, and he thinks now is the best time to have a discussion. ]

Look, I know I’m not in the best position to say this, especially after how I acted back there. But unless anyone has any better ideas, we need to go to that lake and see the Guardian. We have to try. If that’s part of the solution to saving these people and going back home, then there’s really no other option.

[ he’s saying this with a calm head this time. he’s frustrated, clearly, but he’s speaking firmly and with nowhere near the same aggression he held earlier, back when he wanted to attack jupiter.

he doesn’t believe that he can be the leader anyone needs him to be. not here, not back at home. but it’s not going to stop him from trying to do what he feels is right. ]

And if we need someone to scope it out before we act, then I’ll do it.

Comments

[discutio]

[Before the meeting, Ignis could be found borrowing the nearest kitchen; back at it again as the local cook, even as shaken as he looked. But at the meting itself, when Keith spoke up:]

We definitely have to go; I feel as though that much is not in question. However, I'm against anyone scouting the area alone; either we do this together or not at all.

[After what was no doubt going to shape up into a mess, Ignis and his Pokemon would linger around the Pokemon Center itself, because fuck everything it's warm and outside isn't.]

[redbellion]

Power in numbers, sure. It's just that if the lake's as bad as Jupiter says it is, I don't want to risk wiping out our entire group at once.

[enjoymyatelier]

I agree, especially since you weren’t with us during the last encounter. I think we’re better equipped than the Galactics, to be honest, given that we can think outside he box.

[eudaimonikos]

Now, I understand everyone's general stance on going alone - [He raises a hand as if pre-emptively warding off criticism] - and I do agree! Everything's better in numbers.

But. Keep in mind that if something does come up, I'm the logical choice. Losing this body would be a blow, and it's something I'd like to avoid, but I'm not going to die. So nobody needs to do some stupid heroic thing.

[hyruglyphics]

Actually, in addition to all that...

I would suggest that we once more restock and regroup in Snowpoint here, get to know the locals and if they have seen anything amiss with the lake. It would be better to be prepared, even if it we must delay. After all, we have confirmed Galacti cannot get their either.

[takestheblame]

You're not going alone.

[That's not a point of discussion]

It may be a good idea to have someone walking one hour ahead of us, but no way it'll be a single person. A small team of three or four would be better.

[redbellion]

I'm fine with that. I don't exactly have the strongest Pokemon, but Red can at least keep us warm on the journey. [ his houndour, the fire doggo. ]

[anythingforyou]

[Stress cooking is...honestly good, really, it's getting her head out of a place she really doesn't need it to be in, and if she can do something that isn't going to feel like it'll bite her in the ass, then she's all for it, really. Feel free to come by and talk while she's in the kitchen; she's a little tired, but still pretty cordial to company.

...Of course, she's likewise going to be delivering some meals around in case some people decide not to get their own, or can't. At least one person in particular is who she's making it up to, and others...well, it's an excuse to check on people before the meeting starts.]

Be sure to eat up. There's plenty to go around.

[It's...a bit of a general statement, and it's said with a smile, at least. She'll do what she can during the meeting, as well, even if she seems a little out of it.

Once it's over though, she'll be outside of the Pokemon Center; Camilla isn't going to stray too far from the group, but she kind of just finds a place to sit on the ground near the building and tries to gather her head a little bit. It's nice here. Quiet, really. It's nice to try and not be so stressful, even if this situation was proving to be nothing but it. She's used to the cold, she can deal with it for a little while.]

outside the pokemon center

[nightcure]

[ It's been a little while since Camilla showed up inside, so this is what Noctis does: He grabs a blanket, a bit of tea, and goes outside. The blanket, he puts around her shoulders. The mug, he sets next to her. ]

Hey.

kitchen

[discutio]

[Cooking was a perfectly reasonable response to stress, thank you very much. Once the initial fumbling of yet another new kitchen layout was largely dealt with, Ignis seemed to be moving a little more quickly than necessary; like he was too keyed up to keep his hands still.]

...Do you think she believed us? About Saturn and Cynthia.

outside

[redbellion]

[ so...well. he's been meaning to talk to camilla about what happened back there, but he's just. not good at approaching these sorts of subjects around anyone who isn't shiro. he wants to, though.

he doesn't seek her out, but he happens to see her right as he starts to go outside for some fresh air. unlike noctis, he didn't come prepared with anything to offer her, sadly. ]

...Hi.

kitchen

[niceoppai]

You guys put in a ton of work for us. Thanks again.

meal delivery actually

[hyruglyphics]

[ Zelda actually stepped out of the Center when that finished, mostly so that she could converse with all of her Pokemon and ... one of them is way, way too big to let out in the center. So Zelda's actually behind the center in a "clearing" formed of a giant ass Onix wrapped around a center with herself, Saber the Lickitung, Miphanus the Metang, and the yet unnammed Geodude in the midst of things there. ]

kitchen

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Sena peeks into the kitchen once food starts coming out, mostly so he can get his Pokemon some food. But he's also still a little wound up from his own conversation with Jupiter, so coming into the kitchen is kind of a nice way to escape the whole...tense feeling in the main room, honestly.]

Um... [Then again, Camilla seems tired, and she was seriously pushing herself when everyone started exploding at the commander. He feels kinda bad for wimping out on that scary discussion and sitting on the sidelines for that.]

A...are you okay?

outside the pokemon center

[enjoymyatelier]

[Kayneth doesn't really want to go back outside, but it seems his Swinub is overheating a bit, so he just... kind of sighs and heads outdoors to let him root around in the snow a bit. And... well, when he does, he notices Camilla???]

There's plenty of room inside, you know.

[camilla it's fucking cold........]

[semistableman]

[Bucky, for once, doesn't leave the Pokecenter. He looks like he's here to stay for the night, which is saying something, since he has camped out every single night before now. It's not the cold; he's fine with the cold, he's dealt with much, much worse. It's his Pokemon, because he'd leave them in the center while he camped out at night, and he's almost positive that would distress the hell out of Flora, and the poor girl has been through too much.

He makes himself scarce, working on cooking the usual "stew" of his, and doesn't look like he's in the mood for talking much at all until the meeting starts.]

We have to go, no matter the risks.

[After the meeting, Bucky ends up setting up in a corner such that he has a clear line of sight to the door. He doesn't exactly look like he's up for company, but at the same time multiple people will probably want to know just what the hell is up with Bucky.

Those at least somewhat familiar with situations like his will probably at the very least be able to pick up on the whole... well. Everything. It's not like he's the type of person to talk about his problems, but if he were, this is where he'd put up a sign along the lines of: I'm a former brainwashed assassin, AMA.

Except, you know.

Please don't ask him about that at all.]

[discutio]

[Ignis approached carefully after things quieted down; he'd been sure to track where Bucky was for exactly that reason, after the mess Jupiter had been. Hemera a step ahead and Favilla a very indifferent bug in his arms, he tilted his head slightly in Bucky's direction.]

...Mind if I join you?

[nightcure]

[ Noctis definitely agrees that they have to go to the lake--that much, at least, seems to be largely agreed upon. So Noctis gets to preparing. Inside the center, he brings out Lepidia to make sure she's in top form. She's definitely starting to have more of a personality, and he's thankful for that. ]

There we go, girl. [ Noctis touches the other capsule at his belt, the one with his Relicanth. ] Sorry, buddy, there's no water inside here for you to swim in.

[ Later on, he's making sure that everyone's got food and drink. If you're outside, he checks on you there, too. ]

later

[discutio]

[Ignis did stay inside, occasionally back to that gesture of taking off his visor and pressing a hand to his eyes as if to ward off a headache. But obviously he was going to check in with Noctis, quickly replacing his glasses when Ignis heard him nearby.]

...Honestly, these things usually go a little better than that.

[redbellion]

[ after the impromptu meeting is over, keith does what he does best when he needs to let off some steam: train. he's tired as hell, but after everything today, he doesn't want to be behind the rest of the group anymore. he kind of hates how far behind he is in terms of strength and knowledge, but he also realizes how cold it is outside, so he decides to stay indoors in the pokemon center.

his training, this time, consists of him reading over the guide he bought from the pokemart in a remote of the pokemon center, away from everyone. and after he's done, he closes his book and just starts petting the shit out of red while blue sleeps at his side. he's not going to turn away anyone who wants to talk, but like bucky, he isn't the type to talk about himself. if he was, his sign would read: "I've got anger issues, ama." ]

[nightcure]

[ Noctis is actually on the lookout for when Keith is alone, and when he is, he gives him a little time to decompress. He comes over with a bit of food and drink. ]

Is this seat taken?

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael's not so dense that he can't tell that the ghost discussion upset pretty much everybody but him. So working in the kitchen to help get the food together...it just sort of makes sense, right? Humans use food for comfort all the time. He doesn't have much cooking experience, but by now, he's watched enough stew being made that he can throw some things together. Alternately, if anyone else is present, he's perfectly happy helping them!

When both that and the meeting are done, he'll be making rounds, delivering food and checking in on people. There's no need for headcounts here, doubtless, but. It's good to check things out? He's been a little quiet since that conversation about playing the sacrifice, like he's thrown a bit off-balance.

Later in the night, well after everybody has gone to bed, anyone who's not quite asleep yet might spot Michael all bundled up in his warmest clothes again, slipping out the Center door. By the time anybody gets their shit together to follow him, he's probably standing near the center of Snowpoint amid a small group of Gastly and Misdreavus. Looks like he's giving some kind of speech.]

- need anything at all, please feel free to come and find me. That goes for any of you, I think at this point your previous species isn't relevant. Now, I won't be staying here forever, so don't put it off too long. If you want to get out of this hideous arctic wasteland, that's also on the table.

night

[niceoppai]

[Chelsea laughs to herself, holding her Munchlax in her arms.]

Is that a professional thing?

[bloodspent]

[You know what, guess who is not doing shit tonight.

Jake was present for Jupiter's...that, but honestly he's entirely too tired and feverish to care much about it? The kompot is fucking great in a way that he doesn't really want to think about too long, and he can at the very least be found drinking copious amounts of it where he's sitting back against one of the far walls of the center.

He's kind of pissed off at Jupiter in general, but you know what, that can just wait until he's steady enough to get up and punch things later.

If you want to talk to him, feel free; if not...well, he'll probably try to get up at some point and see people, as terrible a goddamn idea as that is, though it's not like he'll get very far - Lobanja has decided to park herself directly on his legs, so he's kind of not going anywhere for the time being.]

[anythingforyou]

[Jake's definitely one of the people she's going to be seeking out in particular, though she definitely kind of. Knows he's likely not up for much interaction; she's got something warm for him to eat, and she's just kind of getting it to his little spot on in the back.

It's something to do, if nothing else.]

Here; if you need anymore, feel free to ask. It seems you'll have plenty of time to rest up.

[It. Looks like he'll really need it.]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Hieeeh...

[Sena sure is making small noises to himself while setting out some food for his Pokemon. He's got food too, and he's grateful for it, but there's...a lot on his mind.]

I think I agreed to something scary...

[You sure did, Sena. But let's focus on the other scary prospect regarding possibly dying. That's also pretty bad.]

[heritrix]

Don't tell me you're chickening out now?

[Bag in tow on her way to the entrance, Rin pauses upon hearing that comment. She doesn't crouch down to his level where he's setting the food out there, but she does stop long enough to chat.]

You know, watching you got at it I remember thinking to myself, "wow, he's actually a lot more daring than he looks..." For a little bit, I was impressed.

[divinedescendant]

[it has been

a fucking

day.

jesus fucking christ.

First things first, she checks in with the Pokémon Center's attendants, and even if she only receives the usual dull responses in return, it's important that she's certain of their comfort and safety after all that's happened. Just before the meeting begins, she makes a request of them, and she participates in the group's discussion with her usual calm steadiness.

Her smile comes easier now, friendly and soft, when she busies herself checking in on everyone else after the meeting. The Center attendants have brewed more of the warm drinks they greeted the group with upon their arrival, and Emmeryn takes the mugs one at a time and seeks out each member of their group. If the day's events have affected her, it doesn't show at all. If she is owed apologies, she doesn't expect them. Instead, she brings everyone she can find—and she will leave the Center, will seek out people squirreled away on their own best she can—a hot beverage for themselves. Duma trots along behind her, her Nidoran is settled in a sling across her chest.]

Excuse me? There is plenty to go around if you are still chilly. [And then a little lower, like she's sharing a charming little secret:] If you would prefer, I brought some tea along last we restocked our supplies.

[A thinly-veiled excuse to see how everyone is doing, but then, why would she have to be subtle about it?

Much later in the evening, when the commotion has settled and everyone is properly winding down, Emmeryn sets up her sleeping arrangements in the Pokémon Center, with Duma all curled up in her half-assembled sleeping bag blanket nest. Despite the fact that she's never been seen cross-stitching, the world's ugliest needlepoint canvas, worn at the edges and portraying probably either a three-legged ogre or a wailfish eating a sailor, is set beside her. Her Nidoran sits in her lap, as impassive to the world around her as always.]

I have spent far too long deliberating, haven't I? I am sorry. Do you like the sound of Latona?

[Her Nidoran doesn't respond at all, of course, which makes Emmeryn purse her lips in some uncertainty, but her expression warms just as soon and she scratches her Nidoran's head between her ears.

Jupiter had said this world was one where death didn't end in the mulch, where you would wake up new and whole to be found by someone who loved you and would take care of you. Emmeryn has no title here, but all week long, there have been extra scarves and blankets and help along the hike. Despite everything, how can she carry anything in her but warmth and light?]

Latona. A prayer that you will find yourself again soon—Latona.

Later

[hyruglyphics]

[ . . . Well that's quite the blanket. Wow. Zelda was going to settle in herself here to sleep, Miphanus there beside her (though they are getting a bit bulky for that) but she happens upon that scene, feels a little awkward to have seen it and tries to sort of... quietly move past it...

And put down her own sleeping bag... ]

[hyruglyphics]

[ So until the meeting happens (basically, before it), Zelda is outside. She left the center, got to a place somewhere behind it, and she settles in with all four of her current Pokemon. It's very cold out here to do this, but with them all huddled together, she can at least speak with them all. The large, scarred Onix is there wrapped around the other three. Her Metang, her Lickitung, and her little Alolan Geodude. She's speaking with them and getting a grip for her bearings before that meeting.

... And then there's the meeting itself.

And then after it and into the night, it's frankly too cold to sleep outside, and she settles into the Center. It's... way too stressful to just wait it out though, and as such, while she's in her blankets and sleeping bag, Zelda is up later into the night (her Metang sleepily next to her) studying some books. Namely, those journals about grass and ghost types that Kazuma gave her. In particular, she's reading up on the avoiding ghost types one...

She'll be at this until stupidly late in the night, if you happen to wake up needing to go to the bathroom or can't sleep yourself or something. ]

stupidly late at night

[redbellion]

[ keith really can't sleep, and he's restless. he's actually doing the same thing as zelda, reading through his guidebook. at some point, he really does need to use the restroom though, so he gets up and sees her in her sleeping bag with a book open along the way.

keith, like the awkward boy he is, lingers nearby and tries to take a peek at what she's reading. ]

[enjoymyatelier]

[Ah, that was fun. Well, as fun as things could have been, anyway. He doesn't have any illusions about being able to befriend Jupiter or anything, but he took most of that better than a lot of people seemed to have, particularly the ghost thing.

Speaking of, before the meeting proper, as he's asking the locals to provide some delicious motherfucking kompot with his Pokemon, he does have to look over to Velasquez and ask...]

So, you aren't a drowned sailor or anything, are you?

[...well, Velasquez shakes his head. He can't quite express that his species are more prone to drowning sailors, but maybe one day.

After the meeting, he's a bit more pensive... perhaps a lot of the talk about war and the former Soviet Union and such things got him to thinking. He doesn't really feel like going outside on account of the fact that he feels he'll never be warm again, so he's curled up in a corner in the Pokemon Center in a veritable cocoon of blankets drinking some kompot with his Pokemon huddled up with him as he draws... hm. An enormous black cat, a somewhat devilish professor, a witch... a Roman prefect? Hmmm.

This is probably going to confuse the fuck out of people who aren't from Earth, and probably some who are...]

After

[hyruglyphics]

[ . . . Yeah what the hell are those.

She sort of.

Looks over his shoulder by accident because she caught the cat at a glance, and then - well, the Metang was more curious than her, and it's too big now to be inconspicuous so Zelda just snoops as well, oops. ]