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.]

[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]

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.

[nightcure]

Ignis is right. [ As always. ] Going alone--that's not how we do things. I'll go with you.

[ It won't do to deter Keith from going, and Noctis does want to go, too. But he can at least keep an eye on him, if he's this determined. ]

[discutio]

And I would prefer not to risk splitting up and leaving at least one or several to certain death when traveling in a single group could prevent that by working as support.

[discutio]

Agreed--I'm not about to downplay the potential risk by any means, but I think we have the advantage of relatively sound minds and reasonable mental states.

[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. ]

[ventulus]

None of us are going alone or splitting up, alright?

[ He doesn't care, he's not having it. That comes out a little louder than what he even expected, but a lot happened today and that warning Ventus feels isn't something to take lightly. ]

It doesn't make sense for any of us to split up or not go as a group. We're all in this together, remember?

[redbellion]

Then I won't stop you.

[ aww yeah newbie bros. ]

[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.]

[enjoymyatelier]

What horrors are waiting for us this time, I wonder? I doubt they’re horrors we can’t reason with, but they’re probably horrors.

[discutio]

If Noctis is going, so am I.

[that's just how it works]

But I'm still going to insist that all of us together is the safest option in my own opinion as a strategist.

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.

[discutio]

[THANK you, goddamn.]

[nightcure]

Wouldn't have it any other way, Iggy.

[ gross. ]

[discutio]

Honestly, so long as it's not more shrieking ghosts, I think we'll be able to manage.

[discutio]

Someone has to keep you out of trouble. Why stop now?

[anythingforyou]

That's right. We can't simply decide to separate ourselves from the group to go on ahead; it's...truly a bad idea to do so, in general.

[You know. Considering some people they've lost.]

[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.]

[redbellion]

[ this is also the boy who decided separating himself from voltron was the best possible way to give them the leader they deserved (aka not him), so ]

I...guess.

[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.

[anythingforyou]

[--Oh!

Camilla seems to perk a bit at that, and she turns to Noctis with an easy, appreciative smile.]

Hello there. And...thank you. You're incredibly sweet to think of me.

[discutio]

[keith you dummy]

...We've managed this long by staying together. Changing the plan now is inviting trouble.

[discutio]

We're not doing that.

[...that was maybe a little sharper than it had to be.]