Test 4.

[azumods]

KNOWLEDGE Compared to the frigid chamber you've just left, the cavern you enter now is warm. It isn't difficult to see why; while there's still a fair amount of space in here, it's far smaller, and there's a source of heat and light in here - a small fire going near a corner of the room, tucked away behind the wall and difficult to see as you enter, but fairly obvious once you're inside, the light from the flames bouncing off the corner of the chamber and making it decidely easier to see. There thankfully aren't any more of Froslass' "sculptures" in here; there is, however, a person. Candice is in the corner near the fire, pressed back against the wall and watching you as you enter; it's likely obvious from the start that there's something wrong with her, though it's difficult to say what just from looking at her. Her eyes aren't fixed in the same sort of dull, blank stare that the people affected by Team Galactic tend to display, but at the same time, they look viscerally wrong - it's alert but it's empty and almost completely unfocused, as though she's taking in information and she's processing it, but she's not actually seeing any of it. It's unsettling, but she's still watching you, and she's holding something close to her chest as she does so; she's got the thick, blue sweater untied from around her waist, and she's holding it bundled in her arms like she's trying to protect it. Her eyes don't come into focus, even as she addresses you. "I told you that you aren't welcome here. You need to leave. Now." Her gaze darts as she speaks, like she's trying to take in as much as she can, even if she doesn't seem to be registering any of it properly; her expression is hard. Cold. What happens now is up to you.

Comments

[azumods]

[It isn't an entirely wrong assertion; you can visibly see all of this getting her hackles up.]

What did you do to the Pokémon outside?

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Uh...actually, I dunno.

[He sweats nervously.]

I mean, our Pokemon were talking with them, so I dunno what they said. They were taking berries and potions and stuff to them or something?

[azumods]

[She closes her eyes at that, just for a second; she looks for a brief moment like she's going to faint but she manages to stay upright, swaying a little but still standing when her eyes open again.]

They shouldn't have allowed you in here.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Well, uh. They did.

[Nervous laughter.]

Um...a-are you okay? [You seem kinda. Kinda. Sick or something.]

[azumods]

I'm fine.

[She does not seem particularly fine but you know what, she's fine.]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

You...sure about that?

[Hesitation.]

I mean, you were gone for a pretty long time, right? Your gym's all abandoned and your Glaceon was worried about you, so...Aren't you getting worn out?

[azumods]

I said, I'm fine.

[Lord.]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Frown. Okay, maybe he can kinda see why Michael and the others were getting annoyed with him earlier. Maybe.]

Just b-because you're fine doesn't mean we can't help you-!

[azumods]

I don't need your help - nothing you offer is going to make up for any of this.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

For...any of what?

[Is...Candice talking about herself right now? Or...]

[azumods]

Anything that's been done! You know why you're here, don't you?

[It's sharp, despite the fact that she's so unfocused and unsteady.]

[omissions]

You don't look fine. You look sick.


[Like, why are you even dressed like that in an ice town to begin with...]

[azumods]

[...I mean, that's a good question.]

I'm not sick.

[omissions]

Your eyes are unfocused. When was the last time you slept or ate anything?

[azumods]

I can do that once all of you are gone. There's nothing for you here, you need to leave.

[omissions]

Why? What harm is it going to bring, having us here to help you?

[radiantflame]

We did not lay a hand on them, if that's what concerns you. They are unharmed.

[of course she was more than ready to fight them, but it fortunately didn't come to that...somehow.]

[azumods]

Then leave this place just as peacefully. You have no business here.

[anythingforyou]

[...Yeah, they likely shouldn't, but holy shit girl. This is probably a bad time, but...]

Candice, was it? Are you quite alright?

[You. Do not look good, girl, holy shit. Her priority is definitely the guardian, but maybe they should try to get her to a Center or something...]

[azumods]

[...]

I'm fine.

[anythingforyou]

[...Camilla's really not in much of a condition to argue, but at the same time, she can't quite help but be worried. She's not altogether sure if this is a good idea, really.]

You truly don't look it, if I may.

[It's softer, really. She may still have a bit of a sour impression on Maylene but if she's really the girl's friend, they can't let her neglect herself, can they?]

[azumods]

I'm not leaving, if that's what you want.

[anythingforyou]

Oh no, I wouldn't think of asking you to do such a thing. Someone needs to be here to defend the guardian, and you're very equipped for the job.

I'm simply wondering if you might need anything to get your strength back. I won't say that we're miracle workers or the like, [despite the fact that we're kind of. all but claiming we are. but that's beside the point] but it's troubling to see you barely able to stand. That is all.

[For what it's worth, she's keeping her tone about as even and almost sisterly as possible, though she doubts that'll make Candice amendable to anything.]

[azumods]

You claim you want to save the Guardians and repair the damage that was done to the world. But you're not miracle workers.

[Yeah, she caught that, apparently.]

[anythingforyou]

[...she should've expected that, honestly.]

I wouldn't say that our ability to repair all of the damage done to this world is a miracle, you know. It's hard, tedious work that would make a lesser individual wish to give up the very second they saw how insurmountable the odds are.

Even being here, actively working toward such a thing for as long as we have, we've only seen people recently start to take interest in anything at all. I'd wager even coming close to heal Azelf was more the result of simply being unable and unwilling to give up.