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

[greydients]

I'm not talking about confronting him tomorrow, Bucky, but at least having some...I don't know, some sort of plan around getting rid of him. Or should that not be our ultimate goal?

[semistableman]

"Rid" of him?

[Man, that doesn't sit well with him.]

We don't know what we're up against, she's made that pretty clear. If the options are between "live to see another day" and "die trying", I'm going with the former. I'm no self-sacrificing hero.

[greydients]

We will not be able to return home if we do not defeat Cyrus. Or do you think he'll just let us leave if we ask him nicely?

[semistableman]

I'm not interested in dying here. I have someone I care about back home, and he needs me alive.

[He's not even touching that second statement.]

[greydients]

And how do you intend to get home if we don't force the man who brought us here to do it?

[Rey's anger is starting to give way to exhaustion.]

In all seriousness, if you have another idea, I would love to hear it.

[semistableman]

I don't know.

But fighting him head on will get us killed, and I think you know it.

[He's seen more death than he wants to remember. He's had enough.]

[greydients]

Then we must become stronger.

[That's it. That's the plan.]

I don't intend to spend the vast majority of my life in this place - too many people are depending on me.

[semistableman]

You're young.

[And in that moment, he actually sounds 101, not 30-something.]

I'm sick of battles.

[greydients]

We may not have a choice, Bucky. If it's fight, or be trapped in Sinnoh forever, what will you choose?

[semistableman]

You know that answer already.

[He ain't fighting.]

I'm not getting into it here, but I have my reasons to never fight again.

[There's a reason he has never trained his Pokemon, ever.]

[greydients]

Some of us don't have that luxury. But you're right about one thing - we shouldn't get into it here.

[Talking to Uxie/Candice has been exhausting enough.]

[semistableman]

[He just sort of gives her a look she might get from someone who has seen too much combat and isn't all there anymore, and doesn't reply.]