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

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Oh. Uh. S-sorry?

[Sena's stuttering has nothing to do with the cold. Might have something to do with how lightheaded he feels, though. A little. He vaguely wonders if Candice is concussed too, why else would she look so...not there?]

We...we've just come to help, though!

[niceoppai]

Yeah! We came to help the Guardians and help you! Y'see, we heard you were missing and...

[radiantflame]

[Caged animal is the first thought that comes to mind when Morag lays eyes on Candice. She holds her hands out to her sides to show that she's unarmed, and Torchic dutifully stands behind her.]

We are not here to harm you, or the Guardian. Is there anything we can do to prove that to you?

[eudaimonikos]

Maylene asked us to find you. So did that Glaceon. Like, half the people we've fucking met, basically, oh my god.

[That last part seems to be related more to the sensation starting to return to his hands than the conversation happening.]

[perfectselfie]

That's right. We wanted to help, the way we helped Azelf before.

[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?

[azumods]

[That should probably agitate her, or do...something, at any rate; spark some sort of recognition, maybe. But there's nothing of the sort.]

There's nothing for you here. Leave this place.

[anythingforyou]

Yes, exactly. We were able to protect Azelf from harm and see to it that they were able to be restored to their full strength. They also asked us to come here, to attempt to do the same for their friends.

[...though, Candice herself does. Not look okay, good god. She'll take a leaf from Morag's book and also show her hands, while Arion goes behind his trainer. Ready to protect, but not out to threaten.]

[azumods]

[That doesn't seem to spark much behind her eyes, but you do have her attention, at least.]

Why would Azelf let you help?

[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?

[enjoymyatelier]

[...his eyes kind of narrow as he looks at the thing Candace is holding...]

Are you touching the Guardian? I thought that was rule number one of dealing with these things. Cynthia told us we really should not touch them. Was I overestimating how important that was...?

[perfectselfie]

Team Galactic hurt it when they were trying to capture it. We wanted to make sure it would be all right, so we used potions and berries to help it feel better.

You can look in my bag, if you want. I promise I don't have anything that would hurt anyone in there.

[Aya sets her bag down and unzips it.]

[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.

[eudaimonikos]

Really, not concerned about the four thousand friends you apparently have wandering the apocalyptic hellscape outside?

[It's not as vehement as it could have been, more of a frustrated observation; she's obviously got something the matter with her.]

Look, Azelf said they couldn't talk to Uxie and Mesprit anymore because they were all hurt. So if we heal Uxie-slash-Mesprit there, they can talk to Azelf and get the deets on us.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Well, uh. They did.

[Nervous laughter.]

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

[azumods]

I know what Team Galactic did.

[It's perhaps alarmingly sharp, given how unfocused her eyes look. Harsh.]

Your potions and your berries aren't going to make up for that.

[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]

[That gets her to bristle a little; the effect is a little weird, given the fact that she still isn't focusing very well.]

They aren't things.

[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...]

[enjoymyatelier]

I mean the procedure of respectfully interacting with the deities, not the deities themselves.

[azumods]

I'm fine.

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

[azumods]

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

[azumods]

[...]

I'm 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?

[omissions]

You don't look fine. You look sick.


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