Test 6.

[azumods]

EMOTION After the discussions with Lucas, he seems calm enough; any visible nerves around you, muted though they may have been, seem gone entirely by now, and he seems sure that Mesprit will be able to make the right decision when it comes to what to do. Besides, even if it isn't displayed prominently it's clear that he's concerned about it; whatever is making it affect the Pokémon in the cave like this is more than a bit of a worry, even if the feelings flooding though those of you here haven't stopped, either - the sense that things will be okay somehow, the odd comforting presence, hasn't faded. Perhaps it's a good sign for things to come. Perhaps it's promising, perhaps it's meant to be an invitation. Perhaps it's a request for help. Either way, Lucas recalls Torterra - he isn't immune to the despondency flooding through the cavern either, though it seems it's taken a little bit longer to hit him - and he'll gesture for you to follow him; he weaves easily through the stalagmite structures everywhere, and after a while the lot of you will become aware of an area emanating a warm glow in front of what looks like another corridor. It's soft and pink, and looks more like a dim light than anything solid; however, touching it or pushing against it will prove to be like trying to move a steel wall reinforced with concrete, using nothing but your bare hands. In other words, for a soft pink glow, it's very, very firm. Lucas shifts a bit in front of it. "This is it. I've been working on it for a few days now, but nothing really seems to work - I've tried teleporting around it, but that doesn't work, and Pokémon moves won't break it at all. "I really think Mesprit is back there; we need to help it." Do your best; that's all anyone asks of you right now.

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael makes an indignant noise.]

I'll have you know that I'm plenty good for my humans back home! And Janet! Even though...everything. And I think people like me here, too! They wouldn't if I were just some sort of horrible torture monster, right?

[very pointedly, he does not look to anyone else here for any kind of input on that last part]

[discutio]

I've met worse daemons, certainly.

[heritrix]

I've met worse priests.

[hyruglyphics]

I... like Michael?

[anythingforyou]

I like him well enough, really, he's not bad company.

[bloodspent]

Michael's fucking great, okay.

[divinedescendant]

I'm rather fond of him myself.

[ventulus]

Same! I think he's really nice to hang around.

[eudaimonikos]

[WHAT THE HAP IS FUCKENING]

[bloodspent]

[friendship, asshole.]

[takestheblame]

He could be much worse, but he isn't.

[And that means a lot, doesn't it]

[semistableman]

He's a fun guy to talk to.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Sheepishly raises hand.]

I've met worse football team captains.

[Sorry, Michael.]

[azumods]

[...THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK HERE.

I never said you were just some sort of horrible torture monster, and I don't think anyone here thinks that, either. There really is a lot of caring here. For everyone, including you.

Do you like them too? The people here.]

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael is.....definitely something by what's happening downthread. It sort of looks like panic and embarrassment; he keeps his eyes on the barrier and fiddles rather hard with his cufflinks because he cannot deal with that right now?]

I mean, sure? Yeah? [he does he's just really flustered]

[azumods]

[That gets a brief pulse of curiosity.

What sort of things do you like about them? It doesn't have to be sappy. Just honest.]

[eudaimonikos]

[Michael smiles. In a way that looks like a grimace. Of pain.]

Is this really necessary?

[azumods]

[A brief wave of confirmation.

Yes.]

[eudaimonikos]

[why are you doing this to him]

Well...I guess they're...good...people? I mean, that's just a basic fact, we are all here trying to fix Sinnoh.

[Oh, oh hey, that's not bad when it's facts and not about him] And they've been sticking with it, too, so by any standard they're clearly morally upright.

[azumods]

[See, look, it's not going to kill you.

Is there anything besides the basic facts? They're good reasons to like someone, don't misunderstand. But if that were it you would be friends with a huge amount of people.]

[eudaimonikos]

That's actually very unlikely. Most of the people I know are demons, and we are sooooort of the worst.

[michael sees an opportunity to derail and he fucking goes for it]

[azumods]

[Humans, then.]

[eudaimonikos]

I mean, the majority of the humans I've met are in this cave. Except for, ah, - [cough]all the dead ones.[cough]

[azumods]

[...It's okay to be bad at this, you know.]

[perfectselfie]

I do. He makes me laugh.