Fifth.

[azumods]

ENCOUNTER. It's taken some discussion on the part of the elders of the town, but it seems that a decision has been made regarding allowing the lot of you to see the Celestic Ruins; it's worthwhile, they think, even if they believe your overall mission to be dangerous to the point of recklessness - after all, those that oppose Team Galactic, as a rule, do not succeed. But every rule has its exceptions, and the evidence stands strongly in favor of the notion that you may be the exception to this one; the good you've done for the region is undeniable, and they wouldn't be capable of passing this sort of decision at all were it not for you. As such, your patience will be rewarded today; the person who leads you into the place late this morning beckons you inside with the promise of giving you the knowledge they have regarding the legends, information that may help you on your journey from here on out. The ruins are massive and cavernous, the walls of the cave reinforced with heavy stone columns surrounding large mural depictions of the various legends of Sinnoh; most are foreign to you, though there are some that are not (flowers springing up to cover a barren valley, a massive creature with bright cores pulling the landmasses of the world into place with ropes wrapped around its arms) - however, what's most pressing is the depiction in the center, three vague beings of light surrounding another, larger entity, all of it very nondescript and yet seeming to depict a very specific event despite its simplicity. This, your guide explains, is the beginning of the world. In the beginning there was the Creator, and from the Creator came all things - the rulers of Time and Space, followed by the Lake Guardians to govern over all people, humans and Pokémon alike. In their arrogance, Team Galactic believed that they could take control of those Legendary Pokémon responsible for all life, and use them for their own means. Not to change the world as they lived in it, but rather to create a new universe altogether. During this lesson, life goes on in the town just outside the ruins; people and Pokémon alike can be heard going about their day. Perhaps you'll realize it before your guide stops speaking; perhaps it won't be until there's a lull in the explanation. Either way, it will soon become noticeable that everything has suddenly become very, very quiet. A stark, staring silence has fallen over the town, and with it comes a sense that something isn't right. That something unnatural has happened, that something is present that shouldn't be; whatever it is, it seems to demand reverence. Not in the way that the Lake Guardians demanded reverence, but in a way that's glaringly and blatantly terrifying. When the man enters the cavern, he doesn't look like anyone you've seen before. Like all members of Team Galactic, he's dressed strangely, though his outfit differs greatly from those of the grunts and the commanders alike; it's difficult, honestly, to tell exactly how old he is - he moves with all the abruptness of someone rather young, though his general appearance would imply that he's seen more than enough of the world to be thoroughly tired with it. He carries himself well, straight-backed and tall, with the sort of countenance that implies that he's used to being listened to; the sort of person that receives respect not because he demands it explicitly, but because he already seems to have earned it somehow, and he expects it, and very few people argue the point. His bright blue hair is spiked up and back, away from his face; his gaze is piercing, and his expression is almost alarmingly unreadable. When he speaks, his voice isn't relaxing to listen to; it's a bit too rough in timbre for that. At the same time, he doesn't seem worked up or agitated. He isn't blank, either, not like the affected; he's just very, very calm as he stops a reasonable distance away, folding his hands behind his back as he regards the group evenly. "My name is Cyrus; I serve as the leader of Team Galactic, and the creator of the ideal world. I've found your efforts to be remarkable, the strength of your collective spirit undeniable... And yet as one who seeks a permanent end to pointless strife and hostility, and you being those who seek to restore such things to this world... I believe our meeting is long overdue."

Comments

[radiantflame]

[SHIT.]

Cyrus. We've heard a lot about you.

[Morag manages to look and sound as calm as usual, but she's absolutely screaming internally right now.]

[azumods]

...Likewise.

[He tips his head slightly at that, more in acknowledgement than anything; it doesn't seem to be an unpleasant response, at least. Very even, but not displeased.]

[discutio]

[If Cynthia's demeanor had brought up uncomfortable reminders of Ardyn's 'helpful' nature, the atmosphere that settled in now felt more like what they'd confronted in Insomnia; someone detached from a world that went on without him, a madman who had already won. Cyrus felt more like the stillness of the night hiding the daemons within it, and it was that which caused Ignis to shift a step closer to Noctis and Hemera to bristle at his feet.]

Ignis Scientia. And though I should agree that it is, to what do we owe the pleasure today specifically?

[perfectselfie]

"You mean, brainwashing everyone. You mean sucking the life out of people, sucking the life out of the Lake Guardians, sucking the life out of all the Pokemon. That's not ideal. That's..."

Aya shakes her head.

"It's awful. It's heartbreaking."

[gekkaju]

C...Cyrus.

[Atsushi curses the way his tongue feels heavy in his mouth, making it impossible for him to speak without faltering on his words. His two Pokemon hide behind his ankles, though Natto is more in the business of bristling at him, baring her teeth and growling softly but otherwise not trying to get any closer.]

...how long have you been here?

[Because holy shit you just sort of walked up on them??]

[azumods]

Is that agreement not enough, in and of itself...?

[The response is perhaps surprisingly lacking in arrogance; there's a definite sense of things simply being what they are, surely, but it isn't as though he's expecting genuflection and adulation for deigning to show up. The fact of the matter is that he's here, and you're here, and that's enough.]

[eudaimonikos]

Ah!

[Michael is just going to shift his position a tiny bit, so he's more between Cyrus and whoever is closest.]

Well, I'd make introductions, but perhaps that would be moot.

[azumods]

[That doesn't seem to get any sort of derision from him, nor does it get any sort of large response in general. His gaze remains piercing, but quietly so; there's no agitation present when he answers.]

That you would see it that way... I don't fault you for it. I've never asked for the understanding of this world, nor did I request its permission for bringing about this ideal. I imagine that the response would have been similar to your own... It doesn't surprise me, that your heart should ache for the incomplete creatures of this world.

[discutio]

Perhaps. I was only wondering if there had been a reason for putting off this encounter for so long.

[It didn't make sense to him. Why not just dispatch them long before they found Mesprit, before allowing things to progress this far? Failing to eliminate a potential threat before it became a problem was a poor strategic choice at best. Unless, of course, they really weren't any substantial threat. ]

[takestheblame]

Why are you here?

[Kiryu immediately gets his guard up, stepping forward and intending to protect some of the younger group members if necessary. Cyrus is the guy in charge of Team Galactic, therefore he's a fearsome man they need to be wary of.

So of course he goes straight to the point: why is Cyrus here?]

[azumods]

...It hasn't been long.

[That said, of all questions he expected to field right off, that wasn't...quite among them, and that one kind of gets him to tip his head a bit? Child.]

[azumods]

Perhaps so.

[Again, there's not much in it in terms of agitation; things are what they are, really.]

[azumods]

[At the very least he can appreciate the bluntness, in his own way.]

I would think that the state of the world speaks for itself...?

[gekkaju]

Sorry, I...I guess I wasn't expecting you to come to us.

[It makes sense though. After their encounter with Mesprit, of course Cyrus would finally come out to meet just who had been undermining his plans for so many weeks. But unlike Mars, he's...different. He's not accusatory or even combative at all. He's just a man, who is here, and is requesting to speak with them.

Despite all unpleasant things surrounding this meeting, Atsushi is a little shocked that this hasn't immediately turned into something far uglier than it is. Still, he knows better than to not take him seriously. He's just...struggling with what to say.]

I guess you've heard of what we've been doing.

[azumods]

There was little need to pursue it. Even now... I can't say that there's a direct need requiring my presence. But beyond a certain point, it becomes a matter of basic courtesy.

[Take that as you will.]

[eudaimonikos]

Right, right. So, what's up?

[On this end, we're coping with our fear through casualness.]

[discutio]

...I see. So this isn't a confrontation, but an evaluation of sorts. Am I correct in that assumption?

[azumods]

Of course.

[It's a little difficult not to, to put it gently.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ What sort of response is that? Zelda is almost at a loss for how to respond to that, her green eyes narrowing even as the Metang behind her sort of recoils a little bit, curious but at the same time aware of a certain level of danger, like an animal. For her part though she...

... Isn't sure how to quantify that. Would Ganon, if it were still a man, say something similar? ]

... But yours does not?

[anythingforyou]

[...You know, of all of the things Camilla expected to deal with today, this. This was not one of them. The vibe he gives off gives her an uncomfortable, and it hits a little too close to home, but...

"But if he does... He won't harm you, or become violent. He abhors violence. Do what you think you should, but don't hurt him - he won't strike first."

This is going to take every ounce of restraint in her being, but she's going to try not to look like she's screaming internally too much. She's likewise getting between him and some of the younger members of the group, however; she's going to ensure their safety no matter what.]

So, you're Cyrus...I suppose this meeting was indeed inevitable.

[Camilla's choosing her words very carefully, along with her tone.]

I do suppose we may have to disagree on what constitutes pointless strife and hostility, or at least the cost required to remove it.

[heritrix]

[Even if he hadn't introduced himself just now, or the town hadn't gone so quiet, Rin thinks she would still be wary around this man. There's something about his demeanor that's so off-putting, right down to his posture; she can't immediately put her finger on why that is.]

It is. [She can agree to that, at least, bland and business-like.] Not that I thought we'd be fortunate enough to put it off for much longer.

[Still facing him, she angles her head in such a way that implies she's trying to focus not just on what's in front of her, but behind her. The town is still too quiet.]

Have you done something?

[semistableman]

[Bucky doesn't speak, just freezes up very, very suddenly, not like he's about to attack, but like he's shut down from the lack of ability to get the hell out of dodge.

It's Flora who, like usual is by his side, looks incredibly protective of the two.]

[gekkaju]

Why haven't you come before now? From what I understand, this is the first time any of us have actually seen you in person.

[Otherwise it's just mostly talk from the other Commanders, or his actions speaking for him, basically.

And Atsushi has the same thought- had he intervened ages ago, he could have crushed them easily.

So why?]

[perfectselfie]

[It's the fact that he's so calm that's making Aya feel like she's being made fun of, or looked down on, or some combination of the two. She feels tears start to well up in her eyes, and she has to stop and take a few deep breaths before she says anything else.]

Of course my heart aches for everyone here. Why wouldn't it?

[greydients]

[....oh. Rey had been incredibly excited when they'd been granted the opportunity to enter the Celestic Ruins - particularly after her conversation with Cynthia - so there's a small part of her that's frankly quite annoyed their visit has been interrupted.

The rest is a mixture of fear, curiosity and rage - for now, the former two are winning over the latter. Not for the first time since they started their adventure in Sinnoh, Rey wishes Cynthia was here. They were never supposed to face Cyrus alone, were they? Why has he chosen now, of all times? Because they're trapped in here?

...that doesn't quite seem right. Mentally collecting herself, Rey straightens her posture and does her best to look this frightening man in the eyes.]

...why have you chosen the Ruins, to meet with us? This is a sacred place, so...we shouldn't fight here.