Destiny Village ~ X-Eye Cauldron

[Namohysip]

"Yeah." Soda took another bite, frowning. "Some people are open about it, and I did talk about it a little with Dave, I guess. But I don't wanna go telling my life story when I'm not drunk. I still kinda regret going over all that."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Can't fault you for that really. We all have our fair share of wounds from the past. I have a habit of asking others about their lives to distract myself from thinking about mine," Cynthian said with a sigh. "I should work on that."

 

[Namohysip]

Soda didn't seem all that committed. "Yeah," he replied absently. "Whatever. Don't blame you. Team Spectrum folks are all kinds of quirky, so I've come to accept that about you guys." He finished his meal, then looked over at Cynthian again. "Just take it easy I guess. Either we save the world or die trying. We'll be seen as heroes one way or the other. That's all that matters, right?" It was clear that he didn't believe his own words.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"What matters is that we save Cibus and come out of it alive like we alwayshhave so far." The image of Mama Rosa's lifeless body flashed in Cynthian's mind, and she grimaced briefly.

"No sacrifices, that's what I'll strive for."

 

[Namohysip]

"Yeah, well, good luck." Soda leaned back, arms behind his head. "I can't really do anything, so I'll cheer you on from the sidelines." He didn't look like he was going to cheer.

 

[Adamhuarts]

What's with him? It almost sounded like he didn't care what would happen at all. Soda hinted that his past wasn't the best, had he already become that disillusioned?

"I don't know your life's story and you've clearly been through a lot, but just you watch. When we go out there, we'll give you something new to believe in. That's a promise," Cynthian said, pressing her flowers on the table with a determined look.

 

[Namohysip]

Soda seemed to raise a brow at that, like he hadn't realized something until just then. "Look, it's not like I don't believe in you or anything. Chances are you're gonna find a way to pull off the crazy stunt, save Joule, save DV, save Cibus, you'll throw a party, arrest Giovanni, and then we can all have a happy festival while I get to have a good nap. So, good luck when you do that. I'll clap."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian opened her mouth to speak, then frowned, and then she just looked plain confused.

"It works like that?"

 

[Namohysip]

"Duh." Soda looked at Cynthian. "You want my opinion? I think this is all just some big test by Joule again. Wouldn't put it past him to do something this dumb. It's all just a big game." He leaned back. "But even if it isn't a game, Joule's all power and no technique. A pushover. I bet I could beat him. Mess up his groove and keep your shields up and I bet he won't even be able to touch you."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Oh! That's very good advice actually. I'll make sure to relay it to the others," Cynthian said, already reaching for her bag when she stiffened and looked at Soda with widened eyes

"Wait, could you actually beat him... if it weren't for his nullifying aura?" she sounded a bit skeptical, given how laid back he appeared to be on the outside.

 

[Namohysip]

"Yup. Power isn't everything." Soda smirked and raised a class to get the attention of one of the waiters. "Yeah, I guess I'm just that awesome. But, oh well. I can't really prove it until you fix him up."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian believed him.

"Whoa, you're much cooler than I thought!" Cynthian said, smiling in admiration. She felt a newfound respect for the Zoroark.

"Power isn't everything huh? That reminds me of a saying I heard from an old acquaintance that goes something like 'before the battle of the fist comes the battle of the mind'. There's more truth to that it seems."

 

[Namohysip]

"Easily." Soda nodded. "Anyway, you should probably stop talking to the air now. People might think you've finally cracked."

And, the next time Cynthian blinked, Soda would have disappeared. A few people in the bar had been giving her confused looks.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"What the—How could he?!" Cynthian looked around her and saw mons giving her weird looks. She shrank into her seat with puffed cheeks and grumbled.

"Well played, you sly fox," she muttered to herself.

<>>><><><>

 

[Dragonfree]

Dave'd been at the Cauldron for a while, a couple drinks in. The fight was tomorrow, but for the moment he was doing his best to forget about that. He'd been having an extended discussion with Mia about exactly how Pokémon metabolism might work in this world and it was exactly the sort of nonsense he could use right now.

Shadow was there, too, on the opposite side of the table, quiet, shivering. Dave tried to ignore him entirely, save for glaring at him if he ever looked like he might say something.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Gods, they had so little time left. Fuck, she needed a drink so bad, she'd needed a drink all the damn time since the bubble went up and she'd barely touched the stuff and please let her have earned it.

As she entered the Cauldron, she saw a friend of hers evidently experiencing similar feelings.

"Howdy, Dave, Shadow, Mia. I got half a mind to let my shadow out so's she can join us," she quipped, humourlessly. "Barkeep, I'll have a double whiskey. Keep 'em comin'."

 

[Dragonfree]

Dave looked up at Brisa plomping down next to Shadow. Her too, huh.

"Brisa. Barely seen you lately. What've you been up to?"

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

She took the nearest available seat—by Dave's shadow—and received her drink with gratitude.

"What ain't I been up to."

Brisa considered what was worth mentioning or not. May as well tell him the gist, some of the most notable details. If he was curious, he'd ask for more. Sounded better than shutting off the line of conversation.

"Lessee. Uh, I been trainin' my fuckin' tail off, sparrin' with every teammate who'll spare an hour to discover an' test out new techniques, studyin' up on battle strategy fer the fight, keepin' folks' spirits up as best I can... I interrogated Diyem. I persuaded Cynthian she can be a girl if'n she likes. Won that battlin' tournament with Owen as my partner. And, uh, I briefly spoke to Arceus, an' he told me I'm workin' too hard. Shit."

 

[Dragonfree]

Dave raised an eyebrow. “Jesus, he might be right. Sounds like you’ve done enough fucking work. Just have a damn drink.”

(She'd persuaded Cynthian... what? Cynthian was transgender? Okay. Sure. Going to have to get used to that one.)

Shadow looked at him anxiously. "But have we done enough? Maybe more people will die because we didn't do more."

"Well, there isn’t any more to fucking do," Dave said, gripping the glass tighter. "All that’s left is to just smash Joule’s face in. If Arceus kicks it he seemed pretty damn ready for it."

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa smirked humourlessly.

"Whaddaya think I'm here fer? This world's creator told me to slow down and Luz threatened to physically restrain me if I tried doin' one more productive thing. So drinks it is."

She could think of plenty more to do. It wasn't as if her drill was perfect, or she'd trained with everyone... But she had worked harder than she ever had in her life, and that was saying something.

"I like our chances. Genuinely. I dunno if it's 'cause I've spent four straight days tellin' folks so, but I think we really have done damn near everythin' we could possibly do to prepare. I feel like absolute shit, though, I tell ya. After Joule I just wanna sleep fer a week."

In moments, she was through most of her drink and instructing the bartender to give her a ruby ale and keep them coming.