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Dave blinked. He was still talking like he'd gone to his literal death. What the fuck did 'decide what you wish to take to your grave with you' even mean here? Bizarre fucker. He shook his head and sighed before heading out of the library. <><><><><>

And they were back to this. Dave had slightly more of an idea what Mergo was on about, after all this circling around, but only slightly, and he was not curious enough to take a whole other round of this. The main point was he'd managed to drag out of him (eventually) that Arceus had arranged...

Dave raised an eyebrow. Punishment? I've asked more of people for less noble tasks? It took a special sort of person to choose to just cryptically, off-handedly say that without elaboration. "Well, if you're fine with it, be my guest. Personally, I'd be less happy. Especially if I'm being...

"Wouldn't say you all were cast as villains. Whole thing was supposed to be some kind of bullshit training exercise, wasn't it? We were supposed to be learning from you. Ostensibly. Always sounded like a dumb excuse to do a pointless sports match to me, but I guess it was actually a dumb excuse...

Dave glanced at Mergo. Effectively dead. That was one way of looking at it. From Cibus's point of view, was there even a difference? For all they knew Diyem wasn't sending them back at all. "Well, unless we get whisked off to another universe later for a show fight, I guess."

"Yeah, can't say I'm a huge fan of him making a habit of this. Maybe a literal god should be able to come up with ways to make people hopeful and inspired that don't involve cheerfully lying to them." Dave sighed irritably. "Not that it fucking matters. We'll probably be gone not long after...

Dave looked down at the pendant as it played its looping animation. A bit overwrought and dramatic, like Mergo himself. Probably been the perfect gift for him, hadn't it. Who was the girl who'd given it to him? "So what you're saying is," he said, peering back up at the Gardevoir, "this...

Dave squinted at Mergo as he tried to explain his theater metaphor. What on earth was he talking about. "I mean, sure? There are decent people around. Probably proportionally fewer asshats than where I come from, honestly. Why?"

...What? "I guess? I'm not sure where safety comes into it, but whatever. Point is, announcing to everyone that the show fight was a show isn't about to improve anyone's life, sure. I'm not going to walk into children's playgrounds to announce there's no Santa Claus. Not going to try to hide it...

Mergo pushed down on the book on the table, and it shook and then just fucking disappeared with a sudden whoosh that made Dave jump. Wasn't that a library book? Maybe that was just a very showy way of teleporting it back onto the shelf where he got it, but it was real hard to tell with this guy...

"Oh yeah. Standing there and taking whatever bullshit is slung your way, or sunshine and rainbows and everyone singing kumbaya. The only two options." What the hell was his deal. Who the fuck thought like this? Even Howard wasn't operating on some kind of philosophy that being a doormat was...

"Wow. Genius. If you're a dick, it's not your fault, it's theirs for allowing it. Impeccable logic, right up there with 'Stop hitting yourself'." What the fuck was happening to Mergo's arms. He peered at the dark haze (shadow?) and the rougher skin. Mergo hadn't done any bullshit...

"To... 'raise the people's spirits'?" Dave raised an eyebrow. And then frowned. Wait a goddamn minute. Hadn't Arceus said something before the fight about hoping their performance would 'fill Cibus with hope'? "...Motherfucker. Was this Pop?" He exhaled through his nose. Should've figured...

Dave snort-laughed. "Honestly that's exactly the sort of cartoon-grade bullshit that would happen on Cibus." He rolled his eyes and sat down on his haunches. "Really, though, what the fuck was the silver barrier about. Was that you, or some fucking legendary running interference and thinking...

Not eager to share, huh. Dave narrowed his eyes at the Gardevoir. "Well, that depends. I don't give a shit about the fight, but if we were roped into it on false pretenses, then that kind of calls a lot of other things into question. Can we trust you? Or, if there were other forces at work, what...

Dave rolled his eyes at the jab about the moon. Rich from the guy from the team that never figured out Giovanni's big switcheroo. "Actually, I was here about that dumb show fight we had. Pretty obvious something was up with you people's defenses. Got this silver barrier going on at the start...

Dave glanced at the book he was reading. Some sort of Destiny Village travel guide? He raised an eyebrow. "What, never got around to the touristing you wanted back in your Cibus?"

Weird energy shields, depleting defenses, Knockoff Owen's weird taunts - one way or another, something was up with that fight. Was it rigged? Was there some legendary bullshit going on here, a couple of gods making bets and 'helping' their side along? Either way, not as advertised. So after the...