Destiny Village ~ Central Crossroads

[RJR Basimilus]

"I've been called worse," Seyka said. "Feel free to call me whatever you like- I certainly don't have any place to complain."

"As for the rest of the team, I guess it's because they really feel strongly about it," the Skarmory continued, "You know, it's their way of showing they care."

Seyka looked up blankly. "Make of that what you will in my case."

 

[Namohysip]

They studied him at that. "I'm not really sure what to make of it," Cepa said. "You seem to like speculating about it, and you fight like all the others, right? But maybe you just have a different attitude there... You still care, though, don't you?"

 

[RJR Basimilus]

"Yeah, I-" Seyka stopped. "I-"

The Skarmory stared into the distance silently.

"I don't...know? It's- but-"

Seyka looked at the ground, his mouth moving, but making no sound.

 

[Namohysip]

Balm and Cepa blinked, not expecting that response. Seyka had, up until now, seemed very certain of his feelings, even if those feelings were strange and nebulous. Had they struck something new? "Are you okay?" Cepa asked.

 

[RJR Basimilus]

"Hmm? I'm fine," Seyka said, looking back at them, his expression neutral. "You can ignore what I just said. Sometimes I need to- well, reorient myself. Haaa~"

The Skarmory smiled. "Sorry if that was a bit strange. You shouldn't worry about it. As silly as it sounds to say, there's nothing wrong."

 

[Namohysip]

Balm and Cepa looked unconvinced, but they didn't press the issue. "Well, alright," Cepa said. "I guess for now, we should get to seeing how the others are doing. I heard there's going to be a strategy meeting soon... We don't want to be late for that, huh?"

 

[RJR Basimilus]

"I guess so," Seyka said. "I've never been much of a strategist, but who knows. Maybe I have some secret potential I haven't tapped into yet."

The Skarmory made a face. "Oh well, I'm going to walk for a bit, so you guys go ahead of me. See you guys later, Calm and Bepa."

He paused, then smiled again. "Ha. I mean, Balm and Cepa."

<><><><><><><><><>|<><><><><><><>​

 

[Fusion]

"That was a mess..." Vix sighed, reforming without really caring where she ended up. She just wanted to get away, and get away she did. "I wish actually had anything to say, but... whatever..."

Maybe she needed another day alone? It didn't work the first time, but maybe it'd work this time? Vix knew it wouldn't, but what else was she going to do? She was going to move again, but found herself tired, deciding to rest on the ground a bit with her bag held close. "Just a few minutes..."

 

[Adamhuarts]

When Cynthian left the tower to take a stroll and clear his mind, It took him by surprise when he saw a puddle emerge from the ground and shape into Vix. Curious, he approached from beside her. She'd have noticed the scent of roses first before seeing him however.

"Hey, Vix. How are you doing?" Cynthian asked with a brief wave. He hadn't actually talked to her in a while, not since she was a litwick.

 

[Fusion]

It felt, decent being alone for a minute. Maybe throwing herself into a crowd of people first thing in the morning wasn't the best idea with what was going on. She was about to continue her journey of whatever-it-is-edgy-lamps do, when she caught the scent of... roses?

"Hey, Vix. How are you doing?"

"AH!" Vix jumped, her partially melted body sending a bit of wax in every direction. She spun around to see Cynthian, giving him a nervous wave. "O-Oh, hey, it's just..." her voice trailed off, then she shook her head. "Wait, Cynthian?" It might've sounded like she was expecting someone else, but she wasn't. Maybe. No one really knows how lamps think.

"H-Hey, it's been a while, right?" Vix tittered. "How've you been?"

If she ignored his question, pretending not to hear it, then she wouldn't have the answer it. It'd suck if he asked her again, though.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"I've been worse, I've been better," Cynthian said with a chuckle. "I'm a bit tired. Mind if I sit?" he asked and sat next to her before she could reply.

"Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk like this in a while. Things have been crazy since our Treasure Town days." Cynthian glanced at her, then at the bag she was holding close. He wanted to ask if she was hiding there, but couldn't think of a way to do that without sounding nosy.

"I hope things haven't been too stressful for you. Come to think of it, I caught glance of you being distressed during our bout with Giovanni a few days ago. What happened back there?"

 

[Fusion]

She wouldn't have said no to Cynthian sitting with her anyway. Seeing him again helped calm Vix down quite a bit. "Y-Yeah... Look at us now. I never would have imagined getting this far this quick, haha... It almost feels like we just met yesterday."

"I hope things haven't been too stressful for you. Come to think of it, I caught glance of you being distressed during our bout with Giovanni a few days ago. What happened back there?"

He actually saw that... Vix held her bag tighter, melting slightly. "I... really fucked up there... I fucked up a lot..." she snuffled. "I got Starr attacked, I got captured in a pokeball and Shiron had to save me... a-and Puddle..." Wax dripped off of Vix's body as she started to tear up. "P-Puddle hasn't woken up..."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Oh..." was all Cynthian could say at first. Still, he leaned over and patted her softly as she cried.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I'd feel just as bad if others got hurt because of me, but it wasn't all your fault. You still helped greatly back there, like that Hex you pulled off on Deoxys!" Cynthian said, swinging his free flower encouragingly. He hoped it'd work, but he knew from experience that grief was a difficult hurdle to overcome.

"Puddle is your familiar, right? Did something happen to its ultra stone?"

 

[Fusion]

"Puddle is, yeah..." Vix sniffled. She opens up her bag to reveal the lifeless ethereal pool inside it, along with the ultra stone and the Pokeball that caught her. "I don't know what to do, it isn't responding, and it's stone is fine but... it doesn't glow as much anymore. It took a hit for me when I... after I got Starr hurt. Puddle was basically fighting for me, and now..."

Vix's form melted a bit more, and she leaned into Cynthian. Ghostly purple tears streamed down her face. "What kind of hero am I..?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"We all make mistakes, Vix. What matters is whether or not we try to make it right," Cynthian said, half at himself. Even as Vix's wax trickled onto him, it didn't bother him much.

"Puddle is going to be okay. Maybe it just needs to rest, or perhaps it's doing this on purpose. Probably not, but the familiars are attuned to our emotions I've heard. Perhaps you need to reach out to Puddle with a clearer mind?"

 

[Fusion]

"Aren't we supposed to be heroes, though? I can't mess up this badly and just... brush it aside. I'm lucky things didn't get any worse than they did..." Faint wisps of darkness rolled off of Vix's body.

"I-I've been trying to talk to Puddle since the fight, too... Nothing's working... I don't want to believe it's gone, but..." Vix's flame slowly darkened, shifting from purple to black. She didn't even seem to notice.

"A-And Starr's probably mad at me too..." Vix clutched her bag tightly, sniffling again. "P-Puddle would have been too, if--"

Vix was cut off by a faint, but noticeable glow from her bag. She blinked, holding her bag out to stare at it. "...Wh-What was..?" She looked to Cynthian. "Did... Did you see that too?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"It's going to okay, Vix. I doubt Starr is mad at you for that, she doesn't strike me as the type to hold grudges against others over honest mistakes. And like I said, Puddle isn't gone. You still have it with you—" Cynthian paused when he caught a glimpse of the glow from her bag. He smiled when Vix looked at him.

"See? It's still in there, connected to you. Just give Puddle time to recover and things will work out. In the meantime, I'm sure Puddle will want you to gather your bearings and stay strong. Don't forget that you're not alone. We'll all be here to lend you a hand... or a flower in my case." Cynthian waved his flower with a chuckle to make his point.

 

[Fusion]

"It's still..?" Vix stared at Cynthian for a moment, then looked back to her bag. "Puddle?"

No response.

Vix waiting a bit longer for another glow, or Puddle's voice, anything. But... nothing came. Vix sank a bit, and more dark wisps rolled off her body. She teared up again, but tried to hide it. Cynthian was trying to help her, she'd feel terrible to make it look like his efforts didn't do anything. Vix wrapped her arms around Cynthian in a waxy hug. "Th-Thank you, Cynthian..." she muttered, keeping her face hidden. "I just... gotta stay strong... Yeah, strong..."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian accepted the hug without protest, and hugged her back in return.

"There there, it's not much for now, but it's a start. You should try going to Chip to see if he could help, Diyem might know a thing or two I suppose. They might be able to get Puddle back in top form. Don't lose hope till you've tried everything and more," Cynthian said. If he had thumbs, he'd have given her a thumbs up. The best he could do was softly pat her on the head.

 

[Fusion]

Don't lose hope till you've tried everything and more...

Vix held Cynthian a bit tighter, shaking slightly. It was hard to believe those words, but she really tried to. Even still, her flame went jet black with shadows, and more of her body grew darker.

"I-I..." she stuttered, sniffling. "I-I'll... try..."