2024-03-14: The Sunshine Always Returns
- Log: The Sunshine Always Returns
- Cast: Azoth, Xantia
- Where: Central Kanto Plains
- Date: March 14, 2024
- Summary: Ceru the Ceruledge stages an intervention for Azoth's own good - by leading him straight to Xantia.
==========================<* Central Kanto Plains *>========================== The Central Kanto Plains, as befits its name, is the floodplain that rests at the heart of the Kanto Region. The land here is lush and vibrant, with blossoming ranges of flowers and greenery, adjacent to many rivers. The plains are divided into various routes, which serve both as arterial routes for travellers and cargo between the cities; several underground tunnels also lead from one end of the plain to another, with both capacity for on-foot traffic, bikers, and public transit. A famous daycare centre sits near the heart of the plains, and many Trainers leave their Pokemon to their care and are surprised to find -- an Egg! No one on Nede knows how Pokemon Eggs are created, but Trainers certainly welcome the discovery. BGM: Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee & Pikachu! - Route 11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ctN2IVy0Pw
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
It was Ceru who tried to lead Azoth's friends to him the day Loren discovered him. He waited back with the other Pokemon. The best interpretation is that Ceru knew Azoth was trying to protect him and honored that wish. The worst is that Azoth had managed to strike a genuine fear and worry into the Pokemon. Whatever the case, Ceru still waited by the portal.
But Azoth did not return. Azoth was packed into a shuttle and taken away, back into Solaris' care, and to undo whatever Azoth might have managed in his time without the overrides.
Ceru kept waiting. Then he waited some more. Then, when Azoth never passed back through this strange rift in space to walk Nede again, Ceru vanished. Maybe he had gone home. Maybe he ventured out further.
Today, Ceru is in Nede.
More to the point, a ghostly Pokemon trailing colorful flame sprints through the Kanto plains at full speed, blades swept behind him.
"Come on, I know you understand!" a voice shouts, allowing the edge of urgency in. "I shouldn't be here, so please just--" there's a sudden beeping of distress, the angered cry if a Skitty, an a loud splash that drowns and distorts every digital beep.
...
"-- give it back --!"
Azoth launches out of the river and continues giving chase after Ceruledge. He vaults over ledges in completely unsanctioned ways and dashes with bursts of speed without care for how inhuman that is despite being back in his human disguise.
But while Azoth is intent on catching up to Ceru, Ceru's fiery eyes carefully scan the area. He's looking for a familiar face in particular... one he thought he noticed training here before.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
That fateful day, when so many gave it their all in an attempt to let Azoth retain his freedom for even a little bit longer, in the end, Xantia ended up managing little more than a heartfelt reiteration of her vow never to give up until that freedom could be made permanent. It was more than many were still capable of by the end of that fight, so she needed to busy herself stabilizing the wounded before anything else. But, when she returned, she took notice of the Ceruledge. Still remaining at the portal, continuing to wait. She couldn't just pass by without saying anything.
"I don't think he's going to be back. Not for a while," she said with a rueful smile. Though not exactly the easiest Pokemon to read the expression of, she could clearly sense the will behind it. "I can see that won't change your mind. In that case... I hope your patience will be rewarded." Following a nod, she approached the portal, stopping just short of it to say one more thing, before stepping through.
"...I'm glad, that you want to be there for him, too."
Ever since that day, Xantia has committed herself to Pokemon Training. She hadn't originally intended to learn how to battle like the Nedians do. She was just looking for something to mentally distract herself, keep busy while she wasn't able to act on the things she most wanted to act on. No one was more surprised than her when it turned out to be something she actually enjoyed.
Still, one doesn't always need to actively supervise. In time, she'd come to learn one very important lesson. Don't interfere too much when Shoo and Ralts get into a fight. Today is no different, in that regard.
"...You done?" she questions, looking upon the Ralts, struggling to get back up. It always ends the same way - nothing has made the importance of type advantages more clear. Shoo is just sort of nonchalantly bobbing in the air, sing-songing 'Shuppet' over and over. One Pokemon who never takes a fight very seriously yet never loses, and another who takes fights very seriously and can't ever win. A very strange dynamic, but it's the one they seem to insist on having.
"Mii," sighs the Pawmi on Xantia's shoulder, having seen this scenario play out almost as many times as Xantia, who wrinkles her nose in response. "You said it. There's gotta be a better way to work out your differences. I'm open to suggestions, but I don't think--"
Pawmi's ears wiggle, and the Pokemon turns its head, at the same time as Xantia does. What's the ruckus over there all about? Simultaneously recalling the two previously engaged in combat to their Pokeballs, she starts to traverse the meadows to head in that direction at a brisk pace. While not directly in Ceru's path, out in the open like this, she will be easily visible. And the same goes in reverse, Xantia squinting her eyes to see into the distance. "Is that...?"
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Azoth dives for the Ceruledge with a blast of energy, but ghost-type that Ceruledge is, it's gone into shadow, leaving Azoth crashing into the ground with a deft tumble, rise, and pivot as he looks around for the Pokemon.
But Ceru has already noticed his target, reappearing to taunt Azoth with a crossing of its own blades and a flare of flame that Azoth winces at. "... I'm sorry, I can't --" Nope! This isn't an invitation for conversation. Off Ceru goes, blazing, quite literally.
"We can talk! Not here. But what you have is--"
Ceru makes a beeline toward Xantia, with no sign of slowing. At his pace, he's going to collide with her... if not for the fact that he instead vanishes to dive right into her shadow and... hide there?
Which leaves Azoth, close on the Pokemon's trail, to skid to a halt barely in time before smashing into her himself.
"--important to me," he finishes, pointlessly. His pursuit goes entirely abandoned, Azoth's face going blank as he beholds Xantia suddenly before him -- blank in that way where he almost certainly has calculated the 'appropriate' (or honest) expression, and has decided, for whatever reason, against its display.
Several moments will pass without him able to compute a response of any kind.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
With the advantage of distance, and a pretty obvious clue where to direct her attention, Xantia is able to figure out what's going on well before Azoth does. It's not much advance warning, at those speeds, and she can't claim to know exactly what's going on, but it's enough to give her time to prepare, at least.
It's also enough time for Pawmi to panic at the approach of something that seems threatening and hop off Xantia's shoulder, trying to flee while 'mii mii mii'-ing all the way. Until being recalled by Xantia, without her even looking in that direction. No surprise there at all, she's gotten a pretty solid feel for what her Pokemon are like. She keeps her eyes dead ahead as she reattaches the third Pokeball to her belt, expression serious and not moving from where she stands.
...Did she somehow know that she wouldn't actually end up getting barreled into? It's hard to tell, but she certainly made zero effort to keep that from happening. Instead, all she does is blink once... and then the Ceruledge is gone. She is surprised about that, looking about to try in vain to figure out where it went.
And so, even though she'd half expected to end up face to face with Azoth once she'd noticed Ceru, when that actually happens, she's too distracted by the sudden disappearance to notice right away. It's a bit comical the way she starts when Azoth is just there all of a sudden, her previous, more prepared stride broken by the unexpected element. Though she recovers quickly, it's not without awkwardness.
"--Oh! Hey! Hi, it's, uh. Good to see you...?" She shakes her head, that wasn't a question. "It's good to see you!" Better. In fact: "...Very good. I was worried they wouldn't let you go out. They didn't hurt you, did they? If they did, I'm gonna-- well, it wouldn't change what I was gonna do anyway, but it's... it's the thought that counts, right?"
She does tend to ramble when she's feeling uncertain about the proper way to react.
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Sorry Pawmi. Ceruledge is on a mission and there must be sacrifices. Sacrifices of fright and confusion, mostly. And maybe that's all because Ceruledge remains obscured as if his work here is already done.
...And it's all entirely within expected parameters, the way Xantia reacts. It's completely consistent with her Xantianess, and she'd even solidified her sentiments with the parting words she was able to shoot toward Azoth before the Watcher had taken him away.
But Azoth still stalls, because he did know, and isn't he supposed to... change it? It's getting worse every time this happens. Xantia wouldn't want him to try, though. She wouldn't believe any act he put on if he did. Not any more than Ceru. Or is that giving weight to data to make an excuse?
'They didn't hurt you, did they?' She asks, and that snaps Azoth out of it, eyes finally moving to at least avert while he puts on a small smile that has the good sense to look forced. "...Not too much worse than usual."
It might've been better to lie there.
Azoth brings his gaze back to her, slightly less awkward than before.
"They made sure all their code was reinstalled and executing properly." He smiles wryly now. "'Properly.' So... it's back to the usual."
On a human, the smile cracking would be because there's no will to hold it. On Azoth, he's starting to wonder if it's just a cruel joke to use it like that.
"...Sorry, Xantia."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia is Xantia! Even if circumstances may change, that still remains the same. The way she views Azoth also is unlikely to change. And that same worry that Azoth has, thinking far too much about how 'correct' the way she's acting is, that too is clearly there right now. But she can't help that. Making a mistake and making Azoth feel worse is the last thing she wants to happen right now, when she figures things already must have been pretty dire as of late.
She did ask after that - she wouldn't have done that if she didn't want to hear the honest answer. But that look, that expression that briefly clouds her eyes when she hears confirmation of 'them' hurting Azoth. Suffice it to say, had any of them been around right now, Xantia would probably not have remained as calm as the rest of her bearing would suggest. "...I see." It's probably for the best that she doesn't say any more about that, either.
Back to the usual, is it? "Hmm. Well, at least 'the usual' isn't what they think it is. Good thing they're selectively blind like that. Although I'm sure that's in large part thanks to you. You know how to make them see what they want to see." Perhaps the same could be said of all Azoth's interactions. But Xantia would never question how genuine the feelings behind his words and actions are. She questions that about herself all the time, that's not something you'd wish on another.
Given the similarities, she has an inkling about the reason for the apology... but she still won't have it, waving it off. "Don't be silly, you've got nothing to be sorry for. I'm the one who's sorry, I should have..." She has to pause there, frowning as she realizes, "I don't actually know what I could have done different. But there had to be something. I can't just let this keep happening, they - those people get away with far too much. Well it's not gonna keep happening, I promise you, one day it'll be different."
She makes a fist, as a show of what sort of thing she's thinking about, surprising no one. Never any shortage of confidence, even if she lacks actual plans.
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
The way Xantia's eyes cloud with Azoth's honesty has him hesitating again. He starts to reach out, then stops himself. It was an uncertainty he'd gotten over a long time ago, until the wounds of his nature and the impact on everything around him were torn open, fresh.
The Watcher's questions continue to haunt him, but only half as much as her threats.
"...For now, that's mostly true," he admits uncheerfully of making Solaris see what they want. He tries. It's getting more difficult. Leah is fiercely clever with her grip on everyone else tighter than Azoth predicted. He wonders if she's got about the same amount of practice he has with everyone else.
Maybe it's easier to believe this conversation isn't one of those times. Azoth didn't plan to be here. And it was Xantia who kept Azoth honest with himself, when he wanted badly to escape into another lie. Ceru certainly noticed.
"There's a lot I can get away with by calling it reconnaissance. But at the end of the day, I'm still here to become the weapon they desire."
Of course Xantia turns the apology around. Azoth shakes his head.
"No, I don't know what else you could have done besides not come in the first place." Azoth frowns. "...Thank you. For trying." Even if it was futile, even if it would have only granted him a few extra moments...
It really is the thought that counts.
He slumps his shoulders in an exaggerated feign of a sigh and suddenly ruffles his own hair in a show of frustration, most animated than he's been since he stopped chasing Ceru around. "Aaaaaaah there's so much I was going to tell you, but I already know your answers! You know, I had a plan a while ago to try and make you hate me, but every calculation of it ended in disaster, and not the intended one!"
Azoth slumps again, deeper than before. He's nearly half bent over.
"You're always so hard to lie to."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
If only Xantia could fool herself into believing that it isn't exactly like Azoth implies. That there isn't some kind of unknown time limit before Solaris decides to push things further, as they're so fond of doing to try and improve results. She'd never forgive herself if the things she keeps promising end up being too little, too late. Here she is just finding ways to feel as if the time she's wasting while waiting for a chance is at all productive. Not being able to think of anything better feels like a failure in itself.
"Always about what they want," she mutters to herself, kicking at the ground. "It's so frustrating! I saw you all at peace just doing what you wanted for a change, and I couldn't even feel happy for you. Because I knew we'd be back here. We'll always be back here, until..." Until what, exactly? She has an idea about what she would say, but she trails off there, instead. She can't even feel happy being thanked, it didn't accomplish much but a short delay.
There was a risk of a negative spiral going there, but Azoth's sudden animation handily avoids that, surprising Xantia enough to snap out of that and refocus on Azoth in the current moment. And what he says is... well, it should be disturbing, yet it somehow fails to come across that way, prompting a chuckle instead. "Oh, Azoth. Don't you think I've already thought about that as something you might decide to do, as an 'it's better this way' sort of thing? I know you too well for that, I'll know immediately that's what you're trying to do. Whatever your calculations may have said, I can tell you what'll happen: I'll refuse to be pushed away, and just push back harder."
She places her hands on her hips, looking mighty proud of herself. "Id tried to push me away for years and it never worked. You think you can do better? I'm telling you, I won't ever lose because I won't ever give up!" Grin broadening, she adds, "Better to think of things you'd actually enjoy doing, anyway. Much easier to get me to go along with those!"
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
There's already something Mintha found out about Azoth when he asked for her help, briefly and foolishly. He made her hide it from him and not tell him what it was -- at the time even lamenting what Xantia might think about it. But it's not something he could risk knowing, because if he knew, Solaris would know.
And there's only certain things that they have to learn about the Azoth's programming before it's all over for him.
"A world of fighting, where combat is communication, and where the unlike and the like live together in harmony as the expectation, not the rule." Azoth smiles wistfully, looking out over Kanto Plains. "...It's perfect for me, in a way. But you were right. I still wasn't being myself. It was another performance... just one that hurt less than the role I'm playing right now."
They'll always be back here, until... Azoth looks back at Xantia, uneasy. He does not finish the sentence.
But at least he's learned secrecy isn't always so useful with his outburst. Azoth points at Xantia accusingly. "Yes, all of that! Right there! That exactly with the knowing me and the refusing and never giving up!"
He promised he'd always be her friend. Azoth has no reason to believe Xantia would let him break that, even if he thought he were fulfilling it in a different way. Always seeing right through all the irrational...
Despite this dismay and frustration, Azoth's next smile comes easier. He's not actually annoyed, and there's a fondness in his performed exasperation as he shakes his head and shrugs with his entire arms.
"What I enjoy, huh...?" It's difficult with Solaris closing around him. But not impossible. "I guess I should have come to see you sooner, then."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
On a certain level, Xantia realizes that what she most wants to know in regards to Azoth's nature, that may be the most helpful in freeing him, are things she can't know without making things worse. Mostly because she knows so well what Solaris is like - at least, according to her recovered memories on the subject. Where it comes to Solaris, reaction works better than action. Make them think they have the advantage, or they'll take steps to make certain of it. Which... unfortunately goes entirely against the way she prefers to approach things. Forcing herself to hold back is agonizing.
She hadn't quite looked at Nede the same way though, tilting her head at Azoth's description. "Funny, I always thought of this as a world that forgot how to fight. And... I kind of think combat is communication to begin with. I can tell a lot from how someone fights. Especially if I've fought them before." It may well be easier for her to understand someone through fighting than through talking. Overrides may cloud actions, but they can't cloud the feelings behind them.
Now that she thinks about it more deeply, she has to admit, "I may have been wrong about this world, though. I didn't take its people's way of fighting seriously, but, now that I'm giving it a chance... I'm starting to notice what you have, I think."
So it's not like Xantia can't ever change her mind. It's that she refuses to let her mind be changed on certain things, things that are simply the objectively best approach. Not giving up on someone who clearly needs you to be there for them quite possibly ranks higher in that list than anything else. A smile is all she needs in return - and she won't change her mind on how genuine it is, either.
"Of course you should have!" she confirms Azoth's eventual conclusion. "How much more obvious do I need to make it that I enjoy spending time with you? I'm always thinking about-- Oh, that's right, I have something to show you!"
Can't forget about that most important trump card where it comes to making sure Azoth enjoys himself. Reaching into one of the pouches attached to her new belt, Xantia withdraws a perfectly spherical object, handing it over for Azoth to inspect. Touching it will cause both of them to suffer a mild static shock, nothing major, though it may come as a surprise. Xantia's well-used to that sort of thing, not even wincing, only realizing after the fact, "Oh, right, sorry, should've mentioned that. It's kind of... electrically-attuned?"
The orb has a yellow tint and a smooth, glassy texture, partially transparent with an odd, but pleasingly symmetrical pattern in the center. Where exactly the shock came from wouldn't be any more clear even after analysis: even though it seemed different from regular static electricity, there's nothing to suggest this object is actually capable of generating that sort of thing. It's like magic! It's probably literally magic. Also, a really pretty rock.
"I asked the locals, they call it a Light Ball," she clarifies the nature of the orb. "They say it can boost electrical powers... but exactly how it works is poorly understood. Trying to figure it out though, that seems like it could be really helpful." Alas, Xantia is, as always, practically-minded, and not very interested in the prettiness aspect.
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
It's a difficult line to walk... Solaris doesn't understand Azoth perfectly. They can barely control him. And in trying, prevent him from being able to control himself.
"They've forgotten how to fight for their lives. In a perfect universe, we could call that a good thing. Unfortunately... perfection is illogical." Azoth smiles at Xantia. "The fact you already see it as communicating is part of why we get along, despite everything."
Azoth glances pointedly to the pokeballs at her belt and grins. "And I'm sure your new friends will appreciate the insight." Xantia changing her mind is a little more obvious, given that. "I don't blame you for being wary. It's a little... artificial. But so am I."
Even if it's a different flavor of that, he still feels compelled to give it the benefit of the doubt. But maybe like Azoth, Nede can learn. ...It's just a little sad that it might have to.
He is, at least, properly scolded, grinning sheepishly with a hand to the back of his head. "Sorry, sorry. I -- always?" Azoth's eyes brighten with intrigue, then go brighter still as he takes hold of the mysterious sphere called a Light Ball. His pupils dilate several times, sparks crawling from his fingers and across his arms.
Azoth slowly runs a finger over the surface in a meticulous appreciation of its shape and texture, but his calculations are also abuzz with measurements on the electricity... and the mystery of how it's even produced. This rock has layers to it.
"...I love it," Azoth says in a small voice, eyes wide.
He beams brightly back at Xantia. "It's a rock and a puzzle!" A beeping sing-song chime plays in joy.
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
At first, Xantia remains quiet on the notion of it being a good thing if there was no need to fight. That's something she's thought about a lot. It usually leads her to a depressing conclusion. But... in light of recent developments, there may be a bright spot that she can voice now. "I've always had trouble seeing a place for me in a world at peace. But I guess, if the fighting could be the way it is here... that wouldn't be so bad." She feels like she's actually succeeding at the concept of 'having a hobby'. She'd already given up on that being possible without regaining her memories, but... this appears to be working!
And this most assuredly has something to do with her new friends, Xantia's eyes following Azoth's gaze, prompting a fond smile. "I didn't like the idea of capturing Pokemon... but, they all came to me. It's strangely... I don't know. I guess I kind of feel like... I should answer their expectations. You know?"
She makes a face at the notion of Azoth's artificiality. Not the same thing, incomparable to how the surroundings here feel. Surely Azoth must know this, it's really simple. Nede feels Different. Azoth has never once felt Different to her.
But, it's fine, for she has the perfect offering to ensure Azoth's full attention. She doesn't really get it, but, she's happy to keep a lookout for things she knows he'll like. And she can see merit in the Light Ball for its special properties, so there is at least some level of mutual appeal here.
And yet, she looks a little taken aback by that reaction. Maybe it was a bit more powerful than she expected. When the outpouring of joy happens however, she's quick to return the smile. "That's one way to look at it. I'm glad you like it... you have Pawmi to thank for that one. One of my Pokemon... I, uh, can't really show you because I know what'll happen." She makes a 'woosh' noise while miming something taking off at high speed. "Scares real easily, we're working on that."
Which reminds her. She looks around, still not noticing the source of Pawmi's earlier fright. "Where did your Pokemon friend go off to, anyway...?"
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Azoth watches Xantia as she goes quiet. He waits for her to speak, but there's a knowing sadness in his eyes. Some of it fades when she voices her own conclusion. "... Right, I don't know if I would be able to operate in true peace, given my objectives. So something like this one is... hopeful to think about."
They really are too alike, in a lot of ways. All the ones that worry him, but all the ones that make him less lonely.
He smiles more at her feelings on Pokemon. "Them coming to you doesn't surprise me at all."
And hey, maybe a hobby would be good for her.
When Azoth sees her face, he relents with another sheepish grin and lifts his palm in surrender, like he has some idea of what Xantia's going to say. Which means she doesn't have to.
That leaves more room for the LIGHT BALL. Which devours Azoth's attention and has him sparkling with interest. Er, sparking, rather. Literally. It's mild static, nothing harmful. Quite the opposite, really.
He offers it back. "Thanks for showing me." Azoth really does love stuff like this... "Give my apologies to Pawmi."
But Azoth's face falls. "...I released him before they took me back. I don't want him to be used and suffer like I have. But..."
Sensing that he's getting his way, Ceru finally reappears from the shadows, flames steadily burning, but in a dim and gentle way. He offers forward his blade toward Azoth, and sitting upon it is a quartz stone. Probably familiar to Xantia -- she gave it to Azoth. Azoth dares to reach out for it, and slowly takes it back as this time Ceru doesn't go running off with it.
And then Ceru refuses to leave.
"...But he's very stubborn."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
It may be the most predictable thing ever, that Xantia would immediately choose to chime in to help dispel Azoth's doubts. "We'll figure it out. Even if we end up in a situation where I don't have the answer myself, we can figure it out together. Everything's easier together." It's impossible for things to be worse once there's no longer anybody forcing confrontations, easy bright side to look on.
Besides... all she really has to do is speak the same words that she'd hope to hear spoken to her, in the same situation. Being so alike is basically cheating.
And yet, she appears surprised by Azoth's lack of surprise that Pokemon would approach her. It took time for her to see them as more than animals... but, the animal aspect is still there, and she has zero affinity with regular animals. "Well, I sure didn't see it coming... I guess I still have things to learn about myself, that maybe don't even have anything to do with my memory." Actually learning new skills rather than remembering ones she used to have, what a concept!
Xantia of course gives Azoth all the time he needs to examine the Light Ball, though she's glad it wasn't mistaken as a gift. She does want to see if she can figure out how to tap into its power, but needing to ask for it back would've felt bad. That dilemma is thankfully avoided, Xantia returning it to the pouch it came from. "Pawmi'll understand," she's certain.
As they discuss Ceru, the Pokemon decides to make an appearance, briefly startling Xantia. You'd think she's used to suddenly appearing ghosts, but somehow it's different when it's Shoo. Seeing the presented crystal, she lets out a gasp, then a chuckle as she quickly pieces things together. "That's something I had to learn too... Pokemon do what they want. You can't tell them 'no', you need to get them to agree on 'no'. And that won't happen if they've made up their mind." When you look at it that way, it's really not very mysterious that Xantia gets along with them, is it?
She gives Azoth a quick poke in the midsection. "You dummy, you should have realized as soon as he took that crystal. You wouldn't have needed that chase all the way here if you'd just done the only thing that made sense."
Being Xantia is so simple. You just have to do the only thing that makes sense, every time. What could be easier?
<Pose Tracker> Azoth has posed.
Everything is easier together. Azoth stops. His eyes shimmer with a strange light, not quite blue. He looks back to Xantia, and the moment passes, everything normal. It takes another moment before it seems he 'starts' again, but he smiles. "You're right." He closes his eyes and steels himself. "...You're right. I can't forget that."
It really is cheating, because the way Xantia says it isn't specific to Azoth's situation. It could equally apply to her own -- and there's no way Azoth can argue against what he wishes he could say back to her even if he doesn't always believe it in the fact of Solaris' corrosion.
Azoth gives another bright smile at Xantia's own surprise. "Not to go in circles, but that doesn't surprise me either. You're too busy being you to know what it's like to be around you. And hey, take it from me, sometimes it's fun putting new memories against old ones you find."
You know, when it's not tragic.
Azoth's no electric type. Well. Maybe. Is he? Ethius' sorcery sure does hurt... Anyway -- that Light Ball has more use in Xantia's hands. It's enough to have the treasure shared, like her reward from the Fire Trial. "I'll let you know if I piece together anything from the data I collected." Maybe that will help inspire Pawmi's forgiveness.
BUT THEN, he gets teamed up by Xantia and his own(?) Pokemon! Unjust! Unfair! And a completely reasonable consequence of his actions! He is justly poked and reacts with the appropriate flinch before sagging into a sulk again. Ceru pats him on the head with a ghost blade.
Xantia is, of course, right. Again. That's the problem -- everything that makes sense is everything Solaris would keep him from. Comical as his slumping is, he lifts back up... partly.
"...I just don't want to keep ruining your smile."
<Pose Tracker> Xantia has posed.
Xantia has no idea what to make of the Moment that Azoth seemed to have there, so she makes the executive decision to Not Worry About It, a tactic that has yet to fail her (except for the times where it did). It's the eventual conclusion that's really important.
And speaking of conclusions... Xantia has to give it to Azoth, letting out an awkward laugh in response. "You got me. I really don't feel like I know myself very well to begin with, memory aside even. Guess I can rely on you to fill in some of those blanks."
Of course sharing Good Rocks isn't about getting anything out of the deal herself, but naturally she won't refuse Azoth's help. "I'd appreciate it! It probably wouldn't be good if I just... drew the magic out of it, it'd be better if there was another way to use it."
As for doing the only thing that makes sense... well, that should be simple, by her reckoning. She may not be taking all factors into account for that. Either way, she wasn't expecting to hear those words. It takes her a moment for the surprise to fade, before she decides that now is the time for an overdue hug. "You're not ruining anything. None of this is your fault. And besides... I can't smile all the time, that's fine. Think of it like... the weather. Sometimes it rains, but the sunshine always returns."
Who knew Xantia was a poet? Actually it's a song she's thinking of, but that's neither here nor there, it's the sentiment that's important.