"You were beautiful, outstretched like antennas to Heaven. You reached out for God, and you fell. None were left to speak your eulogy. No final words, no concluding statement; no point."
"Perfect closure."
kxraunos; penned by Mephi, an independent Pokemon Villain OC RP Blog, follows through wxlpurgxsnxcht
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Disclaimer: There can and will be dark themes present in this blog, but once they do, the posts that have such will be tagged under trigger warnings (The blog's take on Castelia City that is posted in wxlpurgxsnxcht, for example, has TWs on drugs and drug mention)
Highly canon divergent due to the nature of Keraunos Pharmaceuticals.
A study in: The moral disassociation in the pursuit of a "Greater Good", Scientific nihilism, Transhumanist obsession, The weaponization of empathy, Manufactured icons and false pedestals, The deification of the rational mind, Cosmic indifference and egoism masquerading as vision.
Inspirations: Project Moon (Limbus Company, Leviathan, Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina), Half-Life, Resident Evil, The Boys, The SCP Foundation, Cyberpunk 2077 and ULTRAKILL
Castelia was always crowded, always loud, always shining.
Honestly, if it hadn’t been for the fact that N had business with the upper crust, he’d be elsewhere. Alas. Business waited for no one. And though he was dressed business casual ( having teased his awful mop of hair into a smooth braid… somehow ); he clearly stood out simply by how he stood.
“… Kerauno-Mart?” N asked after a while, eyeing Erisyne as one did a fellow predator. “I’m afraid the business is unfamiliar to me.” He could handle this well enough; it was a subtle shift of gears from ‘N,’ the individual to ‘N’, the leader of an organisation. Something about this woman though… he discreetly shifted his head so that he could view her better.
She smells bad, Blueberry commented from her position by his foot, having chosen to walk beside him today to give the illusion that the humans so desperately craved in this part of the world. Like castle-levels of bad.
Oh? Sharp eyes, she noted. Perhaps it was him being both observant and guarded? That is likely the most probable cause.
"Absolutely." Erisyne spoke, a small smile on her face. "Keraunos Pharmaceuticals, as our name suggests, is a pharmaceutical company. We aim to help people and Pokemon bolster their bonds, with a little help from our... products." She explained.
"Having managed to establish ourselves proper in Unova, our vision is to improve Pokemon and human synchronicity. Our products take pride, in which they can be used by Pokemon and human, alike, like our KX line, for example. An improvement over the trademark X performance enhancers that people already readily use, Kerauno-X, or KX, for short, has products that can be used by either human or Pokemon, that which can further enhance both their capability during on-field performance, promoting a deeper synchronization between people and Pokemon. In short, it ensures that both us and them would be able to trust each other better, with a unified mind, and a unified purpose."
Bond brought forth out of optimization, no less. Not that Erisyne would openly mention that, anyway.
"Of course, Keraunos also has made endeavors that do help in energy research, as well as augmentation for Pokemon." A pause, as she would raise a finger. "Augmentation, that helps in physical and neurological therapy. After all, whether we like it or not, some of our Pokemon can and will be receiving injuries that a Pokemon Center or restorative medicine wouldn't help much to relieve. Think of the longer lasting injuries, for example. With Keraunos' non-invasive augmentations, we help our reliable partners in being able to return to their prime condition with a bit of extra help from us."
"'Connected in Trust, United in Evolution'. That is Keraunos' catchphrase, after all."
Sounds promising, of course, After all, Keraunos' CEO would want to make sure that her company would be known and well-received, never mind the fact that a pharmaceutical company would also have endeavors on energy research, unless they are branching out on other endeavors.
Yet even then, her spiel was well-rehearsed, spoken in a 'what you want to hear' tone. The tone that sells.
It not recognizing her prompt as a command that needs obeying was already enough for her to form a hypothesis on her mind regarding the activations of its unit. Was it sent out for a test run? Was it sent out to target her? Latter is unlikely. Her own unit would have immediately hit hard before her target would have reacted, then get away from the scene before any further commotion would be drawn.
Then again, that was just comparison out of personal bias.
Or perhaps a third reason, that which it had broke from its creators?
Erisyne is not, by any means, unaware of how tense the air between her and mechanical monstrosity is right now, what with its tilted head. Perhaps it was assessing, on whether she was a threat or not. And if it did?
Then things would indeed end up unnecessarily drastic now, would it?
"Fine. You can you keep your secrets to yourself, machine." She stated. "But all I want to know is the purpose of you being here. Was it for scouting? Assassination? Subterfuge? Or is it something that you don't even know why? Like a haunting ghost beneath the programming?"
Apprehensiveness set aside, Keraunos' CEO would now gravitate to her usual; curiosity. Hence why she enumerated any possible reason as to why it is here; on what purpose it would be having.
After all, she's handled with a similar unit to it, which makes her now intricately fascinated if she can make comparisons and contrasts between what is hers, and this one.
"You were beautiful, outstretched like antennas to Heaven. You reached out for God, and you fell. None were left to speak your eulogy. No final words, no concluding statement; no point."
"Perfect closure."
kxraunos; penned by Mephi, an independent Pokemon Villain OC RP Blog, follows through wxlpurgxsnxcht
Navigation: Carrd | Public vs Private Knowledge | The Blog's take on Castelia City
Disclaimer: There can and will be dark themes present in this blog, but once they do, the posts that have such will be tagged under trigger warnings (The blog's take on Castelia City that is posted in wxlpurgxsnxcht, for example, has TWs on drugs and drug mention)
Highly canon divergent due to the nature of Keraunos Pharmaceuticals.
A study in: The moral disassociation in the pursuit of a "Greater Good", Scientific nihilism, Transhumanist obsession, The weaponization of empathy, Manufactured icons and false pedestals, The deification of the rational mind, Cosmic indifference and egoism masquerading as vision.
Inspirations: Project Moon (Limbus Company, Leviathan, Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina), Half-Life, Resident Evil, The Boys, The SCP Foundation, Cyberpunk 2077 and ULTRAKILL
Spinel had to give her some credit, she had seemingly planned all of this accordingly. The imposing boardroom, the casual way she slid into her seat and settled herself at the head of it. A queen on a throne – but was it truly hers? That was the unknown factor he didn’t know, and as such; he treated it as such.
A gracious half bow was given to Erisyne Spinel pointedly ignoring the chair and instead, wandered towards the front. He stood before the window for a moment, arms tucked behind his back as he watched the Unovan skyline as if lost in thought.
Erisyne was posturing, and it was unnecessary. A sign of weakness, in his opinion.
“How familiar are you with… myths and legends? Genuine question – do you prefer them as fables, or something… tangible?”
A brief pause. There was silence in this briefness, before Keraunos' CEO let out a chuckle.
"Alas, they are forces of nature. You cannot take that from them." She began. No need to dilly dally around. She already knew what he was getting at. "But let us not pretend that they are untouchable. Invincible. Divine. Where others see them as objects of worship, idols to pray to, or pedestals of reverence, I see... utility."
She continued on, bringing up one index finger.
"No matter how sacred or sanctified their origins may be, they are but tools of ultimate leverage; raw, unfiltered apexes of power that can be bent to a purpose. You just have to find the right... pressure."
"But alas, seeing them as weapons is only a shortsighted endeavor, when you can use them for so much more." A pause. She had already elaborated enough.
"They're already tangible enough. The only thing left to do is to... reshape them. Redefine their very existence. And then they will be seen more than just myth and mystery."
“I think I’ve seen all I wanted to see, and I believe we’ve danced around the subject well enough.” Spinel said after some moment of silence, allowing Erisyne’s words to wash over him as though it were mere water. His gaze slid from her for a moment, studying his pokémon as umbreon lifted hiself up on his hindlegs to sniff at a researcher thoughtfully. His gaze landed on some of the products, his expression remaining passively curious – though he seemed to gloss over the ones that inhibited emotional enhancement with a bit of a bored expression.
“Umbreon, are you done playing?”
Smells strange, the pokémon said after a moment, before dropping down and padding back over to sit obediently at his feet. “’Bre. Um.” I think we can trust on a surface level.
Interesting.
His attention drifted back to Erisyne, canting his head in a manner to indicate intrigue. The researchers seemed to be watching the pair of them curiously, and he’d not give them anymore than he’s already hinted at. The time for making stances and grand gestures was over with – the masses have been appeased and Spinel could feel his desire to remain in a public front dwindling.
Ah, he longed for his hotel room; tucked away safely in the upper echelons of Castelia City’s streets.
“Shall we take the talks elsewhere – a bit more, private; perhaps?”
Would be her simple reply, striking both as agreement to them having danced around well enough, and to have this settled in a more private setting. A breathing room for the both of them to drop initial pretenses.
"Very well. Let us talk business, then."
And thus, Erisyne would lead him back to the elevators, in which she would, upon both of them entering the car, swipe a keycard of hers on a card reader just above the elevator buttons. Hence, it would close shut, and start ascending, higher and higher; stopping for no one until they would reach the topmost floor, and once they reached it? The elevator car would open its doors, with Erisyne leading the way down the hallway. Obviously, not anyone was able to be allowed to be here.
"Please; sit." She stated, upon them entering a boardroom of sorts, with a long table at the center of it all, vacant seats in which Spinel can take any of his choosing, while Erisyne herself would take the one at the very end.
There would be a brief, glitched out distorted static that can be heard passing by, before something would appear above Erisyne's right shoulder as she sat down; a Porygon-Z, it seems, that which to be displaying glitch-like twitches every couple of moments, yet unbothered with this physical quirk at all, staring intently at Spinel and his Umbreon with deep intrigue.
"Here we are; just like what you have requested." She spoke. "Now, let's hear what you really have in mind."
Spinel’s teeth clicked softly at her statement, and her questions as umbreon fell from his shoulders easily as they stepped onto the floor; at his side by the silent command. His intel had proven correct; this was a more, legitimate side of what was going on here. A few floors down harboured the real parts of this organisation, the beating, rotten heart. She spoke from a script, rattling off words as if she’s rehearsed them time and time again. Playing her hand close, but not too close.
Erisyne’s eager to see if he caught the bait.
“What lengths I’d go?” there’s a soft laugh at that. “Well. Exceeds’ limits have ever been the sky and above. We aim to enhance the daily lives of trainers and pokémon alike. There is nothing short of the gods that would stop us from helping those in need to gain their treasures.”
While he was speaking, umbreon had been simply looking around, ears twitching occasionally. Picking up conversations, comments to file away for later. For them to muse over together in companionable silence.
“… But in the end, we are only slaves to the needs of the people. So in short; the lengths Exceed would go are far.” Spinel watched the people for a moment, studying their habits to their movements. Methodical. His gaze returned to Erisyne, “The common trainer may be content with our offers of aid and improvements; but we must never slack in the continued effort to ensure a world where human and pokémon live in comfort.”
And he too, almost sounded like spoke from a script about Exceed, as well on how to uplift the daily lives of Trainers and Pokemon alike, just as carefully crafted as she has with hers. Fascinating, really.
"Like antennas to heaven." She muttered, regarding the lengths he'd go. Good, that's sufficient enough answer for her. "Of course, of course. If we slack on the momentum, we will only ever reach so far. If we don't either go with the flow of change, or wrest control of change to a more favorable future, then how are we ever going to see through the evolution and optimization of both humans and Pokemon, alike?" Of course, around this legal facing facility this floor has, Spinel would get to see multiple Keraunos based products this floor has that are being tested for quality assurance. Devices that assist on emotional attunement between people and Pokemon, tools and items that help monitor bond growth and depth, and of course, batches of KX-line products were being appraised to check if they pass the ideal quality.
All definitely seemed good in the surface... but then again, that's what Erisyne wanted others to think. She has shepherded the public opinion to Keraunos' favor around Unova for years now, after all.
"Of course, with like-minded individuals, I wager that it'd help us eke out a step closer onto that goal of improvement and betterment now, no?"
“I could hardly consider him interesting.” Spinel responded with a casual air as they finally rose to their feet to join Edenia. She was sharp, deceptively so. Loyally did the umbreon follow after him, almost as if he were more a sentry rather than a companion; but no one truly understand their bond.
No one.
Spinel was watching her as much as she was watching him. Two predatorial species eyeing the other. Will they lock each other in battle, or will they consider truce? Hard to say. She seemed quite eager to get her claws into anything that was deemed useful, and he was there to simply see whether or not Exceeds ever truly needed this corporation’s help.
He loathed being in this city. It hasn’t changed a bit since he last left it. If anything, it’s only gotten worse.
“We happen to be life-long friends more than anything else. Isn’t that right, umbreon?”
Of course! Partners in crime, to the end! He hopped up onto Spinel’s shoulder, ignoring his trainer’s eyeroll. Never apart!
“He’s a bit spoiled. Forgive him for such childish behaviour.” Spinel said smoothly, stepping into the elevator car as the soft ding was heard; door opening to reveal it. “I imagine you must be the opposite, then? Or are pokémon forbidden in being out? In that case I can recall him if I need to?”
"Leave him out. I don't mind Pokemon being out, so long as they're not too... rowdy." She simply stated, walking into the car and waited for Spinel and his Umbreon to walk in, as well. "I have a Porygon-Z that can be quirky, depending on situation, but its relatively well-behaved, for the most part."
She would have gotten the car to go straight up to her office to make further discussions, but since he wants to see the facilities first, she'd let him. Of course, she would set the car to go on one of the floors that had more of the morally acceptable and legitimate facilities. This would be her testing the waters, after all.
If her assumption would be right, then he would likely look for more than what she would show him in a controlled setting.
And as the elevator car had already closed its door and started ascending, Erisyne would then say "Good to know that you and your Pokemon are life-long friends. After all, Keraunos Pharmaceuticals' vision is to further enhance Pokemon and human bond and synchronicity. Seeing people bonded with their chosen Pokemon further emboldens that vision." The usual spiel, worded out in almost the same way as she had asked him that boring question from earlier.
But of course, as they started to near the designated floor, she would return to that same question.
"Right. I did ask just moments on 'what do you want more than anything?' Alas. Let me rephrase it then." A pause. "I wonder... What lengths will you go through to get what you want?"
His gaze cuts through the space between them as the young woman spoke, earning Spinels attention – for a moment.
Only a moment, before it shifted away, hand absentmindedly brushing against umbreon’s back. “That’s such a, boring question to ask.” Spinel said finally, resting his chin on his free hand, cupping his cheek thoughtfully as he stared at Edenia thoughtfully. “You should approach it at a different angle. ‘what do you want more than anything’ is such a broad scope. I could want two bagels. I could want a spa day. There’s just so much I could want!”
Spinel, a thoughtful tap to the umbreon’s back. He got the point.
“I suppose for now I’d want to start with something… small. Perhaps a tour of your facilities?”
Indeed. Her choice to ask such a generic and boring question was, for the most part intentional. After all, its those kinds of questions that often garner attention, depending on person.
"Touche." Erisyne simply stated in turn, before then adding "I, too, want plenty of things, but with such a broad question, we would be here all day discussing about what we want. Indeed, I can see the dullness to it." Now he wants a tour on her facilities? She would simply give him a smile, before turning around.
"Come follow me, then. I'm sure you'd find something that would spark your... deep interest."
She would then walk past the main lobby and one of the elevators available, in which she would then call one for them.
"Your Umbreon is... interesting." She began, back still facing him as she waited for the elevator car to descend to them. "I can tell that you're more than well acquainted with it." Course she'd take notice of Spinel's bond with his Pokemon. Those who have partners who stay outside of their Pokeballs and tend to follow them around are often the ones that have really close bonds, and those are ones that are well-deserved to be studied.
"The prodigal son returns." She muttered to herself. Sure, he has grown, but the resemblance on whatever record, fragments of them, about this certain individual does have certain descriptions that do fit. She'd criticize the old relic for everything he's done, and how his breakdown was a complete waste... But at least he had the least bit interesting loose end left behind.
Shame the old relic of days past has squandered such potential.
Then again, from what she had gathered since her return to Unova years ago, she can assume that as manipulative as he was, his temper was wasteful.
... But perhaps she can still salvage. Its a long shot in the dark, but there's always a non-zero chance. She's always found a way to make things work.
"Welcome." She began, approaching N as she smoothly weaved across the crowd flocking the store for her infrastructure's products. "You're just in time for the grand reopening of Kerauno-Mart after some key renovations. Are you interested on trying some Keraunos-based commodities, or are you here to window shop for a future purchase?"
Public Knowledge (This is knowledge anyone can know)
-She is known to the public as Erisyne Velis, CEO of Keraunos Pharmaceuticals, a cutting-edge biotech company that had established itself on Unova ten years ago, known for breakthrough advancements on energy research, Pokemon augmentation, experimental medicine. Keraunos also promotes stronger Trainer to Pokemon bond and synchronicity.
-A former Aether Foundation scientist who used to be involved in genetics and rehabilitation programs for Pokemon.
-Keraunos, for the span of ten years, has been seen as a philanthropic corporation, most especially in underfunded regions that had suffered ecological damage from previous Plasma and Neo Plasma activity.
-Erisyne's persona has been portrayed in PR as 'intellectual, visionary and ethical', which would be a stark contrast towards past villainous figureheads such as Ghetsis.
-Known to have her own set of four Pokemon, namely Malamar, Tinkaton, Salazzle and Porygon-Z.
-Under her leadership, Keraunos has been a household name all across Unova.
-Has one of the highest employment rate of applicants across the region when it comes to the scientific field, rivaled by or second only to Silph Co and Devon Corp.
-Erisyne Advocates for a better, symbiotic future between both humans and Pokemon alike, through the means of science and mutual empowerment in order to boost Pokemon to human synchronicity.
-One of Keraunos' bestselling products is the KX, or Keraunos-X line, as not only they are marketed as 'better than the X enhancers' in every way, some of the KX products also are intended to be used by Trainers, themselves, said to deepen human to Pokemon bond.
Semi Public Knowledge (This is knowledge that can be known in certain inner circles)
-Keraunos is under suspicion to having ties to remnants of Neo Team Plasma, yet there has not been any solid proof that could even support this claim as of yet.
-Keraunos Pharmaceuticals' main HQ and other branch HQs have certain floors and basement floors that are only accessible by higher level employees, while standard floors are only available for standard-level, civilian employees.
-Erisyne's departure from Aether Foundation has been abrupt. When asked, Erisyne simply would answer that it is because of creative differences and philosophical divergence. She wouldn't elaborate after that.
-Some Keraunos branches and remote facilities operate under strict NDAs, and only restricted to trusted personnel, only.
-As it is required by the Unova League for transparency, the official documentations show that Keraunos has managed to acquire ex-Neo Plasma and Aether scientists alike, the former being supposedly ones who were released from custody under good behavior, and thus were pulled into Keraunos via their employment programs.
Private Knowledge (This is knowledge either only very few people know, if one manages to dig deep enough, or known only by Erisyne herself)
-Her true name is Edenia Valentine. During her return to Unova, as well as her decision to form Keraunos, she started to scour through, and burn away as much documents, physical and digital, as she could, that has her real name listed.
-She essentially took Neo Team Plasma's infrastructure for herself, as Ghetsis' mental collapse deemed him unfit to lead, thus converting Neo Team Plasma into Keraunos' hidden foundation. More accurately, Keraunos, by technicality, is Neo Team Plasma, operating legally on the surface.
-Her full team consists of Salazzle, Tinkaton, Malamar, Porygon-Z, a modified Type: Null with its RKS System forced online at the cost of extreme pain whenever it is activated, and an improved and further optimized Genesect, the latter two kept completely off the grid, either hidden deep in Keraunos HQ, or deployed on Keraunos facilities that are in need of strict patrolling.
-Erisyne uses her Genesect to make several "problems" for Keraunos "disappear".
-Erisyne uses several tools such as blackmail, psychological conditioning and memory suppression either through her Malamar or "medicine" to control either humans and Pokemon alike when needed.
-Erisyne has formed backup plans, contingency measures and kill-switches should Keraunos be exposed or attacked.
-Freelancers like Vivian and Morgan alike tend to be a thorn to her side. While the latter can be hired for some of Keraunos' dirty work, there were instances in which Morgan was on the job against Keraunos' interests.
-She's not interested in the whole "liberation" spiel of old. Erisyne's true goal is the optimization of Pokemon and human behavior via enforced stability, with her at the helm of the technocratic capitalist rule, at the cost of individuality, freedom and autonomy of everyone else.
-The KX-line products often have dangerous side-effects, with addiction and dependence being the least of the worries of those who are afflicted by said side effects the most. Keraunos often chalk this up to "physiological incompatibility", "malpractice or misuse of product" or a "bad batch of the product having been used". They have long since established "KX aptitude test facilities" to prevent this. Numerous Trainers and Pokemon do come out well, but something definitely feels off with them, too.
