w i l l p o w e r

[uncloudedoutlook]

Left Behind || Cyrus / Jupiter

[uncloudedoutlook]

She acted as though there was nothing wrong, as though he was attached to her. She looked at him with that affection, and it made his stomach turn – his mouth go dry. How could she think that, when she should know how he was – when she took pride in seeing a moment of disgusting weakness? And there she went, speaking, speaking like she knew so much. He looked in her direction out of necessity for a degree of politeness, but he looked past her, through her. He did not see those painted lips nor did he see the color of her hair – he saw only the wall, the door he would make her exit very, very soon.

Not soon enough.

Jupiter’s words kept going, never seemed to end. Somewhere along the line, the Galactic Boss had stopped really listening and ended up only hearing the sound of her voice, with each new syllable spoken sending another wave of…something through him. Until he had had enough of it, could listen to her no longer and spoke up against her in a tone much harsher than he had intended.

“That’s enough talking, Jupiter. Sit down.”

It was only now that she realized how fearsome his anger and distaste was. Her eyes widened slightly, her motions stiffer now as she moved to sit down in the chair as though she were waiting for the interrogator to begin. But now that he had her sitting down, breath held in her chest as she waited for his judgment, what could be said that would not make him appear to be completely out of control of himself? Tucking his arms behind his back he began to pace about his desk, brows furrowed and eyes shadowed.

Time went on, a steady march, an endless stretch of silence before he finally turned about and faced her again, this time looking into her eyes, taking measure of the surprise. The hurt. Where did she think she was justified in bearing such a look towards him? She had done more to him in one night than he could possibly do to her in a lifetime…!

Cyrus again battled within himself to reduce the tide and swell of ugly emotion, of the pieces of humanity he had long since declared gone from his life. Still, there were traces of harshness in his tone when he spoke to her now, his lips pulled deeply into a scowl of proportions unseen on his expression before now. “I wish to speak to you about that night.”

The thought of it turned his stomach with a pleasure that he did not want, with a subsequent fury that was a sign of weakness. He wanted this over. He wanted to not look at her anymore, he wanted to not feel this anymore, to return to his stony exterior, to be solid within himself once more.

“…And to make it clear that there is nothing of tenderness, nothing of value between us.”

The only answer he received from the woman sitting in the chair was silence, an uncomfortable shifting, an aversion of her eyes from his cold and angry stones. The fury, the ugly, pitiful fury building within his stomach boiled over like water on the stove, and he curled his hands into tight fists. Taking one step towards her - and his desk by extension - stiff, aggressive.

“Answer me.” His tone dropped to one of a commander, one of demand. “This is a conversation not a man talking in the mirror. It takes two people. What have you to say?” 

[skuntankerous]

Cyrus paced.  He paced and he paced and he paced.  Every step was heavy against the tiled floor, every turn was rushed.  He was more than angry--he was furious.  The Commander could do no more than watch silently, waiting for him to cease.  He had cut her off, had wished her to quit speaking!  Had a mere status report warranted such aggression?  Certainly it did not, but Cyrus was a man with deformed emotions--it was far too easy for him to lose control when he was like this.  So what caused this change...?

At last the Galactic Boss halted in his march.  His hands gripped the excess fabric around his wrists in earnest; a sign of warring with himself indeed.  Jupiter's eyes flicked up to Cyrus' face.  Surely he would break the silence.  Surely he would speak the words and tell her what was ailing him.  He turned to face her, every movement stiff, as if he was forcing himself to continue.

When his eyes met hers she knew.  Those impassive, sky blue eyes were familiar no more.  With one look all the hatred from his voice transferred into her soul--she was the culprit, she was the foul beast against his ugly ire.  The Commander met his gaze, but she could not mask her surprise.  What had she done?  Cyrus' brows twitched as if he had not been expecting her reaction.

And as he glowered at her, Jupiter could see past his fury the struggle he held within himself.  His shoulders rose and fall with his ragged breathing, but no noise escaped his lips.  There was no need for words--she knew him too well.  Such emotion she was sure he'd never felt before, as she was sure he was struggling to rein them in.

But Cyrus opened his mouth to speak, and what came next would not be forgotten.  "I wish to speak to you about that night."  His words were slow, harsh, his face contorted in a scowl unlike anything she'd seen him express before.  Jupiter's heart skipped a beat.  Two.  He moved his head slightly, as if to get a better view of... not her.

His gaze slid past her, through her.  It was anywhere but with hers.  The Commander did not know if she craved his eye contact or if she preferred it this way.  She re-crossed her legs, her toes touching the gift in the process; Jupiter refrained from shuddering.  After an agonizing amount of seconds, his attention returned to her.  "To make it clear that there is nothing of tenderness, nothing of value between us."  The finality in such a simple sentence was too much for her to bear.

Her heart plummeted in a way that she had not felt since her childhood.  Ultimately crushed beyond all recognition, it was with agonizing heartache that she realized she had erred.  Jupiter looked at her hands.  To have thought that she--with Cyrus--was a thing that she could have hoped to dream.  Her chest tightened, but she could not bear his wrath if she moved to clasp it.  She held back the sob that threatened to escape her lips.  Should she show how his words hurt her, he'd--

"Answer me."

Jupiter nearly jumped out of her skin.  Swallowing hard and masking her distress as well as she could, the Commander slowly regained eye contact with her boss.  He was as close to her as the desk between them would allow, his hands clenched tightly by his sides and fury radiating off of him in waves.  In his eyes she saw the storm that lay within--the storm she had once tried to help him manage.

"This is a conversation, not a man talking in the mirror," Cyrus snarled.  He looked down upon her as if she were an ant, where he would love nothing more than to squash her like the insect she was.  "It takes two people.  What have you to say?"

The Commander was trapped like a rodent between the paws of her Skuntank.  He expected--demanded--that she answer.  Jupiter averted her eyes again, struggling for a response.  There was nothing she could say to him that would please him, nothing she could do to earn the trust she thought she'd had.  There was nothing between them, and that night, their date...

...it was not what it had felt like.  His opening up to her was nothing.  It meant nothing.  The sea allowed his soul to flow through his lips, and the knowledge she gained of his past was a treasure not meant for her.  It was a secret well kept, and a secret that should have never made its way to her ears.

...and their kiss...

...it was but an allusion, a moment of his weakness, of her taking advantage of his open heart.  The Commander swallowed, feeling the heat of his glare on her as she stared at her clenched hands, at the box that lay in reach of her boots.  If she did not speak now, the unthinkable would happen.

She knew who he was entirely, but that was a lie.

Cyrus was unpredictable.  There was nothing to know that he did not wish others to know.

After what seemed like a century, Jupiter finally allowed herself to speak, raising her head to meet his eyes and sitting up as straight as she could.  "I see now that I have erred," she stated coolly.  Each syllable was torture, but she could not let that show.  She was adept at many things, but nothing could have prepared her for this.  "That night, I was under the impression that you..."

It was here where her words faltered.  He denied any and all of their actions, and she did not want to agree.  To agree would be to pretend that there was nothing between them--something that was, wholeheartedly, a lie.  But she had to finish.  She had to utter the words that would effectively rip her heart in two.

"You are correct, Cy--Master Cyrus.  There is nothing between us.  I take full responsibility for my actions if you wish to punish me."

[skuntankerous]

Snowbound || Aaron / Jupiter

Snowpoint City.  Jupiter never thought she’d be back here again.  She leaned back in the bench and looked towards the overcast sky.  It was just the same as when she’d visited weeks prior, though she could not escape the crushing weight that now seemed to envelop her body.  Snowpoint was the closest thing to space outside of traversing up the fierce crags of Mount Coronet, but it was here on this bench that she felt otherworldly.

Magenta eyes surveyed the swirling greys and whites of the expressive atmosphere above her—how several weeks could change one’s perspective!  There was no need for her to hurry for information any longer; that had already been retrieved.  For now, her objective was the Lake Guardian Uxie.  But Jupiter felt no more motivation to carry through with those plans than a Snorlax exercising on the world’s most durable treadmill.  Cyrus’ plans, she decided, would have to wait.

But for who else but Cyrus would she so loyally follow?  Outside her own desires, there was nothing attaching her to this world.  Was it for that reason, perhaps, she had said ‘yes’?  The Commander didn’t know anymore.  He had cast her aside to this sorrowful place—Snowpoint City was the only location he could send her where he would be 100% certain she would be “out of sight, out of mind.”  With a frown, she returned to a normal sitting position and brought her knees together.  She was a strong, independent woman who didn’t need a man to define her.  

But what was the point?  She sighed, glancing up slightly to see her Skuntank padding back to her side.  Jupiter stroked Lucifer’s head before standing.  There was nothing she wanted to do more than to walk off the thoughts that plagued her.  Pulling the fur ruff of her collar higher, the Commander walked away from the snow-covered city, her Pokemon bounding from one vacant footstep to the other.

[uncloudedoutlook]

Left Behind || Cyrus / Jupiter

[uncloudedoutlook]

Where there had been some degree of wonder – and perhaps even pleasure – upon the night they had shared, and regret upon her leaving there was none any more. The feeling of something just short of bliss – brought on by having someone who honestly cared for him and his history without judgment – had persisted into the next two days beyond the event. But now it had faded into a form of…neutrality, or perhaps even disappointment – mostly directed at himself. He, Cyrus, was a man who was not swayed by emotions. He was not meant to be understood, only respected, looked up to, obeyed. He was a wall, a fortification; he could not be climbed or buried beneath, he could not be pummeled through without great effort.

Yet, he had chosen to give up that night, chosen to give in to her advances and do nothing against them. And then she lured him in – as though she had some kind of ability to Charm, like some creature from myth that was neither man nor Pokemon. When he realized the full effect that his compliance would have in the future he has wrung his hands and pulled at his hair, pacing his room back and forth until the very early hours of the morning. He had shown more than a little weakness, he had shown absolute vulnerability and even a human craving for attachment. And that was the most disgusting, harmful thing of all of this – he had learned since he was a child that he could not afford to want any form of attachment. That was the very thing that destroyed him in the first with his parents, what ended him in the later years as his grandfather was taken from him to a piece of life’s cycle that was unreachable for a simple man like Cyrus.

His mind was made up that day, about 4am in a misty morning – he would avoid her, he would keep her at a distance and pretend that nothing at all had happen. He would try to avoid seeing her, to avoid those feelings that he claimed he did not have, that he did not want to have.

Of course, such a decision was unable to be; it was foolish and not at all thought out. He could keep away from her, but not forever. He could send her off, but he had no reason for it. And he always needed a reason.

It was this matter that clouded his mind on this day, as he stood silently in his office, as stiff as a statue. He gazed outside at the world without any clear focus, hardly feeling the warmth of sunlight against his pale skin. Perhaps the best course of action would be to confront her, but then he would need to call her in to a private place, for a private meeting… and then he would have to maintain his cool.

What was it about her that made him weak? Was it her painted smile, her mature composure? It caused an ache in his chest and a well of something akin to terror deep within him, in the most primal spot of his body…

An interruption of his thoughts came – a knock upon his door. He barely stirred, turning his head slightly to the side to gaze at it. He had not shut the door tightly, and he knew with a small push it would open; there was nothing to repel whoever it was, and he supposed he did not want to. A distraction to his musings would be welcome, even should it come in the form of a grunt who bumbled forwards without real conviction.

Another knock; the door opened slightly, he could tell by the sound of it swinging on its hinges. Though he should have spoken something, given some sign as to his consciousness, he did not – feeling almost as though he lacked the will to int hat moment. And was that not funny? He, the man who made speeches that wove words together so elegantly, that welcomed applause from every person who stood within the audience….

Of course, whatever luck he had worked against him. The voice that spoke to him was the very voice he least wanted to hear, belonging to the very person he was trying to decide the fate of. He tensed further, his crossed arms tightening and his jaw setting. But now he would have to face her. It would be better the sooner it was…

He focused for a moment on his faint reflection in the window, making sure that his eyes were hard and cold. Satisfied that he appeared suitably uninviting, he turned about slowly, back straight, standing tall. Oh, she smiled at him, and there again was the feeling that he wanted not to have any hint of. With a deep intake of air through his nostrils he gave a response, terse, simple; “Jupiter, what do you want?”  

[skuntankerous]

The Commander was a patient woman.  She had trained the unruly Skuntank, Lucifer, to be loyal to her.  She had traveled the countryside on a mission to find the most simple of things.  She had waited until she understood a situation before acting.  And now she waited for Cyrus.  The man had tensed at her words as if he was anticipating being beaten.  Had she interrupted him so forcefully?

Cyrus did not turn to face her immediately.  With his back to her, Jupiter could not know what he was thinking, or what he was looking at.  With all that had been happening with Galactic since her departure, he was sure to have plenty on his mind.  Jupiter was pleased in thinking that her arrival would be a welcome distraction.  Another minute passed in complete silence; the Commander dutifully waiting for her Boss to acknowledge her.

When he did turn, his movements were slow and his posture was stiff.  Jupiter's small smile never faded even as her eyes met Cyrus'; he looked like he hadn't been sleeping well.  She made a mental note to bring him a relaxant later--the pressures of being Galactic's Boss were taking its toll on him.

And when he spoke, it was in a voice that held more anger than anything she had heard him speak before.  "Jupiter, what do you want?"  Taken aback, the Commander's smile disappeared.  Cyrus looked at her with more negative emotion in his features that she wasn't sure if he was irritated with her or the current state of Galactic.  His wording was more intimate than was his usual style, but she knew that he had never let anger control his words before.

Jupiter knew now that Cyrus was more agitated than she had guessed.  Surely research wasn't coming along that badly?  She had checked in with them before she went to Cyrus--was there more that she did not know?  Saturn and his team of scientists were close to a breakthrough, but they were missing key ingredients.  Ingredients that she held in her position.  The gift-wrapped box lay at the foot of Cyrus' desk, unseen.

"I returned from abroad, that you so kindly allowed, and brought myself up to speed on Galactic's current state of affairs; I have just spoken with Commander Saturn and his team of scientists," Jupiter replied coolly, studying the extreme attempt at impassiveness that came over Cyrus.  Their eyes did not meet now--his gaze was through her.  She wanted nothing more than to share the burden that he held in his heart, but she knew that he was not a man who could be pushed.

She had to take her time.  The night they shared together, though special, was something that she could not bring up now.  It showed, with his words--spoken and unspoken--that it had not gone forgotten.  "It appears that the progress that we've made isn't as much as we'd like," the Commander went on, preparing herself for the big reveal.  The gift was everything he could have asked for and more.  It would wipe the sour look right from his face and would bring their goals even closer in sight.  It'd be best to make the most of it, she decided.  "Therefore, I have--"

"That's enough talking, Jupiter.  Sit down."

The tone of his voice was dangerous.  Her eyes widened ever-so-slightly at the harsh command, but she obeyed nevertheless.  He fought the urge to glare at her, but his displeasure was more than obvious.  Jupiter shut her mouth like she was told and moved to sit in the uncomfortable chair that she stood beside.  Her boot touched her gift as she crossed her legs; she chose not to think about its contents.

Cyrus paced behind his desk; Jupiter could not help but feel like she was a prisoner about to be sentenced.

[uncloudedoutlook]

Left Behind || Cyrus / Jupiter

[uncloudedoutlook]

[ ... ]

They paused. It was the end of the line, it was time for them to part. He fought the urge to shuffle his feet, not wanting her to leave, to wanting to face the weight

emotions brought down on him alone. She smiled at him and he could not so much as smile back, filled with worry for the near future, hardly registering that this would be the end of a legitimately pleasant time. As her hands held his, as she moved closer and her chest brushed his own, he could do nothing, say nothing. The only movement about him was the rise and fall of his breathing, the way his eyes darted across her face…the motion of the blood rushing to his cheeks and coloring them.

His own pulse thumped in his ears, deafening. Her eyes flickered from his lips to his eyes, and he did not know what it was that she was insinuating, what it was that she wanted. There was no reason for this closeness, his logic told him. No reason at all. She wants something, racing conscious thought replied. I don’t know what.

Cyrus’ body reacted to the question, opening his mouth in a wide, questioning circle. A silent stare.

All his thoughts were shutting down, he was going blank. Blank as her hands moved to his elbows, blank as he felt her heartbeat atop his. Blank, as their noses touched and unconscious brain regulation made him pull in a deep, sharp sigh to try and fill his aching lungs. Had he stopped breathing? He could not say.

Round full lips pressed against his. He was stiff. His eyes remained open and he looked down at her, across her features, closer than he had ever been to anyone in the past. He could see the curve of her lid covering her eyes, he could see the pores of her skin. He could not breathe; this time he knew that.

In response she pulled away; a brief respite. But as he felt her hands change grip slightly, noticed her body move forward once more he braced himself. And this time he would be able to react.

But how?

It turned out that his body had its own ideas of how to react. All the tenseness in his muscles finally gave, causing him to pull backwards slightly; a reaction in time with her kiss. A small gasp escaped his mouth – one from surprise, from uncertainty.

And then the touch of her lips, her chest against his, was gone.

Cyrus had to blink a few times at his Commander in order to collect himself, to capture her apology. Her hands were sliding away from him and he did not want that – even though he had been confused it was not that he did not enjoy the contact.

Enjoy it. Who would have known?

“It-It’s okay.” He nearly slurred his words in his rush to reply to her – cutting her off accidentally in the process. In a very weak, desperate attempt to keep her contact just a moment longer, his fingers curled upwards around hers – and then they slipped away.

There was a feeling of desperation within him now. Of loneliness. A distinct sadness that he could not shake and was all too familiar with – but now it was stronger than ever. His lips curled into a gentle frown, eyebrows pulled low in a look of almost-concern; he did not want her to fear him for an action performed in a moment. An action he had enjoyed, that he would not mind again.

At his words, Jupiter’s head snapped back to look at him, their eyes meeting. Cyrus felt his cheeks heat once more – he could not handle her look so tender. He had never been looked at like that. And it made him…uncomfortable, almost. Unsure, most definitely. She breathed his name out, catching his hands up and pulling them to her chest so that he could feel the gentle beating beneath his palm like the wings of a Butterfree…

He lifted his eyes from their entwined hands and looked back into hers – into the light of happiness that was purely etched into her features. In a moment her hands left his, were placed on his cheeks – gentle and warm. He felt the urge to lean into one of them, to rest his cheek in the smooth curve of her skin, but then she was plastered close to him, their bodies touching, her lips meeting his. He parted his lips to gasp, his breathing stopping in surprise once more. He could feel her tongue slide across his trapped upper lip before their kiss deepened – and he leaned into it, sighing softly.

Was this how affection, pure and romantically loving, was supposed to be?

He did not notice how red his face had become, feeling heated through the whole of his body. As he pressed her forehead to his, he looked into her eyes with a feeling of complete and absolute tenderness, all his turmoils and pains forgotten for the moment. This time he did lean his head into her hand when her thumb stroked his cheek, feeling contented at the gentle pressure. And then it was gone, her fingertips lightly tracing his collarbone, making him feel cold and hot all at once, gooseflesh rushing on his skin. “I enjoyed tonight, Cyrus.”

His lips moved about his words awkwardly, slowly; all because he was shocked at his answer. “I…enjoyed myself, too…?” How could he? He had given up trying to resist the advances she made, yes, but he had enjoyed it, and that was the honest truth. Now all the heat within him turned to an icy chill, feeling only colder when she disappeared through the hotel doors.

This was not good, by no means at all was this good. In letting his guard down he had sacrificed his well being in the end – he was now vulnerable, more vulnerable than ever before – even after he had sworn to himself he would never be in a position where one person could hurt his heart any further than it had been.

“What have I allowed?” The Galactic Boss questioned the night sky, the stars above his head. “And why did I allow it?” 

[skuntankerous]

After returning to Galactic HQ and inputting all of the information she had found into the computers, and transferring everything she inferred from them into separate documents, the Commander's thoughts immediately began drifting towards that night.  Their night, she'd reminded herself with glee.  She wanted to do something for him, but what?  She pondered this throughout the missions she was assigned, going through them with ease until an ingenious idea came to her.

Jupiter requested a brief leave of absence forthwith, asking for her younger subordinate, H-47, to accompany her.  When it was granted, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.  One quick trip to visit the famous Bill and an updated ensemble to match, the Commander swapped personalities until she was successful in getting the one object in her possession that mattered: the Upgrade.  If there was one Pokemon whose evolution Cyrus hadn't studied, it was Porygon's.

The woman smiled; it would be unlike her to not go the extra mile.  Jupiter held the box firmly in her hands to avoid jostling the contents that lay within.  Now back in Sinnoh, her heart was filled with the joy her gift would bring him.  She'd picked the perfect time to bring it to him: Saturn and Mars were both out on missions, and she had just returned.  Cyrus would be in his office, of course, brooding over the paperwork she'd given him the day before.  His schedule was like a machine: diligent, concise, predictable.

Jupiter's boots clicked on the sleek tiles, her shadow long and trailing behind her.  It seemed like it had been forever since she'd last visited him here, taking care of him when he could not do so by himself.  Nurturing him had taken its toll on her affections, but ever since their night in Canalave, that could not compare.

It would have been odd, really, she thought suddenly, turning a corner and giving a grunt a nod, if they had spent more time together since their return.  It was only natural that they'd be apart, particularly for Cyrus, for the woman knew that he would reflect further upon their actions--their kiss--than anyone else.  The Commander wasn't bothered by their distance; she respected Cyrus' need to be alone.

That was what made him different.

Unlike all of the other men she'd dated, it was only with Cyrus that she felt the most comfortable.  He was slow, and she was patient.  He brooded, and she knew.  There was no need for action or adventure in their relationship--things would progress as they went, and they would be happy with that.  Despite Cyrus' communication flaws, she loved him just the same.

The book of myths, the Porygon, and its Upgrade were all for him.  And as she stood in front of the door of his office, the Commander's heart fluttered in a way that she feared would give away just how much she felt for him; their subordinates must not know.  How would the grunts view them if they violated the very rules Cyrus was so adamant about them not doing?  Everything they did together ever since that frigid morning was against regulation.

Jupiter kept her pleasure hidden from her features as she knocked on the stainless steel door, her knuckles rapping on the metal in quick bursts.  She waited for a moment, but there was no answer.  It was unlike Cyrus to ignore a request to enter his office: they only came when their was business to be done, and if he was not inside, the light above his door would be red.

Thinking he had not heard her, Jupiter knocked again.  This time, the door opened the slightest amount, and she entered with care, holding the gift box behind her back.  At the end of the room was Cyrus, staring out the window with his back to her.  He was like a statue, his figure as tall as ever, with his arms clasped behind his back like a lock.  The Commander took her chance to walk forward as quietly as she could and place the present out of sight in front of his desk.

"Good afternoon, Cyrus," she said, a slight smile forming on her lips.  She stood, waiting for the man she respected most to turn around, to face her for the first time since that night.  Jupiter controlled her breathing as she always did; there was no need to jump in to anything.  Give him time.

[skuntankerous]

Commander-in-Chief || Saturn / Jupiter

[valorcommander-deactivated20140]

Out of all the days Saturn got sick, it had to be today. The Commander knew something wasn’t right when he woke up feeling like someone had just threw a bucket of water over him, but simply shrugged the feeling off and continued to prepare himself for his boss’s speech the same afternoon. After slipping on his usual uniform, Saturn took the time to look at himself in the mirror, physically cringing at what he saw.

No matter how much concealer he applied, the bags under his eyes did not disappear. His skin was that pale it was eerily similar to Cyrus’s, while beads of sweat made his way down the side of his face. He could easily pick up the phone and call in sick, however that simply would not do for today. It just so happened that today was the day that Cyrus gave a speech to the new Grunts that had been recruited; if the highest-ranking Commander was missing, what kind of impression would that leave? They would think he was frail and weak- one that did not show face simply because of a small fever.

Sighing, Saturn pushed open the door, allowing his eyes to settle on the many Grunts that pushed and shoved their way up and down the corridor. They did, however, sidestep out the way for their Commanding Officer, allowing Saturn to pass through the hallway with ease. He wondered if the smarter ones noticed his slightly disheveled appearance, but shrugged off the thought as he stood on the warp panel that took him straight to balcony that looked directly onto the main hall, where most of the new recruits had already arrived at. As he took his place, his sapphire hues flickered from the grunts to his fellow Commanders. Mars looked as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as ever, while Jupiter simply gazed on towards the grunts that stood before her.

Shortly after the last few grunts scuttled into the hall, Cyrus made his way towards the edge of the balcony, silencing the excited recruits simply with his presence. Clearing his throat, the Galactic Boss began his speech just as he normally would; locking eyes with a few grunts while going on about his ideas for a new world. Saturn simply stood and watched while he folded his arms neatly behind his back, trying to ignore his pounding headache at the same time. Cyrus was not a loud man when he spoke, however, with Saturn’s fever, it sounded like his Boss was yelling in his ear. Usually Saturn would take pleasure in listening to one of Cyrus’s speeches. This time, the Commander prayed that it would end, so he’d be able to go back to his office and indulge himself in some paperwork or a magazine.

Upon ending his speech, Cyrus turned on his heel and strode to the back of the balcony, disappearing as he stepped on the warp panel. Saturn was about to do the same when he saw a familiar figure approach him out the corner of his eye. Turning his head, Saturn locked eye contact with Commander Jupiter, who he could just hear over the crowd. “This is a particularly lively bunch, wouldn’t you agree?” Quirking an eyebrow, Saturn opened his mouth to speak, eyes widening in horror when nothing but a sound that was somewhat similar to his very own Toxicroak came out.

Upon hearing this, Jupiter’s serious look quickly changed into one where you knew she was going to say something that would wind him up. And so she did. “My, my, Saturn, it looks like you’ve over-exerted yourself.  There is a bench just over there; perhaps you had better sit down.  It would not do for Cyrus to see you faint.” Saturn squinted at his fellow Commander, about to (attempt to) protest or come back with some smart remark, when a particularly strong thump to the back of his head stopped him. Instead, he simply looked over to the bench that Jupiter had mentioned before taking a seat, slumping against the wall rather heavily. God, he needed to lie down, not listen to speeches. He looked over to Jupiter, who still looked down on him, an amused look visible on her face. “Do not. Tell him.” Was all he managed to croak out at his fellow Commander. Saturn didn’t want Cyrus to know that he had come to work ill, mainly because he feared his boss’s reaction.

[skuntankerous]

Saturn's blue eyes narrowed at her quip.  He looked as if he were about to speak, but as if a sudden wave of nausea rushed over him, he blanched.  A small bead of sweat trickled down his brow and Jupiter's amused smirk faded.  He was more ill than she'd realized.  Without a word, she silently guided him towards the bench by the far wall, ready to assist him if needed.  Saturn's back hit the wall with a hard thump.

"Do not.  Tell him," he gasped, looking at her sternly before leaning his head against the wall.  The Commander pursed her lips; she was no Mars--she would not inform Cyrus of Saturn's current predicament.  He closed his eyes and tried to subdue his breathing, but it came in short, ragged pants.

The young man tried very hard to keep himself able at all times, but now he had pushed himself too far.  Jupiter glanced around the room: since Cyrus concluded his speech, all of the grunts had since returned to their work, leaving the large hall was empty.  It would be easy to move him without drawing attention to themselves now.

Jupiter looked towards the pale Saturn once more, who had since sat up and was staring blankly ahead.  He caught her eye but said nothing, more focused in his breathing than anything else.  He really did not look well--for a moment, Jupiter was reminded of Cyrus, with his dull gaze and his gaunt features.  The sickness enhanced the cheekbones on Saturn's thin face, and she could not help but compare the two again.

The Commander's frown deepened.  Moving to her friend's side, she placed a hand on his arm, her voice soothing: "Come, Saturn, we must get you to the infirmir--"

"Hehehe!"

A laugh like nails on a chalkboard sent chills down her spine.  Jupiter froze, her eyes darting towards the one she disliked the most: Charon.  The balding man laughed again, joining the two Commanders and grinning like he knew a secret they didn't.  Jupiter removed her hand from Saturn and whirled around, her stance poised.

"Well, well, well!  What do we have here?  Saturn, my boy--you look most unwell."  Charon looked at Saturn as if he were a test subject; the smile never left his lips.  "I'm sure you've told Cyrus of your little predicament, hmm?  Or would you rather I--"

"What are you doing here, Charon?" Jupiter interrupted, her voice cold.  She crossed her arms under her chest and straightened her back: though she tolerated the man because she had to, today she would not.  She would assert her superior status and force him to leave if he did not do so on his own.

Behind her, Saturn was struggling to stand up; Jupiter side-stepped in front of him and forced him to sit back down.  Her attitude only made Charon's smirk wider.  "I?" he asked innocently, motioning towards himself.  "I am consulting with my fellow Commander, Commander.  It should be I who is asking you what you are doing."  Pushing his glasses back up his nose, he smiled wickedly.  "Cyrus does not appear well today, either.  I'm surprised you are not by his side."

Charon glanced to the confused Saturn behind her; Jupiter's eyes narrowed.  "You need not concern yourself with my involvements, Charon," she warned, standing even straighter.  "Perhaps you should focus on matters that benefit Galactic.  Or should I remind you of the malfunctioning of your equipment in the recent expedition to Mt. Coronet?  Valuable information was nearly lost."  Jupiter took a step forward and uncrossed her arms; Charon took a step backwards, but his expression never changed.

"It is your involvement that brought about your troubles," Charon retorted, dropping his voice so that only she could hear.  Jupiter's glare worsened, but still the lesser Commander did not back down.  She understood the meaning in his words--it was obvious that Charon knew about their being trapped within the mountain.  But the implication he made made it perfectly clear that he knew about her affection for Cyrus.  Jupiter hoped that it did not go through to Saturn.

When she did not reply, Charon looked as if he'd won a gold medal.  He moved to taunt the sitting Saturn, a chuckle once against emerging from his portly body.  "My boy, I have not forgotten about you.  Jupiter would rather leave you here to prune than to send you to me to patch you up.  But as she cares nothing for others as she does herself, you will have to suffer."  He glanced to the object of his taunts before returning his attention back to the frowning Saturn.  "Tell me, how is your research going?"

Saturn, despite his sickness, looked as if he wanted to strangle Charon.  "While you were away doing... whatever it is that you do, I took it upon myself to finish our current project.  You're welcome."  The older man looked taken aback, but Saturn smirked at his reaction.  Leave it to Saturn to not be fooled by a sudden topic change.

Exhaling deeply, Jupiter let her irritation pass over her like water.  Her expression neutralizing, she took notice of her large Skuntank padding to where the three were, his expression fierce.  The Commander took her chance then, to step forward into Charon's personal space and to force him backwards.

"Your presence is no longer necessary here," she said with finality.  Charon began to say something about Cyrus, but she cut him off.  "Refrain from interrupting your superior officer while she is speaking, Charon.  Go back to your laboratory.  Finish the work Master Cyrus gave you.  That is an order."  Jupiter's eyes slid to her awaiting Pokemon.  "Lucifer, if you would."

With a yowl, Lucifer the Skuntank swiped at Charon's pantlegs.  The man kicked at him, but the Pokemon was not having any of his nonsense: standing on his back legs, Lucifer was nearly as tall as the lesser Commander.  He pushed on the older man's chest with his front paws and yowled again, shoving him so that he was forced to make a quick retreat.

As he left, Charon muttered something, but Jupiter did not care to hear.  She looked towards Saturn and her expression softened.  "It seems Charon's unwanted appearance has made you worse," she commented with a click of her tongue.

"Let me help you," she continued, helping him up when he fell back down, his energy spent.  Saturn tried to protest, but Jupiter ignored him, instead wrapping his arm over her shoulder as she led him through the hallways and through several portals until they reached the infirmirary at last.

[skuntankerous]

Commander-in-Chief || Saturn / Jupiter

There was no denying the fact that the Sinnoh region’s largest industrial mogul and leader of Team Galactic was more than adept at public speaking.  His voice was like silk, his words like honey.  When Cyrus spoke, it was if an artist laced his words with the addictive toxins of the heart’s desires; ideals went down easy with a charming demeanor and the promise of a new world.  It was to these words, among other reasons, that the Commander had said ‘yes.’  It was to these words that many a man was taken for a fool.

It was quite a sight to see, Cyrus performing.  He gestured and looked at the audience, as if engaging them in serious conversation.  Her magenta eyes flicked to her fellow Commanders, lingering at last on the thin body that was Saturn.  He knew, just like she knew, that their boss’ words were nothing like the man behind them.  Jupiter’s eyebrow raised as she caught his eye; perhaps he, too, thought of the upcoming disappointment and transformation of this new group of would-bes.  With his eloquent and well-rehearsed speech concluded, Cyrus stepped away from the podium and walked through the immense curtain behind him, applause trailing in his wake.  

The time now appropriate to wander, Jupiter removed herself from her position and headed Saturn’s direction.  When she was close enough for him to hear over the chattering crowd, she said, “This is a particularly lively bunch, wouldn’t you agree?”  The younger man turned to face her, his arms behind his back, not dissimilar to Cyrus’ standing position of choice.  ”Some would even call it a shame.  To see such excitable eyes and to feel the aliveness of their souls slowly escape the crevasses of their ‘incompleteness’…  Well, perhaps that, too, is a side effect of life.”

The Commander looked back towards her co-worker, expecting a huffy rebuttal.  But instead of a clever remark, she was met with silence: the thin line of sweat that veiled his forehead was all but unnoticeable.  lnstead of drawing unnecessary attention from the scattering crowd to his poor health, Jupiter tilted her head slightly before a smirk appeared on her painted lips.  “My, my, Saturn, it looks like you’ve over-exerted yourself.  There is a bench just over there; perhaps you had better sit down.  It would not do for Cyrus to see you faint.”

[skuntankerous]

"Hey! Hey Jupiter! Heeeeeey!" She clasped her hands excitedly while hopping from one foot to the other. "Did you hear? Did you? About you and Cy- Uh, Master Cyrus? Is it true? You know what I'm talking about, right? The kiss! C'mon, tell me!"

The Commander gave Hulda an amused smile before turning away.  "Go ask your father."

[skuntankerous]

GO BIG OR GO HOME AM I RIGHT

now excuse me while I go pass out for the next 3,000 years

or until I come back with Giovanni's event starter

kiss kiss fall in love, motherfuckers

(they kissed they finally kissed; see from middle-to-end of reply for details)

[uncloudedoutlook]

Into the Rabbithole || Cyrus / Jupiter

[uncloudedoutlook]

[ ... ]

In that one movement she made there was a new emptiness beside him, though the hand she had placed on his arm still remained in place. The closeness that had been gave way to an empty void, and he found that for once he did not like the hollowness that had taken its place. So he moved himself, to keep the contact, to keep them close so that they may walk comfortably. Her arm linked through his and grasped it, beginning to lead the way towards the park.

Despite the fact that he had wanted the closeness, had tried to maintain it, the squeeze on his elbow and the arm wrapped around him left him with no questions – Jupiter wanted this, wanted to pursue something that should have never begun. Cyrus swallowed a lump in his throat and spoke no words, thinking of nothing, trying to ignore the feeling of her arm around his.

He failed.

There was no preventing this inevitable happening. There was no halting her feelings or her actions by attempting to push her away now. With a deep breath his arm tightened, drawing her closer.

If all the world would become a hollow shell, just as Cyrus had always wanted to be, free of any pain but also any joy, then there was purpose in enjoying the simple joys in the declining days of the planet’s future.

 The scent of thriving grass mixed with the sea-salt air to form a pleasant mixture of scents. He began to close his eyes to enjoy it, sightless, just for a moment, but was caught off guard by her sudden, personal question.

"What has been the biggest influence in your life?"

He opened and closed his mouth once before he managed to begin to stutter out his reply.

“W-ah- it’s actually a question of who it was that was the influence.”  His heart wrenched in a more painful manner than – a manner he hadn’t felt since his childhood. “Which would be my grandfather. He was the major loving force in my life. A self-made man and a very encouraging one. He was not the type of person who would deny a child their dreams. When I wished I could fly like a bird Pokémon he would lift me upon his shoulders and I would, for those few minutes, be flying higher than I could ever hope to reach in those days. He was the one who taught me of space, of the universe, and told me of the millions of possibilities. My grandfather had a small book of myths, one that I cannot believe I had forgotten until it was most relevant. Even then, I have forgotten…”

Cyrus trailed off for a moment, realizing in that statement that he had forgotten so much about a person who had meant his entire world to him throughout his childhood. They had sat, him in his grandfather’s lap, reading the tales. Grandfather read to him for so long… and when the old man’s eyesight began to fail, it was Cyrus who did the reading. Why then, did Cyrus not read to his grandfather while he lay on his deathbed? Regret came over him, and to stave it off he squeezed Jupiter’s arm slightly, barely able to keep the frown off of his face in favor for the neutral expression he usually wore. “I would not be here – I would not have grown this way – if not for my grandfather.”

Such a great truth Cyrus had never spoken. For a moment his voice wavered, then hardened with the controlled shell of a person who fought their hardest against the natural sway of their emotions, who fought against their very bodies with all of their mind that they could muster.

Jupiter allowed a brief moment of silence to fall between them as they continued to walk arm in arm. The night was soothing, working to eliminate the hurt that had returned in his heart at the very mention of his grandfather. The hand that lay on his arm moved, rubbing it gently, a gesture of comfort direct towards him. Had his discomfort, his unhappiness shown through that very much? He bowed his head slightly, making a small sound of – what, appreciation? – in the back of his throat. Their eyes met once again, briefly, and he could see that she had something to say.

“Out of all the cosmos, is there a place where you take your greatest pleasure?” Ah, she had mentioned space in her question. So, she had listened very closely to him, and for more than just the tone of his voice. She was honestly and completely interested in him in what he had to say. He felt, very distinctly, human in the moment. And so he would allow himself to continue being human for this time.

“The beaches.” It was a significantly easier question that demanded a significantly simpler answer – one that would be less emotional, one that would bring up less elements of a history that he had tried to leave behind, that he intended to dismantle completely. “I try to avoid them, but only because I do enjoy them so much. Where I grew up it was the nicest place to be. The sunlight, the scent of saltwater, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. It was relaxing, and otherworldly. Which is why I feel at home here, honestly. I used to spend a large amount of time on those beaches, laying on the rocks and feeling the suns warmth. It was my favorite place to study when I was still a student as well. Just because it was so peaceful…”

He glanced to her for a moment, feeling a warmth that was different from anything he had fully experienced before in any other situation, with any other person. He turned his head away swiftly then, back towards the water, towards the sound of waves meeting land. “Beaches don’t feel part of the human world and our mass of motion.” He completed his thoughts with more of a mumble than anything, not willing to let her ponder on the tenderness that had been in his look.

Trying to forget this sensation that he did not understand himself.

Having described it now, the blue-haired man could feel the warmth of the sun on his skin again. He looked down at the bare skin of his hands and was taken aback by how white they were. He had been tanner in his youth, but now his skin nearly radiated in the moonlight.

Oh, how far have I fallen? Or have I risen from where I once was? How can I not even tell any longer?

[skuntankerous]

Cyrus was momentarily startled by her question.  "W--ah--it's actually a question of who it was that was the influence," he managed to stutter, shooting her a quick glance before looking away.  Jupiter smiled inwardly; there was something incredibly cute by his sudden lapse of composure that only furthered her already fond feelings for him.  But her smile didn't last long: Cyrus began to talk then, mentioning his youth with the same bitterness he had when mentioning humanity's faults--alarm bells rang through her mind like an oncoming train; the Commander understood then what she had not before.

She was clever enough to catch the meaning behind his words, "was not the type ... to deny a child their dreams."  To not have had anyone to care for his exploits through his young life, to have been shaped by a grandfather who, she was sure, wasn't around as often as he'd liked, Cyrus' parents would have been at fault.  Jupiter looked ahead at the swaying branches of the palms trees, her brows furrowed.  With each gust of wind, they struggled to keep upright, just as she was sure Cyrus struggled when he was young.  He would have been flexible then, he had been malleable.  His grandfather had molded him--but to what extent?  Unable to come up with a solution, Jupiter focused on just being by his side.

The pair rounded the path by the sea wall, their movements as coordinated as the dance between the sun and the moon.  She looked to the waves as they passed and allowed Cyrus to lead once they'd straightened out.  Unlike the ocean, the universe held infinite possibilities at any one time; unlike the rise and fall of the waves, this moment held more than one outcome.  Jupiter gazed over at Cyrus as he cast his eyes to the ground.  "My grandfather had a small book of myths, one that I cannot believe I had forgotten until it was most relevant.  Even then, I have forgotten…” Cyrus trailed off, his voice filled with quiet regret.  His brows furrowed as he struggled not to frown--in his fight with his emotions, he squeezed the Commander's arm for comfort.  "I would not be here--I would not have grown this way--if not for my grandfather."

In a way, Jupiter was pleased: her presence, at least in this moment, relaxed him.  But her pleasure at his touch was staved off by his downcast demeanor.  His face was illuminated in the early moonlight, the newly-lit lamps along the pathway enhancing his sharp features.  He was still as thin as ever; Jupiter was thankful he took her advice and ate when she told him to.  Although he was healthier than he was, she could not help but feel as if this conversation had caused a lessening in his (relatively) good mood.  He looked so tired.

Not allowing herself to say something that would alter the course of their conversation, Jupiter remained silent as Cyrus contemplated his life, his head turned towards the stars.  With what he had just revealed, and his emotional response to his own words, she was sure memories had come flooding back to him.  It was very apparent Cyrus held his grandfather close to his heart--what else, then, did he hold inside himself?  What did he hold dear?

Jupiter looked to the arm that hers was looped around.  His baggy sleeves hid his thin body just like his scowl disguised his fragile heart.  The Commander rubbed her thumb along his arm.  Words held less meaning than actions; she hoped hers would bring him solace.  Cyrus bowed his head with a sigh of contentment.  His eyes met hers and she gave him a gentle smile.  There was so much more to him than he let the world know; Jupiter wanted nothing more than to share it with him.  “Out of all the cosmos," she asked quietly, "is there a place where you take your greatest pleasure?”

Cyrus stared at her for a long minute before replying, his expression curious.  “The beaches,” he replied easily.  “I try to avoid them, but only because I do enjoy them so much."  He looked ahead of him, his eyes unfocused.  Jupiter smiled inwardly as Cyrus continued to speak, his explanation turning from a simple statement into a re-imagining of the memory.  Through his words, she was taken to the sunny seashore of Sunyshore: she could feel the warm rays soak into her skin like lotion, she could smell the crisp salt of the ocean.  The waves rushed towards the beach hungrily, their crests swallowing the sand with a gentle whoarsh.

And there he was by the shore, barely older than eleven.  Cyrus stood with his ankles sunk in the mud and faced the ocean; it was not hard for the Commander to compare the child to the man she knew.  He was so stiff, so tense, so still, that the young boy of his past was now nothing more than a stranger.  If she knew him less, Jupiter would never have considered them the same person.  Once he was finished talking, Cyrus's gaze drifted back to hers.

If Jupiter had had any doubts as to his feelings for her, they were quickly driven away.  In his eyes she saw an emotion that she knew he did not think about, and one that would cause him the most distress.  Fondness was not something to be taken lightly, especially by a man such as he.  Cyrus' eyes widened only just before he turned his head away.  Jupiter smiled inwardly; did he think that she could not see, that she did not feel the emotion that was in his look?  Determined to keep himself in check, Cyrus' arm flexed subconsciously, and once more Jupiter was brought close to him.  "Beaches don't feel part of the human world and our mass of motion," he mumbled, his voice nearly drowned out by the waves.

Warning bells once again rang shrilly through her mind; Jupiter did her best to rid them form her head.  She could not go further down this topic.  If she did, she knew Cyrus would be quick to silence himself, to withdraw back into his fortress and his solitude.  The stars shone brightly down upon them now; how had the time passed so quickly?

A breeze blew through her bangs again, and, using her left hand to smooth them out, the Commander thought of the best way to ease the mood.  Glancing at Cyrus from the corner of her eye, she saw the determination to keep himself from retaining the fondness he'd looked at her at in his features.  Of course, she thought to herself.  His grandfather.  For it was he who Cyrus always mentioned, and it was he that Cyrus expressed himself most about.  The question rolled naturally off her lips.  "What do you consider your favorite childhood memory?" Jupiter asked softly.

Broken from his thoughts, Cyrus turned to meet her gaze.  He studied her for a brief moment, and she could see him swallow painfully.  He turned away with a sigh, but not before his arm tightened around hers.  He nearly smiled when she rubbed his arm again.  

“My favorite memory...?" the Galactic Boss began, pondering the question.  He looked away from her again, touching the hand on his arm absently with his own.  "Of course it has to do with my grandfather.  In an attempt to remove me from the reach of my parents and the crowded, constant lighting of the city, he brought me out and away into a more wild area of Sinnoh where, for the night, we set up camp.  It was my first time going and though I preferred the structure and order of the indoors I was excited for a private moment--and the surprise he had stated he had in store for me.”

Cyrus paused then, shifting slightly and glancing down at the hand that held hers.  Jupiter rubbed her thumb along his, silently urging him to continue.  “When we got there, he set up a telescope.  I knew he didn't have one--he had rented it just for tonight.  We didn't sleep, though we had brought bags and a tent.  I spent the whole of the night wide-awake with my curiosity and wonder running rampant.  My parents were furious because I was so tired when I got home.  But not even that couldn't stop me from feeling... radiant.  I had the best night I could have asked for.  It's something I will not forget.”

So the memory that Cyrus loved the most was one shared by his grandfather.  Just as when he retold the memory of his time at the beach, so too did Jupiter imagine herself in the remembrance.  For Cyrus to share the universe with the one person who brought the stars to him was indeed a memory that should not be forgotten.  In was incredibly special, his opening up to her.  Jupiter stopped walking and pulled away from Cyrus in order to get a good look at him.  "Your grandfather sounds like a very kind man; it's obvious he means a lot to you," she said, squeezing his arms warmly.  "Thank you for sharing that precious memory with me."

"Of course... You're--you're welcome."  He shuffled his feet awkwardly, unable to look her in the eyes.  Jupiter smiled again; she could not have asked him for anything else.  She looped her arm through his once more and together they continued walking through the now star-lit path in the park.  The Commander did not mind the silence that fell between them; there was a certain tranquility that Jupiter would enjoy it while it lasted despite her wandering mind.

She knew him.  She knew him now more than she had before--and certainly more than anyone else.  Several questions buzzed through her mind, though none of them were appropriate for the moment.  What had been his dreams?  Was space and its infinite universes his only means of escape?  Cyrus had been alone--and had felt alone--well into his adult life.  His dreams for Galactic... the desire for a 'new world without strife'...  His childhood, his parents, were the beacon that he strove to distance himself from.  If there was a world without strife, there would be no wars, no pointless fighting over petty desires.

A child would not have to be punished by unforgiving parents.

It was in this realization that Jupiter felt very close to Cyrus.  It was easy to see now, easy to understand.  She had always known there was something held back in how he interacted with the world.  For a man who believed the world to be suffering so much that he wishes for a new world without such misery was a man who suffered.  Cyrus' stern look of a frown and furrowed brows led his subordinates and the world to believe he was a man without emotion.  The Commander knew all of this was a lie: his eyes more than revealed his pain.  The bright lights of the city were now upon them, and soon they would have to part.  Jupiter did not wish to break away from him so soon; when she slowed her walk to nothing more than a crawl, he kept the pace.

Despite their time to part arriving swiftly, Jupiter continued to reflect on the man she loved.  He was not a man without emotion--Cyrus was emotion.  He felt so much that he despised them, despised how he felt, despised how they made him feel about himself.  It was impossible for Jupiter to not understand; his emotions were so strong that he struggled to keep them under wraps.  'Mind over matter.'  The old idiom was repeated through the generations, but it did not hold as true as when Cyrus performed.

When they reached their ultimate destination, the two reluctantly stopped.  This was where they would leave each other.  If the moment was broken now, surely when they saw each other next things would be as if their date never happened.  Removing her arm from Cyrus', Jupiter turned to face him, resolve settling deep within her heart.  If circumstances were to change, she would have to make a stand.  She was a woman who knew what she wanted--she was a woman who made things happen.

So when they looked into each other's eyes, with her tilting her head just slightly, the Commander smiled a fond smile, the corners of her lips raising to show the whites of her teeth.  Though it was dark, the lamps illuminated his thin, but very beautiful, face.  Her heart accelerated, and Jupiter felt a strong desire to kiss him in that moment.  Here goes.  She took a step closer to him, her hands reaching to grasp his.  Jupiter took another small step towards him, her chest barely brushing against his, and gently squeezing the clammy hands within her own.  When Cyrus did not move away from her touch, Jupiter lifted herself on her toes to bring her face nearer to his.

His eyes were blue, but were touched with enough grey to form a mixture as calming as his presence.  Jupiter's eyes trailed down to his thin lips, imagining how they must taste, and how they would feel against hers.  Would they be a good match?  Returning her eyes to Cyrus', she took a good look at the man just before her.  A light flush of color spread across his cheeks at her touch.  That subtle pinkening could have been a starburst in her eyes; the world had never seen anything as spectacular as his blush.  They were close, closer than they had ever had before.  Had she shifted her weight to her other leg, their knees would touch.

Cyrus blinked once, slowly, his mouth a questioning 'o'.  Jupiter could feel how tense he was; was he confused by her forwardness?  But with the way she could feel his heart beating rapidly just as hers seemed to burst from her chest, she figured now was as good as any.  Her cheeks a rosy pink, the Commander gazed at Cyrus, silently asking for permission.

She was not sure if creating a new world without strife would rid him of his suffering, but she hoped that just her being there was good enough for him.

As she leaned in, she moved her hands from his and moved the to the crooks of his elbows.  She heard Cyrus' sharp intake of breath once their noses touched, and she could feel his rapid heartbeat so close to her own as their chests met.  After a moment's hesitation, Jupiter closed her eyes and brought her lips to his.  They were dry, although not unwilling, she knew that he had not been expecting this--Cyrus was a statue.  Five seconds had not yet passed and already she pulled away a breath's distance.

But something commanded her to move forward; this could not be their first kiss.

Jupiter brought her painted lips to his again, her hands embracing his arms as she moved closer.  She pressed a little more firmly, and Cyrus' muscles relaxed, but not in a way she was expecting.  He moved under her touch, uttering with surprise in the process.  Immediately she broke the kiss, her eyes snapping open.  What have I done? 

The Commander sank back to her feet, her thoughts wild.  What have I done? repeated through her mind.  This was Cyrus, her boss, the man who held all of her respect.  She was now fully apart from Cyrus, but her hands lingered on his arms; should she remove them, it would be the end.  But there was no need to touch him now; this she knew, was merely selfishness of a greedy heart.  Who was she to force her affections on another, especially the delicate Cyrus?

"Forgive me," she whispered, turning her eyes away from him.  She had tried, and she had failed--she should have known that, despite the circumstances, Cyrus was in no way in want of her advances.  "I acted out of li--" Jupiter's hands slowly slid from his, her touch lingering. 

"...It--It's okay," came the soft reply.  His fingers curled around hers just before they lost contact.

What?  She looked towards Cyrus in disbelief: his countenance was that of tenderness.  Once their eyes met, a blush erupted across his cheeks and he diverted his eyes; though he did not retain eye contact, he was still looking at her.  Jupiter's face broke out into an unrestrained smile, affection flooding through her body like a river.

"Oh, Cyrus," she murmured, holding his hands close to her heart.  She had never imagined their relationship turning out like this, despite her strong feelings for him.  To have him so close to her on a romantic night, to be able to kiss him, to hold him, and have everything as okay... Jupiter could not have wished for a more perfect evening.

His eyes reverted back to hers only just, and it was in that moment that Jupiter took her chance.  Removing her hands from his and instead cradling his head in them, she pressed herself against him with more passion than anyone in Galactic had ever seen from her.  She titled her head so that their lips met, and, in this heat-of-the-moment kiss, their meeting was uneven.  Cyrus' breathing hitched and his lips parted further: Jupiter kissed so that his top lip was stuck between hers.  She ran the tip of her tongue along the edge of his lip before deepening the kiss further.  When he sighed, she did as well, grasping his arm in one hand and pressing her hips against his.  This time their knees did touch, but Jupiter wasn't complaining.

"Though I dearly wish this date would not end," she breathed, ending the intimate gesture but still remaining very close to him, "I'm afraid I must turn in."  Jupiter smiled warmly and pressed her forehead to his, her thumb stroking his cheek.  Was it possible for him to become even more red?  "I enjoyed tonight, Cyrus."

And with that said, she removed herself from him, her fingertips trailing his neck and his collarbone as she did.  "I... enjoyed myself, too...?" he repeated stupidly, his mouth gaping.  Jupiter smiled the amused smile she always gave him; he was so adorable when his naivete showed.  Perhaps that played a reason for why she liked him so much.  Cyrus was as much of a man as Byron or the silly Crasher Wake.

He was just as human as everyone else.

Gazing at him with love in her eyes, the Commander blew a kiss before turning on her heel and walking towards the hotel she'd rented specifically for the night, knowing that Cyrus would not be following.  There was a time and place for everything, but that was not now.  She smiled broadly when she'd passed through the solid oak doors.  Oh, Cyrus...

[willfosho-deactivated20210729]

[crimson-rocket]

"Saying a picture that claims someone is competent must be the truth is like saying because Spider-Man climbs up walls in a comic book it must be true. Oh look, there he is behind you!" Lucian smiles when Jupiter’s back is turned and walks away.

[skuntankerous]

There were no words for this man's foolish comments.

[crimson-rocket]

@disastronautkid said: *gASP* “HOW /DARE/ YOU MOCK THE COMMANDERS.”

[crimson-rocket]

"Oh it’s not the other commanders I’m mocking even though they’re a bunch of incompetent fools who couldn’t organise a heist if their jobs depended on it. It’s just the one with the awful haircut. I mean I’ve seen bad imitations of Wolverine before but this guy constantly looks like he got mauled by an Ursaring.”

[skuntankerous]

"incompetent" he says

[skuntankerous]

"Jupiteeeer," Hulda whined pathetically, her hair disheveled as she rubbed her eyes sleepily, "can you keep Lucifer in at night? He's becoming a real... Nuisance."

"As much as hearing your discomfort displeases me, H-47, I cannot comply to your recommendation," Jupiter replied,a smirk at her lips.  The poor girl looked terrible, but that was her punishment for lying.  “Lucifer will continue to roam the grounds—he keeps the pests out, you know.”  She placed a hand on Hulda’s shoulder and leaned to whisper in her ear.  “Lucifer only enacts revenge on those who have wronged him.  Now, I wonder why he’s bothering you…”

[skuntankerous]

ooc;

I owe several people, so please don't think I've forgotten!  If I've missed anything, just let me know.  : )

On Jupiter, I owe: Cyrus, Steven, Hulda

Waiting on: Saturn (headcanon/plan), Mars (headcanon/plan), Orion (maybe?)

On Clair, I owe: Bonnie, Giovanni, Lysandre

Waiting on: Volkner (?), Lysandre (AU), Lance (plan)

[skuntankerous]

Just a professional relationship - everybody knew better than that but that's what Cyrus muttered as he crossed to Jupiter. Like a child he held his hands behind his back and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her lips with pinkness coloring his cheeks.

"Oh, Cyrus," Jupiter said with a smile when the kiss was over.  It was nothing special, sure, but he tried and that, to her, was the most important thing.  She held his head in her hand and leaned forward for another kiss--a real one this time.

[disastronautkid-deactivated2014]

Unown Travels || Jupiter and H-47 (Hulda)

[disastronautkid-deactivated2014]

Hulda followed her Commander eagerly, skidding to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. She listened intently as her Commander began to tell her about a ‘special Pokemon’ which slept in the ruins. The word ‘special’ made Hulda’s mind whiz, causing her to think of what this ‘special Pokemon’ may look like. She knew the basics of Sinnoh’s mythology. Arceus, the creator, Dialga, the keeper of time, and Palkia, the keeper of space. It couldn’t be them, she thought, they’re too big to sleep in ruins like these.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a yowl, a Pokemon’s, that echoed through the entire floor they were on. Hulda had to stifle a giggle when Jupiter ran up the stairs, obviously to find the cause of the yowl. That left Hulda thinking- what Pokemon was Jupiter talking about? Why was it considered special? Maybe it was a legendary? One that Team Galactic have been searching for? It would make sense, coming all the way out here.

Suddenly, Hulda heard footsteps behind her, and was met with the face of her Commander.

…And her Skuntank.

Hulda groaned inwardly when she heard that Lucifer was going to be accompanying her around the ruins. Lucifer was known for, not hating grunts, but instead holding a slight grudge against them. Arceus knows why. She couldn’t help but huff slightly when the Skuntank made a face at his trainer, obviously not pleased with Jupiter’s instructions either. Hulda waved to Jupiter as she hopped down the remaining stairs, letting Lucifer follow. She kept replaying Jupiter’s words in her head,

"Top right, top right, top right, lower left, lower right, top left."

"Okay, yeah. You got that, didn’t you, Lucifer? Right? Do I call you Lucifer? Or just Skuntank? How about a nickname? Like Lucy?” Hulda laughed to herself as Lucifer made a noise of complete frustration, as he trudged along beside her. They made their way through multiple corridors and rooms, each one looking the same. There were a few inscriptions on the walls, impossible for Hulda to read. “Jupiter said she could read these, huh…” Hulda thought out loud, turning to face the poison-type Pokemon.

"Jupiter sure knows a lot of stuff, doesn’t she? That’s probably why Cyrus made her a Commander. I wish I could be a Commander. That’d be cool. They’re all named after planets- well except Charon. What would my Commander name be? Neptune? Venus? What do you think?” The only reply she got from Lucifer was a small grunt, not interested in Hulda’s thoughts. Instead, Lucifer was sniffing around the ruins, exploring his own way.

"H-hey! What did Jupiter say again? Uh, top right. lower left, top left- uh oh."

A noise that almost sounded like laughter came from Lucifer. “Y’know, for a Pokemon, you can be a bit of a jerk.” Hulda huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, pouting. “Anyway, we gotta meet up with Jupiter at four, right? And I really wanna explore these ruins. So c’mon, or I’ll call you Lucy for the rest of the day.” Lucifer let out a low growl, but, thankfully, followed Hulda down another set of stairs. “If I remember correctly, we have another set of stairs, then we’re at the bottom of this place. These ruins are kinda big-“

A low rumbling sound cut Hulda off in the middle of her sentence. The floor wasn’t moving, so it couldn’t have been an earthquake. She turned to Lucifer, who’s ears were pricked as he scanned the area with his eyes, obviously hearing the noise as well. Hulda waited until it stopped, looking around, a perplexed look now on her face.

"You… You heard that too, right? It wasn’t just me?" Lucifer replied with another grunt, looking up at Hulda. Was this the Pokemon Jupiter was talking about earlier? A smile tugged at Hulda’s lips, as she looked down at the skunk-Pokemon. “Wanna check it out?” She asked excitedly, hopping from one foot to the other. She didn’t even wait for Lucifer’s response as she dashed down the last set of stairs, met with the bottom floor. On the back wall, there were another set of inscriptions- of course, Hulda was not able to read them. “If only Jupiter was here…” She mumbled under her breath, a finger placed on the strange letters.

Lucifer let out a small grunt, catching Hulda’s attention. She turned to face him, and was met with the Pokemon sniffing at a few items -four, to be exact- that were simply lying on the ground. “Oooh! Free stuff!” Hulda squeaked excitedly, running over to meet Lucifer. She bent down and began scooping up the items without a second thought. Once all collected, Hulda looked down in her arms to see that she had collected: a nugget, a Mind Plate, an Odd Incense and a rare candy.

"Cool." Hulda picked up the rare candy and looked down at Lucifer. "I think these are meant for Pokemon, so here, I guess." Hulda leaned down and handed Lucifer the rare candy, leaving him to do what he liked with it. "Jupiter will be glad we got her these souvenirs, right?" Hulda chirped, looking down at the remaining items.

"Guess we should probably be heading back now, since there isn’t much left to explore…" Hulda began to make her way back up the stairs, when the low rumbling started again, louder this time. "What the…!" Hulda’s attention was now drawn to the eerie blue glow that began to appear on the walls. Lucifer could see it too- the skunk Pokemon was growling menacingly at the walls- could he see something that Hulda couldn’t? Was it the special Pokemon Jupiter had mentioned earlier? Shaking her head, Hulda quickly dashed up the stairs, yelling at Lucifer to follow. The rumbling was fainter- but still there.

Hulda was relieved to see that Lucifer had remembered what Jupiter had said earlier, about how to get back to the entrance. “Great job Lucifer!” She called out, catching up with the large skunk Pokemon as the pair headed up the stairs. Hulda followed Lucifer eagerly, as the two made their way up the last set of stairs and were met with the ruin entrance. The sun leaked into the ruins, illuminating parts of the hall. “Eep! I think we’re late! I don’t have a watch on me!” Hulda looked down at Lucifer, her eyes wide, before sprinting out of the ruins, her arms full with the items she had collected earlier.

There were a couple ledges Hulda had to hop over before they arrived back in Solaceon Town, which left Hulda out of breath and Lucifer looking exhausted. Hulda jogged up the long path which lead to their cabin, kicking the door open with a slam.

"I’m baaaaack! Jupiter, look! Me and Lucifer brought you some stuff! Well, there was a rare candy, but I gave that to Lucifer. Hope you don’t mind. But, uh, there was a bunch of other stuff down there," she paused as she set the items out on a nearby table, "oh! Me and Lucifer kept hearing these weird rumbling noises! Just as I was leaving, there was this weird glowy thing, which freaked me out! Maybe it was that Gastly that spooked you earlier!" Hulda turned to face her Commander, beaming at her. "What do you think it was? What about that special Pokemon you were talking about earlier? Was it that?"

[skuntankerous]

Before the Commander took the steps required to enter the chamber that would change everything, she made sure that her subordinate and Pokemon were far away.  It was to her relief that they chose to explore the chamber opposite of the one that mattered most--she did not want Hulda to see the emotion she felt in her heart.  Jupiter looked down the stairwell: it was dark, but she knew that once her foot touched the ground, the Unown would light the room.  Her fingertips tingled at the thought.

They really were curious creatures; they appeared nowhere but in the ruins of civilizations long past.  Both docile and aggressive, Unown were not to be underestimated: it would be foolish to do so.  Jupiter's mind flickered to the hyperactive young woman she'd begun to develop a soft spot for.  Would her recklessness get her in trouble?  The Commander frowned; no, she would be alright.  Lucifer was immune to the Psychic Pokemon's attacks, he would keep her safe.  She pursed her lips--why was Hulda coming to her mind now?  She tried to steer her thoughts away, but an image of Cyrus' stoic face emerged in her mind's eye.  Jupiter's lips tightened.  Why had her heart softened to a level she had not felt in a long time?  She shook her head lightly and focused on her surroundings.

There was something incredibly unsettling in the gloom.  She peered through the near-darkness and saw, with utmost precision, the large stone slab across the room.  A faint hum floated into her ears and a chill ran up her spine.  The Commander froze; for the first time, she felt fear.  Her eyes flicked about the room: the shadows on the walls seemed to flicker in and out of reality.  They were awake.  Jupiter watched with absolute silence as the Unown shone with life, their small bodies lit with a surreal blue glow.

One by one, the Unown turned to stare at her, their humming questioning.  Why was she there?  Was she up to no good?  Was she a threat?  Jupiter inhaled and took a step forward, her muscles finally free from their bindings.  If she pretended the creatures were not there--a hard feat, considering they floated around her as she walked--and she made herself seem insignificant, then she would not be the cause of an uproar.  

The Commander slowly made her way to the far side of the room, her head held high and her thoughts focused on the objective at hand.  She could not afford to have her emotions slip, lest she disturb the Unown.  The inscription was before her, lit by the ancient Pokemon's life-force, and Jupiter was unsure if she wanted to read what was engraved in stone.  For surely those who etched these runes had done so with the utmost sincerity.

She set her hand on the stone with a soft touch.  Jupiter reopened her eyes with a deep breath and gazed at the engraving.  As her gaze outlined each letter, each word, her heart wrenched in her chest.  She swallowed her pain, keeping her teeth gritted to not reveal her feelings to the Unown.  They were behind her, and they were curious.

Friendship, Jupiter read, tracing the word with her finger.  A warmth flowed through her veins.  The Commander was brought back to the seaside with its delicate wind and chilly night air, the beautiful mix or orange and purple in the evening sky.  She stood facing the water, relaxing as the waves lapped at the concrete barrier.  Cyrus' image flickered into existence once more.

The woman smiled and reached forward to cup his cheek; he was not as surprised as he should have been.  Jupiter took a step forward and stroked his cheek with her thumb before moving her hand to run her fingers through his hair.  His eyes softened and she wanted nothing more than to continue making him happy  This was what a world without strife looked like.  His hand held hers and, with her heart skipping a beat, the woman moved to kiss him.  It was chaste, and too brief for her liking, but it was beyond words.  His lips relaxed under hers and she knew that if she had just a moment longer, he would be hers.  She went to kiss him again and

the world crumbled--...

...--Cyrus' glare was unlike the universe had ever seen: his eyes held a loathing that struck her to her core--it was as if he had stabbed her with a rusty, serrated knife.  Her heart wrenched in her chest and her soul screamed in agony, but the woman did not utter a single word.  His presence was like poison and she would never be his antidote.  There was nothing she could say.  There was nothing to say.

"Leave.  Now."

A tear rolled down her cheek and Jupiter hastily blinked them away.  Her hand slid off the inscription as the last of the words rang through her mind: All lives touch other lives to create something anew and alive.  She clenched her fist over her heart, but that did nothing.

His life touched hers when he asked her to join Galactic.

Her life touched his as they worked closely together.

But something new was created from their kiss.

The Commander turned away from the wall, her lips quivering.  This is not as it should be, she thought, struggling to keep her feelings in check.  The Unown hummed excitedly around her; Jupiter kept her eyes low and began walking towards the exit.  But her breathing hitched; her emotions betrayed her.

The ancient Pokemon reacted in a flurry of psychic energy, their anger rumbling the ground underneath.  Balls of black mass emerged above their bodies, and the woman cursed her recklessness.  The Unown swirled around her like a misshapen vortex, their questioning hums now furious and in want of vengeance.  Jupiter knew she had to be quick: she sprinted towards the stairs, ducking and sidestepping the Hidden Power of the Unown.  She nearly fell over as an energy ball exploded at her feet.

She scrambled up the stairs with all the agility of a Rapidash: her mind set on escaping, she recited the instructions she told Hulda.  The basement rumbled underneath, and as she ran through the halls, the sleeping Unown awakened at their brethren's cries.  Jupiter cursed herself once more as she passed through the mouth of the cave--she had brought this upon herself.

This was all her fault.

She had made the mistake of neglecting regulation and falling in love.  She had knowingly followed her emotions to pursue something with Cyrus, and he, despite the signs she thought he gave, wanted nothing to do with her.

She had failed as a Commander of Team Galactic.

Jupiter ran until she reached the town.  The ruins didn't matter any longer--her feelings didn't matter.  She opened the door to the cottage without caring if her subordinates were around or not.  She made her way to the small wooden table and slumped in the chair, setting her elbows on the table and steepling her fingers together.  Jupiter rested her head against her hands and closed her eyes.

The Unown reacted to her emotions--how could she have allowed herself to be swayed so easily?  Was she no longer the strong person she believed herself?  The Commander pursed her lips.  Something had to be done--something had to change.  She would have to change.

She was freed from her thoughts when the door opened with a mighty crash.  "I’m baaaaack!"  The woman looked up to see Hulda burst through the door.  Jupiter removed her head from her hands and placed them on the table.  "Jupiter, look!  Me and Lucifer brought you some stuff!" Hulda exclaimed happily, motioning towards the items in her arms.  She came to the table and placed them on it.  "...Well, there was a rare candy, but I gave that to Lucifer.  Hope you don’t mind.  But, uh, there was a bunch of other stuff down there."

Hearing his name, Lucifer yowled in agreement and bounded over to his Trainer, rubbing his large purple head against her leg until she scratched behind his ears.  Hulda beamed at her and seemed to be eager to delve into one of her stories.  But what Jupiter was more worried about was that Hulda had been inside the ruins when the Unown attacked her.  The Commander's eyes traveled the girl's form, but she did not appear hurt; relieved, she relaxed in her chair.

"You found these items in the ruins?" she asked after a moment, her eyebrow raising.  It was a popular tourist attraction: how had no-one noticed them before?  Curious, Jupiter glanced at them again--on the table was a nugget, an Odd Incense, and a--!  Was that a... Mind Plate?  She reached for the plat and held the delicate item within her hand.  How had Hulda found such a rare item?  Frowning, she put it away in a hidden pocket.  "You did well," Jupiter said, giving her a small smile.  "You may have this Odd Incense.  I will use this nugget to fund our stay in Snowpoint."

Hulda happily took the item and held it to her chest.  She was about to say something when another thought crossed her mind.  "Oh!  Me and Lucifer kept hearing these weird rumbling noises!  Just as I was leaving, there was this weird glowy thing, which freaked me out!  Maybe it was that Gastly that spooked you earlier!  What do you think it was?  What about that special Pokemon you were talking about earlier?  Was it that?"

Jupiter frowned; so she had come across an Unown.  But it didn't attack her--it was she who they wanted.  And it was she who would take full responsibility.

"Gastly are afraid of Lucifer," the Commander explained with a knowing smile.  Her eyes flicked to the three other grunts who just entered the cottage: upon catching her eyes, they saluted accordingly before beginning to move the equipment outside.  Jupiter turned her attention to the ever-eager Hulda.  "No, what you saw was an Unown.  They are what line the walls of the ruins," she went on; Hulda leaned forward excitedly.  "Sometimes they come to life--it is all part of the tour.  You were never in any danger."

Her eyes wandered to the clock: 5:30 pm.  She was stalling even further now; any longer, and she would receive a call from a very irritated Saturn.  "Now then," she said with a sigh, rising out of her chair.  "We must be on our way if we are to arrive at Snowpoint at a decent time.  H-47, help them with the equipment."

The Commander watched as Hulda pouted but joined her fellow grunts in moving (or in her case, watching) the equipment to the helijet.  Jupiter gathered what was necessary out of the cottage and locked it behind her when the grunts finished.  When the helijet was ready and loaded, she ushered Lucifer on to the plane after her subordinates.  Hulda took her seat across from Jupiter when she'd taken her seat--the girl, it appeared, had taken a liking to her.

Jupiter did as little speaking as she could manage on the hours-long flight, but even her concise responses would not deter Hulda.  She had to admire her energy.  As the flight went on, however, Jupiter recognized that the young grunt provided a welcome distraction: she did not reflect nor internalize on her thoughts when she was around.

When the helijet finally landed in Snowpoint City later that evening, Lucifer was the first one to exit.  He bounded in the snow with glee, swiping at it with his paws and pouncing on air.  Jupiter held back a smile as she instructed her subordinates.  "Tomorrow we will begin our expedition to the Lake," she concluded, looking each grunt in the eye.  "We will be outside all day, so be sure you are well rested.  I will be waiting for you in the square at 8:45 am.  You are dismissed."

[skuntankerous]

J-Ahem. Jupiter, would you please refrain from making inappropriate comments as to our relationship? Everything is -- strictly professional.

"Our relationship is strictly professional when not around the other members of Galactic,” Jupiter said coyly, flashing a sly smile.  ”The date we went on was not.  You do remember, don’t you?  The way our knees touched, how we embraced each other.  That kiss…”