@auraspheres sent: “ nothing could ever describe the way you make me feel. ”
"Nothing? Hm..."
Cynthia's disappointed tone seems scandalized and hurt, but that teasing smile (as always) gives up the lightheartedness of her game. They're sitting in Riley's cabin now, curled up in front of the flame-flickering hearth and cozied from the Sinnohan winds howling outside, rattling the panes like specters. Despite the conditions, despite her looming schedule, Cynthia feels completely at ease here. After all, Iron Island has always felt like her second home. (Oh, if only Dialga could freeze this moment in time, for just a little bit...)
The champion leans over, her blonde locks spilling over Riley's shoulder as she casually rests against his chest, sighing into the guardian's thrumming heartbeat. "That just doesn't seem very fair," she pouts, idly picking at a loose thread on his shirt. "After all, you've gotten to peer into my thoughts countless times. I'm sure you know how I feel about many things."
She peers up at him, offering another smile and curious tilt of her head as she surveys Riley's eyes, those blue hues ever brilliant and unreadable. Even now, Cynthia can't resist reaching up to brush that tangle of messy hair from his face. She just can't help herself.
"...I want to hear it. Or, at least, I want you to try," she decides, firm when she wants to be, daring and wanting him to open up to her for once. "You know you can tell me anything, so...how do I really make you feel? Sir Riley?
Loneliness and homesickness that will never be quelled and a deep mourning and hatred that has been etched into the core of his very being; a man who has lost everything and everyone long before he even knew who he was. Emotions vast and deep and bitter, he's an endless wanderer whispering fervent and stifled prayers for rest, for home, for an end, for someone to see him.
Then, a spark like a firework, explosive hedonistic thrill-seeking pushing all the darkness back with lies and worldly escapism. But at the heart of it all, curiosity and wonder for the mysteries of the world and the people in it. It's childlike in it's excitement, innocent and open and eager. Maybe he doesn't love anyone, or anything, but there's the potential for it under it all.
He's a kaleidoscope of emotions, untamed and scattered in fractals and hard to parse pieces. A wildfire ready to either spread and burn the world down, or burn out alone without fanfare or warning.
"Hey, you're staring awfully hard there, friend. Something I can help you with?" Volo asked brightly, his Litwick - Matches - chewing idly on a berry while settled on a palm.
" Hm. I was pretty direct without saying much after. Sorry. It's a bad habit of mine. " Riley gives an apologetic tilt of his head and pauses a moment, a hand tapping his chin. " I travel and meet plenty so I couldn't help but note you have an interesting aura. You have a bright blaze .. though with dissonance in it's wave and flow. Nothing to be alarmed about if it means anything to you. It's often caused by stressors and blocks whatever they may be. Could be everyday stressors that have built up overtime .. or maybe there's something big you're preoccupied with. "
" I can suggest you do some centralizing at least a little bit a day for yourself to help with flow. "
Content with his reading he lets his hand fall back to his side with a smile.
" But regardless I can tell you're a strong character. I admire that. "
“Hold on to the memories you have. The good ones, even the painful ones.”
He’d said this almost unprompted, and after his sudden appearance and practically staring THROUGH her, she was more then put off. Direct was an understatement, but she figured she’d hear him out if he wanted to explain himself.
…An Aura reader, huh?
A small Riolu peeks around her leg at hearing the others explination, as if the man was speaking truths he’d been trying to tell his trainer for ages now, but couldn’t. He barks softly and gently pats her leg with his paw, nodding.
“I… Preoccupied is a good description. A lot of compounding things from past and present got me a little bit freaked out.” She snorts, raising a hand and shaking her head before shoving it in her pocket. “I can’t meditate like people keep suggesting, brain keeps moving to fast. Too much happening… But if I don’t handle it, a lot of people will get hurt. I appreciate the words, but, I dunno…”
"Cynthia?" A hum in the quiet peace. He tilted his head with eyes still looking out at the horizon. " What do you imagine your future to be like...? After passing the title and responsibility as Sinnoh's champion that is and the opportunities are endless."
"My future? Hm..."
Cynthia strokes her chin, brow furrowed as she takes a minute to turn Riley's question over in her mind. As always, it feels like there's no rush between them here, seated together atop one of Iron Island's many crags. There's no wind today, and the rare Sinnohan sun makes the sea shimmer as it gently laps against the shoreline beneath them.
"Truthfully, I've never really thought of what comes after..." she muses quietly, wearing a rueful smile. "Just as it's unhealthy to dwell in the past, I've always believed that it's equally unhealthy to overprepare for the future. But, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to plan ahead a little..."
"...I think I'd want to settle down somewhere far away from fame. I'd have a huge library, I could explore and research without being pestered, and I could raise Pokemon and just...be surrounded by those who love me. Perhaps even a family." Cynthia tilts her head upwards to stare at the clouds, a wistful expression on her face. 'If that sounds cliché, that's because it is--I've read too many storybook endings by now. But...something like that sounds nice."
It's the ideal ending, but...Cynthia is lying to herself. And she knows that Riley can see right through her. (He is perhaps the only one who can understand how she feels. How heavy her burdens are, and how incredibly reluctant she is to just...drop them.)
Sinnoh is Cynthia's everything, and her deep connection to the region feels timeless, important, even necessary. Her needs and Sinnoh's needs are intertwined by this point, and a future unmoored from that responsibility...?
Deep down, it terrifies her. There's still so much work to be done--how could she possibly rest? (And on the other side, was she just going to work until the end? Was this truly a lifelong commitment?)
Not so long ago, Cynthia would have been fine with such a selfless outcome--but Riley has thrown a wrench into everything. For the first time, her knight is causing Cynthia to truly weigh her own needs versus Sinnoh's. (Was it okay to be a little selfish...?)
How ironic! The ascendant champion and the last aura guardian, finally realizing feelings for each other while Sinnoh looms over them both like a jealous mistress. What would become of them? How many more perfect moments would they share together, before their duties inevitably swept them away? And was a 'normal life'--whatever that was--even possible for them to live...?
The future is so uncertain and time is so fleeting. Cynthia blinks hard, and is mercifully taken back to this perfect present. She hasn't spoken for awhile.
"...What about you?" the champion whispers quietly, and her hand finds his, finding much-needed solace in Riley's touch, the reassuring warmth of his palm. She's been thinking of him more as of late, even as her schedule takes her far away, like a leaf blown on the wind.
Riley's parting remark earns a rare snort of laughter from the champion, her hand cupping the receiver for privacy.
"Hair thingies...very charming as always, Riley. I'll--"
Cynthia's playful retort suddenly gets cut short by a meeting attendee, his muffled interjection accompanied by the sound of footsteps and doors opening in the background. <<Miss Karashina, we're ready to reconvene for the afternoon session now. We appreciate your patience.>> Cynthia can be heard offering courteous thanks from a distance, and then the phone is briefly brought back to her ear, her voice hushed on the line. She's on the move again.
"Sorry about that. I'll be by in a few hours, okay? Can't wait to see you."
--
The Sinnohan sun is dipping behind the horizon when Cynthia alights gracefully on the isolated Iron Island, her Togekiss crooning happily as she lands on the familiar pier. All at once, most of the champion's Pokemon burst from their capsules, sensing that comforting coastal breeze. Garchomp eagerly trundles towards the mine, Lucario trots off toward the island's lone cabin, and Togekiss and Milotic take towards the sunset-dappled sky and sea, respectively. (Roserade is quite happy in her ball, thank you very much, and Spiritomb. Well. She's tethered to the Keystone and all.) Regardless, Riley will know of her arrival soon, as if he didn't sense it already.
In the midst of all this excited scattering, Cynthia merely smiles, absentmindedly readjusting her lengthy hair and jacket from the flight over. Iron Island has long been like a second home to her, unchanged even after all these years due to the efforts of its faithful guardian protector. Her rock and dear, dear friend.
Cynthia exhales and feels the tension start to drain from her shoulders. Time always seemed to slow down here, and she feels more relaxed already. It's good to be back.
" CynthiiiiaaaAa...does my hat offend you in any way?? 😩 "
"...Hm? Where is this coming from, all of the sudden?"
Cynthia wears a bemused grin as she casually reaches up to straighten out the aura guardian's famous hat, a twinkle sparkling in her eye.
"I like it, Riley. Now--I don't think you should use the hat as an excuse to avoid running a comb through your hair every once in awhile, nor do I think you need to wear it everywhere you go...but it makes you look distinguished. It's part of your signature look at this point--even I have trouble imagining you without it."
She laughs, offering him a small wink.
"Believe me, if your hat offended me in any way...I'd tell you right away. No words minced."
"Welcome, Ms. Karashina, so glad you could lend us an hour of your valuable time. Let's go over the latest draft of the development proposal--"
"You're listening to Sinnoh's Chatot Radio, and we have the honor of being joined today by our lovely champion, Cynthia! You look stunning as always--"
"Please sign this--"
"Your schedule is all booked up for next week, but perhaps we could move some arrangements around--"
Cynthia shuts her eyes for a moment, pen still poised over a mess of documents spilling across her desk. The region rests heavy upon her shoulders, further weighed down by all the unseen burdens and obligations that accompany the crown, and her cluttered days sometimes seem to stretch into forever.
But then, Cynthia senses an unseen, familiar presence in the air. It rests gently upon those tired shoulders like a comforting hand, warm and reassuring like the sunbeams filtering through the office's frosted panes.
She peers through the glass and can't help but think of him in this moment. Somewhere out there, he's probably still maintaining his vigilant watch and study, steady as ever. Cynthia smiles and gets back to work, renewed strength thrumming in her veins. In a life awash with movement, even a fleeting moment of stillness is appreciated.
