"What's the color of electric sheep you see?"

Independent Pokemon OC RP Blog. Check Rules and About pages, supplied on the Carrd link

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

'Cause now I know that pain cannot define the past We are built to overcome endless mishaps You know, it is not so bad When you are with me, cherish as long as we last Cause S is not for sayonara Let memories play back'

wxlpurgxsnxcht; penned by Mephi, an independent Pokemon OC multimuse RP Blog

Navigation: Angelica's Carrd / Edenia's Carrd / Elysia's Carrd / Lucrezia's Carrd / Celeste's Carrd / Alexis' Carrd / Amelie's Carrd / Orlando's Carrd / Headcanons | The Blog’s take on Castelia City | Castelia City loredump

Disclaimer: There can and will be dark themes present in this blog, but once they do, the posts that have such will be tagged under trigger warnings (The blog’s take on Castelia City, for example, has TWs on drugs and drug mention)

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗚𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦!!bold what applies to your muse, italicize if it applies sometimes or selectively.

holding hands　　buying flowers　　cooking　　cuddles　　writing a poem / song / letters　　holding the door open　　tying shoelaces 　sharing a milkshake with two straws　　offering their jacket when it's cold　　kissing in the rain　　publicly confessing love.

long walks on the beach　　doing the titanic pose on a boat　　kissing the back of their hand　　slow dancing　　introducing them to their parents　　lighting candles　　flower petals on bed　　love letters　　stargazing　　brushing / doing their hair　　picnics　　teaching them to play an instrument while gently guiding their hands　　compliments.

drawing them　　self-made gifts　　massages　　proposing with a family heirloom ring　　lending them their favourite book to read　　paying for dinner　　surprise parties　　feeding them　　handing them keys to their apartment　　making space in drawer for their clothes when they stay over　　sharing a blanket　　couple costumes.

tucking a hair strand behind their ear　　keeping them from leaving　　moving cities to be together　　blowing a kiss　　breakfast in bed　　defending them in a fight　　joint bubble baths 　　dropping the l-bomb / "i love you"　　dedicating a song to them　　wearing their clothes　　yawning before putting an arm around them while watching a movie　　granting them the last bite.

tagged by: @ardensfides tagging: @deusproxy (Gloam), @mxstball (Heidi), @oflegendariesandtrainers (Soyi), and whoever else who would want to do this!

[darkraise]

Notes  that  made  him  tremble.  How  could  that  be.  He  held  out  longer  than  their  crowd,  but  eventually  the  pressure  had  him  loose  his  grip  on  the  bow.  It  clattered  to  the  ground  by  his  feet,  while  he  struggled  through  the  timbres  that  rose  and  fell,  phasing  right  through  his  body.  Dazed,  he  still  reached  out  for  the  instrument's  companion-piece  with  his  fingers  to  pick  it  up,  but  it  felt  more  like  trying  to  pick  the  pieces  of  himself  up  after  listening  to  that-

Ancient  Hymn.  Wasn't  it?  His  eye  tried  to  focus,  his  sense  of  direction,  sound,  touch,  they  were  all  swept  away  and  put  in  a  blender.  Slowly,  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  glanced  around  them  while  Elysia  still  played  by  her  own.  Swaths  of  people,  seemingly  enraptured  by  the  tone  of  the  song.

Alhazred  couldn't  bring  himself  to  say  anything  at  first.  Their  sights  are  cast  through  him,  as  if  he  didn't  exist  to  them  anymore.  Briefly,  he  glanced  at  Azelf  beneath  but  noticed  that  its  eyes  were  still  closed,  so  this  was  not  the  doing  of  the  Lake  Guardian.  "...Lets  go."  The  instrument  is  put  back  in  its  case  and  he  walked  away  from  the  mesmerized  cult,  pacing  a  step  ahead  of  Elysia  as  if  he  wanted---no,  needed  some  distance  from  her  for  his  own  being's  sake.

It  wasn't  much,  just  enough  to  gather  his  thoughts  and  have  a  breather.  That  way,  he  could  do  some  lockpicking  until  she  arrived  at  the  corridor  with  the  door  to  the  treasury.  (  A  skill  he  hadn't  practiced  in  a  while  but  it  came  back  quicker  than  he  himself  expected,  almost  like  muscle  memory  for  the  lack  of  actual  muscle-involved.  )  The  pretending  entity  held  the  door  open  for  her,  waited  until  she  walked  through  to  pose  the  question  that  had  gnawed  through  his  thoughts  this  whole  night  so  far.  Though  what  he  came  for  was  close,  this  performance  had  him  halt  his  pursuit  of  his  goal  for  the  unexpected  star  of  this  show's  identity.

"...So,  who  are  you  really?  I  don't  know  this  song,  but  I  know  this  kind  of  hymn  you  played  and  the  powers  within.  The  sound  of  it  is  like  the  arts  people  of  old  gave  as  offerings...  to  Arceus.  Humans  venerated  their  creator  with  music  that  moved  even  the  gods  and  celebrated  the  beauty  of  the  world,  composed  by  the  divine  muses  themselves...  but  such  art  has  been  lost  to  them  for  thousands  of  years."  With  a  furrowed  brow,  he  shot  a  glance  equal  parts  confused  and  a  challenge.  "...  You  must  be  one  of  these  Meloetta.  You're  no  more  or  less  human  than  I  am  to  perform  such  a  feat."

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Indeed. Choosing such music to perform wasn't one initially planned out by Elysia, see. But seeing the Azelf trapped definitely urged something from within her to use the specific piece of music to perform to the masses. At least this was enough to have the cult mesmerized, and when Alhazred prompted her to follow him, she would do so from behind him, both instruments now on their case.

By the time she had entered the unlocked door that the pretending entity had lockpicked to success, she was about to speak herself, if not for Alhazred's inquiry.

There was an immediate silence on her part, but only just, as soon enough she would finally give him an answer.

"You're... right. That song definitely was something ancient. Perhaps far too ancient, and that I am more or less human, despite appearing as such."

That was one transparency.

"... Yet I assure you that I am not one of the Meloetta."

A pause, as she weighed on whether to tell the other pretend entity what she is right now, or explain later. After all, she had no guarantee on whether or not her reveal would end up compromising what they came for.

"I am... something more than your assumption. But if you would allow, we can discuss it after we've accomplished what we came for."

[oflegendariesandtrainers]

Soyi would look around at the staff for a moment before having a seat. He knew what he wanted, at the very least--although it would also serve as a reminder for him, regarding the things he lost.

"I'll take a mocha latte, if you don't mind."

With that out of the way, Soyi would lean back in his seat and sigh. Time for the explanation.

"I know so much about Castelia City because it's my home. But the truth is that I'm not from this Castelia City--I'm from a different world entirely, as hard as that might be to believe. What might be even harder to believe is that this is actually a lot better than the state that mine's in. At least everyone here is still human when it comes to species. Where I'm from? No one's completely human But keeping your humanity is what keeps you alive, because losing it is a death sentence."

Yeah, this is definitely shaping up to be a doozy of a story.

"...I'm one of the lucky few who still has mine, and that's because I had to fight in order to keep it after what happened."

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

The drink was already being prepared by the Smeargle as Angelica would sit on a chair on the opposite side of Soyi's table, all while she listened in on his explanation. On how Soyi, too was born and raised on Castelia City... just not this Castelia City. One that was, somehow worse off compared to this one. One that had something immensely drastic happening to it, if the distinctness of human and nonhuman, as well as retaining one's humanity was something Soyi had to emphasize.

"... Well. Can't say this was my first time experiencing meeting someone who's from a different world, altogether."

She stated, only after making sure that Soyi had given his side of the story.

And even if she's already met those of other worlds, few as they are so far, it doesn't mean that said instances are any less surreal than the previous.

"Though it seems that one thing in common between this Castelia you're currently in and the one you've been born and raised in is that survival is always a must, unless this damn City would end up consuming you one way or another."

Soon enough, the Meowscarada would serve Soyi the mocha latte, and since it was on the house, the Smeargle that made it really added some effort on making the latte art special too.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

"Ely~" Whelp. Looks like Heidi decided to find Elysia instead of the other way around. "Heyyy. I'm not coming at a bad time, am I? Wanted to catch up!"

Looks like you won't be pushing away from this Latias anytime soon.

With the suddenness of Heidi having visited her, she would get to see Elysia inspecting one of her Plates. At least, one of the ones that she presently has as of the moment. It was not difficult to miss either that said Plate has cracks all over. Fractured, yet kept whole by Elysia's power.

said Plate would then vanish from view, as the Rot afflicted Arceus would then look over to Heidi.

"It has been a while, Heidi. Apologies that I have not kept in touch for a while."

There was not much excuse there on her end. After all, her Rot flared recently, and she decided that isolation was the best course of action.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Back on my worldbuilding bullshit again

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

So, get away Another way to feel what you didn't want yourself to know And let yourself go You know you didn't lose your self-control Let's start at the rainbow Turn away Another way to be where you didn't want yourself to go And let yourself go Is that a compromise?

[oflegendariesandtrainers]

"...Thanks. It means a lot to hear that." Soyi smiles at the reassurance--a genuine one, which was something he thought he couldn't do anymore after the hell he endured. Seems like being around Angelica for the moment was definitely doing wonders for him.

Maybe, if he kept healing like this, he could eventually get back to traveling like he used to--perhaps even become a Pokemon Trainer again. After all, it would be nice to at least retrieve something similar to what he'd lost all that time ago.

Of course, as he followed after Angelica, he would take a look toward the corporate advertisements that were flashing from Upper Castelia--and the ones with 'K' brandings caught his attention in a way that certainly had him on edge, if his sudden tonal shift was anything to go off of.

"Anything with that kind of neon green usually has nothing but trouble around it."

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

"Hm."

Since Soyi had pointed out the neon green 'K' brand corporate advertisement that has been flashing on Upper Castelia's end, so brightly that it is visible even on Lower Castelia, Angelica would acknowledge it for him.

"Indeed it is." She began. "But anyone who tried going up against Keraunos Pharmaceuticals don't really find any success on that endeavor."

She's been sabotaging the corporation her own way, yes, and that's the reason why she's lasted this long so far.

Even Titania would look over to Keraunos' advertisement with distrust, before looking back ahead to the path the three of them were taking.

"Keraunos Pharmaceuticals." Angelica continued, almost as if briefing all about it for Soyi to be able to digest. "One of Unova's most known and influential pharmaceutical company. At least on paper. Though, on everyone else's concern, through the years of it establishing itself on Castelia City, Keraunos' actions ensured it would be regarded as the top pharmaceutical company of Unova."

"Some time after Keraunos' rapid rise, it, along with the rest of Castelia's major corporations would then form the Castelia Business Committee, or the CBC in short. Ever since, the CBC essentially run the city from then on."

A sigh.

"Only stopping the CBC from just converting Castelia into a fully autonomous city-state is Pokémon League jurisdiction. Turns out, getting rid of Burgh's Gym is actually too costly for them as of this time."

Funny how his Gym effectively became the loadbearing factor that keeps the CBC in check... for now that is. Its always a matter of when.

"You'll probably come to dislike Keraunos, or the CBC, or both, especially once you've seen how much Castelia has changed since the corporations started running this damn joint."

And soon, they'd stop in front of a cafe, situated in the border between Upper and Lower Castelia, which in turn also helps draw in the stark contrast between Upper Castelia's well-maintained, now corporate polish, and Lower Castelia's decrepit state.

"We're here." She stated, with her opening the door and holding it for Soyi.

It is what Angelica had stated as well. The place is indeed Pokemon staffed. A Dragonite had just started leaving the place with a delivery bag, a Hatterene was working the counter, a Smeargle was the latte artist and barista, a Lucario and Machamp are the security, and a Meowscarada was serving food and drinks. On the kitchen, it would seem that a Dusknoir was the one in charge, and there was currently a closed office door that had a cardboard cutout of an Empoleon's face pinned to it.

The last customer had just recently upped and leave, so that at least gives her and Soyi some privacy, if in case he wants to start talking about things... but for now, he can make an order from the menu if he wanted.

After all, Angelica said that its on the house.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

So, get away Another way to feel what you didn't want yourself to know And let yourself go You know you didn't lose your self-control Let's start at the rainbow Turn away Another way to be where you didn't want yourself to go And let yourself go Is that a compromise?

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Replies will be posted soon. Work just got me swamped at the moment

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Alright, expect replies from me soon

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Finally

[ardensfides]

As attempts to settle the little Azurill positively fuming in her arms are starting to fall through, she's resorted to gently pressing the little aquatic mouse's tail into her mouth.

"Waterfront reclamation land my damn foot, have you had this approved by the region's higher-ups? This kind of interference could greatly impact multiple ecoystems for years to come."

Just as she was about to launch into some choice words on regulations hardly being in line with this so-called project, the voice behind her has her glancing back to catch the stranger in her peripheral. Damn it all, as much as she didn't want to drop this--This helpful stranger was unfortunately correct, she can feel more than just a few sets of eyes upon her.

"--Alright."

Tessa murmured back in an equally quiet volume, inhaling slowly before patting Phym on the head and turning around on her heel to follow.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Great. At least she prevented her being on the immediate radar of certain individuals that would want her compromised, had she stayed there longer enough to warrant attention from the superiors of the reclamation crew.

For now, Angelica would lead Tessa further from the reclamation project, in which the Pokemon Ranger would inadvertently see how heavily corporate-influenced Upper Castelia was like, as major streets and routes would be filled with corporate slogans, brandings, and the like, the most predominant one was a stylized K symbol, from one such entity known as Keraunos Pharmaceuticals.

Of course, once they had reached a spot where Angelica knows that they won't be followed, she finally stopped. Its one of Upper Castelia's alleyways, yes... with a shiny Gardevoir already waiting for Angelica. Sure, its still part of Upper Castelia, but no one would figure to bother looking for them here, if anyone would try to.

That, and she had to gauge out the other person's stance first, before showing her around Castelia City further.

"Now... First thing's first." She began. "You're one usually not from around Castelia City, are you?"

Of course, Angelica meant that not in a way to provoke, but she meant that out of veiled concern that might pass off as abrasiveness.

[oflegendariesandtrainers]

"Even if there were people there that shouldn't know things about me, it's not like I don't know how to hold my own in a fight." Soyi reassures Angelica. "Not to mention that I've always got someone watching over me. I'm perfectly safe, even from the worst the city has to offer."

What did he mean by that? There weren't any other people around, although it might have something to do with how weird he felt. At least that will also be covered in the explanation that he planned to give.

"Although I probably won't order anything. I don't have the means to pay for it, considering the state my life is in--and the other people I know aren't any better off than me."

Oh, this explanation was gonna be a doozy, wasn't it? Well, hope Angelica was prepared to hear another wild story--since it wouldn't be the first time she's heard anything like what Soyi would have to tell.

It's just that Soyi's story--and the world he came from--was a lot worse overall.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

"Hm. Alright then. Come follow me."

The less questions asked on Soyi having someone watching over him, the better. And most of the time, whatever she assumes that he has backing him, be it someone from high places, or divine intervention, it would most likely be true, either way. His reassurance was not one out of confidence, but something factually spoken, she assessed.

As she led him to the route to Star of The City, she would look over to him from her shoulder, now being her turn to reassure him.

"And don't worry about it. Whatever you'd have there that you'd be interest on trying would be on the house."

Yet another peculiar individual, yes. Honestly, she's already had the track record on meeting extraordinary individuals, almost as if meeting one Acting-Arceus had started it all.

Not that she's complaining, after all.

[brrnedoutbrrista]

As the duo walked away, Agni couldn’t help but glare at their backs; their hands…twitching. Ah, this feeling: they want to fucking maim that duo with their bare fucking hands. Deep breath before turning to the stranger, the South-West Deity's voice...somewhere far away in their mind.

Somewhere.

"I'll...manage." a deep, deep sigh. Well, there goes their plans for the next 30 minutes (fuck. The line's gonna be even longer to wait in. Fuck).

"I'm sorry for causing such a scene; they wouldn't leave me alone and I was already running late--the line's probably too fuckin' long anyway right now fuck me--" Kyunkyung cooed and rubbed its 'face' on Agni's leg in attempt to soothe them (not working so far, when it knows that Agni is up in their head right now). Warily eyeing both this new trainer and Pokemon.

You're not going to hurt them, right? No problems? At least, that's what Kyunkyung was trying to ask.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Well, this person definitely was on a rush. No wonder they have snapped the way they did. Then again, those people have the tendency to get pushy, so she won't really blame them either. Still, with Kyunkyung warily eyeing Angelica and Titania, she understood the defensiveness.

Regardless, she would then give Agni a questioning look, with a slightly raised eyebrow to match.

"Line...?" She began. "Are you talking about the line just a few blocks down?"

She passed that just moments before encountering the commotion around here, after all, and it had definitely added in length, most likely to the growing frustration of this individual.

Unless...

"I think I know a proper shortcut that should be able to get you there in time."

She offered.

[darkraise]

Through  the  abandoned  site,  the  wind  howled  through  the  gaps  in  the  failing  structure.  Creaking  metal  of  loose  doors  and  distant  flutters  of  loose  banners  that  once  adorned  the  convention  center  aided  him  in  remaining  nearly  wholly  undetected.  From  the  roof's  rafters,  the  incarnation  of  nightmares  loomed  and  watched  on  with  mild  curiosity  until  the  trainer's  Pokémon  registered  and  he  froze.

An  ache  bloomed  in  his  chest,  pained  nostalgia  of  the  Gardevoir  he  himself  had  traveled  with.  He  cursed  the  sentiment-  because  he  knew,  even  if  he  could  obscure  himself  in  darkness  and  stay  as  quiet  as  could,  this  was  a  being  that  could  sense  emotions  of  others.  He  already  had  no  way  of  hiding  his,  now  the  memory  worsened  his  inability  to  conceal  himself  from  the  Psychic's  empathy.  So  he  quickly  moved  on,  using  the  move  Phantom  Force  to  escape  detection  and  short-range  teleport  to  another  part  before  they  could  figure  out  his  exact  location.

In  the  next  section  of  the  convention  building,  Darkrai  watched  the  pair  with  greater  care  even  if  he'd  already  let  on  too  much  that  they  weren't  alone.  After  a  bit  more  observation,  the  baleful  eye  ever  piercing  them,  he  decided  to  break  his  silence  with  a  sudden  telepathic  message.  "...ARE  YOU  LOOKING  FOR  SOMEONE?"  Not  by  chance  the  other  person  who'd  wandered  in  here  not  too  long  ago?  Not  that  he  cared  how  they  both  related,  though  he  may  not  be  wholly  innocent  in  the  matter  of  Angelica  not  finding  her  target.  It  bothered  him  that  he  couldn't  find  a  quiet  spot  to  haunt  in  peace  in  this  sprawling  metropolis  during  his  stay  in  Unova,  just  when  he  thought  he  had  found  one.  Not  even  the  rats  called  this  ruin  home.  Even  though  he  couldn't  claim  this  as  his  territory  and  was  ignorant  of  its  possible  history,  it  felt  like  this  center  had  been  victim  to  more  than  just  urban  decay.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

The brief emotional spike was picked up on by Titania, who had already looked ahead on the direction on where the Darkrai once was before Phantom Force had helped him escape immediate detection, and now the Gardevoir was left with only but traces on where he was now exactly. The presence was still there, but it was already faint. Faint enough for her to not be able to pinpoint him right away.

Of course, Angelica would also look on where Titania looked. She already trusted her partner's intuition after all. And as soon as both would move deeper to the convention building, the telepathic message would be planted on her mind.

'...ARE  YOU  LOOKING  FOR  SOMEONE?'

Already, she can tell that there was something else amiss here. Every fiber in her body already pretty much told her to think twice before advancing.

But she stayed her ground. She is not alone, after all.

"Yes." Was the simple reply, followed by "Looking for someone. Tall, athletic, scar on the right side of the face, ran off to this place without thinking twice. Perhaps you have a lead on them?"

Great. She's responding to a sudden telepathic message, and one not from Titania. This job definitely got more interesting, and whether it be for better or for worse, she has yet to determine that.

[unovasknight]

She's right, of course. While he's never been a fan of taking the easy way out, there's a stark difference between having to work hard for something and actually struggling for survival. His parents having to pick up a few extra shifts to make sure he and his brothers got nicer Delibird Day presents and a decent holiday dinner is very different from what most people have to do today just to stay alive. "I sometimes wonder how we let the CBC's, or even Keraunos's influence, get so out of hand."

In the end, it all comes down to the pharmaceutical company. Although the board has several members, it's always been clear who holds the power. The law enforcement officer in Nate briefly wonders just what kind of bribery is at play, but he quickly dismisses the thought. Once again, he shouldn't involve himself in this city, but agents assigned here should definitely do some digging.

When the woman asks for his name, he has the decency to look sheepish. In the heat of the moment, introductions had sort of fallen by the wayside. "Oh, yeah, mala mía."

While he normally struggles to decide whether to introduce himself as Nate or Blake, and he can thank Interpol for THAT particular identity crisis, being in Castelia makes it easy. Most people here know his parents, and anyone who worked at the docks or frequented Café Sonata while he was growing up would recognize him. Besides, he'd hate to associate "Agent Blake" or "Blake Torres" with his family in any way.

"I go by Nate," he replies. The nickname had finally stuck after years of effort to distance himself from the irksome "Iggy"—thank Sebas for that. "What can I call you?"

He can't really explain it beyond one of his usual 'vibe checks', but he has a feeling he'll be seeing more of her.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

"In my guess, things have likely gotten dire and desperate after Neo Plasma. I could be wrong of course. I was away during that time before the crisis with Neo Plasma ended."

It always started there, Angelica thought. Whenever a wound has been freshly cut open, there would be external factors that would help it heal, yes, but at the same time ensure that the wound would end up not healing right.

Keraunos' rise wasn't on accident either, from what Angelica had known ever since she had returned to Castelia City, almost as if the fallout of the entire region being shaken up by Ghetsis' machinations was the exact catalyst needed. And then it was a domino effect from there. Keraunos had established itself as a major corporate power on Castelia, several other corporations also grew more powerful, and then the CBC was formed.

"Nate. I'll make sure to remember that." Angelica noted. "Karnstein. Angelica Karnstein. A pleasure to be of your acquaintance."

She can already tell that she'd be seeing more of him eventually. Castelia does have that kind of ecosystem, after all.

"Now, before the KAR-D distraction has had happened, where were you heading?" She asked. "Now I do not mean to pry, of course. Personally, I was about to get myself something to eat, until this commotion happened."

[darkraise]

Questions  again.  How  was  she  familiar  with  the  three  lake  guardians  that  presided  over  spirit  itself?  The  hidden  sprites  that  could  bind  the  real  world  were  rarely  depicted  in  fear  of  their  powers  over  sentience  itself.  Their  names  were  on  the  tongues  of  researchers  and  archivers  of  old  faiths  alone,  their  powers  the  stuff  of  folklore,  let  alone  knowledge  of  their  appearances.  Who  are  you.  The  question  bites  at  him  but  he  knows  it  is  not  time  for  it,  sharply  exhaling  instead  and  getting  to  the  question  posed.

"You're  right.  It's  unlikely  but  not  impossible.  It  could  be  one  of  them...and  if  it  is,  then...  shit."  The  curse  drops  at  a  lower  volume,  hissed  under  his  breath.  "Could  be  the  doing  of  my  ...'enemy'  that  I  have  to  thank  for  my  belongings  being  donated  to  this  gaggle  of  crazies.  He  would  have  the  power  to  accomplish  that."  What  a  shitstorm  that  would  be,  he  thought  to  himself.

Dialga,  Palkia,  Giratina  for  the  material  world.  Azelf,  Mesprit,  Uxie  for  the  spiritual  world.

---Cresselia  and  Darkrai,  between  mind  and  matter.

A  fickle  balance,  easily  disturbed  by  a  rogue  Darkrai.  This  was  the  worst  case  scenario,  but  a  premonition  of  his  own  bad  luck  and  tendency  to  catastrophize  had  him  mentally  steel  for  the  implications.  If  it  were  true,  then...

---This  was  a  trap  for  him  to  set  him  up  as  the  perpetrator?  A  foreign  Darkrai  from  another  Arceus's  domain  targeting  a  lake  guardian  was  basically  an  act  of  invasion.  Getting  their  world  destroyed  was  the  end  goal  as  was,  so  if  an  outside  party  did  it, that  would  serve  Ravaa's  and  its  disciples  well.  Alhazred  realized  he  didn't  even  have  an  alibi  for  being  here  that'd  hold  up  to  divine  scrutiny  if  there  was  retribution.  This  might  land  him  or  his  own  Arceus  in  deep  shit.  Dammit.

Suddenly,  a  voice  yanked  him  out  of  his  circling  thoughts.  Right.  The  performance.  "I'm  here."  The  violin  is  held  in  a  steady  grip,  its  bow  given  a  glance  over  before  leaving.  He  was  quick  on  Elysia's  heels,  continuing  all  the  while  to  pray  to  a  creator  whose  presence  he  was  ignorant  of.

Their  steps  echo  in  the  narrow  passageways,  no  matter  how  lightly  they  tread.  Torches  and  watchful  gazes  of  idols  carved  in  stone  linger  at  each  side,  still  showing  the  same  signs  of  vandalized  older  legendaries  being  altered  to  Giratina's  likeness.  A  certain  room  with  multiple  locks  caught  his  attention  on  the  way,  leaving  him  only  so  signal  its  importance  with  a  series  of  exchanged  glances  with  Elysia.  The  hallway  looped  around  to  the  same  podium  the  disguised  shadow  had  pointed  out  before,  a  level  or  two  higher  on  a  cliff  overlooking  the  altar-site  with  the  obelisks  they  had  passed  by. 

This  is  where  the  procession  continued  without  them,  past  another  half-crescent  to  the  lower  level.  It's  at  this  point  that  the  Darkrai  realized  that  the  path  it  had  walked  was  in  the  shape  of  the  Renegade's  head-crest,  making  a  whole  circle  while  they  stayed  at  the  center.

The  carriage  with  the  cage  was  set  down  at  the  altar's  center,  where  after  some  candles  were  lit  in  purple  ghost-fires.  The  drape  was  cast  off  to  reveal  the  identity  of  the  chosen  sacrifice. It really was one of the trio.

Alhazred  bit  his  teeth  together.  The  way  back  was  cut-off  by  cultist  guards  flanking  them,  so  they  had  to  continue.  They  were  both  led  to  their  places,  each  of  them  at  the  side  of  the  leader  figure.  After  an  announcement  that  a  glorious  concert  was  to  be  given  before  the  sermon  an  expectant  silence  set  in.  No  mistakes  now.  All  he  had  to  do  was  pretend.  He'd  seen  a  violin  be  held  before,  propped  between  one's  chin  and  shoulder,  fingers  grasping  at  the  strings  while  the  other  had  to  use  the  bow,  careful  to  elevate  it  just  a  hair's  width  above  the  instrument  to  not  make  a  sound.

Music  would  play,  but  not  his.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

That was something to take note of, see. If this was the doing of this one individual's 'enemy', Elysia mused silently that whoever it was, it was a pretty powerful enemy, no less, to be able to have the means of being able to hold captive one of her children if that was proven. With that in mind, even in her rotted divinity, she would still uphold her duties, no matter what. Even if it risked making the rot fester with enflamed vigor.

The room with several locks on it was something of note that had also caught Elysia's attention, see. So much so that the exchange of glances between here and Alhazred was already to be expected. The architecture of this place was also noted, in which the god in human skin would note that someone who is uninitiated or inexperienced on lurking would end up lost in these maze-like corridors. Thankfully, she had already memorized the routes she had crossed with the human-shaped nightmare aside her.

The moment the procession continued on without them, passed the path in the shape of the Renegade, the irony wasn't lost to her, see. That this cult was unknowingly worshipping the half of her that she had divested from her being. Still her, but an entirely different being, with an entirely different face from her.

But the moment it was revealed that the sacrifice chosen was one of the trio, specifically Azelf, it would seem as the room had dropped in temperature, all while Elysia had an unreadable expression to her face.

How ironic, see, that she was to conduct a sacrificial dirge for one of her children. But thankfully, the sacrifice would not find its completion. She would just have to play the role for a little longer, until either of them can figure how to put an end to this, and get what they came for, alongside freeing Azelf.

The god incognito would then prop up her cello proper, bow at hand, as she would begin to play her music.

This one was different from the one Elysia had played earlier as demonstration. If the previous piece was a test, then this one was more synesthetic than the previous, that it felt haunting, ethereal, and possibly foreboding across every sense in the body. To the human crowd, it would feel as if they would be moved by her dirge, and only just. For Alhazred, it might come off as something that, unintentionally on Elysia's end, sounded ancient. Almost as if this was supposed to be originally played through a flute, but with added personalization and liberties by Elysia herself to capture such feeling that can only be elevated through when transposed to a string instrument as sophisticated as hers.

And at the same time, as the temperature dropped again, the pressure all over them would experience an increase too.

[ardensfides]

For a time, there is silence, only filled by the howl of the wind and an occasional inquisitive cry from the Snovers leading her through the blizzard. Quietly, she hits the switch to broadcast her position after estimating that enough time has lapsed since her last, with just a bit more force than needed as her cerulean eyes lock onto an odd sight before her.

"What on Earth...?"

Shielding her face somewhat with her arm, Phym burrowing into the depths of her hood with a startled cry; Tessa's eyes narrowed behind her protective goggles. The Snovers proceed to huddle behind her with their small party having reached the destination, a few large Abomasnows lying wounded nearby, and a loud, shrill screech filling the air. She knew that cry.

But it should not be in Sinnoh.

Shaking her head to bring herself out of her thoughts, Tessa hurried her way through the thick snow to the side of one of the Abomasnows, digging through her satchel for first aid as she tapped the button on her Ranger Gear.

"This is Ranger Tessa. There's something here that doesn't belong in Sinnoh, many Abomasnows injured. I'm tending to them as we speak."

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

Something that doesn't belong on Sinnoh, it would seem?

At that moment, the device beeped from his chest pocket, in which Orlando would pull out and give it a brief look, before pocketing it back on his suit. And now, he would head out over to her location, while still holding the means of communication between himself and Tessa. He should be able to make it there on time, granted that he had followed everything to the letter.

"If it is something that does not belong in Sinnoh, then either it feels cornered, or agitated. Either way, I suggest keeping aware of your surroundings, Ranger Tessa." A pause.

"There is a highly likely chance that whatever had caused the injuries on the Abomasnows on your vicinity would still be around the immediate area."

Of course, even as if there was some expectation on his end that an escalation might happen, exactly what would cause said escalation, the source of the shrill screech that Tessa heard on her end before updating him, would be entirely up for speculation on Orlando's end.

Either way, he was already on the move to meet her.