oh for the love of -

[holocast]

I had hoped that you would know better; strength of discipline is a wonderful trait, and I'm disappointed that you don't seem to have a grasp on it. I can't stand the thought of wasted potential, you know that much to be true; if you're going to do anything with this, then you're going to do it properly or it's a futile action.

The way I see it, our duties and priorities both direct us elsewhere, anyway; you're aware that I have goals that must be seen out. Furthermore, surely you understand the importance of those goals; the ugliness that darkens the world cannot be allowed to spread, to pervade what little still remains pure...!

You argue with my methods, but sending me here - or anywhere else, for that matter - isn't going to deter those goals from being carried out; I'll be utilizing those methods, whether you agree with them or not. So shall I ask what it is that you hope to achieve? Or are you going to make that into just another futile action?

Comments

[encyclopedic]

[Sycamore tips his head a bit and considers Lysandre's words for a moment before replying.]

...No, I think I do. I could have at least tried to stop you. I didn't even do that. It all fell on that child's shoulders. That was irresponsible of me. I should have seen it long before anyone else. We... [were? are?] We're friends, after all.

[holocast]

Of course we are.

[There's no hesitance behind it, nor is there bitterness; just a straightforward response.

We're friends, after all.
Of course we are.]

If you must apologize to anyone, apologize to the children - there were three of them that I know of. Again, you owe me nothing.

[encyclopedic]

[That makes him smile; Lysandre's always been so certain of himself. It's good to see that he's still the same way, even if their ideals do clash horribly.]

I've already apologized to them. They were very brave to face you.

[He's practically glowing with pride. Sycamore knew he had chosen some good kids, but he hadn't anticipated them being quite this brave and strong!]

Still, I feel as though a good friend would have attempted to talk about this with you. At the very least allow me to apologize for not being there for you.

[holocast]

[...]

You're not going to back down until I concede, are you?

[encyclopedic]

You know me too well.

[holocast]

...My actions were my own. Whether you had known or not wouldn't have changed the outcome.

You can stop taking responsibility for me; you have a tendency to do that. It's not necessary.

[encyclopedic]

Ah, do I?

[Sycamore's expression is one of mild surprise, like he didn't know that. Of course he knows that. It doesn't take long for his expression to settle back into something distinctly uncomfortable. This isn't the sort of conversation he wants to be having with his dead friend.]

I apologize, then. I like to think I could have at least given you pause, but I know how you are. You would have followed your path to the end, no matter what anyone had to say about it.

[...]

I've always admired that about you.

[holocast]

Oh, indeed?

[...you know, if they work out that they are coming down on opposite sides of the Schrodinger's Villain problem posed by the differences in X and Y, this is going to get really awkward really fast.

As it stands, however, it's...well, it's still really awkward, but for a different reason entirely; Lysandre's quick to shrug it off, however.]

You flatter me, then.

[encyclopedic]

[That could get really awkward really fast, but as it stands, the awkwardness is all on your side, Lysandre!]

Oh come now, you know I've always admired that burning passion of yours! Even if it's focused on something I don't agree with, it's still inspiring.

[...He could gush about you all day Lysandre, don't get him started.]

[holocast]

[Tch.]

Don't - not with that.

[I mean some ego stroking is fine, but you tend to get a bit...special about it, hon.]

That you should say such things, even after all that's happened - you really are a kind person, you know. Some might argue too much so.

But I think the world needs more people like you.

[encyclopedic]

[How so? Gushing about how totally awesome and passionate your bff is is totally normal!!]

I'm pleased to hear you think so highly of me. I don't see any reason to hold what you did against you. It's all over now.

[He looks more than a bit relieved with those words and then, as if to make sure he's really right, Sycamore repeats it.]

It's all over.

[holocast]

[And there it is again, that feeling that something isn't coming together right, and it's tilting the conversation in a way that he doesn't like and it's making him prickly as hell; it's impossible to shake off this time.]

Is it?

[encyclopedic]

Of course it is. That child defeated you, captured the legendary Pokémon, and ruined your plans.

[He almost says something else there, but snaps his mouth shut instead. He's not sure what to make of the fact that Lysandre needs confirmation of that; perhaps he doesn't remember being defeated and dying? This place is strange; apparently it can bring people back from the dead, so who's to say it can't also wipe memories?]

[holocast]

[Wh...]

Not yet.

I've allowed them to seek out Xerneas; they haven't found it yet, to my knowledge.

[encyclopedic]

Xer-- Xerneas? But they encountered - and captured - Yveltal.

[Uh oh, two and two aren't making four what do.]

[holocast]

[Oh, that's not good...]

Yveltal? Why would I...?

[well i mean we know why that sort of goes without saying but -

...god, that actually would have made much more sense in retrospect, wouldn't it]

[encyclopedic]

[Yeaaaahhh the deer god of life doesn't seem like the best choice for destroying everything...]

That's what I was told. I've seen the entry in their Pokédex as well, so I know for a fact that they caught it. But you didn't use Yveltal?

[holocast]

[...okay, look, Augustine, let him explain you a thing

in order for it to restore life to anything it kind of has to suck massive amounts of life out of everything because clearly Kalos is a really poorly-drawn Nationwide Transmutation Circle

I mean apparently my exponentially great uncle wrecked the shit out of massive amounts of Pokémon just to resurrect a Floette

a goddamn Floette

so in making Team Flare immortal that'd totally take like...most of the world out right because I mean it's a magical flower fairy but shit's tiny and goddamn it why did he not use Yveltal

...outside of the whole immortal life thing

the immortal life thing's kind of a perk :|a

right, that's why he didn't go with Yveltal crisis averted]

No, I didn't; I was using Xerneas.

[encyclopedic]

[wowowowow no you take that back

all pokémon are amazing beings don't say that about poor floette

....but yeah the immortal life thing is kind of cool, okay]

That's... certainly something.

[To understate it horribly, Sycamore...]

I'm not sure how a mixup like that is possible, but perhaps there was a communication error on my end?

[He doubts Lysandre would lie to him about something like this, after all. So clearly the kid just failed to catch Xerneas and made up for it by catching another legendary!!]

[holocast]

[...#logic]

That might be, yes.

[...]

At any rate. You said it's over.

[encyclopedic]

[...well he is a pokémon professor...]

Yes. It's all over. They defeated you and stopped your plans.

[He still isn't sure he wants to get into the whole you died issue...]

[holocast]

[The reluctance to continue is obvious, but at the same time, that isn't going to fly; that much becomes obvious fairly quickly. Again, there's no hesitance behind his words; the prompting is clear.]

And...?

[encyclopedic]

[Oh come on, that is not fair....]

...From what I was told, there were a lot of deaths after the device backfired. I don't believe many - if any - of your team made it out alive.

I wasn't there to witness it, so I can't say for certain how accurate that is, and given that there's the discrepancy between Xerneas and Yveltal being used... it's possible that you didn't die...

[He shrugs after a moment, failing to make eye contact. It's clear he doesn't believe that, but he's trying (in his own very special way) to be comforting.]

[holocast]

[And even though he's steeled himself for it, he's still not quite prepared for the way the words strike him; the intake of breath that follows is shallow and sharp through clenched teeth, and he allows his eyes to slide closed again while he processes it.

Sycamore knows better than to lie to him, and it's simply not in the man's nature to make up something so tasteless; he can assume it's truth, then. All right.

He seems a bit too placid when he resumes eye contact. Accepting.]

...I understand.

[His breathing is deepening again, slow and calming; all right.]

In a way, I'd been prepared for that; my own survival was never guaranteed.

J'ai confiance en toi.

[encyclopedic]

[Sycamore glances up at that sharp intake of breath and he watches his friend come to terms with it. It's a bit unsettling how easily Lysandre accepts it, but he supposes Lysandre had to realize that this was a possibility when messing with a legendary Pokémon.

The words surprise him though. Sycamore takes a moment to respond.]

...Thank you.

[He doesn't like lying in general and he'd never dream of lying about something like this.]

Well, you're here now, so we might as well enjoy our time together, right?

[He smiles, though the expression isn't quite as genuine as it could be. Sycamore can't just forget everything that happened, but he isn't going to waste this chance to spend time with his friend.]