ｏｏ１． ➟ 【video】

[haltings]

'Zodian' as this place is called... I demand some answers.

[ the video focuses on a tall boy, standing beside a golden-scaled dragon-type pokemon. the pokemon appears fierce with its axe-like tusks and red eyes, but is calm beside its trainer, watching the screen over his shoulder

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♡VIDEO. 1/2

[freed]

Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?

[he means haxorus; truthfully, N doesn't really care all that much about cheren one way or the other, he simply remembers him as the boy who pursued strength but could never quite match up to the hero of unova. it's quite a sad tale from his perspective but it wasn't one N sought to dwell on. he's smiling very fondly at the boy's companion.]

Such a wonderful Pokémon...

♡VIDEO. 2/2

[freed]

[he supposes he can't spend all day admiring haxoruus, so he averts his gaze to cheren, and his expression is that usual haughty smile the other boy probably remembers from when they met in accumula town. things have changed quite a bit since that fateful day, and N is quite curious as to what role cheren played all throughout their personal pilgrimages.]

Welcome to Zodion, Cheren. And I extend the most heartfelt of welcomes to your friend, Haxorus, as well.

[haltings]

[ haxorus looks puzzled at N's actions, glancing down at Cheren beside it, who merely shakes his head to let him know it's alright. Cheren can assume N has no interest in him and doesn't assume the comment was meant for him in the first place. he certainly looks much better from when he last saw him in that castle of his. ]

We're hardly pleased to be here, though if you could extend information instead, we'd be happy to hear it, N.

[freed]

[straight to the point; no reason to feign pleasantries, right? he likes that, though N would admit he would be quite interested in hearing anything cheren had to say, there was a time and place for everything and it would be prudent to wait until he was in safer hands before indulging.]

First and foremost, I would advise you look through the Xtransceiver given to you for a map to your dwellings. You should be assigned an apartment in one of the districts here in the settlement.

[haltings]

[ without another word he'll do just that. first and foremost Cheren is eager for information; only when he is as satisfied as can be for the time being, will he move on to other matters at hand.

as his eyes scan the map for directions he'll speak without focusing on N. ]

Is that what these devices are called? Despite the similarities, they are different.

[freed]

I assume so. I am not familiar with different Xtransceiver models.

[he says this naturally and evenly, and for a moment wonders if this was a mistake to allow himself such comfort around cheren. the two were barely acquaintances, but N did have an undeniable fondness and bias towards him that no doubt others he had met thus far in zodion would envy if they desired to be close to him. all the same, however, cheren wasn't quite close enough to warrant his deserving to know the darker parts of the birth and death of an empire.

oh well. he would worry about it later. in a strange way, he trusted cheren, knew the other boy wouldn't stick his nose in matters bigger than he was, and if his devotion to the hero of unova was any indicator, cheren was capable of some very amazing things when he set his mind to it.]

At any rate, as I said, you are now in Zodion. I do not know why or how you were taken here as it is unclear to all of us, but I believe the Twelve are in possession of your Pokémon.

[N knows he's probably worried about that deep

[haltings]

I see. [ a beat, as he listens to N. his eyes look toward the ground a moment before he focuses on N's figure again. ]

...is it safe to assume if I do as they ask they'll give them back to me? Are your own safe, here?

[ he truly is worried, but if these Twelve were able to have everyone reacting so calmly, would it be also safe to assume that he shouldn't worry so much...?

...he hated having to make all these assumptions. he hated not being able to know. not being able to look it up on his own in books or on the internet or anything convenient.

but there was nothing wrong with asking for help. he knew that. old habits just...died hard. ]

Touko...explained. To me. [ his voice gets a little... rigid. he didn't want to think of how he would indulge the Twelve with his 'worship'. ]

[freed]

I do not know.

[boy does he wish he did though!!]

I have inquired them about my Pokémon's safety but have received no response. The Twelve are very elusive it seems...

[a sigh as he worries once again about his beloved friends, reshiram in particular; the two of them had built a very strong connection and his understanding of her had been exceptional-- he understood her and felt for her deeply, and to lose her so easily...

he supposes it's another head to add to the totem called his guilt.]

Well, that certainly makes my task easier. Unfortunately, other than worship and adjusting to our new living arrangements, there is little to do in Zodion.

[haltings]

...I see. Thank you for the information.

[ Cheren's brow is furrowed in his frustration. he pushes up his glasses before folding his arms across his chest. ]

[freed]

Of course.

[a pause.]

There is a matter I must discuss with you in private later. I am only alerting you now so that you aren't surprised when you receive my message. It isn't a dire situation but your cooperation would be appreciated regardless.

[he simply wants to confirm if cheren knows touya like he does.]

[haltings]

? You can speak with me now if it's so important to you.

[freed]

If this was a matter I felt comfortable discussing with you over a public network, rest assured I would not hesitate to do so. However, as I said, this is a private matter and I feel that it should be dealt with at a later time.

[has cheren ever had to bear the brunt of N's overwhelming will? if not, the insistence in his tone might be a bit surprising but N always speaks with conviction and gets what he wants.]

[haltings]

I didn't mean over a public network. We can meet face to face if that's what you were implying.

[ Cheren is pretty unyielding, no matter how insistent N sounds he wont back down from his words or take them back. to him it sounded more logical to take care of it now while they were both obviously free for time. who knew what he would be doing later? ]

[freed]

Eh, you should have specified.

[N also hates being wrong, but that much is probably obvious.]

If time is going to be a concern for you, then no matter. The option to send you a private message through our Xtransceivers is also open to us, so you can respond at your leisure. It should be a quick conversation so perhaps this is better for us.

[haltings]

[ good thing Cheren hardly cares to nitpick at things like this. ]

Then I'll get to your message when at all possible.

[freed]

Excellent. Look forward to it-- And stay safe until then. I hope your adjustment is a safe and easy one.