i am a cage in search of a bird

[crocodiline]

[ The figure inside the frosted glass snaps her fingers, and the glass falls away, sliding into grooves in the ground below. Inside, behind additional bulletproof glass, sits a woman, legs up on a transparent glass desk, absentmindedly petting a... whatever this thing is.

Say hello to your mastermind, everyone! ]

Hey there, everyone. Nice to talk to you in person - my name is Cipher, welcome to my city. Sorry I took so long to show up in person. No need to get up on my account - how about we talk business?

[ Let's drive. ]

Comments

[howveryglib]

[oh. oh it's adaman?

god. what does he even say here. he does... look at him a bit awkwardly, because he doesn't know how to approach this...]

[timegazer]

[...HONESTLY, THAT MAKES TWO OF THEM, for as confident and willing to embrace humility as adaman was in the letters, doing so in person is...hard...

...But almighty Sinnoh above, he can't meander like this. He'll look to Gaius, pausing for a moment, before flashing a grin.]

A grand victory like this, and you're going to stand about like an awkward Togepi, Gaius?

[...AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE]

[howveryglib]

Ah, well. It has been... a time, even so.

[...]

I... feel as though I ought to apologize for being rude to you initially. I have explained my reasoning for it, but I misjudged you quite severely based upon previous experiences.

[timegazer]

I can understand that. She certainly...did not make it easy on you all.

[...Adaman pauses a bit as he considers Gaius's words; it's not as if he disagrees, because truthfully, he still doesn't...really like what happened, but...

Adaman raises a hand to stop Gaius, and his look neutralizes a bit into something serious.]

Peace, Gaius. Your reasonings were more than fair; all be told, I ought to do the same. Almighty Sinnoh has been a part of my clan's livelihood for many a generation, and to hear disparaging against it...truly, it was unbecoming of me to react as such. So allow me to apologize as well.

[And with that, Adaman extends a hand.]

You are clearly not the man I thought you to be, and if you are amendable...might we start again? Time may march on, but we do not have to spend it as enemies. Nor awkward, if you wish.

[howveryglib]

Yes, that would be for the best, I think.

[He will take Adaman's hand and shake it.]

I am... reevaluating many things at the moment, truth be told, so I suppose this may as well be the first. Though I will say that I have been regretting it since your first letter.

[timegazer]

[Reevaluating things, huh...well, Adaman's grip on Gaius's hand is firm as ever, but he nods his head at that.]

Truth be told, it's a shame. I had wished to speak to you again, but...well, time proved quite cruel in that regard. Even so, I felt perhaps I was wrong about you.

[...]

If it is not too personal, what have you doubts about? Will it help to have an ear, willing to listen?

[howveryglib]

I will admit, I believed that it would be unproductive to approach you during those few weeks, which I regret.

[...]

Well, you do have leadership experience of your own, even accounting for your young age. I am sure you have experienced points where you have been discouraged.

[timegazer]

[Yeah...yeah, Adaman gets that. Both the difficulty in approaching, being willing to consider it a lost cause, and just...]

Oh, often. It's a hard balance to maintain; to present an image that you're immortal and infallible, while knowing exactly how mortal you are and how your decisions affect the world around you. Leadership has much you have to balance...

[Hm.]

What has discouraged you so, my friend?

[and just like that, you're in the friend club gaius, welcome]

[howveryglib]

Precisely. In a situation such as this, where so many people have died on my watch… well, even though everyone is fine, I cannot help but feel as though I have failed on some level. Even if everyone else has been gracious, I can only judge myself to be wanting.

[timegazer]

[Ohhhh, that. That gets Adaman's expression to steel, but his eyes seem...softened, perhaps a touch. Understanding, really.]

...No, I understand that much. It's hard not to judge one's self when they are watching people die around them, with the knowledge that they could do something--anything, and yet they cannot.

[...]

It's a powerlessness I found myself familiar with, both here and on the other side. It is...difficult, to watch people wind up in a place that was meant to house those who died, but I can only imagine the pain you felt in watching such things unfold in living.

[He thinks for a moment--truly, tempering his impulses, Almighty Sinnoh might actually be proud of him for once.]

But you musn't let yourself dwell upon your failures, if you can help it. It will only put your head in a terrible place that you may not be able to climb out of.

[howveryglib]

…It is very difficult indeed, particularly when it feels as though it is part of a larger pattern.

Regardless, I appreciate the advice. It is always worth hearing another perspective from someone who carries similar burdens, even if they are not quite the same.

[timegazer]

[A larger pattern, huh...Adaman nods his head at that. He's not sure if it his business to pry, so he won't, but...]

I see. And truly, it is no trouble. [...] If it is what you wish, then take the time to reflect on what you could do better and put it into action; your life is yours once again to do so, and you've all the time in the world now.

May the future be guided ever further down a new path for you, Gaius. For it will be your own two feet that take those steps forward, won't it?

[howveryglib]

...I suppose that is true, yes. Perhaps I can... take a vacation of some sort, if I can simply be returned to a time that is convenient to me. Then again, I do not wish to deal with all the... ramifications.