peach iced tea, [open]

[diantha fontaine]

her favorite cafe had chosen zemina, leaving diantha scrambling to find another place to eat. sure, it seemed insignificant, but the more attention she payed to this, the less she'd have to funnel into any war efforts. diantha didn't mind helping boure- it meant helping people. but at the end of the day, there as that voice at the back of her head again: "it's not your job," it would scoff.

"peach iced tea, please. and your best salad," diantha said quietly to the waiter. he tilted his head a bit, slightly confused. "whatever salad people order the most," she explained, "i'll have that." and she went back to her cgear, tapping at a rapid pace.

but when the food was in front of her, it wasn't right. she has someone else's food.

@open

NETTE OF GS

[cynthia]

being from sinnoh, she wasn't familiar with kalos at all; but that was what traveling was for. the world was much, much wider than just her home region, after all.

all in all, kalos wasn't that bad. even if the war was sinking its claws into every nook and cranny of all the cities and towns, people had businesses to run. families to support. cynthia could understand that, and respect it.

she found a quiet cafe to have lunch at, a bit out of the way from the bustle of the street. some of the guides she'd spoken to had recommended it, and trusting them and their knowledge of their own city she'd ordered their specialty tomato soup and a side of garlic bread to go with.

with the hand-me-down information of the reputation, she didn't expect to be given someone else's lunch.

"ah," she said, grabbing the attention of a waiter. when they turned around, cynthia smiled apologetically and pointed at the plate he'd left behind. "i apologize, but i'm pretty sure that this is someone else's order. could you see if there was a mix-up?" here, she smiled the smile that she'd perfected over the course of one championship. "someone will want their lunch, after all."

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[diantha fontaine]

diantha stared at the table for a moment. the most common course of action would be to alert the server, but from across the cafe diantha could make out some airy babbles. she glanced over to find someone she knew, a familiar face, if you will. they had never met, but diantha could never forget the face.

she picked up the plates and drink and walked them over with careful balance, arriving behind the server cynthia was addressing. "excuse me, i couldn't help but overhearing," she began, "but i think i might have your food?" she placed the food down on the table with gentle hands.

"i'm diantha," she said, a stoic smile on her face. "i've heard of you and seen you everywhere. it's very nice to meet you," she said sincerely, offering a handshake.

cynthia

NETTE OF GS

[cynthia]

the server was shuffling his feet and preparing to take the offending plates away when diantha arrived, and cynthia rose to her feet with a smile. "and i think i have yours," she said, and quietly the waiter left them both to sort it out with a final mumbled apology. perhaps he'd been a new employee; ah, well.

cynthia took the offered handshake with a smile, used to the attention she drew. "likewise; but being the region's champion, you're quite famous yourself." it made identifying the woman in front of her easy, at least, and it made things less awkward when you knew who the other person was. or more awkward, depending on the person, but cynthia was willing to wait and find out.

she gestured toward the chair on the opposite side of hers when they had the correct plates. "do you have someone you're sitting with? you're more than welcome to sit with me if you don't." to be honest, it was better than having a random person sit down to gush at her, even if cynthia didn't mind that much -- or at least, tried not to. choosing her own company in public was a rarity at the best of times for her, and she was going to make the most of it.

diantha fontaine

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[diantha fontaine]

part of diantha was slightly happy that their food had been swapped- she greatly enjoyed talking to other woman of this sort of caliber. cynthia had always seemed lovely. and what a chance meeting this was, not only was this the first time they had met, but in kalos no less. diantha was surprised to see cynthia here.

"you do," she says, smiling and confirming cynthia's remark. and she swapped the two with a dry smile, the clinking and clanging of the dishes in the cafe filtering through her ears as music- rock music, loud and fast. she patted her skirt and looked around. "thank you," diantha begins, "recognition from someone such as yourself means a lot."

she picked up her iced tea and started to stir some sugar in. packet after packet. she liked it sweet. who cares what anyone observing things of it. "i'd love to sit, thank you." and she slid into her chair, still stirring.

"so...you're here," she said plainly. "in kalos." she said kalos, sure, but she meant hell. no one wanted to be here anymore, there was no point. kalos had lost it's glamour. the war had ruined diantha's home. "so, what are you here for?" she looked up from her tea.

cynthia

NETTE OF GS

[cynthia]

in her travels, cynthia had seen many people of all sorts and kinds, all of whom were equally distinguished within their own right. many of them had still said it was an honor to meet a champion, former or not, from another region or not. it made cynthia wonder, sometime, how far her reputation had preceded her. it made asking people things easier, though, because they never wondered if she was part of the war or not. she'd made her opinion quite clear so far.

"how could i not recognize a fellow champion?" she asked, and smiled again. she didn't pay attention to the packets upon packets of tea; many people had sweet tooths, and cynthia herself was one of them. she couldn't look at someone sideways for that when she liked getting ice cream like it was going out of style herself.

looking at diantha from across the table, cynthia smiled over a spoonful of her soup. "i am," she said, and took a sip. aside from the war, there was nothing wrong with kalos. it was just another region engulfed in war. the people here might object to her view on that, but it was the truth. war was the same, wherever someone went.

"for the history, mostly." here, she grinned and set down her spoon. it wouldn't do to start waving it around like a lunatic. "kalos' history is very different from sinnoh's. we have the legnds on palkia and dialga, as well as the third part of the trio; you have the guardians of life and death, if rumors are to be believed." she shrugged, unabashed. "and i had the time, so. why not?"

diantha fontaine

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[diantha fontaine]

she tugged at her scarf, pulling it off and folding it cleanly, placing it on her lap. there were rarely visitors these days- no one came in, and no one went out. the swarm of refugees have already abandoned their homes, in fear of being destroyed by the raging battles taking place almost daily. not diantha, no, she stayed. she loved her home, beautiful or not. it had just changed.

she had decided months ago that the fate of the world shouldn't be in calem's hands, shouldn't be in serena's either. boure fights for protection, a protection they all deserve, and if they can't get it, what in the world is the league even doing in this world. it was hard for her to admit- the very league that brought her glory and fame and prestige. but in all meant nothing in death. death is perhaps the only change diantha is afraid of.

she nods at cynthia. most of the champions can address each other by name. it's in their nature, they pay attention to bigger things- region to region relationships; political issues. why not... she processes, almost chuckling.

"why not?" she begins, scratching her head. "i'm sure you've seen what has happened to my home." she says solemnly, going back for a gulp of tea. "it's very dangerous out here."

"i'm sure you can handle it, but..." she thinks of the right words. "i wish you could have seen it while it was truly beautiful."

cynthia

NETTE OF GS

[cynthia]

she'd picked up her spoon again and had been quietly finishing the rest of her soup while diantha struggled with words. when she did find them, cynthia let silence fill the space between them for a moment, twisting the small soup-spoon between the fingers of one hand. round and round it went, silver metal flashing in the light.

"it's dangerous everywhere," she answered that point with a shrug, but not unkindly. she wasn't the only one who's lost a home to war, and she knew. the vote of confidence for her own ability to keep safe was not lost on her, but it was meaningless, in the end; everyone had to have that, these days. it was yet another sign of the direction that their world was spiraling down into.

"i bet it would have been quite something, though." cynthia continued to blaze on -- they were both here for lunch, not a heavy discussion. although this train of thought could still end up going down that way. "i've heard many wondrous things about kalos, the least of which your rivers and fields. it would have been lovely to have seen them beforehand." before the war.

she paused to finish off more of her soup. she won't ask what diantha is doing in her own region, that's for sure. "how has kalos been coping?" she asked instead. she didn't mean culturally, financially -- that much, at least, was apparent on the streets and with the local people. but the mindset of the people -- that, cynthia wouldn't presume to guess as an outsider. but she had kalos' champion with her now, so.

why not.

diantha fontaine

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[diantha fontaine]

there are only so many minutes to a day, only so much time she has to discuss like this. civilized. a restrained discussion does neither of them any good, diantha knows that, and she assumes cynthia does as well. it'd be much more useful for both of them, diantha thinks, if they could let go. release their frustrations.

diantha desires to do so right now, to crank up some music and dance with cynthia- metaphorically of course. (but oh, she'd love to do the same literally as well, she could use a good dance). lively debates are all she can offer people of cynthia's caliber. an intelligent woman, cynthia is- and diantha is as well. they're both clever enough to hold a respectful conversation about the state of the world.

she's heard talks that cynthia has officially aligned with kopec. diantha wants peace too, but sometimes there is need for war. sometimes change needs to happen. diantha's face is stoic and still now, like the calmest of waters in the bleak and desolate winter. frozen over.

"kalos is..." she trails off, but finishes firmly with "depressing." not just for diantha and her personal sadness, but for all of the citizens. waking up in a greyscale world, where the sun never comes out because it's scared of being shot and killed, or fatally wounded.

"we're still in the midst of war," she says plainly. "no one has gotten the upper hand yet." she nibbles at her salad. "we don't have enough troops, we don't have enough food or water. not enough weapons..." she lets out a melancholy sigh. "most everyone's left. i don't blame them." diantha clenches a fist. "but i can't help but feel angry that they're deserting their homeland in such a time as this. you'd think you'd see people stepping up."

she takes in a large breath and calms herself. "but i'm glad you're here. it just proves you care about the state of the world." she offers cynthia a polite nod.

"have you been back to sinnoh lately?"

cynthia

NETTE OF GS

[cynthia]

she knew, when she'd asked the question, that she was opening up the potential for an entire can of weedle. she'd known of the possibility that she would open up old wounds, fresh and raw and bleeding again. she'd known all that, and had asked anyway.

(one, because who else would she ask; and two, because cynthia is a curious, curious creature, and her curiosity and need to know has led her to marvelous places and events, yes, but sometimes -- she is the field medic and the fire, cauterizing. she doesn't mind, not really. sometimes the fire is necessary.)

kalos and its situation sounded similar to the rest of the regions, including sinnoh -- not that cynthia had expected anything else. this wasn't a unprecedented event: this was a region-wide war, something that had never happened in either recent history, or otherwise. it makes cynthia's stomach churn and her heart leap at the same time, because while this is war, their actions are making history, and will guide future generations.

she just hopes that there will be a future generation that their mistakes will teach.

much as the same in the way that most people that she meets know about her kopec affiliations, no matter how informal, she has heard talk of how the other champions fell; she knows many of the ex-champions chose kopec. others chose to stay with zemina; still others were swept along with the boure wave, rising and leading others. and, true to form, cynthia can't exactly tell if diantha is zemina-aligned or boure-aligned, regardless of the mythos and rumors that surround the woman.

but that's alright. she understands the need to keep certain things secret. she just hopes that it won't get diantha killed, because in all honesty, she seems like a decent woman. one worthy of the title champion.

(maybe even more worthier than cynthia herself, in that.)

she paused again, put her spoon down, and sighed. "a month or two ago," she admitted, "to visit family and to tour the region. it hasn't changed that much. the region is still divided between the league and the reformers." and wasn't that a pretty little word, to describe boure and their rebellion ways. "i won't claim to know the intricacies of what's going on with the two factions, but i know enough that if it gets too out of hand, i'll be doing my best to help contain it." not stop it, because things have gone too far for that. but containment was something that she could do -- containment, so that those who truly refuse to partake in the war would have a chance to keep their neutrality, at the very least.

it was the least that she can do for sinnoh as its ex -- "retired," some people still proclaim, as if they hope that she would return and pick up the mantle again -- champion.

"have you heard anything about the other regions yet?"

diantha fontaine whoa tense change mid-post, gomen >.<

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[diantha fontaine]

sometimes she wonders if all of this is just a dream, or wonders why she is here, living. not in a suicidal or depressed fashion, it's only diantha's curiosity running amuck in her mind. she always hated the talk of 'generations,' (her generation was called the one that was "going to make a change," and "help the world." of course, this was before the war, so it was even more ridiculous.) but diantha is begrudgingly accepting the fact that harmony may not be restored by the time of her death.

it might take a while.

kalos's situation was similar to other regions', to an extent. the difference was the severity. not of the passion of fighting or the ideology arguments, but...war was raging on in kalos, but it was soulless. people were fighting simply because they wanted other people to die, not to make a difference.

and she hated it. but agreed with it. perhaps it was her youth, or the everlasting influence lysandre had forced upon her life. or the idea that: she'd rather have someone dead then changed, because isn't that so much easier to deal with?

"contain them..." diantha trails off mindlessly. "i wish it was possible." she gulps her iced tea. diantha decides not to reveal her status on kopec yet. they seem awfully sly to her. what a twisted view of peace, she can't help but think. peace cannot exist anymore without change.

she doesn't want to be left behind anymore, she doesn't want to be left in the past. diantha decided that months ago.

"i haven't heard much about the other regions," she says, shrugging. "i hate to put it this way, but: right now, kalos is my main and only priority." she cracks a knuckle but somehow looks elegant doing it- typical diantha.

"someday, at least i hope, conditions here will be a bit better, so that i may help out in other parts of the world."

cynthia

NETTE OF GS

[cynthia]

she knows that her stance as kopec ruffles more than a few feathers, irks more than just a few people. it's a dangerous point of view to have, but one that cynthia believes in all the same. war, in and of itself, is bad. the league might have wronged the people first, but they had attempted -- which is far more than what she can say for some people. they might not have done enough, but they had done something.

in the face of things that tear through time and space themselves, that is something remarkable. it doesn't mean that cynthia is excusing the league; rather, she thinks that some things do need to change, but that does not call for war. war, which distorts and tears families apart, tears homes, cities, entire regions apart.

cynthia has had enough of war, and though it pains her to stand aside and do nothing when faced with combat and battles, she believes that not partaking in the destruction is the right thing to do. believes in it with all of her soul, because anything less would mean hesitation when faced with battle, or the rescue of civilians. she knows her priorities.

"it will be possible," she says, quietly. quiet conviction, quiet promise. "we cannot stop the warring, but we can limit the destruction of lives and the repercussions." it's what she tells herself, each time that someone proclaims the goods of one and the evils of the other. when she sees refugees, when she sees the wounded return from the frontlines with injuries, some moderate, some devastating.

but still, even with this grim topic and in this grim atmosphere, cynthia mangages a smile. "as it should be," she says. there is no accusation in her voice. diantha is a much stronger person than she is, the woman who took off at the first sign of a war in pursuit of her myths and legends. "kalos is your region; it's understandable." sinnoh will survive just a bit longer, but every minute spent with diantha and talking of the state of the world tugs at her to return back to her home, delve herself in humanitarian and kopec operations again. she ignores the feeling; now is not the time to feel guilt. any time but now.

"i hope kalos doesn't take too long in pulling itself back together again, then. the world is in no better condition than it is. everyone could use the help."

a sip of soup, and she's finished. for some reason, she feels as empty as the bowl is. she refuses to stare at it, instead looking at diantha. they're both war-torn women, and yet here they are, sharing a peaceful lunch in the middle of a city in the middle of a war. like there isn't one in the first place.

cynthia smiles again. it's more genuine. "isn't the weather lovely today?" simple things to find comfort it, but the sun is warming her back and it soothes her, relaxes her shoulders and hands from where they've been, tense, sure that someone, somewhere, is watching her. someone always is, these days.

diantha fontaine

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[diantha fontaine]

occasionally diantha will imagine herself in a terrible hurricane, the midst of chaos, with sleet and snow and hail and rain dropping like anvils from clouds above. and her only protection is a thin and flimsy umbrella. the only protection the real diantha has is her umbrella.the umbrella-full of all the changes she's already made, and the storm is crafted of the struggles and issues thrown at her.

she doesn't like to feel this way. diantha has always been a firm believer that you have to create your own happiness, you have to accept your own choices and develop who you are into what you want to be. diantha is not a victim- perhaps she once was, but she likes to believe that the parts of her life where she relied on people are over.

clearly, trust and dependence are two very related things. they balance each other out. but when the knot finally gives, when the rope snaps, everything crumbles to dust and all she has to lean on is herself and what she must do to create this concrete.

eventually, in her nightmares, she will see herself standing under a hut, then a building, then a dome, and eventually she won't feel the rain at all. and she won't even remember the troubles that made her change, that made her build the fortress in the first place.

she will be a queen in a kingdom of isolation, but isn't that better than a queen living in the past?

"ah, so do i." she says, blinking. "but kalos cannot repair itself, nor can sinnoh." she takes a sharp breath. "it takes work, and help from everybody. generosity and care, and kindness and hard work," she says, eyebrows raised. it's true, repairing kalos would require a lot of work and dedication, but diantha has not lost all hope yet. "but it will all be worth it."

"it will all be worth it when we're finally safe," she mutters, scoffing at zemina. her standings on the war were significantly different from cynthia's, diantha already knew that. but they were both civilized and kind and respectful. conversations, debates even, do not have to ruin a possible acquaintanceship. or friendship. she doesn't know yet.

"you're an educated woman," diantha says, smiling back. her smile is not genuine, it almost never is, but it looks the part. "i assume you know, this war had to happen. needs to happen."

"life can only go on so long before conflicts arise, before changes need to be made. and they must be made, if we are to ever live harmoniously again. i don't want to live divided, i don't think many people do, and that's precisely why i believe in change. nothing can stay the same forever."

cynthia

NETTE OF GS

[cynthia]

sometimes cynthia thinks about going back to sinnoh. challenging for the rank of champion and winning it back, and changing things from the inside. turning zemina away from the path of war and working something out with boure, to bring the region back together again. she could do it -- she should have done exactly that, to be honest -- and she can see each step, each minute of preparation, who she'd have to talk with, who she'd have to kick out.

then she realizes exactly what she is contemplating, and feels the weight of burden settle on her shoulders once more.

she had made her choice, two years ago -- and she must live with it, shouldn't she? even if there is still time, still room enough for her to go back and change things, what guarantee does she have that they will listen?

(coward)

this conversation diantha had brought up many parts of herself that she'd thought she'd accepted and buried long ago. cynthia's not quite sure if she's grateful or bitter at being made to remember and think and make her choices again.

and is that what boure thinks? that by changing things by force, by killing and making war, things will change? history has always been told from the victor's point of view -- cynthia knows this fact very, very well. the resistance is, in effect, hanging the entirety of both their lives and their reputations, how history will remember them, in the boure movement.

and to be quite honest, that both humbles and frightens her -- humbles, because these are brave, brave people who are fighting for what they think is right, and frightens, because what will be left of them if they lose?

she knows the war had to have happened, or at the very least, some sort of conflict where things must have come to a head. she does not deny that, not even to herself. "the change might be needed," cynthia says slowly, cautiously. "and i honor both boure and zemina for fighting for their beliefs. but i cannot condone war."

and in the end, she takes the coward's way out, and leans back into her chair. she smiles at diantha, tiredly. "i understand if you and i choose to disagree, but i hope that it will not be a sticking point for an acquaintanceship, or a friendship between two champions." cynthia genuinely wishes to have diantha as a friend, or even as a passing acquaintance. but she also knows that boure and zemina beliefs are major decision points for people.

diantha will not be the first that she will see once and never again.

steven stone diantha fontaine

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[steven stone]

He'd been in the Kalos Region for months now, and Lumiose City was still most magnificent -- even under the throws of war. From the shops, to the eateries that were left, Steven realized some time ago that he simply wouldn't have time to truly marvel in its somewhat timeless beauty. There was a classic, senescent feel to the concrete jungle that caused him to wonder about the secrets that were truly held here. The steel tower in the center of the city was the first thing that naturally caught his attention, and though he hadn't seen it during the night time hours when it was most beautiful, he was well aware that it once functioned as a Gym to be challenged. This bit of knowledge tugged at old feelings of competitive battling.. a feeling that also stirred nostalgia for the days of old. Days when pokémon training and having a journey with pokémon were not forsaken for war. Unfortunately, reveling in the past wasn't the first thing on his agenda for the day when he found himself returning to Lumiose. Instead, he was here for other reasonings -- reasonings that were placed on hold the moment he realized he was in the presence of two former champions. Inside of the café, Steven Stone had found himself nestled in a corner booth. So oblivious to his surroundings, his focus was completely on brochures and papers that were strewn about his table. Some information detailed the untouched Pokéball Factory, while others detailed information on Mega Evolution -- his true purpose for being within the foreign region. It was the movement of a darker haired woman that caught his attention and caused his amber toned eyes to zero in on the figure. The quick realisation that she was most certainly the former Champion of Kalos was easily placed. From that moment, Steven watched her approached towards Sinnoh's former champion, and immediately his attention was given to the women, unbeknowist to them. From his corner booth, he watched the two of them for the sake of wanting to see how their interaction would go. It was rare that two former champions were often in the same vicinity, much less three. Steven only assumed that Kalos was fairly popular. Allowing his silver ring clad fingers to drum idly at his table, he finally reached for his glass of water and drew it to his lips in a final sip before he took the liberty of gathering up all of his paperwork and his brochures. The talk of war was something that he'd held his own opinion about, but it wasn't exactly one that he wanted to force on either woman. Still, he held a desire to at least meet the both of them formally. Rising from his place within his booth, he stood tall and managed to run his fingers along the dark suit he'd been wearing, before turning with his belongings in hand to move in the direction of the two women at a slow pace. He managed to catch the tail end of Diantha's words about the war needing to happen, and it was perhaps the first thing that had caused the up turn of his lips to fall. She was passionate. Both women were, and he could hear it in both of their tones and the arguement that each posed. Opinions and personal views would forever be strong. “..well this is a heavy hearted conversation for two former champions.” It was his way of interrupting without being rude so to speak. The sounds of his steps would have likely made his presence known, but it was quickly followed by his words. He stood a couple of feet away from the two, his file of papers clasped tightly in his left hand. He took the time to take in the sight of both women, further confirming that he was most certainly in the presence of fellow champions. ----

-tag- diantha fontaine cynthia -notes- sorry for the wait! c:

MADE BY VEL OF GS