Chapter Text
The wind cut across the slate canopy of the open roof, the courtyard bathed in the dull light of the moon. Across the clay-dirt astroturf, painted with white line work, a back is turned to your face, and shroud shrugged over it. Sequins littered the tailing cape, drifting in the breeze. The fabric bundled up at the face, white, white knuckles peering over the dark fabric. The wind whistles in your ears, your every step thudding against the turf beneath your feet; in tune with the beating of you heart in your ears. Your fingers brush the fine red paintwork, and linger on the cold touch of the Pokéball at the mouth of your bag. The zip teeth keep brushing your knuckles. The air grows still, hair on end. A little chuckle rings around the open courtyard carried on the weak breeze, embraced in a sad, pining tone. The fabric undoes itself, falling to a flat garment, and hangs around a pinewood-coloured neck. The deep purple hair simmers lavender in the moonlight. They lurch towards you, their face illuminated in the streams of lethargic light. His eyes shimmer golden, and stubble pricks his chin, he addresses you. “Hey.” Silence stills the court, your eyes meet. There’s something behind them; the decipher lingers on the edge of what you can grasp. “Yeah. Cassiopeia, huh? …Do you know who I am?” His brows are thin, but appear heavy on his face, is that a grey hair or two you can spy, or is it a trick of the moon?
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> No?
> I think I’ve seen your face before.
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> No?
>I think I’ve seen your face before.
-..•..-
His hand darts to itch the back of his head, the corners of his mouth upturn, and his teeth show. You can’t tell if you’re actually seeing the bead of sweat roll down his face. “Yeah. Very possibly. Hop. …That’s who I am.” A dazzling galaxy pattern of vivid magentas and violets serve to compliment his hair, and the shroud has a small collection of star and constellation brooches pinned to it, most notably, one of the cassiopeia constellation to the right. “I had my face on a fair few newspapers oh, what…” His wheat eyes unfocus, as the nebulous stars above shine on them like a pool. Hi thoughts seem to genuinely escape him, as he meets your eyes again. “… must have been three, four years ago?” A questioning sound slips into his voice, unsure of himself.
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> Why were you even on the news?
> What does it matter here?
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>Why were you even on the news?
> What does it matter here?
-..•..-
The shine in his eyes disappears in the blink of an instant, his face drops. “I was just part of some Pokémon tournament back home, in Galar. It doesn’t matter now.” His eyes meet with yours again, they’re still, but fixated on you. “You’re here to battle Cassiopeia, anyways, and here I am.” Steps steady approach, kicking loose astroturf into the air, the figure bent double, chest heaving, and hands on scraped, bare knees. Their hair swoops up, a dusty blonde, whilst grey-white hair peaks out from beneath the blond wig, as well as scrappy stubble on the chin. Cassiopeia nods to them. “Clive.”
“So, this is Cassiopeia?” He throws his arms to the sides, and up, presenting himself to the both of you. His open coat flew around his form from the throw of his arms, before settling down, and enveloping him again. “In the flesh!” The momentary flash of performance, Cassiopeia’s eyes flick down to the ground, again, crestfallen. “Look, you’re here for a fight, to deal the killing blow to Star, so let’s.”
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You are challenged by Team Star Leader Cassiopeia✮!
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