The Big Bad Day Finally Arrives
Giovanni woke up wishing he was dead. The villainous group’s first day of activities had arrived at last.
Giovanni slowly arose from the deep crimson sheets of his bed and yawned.
Unfortunately the yawn did not last very long, because Persian was about to cough up a hair ball on his very nice, and very expensive suit.
After practically tackling Persian away from his suit, Giovanni decided that the only logical first decision to be made here was to wear that same suit to his first activity.
After taking the suit from the not-so-happy Persian, Giovanni began to get himself ready for the absolute worst day he was sure he was ever gonna have.
During his morning routine, Giovanni couldn’t help but think of what Cyrus would think of his appearance today. His hair, usually slicked back, was instead parted to the side for the day. He shaved the slight stubble on his chin and wondered if Cyrus was into facial hair or not.
Shit! Now that I think of it, he probably does like a nice beard…
Oh well. No turning back here. Unless he was gonna personally glue each and every hair back onto his face, there was nothing he could do now.
He decided to choose a different cologne than usual that day. He searched deep in his cabinet and found the small, Nidoqueen-blue bottle.
This was Ariana’s favorite.
He took the cap off and dabbed a bit onto the sides of his neck, memories flooding back to him.
Giovanni was once again, thrown back into the present after hearing the same banging and yelling that he had heard last night.
“Will you two SHUT THE FUCK UP?” Giovanni screamed at the wall near him. His slightly improved mood was already starting to sink again.
Giovanni grabbed his schedule and huffed his way out his room and into the main meeting area. He was MORE than ready to get this day done and over with.
As he scanned the circle of chairs, his heart began to race and he became ecstatic to see that Cyrus had an empty chair seated right next to him.
Don’t mind if I do! Giovanni exclaimed to himself.
Just as Giovanni was about to sit down next to Cyrus, Mr. Pyroar-hair decided to pull a “musical chairs” and sit in the same very chair Giovanni was about to snatch.
Giovanni’s face instantly fell, and his eyes darted to the chair on the opposite of the much smaller man.
Bingo.
Giovanni scrambled to the empty chair faster than any Arcanine that has ever been recorded. As he “gracefully” sat down next to Cyrus, he began to feel the leg of the baby chair start to buckle under his weight.
Nononono- not today BITCH!
Giovanni tried to fix his position to help the leg of the chair not snap, hoping and praying to whatever god was in the sky that he would NOT embarrass himself today, right in front of Cyrus.
“Are you alright Giovanni?” Cyrus turned his head to the left and watched as Giovanni struggled to make the chair work with him.
“Ah, I-I’m alright,” Giovanni stuttered out. “Just a… muscle cramp,” He hoped to Arceus that Cyrus believed him.
“I see,” Cyrus shifted in his seat. “You smell different today.” He stated bluntly, as if he were telling Giovanni that it would rain later this afternoon.
Giovanni’s face reddened. He noticed? HE NOTICED!
“Oh you noticed? I used a new cologne this morning, just kind of wanted to change it up I suppose.”
Please don’t sound sciocco, please don’t sound sciocco please-
“It is a pleasant aroma. It reminds me of oran berries. Is that what it is supposed to smell like?” Cyrus prompted.
“Ahh… I think it says that on the bottle…” he scratched the back of his head. Giovanni honestly could not remember what the hell the fragrance was even supposed to be, but he went along with it anyway. “My past love was head over heels for this scent.”
“I did not know that you were once in a relationship, Giovanni. You did not strike me as the type of person to pursue such things.” replied Cyrus, the area where his eyebrows would’ve been rose. “What was their name?”
“Her name was Aria-“ he started before he was rudely interrupted by a certain someone who was DEFINITELY eavesdropping the entire time.
“I was in a relationship once,” started Lysandre, hand draped over his forehead in a dramatic fashion. “We were soulmates, I still believe. Me and mon amour were inseparable. We studied together, went to our favorite cafes together, until…”
Here it comes… Thought Giovanni, rolling his eyes.
“HE BROKE UP WITH ME!” Lysandre grabbed an orange handkerchief out of his suit pocket and pretty much violated it with his snot and tears. “I do apologize,” he replied back to Cyrus and Giovanni, “I just miss my dear Augustine so much.”
“Why did he even break up with you in the first place? By the way you talk about him you guys both seemed to be infatuated with each other.” Giovanni responded, his arms crossed.
“Well I did try to create my own beautiful world through mass genocide, but that’s not the point here.” Lysandre exclaimed. “Our conflicting view points just drove us apart, I would’ve wanted him and only him in my perfect world. Just us together. He was almost going to join me, until he learned that Pokemon will also be eradicated from this world as well. THAT’S WHEN HE TRIED TO TAKE MY POKEMON IN THE DIVORCE!” Lysandre’s water works began to start again.
“You never signed a prenup?!” Giovanni exclaimed back, visibly confused on how someone who seemed so smart could make such a horrific mistake. “That’s the LAST thing I’d want my partner to receive in a divorce. Besides the money of course…”
“HE TRIED TO TAKE HALF OF MY FORTUNE TOO!” Lysandre cried out. “He received it of course, but only because I still love him so dearly. I’ve done some thinking last night, and have decided that I will change. I must, for Augustine.”
“This is why I do not bother myself with such trivial things such as relationships.” Both the men were surprised to see Cyrus finally speak up. Giovanni honestly thought the Sinnohan man had zoned out the whole time and wasn’t listening.
Perhaps that is why Lysandre likes to hang out with him… Turns out he is a good listener after all…
“Every relationship I have seen just ends in pain. All that energy is just spent drowning in trivial emotions.”
“Now Cyrus, we’ve been over this. You just haven’t met the right person yet,” Lysandre began. “The right person is supposed to make you feel welcome and wanted and-“
No matter what Lysandre said, Cyrus would not budge on his conclusion.
“Then how come you start to cry whenever Augustine is brought up in conversation?” Cyrus asked. “You said he was your soulmate, but he obviously seems to bring you nothing but emotional pain.”
“Cyrus you need to understand, emotions are a natural part of being a human,” Giovanni stated. “It is normal to feel all of these emotions and still-“
“No. I will not allow myself to succumb to such inconsequential things like emotion.” Cyrus interrupted. “It is the one driving force that leads to all the pain in this world. The reactions you all endure because of emotions is what keeps you from reaching your full potential. Without these silly emotions, we as a species would have advanced more by now.”
This just did not make any sense to Giovanni. Did the young man not understand that emotions have also helped the humans and Pokemon of the world advance? Why else would Mega-pack chocolate pudding cups be invented? Not that Giovanni would ever admit that he ate them in heaps. Anyways, he wanted more insight on the small man’s opinion.
“Cyrus, if you are so unbothered by emotions and how people react to them, then why are you so polite to everyone?” Giovanni pried.
Cyrus tensed. “It was how I was raised.” He replied curtly.
Giovanni felt like things were about to get very ugly and was about to apologize until he heard the cheerful voice they were all familiar with.
“WELL GOOD MORNINGGGG~!” Guzma beamed as he went strutting towards the front of the room.
The three men were all so invested in their conversation that they did not even notice that everyone else was already sitting down, ready to start the day.
“What’s that?” Guzma cupped a hand to his ear. “I couldn’t hear you all say “good morning” back!”
“Good morning Guzma….” The villainous crowd replied in a monotone grumble.
“Well…it’s a start at least,” Guzma responded back, looking slightly disappointed.
Colress, who was in the corner and checking his notes, looked up and observed that Guzma’s cheerful introduction was doing the opposite of what it was supposed to be doing.
“Good morning everybody.” Colress intervened, as he walked up to where Guzma was standing. “I’m glad to see that you all actually came here on time.” His eyes darted to Ghetsis, who was blissfully unaware. Giovanni couldn’t help but smirk at the indirect rip on Ghetsis, especially after learning about him and Colress’s “complicated relationship.”
“Since you are all here, I’d just like to give everyone a quick announcement. I know that everyone isn’t… the happiest… about your current situation right now. We all understand that, and Lusamine is trying her hardest to try and figure out what methods are best suited for you all. We appreciate your cooperation. This is new to all of us here, and I’m really proud that we have actually made it this far without someone trying to blow the place up. Since we all will be so exhausted at the end of this week, we all-well Ms. Wicke, has decided to throw you all a party this weekend!”
A party? Giovanni thought. I swear to Mew, this party better have alcohol. I’m gonna need it after this week.
Everyone else seemed to have the same thought as well. Giovanni could count at least six hands shooting up in the air as soon as the word “party” had left the scientist’s lips.
“Will this party have booze?” Ghetsis blurted out as soon as Colress looked in his direction.
“Well… I’d assume?” Colress responded. “I’m sure Lusamine will bring along wine for herself, I can’t see why she wouldn’t bring some for the party.”
A collective sigh of relief and multiple “THANK ARCEUS” were uttered from everyone except Cyrus.
“HOWEVER, Ghetsis,” Colress pointed a finger at the green-haired man. “I swear to Arceus if you try any funny business like smashing chairs over people’s heads or total world domination, I WILL harvest your other eye for scientific purposes.”
Everyone gawked at Colress. This was the first time any of them had heard the tall scientist threaten someone.
First time for everything I guess.
Faba was the first one who burst into laughter, doubled over and slapping his knee as if Colress had just told him the funniest joke in the Alola region. Ghetsis just sat there, his mouth agape. He had raised his hand in an attempt to bitch slap, but seemed to decide against it the last minute. Archie went to give Colress a high five, but it was sadly not reciprocated.
Colress blushed and continued his speech. “Good to know that everyone is excited for that,” He looked at his clipboard and cleared his throat. “Now with that out of the way, I’d like to get back to the status quo. Since it’s everyone’s first day, me and Guzma will show you each room. After that, you’re all free to go to your session. Sound good?”
The group all quickly settled down and nodded, wanting to get this all over with already.
“Follow us dudes!” Guzma rose from his seat and waved his arms towards the group.
The former members of Team Rainbow Rocket all started to follow the former gang leader and scientist as they began to show them the areas where all the designated activities would be held.
The gang passed by the multiple rooms that “Had been transformed into activity areas and therapy session rooms by Ms. Wicke and Ms. Lusamine,” explained Guzma, who was obviously very eager that he was not being interrupted by Colress every 5 minutes.
During the presentation of the newly renovated Rainbow Rocket hideout, Giovanni snuck glances at Cyrus and Lysandre every once and while whenever the group would stop and hear Guzma’s explanation of the room in front of them. The two men would occasionally stop to give each other that look whenever Guzma would babble something that sounded utterly stupid to them. Cyrus’s icy eyes would dart up to Lysandre’s warm ones and he would quickly grimace. Lysandre would return the look to the much smaller man, his eyebrows furrowed together.
Giovanni felt his heart strings being pulled the same way one would start a lawnmower. Why was Cyrus so comfortable showing his emotions to Lysandre and not him? His chest ached at the thought.
He shook his head and decided to try to focus on what Guzma was saying instead. At least Guzma will make his head hurt and not his heart.
The group all followed Colress and Guzma until they reached the very last room.
“Alright dudes, this room right here is the entrance to Lusamine’s office! If you have any complaints, which I’m sure y’all will have, this is your kind of place!” Guzma explained to the bunch.
“Well, I believe that’s the end of the tour!” Colress exclaimed, sighing to himself. “You’re all free to go to your designated stations!’
Giovanni stood and watched as the group of former villains all scattered and went their separate ways. Only Archie and Maxie walked together, Archie’s arm around Maxie’s shoulder and loudly laughing. Maxie could only grumble and fix his glasses that had become lopsided on his face, but still let Archie hold him as they strode along.
As Giovanni moseyed to the unopened door in front of him, his stomach dropped and he began to nervously sweat. He couldn’t believe he was this anxious over something so ludicrous.
Well gambling addiction therapy, here I come. Get ready for the big boss Giovanni.
He opened the door.