#okay i PROMISE this is the last one for a while ofdivjojfvs

[prisonrose]

Why Couldn’t Rose Wait?

So recently I wrote the meta about why Rose would feel it necessary to revive Eternatus when there were likely better and more prudent options. If you haven’t already, check that one out! 

But, of course, that begs the question: Why, then, was Rose so insistent on Leon helping him the day before the Championship Match, and why was he so insistent that he started without what he previously considered to be an integral part of his plan? Well, buckle up, because we’ve got a lot of different questions all wrapped up into one, and they each need to be answered individually.

A word of warning, though: I consider this answer to be much more headcanon based and relevant to my interpretation of the muse, Dhimani. It might not fit neatly with all other interpretations of Rose, and that’s fine! We’re all here to have fun. 

Also, I want to give a quick warning about some darker-than-usual topics. The following post includes or mentions: mental breakdowns, self medicating, insomnia, manic episodes, and panic attacks. 

So first, we have to set the stage by establishing Rose’s mental state at the time. I have a headcanon that Rose was subjected to constant ruinous nightmares about the future starting from when he first brought the issue to his Board of Directors. Once it became obvious that they wouldn’t be on board for helping him find a solution, his anxiety and late nights fretting over the fate of the future was a constant driver for spurring him to complete his research as soon as possible. 

These nightmares started ramping up big time as the league challenge was going on, due to his increasing anxiety and perhaps exacerbated by Rose’s close, constant proximity to the slumbering Eternatus. Eventually it became so bad that he couldn’t sleep at all. Every time he closed his eyes, it felt like he was treated to another horrifying vision about the coming disaster.

In order to continue functioning at a semi-alert state, he began taking a form of medication known as Modafinil, which is usually used to treat people with narcolepsy or who work night shift jobs. It is unfortunately also known to be addictive and can cause acute cases of mania as a rare, but serious side effect. Those were risks Rose wasn’t aware of since he obtained the medicine through… dubious means.

When the player character and Hop engage in their little Tower Rescue as Rose is trying to convince Leon that they need to act right away to avert disaster, he is already a man at the end of his rope and suffering greatly. By that time, he’d clocked in at over two days without any restful sleep, and he was desperate. Every time he closed his eyes, it felt like he was subjected to yet another horrifying vision of the future. A vision of the people in the region he loved more than anything else in the world suffering because of his mistakes. 

To him, waiting another day felt like an eternity. Leon was supposed to be instrumental to his plans, because he needed the region’s most powerful champion to contain Eternatus in case things went wrong. He got no sleep that night, as to be expected, and spent most of the night pacing around and desperately trying to keep himself awake, to keep his mind occupied, to not think about the weight of all of his mistakes sitting atop his chest like a pile of crushing stones.

He couldn’t do it. He was suffering an intense amount, quite literally in pain due to his rampant anxiety and insomnia. And, finally, he decided enough was enough. The next day, he decided to enact the plan early, with or without Leon. With 60+ hours of no sleep and his little “miracle pill” working wonders in his mind, he was certain that he had come up with the perfect plan to counteract the monster himself.

Due to his extensive research, he was confident that Eternatus was some sort of dragon type. He wasn’t entirely certain what its second typing would be, if any (he actually supposed it might be part fairy type as well), but the dragon typing was almost guaranteed. Therefore, it seemed logical to bring a collection of steel type Pokemon to help him put down the monster with minimal casualties on his team. Even if it wasn’t part fairy, he would still resist dragon type moves. Only one problem. He didn’t count on the damned thing knowing Flamethrower!

None of the Pokemon on his team even came close to matching the speed stat of Eternatus, so it did a clean sweep of his entire team within minutes and fled to the Tower Summit to continue building its power. That’s when Rose made his announcement in Wyndon Stadium to try to get Leon to bail him out.

Observing Rose during his battle with the player character before they could go rescue Leon, it would actually be a little difficult to tell that he was so close to the brink of psychosis, but there would be little giveaways. His speech would be slightly slurred as if he’d been drinking, and he’d have a hard time keeping his thoughts straight. He even admonishes himself for ranting about inane shit at the end of his battle with the player character – he’s aware that he’s a bit of a mess. He’d also blink quite heavily, as if threatening to fall asleep on his feet.

Hearing that his little stunt accidentally got Leon hurt though and that the day was only saved because of the player character and Hop’s mystical boofers would be a bit of a sobering moment for him, though, and he’d gladly turn himself in after hearing that Eternatus was captured. And, even though he would be spending the night at the Hammerlocke jail and sleeping on an uncomfortable cot… For the first time in what seemed like years, Rose would be treated to pleasant dreams of shining cities and a prosperous Galar once again.