[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

I think once you and shiva, or anyone else training, we can move on to day two. Can you believe this all happened in the space of less than twelve hours? Nightfall will come soon, and those on the slopes of Mount Molten rarely stay out in the night.

[Dragonstrike]

When Ventus collapsed and Shiva came over, suggesting he delay his training until tomorrow, Nathan could only blink in response to the suggestion. After a moment though, he came back around, indeed noticing dusk was fast approaching. Considering all that just occurred, it would probably be a better idea to delay the training until tomorrow.

*sigh*..."Alright, I'll help ya with Ventus instead, I guess...I'll go have a chat with ponyta so he doesn't get burned by it. And then I guess I'll be going home for the day...maybe Ralts and I can still do some training there anyways..." Nathan walks over to the large ponyta to assure it that Ventus is a friend.

[Dies Irae]

Vincent glances up from the counter as Larry, trundles in, borrows a ball and leaves without saying a word.

"FORCE OF NATURE, THAT KID." The man's features are immediately recognizable as he coalesces from nothing. It's him. But not.

And you are here why exactly?

"DID SAY I WANTED TO TALK. BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT. WE CAN ASSUME THAT SINCE THE KID IS UP AND ABOUT AND DOING HIS OWN THING... AGAIN... THAT YOUR FRIENDS HAVE WRAPPED UP THAT MANKEY." There is the barest hint of a smile on his visitor's face. It's unsettling.

You said you're here to talk. So talk.

"I SAID I WAS GETTING TO THAT. THREE FIGHTS IN A DAY IS IMPRESSIVE TO WATCH BUT YOU'VE LET YOURSELF GO, VINCENT. YOU'RE SOFT, AND YOUR TRAINING STYLE REFLECTS IT. YOU'VE KEPT THE BLUSTER BUT IT'S A FRONT LOADED VENEER - YOU SWING FIRST AND SWING HARD, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE A HIT. NEITHER CAN YOUR POKEMON. IT'S COSTING YOU."

I know.

"SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?" He turns and walks away, disappearing again in a riot of movement and a sheer of sparks.

Vincent blinks as reality unfolds back into being around him. He forces the mask of neutrality back onto his face and approaches the counter.

"Pardon me for disturbing you, Nurse. I'd like to check if my Pokemon are ready. Also, do you have an empty dorm or a training room I can borrow? I've got a wild capture currently being treated and I was hoping to do some basic familiarization with it."

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OOC:
Regardless of what answer he gets from the Centre, Vincent will give Ventus a call using his Pokedex's phone function just to check in. Ventus might be out like a light, but that's the wonders of information asymmetry.

Also, regular guest star: the figure I'm starting to refer to as 'the better half'. Nope. He's not real, folks.

[Iron]

"OH you poor dear! Of course I'll help!" She pulls Ventus onto the horse behind her, with Nathan's help for safety, and takes him to the Pokecenter, which isn't all that far away.

After an hour of rest, everyone should be good, I think, including all Pokemon. 

Every Pokemon Center has at least a few dorm rooms, and as we know this one has a battle room.

[Dragonstrike]

After they bring Ventus inside, Nathan takes a moment to tell the group he'll meet them at the pokemon center tomorrow morning (hopefully with a Ralts that knows more than just Growl). He didn't see Vincent there, but he figured he was doing something important before turning in for the day. He seemed to be pushing himself really hard today, and he'd never seen him idle before whenever he was in town.

As Nathan heads home with the large ponyta and his mom, he doesn't even have to say much. Somberly, he asks, "We're still talking about this when we get home, aren't we?" He already knows what the answer is, though...

(Yup, Nathan's still got a lot to do before this day is over. Ooh boy...)

[Iron]

"Is something wrong, Nathan? You've been acting a bit strange lately, even stranger than since you found that Ralts. Oh honey, I worry about you. We don't know if the people who ambushed Ralts are still around, or even if Ralts itself knows something it isn't saying. Those Pokemon aren't always the most obedient, you know.

Go on, you can tell me everything. Burdened hearts sleep fitfully."

[Dragonstrike]

Knowing she wouldn't ask so nicely the second time if he clammed up and refused to say anything, Nathan starts explaining...

"Well, about that...there does seem to be more to this than we first thought...Mallorn's request for me to join him at the lab today was...well, not what I expected. I think he knew how I was going to react to what he said too...but before I get to that, I guess I should go over who my 'friends' from today are...all four of them were at the lab today, invited over by Mallorn. The first is Vincent. You remember him, I'm sure. Second is Ventus, the man who just, uh, apologized to you for drawing us into that mess and fainted soon afterwards. He's apparently a sociologist who's here on research business. The third is Shiva. She's been offered a job in Ginger Town to help a couple start a Day Care Center. The fourth and final one is Larry. You know, THAT Larry. He's the boy who was trying to command that large Ekans earlier. I have no idea why he's here. As for me...well...Mallorn had new information that might relate to Ralts..."

Nathan just goes quiet for a moment, waiting to see how his mom reacts to that before continuing. Ralts is slightly behind him, mimicking his nervous emotions. They both knew that this could easily take a turn for the worse for Nathan if he didn't choose his words carefully.

[Iron]

"Well, they all sound lovely. It's good that you have friends. If you ever want to have them over for dinner or a ride, I'd be happy to host!"

She can tell that's not all you have to say.

[Dragonstrike]

"Yeah, uh, friends...right...and I'm sure they wouldn't mind coming over at some point, but...well, they all have business elsewhere right now. That's kinda why we were asked to come visit Mallorn today...including me...you see, um....Mallorn thinks there's a lead on who might have left Ralts to die in that forest a year ago...and Vincent was asked to accompany us four for awhile while we're traveling...and he offered us all the opportunity to buy some pokedexes for what I assume is a semi-decent but still profitable price to help us along the way...and then he gave us all trainer cards and various supplies as well..."

Ralts and Nathan are both shifting uncomfortably as Nathan says all this. Nathan just goes silent while his mom processes the information he hadn't wished to elaborate on earlier...the party of two humans and two pokemon stops moving towards home entirely for a moment as the tension in the air grows just a little bit thicker...

[Iron]

"But why would you get a trainer card unless you were...planning on... ? Nathan, I need you at the ranch. And you know how dangerous the world can be. Why, your father..."

Ralts is caught between the somewhat conflicting strong emotions of the two family members as Mom chokes up a bit.