[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

*With Shiva while walking to the center*

When Shiva caught up to him and elaborated her point, he gave it some more thought. 'I believe I now get what she has been trying to communicate with me. That its perfectly fine, if not entirely justified, for Apsis to hunt down wild Pokémon and feast on them for sustenance. I already knew that - I believe I got that point across the first time I told her - but she must have picked up on my displeasure with the whole event, and wanted to assunge my guilt. I didn't necessarily want my Apsis to cause a commotion like that, but I don't feel rueful about her eating those Pokémon. They attacked me, and could have possibly harmed others as well had I not intervened as I did. So why was I spurred for my efforts? Mr. Pin should have know about an Arbok's predatory nature, so why the hostility?'

He just nodded his head at his friend, still not desiring to speak with her. Her comment early, pleading with him to keep his sister away from her electic mice...it still stung. Later, he'll discuss his feelings on the whole event with her, as well as why he was not being especially talkative when he has had time to settle down from today.

*Jump to where he in the lobby*

Sitting there and thinking what went wrong at the Shuckle Ball game, Nathan burst in through the doors, and he looked furious. Hearing the young trainer bark at him, Ventus just put his head in his hands as his night just worsened. 'What I did do to earn such ire from him?! I thought we had finally buried the hatchet, as it were, so why is he now so cross with me? What reason, after our conversation- oh. Our agreement. Oh fuck me and my bullheadedness....' As the moment of Eureka passed, he now knew just why Nathan was mad at him. He also realized the 'why' behind the businessman's actions.

'It wasn't only Apsis eating habits that provoked him; it was the fact that it happened on his own property that result in conflict. Oh, I'm such a fool; all my education has not do anything about my impulsiveness, and now I have Nathan here to remind me of both my mistake and of breaking our argeement. Probably in the most vivid way imaginable. Nothing I can do but brace for the inevitable,' the researcher mournfully though, raising his hands out of his hand and looking straight at the fuming boy. His face was carefully schooled in calm expressionless, though his eye showed a weary resignation that he could not mask.
 
With his left hand, he pointed to one where the private room where located down the hall. " I believe I know what you wish to discuss with, so why don't we take leave to a location with a bit more privacy? Presumptuous as this might sound, but I don't think we what to cause a scene right here in the lobby? Shiva, if you wish, you can join us. You are as much a part of this as we both are, and you shouldn't be left out period."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Shiva, if you wish, you can join us. You are as much a part of this as we both are, and you shouldn't be left out period."

Ah. Thankfully, he already offered. Going to be a long night, indeed...

(Oh, OF COURSE she'll join. And listen to both sides, making up her own mind about things. She will not interfere.)

[Iron]

Nathan could only stare at the brutality inflicted on those poor pokemon. Stunned silence was the only response he could muster.

When Mr. Pin closes the game, and Ventus leaves in a huff, Nathan walks up to him, the shame on his face rather clear. "I'm sorry you had to see that, sir. His arbok only just evolved, and he's also justified that...practice to a certain degree. I'll talk to him about it. That was rather...uncalled for. I'll make sure he knows that was something he shouldn't have done."

"Hmmph! For all he knew, those were my personal Pokemon, part of the obstacle course. But for some trainers, it's shoot first, ask questions later!"

Then he brightens. "But you are great at Shuckleball, young trainer! I hope you come back next Festival."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan could only stare at the brutality inflicted on those poor pokemon.  Stunned silence was the only response he could muster.  

When Mr. Pin closes the game, and Ventus leaves in a huff, Nathan walks up to him, the shame on his face rather clear.  "I'm sorry you had to see that, sir.  His arbok only just evolved, and he's also justified that...practice to a certain degree.  I'll talk to him about it.  That was rather...uncalled for.  I'll make sure he knows that was something he shouldn't have done."

"Hmmph! For all he knew, those were my personal Pokemon, part of the obstacle course. But for some trainers, it's shoot first, ask questions later!"

Then he brightens. "But you are great at Shuckleball, young trainer! I hope you come back next Festival."

"I wouldn't want to miss it now that I've finally had a chance to participate!  I can guarantee you'll see me around next year! Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go yell at my companion for his rude and inconsiderate actions.  Once again, I apologize for what just happened.  I'll set him straight though.  Can't say the same about Arbok, but I hope he'll work on that when I'm through with him."

[Iron]

"Training Pokemon to bring their nature to bear in a constructive ways is one of life's greatest joys. Just like my Shuckle here used to be really passive. Rather than try to turn him into a speed demon, I found a niche where he can be helpful without his laziness hurting anyone. Best of luck, Trainer."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan merely nods at Ventus's request to take it to the back rooms. When Shiva accepts Ventus's invitation to listen in, he merely says, "So you saw that spectacle too, eh? Well, feel free to join in if you wish. I won't stop you."

In the back room, Nathan sits on the other end of the table from Ventus. He still looks livid. "Glad you figured out why I'm so angry with you right now. You didn't even stop to think about what that did. You scared Mr. Pin half to death with that decision, as well as Ralts. You didn't even try to stop her, nor even gave any orders to her. And then you go so far as to say that it's mostly HIS fault?! If I remember correctly, you're the one who wanted to use Sitrus berries. I'm not surprised some wild pokemon wandered over to try and grab an easy snack! It's as much your fault as it is Mr. Pin's from my point of view, since I doubt many trainers want to pay extra for the sitrus berries.

"Why that happened isn't why we're here though. You know that. Why we're here is consequences. What did you just let Aspis do? You let her eat some wild pokemon, as usual, but you did it right in front of someone who's obviously not used to seeing that, and doesn't expect trainers to encourage such behavior in their pokemon! How many trainers can you name that publicly let their pokemon do that?! None with any good standing.

"What happened when Aspis attacked without orders? You stood there and did nothing, while the rest of us looked on in, simply put, terror. And you shot down any pleas to stop your pokemon. What makes you any better than Team Rocket if you keep up behavior like that?

"If this happens again, Ventus, I will NOT hesitate to KO Aspis when the threat is dealt with. Nobody wants to be associated with a trainer that encourages such barbaric practices, either. It's bad enough when you let that happen to wild pokemon when nobody's around, since other trainers might have wanted to catch that pokemon. Doing it in PUBLIC is even worse, and is just downright inexcusable. You're lucky Mr. Pin, me, and Shiva were the only ones who supposedly saw that, and that we're all a little more understanding than other trainers might be."

Ralts, who is over by Shiva, is cowering currently. He doesn't like it when Nathan gets angry, and he's still scared of that Arbok on top of that...

[Lord Windos]

He let Nathan rant at him, peering at him silently while he goes over his words. The researcher's hands were in front of him, clearly showing that he had nothing up his sleeves. His expression, once the irate trainer began his tirade, started to get more and more intent. Focused.  Those eyes of his showed a different side to him. They told anyone who glimpsed at them that he was sad, regretful, and a million otherword for 'depressed.' Still, he kept any signs of distress within himself, and project an outward aura of calm. Not even Ralts would notice his true emotional state, unless it made verynotable attempt to do skullduggery.

Silence reign for a brief moment, before Ventus finally decided to speak. His tone of voice was serene, peaceful even. But there was an edge hidden within. "Nathan, you question why I stood by and let Apsis have free reign in battle.  Let her have free reign to hunt and kill those wild Pokémon, then devour them whole. Why I did nothing but watch, and denying any attempt to stop her gluttanous actions. Why I blamed Mr. Pin so harshly at first, instead of apologizing for my actions, or lack there of. The most of important thing you accuse me of through your entire arguement, however, is the one you never localized, but was  present with in like a spirit. What is it? Simple : you plainly don't trust I have control over my Arbok, that I don't know how to handle a ferocious Pokémon of her kind."

"Let me answers all those with one of my own: Have you ever seen an Ursaring tear a Pokémon in twain, out of nothing more than pure rage? Have you ever handled Dragon types that could, at any moment, lash out and possibly kill you, and most definitely scar you for life. Have you ever been attacked by a Wild Stunktank for accidently walking into its den while exploring? All that, and much, much more, is something I had to personally experience for myself. Either seeing it with my own eyes, or having a far more...intimate encounter." Standing up, he places his hand on the hem of his tweed sweater, and started rolling it up. What was there was a sight to see.

Three long, big scars ran across his chest, all of them a deep purple color of a bruise that never quite healed. The claw marks were not even nor clean; they looked jagged and spiky, juttering up and down his frame. There was faint signs of slap dash stitching, as if the surgon choose speed over precesion surgery. Overall, it was a grisly sight to behold.

Lightly smiling at Nathan, he rolled his shirt down, sitting down in his chair once more. "Did you know that tweed make for nice gaze in a pinch? I didn't, but it never the less saved my life when that Stuntank ranked its putrid claws across my mid-section. As you could tell, the docters had to work fast disinfecting the wound and closing it up before I bleed out anymore or worse, like getting infected. Ever heard of Sepsis? Nasty condition right there. If the wounds were perfectly cleaned out and sown up, I would die from blood toxicousis, something as deadly as any Toxic spit out by a Poison type. Even after the excellent job they did, there was enough toxins in the animal's claws to stain my scars this color. Purple looks lovely on me though, so it was no problem."

Leaning in closer to Nathan, he stared in his eyes, showing him that he was being dead serious here, despite his jesting tone of voice. Ventus was silent for a few minutes, letting in what he revel soak into that boy's head." Now that I have your undivided attentions, let me answer your questions properly. The reason I was so mad at him was that Mr. Pin acted like an idiot. Running away to let my Apsis deal with the wild Pokémon that appear, trying to stop a clearly ravenous Arbok from doing the one thing that would fix that problem? Of course I told him to stuff it, because otherwise Apsis might have stuff him down her maw. Do you remember when Apsis evolved? Did you feel the visceral hunger I did, when she emerged from the fog? I certainly did, and I imagine Ralts noticed as well. You saw how close she was to devouring Zamboni's Glaceon? If she had waited any longer, I would not have my badge right now."

"Of course, I was being too harsh on the man. Instead of switching her out for Raphael, or asking for your assistance to deal with the wild 'mons, I just reacted. Faced down by two wild critters... I just let Apsis loose on them. I didn't have to command her at all: she understood my intent instinctively, and carried it out without my input. Had I been more aware of my surrounding, I would have never let that happen, but forgive me for having tunnel vision. I take battle against feral Pokémon very serious, for now apparent reasons, so I just forgot."

"I doubt going back and apologizing to him will help that matter any, so I won't. The fact he didn't include any sort of fail safes in his game to prevent this from happening in the first place has not won him any favors. I'm willing to let my grudge go of the man, but that is it. But I'm getting side tracked, so lets get back to on topic. Why did I let Apsis eat those Pokémon, discounting my hot-bloodedness and tunnel vision? To put it simply, I didn't want Apsis to attack anyone else in hunger, which include Mr. Pin, his Shuckle, or your own Pokémon. Even in my lack of awareness, I knew it was the wiser decision to let my Arbok eat those wild Pokémon, rather than risk her doing anything worse."

More silence. More staring. Finally, he broke of the eye contact, and sighed to himself, looking at the far wall of the room. "As for your proposal to subdue her if she ever gets out of hand, instead of letting me deal with it, feel free to try. I can not guarantee your safety when Apsis sets her sights on you, though, when you give the order to attack. I will try my very best to stop her, of course, but she's fast, intelligent, and knows how to hold a grudge better than I can ever can. She quite happy and loyal to me, so there is a chance she'll listen to my commands. You? No." Ventus evenly said, no trace of rancor in his voice. From what an outsider could tell, he meant no malicious intent with what he said. He was just simply stating what he believed were hard facts. Its up to Nathan whether he believes his honesty or not.

Looking back at the young trainer once more, he now looked tired and remorseful for his actions. It appears that after he had said his peace, he couldn't keep up the façade any longer, and was now showing his true self to Nathan. "I know how to handle a Pokémon like Apsis, more than you ever can imagine. I plan on working intensely with her in the future, strengthening my bond so what we image never can happen. I know what she is right now : A threat to everyone, on a very short leash. So, have faith in my ability to control her. Up until now, I have done an excellent job, and I would truly wish to continue that good record. I'm sorry that I broke my agreement to you, but it will never happen again. Whether through inaction or in a precarious situation, I won't let Apsis get out of hand. Not unless its required."

Standing up from his seat, he walked to the door of the room, and opened it up. Looking over his shoulder, he said : "Good night, everyone. Get plenty of rest; we have a long journey ahead."

[Dragonstrike]

Complete silence is all that's left in the room when Ventus leaves. Nathan rubs his temples. He's tired, and sick of arguing and yelling and worrying about the bad things that are outweighing the good ones...Ralts is looking really sad, still sitting over by Shiva. "What a way to end the day...and I thought it would be happier than this, too...first the egg, and now this..."

And then he remembers Shiva's in the room.

And that he just mentioned the egg.

(Shiva now has a chance to react to that if she so chooses. This might be her one and only chance to clear this matter up before it gets more awkward.)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Complete silence is all that's left in the room when Ventus leaves.  Nathan rubs his temples.  He's tired, and sick of arguing and yelling and worrying about the bad things that are outweighing the good ones...Ralts is looking really sad, still sitting over by Shiva.  "What a way to end the day...and I thought it would be happier than this, too...first the egg, and now this..."

And then he remembers Shiva's in the room.

And that he just mentioned the egg.

Silence lingered for a while, the meaningufl and tired type of silence. Just a few hours ago they were all an union, happy over Ventus' victory in the Gym Rematch. Now, there was barely anything of that left. It has been replaced with tension. Shiva did nothing than listen and pet little Ralts while the others were arguing, to her own suprise the small Pokemon came over to her once they were gathered up in the backroom. Maybe it was looking for a secure spot while his Master and the other guy were focused on silently lashing out on each other. She felt glad she was able provide this comfort.

Not that hard to spot that Nathan and Ventus have their hard time to get along sometimes. Although they seem to like one another... Maybe they just have too different opinions, a different background and different views on the various aspects on Pokemon handling. As far as she knows, Ven originats from Unova just as she does - going to ask him from where exactly once she gets the chance. Nathan originates here, from Chreshire, and presumably grew up on a Ranch in Trillium. Of course...

She let Ventus go, but clearly noticed that he was depressed over the situation. My... Hopefully he'll catch himself again; if not on his own, he knew where to find her. She also desisted on commenting anything he or Nathan said. She knew that they have their points of view and most likely won't change them at all.

Very very quitely, but still clealy audible in the silent room, she replied to Nathan. Her voice was...stern, yet a little gloomy. "Nathan... I'd appreciate if you'd stay away from his Arbok. Don't repeat something like the Deyo Flowers. " Pausing before continue. "And before you ask, I know that Plusle and Minun might look like great dinner for the snake. I gently asked him to take care, he probably knew this all by himself already, and I trust that he would never allow to let something into this direction happen. Ever."

Oh. He mentioned the egg. Replying to him in the usual soft tone, with Ralts so close he will see that there's no anger in her concerning this. "The egg's currently in the Daycare, the owners allowed me to keep it there until we leave town." She sighed a little before continue. Ah, the time has come. No overreacting this time. Stay calm, dear, you already scared him away once. "Thank you for your offer with Swiftfire, by the way. But...I'd prefer if you'd let me take care of it by myself. ...Alright?"

[Dragonstrike]

Silence lingered for a while, the meaningufl and tired type of silence. Just a few hours ago they were all an union, happy over Ventus' victory in the Gym Rematch. Now, there was barely anything of that left. It has been replaced with tension. Shiva did nothing than listen and pet little Ralts while the others were arguing, to her own suprise the small Pokemon came over to her once they were gathered up in the backroom. Maybe it was looking for a secure spot while his Master and the other guy were focused on silently lashing out on each other. She felt glad she was able provide this comfort.

Not that hard to spot that Nathan and Ventus have their hard time to get along sometimes. Although they seem to like one another... Maybe they just have too different opinions, a different background and different views on the various aspects on Pokemon handling. As far as she knows, Ven originats from Unova just as she does - going to ask him from where exactly once she gets the chance. Nathan originates here, from Chreshire, and presumably grew up on a Ranch in Trillium. Of course...

She let Ventus go, but clearly noticed that he was depressed over the situation. My... Hopefully he'll catch himself again; if not on his own, he knew where to find her. She also desisted on commenting anything he or Nathan said. She knew that they have their points of view and most likely won't change them at all.

Very very quitely, but still clealy audible in the silent room, she replied to Nathan. Her voice was...stern, yet a little gloomy. "Nathan... I'd appreciate if you'd stay away from his Arbok. Don't repeat something like the Deyo Flowers. " Pausing before continue. "And before you ask, I know that Plusle and Minun might look like great dinner for the snake. I gently asked him to take care, he probably knew this all by himself already, and I trust that he would never allow to let something into this direction happen. Ever."

Oh. He mentioned the egg. Replying to him in the usual soft tone, with Ralts so close he will see that there's no anger in her concerning this. "The egg's currently in the Daycare, the owners allowed me to keep it there until we leave town." She sighed a little before continue. Ah, the time has come. No overreacting this time. Stay calm, dear, you already scared him away once. "Thank you for your offer with Swiftfire, by the way. But...I'd prefer if you'd let me take care of it by myself. ...Alright?"

'She's...not mad...at least, she doesn't SOUND mad...not getting anything like that from Ralts, either...' Nathan has to take a moment to digest this.  He's been avoiding this specifically because he'd been worried about her reaction, and now he'd stumbled into it completely by accident.

After a moment he decides to address Arbok first, like Shiva did, "It...didn't sound like he was taking care.  Didn't look like it.  I just...had to check.  I know he's trying his best with raising Aspis, but...nobody in good standing, particularly in this region, looks at those training methods in a positive light.  He needs to be careful about who sees them.  If he doesn't...he could isolate the entire group...I don't know how much you know about this region's history, but it's always respected pokemon far more than any other region has.  Even more than Sinnoh and Unova with with their legendaries.  Those regions deify their legends, with good reason, right?  Well, with the strength all pokemon used to exhibit here, imagine something close to that for ALL pokemon.  HMs and TMs were serious things when they were first created, particularly HMs.  And legendaries...they were close to god-like, regardless of what kind of legend they were.  The King of this region, before he was dethroned, used to have an entire team of legendaries at his command...but it wasn't because he'd earned their respect from what I know.  That's one reason why the League unseated him.  I'm just worried Ventus might get himself, or us all, into serious trouble if he keeps that up.  The situation might not be as extreme as it was long ago, but echoes of that past respect for pokemon still linger in the people here.  Heck, I've probably exhibited it myself..."

He pauses, gathering his thoughts.  "I'm...sorry about the whole thing with the egg, by the way.  If I may ask though, why specifically would you rather carry it?  Since we don't know what kind of egg it is, we have no idea how long it'll take to hatch.  And if we're to hatch it before we reach Telperion University, we might need to speed up the process as much as possible..."