[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Ventus leads Shiva to the Vaporeon exhibit!

This exhibit is designed with kids in mind, so it is a cheerful, accessible place. Vaporeon basks in a shallow, circular pool in the center of the room. There are some rocks for Vaporeon to sunbathe on (a heatlamp is provided for this purpose). Steps of different sizes lead to the rim of the pool, so Vaporeon can be touched and stroked by people of all ages.

The exhibit lists all the commands Vaporeon knows for visitors to try out: "submerge", "surface", "wave pool", "acid armor" (to dissolve into water), "rain dance", "water gun", and "aurora beam." These final attacking moves always target a battered Substitute doll on a shelf above Vaporeon's pool.

There are a few children in the room, most of them petting Vaporeon with the special brushes provided. Once a day, the staff dump a Remoraid into the pool to clean Vaporeon. That's scheduled for 9am, and a feeding is scheduled at 10am (mostly manmade treats).

The gift shop is nearby, selling shards of beautiful seaglass for $400 apiece. They are in all shades of blue and aquamarine. Many have been smoothed by the ocean into recognizable shapes for those with a little imagination. It's almost like cloud gazing. All are nice and smooth.

[Iron]

Azurill is delighted whenever Vaporeon is ordered to use Water Gun. What a great example for her! She hesitantly gets into the water without asking permission, floating along on her tail. This is a very brave step for the little mouse.

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan tags along, not really having any better ideas of where to go, Staryu and Kirlia by his side. It is kinda relaxing watching the Vaporeon have so much fun with showing off...Kirlia seems to be enjoying it too. Nathan's not entirely sure what Staryu's thinking, though...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Good thing that Shiva, while not being that tall in general, she was taller than all of the kids there - so she had no problem to reach through to get closer to the Vaporeon. Plus, most of them stepped out of her way automatically for some reason as she approached. Maybe they hasn't seen someone like her around here yet?

It was an open secret that Shiva had a fondness for Eevee and Eeveelutions. (But it's not as distinctive as my own fondness for Eeveelutions). That compelxity of an Eevee, its possibility to change appearance by various influences - yes, this small Pokemon was something special. Umbreon was her personal favorite because it is a pet at home, quickly followed by Leafeon.

Very carefully, Shiva moved a little closer and extended one hand to stroke the Vapreon's cheek while keeping Azurill in her top hat close to her with the other hand. (I believe Ven is still with me? Well, she let go of his hand how.) The waterly Eevee seemed not to mind it, after all. She was just about to politely order a Rain Dance for the sake of learning about the mechanics of this move, as she realised that Azu was not in her top hat anymore... Eh... ... ... Excuse me? Not in her top hat anymore?... A whole ton of bad thoughts flooded her at this point, fearful of what may have happened to the flowercrowned blue mouse. She barely to never left the top hat after all. Slept nesteled into it, enjoyed being carried around in it, even battleing in it if possible.

However... Nothing happened to Azu. Instead, she was approaching the Vaporeon. Alone. On her own. Now this was even more interesting than seeing her blue mouse smile...

Very very hesitantly, she ordered a Water Gun from Vaporeon on her own. "Dear waterly Eevee... would you mind showing what a strong ( = with STAB) Water Gun looks like to me and Azurill there?" Maybe it will encourage Azu. Hopefully.

[Iron]

Yes! Shiva gets her first smile from the little Azurill! Oh, how badly it wants to evolve and use this move the way it was intended to be used!!

[Lord Windos]

Ventus, meanwhile, was hanging back and overseeing both his friends. He had already seen and interacted with most of the Water Pokémon in the aquarium while he familiarized himself with his job yesterday, so he saw no need for him to interfere in Shiva's nor Nathan's activites. From what he can tell, they seemed to be calming down now that they were not focused on each other, and that the tension that was so tightly coiled within them was starting to loosen up a tad.

'For now, I'll just enjoy the rare font of positivity here, and wait to see if they need me for anything. The happiness I'm picking up is a breath of fresh air, compared to the usual miasma of despair that clogs up the town, so I better enjoy this peaceful moment while it lasts,' he thought, leaning against a wall with his eyes closed. Lucifer, still full of bravado from earlier, gave passerby that swagger filled smile, looking cool and in change. He may be little, but he's the king of the world right now!

[Dragonstrike]

Well, this was relaxing and all, but unless Staryu was thinking about trying to show off some Water Guns of its own, not much else was going on here. Nathan did want to spend a little time here bonding with Staryu, so while Shiva and Ventus are distracted by what they're doing, he just slips away to a different part of the aquarium. One Staryu might enjoy more: the ocean exhibit. It should be worlds different now that its inhabitants were awake.

(Have fun with that alone time with Ven, Shiva )

[Lord Windos]

(Oh, you rascal! I didn't think I would rub off you so much...I'm so proud!)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Yes! Shiva gets her first smile from the little Azurill! Oh, how badly it wants to evolve and use this move the way it was intended to be used!!

It felt like a miracle... A display of happiness from her overly-sad mouse within an Aquarium in an overly-gloomy city. What a contrast. Shiva could not help but to pick up Azu and give it a cuddle twice as tight and lovely than usual... This was what she wished for. Seeing Azurill smile to her.

"Azu... I do pick up you really wish to evolve. That's what I wish for you as well - and I promised to help you on that. Please try to refresh that in your mind when you get sad, alright? You'll become a key-member of my team eventually if you decide to stick to me." Nope, couldn't allow herslef to shed a tear of delight now...not now, in front of the kids and a Vaporeon.

Vaporeon... right. She focused on the waterly Eevee once again and ordered Azu to do so as well. "Dear Vaporeon, thank you. Now, additionally, could you show me how you perform a Rain Dance? I'm interested in the mechanics of this move, so if you'd be so kind... Azu, you pay close attention as well. You are supposed to learn this move as well at some point."


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Mechanics:
Learning about the mechanics of Rain Dance, maybe it will lower the costs to lean this move in the future as well? After that, time to visit the gift shop! With Ventus - lolz. Oh my...~ )

[Iron]

The ocean exhibit is beautiful. It's the largest exhibit in the aquarium, and uses almost no scenery. It relies on the lighting to enhance the beautiful azure waves, reflecting off the Pokemon like Alomomola. There's another Staryu, a glimmering Tentacruel, a Chinchou, dancing Luvdisc, and a gorgeously rare Clamperl. Together, they swim about and create new patterns for the light of the sun through its skylight.