[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

"Don't give me reason to, and I won't.  Own merits.  Just me, you two, and whatever straightforward strategies we can come up with for our pokemon to use."

Nathan stands up and starts making his way to the door with Kirlia.  "I'll give you two a few minutes to discuss which pokemon you'll start with.  Meet me at the battlefield when you're ready."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The tea had a strong and sweet aroma due to all the lavender in it, and it did a fine job in calming Shiva.

When she placed the cup down, she mentally shook her head and watched Nathan leave to the outside. 'Ever the straightforward battle he is, huh? Well, that'll be just the way he is. Though, maybe in this battle I'll be able to pick up a few tricks for the times when I by myself face an opponent. ...Or not, since we two seem to be way too different when looking at the aspect of fighting with Pokemon, as well as I wish to find my own style that'll probably end up kinda different from both his and Ven's.'


Now that is the right attitude, my dear!
Hmm....


With Nathan gone, she turned her attention back to Ven and hesitated a little before actually speaking. "...I still don't like the idea, but if it'll help Nathan in any way, then I'm down with that. Let me just do something on PC, then we can get going, Ven..."

[Lord Windos]

A sense of duality, of two layers of feeling, each distinct from each other and yet so similar before it vanished was picked up by Ventus' empathy, and he discretely glanced out of the corner of his eyes to find that Shiva was the source of this strange emotional array. 'Odd...very very odd. Again I detect this percular phenomina in her, though if only briefly this time, and its not often that a person's feelings stump me. I wonder if she aware of these dual emotional responses of hers, or if its just another aspect of her being that they pay no more mind to that breathing air? Perhaps I'll ask her later, but for now we both have a battle to prepare for,' he thought to himself, before Shiva turned her attention towards him and voice her dissenting opinon on the matter.

The researcher let out a understanding sigh, knowing how well Shiva detested any form of needless interparty conflict (Even for fun and practice, and responded with: "I know, Shiva, but the boy is not like you or myself (Thankfully...), and can't shoulder past or overcome his grievance/put them to the side like we can. I've misjudged his mental fortitude in the past, which resulted in him going in a severe state of shock and apathy when I pushed him too far, and I frequently underestimate his own tolerance my...various actions, so I suspect I've also erred in assuming he's socially experience as us. Having some form of Anti-Social disorder  does fit what I know of him and his background, and explains why he feels much more at ease around his Pokémon than either of us most of the time, and why he has such a hard time forgiving the mistakes of others, apologizing towards others, and opening up about himself in general."

"Right now, the only thing I can do to help him recover from my most recent slight against him, besides leaving him be until he works through his own and interact with me at his own pace, is to battle it out with him and see if that truly helps. *Sigh* I just hope that this fight will improve things between us all, not worsen it... When you are ready, we'll head out and face Nathan, so don't rush on my account."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

There was actually not too much that Shiva responded to him, but being hearing his words surely brought back memories. Not very peasant memories on top of that. Yet she did a fine job not to loose the soft tone in her voice. "Close and fair enough, Ven. I know his background as well since he told me about it earlier, and I'd surely agree that it has an impact on him until today. Like, why should it not? Certainly it would. I already told him that I forgave him and more than once assured that I'm not mad or anything at him - if I'd be, I'd surely would not speak with him normally. After all, I still care for him and consider him a friend, it's just...Dunno, it's a little hard for to know where I am standing with him if there barely comes a response about this. Not blaming, not all, Ven, so don't get me wrong about this. Trust is a fragile thing, and he shattered his trust in me lately, but things are developing in a well direction, and...You see how often you two got at each other's throats? Somehow, I'm very happy that me and Nathan did not, remember how much effort I took to not cut the bond between me and him when the issue about why Ralts evolved began to cause issues for him? Being there for him and listen if needed... That seems to be my role. Though, I certainly understand if he'd wish to talk with is Pokemon more, since there's nothing wrong with that at all."

"Though, careful there, Ven... Calling it a disorder sounds a little too harsh for me. Or, not just a little. Asociality or strong introversion sound like the better phrasing to me, since we should not violate his personal space by assuming he suffers something like that, okay? Anyway..." What came next, was some sort of confidence. Not realy boldness, but trust that things will surely be better after Nathan had the chance to vent about his issues in his desired way. She even carefully took his hand. "Something tells me that things will be better after the battle, and my heart barely ever lies to me. Also, I'm glad that you got that rushing things when trying to mend bridges is not very helpful."


-----------------
Mechanics:
I'm down to start the battle now, but since Iron probably won't come online today anymore, we can't really do a thing aside maybe sending out our Pokemon? What about orders, shall they be open in the thread this time or be brought to GM discretly so the neither knows the other's actions?

[Lord Windos]

To Shiva's first statement about his views of Nathan, he only gave a simple, but firm nod of understanding to her, as their was not much he had to say that could add of significance to what she said. He also didn't desire for her to worry even more about the boy's overall personailty, since distress and anxiety do not make good companions in battle AND he did not like talking about his friend like something is fundamentally wrong with them. It saddened and made him uneasy speaking about them like this, especially consider that he was not in much of a positon to commentate of what is defined as 'normal' behavior (He was a Sociologist, not Psychologist). He who throws stones indeed...

Her next response earned her a small, hopeful, pleased smile and a hand ruffling her hair, disrupting the previously neat strands into a tonsoled mess. "If you believe so, Shiva, then I guess we have nothing to fear then, hmm? Even set in my ways and the worrywart that I am, I am capable of learning new ways to repay what damage I caused, and hope to prevent more in the future. Now, let's go meet Nathan, and giving him a battle that will rouse his spirits and make him cheerful once more!"

(Ready for the battle, or pre battle banter, as it were! Nathan will have to be the one to start it off, since we are heading out their to see him!)

[Dragonstrike]

As Nathan waits, there's an argument in progress that none except him are fully aware of.

What do you hope to prove with this?  What makes it any different from before?

'This isn't about what I'm proving.  Go away.'

I can't.  You brought me here of your own volition, and I'm staying until you no longer need my services.

'Then be quiet.  I need to focus.'

I'm afraid I can't do that either.  You need me to be here.  To reason through this.  Why are you trying so hard? You know they're just going to leave you in the end.

'Why have they not left already, then?  Can you answer that?'

...

'That's what I thought.  Either go away, or be quiet while I figure this out.'

No.  WE will figure this out.  Like it or not, you're stuck with me for now.  I'm all that's keeping you from falling apart, after all.

'Shut up.  They're here.'

As Shiva and Ventus enter the battlefield, they find Nathan standing with arms crossed and eyes closed, jacket flapping in the light breeze passing across the battlefield.  As they approach, he opens his eyes to look at them.

He still doesn't feel much of anything.  His apathetic side has kicked in again.  Kirlia doesn't look particularly worried about it, but there is still a little concern.  However, he has his own task, and he knows the best thing he can do to help Nathan is to continue doing it despite the distraction.

"Feels familiar, doesn't it, Ventus?  Almost seems like it wasn't that long ago that Ralts and I faced you on this same battlefield."

[Spiritmon]

Heart after healing his Pokemon team, he see both Shiva and Ventus go outside. They look a loot worry in their faces and everything. He decide to see what is going on and he see Shiva and Ventus with Nathan. They look they like to battle. He couldnt know what to do. Stay to see the fight, or let them to resolve the battle.

"Heck, I problably going to regret that but I really want see the Shiva battle in the gym, and I really want a battle between that three. That could be a great experience to me."

Then Heart decide to watch the battle. But with a good distance since he dont want to interrupt the battle. Just enough to see the battle but no enough to heard what they talk to each other. He dont want to interfere with the battle between them, but he dont want to miss a chance like that to learn something. He is curious after all.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Having finished some business on the PC of the Center and stepping out of it into the clear weather, the first thing Shiva noticed when she and Ventus approached the...'battlefield' was how relatively cold it was there despite this clear weather. Though, this coldness did not come from the weather, and likely not just from the breeze that stirred up some green leaves.

Trying to figuring out where that came from then, she immediately was on edge as she cottoned on the source. It was nothing else than Nathan himself - great. Very well done, indeed. It also wasn't that surpising for her than that she wasn't able to sense any emotions coming from him, but to her it seemed like Kirlia wasn't too much fond of this, but on a second glance it seemed like he'll go through that since Master wished him to do so. Oh, more concerns from Shiva's side flew in then, this time for the well-being of the Psychic-Fairy. Though, when she actually spoke out to Nathan, her voice was neutral, nothing of that slight fear and glom was audible. She clearly looked concerned though, and crossed her arms as well. He's taking things eriously now it seemed, but this was a little too much seriousness for her taste. This isn't a Gym Battle, after all, she and Ven would fight against...a friend. Doubts playqued with a little incomprehension flew in whether and how by all means this should help Nathan to feel better, but she continued to cling to the warm thought that this all could be reasoned that it was for his own good, since this was what something in her told her.

"Hey, Nathan, I thought this should be a friendly battle? If you'd want a serious one or me to go ice-cold, you could have told me before. Especially when we agreed to not use Lucky Chanting to ease the situation a little."

[Lord Windos]

Distance and his actions were not the only thing separating Ventus from Nathan anymore, for they appeared to have fallen into the void of apathy once again. This time, judging by Kirlia's non-chalance about his master cold and numb, is was purposeful decision of their this time, and it seemed to be used to cope with the emotional distress he was experiencing earlier. Even a non-empath could like Shiva could see the cold deadness of heart that the boy instilled in himself, and it seemed that that chilliness was leaking from him and spreading into the surroundings, making a once cathartic battle seem quite the opposite.

Arms tucked and crossed behind his back, Ven head now titled upwards as he stared into the cool evening sky, a serene smile gracing his face on this occasion as he contemplated his friends words, silent for a moment, before he spoke. "Perhaps. I believe, though, that either of us can really be a fair judged when it come to feeling currently. I get too caught up in my own self and beliefs at times to pay too much attention to the general mood, while you....well, you can't feel much of anything at all, correct? Self induced apathy tends to do that, in my experience" the researcher said, his head declining as he finally meet the boy's eyes.

"The fact that you can so readily seal off your own emotions, to be able to fully function without being informed by them....it frightens me Nathan. Its unhealthy for both you and Kirlia mental well-being to be like this for any length of time, as lacking the capacity to feel for others and yourself is typically a horrendous quality to have in all areas of life. Hmm...reminds me of myself, when I truly let go of all my kindness, my compassion, my empathy , and turn myself a utterly remorseless, unspeakably ruthless being, intent on only accomplishing his given task. I believe you and Shiva have seen me like that a couple of times, haven't you? I believe the both of you found it distinctly unpleasant each time, and had to struggle to convince me to return to who I am." A tilt of his head, a small frown on his face, and a slight pause in his dialoge to punctuate his remark, before he continued.

"You are acting like me when I'm at my worse, Nate. Please, lighten up, and open you heart once more to us. I want us all to enjoy this battle together, and we can't do that with you like this. Please."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Shiva barely even noticed how she carefully got closer to Ven, seens like it was absolutely subconscious - he was still her support. Even in such moments he was, even if he himself was very capable of become unfettered and raw. "Ven... As pessimistic as it may seem, but I feel like Nathan set this up on purpose. There must be a reason behind this, and I doubt we can get him to change. If he wants the battle to be like...well, like this, I fear we have to adapt to this and go for it if we want to help him. I won't enjoy the battle, but I'll go through it nevertheless for him, alright? RIGHT, NATHAN? THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED, HUH? To see us purely, right?"

She better not spoke out how this reminded her on why she decided to not battle Corsage's Gym Leader, and saying that she doesn't trust Nathan about this battle would be a lie.