[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Accepting the boy's tormented thoughts with silence and solemnity, Ventus listens to him.

Their worries about their role in the world and the expectation that follow him was entirely understandable to the researcher, as he had to struggle with the very same issues in regards to his entire family and the following year after leaving Team Plasma.

He found his compassion for their own trust/beloved Pokémon and his worries from them equally sympathetic, and found his dream/ideal rather lauble, if somewhat naïve.

The researcher's eye's hardened at the mention of the Absol Hater, and narrow sharply as he discussed the amoral research methods/evaluations preformed by Almanac, and he mentally added yet more reasons why that corporation and the cabal of wizards its in league with need to be eradicated in their entirety.

Nathan final concerns of inadequacy, though, hit the empath particularly hard, as it mirrored his own lot in life, but he remained strong and unwavering in spite of it.

When the young trainer had finally wrung out the very last of his fears, his anxieties, his grievances etc. , to the sociologist, and had completely bared their heart to them, Ventus gave them one last reassuring pat on the back, before looking them in the eyes. "Do you feel better now, Nathan?"

Raphael, meanwhile/throughout it all continued to embrace the boy with their wing, continuous emitting their soothing aura to dampen and alievate some of his minor woes/negativity. There was not much he could do to treat his problems besides that or sending him to restful slumber with Yawn (Which he sincerely didn't want to do unless absolutely necessary), but even the littlest amount of help counts towards something good, and the though counts just as much too.

[Dragonstrike]

"...*sniffle*...a little...I guess..."

He's stopped sobbing, though he still looks very downcast...

[Lord Windos]

"...*sniffle*...a little...I guess..."

He's stopped sobbing, though he still looks very downcast...

".....Do you wish to speak more about what's troubling you, or would you rather we stop talking about it for now? I want you to be able to cope and handle your own feelings, so I'm willing to render aid to you towards that goal."

[Dragonstrike]

".....Do you wish to speak more about what's troubling you, or would you rather we stop talking about it for now? I want you to be able to cope and handle your own feelings, so I'm willing to render aid to you towards that goal."

Nathan tries to dry his tears with the arm of his jacket.

"...I...I'll be fine for now...I think..."

Nathan looks at Raphael.

"...you know, your mother would be proud of you, Raphael...thank you..." (Note: I think it makes sense for Cynthia's Togekiss to be female instead of male like in Platinum.  She has to get all those Togepi eggs from somewhere, right?)

And back at Ventus...

"...we should probaby get going now, Ven...Creshire's not gonna save itself, after all..."

Probably best to just let both of our characters stew over what's been said for now.

[Lord Windos]

The boy's melancholic attitude made Ventus highly doubt their words, but they didn't raise any objections to him ending the conversation, and nodded his head at their request. He's learned well enough when to and not to push an issue, and now was the time to let Nathan recover from the emotional drain of that came with revealing your inner most negative thoughts and beliefs. That, and he doesn't want to get to forget why he has so irate with them to begin with, even if said anger is now tempered by the fact that Nathan was suffering just as much as he was from their moral/idealogical conflicts. Time and great effort on their part would eventually mend the gap between them, but that moment was not going to be now or soon.

"Very well then, Nathan. Let us rondevous with the rest of the group and continuing forging through this treacherous swamp, as swiftly mucking through this Reshirim awful place gets ever closer to Arrowroot, and our next lead in solving the Vine crisis," the empath said, before leading the way back to were they had last seen the group to meet up with them or follow their trail, keeping Raphael out for the time being for added protection and to spend a bit more time with them. They've been cooped up in their Pokeball for quite some time, so they certainly deserved some fresh air to spread their wings and fly around!

(Agreed, Dragonstrike. Let boogie onwards and clear the next set of Encounters, mate!)

[Dragonstrike]

(No reaction from Raphael concerning Nathan's comment?)

Kirlia gives Ventus an odd look on the way back.  Hmmm...

His main focus right now is Nathan, though.  His friend needs him more than ever before now...

[Spiritmon]

Heart nod his head after the defeat of Whiscash. "Damn, that battle was dificult. I really need teach Viktor some strong grass or ghost move the more quick possible. Thank you the awesome battle Shiva. "Then Heart look in the direction of Ventus and Nathan. "I think you should join them. They might need you. I think Nathan need a fairy now, not a PUNisher."

Quick flashback time!

Heart nod his head and replied: "Inded. Mudkip will help a lot when we find that damn Claydoll for sure! And I also caugh a Scyther...who almost slice me in half. Any tips you can tell me about that Ventus?

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

click to read

Still Flashback, evening of Day33!

"Awww!~ Lucky you, dea- Ven, indeed..." Of course this earned him an very rare bright smile, right after being pulled into a delightful hug with her playfully using Nuzzle against him. "Another Tandormon, even a rare species..."

"How neat... Nathan got that beautiful shiny Unfezant, I got a graceful Vaporeon, Heart got..." No, she didn't want to think of a Scyther right now and worry herself and at worst the others! "...a Mudkip, I spotted Valder enjoying the swampsite with Haunter, and YOU got that beautiful rarity of a grassy Pokemon... Maybe, uhm, it was a good decision to directly to the swamp instead of searching for Route 10...? Eh... D-Doesn't matter, take good care of her, and you HAVE TO do a friendly battle with her on your side 'gainst me sometime later!!! When we're less busy saving the region, that is... Okay? Pleeeeease!"

Shiva was way too close and kept on staring directly into his eyes while her own hidden away behind glasses barely managed to conceal the same sparkle they had when she encountered that playful-mischievous Vaporeon. She'll keep him in the hug until she got an answer, not minding that some of the muddy stains might transfer to his sweater!

Ven's breath almost hitched when she nearly returned his term of endearment to him and gave him a surprise snuggle, but he quickly managed to surpress the reaction and any emotions before they could become apparent to them, and silently returned the hug with a somewhat nervous smile. Shiva's next remark pleasantly startled him too, as the decision to forge through the wretched humid swamp was even more of a positive decision than he first thought it was. 'That loathsome boy got blessed by Reshirim and captured a Shiny Unfezant, Heart obtained a rare and timid Mudkip, I convinced an extremely rare Quetzoral to join my family, and Shiva has even persuaded a Vaporeon to join her team! While our journey was spurned resolving a crisis, it has been a fruitfull one for all of us already thus far,' he initially thought, giving the mystical lass a nod in response.

Her desire for a friendly spar with him and Lilith, however, was an entirely unexpected, but none of the less he was able to easily respond to her eagerness, along with giving them a light chuckle and an affectionate head rub. "Their is no need for the Baby Doll Eyes, dear, for I'm more than wiling to have another delightful engagement with you, anytime you wish. Well, not now of course, since I imagine we are both exhausted from our slog through the swamp and its inhabitants, but perhaps when we reach Arrowroot? How does that sound?"

Shiva wasn't sure whether she'll ever grew tired of sharing hugs with Ven - he's so cuddly, and tweed sweaters are simply enjoyable to the touch! Something told her that she probably won't, same with him affectionately - l-lovingly?! He was enjyoing this, if she wasn't mistaken - stroking through the soft yet messed up strands of her hair. She letting him do so without flinching away or feeling uncomfortable certainly spoke for these two sharing a bond!

His agreement to have an educative and REAL FRIENDLY(!) battle at some point later earned him a joyful squeak, a squeeze in the hug and a playful-mischievous kiss on the tip of his nose before she was even thinking of a response. "Thank you!!! Of course not now, you... Dunno how much time we'll have for Training in Arrowroot Village either, but it should be doable once we're back in Stair City? Preferably before I...attempt to earn a second Gym Badge... She specilializes in Steel..." For a mere moment, fear and waryness ran over her expression, before it grew into a very   shy questioning smile "BUT with selecting my Pokemon carefully, I should...should...well, have a small chance to leave the Gym with a victory, s...shouldn't I ?"

Facing him for a few more moments with a faint blush that had nothing to do with a familiar sociolgist but rather with the uncomfortableness to have spoken out her worry about this, she finally let go of Ven, now facing away and not really awaiting or expecting and answer. "ANYWAY! I haven't missed dinner, have I? No weird plants in it today, no?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Heart nod his head after the defeat of Whiscash. "Damn, that battle was dificult. I really need teach Viktor some strong grass or ghost move the more quick possible. Thank you the awesome battle Shiva. "Then Heart look in the direction of Ventus and Nathan. "I think you should join them. They might need you. I think Nathan need a fairy now, not a PUNisher. And truth be told: You Shiva, is the true "Heart" of the group."

How relieving it was to see that this Wishcash seemingly had enough fun for now and let them pass for now! If it had the aim to stop and scare innocent travelers in this swamp, it was surely successful if you'd ask Shiva. She was quick to call Yena back to her and catch him up with her arms when he leaped to her, before giving him a warm hug that one would give to a young puppy to get it used to human affection (taking Nightshade along). Naturally she took care to not squeeze his tiny yet delicate butterfree-wings. "Very well done, young one... Knew you wouldn't disappoint me... Now though," *loosening the hug a little and facing Yena directly* "How do you feel now? If I'll heal up your pain, would you be willing to stay outside your Pokeball for a little more? I would greatly appreciate your presence to ward off smaller Pokemon along the way, and you're allowed to pounce and bite them as much as you desire - but I wouldn't want to expose you this swampy area if you'd rather avoid contact with mud. You CAN rest on my shoulder and keep watch as well if you like, and pounce from there. So, can you express your choice to me?" (I'll let you decide on this, @Iron)

(Whatever the choice was, it wouldn't affect response to Heart) Hehe... 'difficult', he said... Well, it was clear that this whole battle is taken a toll on her, seeing that she needed to catch up on breath before responding to Heart. "Ehm... I don't know ehether I deserve your thanks, but... you're welcome, I guess? I can't see the others, but they must be somewhere ahead... Let's just, ehm, move on then, shall we? Braixen, can you lead and enlight the way, please?" With one hand, Shiva adjusted her glasses, while she took the free paw of her magical fox (the other one is holding enlighted basswood stick as a torch) in the other to walk with him until they've escaped the haze.

*As they started following the path again* "Oh right, concerning what you said about your Phantump... 'Viktor', right? The ghost-aspect is more present in them, and their secondary Grass Type stands a little back - means it'd require some training or help from TMs and such to obtain a strong Grass-STAB as you desire. However... uhm... do actually know about the rumor that there's something very special about the small green leaves growing on your Pokemon? They're highly valuabe in a medical aspect, yet difficult to gather... Tea made of them is unbelievably tangy in taste according to what I know, but just as healthy..."

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Heart nod his head after the defeat of Whiscash. "Damn, that battle was dificult. I really need teach Viktor some strong grass or ghost move the more quick possible. Thank you the awesome battle Shiva. "Then Heart look in the direction of Ventus and Nathan. "I think you should join them. They might need you. I think Nathan need a fairy now, not a PUNisher. And truth be told: You Shiva, is the true "Heart" of the group." 

How relieving it was to see that this Wishcash seemingly had enough fun for now and let them pass for now! If it had the aim to stop and scare innocent travelers in this swamp, it was surely successful if you'd ask Shiva. She was quick to call Yena back to her and catch him up with her arms when he leaped to her, before giving him a warm hug that one would give to a young puppy to get it used to human affection (taking Nightshade along). Naturally she took care to not squeeze his tiny yet delicate butterfree-wings. "Very well done, young one... Knew you wouldn't disappoint me... Now though," *loosening the hug a little and facing Yena directly* "How do you feel now? If I'll heal up your pain, would you be willing to stay outside your Pokeball for a little more? I would greatly appreciate your presence to ward off smaller Pokemon along the way, and you're allowed to pounce and bite them as much as you desire - but I wouldn't want to expose you this swampy area if you'd rather avoid contact with mud. You CAN rest on my shoulder and keep watch as well if you like, and pounce from there. So, can you express your choice to me?" (I'll let you decide on this, @Iron)

(Whatever the choice was, it wouldn't affect response to Heart) Hehe... 'difficult', he said... Well, it was clear that this whole battle is taken a toll on her, seeing that she needed to catch up on breath before responding to Heart. "Ehm... I don't know ehether I deserve your thanks, but... you're welcome, I guess? I can't see the others, but they must be somewhere ahead... Let's just, ehm, move on then, shall we? Braixen, can you lead and enlight the way, please?" With one hand, Shiva adjusted her glasses, while she took the free paw of her magical fox (the other one is holding enlighted basswood stick as a torch) in the other to walk with him until they've escaped the haze.

*As they started following the path again* "Oh right, concerning what you said about your Phantump... 'Viktor', right? The ghost-aspect is more present in them, and their secondary Grass Type stands a little back - means it'd require some training or help from TMs and such to obtain a strong Grass-STAB as you desire. However... uhm... do actually know about the rumor that there's something very special about the small green leaves growing on your Pokemon? They're highly valuabe in a medical aspect, yet difficult to gather... Tea made of them is unbelievably tangy in taste according to what I know, but just as healthy..."

"Well, but I still thank you. I think this battle serve as a good training for Viktor. Now that I recall...isn't Phantump evolve in Trevenant when is trade? Damn, I know I was forgeting something." Heart then facepalm himself. "Shiva, when we find some Pokecenter, can we trade to help Viktor evolve to Trevenant? I would like make him evolve to his final form."

*Heart was following Shiva in the path* "Yeah, it will took some type to actually find some neat Grass move to teach him since the only grass moves he can achieve by normal ways is Wood Hammer and Horn Leech if I recall. Oh, and Forest Curse but it is not a offencive move." Heart then raise a eyebrown about Shiva statement about Phantump leaves. "Is that true? I never heard about that before, and look I am Pokemon Rare Collector. I think we find some way to make a healthy tea if someone get sick."