[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

That relief and gratefulness she felt from Ven was gladly returned, but Shiva still didn't make it to deliberately face him. Too scared she was, to a good portion too embarassed as well, but eventually she somehow anyway dared to take a look at him - maybe it was that smile that allured her. ...It definitely was. Regardless how dire or bad things were, this oddball of researcher never failed to smile. Thankfully, Ven did not break like that fine china, being so close to him Shiva could tell that he was on the way to recovery.

One gentle squeeze of her hand later she let go, rather slowly to not accidently startle him. While doing so, she also very carefully stroked over Lucifer covered in the scarf, leaving the draconic bat safely and securely in his arms for now - or, right where it belonged. After some initial hesitation, Shiva spoke up to him in a low and silky tone: "You stay here. Danger has been dealt with... If you need something, let us know. Calm down a little for now....", before she got a hold of the tent he was usually carrying.

With it in her arms, she eventually got up again to her full height and turned to the others. She...didn't look bad, but it was obvious that she wasn't fine either, and would appreciate to let things be for now. "People... What do you think of calling it a day and setting up camp right here?" *looking around* "From that explosion, there should be enough room. The only issue would be...the coldness, but I'd rather endure it than pushing forward now." Timidly, she added more words. "I'm...not that good at building up our tent, so...help, please? If you agree? I'm volunteering on taking the first nightwatch with Yena and Dizzy in that case."

[Iron]

You get the tent set up, and Shiva stays up for the first watch.

She sees a couple things:

1. The few hairy roots left in this location are slowly, but noticeably, growing. Only someone who had little else to concentrate on would notice that.

2. There are strange moaning sounds coming from the walls and pipes.

3. Something is skittering in the tunnel in the direction you came from. Sounds like it is small and has many legs.

[Spiritmon]

Heart have release Gustav to heal Ventus or any Pokemon he have hurt after that explosion

[Iron]

Oddish keeps running around for a few hours after you make camp. Apparently, on the surface, the moon is still out. Eventually, however, he buries his head and feet in some cold clay, just his leaves sticking out. The occasional wave of spores still comes out.

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan will help Shiva with setting up the tent.

...though notably, Ralts stays right next to Ventus the entire time and refuses to leave his side while the man is still recovering from the explosion.  Nathan doesn't complain about it, either.

Means Ralts is hanging out with Ventus for probably most of the remainder of the 'night'.

Nathan has his hands full enough with Oddish Ditto and Solosis anyways. It's a relief when the pokemon finally settles down...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

I'll simply post the part now where Shiva does confront Ventus about his actions, assuming this takes place at some point after having set up the tent and everyone was turning in for the night. Enjoy, @Lord Windos. ^^
-----------------------------



With the help of the others and both Azumarill's and Furret's Helping Hand they all managed to set up the tent decently even without Ventus' help, as he was supposed to calm down from his paniced state to a degree where he is not at the werge of breaking anymore. But still Shiva found herself occassionally throwing concerned looks over to him - as much as she wanted to leave him alone for a little now to properly care for his injured brother as well as welcoming Raphael back in his care. She could literally tell that both he and the Togekiss were overjoyed to be in each other's company again, it was an almost heartmelting sight that allured a feeling of confidence within Shiva. Confidence that Ventus was slowly getting better, more stable and simply...stronger.

Strong enough to take what was inevitably awaiting him.

*****


An improvised dinner and the usual patching up of each other's Pokemon with Heal Pulses (none of Shiva's Pokemon needs one) one after another was turning in for the night, and Shiva was assuring once again that she really was fine with taking the nightwatch, she has her dear Pokemon, a backpack filled with way too much stuff (useful stuff) and she would struggle to sleep in after that turmoil anyway.  

When Ven made attempts to get into the tent however, she at first fixated him with a serious gaze. Then, in a swift movement that looked way too dramatic, she flew over to his side, Cottonee respectfully gave her Master's arms free and simply floated beside her in her old size again, all to enable Shiva getting a firm and iron hold of one of Ven's sleeves. If it would be more than just green fabric, she'd probably have crushed it in her hand twice by now. The wearer of this green tweed, if he dared to glance over to her, received a look that was better classified as a glare dripping with icy-cold wrath, it looked so wrong on Shiva's usually soft features... She didn't manage to hold up that GLARE long however, for it evolved into a sorrowful expression of the same intesity rather smoothly. Oh well... Oh boy.

She motioned him to take a seat beside her, a little away from the tent. The tone of her voice she used as she spoke up to him was harsh, but the sadness in it could not be overheard - same with a good amount of delight near the end. "Ven.... Ventus.... Dearest.... YOU MESSED UP. Do excuse me, but.... I understand that you wanted to be left alone, but scouting ahead so much and not stopping when you came to the fork with three tunnels... I well, am not going to say a thing about Shedninja. *ashamed looking to the ground* Because, ehm, I'd probably...do a similar stunt if it's...for a Pokemon I'd like to...obtain... *facing him again* But, my love, the difference between you and me here would be that I would KNOW where to stop. Ven, this time you're not done with an honest 'I'm sorry' to me! *energic headshaking* Once we're back at the surface whenever that'll be, or whenever you see fit, I hope you'll have the time to somehow make up to me!! How, I don't quite know, but... Ven, I don't want to say how you made me feel either. You can guess. I've been trusting in you. Trusting and hoping for you, and it's...wonderful that you're fine..."

A pained expression washed over her face and emotional pool. Because...indeed, what happened with Lucifer remindes her on what happened with Plusle way back due to that Weezing... Shiva does prefer to not say anything/ask about the draconic bat, but it's obvious and Ventus can unmistakable detect that he has her compassion about this.

She's not quite finished yet. "But, you can't just go SO FAR ahead, chasing a Ghost Type that's not even leaving tangible hints of it's presence behind! Not in this terrain, not in this labyrinth of a mountain! You're tough and not unused to such hard terrain, that I know, yes! However, from how you acted here, I'd... have expected....... more from you. What if something more drastic happened to you? What if we'd loose track of you or similar horrible stuff? How were you thinking you'd find us back once you got Shedninja? *toneless sob* What would then be with me, with Raphael here? *sweeping gesture to him* Sure, I... well, I would take care of him then as if he'd be my child, but... just pushing forward so much and endangering yourself to such a degree when we're on an important mission... that's ....not what a good boyfriend does, is it?" 

At the last few sentences, Shiva barely managed not to shed a few tears, every single one was bitter but every single one was also wipped away by her quickly with the back of her half-gloved hand as soon as it has left her eyes. Yena by Shiva's side was tilting his head, watching attentively - he has seen this person with the orange hair already, he knows his smell. And Master seems angry that he has been gone and happy that he returned - well, if she cares for him, then it's this Mightyena's duty to be friendly to him: He carefully licks Ventus' hand, welcoming him back in the pack.



Depending what Ventus does in response to all this, Shiva either lets go of him (finally) and turns away, or leans into his shoulder a little more, or something different. (Your discretion, Windos!~)  But one way or the other, she's becoming somehow sheepish, guilty and a little more sad, she doesn't make it to face him when she speaks a few more words. "My... I'm sorry. I, well, shouldn't snarl at you like this." She sweeps over her eyes once more.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

You get the tent set up, and Shiva stays up for the first watch.

She sees a couple things:

1. The few hairy roots left in this location are slowly, but noticeably, growing. Only someone who had little else to concentrate on would notice that.

2. There are strange moaning sounds coming from the walls and pipes.

3. Something is skittering in the tunnel in the direction you came from. Sounds like it is small and has many legs.

Flashing forward to the nightwatch.


Indeed, once she eventually left Ventus retreat into the tent for his well-deserved rest (if you want to stay out or have other plans, Windos, just state so), it became rather quiet at the campside.

Actually, it became quiet, dark, cold, somewhat scary, lonely and a few more unpleasant adjectives, and Shiva caught herself asking what the heck she was actually doing here. A wishful glance over to the tent reminded her on it - she has boldly agreed to take on the nightwatch, as she KNEW she wouldn't be able to drift off into sleep for now for various reasons. And instead of laying awake, she could instead use that to do something productive and helpful, which was simply taking on this nightwatch.

She has special Mightyena cuddled up to her side, it looked like the mighty butterwolfly was sleeping as he had laid his head half into her lap and had his eyes closed, but Shiva could tell that he was 'only' resting while enjoying his leader's closure. If needed, he'd jump awake and attack right away. Dizzy was another Pokemon Shiva held close to herself as she was sitting there a little aside from the tent, knee drawn up and the outdoor's robe from the Water Scimitars Base over her Ranger's Cloak to tackle the coldness. She hadn't much to do and even less something to concentrate on, occassionally she found herself either observing the circle of darkness and moonlight inside her fern-in-a-jar in wonder after having misted it with Azu's help or watching the roots visibly growing. She has never heard of a plant that grows so fast that she can watch it, but by now it was clear that these hairy roots were special.

These moans from the walls and pipes sounded HORRIBLY wrong, creepy, somehow gross and unpleasant to her, she tried her best to block them out and not fall into a paranoid-anxious state by them. However, as she still found herself wondering and listening closer once or twice: Do these moans sound like Pokemon, or was it something 'not from this world'? Or was it a totally natural phenomena down here?

That skittering however - THAT caught her attention as soon as she noticed it. Looking into the direction where it came from, she naturally couldn't make out what it was, too dark! Yena however raised his head and started to growl lowly, somehow he didn't seem to like this skittering either. 'It doesn't sound like humans or Solosis....', that much Shiva could be sure. On of the various spider Pokemon? Humm... Whatever it was, she felt resonsible to prevent it from causing trouble. Strengthening herself, she drew her cell, turned on its flashlight and DIRECTLY POINTED THE LIGHT into the direction of the skittering sound, followed by adressing 'it' into a tone that she took care wouldn't sound afraid.

"Whatever there is, please show yourself. I'm not up for trouble if you aren't either, I won't harm you if you don't start things. But I'm not afraid of you either."

[Iron]

You can't tell what the moaning is. Sounds pretty spooky.

Whatever is making the skittering is also too far from your flashlight beam to be revealed. It doesn't come into the light, either. But the skittering does stop for a few moments after you speak.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

An improvised dinner and the usual patching up of each other's Pokemon with Heal Pulses (none of Shiva's Pokemon need one) one after another was turning in for the night, and Shiva was assuring once again that she really was fine with taking the nightwatch, she has her dear Pokemon, a backpack filled with way too much stuff (useful stuff) and she would struggle to sleep in after that turmoil anyway.  


When Ven made attempts to get into the tent however, she at first fixated him with a serious gaze. Then, in a swift movement that looked way too dramatic, she flew over to his side, Cottonee respectfully gave her Master's arms free and simply floated beside her in her old size again, all to enable Shiva getting a firm and iron hold of one of Ven's sleeves. If it would be more than just green fabric, she'd probably have crushed it in her hand twice by now. The wearer of this green tweed, if he dared to glance over to her, received a look that was better classified as a glare dripping with icy-cold wrath, it looked so wrong on Shiva's usually soft features... She didn't manage to hold up that GLARE long however, for it evolved into a sorrowful expression of the same intesity rather smoothly. Oh well... Oh boy.

She motioned him to take a seat a little away from the tent. The tone of her voice she she spoke up was harsh, but the sadness in it could not be overheard - same with a good amount of delight near the end. "Ven.... Ventus.... Dearest.... YOU MESSED UP. Do excuse me, but.... I understand that you wanted to be left alone, but scouting ahead so much and not stopping when you came to the fork with three tunnels... I well, am not going to say a thing about Shedninja. *ashamed looking to the ground* Because, ehm, I'd probably...do a similar stunt if it's...for a Pokemon I'd like to...obtain... *facing him again* But, dear, the difference between you and me here would be that I would KNOW where to stop. Ven, this time you're not done with an honest 'I'm sorry' to me! *energic headshaking* Once we're back at the surface whenever that'll be, or whenever you see fit, I hope you'll have the time to somehow make up to me!! How, I don't quite know, but... Ven, I don't want to say how you made me feel either. You can guess. I've been trusting in you. Trusting and hoping for you, and it's...wonderful that you're fine..."

A pained expression washed over her face and emotional pool. Because...indeed, what happened with Lucifer remindes her on what happened with Plusle way back due to that Weezing... Shiva does prefer to not say anything/ask about the draconic bat, but it's obvious and Ventus can unmistakable detect that he has her compassion about this.

She's not quite finished yet. "But, you can't just go SO FAR ahead, chasing a Ghost Type that's not even leaving tangible hints of it's presence behind! Not in this terrain, not in this labyrinth of a mountain! You're tough and not unused to such hard terrain, that I know, yes! However, from how you acted here, I'd... have expected....... more from you. What if something more drastic happened to you? What if we'd loose track of you or similar horrible stuff? How were you thinking you'd find us back once you got Shedninja? *toneless sob* What would then be with me, with Raphael here? *sweeping gesture to him* Sure, I... well, I would take care of him then as if he'd be my child, but... just pushing forward so much and endangering yourself to such a degree when we're on an important mission... that's ....not what a good boyfriend does, is it?" 

At the last few sentences, Shiva barely managed not to shed a few tears, every single one was bitter but every single one was also wipped away by her quickly with the back of her half-gloved hand as soon as it has left her eyes. Yena by Shiva's side was tilting his head, watching attentively - he has seen this person with the orange hair already, he knows his smell. And Master seems angry that he has been gone and happy that he returned - well, if she cares for him, then it's this Mightyena's duty to be friendly to him: He carefully licks Ventus' hand, welcoming him back in the pack.



Depending what Ventus does in response to all this, Shiva either lets go of him (finally) and turns away, or leans into his shoulder a little more, or something different. (Your discretion, Windos!~)  But one way or the other, she's becoming somehow sheepish, guilty and a little more sad, she doesn't make it to face him when she speaks a few more words. "My... I'm sorry. I, well, shouldn't snarl at you like this." She sweeps over her eyes once more.

Since Ralts is hanging with Ventus for the night (whether he likes it or not!), it's worth noting that he readily agrees with Shiva (not entirely for the same reasons, but for the most part, they're the same)!  Does he like that there's a potential argument coming?  Not really.

But somehow, he feels this won't come to that.

(Side note: Ralts is being a complete worrywart because of his ability to mirror the emotions of those around him if that wasn't obvious.  So when everyone is worried, and one person in particular is REALLY worried, well...he'll have worked it off by the next morning, though)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

True, Shiva is not up to 'argue' with Ventus about what he was doing. It can be realized from the phrasing and tone she uses, and especially as she states that she too would take a risky way in order to obtain a Pokemon she really wants to have. She doesn't mind Ralts being present either, but she silently ignores him and isn't quite sure whether it'd do the small Pokemon well to be present in such a heated and emotional scene.


Spooky moans. Ughhh... Nope, Shiva is way better off to do her best to ignore them as long as they aren't coming closer or becoming louder - at worst, if the moans develop into eerie screams. Blocking the tones from her mind was harder than she believed it would be though, regardless how used she was to the white noise of the city during the night.

Humm. That source of the skittering seems to be somewhat shy, now does it? It clearly knows of Shiva's presence now though, even after she has averted the visible beam of the flashlight. ...However, now Shiva doesn't let go anymore, with a pet over his forehead to catches her Mightyena's attention. "Yena, dear one, please jump ahead bring the source of the skittering to us. DON'T ATTACK OR BITE IT - simply lead it here so we can see what it is. If it doesn't pose a threat, there is no need that we take harsher measures."