[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

"I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name, Doctor?"

The guarded question is posed neutrally, as much a query of social status, as a solicitation of information.

Doctor as in a lettered professional? Or Doctor as a conciliatory concession to rank. How he interprets and answers tells me as much.

He adjusts his cane and proffers his free hand in a gesture of a handshake. "Name's Vincent."

A concession of information to get the ball rolling.

"This little brat here answers to Winston, at least when he's not sitting around eating me out of house and home." He gestures at the Growlithe which has parked itself protectively at his feet and was surveying the assembly with interest.

It cocks it's head and issues a whine that, had it been able to speak, would loosely translate into "OH MY HONOR!"

"You know it's true, little guy."

Ventus scratched his head, looking a bit bashful at the title thrown his way. "Now now, their is no need for such formality. I just recently completed my doctorate, so I am hardly deserving of such a title. Besides, all I just want to do is to be understand Pokémon; I hardly deserving prestige." He extended his hand and gripped Vincent's, giving him a firm, but strangely delicate handshake. "Just call me Ven. My friends do, and I would like to consider you a friend."


Ven then tilted his head at Vincent, gadging his mood. He frown a bit, before saying, "If you want to maintain some distance between us, though, that is fine. Not everyone is as sociable as me, so I can be a bit overbearing at time," He rubbed the back of his head, smile now back in place. Ven then crouched down to regard Winston, and pulled out a Poffin from his satchel. "There  there, there is nothing ashamed about having a good appetite! Eating hearty lets you work extra hard, so here." He placed the poffin in them, before standing back up and pulling a Pokeball from underneath his shirt.

"Since I've meet you Pokémon, its only polite to show you mine," Ven said, before tossing the Pokeball onto the ground. With a *Pop*, out came a small Togepi, which, upon getting a grasp on their surroundings, noticed Winston, and waddled over to them. It start to eagerly chitter at them, wanting to get to know them right away. "This is my Togepi Raphael. He's just hatched recently, so this little guy has been eager to great new faces, and learn new things. Say hi, Raphael," he said, looking expectingly at his Pokémon. "Togepi!" Raphael greeted, waving a small little hand at both Winston and Vincent, before waddling back over to Ven. Scooping them up, they cradled them into his arms, laughing happily all the while.

Ven, hearing someone approaching them, turned to face the newcomer, and found it to be Nathan and his Ralts. He looked a bit uncomfortable being he, as if he were mulling something over in his head, and his Pokémon looked quite concerned about his master. "Ah, gland you are joining us, Nathan! My names Ventus, but you can call me Ven. Now tell me, what ail you? You seemed perturbed by something..."

Upon seeing the Togepi come out of the pokeball, Nathan was surprised.  Togepi is an incredibly rare pokemon, such that they didn't even appear in the surrounding area.  How the heck did this researcher in a sweater, slacks, and sandals get his hands on one of those?  Well, he guessed it wasn't too surprising, seeing as the professor seemed to have at least some respect for Ventus despite his motley attire and bouncy personality...Nathan glanced over to see Ralts had joined the Togepi in munching on the poffin that Winston was ignoring in favor of curiously eyeing the rare baby pokemon...all he could do in response to that was sigh...

Nathan turns to Ventus and replies sarcastically, "How observant of you, Ventus.  Considering I just got told my Ralts may or may not have been involved with a dubious organization doing experiments of questionable origin on pokemon and documenting the results before selling the methods to the general public, I would be at least a little perturbed, no?  Now, I don't know what you're doing here, but unless you're going to help me figure that mess out, I don't see too much of a reason to talk to you at length on the matter.  No, I'm over here to talk with Vincent, seeing as he's our escort on this trip, and I want to make sure I know that we can count on each other.  I don't wish to get involved with this 'Almanac' group if I don't have to, but if they did something to Ralts...well, let's just say they're not going to enjoy what's comin' to them the day we find them."

With that, Nathan turns to Vincent, mostly ignoring Ventus.  He keeps a steady eye on Ralts and Raphael though.

"Now, Vincent, I know you probably have concerns about me saying that, but I don't have any intentions of going after them right away.  Ralts doesn't even know Confusion yet, nor does he have any egg moves.  We'll have to get stronger first if a day such as that is going to come.  And for that, a journey is required, regardless of whether we end up taking down that organization ourselves or with the help of the local law enforcement.  One which you'll be escorting us on if I heard your orders correctly.  Regardless, we'll have the support of both you and Wilson while you're with us, yes?  I can't imagine an ex-police officer would dare let such injustice stand."


At this point, Ralts and Raphael have finished the poffin, and Ralts returns to Nathan's side.  Ralts moves slightly behind Nathan due to sensing his ire of Ventus, but is quite happy to see Raphael has wandered over to continue socializing with him, particularly since Nathan has no negative feelings concerning the Togepi itself.