[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

(So, I get $800 + the $600 from the yellow hat I have? Nice! Time to see what Ventus was up to while he stormed out of the Castle!)

=Before the New Day=

At the pace he set, Ventus soon stormed out of the honeycomb nightmare, with his mercenary follow closely behind. Once out, he slowed down considerably, letting out one long sigh full of anger and exhaustion. 'Finally out of that royal parasite's domain, so perhaps I can finally relax. I'm just glad I didn't pounce on the insect and start poundering her into mincement, as that would most likely condemn me and my friends to a fate worse than death,' he though, panning his vison around his surrounding until he spotted his mercenary right behind.

Blinking a bit for not noticing he by his side since his flight from the hive, the researcher just put a hand on his face and shook his head. "You did an excellent on this mission, Valder. Sorry for ignoring you up to this point, but the Vespiqueen royal majesty left me in an state of...well, murderous rage, to be honest. I remember the Hat mission you were on, so you will be pleased to hear that I managed to acquire said item for you. When the gardener comes to collect tomarrow, I promise to pay the amount due to you. Until then, you have permission to explore the festival at you leisure."

With that said, Ventus turned around and made his way to the Pokémon Center, not caring if Valder followed after him or not. He just wanted to get to his room and begin unwinding from this night's emotional catastrophe. As the Center's doors came into view, he bragged straight in, went past the lobby without stopping, and headed towards his room. On the way, he saw Shiva, and could clearly fell the worry she had seeing him in this state, but he turned his head away and ignored her. Now was not the time to confine in a friend. Reaching his room, he hastily open the door and entered, before quietly closing it behind him.

'Finally, a place where I can relax, refocus my mind, and dispel this rage that lies within me. I could wait and get some rest, but sleeping when you are anger just leaves you more grouchy in the morning, and I don' want to bite the heads off my friend,' Ventus thought, before undressing and laying the cloths on a chair. Entering the room's bathroom, he drew himself a hot bath bubble bath, using the generous amount of soap the Center provided its guest to properly sud up the water. Once the concoction was complete, he slipped himself into the water, closing his eyes as the broiling bath ate away his built rage and stress. Closing his eye in slight bliss, he leaned his head against one of the bathtub's wall, and remained their, soaking up the heat of the bubble bath and expelling the negatively harboring within.

Once the bath had cooled off to room temperature, he extracted himself from the now tepid water and drained the tub, before grabbing one of the towls hanging nearby. Thoroughly drying himself off, he tied the towl around his waist and stalked back into the bedroom. Going over where he placed his satchel, he reached into it and drew out a long, thin black box. It gave off the most curious odor, one the was both pleasant and soothing. Going to the small table in the room, he laid the box on and opened it, reveling that it a bundle of incense. Carefully arranging the bundle into the built in stand on the box, they point straight up, and soon the room was filled with the smell of lavender and comfrey.

'I would normally burn the incense, but I doubt the Nurse Joy would appreciate filling this room up with smoke. They work just fine as they are, though. Time to meditate,' Ventus thought, before going over to his bed and getting into a cross legged position on top of it. Clasping his hand together, he muttered to himself, "I am calm and in control. My emotions do not dictate my action; I dictate my emotions. I have the power to rule myslef, so I must exercise it constantly. Never let your emotion consume you, consume you emotion before they have a chance. My name is Ventus Zachariah, and my word is law." He stayed like this the whole night, slowly but surely wrestling away all the hate and rage that was within him

=Dawn of the New Day=

Opening his eye, he unclasped his and rubbed the weariness out of them. 'I must have fell asleep after I finally calmed myself completely. I don't know how much sleep I have got, but it is better than nothing, I suppose.' Uncrossing his now stiff legs on the bed, he proceed to stretch for a few minute to limber back up, before getting off and fully dressing himself. Once his tweed sweater was snuggly on his body once more, he went over to the table and reboxed his incense, before putting it away. The air in the room by now was absolutely saturated with the smell, and taking a deep breath left a lavender taste in you mouth. 'I do hope the cleaning staff don't mind the smell too much. Its harmless and relaxing, so if anything it should improve their days slightly,' he thought, before exiting the room.

After getting himself some breakfast in the center's cafertera, he wandered into the lobby of the and found that Shiva and Nathan where already there. A small smile made its way onto his face as he sat down with him, with his mercenary soon joining the group nearby. Shiva seemed delighted that he was in a much better mood (If not because of the incense smell that was hovering around him), and told him about her plans to make Poffins with him. That small smile of his grew even greater as he chuckled at her eagerness to bake with him.

"I'd be delighted if you joined me in Poffin making, Shiva. These treats always taste better when there is more than one person involved in the process, and I wouldn't have a problem if you helped me! After you are done with daycare business, we can make some together later, my friend," Ventus said, enjoying the thought of making the treats. Its been awhile since he had the chance to properly bake something; perhaps he can persuade the cafeteria staff if he could use their kitchens for the job? When Shiva depart for the daycare (and not noticing Larry was trailing afterward, or he would have put a stop to that right away), he turned to face Nathan. The boy was looking rather serious, and it seemed he finally wanted to talk with him about their...issue.

Waving a hand in front of him, he told the young trainer, "Well, now that everyone else has departed on their respective task, what is it you want to ask of me. This has been a conversation a long time coming, so feel free to ask what has been on your mind, and I will answer as honestly as I can."

Nathan's expression doesn't really change.  "Ah, good.  You know what I intended to ask.  Not surprising, I guess.  However...we should talk in a more private place.  Come join me in one of the back rooms, and we can begin.  I promise I won't yell this time, and I'm sure you'll find what I have to say...interesting, to say the least."  Without another word, Nathan gets up and walks off to the back of the pokemon center.  He isn't sure if he is ready to say what he's about to, but he knows he won't be willing to later if he doesn't say it now...

When he gets to the back room, he immediately sits down in a chair.  And slumps.  Head in his hand.  A faint sobbing can be heard only by those present...Ralts looks really, really sad too.  Combee has no idea what's going on, and looks rather puzzled.