[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

*Flashback!*

"I didn't think of my encounter with Scyther being a part of the fortune, but you're most likely right on the Pokedollar. Oh dear, things just continue to escalate, do they not Nathan? Kirlia vision also fills me with foreboding, as it just compound more issues concerning what seems our inevitable departure to the Skull Ruins. Blast it, why does the future always seem bleak, instead of a shinning beacon of hope? I believe we all had our fill of drama for one lifetime, but Cheshire seem to love sinking her claws into us..." Ventus replied, raising his head out of his hands to just morosely stare at the young trainer. While the saying 'Nothing is as it appears to be' chimes in his mind, it was hard to stay optimisitic with so many opposing forces out to get them.

Resting his hand into his lap, he shook his head at Nathan's plea, not exactly in full agreement with his assessment. "Nathan....despite our reservations, its all but inevitable that we'll venture into the Skull Ruins, so I believe prolonging first contact with them is ill advised. Trying to avoid them will just cause the forces of Fate to push even harder against us, so we should start preparing right now for those cursed ruins, and enter them ASAP. The sooner we start probing its depths, the quicker we can exert control over those future insights, and curtail any plans involving the places," he said, before getting up from his spot by the fire and heading towards the tent.

"*Sigh* Today has been more exahausting to me than the norm, so I'm going to bed for the night. We can discuss our plans for the Skull Ruins at a later date, so let just take the time to rest and contempolate what we know," the researcher commented, before wishing the boy good night. Before he entered the tent, he thought about the conversation he had with Shiva prior to Nathan's arrival to the campsite, but he decided not to return to it for the night. Like he said before, he had enough drama for one lifetime now, and he didn't need anymore tonight especially. When he went into his section of the tent and rolled out his sleeping mat, a shadow loomed behind him, causing him to turn around and see that it was Apsis. She didn't look too displeased with him, and they couldn' sense any hunger from her; perhaps she went out hunting for herself while he was exploring the woods?

Letting out a slight hiss of what he detected as relief, the might Arbok began to curl around his sleeping spot, now content her master turned out to be safe and sound. She knew it was unlikely he would get injured in his treck, like his encounter with that ruthless Scyther, but it doesn't stop her from worrying about him! Chuckling from the slight worry radiating from the normaly fierce snake, he patted her scaly body, before he layed down a dozed off to sleep himself. Lucifer was still napping in his shirt, so he made carefully took them out of it before returning them to their ball. The thought of all his Pokémon made Ventus smile as he drifted off to dreamland. 'No matter the task or trail, I'll always have my family to support me. Always.'

(Ventus went off to bed without talking to Shiva, so we can save that conversation for a later time. If she doesn't initiate it, the researcher will eventually. He doesn't like leaving loose end when he can, after all!)

*End Flashback!*

A good night's rest with Apsis did wonders for his good mood, so he was ready to face the day with gusto when he awoke. After his morning rituals, he returned Apsis to her Pokeball for the time being, and let Lucifer and Raphael out. He wanted the two to get to know one another more, and the though of his little angel and devil getting along brought a radiant smile to his face. 'They may be opposites when it comes to typing and naming, but I have a feeling that the two of them will become the greatest of friends. After all, both are curious little buggers, and seem to love investigating new things to no end!' Ventus though, cradling the chick in his arms while the drake perched on his shoulder. Both of them where chattering to one another amiably, proving the researcher assumption mostly right...for now.

He was beating feet on the trail to Corsage, enjoying the sights and sounds of all the people and Pokémon traviling the route like him and his group. Spotting a Grimer being chased by a ranger, he decided to avoid both of them for now- he didn't want to run amuk with the law right now, or take any chances at all! Spotting a trainer horking his wares, he was about to go over their to see what he could get for the Leeks and Statue (He loved it to bits, but he needed to pay off his debt pronto, sadly), when Nathan's proclamation about flowers rang in his ears.

Ven's head immedianlty snapped to the young trainer, and he quickly responded with: " I'm coming with you. Worry not about me torching the flowers, for I still remember our promise, but I want to accompany you regardless. Someone needs to be with you, in case things start going amiss, and to process those flowers into a...less dangerous form."