[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

"No cell reciption, you say?" *checks* "Oh hey, you're right... Well, just another reason to move on, no?"

Something was very weird about the atmosphere here at the camp if asking Shiva... The air was heavy and filled with a ton of feelings that did not really had anything to do with the swamp. "Nathan... There is nothing we can do about that just now, okay? Dagny should have things under control, so if your Mum might end up calling HER, she'll be informed."

"Besides... Ehm... We'll be hosting a guest today. And tomorrow, probably. Tandal, these are the people I mentioned towards you, those I travel with."

That distressed statement/reaction briefly caused Ventus to blink his eyes in surprise, as he wasn't expecting the thought of their mother to be the source of their woes, but it was soon replaced with what looked to be.....sympathy? With a surprising amount of gentleness, the empath place a hand on the young trainer's shoulder to draw his gaze to themselves, before they calmly and kindly said: "......Don't burden yourself with distress about this, please. I doubt that Dagney or one of her acolytes would not have informed your mother the mission you are on by this point in time, and if they haven't then she could always get in touch the Ponyta Handler and learn via that source. From what little I know about her, your mother is a strong, resilient woman, so while its without question she's very concerned for your wellbeing now, I'm sure its not to the point where its adversely affecting her own. Have faith she's doing relatively well, Nathan....."

Afterwards, in a further attempt to get Nathan's mind off his mother's probable distress, the researcher pulled out the Ancient Gitar and displayed it to them with a bemused expression. "How about we focus instead on this tribal relic that Raphael helped me retrieve from the swamp? Its in dire need of new strings and some light restoration work, but beyond that this gitar like instrument is in fabulous shape, and that not even the most intriguing part about it! Look *Points to the Pokémon carvings on it, particularly at the one displaying the Quetzoral* ! Fascinating to think that Lilith's kind has been endemic to this area for centuries, isn't it?"

Nathan just shakes his head.  The last thing he wanted to do to his mom was put her through the exact same thing that happened three years ago...once was more than enough for both of them...the only reason his mom might contact Dagny is because of Stable Z, and if Stair City was overrun...even if it wasn't intentional, he'd be putting her through the sudden disappearance of another loved one again...and he has no way of knowing what's going on with that right now, either...

The gitar only sorta works as a distraction.  Nathan waves it off.  "Show it to me later."  A deep breath and an exhale later, and he stands up to look at this newcomer seriously, his eyes a bit red from all the crying and worrying he's been doing today.  Kirlia mirrors the action as well.

"Well, not the kind of place I'd expect to find a lone traveler.  What brings you out here?"