[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

To get back to Stair City, Shiva and her Pokemon do not take the elevator. No, given how she wanted to spend a little more time on her return to the magnificient city for the sake of simply being in Lilith's company and calm herself before she'd attend what was inevitable and would sooner or later come with full force - her very own facing of the Steel Wonder in battle to proove herself worthy of a second badge - she turned a different way now: She looked up to the mountains the Great Divide consisted of, up to the stair that was cut into them. The one that is described here.

True, a small stroll avoiding the market stalls, tourist attractions and anyone who would follow her with the eyes as she was still carrying a young Spritzee emitting a sweetish and calming scent wherever they went does sound like a pleasant way to mentally prepare herself. In detail, Shiva keeps Spritzee, Gothitelle and Vaporeon out of their Balls along the way.

For the most part, she doesn't say anything and just enjoys the walk, the sight, the nature around as a welcome distraction from all the steel and technology in the city and of course the company of these three Pokemon, all companions she was lucky to meet and register to her relatively short ago.

She found her voice back as soon as the little group has arrived what would be a lonely spot at the peak of the mountain, as they all looked down on Stair City before them. The place still reminded her of her homecity to some degree, it made her melancholic...delighted...and safe, weirdly. It's true for her that the peaceful life at her parent's in Unova's metropolis has not really prepared her for hardships and teached her barely any resilience during troublesome times, but on the other hand she has the luxury of a loving home and a secure future if she follows her path on becoming a Professional Breeder and Move Tutor. Both were things she has learned to value more than she did before along the so-far journey through this region.

"....the stars aren't visible yet." That was for now all she said in a low and soft voice, it clearly had a melancholic ring between the lines. How she could throw herself off the cliff here if she'd really want she's trying hard to ignore - it were such peaceful lone places and moments that calmed her and unsettled her at the same time.
She should be happy. She wanted to be happy. Why is this shadow still following her everwhere, despite she has achieved so much so far?

To have something to do and to not spiral down into unhealthy thoughts now of all costs, she drew that small dark stone with the runes she bought from the Fortune Hunter once more and held it up to muster it in the sunlight again, naturally that Vaporeon was pretty curious about what Master has brought up there and demanded to sniff on that weird stone. Shiva let her. "Hehe... You again." *petting her forehead and adjusting her flowercrown* "I can call myself lucky that I've met you, huh? Though I haven't battled with you once so far, have I..... well, if you're down for it, that will change as soon as we're back in the city, so please prepare yourself for displaying some of your skills, okay? Couldn't care less about what the others think. Couldn't care less about the Scimitars probably still want to abduct me..." Actually, she DOES care about the latter though, and immediately felt a little more insecure up here. She gave Spritzee on her shoulder a stroke under the beak to deal with this nervous thought.

Having received the small dark stone back from Vaporeon, she brought her attention to her newest companion, elusive Gothitelle, but her gaze was still lingering over the city of technology and steel below and before them. "So.... I can call myself lucky that you're giving me a chance, can I? That's sweet of you... But I'm not that much of what one would call a 'strong Trainer' or a 'battler'. No, I'm different than the others of the group, you'll see... Though one day, I do want to see you defeating a foe that pesters us, deem myself worth enough in your view - our path together has just started, and it's our task to follow the way and see where it leads to, isn't it? I'm tired of counting dollars - excuse me, workhours to pay for you, I'd rather count stars. With you, that is." Now, Shiva has found a bit of positivity that laid deep in her back, it caused her smile just a little. "Do tell me, as I've been told you came to the Shelter on your own for a reason that I can only theorize of so far, are you even interested in participating in battles at all once we've bonded some more? I don't like battles just for the sake of battling though - I enjoy stylish, friendly battles and outplaying any aces I have up in my sleeve. It became undenyable for me that a Pokemon grows by holding battles with and for it's Trainer - the fruits I managed to harvest so far with my other Pokemon companions you'll likely meet soon via winning one or two important battles surely taste sweet, you know.... If you'd be down for this, I'm asking you to attend such a battle with me later. No, not on the battlefield - just stay with me, and witness it. Regardless whether you might have already read the result of it within the stars, please."

"Also... say, do you want to keep a hold of this dark stone with the etched runes on it? Here, you can have it if you like...." *respectfully offers it to Gothy in both open hands, allowing her to take it - or not if she doesn't want to* "I don't know what it means YET, but hopefully soon I will."


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Mechanics:
Have this little scene of Shiva up there on the hill to i.a. mentally prepare herself for the upcoming Gym Battle as she's still nervous about this, before eventually heading down to Stair and mentioned Gym after @Iron inserted reactions for the Pokemon. That's it for now, I'll be heading to sleep.