[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

She knew Apsis would hiss at her shall Shiva approach the cobra's Master and family member. She very well knew, she knew very well knew that Apsis doesn't enjoy this young woman too close to him, but she also knew that Ventus himself would never allow her to harm his dear... There's always a small risk despite how well Ven has her under control, but maybe - probably - her fear of Apsis made this risk bigger than it was in the first place... Not that Shiva cares right now. If it means that she can comfort Ven and simply being there for him if he allows and accepts her company now, that's a risk she very well takes upon.

Though she holds back with her care to not put Apsis on edge as well as not scare Marill too much than necessary, so as soon as Ventus was within reach, Shiva stepped by his side and gave his hand a stroke with one of her own as well as a trademark coy smile from the side before she opted to muster the path ahead, smile somewhat fading as she did so. Now that she was close to Ventus, the impression that he had some reason to calm himself/cope with things via smoking incense intensified, but she had no idea what happened and she won't ever find out. After a few moments of silence between them both, it was Shiva who spoke up first, in a tone that was careful, caring and quiet. She's not angry, not sad, just a still a tad bit fearful/shy and now concerned for Ven's wellbeing and state. "It's good to see you again... You..... well, have dealt with that Chandelure, have you? You have... I don't want to know how and what, *she slightly shaked her head at that to show she really doesn't* it's enough to know that you did. You have, did you? ...Thank you. Reshiram knows how many spirits of innocent visitors it already burnt, I'd take on it by myself and caught it for safe containment and later giving away but you were faster and I...welll.... How do you feel now, you're okay?"

It doesn't really matter what Ventus did or did not. Despite everything, it's still him, it's still that oddball of researcher she was sharing a close bond with.

High strung and in extremely foul and cantankerous mood from her master being spiritual and mentally assaulted by that Chandelure , Apsis was perhaps the angriest she had been in her entire life. Not even nearly being blown to smithereens by that Weezing or being counter ambushed by the Ninjack compared to seething rage she experienced at the knowledge that her master had nearly been broken by that foul, foul Ghost type, yet it got away free. What was even worse than not being able to exact VENGENCE AND DEATH upon the fiend, though, was the fact she couldn't do anything to help her master recover from this besides what she's doing now, as he's almost completely shut down his empathy/empathetic link towards others and walled himself off emotionally in order to cope/contain/control/confine/manage his RAGE while simultaneously continuously repair/shore up his mental defense/control over himself. Besides the scant amount of communication and weak but affectionate rubbing coming him, it was like he was a walking brick wall, neutral and unemotive as he puff smoke like an angry dragon. It burned and rackled her to see him in this state, to not be able to solve or fix besides just being there for him (Not enough in her over protective/nurturing opinion!) and being his sentry/bodyguard for the time being.

Suffice to say, the regal reptile was furious, discontent, and just plain unhappy on multiple levels, and looked about ready to spontaneously learn to Crunch anyone's head off if they happened to be unlucky/foolish enough to be the first to provoke her ire and be the first she vents her impotent fury on.

With that worryingly in mind, when that insufferable fairy lady that her master was so bewitched by slunking from out behind a rock she hide behind like a coward, with another one of her annoying Fairy types in her arms, trying to comfort her master despite having NO IDEA what is wrong with him and her own failed attempts in doing so......

.....Well, that was the proverbal straw that broke the Numel's back (Not Hanael's!).

In a matter of seconds, the giant snake was all but glaring  at the fae woman, rearing back her head and extending herself to her full, magnificent height, before she let out a great and terrible *HIIIIIIISSSSS!* that perfectly displayed her deadly fangs and rushed lowered her head straight at their own, stopping only inches away from making contact. The poisonous python stared menacingly at their pseudo rival, tongue flicking out and savoring the fear that was no doubt wafting off them from this intimidating stunt of hers, an unamused and displeasured scowl across their scalely face. She held this stare for several long, tortuous seconds, eyeing them up like whether or not she deciding she could get away with giving them a nip, before narrowing her eyes and pulling away with a low *Hiiiiiiiiiiis* and a huff of breath, still staring them in the eyes as they jerked their head to the side in a dismissive motion.

The message was clear: fuck right off. Neither she nor her master was in any shape or mood to deal with them, so the sooner they buzzed off, the better.

What was the strangest and perhaps heartbreaking part, though, was the complete lack of reaction from Ventus on both Apsis' and Shiva's actions. He did not initially react when she stroked his head, nor when his sister decided some venting and scare tactics were in order. He just continued to move on forward, almost completely ignoring her. It was only when Shiva said her piece on his struggle defilment fight with Chandelure that he reacted, halting in his tracks and leaving her to stumble to a stop as he did so.

Silence was the only thing that was said between the two for the longest time, before he turned his head and direct his own bonechilling Stare at his sister, causing her to rear back again, this time in worry/fear with an 'uh oh' expression on her face.

"Apsis, restrain yourself. I taught and raised you better than to lash out at someone undeserving. We'll find a worthy target to work out our stress upon, so until then behave and marshel your temper. Do not let it rule you," he said to her, his words sullen, apathetic, yet still charged with the smoldering embers of his RAGE as he direction a mere iota at his venomous viper. His response was enough to get them bobbing their head up and down, looking chastised and somewhat ashamed at what she done (but far from remorseful about it), but at the same time slightly eager too. While being on the receiving end of his anger was not good, at least it showed he wasn't completely out of it, and that they already had a plan to help deal with BOTH their frustration! It wasn't as good as getting REVENGE against that fiendish spector, but it was at least SOMETHING they could do!

Ventus then paused for a moment, as if remembering his fae friend had said something to him earlier, until he slowly spoke with great deliberation and an air of bitterness.

"No. But I will. Shiva, forgive me for saying this, but I wish to be left alone. I will lag behind and keep my own consul for now, and will alert the group if anything misfortunate or disaster worthy happens ASAP, and I shall return when I am able, so please inform the rest about this. ...Until then, good-bye."

The sociologist then departed from his most blessed friend's company and further ahead on the trail/path, looking for another Pokémon to capture in order to release some of his/Apsis' pent up RAGE and get SOMETHING out of this dreadful day. His regal reptile was swift to slither right behind him, throwing pointed looks behind her every now and again to make sure Shiva wasn't actually following them. This was THEIR time, not hers, so leave them be!

Order: Have Apsis do most of the reacting towards Shiva since Ven is still VERY much out of it/barely keeping himself from exploding/breaking down again, have him request to be alone and for her to tell the others his plans (Neatly tying it to what your character said), before he head off to find the Unusual Pokémon to capture. Again, PLEASE let this be just an nice Encounter... Ven has had it bad enough due to dice luck and Memento, so relief would be nice!