[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

The researcher is quick to shoot his brother a concerned/consuling look along with that glance, as while their excitement for this was.....strange to him, their terror was something far more reasonable to him. He'll do whatever it takes protect his family, and he'll die for them too, so they can count on him!

His screaming banshee's elations with the spirits and the subsequent appearance of the Shedinja was what really took Ventus off guard, however, causing his formerly neutral expression to shift into one of pure surprise. He was quick to recover from the shock, but the positive impression that his sister had of her fellow spectors caused his fearful apprehension to lighten up significantly. If she fully trusts and likes these soldier.....well, he wouldn't ever let his guard down, but he could at least extend the same courtesy and stomp down on his paranoid hostility...

What the ghost had to say in response gave yet another shock to the empath's system, though this one was more of bewilderment and recognition from the stories Nathan's told and from his trip to Cress' Museum. 'He's THE Captain Bridge? He who command his forces against the Loyalists, and was trapped in the tomb that was Mt. Sentry's depths as a indirect result? By Reshirim's gloriously fluffy tail.....'

As they continued to speak of them, the kindness he shared with the now Ninjask, and Antheneum Ventus rapildly sobered, his expression growing more somber and contemplative as he listen to the dead captain's warning and advice. When they spoke of his men withering away in these tunnels the sociologist winced as he was reminded of his dreadful vision inflicted on him by Chandelure's Memento, which only lead to him thinking about his torrid past, his current self, and how much he has and hasn't changed between those two points. Beyond that, the information of just how powerful Anthenum was, and the true extent of the Central Fern's dominion and guardianship made him feel pensive, uneasy, and......sad, and only added another train of thought in the bustling rail station that was now his mind.

Once Captain Bridge finished speaking, several minutes passed with in Ven in silent contemplation as he mulled over all the information, head bowed and hands clasped together and resting on his breast.

".......Truth be told, curiosity is what lead me to Nincada, but my efforts to help them once their delimea became known to me was sincere."

He spoke with a airy, almost emphermal voice at first, as if caught in the past and was slowly dragging himself out of it.

"To be kind....to be generous.....to help those that are in need or are in wanting.......to further the understanding between man and Pokémon.....these are the tenets by which I try to abide by in life. However, I often find myself acting in defiance of those lofty goals, sometime as I pursue them even, and the harsh life I have lived has lead me to be.....just as unrelenting at times."

He let out a humorless chuckle, as he unclasped one hand and extended it to his side while one remained over his heart, as gesture referring to himself.

"Such is the paradox within me: I wish for peaceful, prosperous unity......yet I'm so willing to use violence against those I stand opposed to. To do anything for those that I love and care for......even actions or acting in such a way I know they will not approve. To be one who the ends justify the means, willing to indulge in cruelity......and far worse to accomplish his goals........but only does so because they want the best for himself and everyone. Always willing to bear arms against his enemies and not suffer them.......knowing that the time for such behavior has long since past, and trying to move on. To accept all and trying to bring people together.....yet harboring a deep fear and hatred for that I disapprove of and have done me wrong, and so easy to reject them too...... .....A living contradiction, living in contradiction with himself. Honestly.....I don't know if I ever will succeed in my struggle....my journey and goal in simply trying to do good......be good..... Not with my life's history....."

He goes silent for a brief moment and hung his head.....before he clenched his outstretched hand and brought it back to cover his other, and gave Captain Bridge a resolute stare that belayed his next response.

"Still.....I must try and succeed, even if it seems hopeless or impossible, even if I stumble endlessly in my pursuit. For I want to help others without a heavy heart, to be generous and kind to all without reservation, and to be a person that can inspire greatness without having to resort to foul deeds to do so. The only ones that should experience my worst are those foul, blighted mages that pervert both man and Pokémon, and dabble in forces only the mad or immoral would indulge, and the sort that doesn't deserve kindness....... And even then I would still be willing to spare them for the greater good, as just because those mages are fiends and loathsome creatures doesn't mean they are undeserving of mercy, or can't possibly recant their mistakes and repent.....like myself. As I am right now, I believe myself unworthy of Antheneum like those mages, but I still must seek it along with the other members of my group to protect and safeguard it against their shortsighted foolishness of repeating mistakes long since past.  I can only speak for myself, but I promise that I will head your warnings and conduct myself in with beneficence and magnanimously towards the guardians and others should they approach us, and only bring conflict and violence to those that first raise it against us. I promise I won't let your fate befall me and mine own, Captain Bridge....."

"....You should also know that you are remembered with great fondness and reverence by the current generation of Cheshire, and that even though you perished in these tunnels so long ago, you and what you did and represented were never forgotten. My companion Nathan could regale you of your renown better than I, for I am just a foriegneer in these lands most unenlightened by its history, but rest assured you are in the hearts and minds of many, Captain, including my own."

After that rather long winded speech, the sociologist went silent for the last time, eyeing each of the soldiers and the Shedinja as he awaited their response. They gave him a lot to think about, and the answers he came up with reflect on himself greatly, so he hope they all don't find it wanting....

Well...that's not what Nathan had been expecting to hear.

...his fear is slowly ebbing away now since there doesn't seem to be any immediate danger...but he's still VERY shaken by this experience, and still currently has no idea what he can or should even say in this scenario.  Maybe he'll respond if spoken to, though?