[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Mikaruge108]

Original post

(lemme just set the mood for what he's about to say)
When Spira recieves the text from Shiva, he heads to the appointed location and opens up what he needs to say with:
"When I battled Howl, he used a Spiritomb, and that brought forth all sorts of bittersweet and sad memories, and I needed someone to confide in, lest my increased emotional state compromise our exploration of the Skull Ruins." He then recounts the bottled-up memories:
"I never knew my mom; she died shortly after I was born, and my father worked in Canalave, so I didn't see him much. I was mostly raised by my paternal grandparents, they were retired breeders. Their influence was the impetus that inspired me to be a breeder. Besides them, there was only one other person I cared about back in Sinnoh; you remember that girl I mentioned? The one that over-estimated a Spiritomb? Her name was Leigh, and we were... pretty close, well as close as we were allowed to be, being co-workers and all. For someone as young as she was, she had very big dreams; she wanted to be the first female champion of Sinnoh, (keep in mind the events he's reminiscing on took place a good 90 or so years before Cynthia became champion) but, before she could even turn 18, when we had our tests to become gym trainers, she had gotten it in her mind that she wanted to use a Spiritomb for the training. I had tried to warn her of the danger, but she just smiled and said 'I'll be fine, I'm gonna be one of the first people to fully harness the powers of a Spiritomb.' That was the last time anyone saw her smile again, to put it nicely." Spira isn't sure why, but there is something about Shiva that makes him feel comfortable talking about things he normally wouldn't say. For a moment, she can tell that he seems to be holding back tears...

Spoiler

(Ohhh, Stein's Gate <3)

Shiva would welcome him kindly in her dorm illuminated by various colorful candles, despite it's rather late in the evening and the moon's already up high. (I'll just assume that all happens after her last Encounter). She's wearing comfy clothing and all her Pokemon are scattered around the room, either eating a midnight snack or already sleeping.

"Take a seat wherever you want", she'll offer, she herself will do so opposite of Spira and face him with a gentle and soft expression. She's actually tired, but that's pushed aside, for now she's patiently waiting for him to set the pace. It still flatters her that out of all people, he decided to speak up towards her.



She appears VERY startled over the reason why he was raised by his grandparents, and immediately her compassion towards the spectral breeder visibly raises by 100%. "Yes. I do remember that you once mentioned a girl you trained alongside in the same breath as you mentioned an exemplar of those dark ghosts." She's mindful to maybe not call it by its species name.

'Pretty close' already says almost all to Shiva, but she's confused about something: ".....Wait a moment. Spira, since when are...Gym Acolytes not allowed to date one another? That's a stupid and unfair rule. Especially if the feelings are mutual." *energetic headshake*

Once Spira has eventually spoken his mind to her, Shiva would simply gaze at him with an expression that displays both sadness and empathy, by now her winged Mightyena has also approached to carefully lick over his hand in an attempt to comfort him. She's not quite sure what to respond, but as she realizes he is holding back tears, Shiva wordlessly hands a leafy-green handkerchief. It's her silent sign that he is allowed to cry in front of her if he wishes to, there is no need to feel ashamed or such. Shiva is close to weeping herself. "....I'm sorry. I'm just.... so sorry for what you had to and still have to endure... My sympathy won't bring Leigh back, I know, such a brave, BRAVE young girl. I bet she's happy that you're keeping her in mind, that you're keeping her alive that way..." Shiva also feels that she can understand why someone would fall for her.

"But.... Spira, tell me, what will you do now? How do you think this bittersweet memory will influence you down the Ruins?" Her voice becomes still soft and gentle, but a hint of seriousness and fear dwells between the lines now. "What if....excuse me if I accidentally trigger you, what if one of these rare and brutal ghosts of darkness decides to block our path? Fairies are the only thing they're vulnerable to, do you want me to... stay close to you, just in case...?"

What a bold question.

Spira takes the handkerchief and wipes the corners of his eyes, and answers her questions;
Ruins Question:
"Negative emotions, even when bittersweet, are like a magnet to most Ghost-type Pokemon, and considering how dangerous the Ghosts of Skull Ruins are said to be, the last thing we need is them swarming us."
Dating Question:
*clears throat* "It was a common practice, especially when starting out, its main intention was to make it so that the, as you called them, acolytes, could better focus on their studies, but because of how many people disagreed with the practice, I heard through the grapevine that it was discontinued maybe a year or so after I left the gym to start my journey."
the 'bold' question:
"That's a very kind offer, very well, if one of these incarnations of temptation should stand in our way, I know I can count on someone."
After Spira's emotional baggage has been unloaded, his countenance visibly changes for the better, "Thank you for lending an ear to what I had to say."