[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

++Small flashback++

Gallade walks up, puts a hand on Shiva's shoulder, stares right into her eyes, and gives her a confident, (hopefully) reassuring nod.
Nathan has a small smile on his face as he looks upon his best friend's actions. "Gallade thinks you can overcome this. If he can overcome his crippling fear of Steel types, I think you can get past this. Maybe not right now, but one day. You're a strong person. Stronger than most."
And that's all Nathan really has to say on the matter. He seems to be confident in those words, too.
...even if he can't help but still be somewhat nervous around Shiva on some level, worried as he is about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time unintentionally.

Shiva flinches a little from the touch despite knowing that it's just Gallade and that she doesn't sense a single hint of hostility, or, better, reason for her to scare away - she still does involuntarily due to her erratic nervosity steming from the presence of the Nidos. She appreciates the reassurance and that is what she lets the psychic knight know - she's still relieved in some way once he withdraws his hand though.

In response to the nice and encouraging words, she turns meek and uncertain, musters the super-interesting ground and everything, basically falls back into her soft-old self. Her expression is a sad one, but it features a FAINT smile of thankfulness still. "You think so...? I don't know..." She holds back a sob. "Strength is what I've been yearing for for so long now. It's feeling...strange to be called 'strong' now, but also nice - very very nice actually. Thank you.... I guess." The way she brings up these words still suggests that she's doubtful about that, but once she's less nervous and erratic and can think about things with a more clear mind, Shiva will realize that she indeed has grown so much as a person, as well as a Trainer - despite she didn't even want to become one in the first place! Whimsicott and Azu happily confirm that, Yena jumps in to give his alpha leader a hearty lick over the face.

As soon as Nathan and Gallade are out of range though, something strange occurs as Shiva begins to weep some more, all silently while she finishes packing her stuff together. It's painful to come to the conclusion that yes, while she may be able to handle Poison Types a LITTLE better by now, she doesn't think she can ever overcome her fear of a Nidoking. Too biased she is, too deep lies that trauma about that one exemplar has been given to her father's care and what it has done to him and her home.

++++


The local natural fae-enthusiast observes the surroundings with interest and curiosity again once they eventually have left the kingdom of that Nido, clearly having recovered fastly once she can't sense these poisonous Pokemon's presence anymore. Subconsciously she clings to the Shield harder when Cosh asks them to not loose these two Artifacts. She visibly perks and lights up when she hears the Earth Scim Leader talk about how the scavengers might have not only claimed traps and technology from that fateful King for themselves, but also useful and worthy things! She wishes confirm this to herself, maybe even obtain one or two nice objects. Key Stones should be buried somewhere too, as Sarimanok had some.

But all she spots is a weird canine shyly peeking out from behind a certain minaret, Shiva is impressed by how much determination that creature radiates - Must take their task of guarding something very seriously? Either way, CUTE PUPPY SPOTTED!!~

2. Name: Lunapup*
Cap: (1)
Challenge: Medium
Bid: 3
Note: Very Shy, but guarding a certain minaret entrance like a guard dog

She has no idea about what that species is until her Almanac would tell her.