[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

*Flashback!*

"*Wanely smiles*....It should be surprise or worry me you feel so humble about your world-shaping heroic deeds way, but I can't find myself to be either. *Brightens up* Well, no matter. Ultimately, it's not your decision whether you deserve  honor and acclaim for your actions, Nate. Whether you deserve to become a Legend, immortalized for ages to come. *Shakes head wistfully* No, that power rests in the hands of the League, the public, your peers, and, most importantly of them all, the ones who love and care for you, and I don't believe it takes a historian and sociologist to know what they choose to do, hmm? *Chuckles* You know where I stand on the matter, at the very least, ah ha!"

The eccentric researcher seemed to be simultaneously and paradoxially doggedly relentless yet blase with heaping on so much praise onto Nathan, trying to force them to accept it and reject their glum attitude in a casual, carefree, and gregarious way. Impossible to say why he's so insistent about this, due to the utter stressed and tired mess he is right now just behind his highly affable facade - or maybe it's the cause behind it?

Ven simply smiles at his the young scholar's question, not trying to force them to look at him but at he same time doing nothing to diminish the effect of his presence on them. "No, perhaps not. But necessity has nothing to do with it, Nate. I choose to put myself in your debt, because that is what I think is the right thing to do for you."

For the first time, Ven expression turns sorrowful, his smile becoming bittersweet and melancholy.

"It's the least a terrible friend like myself can accomplish, for someone so richly deserving."

Then his expression switched back to full force chipperness so fast you'd think it give him whiplash!

"Since you can't think of Favors to ask, then I suppose I'll have to devise one for me to fulfill that you'll truly appreciate! Hmm.......ah, I know. How about we bury the hatchet over Orthros, and accept them as you first wish I would? Does that sound good, Nate?"

He suggests this with qualm or ulterior motive, beaming down curiously at his old friend.

"...humble...yeah, let's go with that...*ahem*..."

Well, he IS being humble, but there's more to this than that.

Though that uncomfortableness is very, very quickly replaced by pure shock as Ventus proposes his first 'favor'.  Nathan can't help but stare at Ventus for a few minutes, wide eyed.

...that was one of the last things he'd expected Ventus to ever say...and even Gallade is at least a little surprised, too.

Still staring at Ventus, and almost completely ignoring Shiva and everyone else, Nathan can't help but ask, "...who are you, and what have you done with Ventus?"