[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(...) Once he and everyone was safely in the nice and cozy cabin, he all but slumped against one of its walls and his fire goddess (Brigid) in relief after giving a weary nod back to the innkeeper, looking extremely worn out like the Shinjo Ruins and just as inhospitable too. For his dark gemstone Amethyst he left to her own devices in the cabin, besides telling her to behave and not cause any unnecessary ruckus. He took off his gloves and flexed his hands to get the blood in them circulating, and winced as his joints popped and cracked quite audibly and painfully, before he let out a long, drawn out *Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* and looking down at the floor with a thinly veiled grimace.

“…..Heatran damn it all, I’m too bloody old and under-qualified for all this godawful job. But I got to do it. ‘Cause I promised the Pixies I do it. ‘Cause I have a duty and responsibility to look out for my partners. ‘Cause I promised Rowan I do the job he suckered me into, that old, grey, and conniving Rattatta bastard. ‘Cause it’s my responsibility. If I don’t keep soldiering on and keep doing what I’ve been doing, I’d betray their faith and trust in me, disgrace myself, and leave Sinnoh and the world to be done in like Christmas turkey. I got to do it. *Sighs* ...No, I must do it.”

Ran looked at his open, numb, and calloused hands, then clenched them tightly, gritting his teeth as he quietly bore the agony of doing so and slowly kneaded warmth and feeling back into them.

“ Verdammt noch mal. Verdammt noch mal.” (...)

Spoiler

THAT....causes Octavia to carefully approach Ran and give him a worried and compassionate look with her violet shiny-Sylveon-eyes. She even chirps a little at him when he rants to himself about being too old and rusty to get the job assigned done.
That's when Kee came across with his long hair open and a towel around his shoulders to have it soak up some of the moist and snow caught within it, Octavia gives her dearest of all people a just as melodic chirp and throws a concerned glance between him and Ran. Kee's got TWO mugs in his hand, and one of them is gently offered to the blacksmith. From the smell of it they're filled with hot and sweet hot chocolate, freshly made. "....Worn out?", he plainly and quietly says, "Here. I've added some Baileys® into it that the innkeeper all kindly let me have to enjoy." Then he silently takes a seat next to him on the wall, Octavia cuddles up to him and receives some fond strokes through her fine fur.

The fae fox's heartfelt inquisitiveness is at first meet with a jerk of his head and a sharp eyed, almost reproachful look from the wee man - for Ran is not one to appreciate anyone intruding on his personal matters - but eventually closes his eyes and softly *Sighs* and focuses his attention back onto his heads, letting them be without gripe, not quite acknowledging their presence but not ignoring them either. Perhaps he's gotten used to the Shiny Sylveon's caring nature and company enough to accept it without complaint, or perhaps he's just too tired to give a proper damn about it. Who knows?

Kee's arrival with fortified chocolaty beverages earns the dandy man a curious raised eyebrow and small frown from the bristly blacksmith, but he does accept a cup from them with a nod, carefully cradling it with both hands and letting it warm them up. When they didn't immediately try to strike up a conversation, Ran let himself relax a little with, taking the occasional sip of his cocoa and sighing in delight the relief it brought him while stroking Brigid's head (Who didn't mind Kee and co's company herself - in fact, she seemed happier for it). This quasi-companionable silence persist for several long minutes, until he finally had something to say to the universally displaced man.

".....Thank ya."

He worked his jaw a bit more, then continued with a small *sigh* .

"Since you and ya sparkly little fox heard me moaning about our illustrious job, how about ya share your own feelings about it? Have ya been enjoying it like I have, or have ya somehow managed to pry some bonifide enjoyment out of this sorry mess' cold, intolerable hands?"

*Beat*

"....Speaking of which, we didn't get to finish our last conversation before my little gremlin interrupted it. Ya still interested in hearing how someone receives the honor of getting on my shit list and my permanent scorn?"