[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"...I see...well then, the Guildmaster is waiting, so let's not delay a moment longer!"

It's almost like a switch was flipped for Floette.  One moment, curious and worried(?), super cheery and carefree the next, dropping the topic of Pyra entirely.

The whole team follows Floette to the Guildmaster's room, where they find Delphox sitting in her chair, just like before.  The fox pokemon's eyes narrow a little when she sees Pyra, but she gets straight to business and addresses the whole group.  No nonsense from this fox.

"I've heard that you completed your assigned tasks.  I was also informed that you managed to do so while one of the guild's teams was pursuing the very same jobs.  As such, I commend your hard work, and you shall all be allowed the opportunity to join the Adventurer's Guild."

"That being said, I do hope you'll continue to do good work for us in between outings.  The guild can always use more able bodies.  There's seemingly never an end to the job postings, and it falls to us to fulfill the requests in the absence of more specialized organizations."

"Floette can show you where your rooms are and give you the speech concerning the guild's rules and practices later, but I wish to make one clear personally.  Teams generally do not share the rewards for jobs with each other, particularly when fulfilling job requests with more middling rewards.  Many of the pokemon here are also very proud of what they're capable of doing on their own, as this is a rather prestigious organization, and everyone here is trying to make their own living.  I suggest you temper your expectations with that in mind."

"Any questions?"

Pyra's first impressions of Delphox upon skipping into their chamber were ones of marked interest and a slight sense of disquiet. The mage fox's towering presence, authoritative bearings, and strong calmness were all striking -especially coming from an elite Fire type! - but those qualities coupled with that brief but potent narrow-eyed stare through her for a bit of a loop and made her tense. Why was the Kitsune Mystic so intent on them for a second?  It was a question she had no real or good answer to, so the lil' fiendess elected to act seriously and carefully around them, least she inadvertently find out why in some unspeakably bad ways and/or jeapordize her friend's chance to join the Guild. Uncharacteristic of her, but she's learnt enough by now to know when to act like so.

Case in point, when they extended an open invitation into their Guild for all of them and diplomatically suggested they continue to do quests and menial grunt work for them and it, she bowed to them in response, her good arm crossed on her chest, claw over her heart, and her expression  solmen but respectful.

"I accept your invitation, Superior Delphox. It is my friends' wishes to become members of your Guild and be great and renowned Adventurers someday, so I must join them and do all in my power to aid them and fulfill their heart's desires. In fair trade and exchange will we do as you ask us to, and do all we can to bring glory, respect, and strength to you and the Guild, until such time that we no longer serve you. I promise you that."

Their rather pointed advice struck a cord within the brimstone imp, nearly causing her to frown both in thoughtfulness and displeasure as she silently nodded back to them. So that was part of the reason those foals and arrogant Leader rejected her bargain before it could even be heard. Hmm.....well, it didn't make her any less unforgiving/disdainful of the group (for reasons well established by this point), but it at least make her judge their them and their transgression less harshly and prepared her for such behavior from other Teams now. Just because she knows Teams are super prideful + competitive doesn't retroactively forgive Ponyta's rudeness (nor deserving of an apology or recompense) or make it okay for them to be aloof jerk-offs in negotiations, but now that she knows that she won't hold such standards against others or get frustrated about it too much.

Finally, Delphox's prompt for questions brings several from her immediately.

"My team and I are currently having a home built outside of Sahra Town, where we intend to live and operate out of when it's completed. When that time comes, would it be okay for us to move out of the Guild and into our house? (....) Is it possible and acceptable for us to issue requests and Jobs to the Guild as members of it, if we have the means to fund their Rewards and pay tribute to the Guild for doing so? (...) What is the.....chain of command for the Guild? What matters and concerns would you prefer us to bring you directly, instead of one of your subordinates?"