[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

When Nathan wakes up the next morning, he's feeling a little bit sleepy, but not enough to keep him from being energetic about the events of the previous night. Ralts is in high spirits too. "Alright, Ralts, let's make sure we're ready for the day before heading out. Pokedex, check. Bag, check. Status healing items and potion, check. Trainer card, check. Pokeballs, che...wait, where's your pokeball, Ralts?" Nathan begins searching the room frantically, looking for the old, dull premier ball. He doesn't find it, but he does discover he has Ventus's prism from yesterday. "Shoot, must have left it at the pokemon center...I'll have to ask Nurse Joy about that...but wait, you were out of your pokeball when I returned from the forest yesterday...does that mean Shiva has it since she stayed behind? I'll have to ask her too, then...well, good thing we were planning on meeting the others at the pokemon center anyways...I can return the prism to Ventus too. Must have forgotten I had picked it up when he fainted..."

Before heading out, Nathan takes a moment to stop by the kitchen and grab some breakfast and inform his mom about what had happened last night. She was concerned that Nathan had ordered Ralts to use Confusion on him, but she understood that he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, and he assured her he was feeling fine after resting. Some part of him was finding it a little hard to believe that he was actually doing this. He was going to miss this place almost as much as his mom was going to miss him. Interacting with his mom and the ponyta, walking through the forests, getting hauled out of danger by Corporal Wake...okay, maybe he wouldn't miss EVERY part of it. He knows he'll be back when all of the adventuring is over though.

Once they wrap up breakfast, Nathan heads over to the pokemon center to meet the party, Ventus's prism in hand.

[Iron]

Professor Mallorn is waiting on the road outside your yard.

"Ah, young rancher. I have a request for you as you travel the world. There are some Pokemon-of-burden I would love to train for my business. A Tauros or a Skrelp are the more realistic Pokemon on my wishlist. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a Dragonite; in Kanto they used to deliver all the important messages. Same for Creshire, back in the time of the King. I would pay your party handsomely according to the rarity of the Pokemon.

And then I have a secret wish as well, boss. The legendary Keldeo! The fighting Colt Pokemon! The young Sword of Justice! Ah, to be able to run across the entire world, oceans and all, in a single day! That would indeed be a priceless gift. I would be eternally in your debt and would give you anything you desired.

Tell the rest of your friends too."

[Dragonstrike]

Professor Mallorn is waiting on the road outside your yard.

"Ah, young rancher. I have a request for you as you travel the world. There are some Pokemon-of-burden I would love to train for my business. A Tauros or a Skrelp are the more realistic Pokemon on my wishlist. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a Dragonite; in Kanto they used to deliver all the important messages. Same for Creshire, back in the time of the King. I would pay your party handsomely according to the rarity of the Pokemon.

And then I have a secret wish as well, boss. The legendary Keldeo! The fighting Colt Pokemon! The young Sword of Justice! Ah, to be able to run across the entire world, oceans and all, in a single day! That would indeed be a priceless gift. I would be eternally in your debt and would give you anything you desired.

Tell the rest of your friends too."

Well, he hadn't expected THAT request of all things.  It wasn't completely surprising though...Tauros, made sense.  Dragonite...yeah, checks out.  Skrelp?  Hmmmm....that's a little odder, but maybe he had plans for overseas or, strange as it was to consider, underwater deliveries?  Keldeo?  He doubted that was going to happen, even if they did find the mythical pokemon...particularly since it's really only been seen in Unova for the most part...by the time Nathan had processed all this, Mallorn was nowhere to be seen.  Maybe he went inside to talk with his mom about the ponyta again?  Oh well...Nathan jots down the request for future reference.

Nathan continues on his way to the pokemon center, muttering something about how he's not a rancher, he's a trainer...

[Lord Windos]

@PhantomUnderYourDesk

Light. Shining light filled a white expanse, sparking rays rebounding through the empty existense. Glimmering motes clouded his vision as he lie there, staring at the beautiful void surround him. He doesn't know where he is, or how he got there; all he knows is that it bright, peaceful place.

He leans up, looking at his surroundings, before laying down again. He's feels tired for some reason and, despite the incandescence that is his current location, just wants to rest for awhile. Still, wasn't there something he had to do? Something important, critical even, for himself or someone else. He shakes his head; too muddled to think straight.

No, he must remember. What was so crucial? ......."Ah. My friends. They were in danger, but the conflict was dealt with. I fainted, right in front of them, after my battle high completely faded. Next thing I know, I ended up here. This must be where I go when I slumber. So very strange...but I can't deny the comforting feeling here."

Knowing the battle was over, and that all was well with his companion, he still stood up. In spite of the sleepiness he felt, he couldn't let his friends worry over him like that. "It would be rude if I just stayed unconscois and made them drag me to town. Its time to wake up."

Ventus look up to the sky, and closed his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blearly opening his eyes, Ventus woke up, feeling much better, refreshed even. Just how long was he out? Looking around, he found himself in a bed, with Cottenee and Shiva in the same room as him. She looked as if she was reading something, but he could tell that she was probably worried about something; most likely him, to be honest. \

'Oh dear, she must have been keeping watch over me after I passed out in the field. Poor dear, I wish she didn't do that...but I was really any position to stop her, knocked out as I am. I'll apologize for my rudeness right now, and get on repaying her for all the trouble I caused her,' Ven thought, not quite as happy as he normally was. He really pushed himself past his limits yesterday, and everyone else had to pay the price for his actions. That is not right, he feels, and the need to correct his mis-actions runs very strongly through him.

His stomach suddenly grumbled, as if to protest his action. '....Right after a good meal, I suppose. I'm famished, come to think of it. Maybe that is why I was not alert as I usually was,' he pondered, leaning forward in his bed. Looking down at himself, he finds himself still fully cloathed (thankfully), and relatively unharmed. Sastified with that, he looked over to Shiva's direction, and called out to her. "Good Morning to you, my friend. I'm terribly sorry for causing you so much trouble, but I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. If you would, though, can you tell me what happened after I passed out?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The tone of his voice startled Shiva a little. But that means he must have awoken. Finally... He hasn't done so until she decided to call it a day and get some rest by herself... The beds in a Pokemon Center were unexpectedly comfortable, even it were rather simple wooden ones. At least much better than a couch. Nevertheless she awoke quite early (that means, earlier than usually) and has spent around an hour until Ventus called out to her now. Maybe it was because she was slightly worried about what the next day will hold after all the events that have happened so far. And it was only the first day of being a Trainer... Or whatever they call it...

She came over to his side, not keeping him out of sight, with an indefinable expression. Still keeping that book she was reading in just a moment ago close to her, unknowingly serving as something firm to cling to. Cottonee, as it noticed its Master approaching, chirped at her in a joyful greeting.

" ...You know that you're a fool, are you? Leaving into the woods without a Pokemon on hand... " Her voice was not scolding, though. It was soft, neutral, maybe there was a slight sadness dwelling in it as well. Or it was just some left tiredness. Or both.

"Ah, anyway... Pleasant that you've awoken by now. I hope you're feeling better." She then explained what has happened afterwards, not leaving any details out. How Nathan was seemingly protecting that one Mankey, how Larry captured it into a temporary Pokeball and left the scene (probably to take care of it?), how Nathan and his mother lent one of their Ponyta to her to drag him back into town... After all's been said, silence began to linger. The quiet, enjoyable kind of silence. Feels good to have spoken out all those things that have occured, it was like a selfreflection of the events to help oneself getting along with them. She sighed imperceptibly, thankfully that he listened attentively, waiting  how he will respong or react to all this. 

"By the way, Vincent's in the room at the end of the hall. At least that's what Joy told me, I haven't seen him by myself yet. But we'll probably meet up with him soon."

[Dragonstrike]

Pokemon Center theme, round 2! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smf5JY6pWYw

Around the time that's all going on, Nathan arrives at the Pokemon Center. He takes a seat at one of the tables in the lobby, and waits for the others to arrive. More specifically, he's waiting for Shiva so he can ask her about Ralts's pokeball. Nathan and Ralts also both look rather bored right now.

[Lord Windos]

@PhantomUnderYourDesk

At Phantom on the nose remark, he just smile happily at her while rubbing the back of his head. "I've been called that many a time, indeed, ha ha... Due to my predication to worry, its not unusual for me to get caught up in trouble of all sorts or run myself ragged over others. I'd rather be called a fool than be of no help at all, though, so I take such titles in stride," he said, still looking radiant despite saying that he danger prone. An oddball on top of a fool, no doubt!

"Besides, just because I'm foolish at times doesn't mean I act idiotically, or that I am unintelligent. My proffesors would have a lot more problems with me if that were the case, I assure you! Point is, while my actions may seem unintuitive at time, their is plenty of thought and rational behind them," Ventus says, before chuckling to himself. "Well, maybe not all the time, but my heart is in the right place, and I always follow that, if all else fails. " Stretching his arms and letting out a little yawn, he rolls out of bed and stands up. He stretches his legs too, limbering up for a day of activity, before facing Shiva and offering his hand.

"If you wish, I can explain my decision regarding Nathan, but how about we grab some breakfast first and gather our companions. There is a lot to things to discuss about yesterday, I imagine, and I have some ideas about preparations for our journy that I'd like to run by everyone. Forethought can save a lot of things, afterall!" With that said (whether or not Shiva accepted his hand), he head towards Vincent's room, hoping that he was in a good mood. He doesn't seem like a morning person, but he was a Police Officer at one time, so who knows?

[Dies Irae]

He awakens with a jolt, the lingering threads of unreality draped across unused synapse disappearing with the veil of sleep. It's an unfamiliar bed with an unfamiliar ceiling, but exhaustion claims it's own.

Winston is still snoozing in the corner of the bed. Moran has somehow managed to go to sleep in it's food bowl.

Taking the opportunity, he checks and rechecks his gear quietly, making a mental note of the low growl of his stomach.

"JEN ALWAYS DID SAY YOU WORKED TOO HARD."

Uh huh.

"TAKE BETTER CARE OF US, MAN. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE RELYING ON US NOW." The officer adds with a chuckle.

Why don't you go play in traffic.

"STILL NOT A MORNING PERSON, HUH." The officer smiles, and walks away. "GO GET BREAKFAST. I MEAN IT."

The mottled black and white egg sits heavily on the bedside table. He runs his hand across the smooth shell, retreading his mental notes again - Egg to Quickbeam in Telperion. He ruminates on it for a moment, but brushes away the thoughts. He's a doer, not a breeder by any stretch. Don't ask too many questions about the job. That only gets messy.

Sweeping the floor clear of food pellets and crumbs, he finally awakens his companions.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vincent totters down the stairs from the second floor of the Pokemon Center, bag slung across his back, Growlithe bounding the stairs ahead of him to wait patiently in the lobby. Behind him, still wearing the food bowl over its head clatters the Paras, following at a cautious distance, determined not to get left behind by the squishy pink thing that apparently provided food.

He's dressed simply as usual, black jacket and dress pants contrasting sharply with the white inner shirt. As usual, his trademark black shoes, buffed clean of the dust of yesterday's exertions, round out the look.

Dropping off the keys to his room at the counter, he glances back at the younger trainer waiting in the lobby, the mask of boredom visible across his face.

Winston pads over and plops himself on his butt at a respectful distance, staring at the Ralts that accompanied Nathan. It snuffles curiously.

"Morning, Nate. You're in early. Had plans for today?"

[Dragonstrike]

His response is quick, practiced. Like he's been asked that question a hundred times before.

"I grew up on a ranch. I'm always up early. And yes, I do have something I need to be doing later. Gotta ask Shiva about some stuff first, though. So, rest well?"

[Dies Irae]

"Had better." There is a brief flicker or recollection as the anti-septic scent of a hospital room intrudes into his thoughts. He balls the memory and crushes the thought back into the background. "Had worse. May I?"

He helps himself to a chair, and lowers himself into it, deftly hooking the crook of his stick against the table for storage.

"Hell of a day, yesterday. Anyway, if we're going to be travelling together at the Prof's request, I figure it wouldn't hurt to have a more reliable means of reaching each other than relying on serendipity."

He fishes out his Pokedex, offering to exchange numbers.

"That said... Doesn't mean anything to an old Ginger Town boy like myself but is it just me or do the local 'Mons seem somewhat... riled... around here? Having to deal with Ekans and Mankeys on the road back to back isn't the most normal of things, all things considered. But then again, given I'm not from around here... this could be normal for all I know."

He ponders the question for a moment, idly reaching down to scratch his growlithe between the ears. He reaches around to repeat the motion with the Paras, but noticing it backs away slightly, he lets his arm drop down to his side.

"And the Ralts. How's it holding up?"