[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Yes, you retrieve Omanyte and hold it until morning, when the docent comes to check on you.

Strangely, the Omanyte has reverted back to stone as the first light of dawn touches down outside! Nathan and Ventus believe this is a property of this particular Omanyte, that he is some kind of partially revived fossil.

It takes some time to convince the docent of just what has happened, but upon consulting a book of Pokemon fossils, he is mostly convinced.

"Well, you can have this Omanyte fossil - if you run to the beach and grab me some replacement decorations. I'd also like to take a photograph of it for our museum! I think it is too predatory to keep here. I hear they are very clever, much like an Octillery. This Octillery is an escape artist himself, and I'd hate for them to learn from each other! If you don't want it, however, I'll see if any other museums want it, and I'm sure they will! Maybe the one at Telperion?"

Omanyte's reversion to its fossil form both surprised and fascinated Ventus. The researcher in him was completely mesmerized this strange phenomena exhibited by the fossil Pokémon, so he wanted the chance to further study it! "I would be happy to run this errand for you, if it means that I can obtain this specimen for my own research. Nathan here has a Pokedex, so he can take a couple of pictures of it when the Omanyte is its in 'active form', and send via the internet to you later, if that is acceptable. Now, for our payment for services rendered, can you split it half and half among me and my friend? His help was crucial in pacifying this prehistoric creature, so he deserves compensation as well!" he said, gesturing to both himself and the young trainer beside him. Equal pay for equal work, and Nathan deserve his fair share as well!

Apsis had already been returned to its Pokeball, while Lucifer was currently within Ventus' shirt once more, muching on an apple,his favorite fruit to snack on! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the little devil sure loved it right now!

[Dragonstrike]

That only piqued Nathan's historical curiosity MORE. He was still uncertain if he wanted to take on caring for it, though...he wasn't entirely comfortable with supporting its already established eating habits...but, the helix pokemon had nowhere else to go, either...

"We'll gladly hold on to Omanyte for now, and get you some replacement decorations from the beach. I'm just glad that all that trouble didn't turn out to be something more worrisome. Sorry to hear about what happened to those other fish pokemon, though...anyways, we'll get right on gathering a few shells for ya. Be right back."

As Nathan and Ventus make their way to the beach, Nathan still feels rather...uncertain, and it shows both emotionally and physically. What to do, what to do? This Omanyte interested him greatly, but...neither of them had put it in a pokeball yet, either...there really was no need right now, to be perfectly honest. Not unless it suddenly revived itself again. It still might not like either of them if they captured it while it was a fossil, too...

[Lord Windos]

As Nathan and Ventus make their way to the beach, Nathan still feels rather...uncertain, and it shows both emotionally and physically.  What to do, what to do?  This Omanyte interested him greatly, but...neither of them had put it in a pokeball yet, either...there really was no need right now, to be perfectly honest.  Not unless it suddenly revived itself again.  It still might not like either of them if they captured it while it was a fossil, too...

On the walk to the beach, Ventus quickly picked up on his friend sudden emotional distress, and looked worriedly at them, a surprised about inexplicit change. 'Oh, dear . We did a great accomplishment for the Aquarium, but now something has disturb the peace he sought earlier. Just what provoked such a change?' he though, confused by this sudden change greatly. He kept his peace, though, thinking about how to brench the topic on the quick trip to the coast. After he collected a couple of beautiful sea snail shell, it clicked, and he almost shook his head at how obvious the answer was. Oh Reshirim, why must he always be late to catch onto these things?

Turning towards Nathan, he cleared his throat, catching his attention, and asked him : "My friend, I noticed that you been in an uneasy state, and I've been wondering until now what the source of that anxiety was, until I finally realized it. Its about the Omanyte in our possession, isn't it? If you are worried about its care and upkeep, I'm more than capable of making sure its need sare provided for, and that it doesn't cause any trouble if it awakens. From what I saw, moonlight revives the fossil pokemon, while sunlight petrifies it, so if I wrap it up with my hackerchief and keep it in my satchel, it shouldn't cause any problems. If it does somehow revive itself, I have both Apsis, Ariel, and Michael to handle it, so worry not Nathan."

[Dragonstrike]

Without turning around while picking up a nice looking shell, he says, "No, it's not just that...that's part of it, yes..."

He pauses for a moment, looking thoughtful and turning towards Ven while trying to put into words what he's thinking.

"It's just...it's not every day you get a chance to raise a pokemon like that. There's...a lot of things to consider. Eating habits are one, as is any potential hostility..."

His eyes light up for a moment. "...but there's also the fact that this is an Omanyte we're talking about here. A fossil pokemon. Any good researcher or historian would be scrambling to get a chance to raise a pokemon like this...particularly since it seems to exhibit some sort of strange ability...I'm actually sort of interested in trying to raise it myself..."

The light disappears almost as quickly as it came. "...but I'm not sure if I'd really be up for that...I mean, I already have a full team of six, and a water type among them to boot...and there's the matters of its food, how we capture it...but I don't want to just, you know, leave it to nature's whimsy or have it be subjected to nothing but scientists that poke and prod it all the time because of its strange existence..."

He sits down and sighs. "Not to mention the complication of having a pokemon that's essentially deadweight half the time...you'd only effectively have five pokemon if you were carrying that omanyte around in its fossil form, waiting for it to become a living, breathing pokemon that can battle..."

[Lord Windos]

The researcher scratch his chin for a moment, contemplating what Nathan just told him, before he sat down with him and patted them on the shoulder. "I'm not an expert on Fossil Pokémon, but from what I've learned during my own studies at my university, Omanyte is not a particularly orney or disobedient Pokémon like the Cranedos or Tyrunt line. As we know by its poaching of Goldeens, it will eat fish Pokémon, and since I have a Great Rod, I can easily aquire food for it.  Raising it is not exactly my priority, though. I want to spend some time studying it myself, yes, but afterwards I was planning to go to Dr. Mallorn and ask for his insight on the matter. Since he's both an esteamed researcher in the region AND a business tycoon, he probably has the resources to ascertain what causing it to change forms with the shifting sunlight, and fix the issue," the researcher said, trying to restore some cheer into the normally confidant trainer. The town must be screwy not only his emotional state, but that of his friends as well!

"Of course, I would try to get a monetary offer from him first before I would just hand it over to them. A traveling researcher can't live on kindness and generosity alone, as much as I desire that to be reality. If you are willing to switch out your Staryu for it on your team, though, and are capable of hunting for it, then we could just call Mallorn up and ask him to fully revive it for you, or find one of his associates that can. It would most likely take awhile, but you would have a fully functioning Omanyte in due time, ready to truelly live in this new era. Otherwise, its best that we get it to people more qualified than us to handle the issue. Even if the sea squid is going to be run through a battery of tests and examinations, it would be in the care of professional that will absolutely know how properly sustain its life."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan rolls his eyes. "Oh, I'm sure Mallorn would be MORE than interested in that Omanyte..." Then he sighs again. "No, I'm not really willing to swap out Staryu. I brought it with me because it looked like it needed a friend. Or six. I mean, you're not wrong about getting Omanyte properly revived being more beneficial for it in the long run...and that certainly requires someone who really knows their stuff about fossils...it's just...not something I'm sure I can come to comfortable terms with, is all..."

[Lord Windos]

Nathan rolls his eyes.  "Oh, I'm sure Mallorn would be MORE than interested in that Omanyte..."  Then he sighs again.  "No, I'm not really willing to swap out Staryu.  I brought it with me because it looked like it needed a friend.  Or six.  I mean, you're not wrong about getting Omanyte properly revived being more beneficial for it in the long run...and that certainly requires someone who really knows their stuff about fossils...it's just...not something I'm sure I can come to comfortable terms with, is all..."

Ventus let out a worried sigh, Nathan anxiety starting to get to him as well. 'I understand where the boy is coming from on the issue, but I can't let be torn up about Omanyte forever more if he can't find a solution that sasifies all his concerns for it. If he can't decide, than I just will have to make the decision then. He might not like it, but at least the situation will be handled, and he can move on' he though, before he look the boy in the eyes and told them his course of action.

"In that case, I'll take custody of the betix Fossil Pokémon, and be solely responsible for its final fate. I am not trying to be rude or override your opinions on the ancient sea squid, but you don't have a solid grasp on what you what to do with it and unable to fit it in your Pokémon party. Since I do on both those issues, the Omanyte should remain in my care until further notice. They might not get companionship from me or my Pokémon, but they will ultimately be taken care of, and that is all that matters in the end. Unless you have any other solutions, this is the only was I see that we can both continue our journey and ensure the Omanyte's well being simultaneously."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan thinks for a moment.

'Well, he's not wrong...he's in a better position for this than I am...'

Maybe the town's atmosphere was just getting to him.

Thinking about it, when was the last time he'd taken a serious break from training and all this stress? Ginger Town? Did that one count? All the other times he'd 'taken a break' had involved a serious conversation or training of some kind...

"Yeah, alright. Makes sense for now, I guess...maybe I'm just not thinking properly right now...the atmosphere here...it's really grating, ya know...well, of course you know...but you're not the only one sensitive to those kinds of changes in our group...Kirlia's been pretty off kilter since we entered the town, too...maybe we just need a break. A proper one. Some time at the aquarium actually sounds nice, thinking about it...Staryu would probably enjoy it too..."

Then he remembers something. "Oh, uh, I need to go grab Zippy from the PC first, though. Guess that shouldn't take too long...and I'm sure he's pretty anxious, waiting for me to come get him...let's finish this errand, and then I can go do that, then return to the aquarium...yeah, that sounds like a good plan, I think..."

There's a lot of talking to himself mixed in with the conversation with Ventus. He's still aware of the conversation, but...maybe he really does need this time spent doing nothing but having a little fun during the downtime...

[Lord Windos]

When he resolved the conflict of interest of Omanyte, he didn't expect the boy to be relieved, but they didn't think they would fall into a deeper fugue state of mind! 'Corsage and its toxic atmosphere of despair and nightmares...we can't stand this much longer. If Nathan is faltering under the oppressive deluge of negatively, and Kirlia is affected much the same as I, then ALL of us need to leave town for the time being, and recover from its influence,' Ventus though, growing more and more concerned over not only just his friend here, but everyone in his group. Kuyrem damn it, there is never an easy solution to any problem the group faces!

The researcher didn't express any of his inner distress to the young trainer, though, and instead nodded in assent to their course of action, trying to capture his full attension. "I more than understand, Nathan. This port town is not a kind place for us, so some form of respite would be quite welcome indeed! Listen, Shiva is going to come over later to the aquarium for a tour by me, and we plan on heading over to the Water Dojo to train our respective Pokémon, so feel free to accompany us. After everything is done for the day, I plan on leaving Corsage for the time being, and taking a couple days rest in Fireweed Forest. I plan on asking Shiva to accompany me, so its only natural that I extend the same invitation to you. What do you say, my friend?"

[Dragonstrike]

Well, that was oddly convenient. They were going to the aquarium too, eh? Well, might as well tag along...he still had a few reserves concerning talking with Shiva, but...well, he'd told Kirlia he wanted to go on this journey with friends, right? He'd have to start somewhere, and he couldn't avoid her all the time...whatever secret she was keeping from him was still bugging him in some corner of his mind, though...

"Yeah, that sounds pretty good...I'll, uh, meet ya both at the aquarium after I've retrieved Zippy. Shouldn't take me too long."