[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

(Hmmm...a Clamperl and a Staryu, you say?)

Staryu produces some flashes of light to try and catch the exhibit Staryu's attention. Maybe it would like to have a 'chat?'

Kirlia, meanwhile, is still holding the Pink Pearl...would the Clamperl react to that in any way?

Regardless of what happens, it's certainly a sight to behold!

[Iron]

Clamperl only make those once in a lifetime, usually, so Clamperl might be wowed by it in the way a Magikarp is wowed by Gyarados.

The two Staryu seem to be communicating! This is no help to Nathan, however, as he has no idea what they are saying with their flashes of light.

[Dragonstrike]

'Huh. So it IS a Clamperl Pearl, based on that Clamperl's reaction...it's great to see Staryu is having a good time as well...I think? It's not easy to tell...'

He silently asks Kirlia about what Staryu is feeling currently. Kinda hard to bond if he can't tell how effective what's been done so far has been, after all.

[Iron]

Staryu is happier than it was in the puddle : )

[Iron]

In fact, while we're on the subject - all Water-associated Pokemon who are visiting the aquarium, gain 1 happiness. This includes Azurill! Staryu, Corsola.

But not Omanyte.

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan spends a lot of the time at the Aquarium just enjoying the various exhibits with Kirlia and Staryu. It brings him a peace of mind he hadn't had in...well, years, really. Just relaxing and watching the pokemon...it reminded him of happier times. Before he'd found Ralts. Before his dad had disappeared. Before he'd started doing more hard work than usual on the ranch back home to try and make up for the lack of an extra pair of hands all of a sudden. Just him and the Ponyta, having a good time, like always...

Now, he wouldn't dare bring Swiftfire out in this place, of course. That'd just be asking for trouble. The memories of his childhood are soothing, though, if just a tad bittersweet. He hoped to be able to enjoy that kind of happiness with all his pokemon, eventually...

(Whenever Shiva and Ven want to locate him, it shouldn't be too difficult. Or they could text him and ask him to meet them at a specific location)

[Iron]

Vaporeon's special rain dance involves holding herself upright in the water, and staying that way with her tail. She can then swim around her tank by swaying her tail and upper body back and forth, like a dolphin. After circling the tank a few times, dew begins to fall from her like little diamonds. Somehow, through some power of Pokemon and nature, enough water condenses in the room to rain - only right above her tank and onto the stairs beyond. Just a light little rain, here.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

How weird it was to encounter rain within a room. Must be the magic of Pokemon and their moves. But this was exactly what she asked for when she kindly ordered a Rain Dance.

"Thanks a lot for your time, dear Vaporeon. You see, Azu?  One day, when you evolved and gained enough experience alongside me as your Master, you'll be able to perfom such a stunt as well and flood our opponents in battle. ... Sounds like a thing to look forward to, don't you say?" Appreciating strokes for both Vaporeon and Azu followed. Indeed, Shiva could feel that the blue mouse began to feel just a little better about herself. This feeling - it transfered from the blue mouse's to her caretaker. Their relationship began roughly and included the other party members bringing themselves in danger by rescuing Azu from the river, but now they were here united... Oh, if such experiences belonged to a Trainer's life, maybe it wasn't that bad at all in the end.

Once dealing with a adorable waterly Eevee has been wrapped up, she waved it goodbye and returned to Ventus side. However... Uh, where did Nathan went in the meantime? Oh hell... did she accidently drove him off? That's really not what she wanted! After the instant worry over his well-being and disappearance has been dwelled in, she took Ven's hand once again and made sure Cottonee was still by her side. The fluffball didn't enjoy the faint rain Vaporeon has inflicted, but she was smart enough to hide under a rock until Master called her out from there. "So... Eh, how about we move on? Like, the map of the Aquarium hanging here says there's a Gift Shop just a room away from here, so would you be down to visit it? ... I bet we'll find Nathan soon enough if we begin to worry over him or deicide to leave."



- Jumping forward to the Gift Shop then! -


The shop was just as expected from an attraction like an Aquarium - filled with stuff and souvenirs of all kinds, ranging from simple cards over to ceramic figuringes of the Vaporeon to Wailord plushies in the size of a grown man. Everything had its price as well.

It weren't the plushies though that caught Shiva's attention. It were those shards. Upon asking a cashier about those, she learned that these are called seashards and are rather similar like that duskshard she was wearing as a talisman. Price was 400$. That was not much, but given she planned to save up a moderate amount of money after 'loosing' 500$ to the fine to pay...

One shard caught her eye especially. It was in a deep marine blue and was, with a little imagination, shaped like a Luvdisk. How cute! Azu was eyeing those shards as well. Where those related to Water Types and moves? "What's wrong, Azu...? Ah, I see, you're interested in those shards as well, are you? ... Do you think wearing such an item would help you on your Water moves? You already have that Soothe Bell, but if you'd rather have such a shard, please tell or show me."


---------------
Mechanics:
I really like the thought of a Luvdisk-shaped seashard, but there goes money I was saving for a Breeder's Lisence - But if such a shard would indeed benefit Azu, I'd like to purchase that particular one for the mouse to wear. I believe Azu cannot keep that shard while still holding the Soothe Bell, can she?

[Iron]

She can't benefit from the shard at the same time as the bell, but if it's small enough I'd allow you to attach it somewhere out of the way. Like on a tail or ear.

[Lord Windos]

Ventus eyes snapped open when Shiva touched his hand, and he felt the sudden anxiety that was flooding her mind. Panning his vision back and forth, he let out a silent curse as he realized what was responsible for her lost happiness: Nathan had gone and wandered off. 'Oh dear, she must think he must be avoiding her because of the conflict between them. Given the mood the boy was in, its certainly a possibility, but if he didn't want to interact with Shiva in the first place, he could have just declined my invitation in the first place,' he though, equally clasping the young's lass' hand in comfort.

"Shiva, don't fret over Nathan now. Its likely that he saw me in a trance, and you preoccupied with the Vaporeon, and decided to do some more sightseeing around the Aquarium without us. Either that, or he's trying to be polite and give us back our private outing together, which would be a rather kind act of him! We'll look for him in a little bit when we are ready to head to the Water Dojo, but for now visiting the Gift Shop seems like a lovely idea! I can't afford anything there, but I can always offer my opinion if you need it!" the researcher said, attempting to soathe his best friend's woes, before following her over to the shop. If something catches his eye, perhaps he can haggle with the casher for a discount. He did help prevent an entire tank of Pokémon from becoming fish food, so that has to count for something!

Order: Go with Shiva to shop and offer advise if she requests it, and then go looking for Nathan to take to the Water Dojo for training. Also, see if Ven's insight can find anything in the shop that Shiva or a regular person wouldn't!