[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

.

Once that's done, he walks over to the table Ventus is at and sits down across from him.  He's not sure what to say...and he still doesn't really want to risk bringing out Orthros...he's got Starmies pokeball palmed though, ready to bring the starfish out if Orthros forces his way out, just in case...

Kirlia looks a little nervous in contrast to Nathan's glum focus, but does his best to try and relax.  No reason to get worked up over nothing, right?

Ventus smiled as he saw Nathan enter the lobby , and was about to wave him over when he picked up their current emotional state . ' Nervous , anxieous , highly reluctant and ... guilty ? Oh dear .... looks like he didn't take my advice to heart the last time we spoke . I leave him be , for now , ' the researcher thought , watching as the boy walk past him and to the PC .

After they finished there business and came over to sit across from them , Ventus remained quiet for a moment , before saying : " You don't have to feel obligated to speak with me , Nate . I just wanted to wait here so that we may challenge the gym together , that is all . I'll leave you to your own devices , if that is what you desire ... "

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan sighs, and waits for a moment...

Orthros is staying put.  

Good.

He still has Starmie's pokeball ready, but he and Kirlia both relax a little.  

Looks like there wasn't going to be any trouble.  Not this time, anyways.  Hopefully not later as well.

Nathan starts rubbing his temples again.  He really didn't want to keep Orthros secret if he didn't have to...

"Look, Ven...I'm sorry.  I overreacted.  You and Shiva had every reason to keep quiet.  Particularly Shiva.  I shouldn't have pushed it.  And just to keep things fair since I expect it of Shiva...you probably don't want to know what I'm not telling you.  Not yet.  It'd be dangerous for you, dangerous for me, dangerous for our pokemon...it needs time to be...not dangerous.  For everyone involved.  I don't intend to keep it a secret forever, though...it'd be pretty hard to, actually...if you'd rather know now, I think it can be arranged...but I'd feel better about it if given a little time, that's all."

[Lord Windos]

Nathan sighs, and waits for a moment...

Orthros is staying put.  

Good.

He still has Starmie's pokeball ready, but he and Kirlia both relax a little.  

Looks like there wasn't going to be any trouble.  Not this time, anyways.  Hopefully not later as well.

Nathan starts rubbing his temples again.  He really didn't want to keep Orthros secret if he didn't have to...

"Look, Ven...I'm sorry.  I overreacted.  You and Shiva had every reason to keep quiet.  Particularly Shiva.  I shouldn't have pushed it.  And just to keep things fair since I expect it of Shiva...you probably don't want to know what I'm not telling you.  Not yet.  It'd be dangerous for you, dangerous for me, dangerous for our pokemon...it needs time to be...not dangerous.  For everyone involved.  I don't intend to keep it a secret forever, though...it'd be pretty hard to, actually...if you'd rather know now, I think it can be arranged...but I'd feel better about it if given a little time, that's all."

" ....What has happen , happened. We can not alter the past , only learn from it , and attempt not to repeat it. As for this 'dangerous ' thing ... I suspect its related to our visit to the nightmare plane , Nate ? Your avoidance of talking about our time and experiences thier and side tracking me whenever I speak of it point to that conclusion , or am I mistaken ? " Ventus saud , looking very weary all of thecsudden at Nathan 's partial confession . 

The researcher let out a sigh , closing his eyes as he continued his train of though . " Nathan , if you are keeping something that not only endangers you , but every single thing around you , then I have a right to know what it is , so that I may prepare myself to safeguard myself and others . I trust in your own reason and ability to handle , cotain , and moniter whatever you have in your possesion , but when it has the potential to affect everyone ... "

Another heavy sigh escape his lips , before he opened his eyes once more to look at Nathan passively once more . " You are putting me in a very difficult position , my friend . I want to know , so that I may protect everyone I care about , but I also do not desire to strike yet another blow to our already fragile bond of trust we share. I hate secrets of this nature , Nathan . One that hold everyone 's fate in the balance , ones that could destroy what we hold dear . Its why I urged Shiva to let you in on our secret . I don't know how much she told you , but it was enough to start mending the years in your friendship. "

" ...I have said my piece on the matter . I will leave it up to you to decide whether to inform me right now , or until later . I trust that you will make the right decision , and I promise I will Not be overeact regardless of what you tell me . Just ...keep is safe , Nate ."

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan looks very serious all of a sudden.

"It's not dangerous for me as long as its secret, I can assure you.  And...yes, it's related to that nightmare.  And it's not exactly dangerous because I have to keep it secret...it's revealing the secret that's the dangerous part...which is why I was hoping to give it time.  Make it less dangerous.  I have my own, very effective precautions in place already, and that's one of the reasons I think it can be revealed now if we're careful about it.  However..."

Ventus isn't the only one who should know about this if he revealed it, thinking about it...it'd give him a good chance to explain what had happened to Shiva and Valder too...they deserved to know as much, right?  They'd been involved in it just as much as he and Ventus had, after all...and it would hopefully help them with understanding why it's even possible for him to have a Delta Houndour in the first place...

"...we should wait for Shiva and Valder first if I'm going to talk about it now.  This pertains to them just as much as it does to us.  Besides, the more of us there are, the less dangerous it is.  In theory.  Any number of things could go wrong...but I hope the major ones are all accounted for now if we go through with this..."

[Lord Windos]

Nathan looks very serious all of a sudden.

"It's not dangerous for me as long as its secret, I can assure you.  And...yes, it's related to that nightmare.  And it's not exactly dangerous because I have to keep it secret...it's revealing the secret that's the dangerous part...which is why I was hoping to give it time.  Make it less dangerous.  I have my own, very effective precautions in place already, and that's one of the reasons I think it can be revealed now if we're careful about it.  However..."

Ventus isn't the only one who should know about this if he revealed it, thinking about it...it'd give him a good chance to explain what had happened to Shiva and Valder too...they deserved to know as much, right?  They'd been involved in it just as much as he and Ventus had, after all...and it would hopefully help them with understanding why it's even possible for him to have a Delta Houndour in the first place...

"...we should wait for Shiva and Valder first if I'm going to talk about it now.  This pertains to them just as much as it does to us.  Besides, the more of us there are, the less dangerous it is.  In theory.  Any number of things could go wrong...but I hope the major ones are all accounted for now if we go through with this..."

"...Its only a danger if we know about , rather than not ? * Sigh * If that is the case , why mention this to me at all ? I appreciate the show of faith , but if you have the threat contained to the point that it's an non - issue to us , then why worry us about this ? Especially if revealing said thing could do more harm than good at this junctre in time . Unless ..." Ventus said , looking both weary and a tad irritaded at the boy , until something clicked in his mind .

' If this thing was of a nature that would only potentially harm us , WHY would he let us know about it at all . For that matter , what could possibl be found in that infernal dream world that would not harm him as well , if it's that dangerous for him to warn me about it ? If it was an mystical object of some kind , he could have hidden it away forever in the PC , and never let on about it . It has to be something that , while still controllable to an extentt still present a challenge to him and others around him . The only possible thing I can think of that fits all these parameters is ... '

Ventus' eyes flashed with a serious glint of there own , as he rest his head on his hands and looked at Nathan . 
" ...Unless if said dangerous thing was a Pokemon under your control . A Pokemon found in that Nightmare world . From what I saw there during my own stay there , the only possible thing that could be described as a species of Pokemon there ... would be a Houndour or Houndoom . I am incorrect , Nathan ? "

[Dragonstrike]

Ventus' eyes flashed with a serious glint of there own , as he rest his head on his hands and looked at Nathan . 
" ...Unless if said dangerous thing was a Pokemon under your control . A Pokemon found in that Nightmare world . From what I saw there during my own stay there , the only possible thing that could be described as a species of Pokemon there ... would be a Houndour or Houndoom . I am incorrect , Nathan ? "

Nathan somehow gets even more serious.  What he says next, he says VERY carefully and VERY quietly as he leans in closer.

"You might want to keep it down a little, you know, considering where we are.  I'll explain when Shiva and Valder get here.  In a back room where nobody can interrupt us."

[Lord Windos]

Ventus' eyes flashed with a serious glint of there own , as he rest his head on his hands and looked at Nathan . 
" ...Unless if said dangerous thing was a Pokemon under your control . A Pokemon found in that Nightmare world . From what I saw there during my own stay there , the only possible thing that could be described as a species of Pokemon there ... would be a Houndour or Houndoom . I am incorrect , Nathan ? "

Nathan somehow gets even more serious.  What he says next, he says VERY carefully and VERY quietly as he leans in closer.

"You might want to keep it down a little, you know, considering where we are.  I'll explain when Shiva and Valder get here.  In a back room where nobody can interrupt us."

Ventus holds his gaze for a long tense moment , before he just closes his his eye and just takes a deep breath , before letting it out . ' Calm .... be calm . Trust in Nathan . Heis your friend , he is capable of handling them as you are . Just ... differently ,' the empath though , before he RE -opened his eyes once more .

" We ... need not keep our voices down , Mate . Its unlikely anyone here would have enough knowledge to puzzle out What we are even discussing . Paranoia is good , despite what others may tell you , but it's uneeded in this situation , " Ventus quietly says , looking unhappy , somehat uncomfortable , but strangle ... relaxed about Houndour 's existence .

" As for telling Calder and Shiva about your newest capture , I recommend not to . Shiva may not let on about her comatose stay in that Nightmare plane , but it has left it's indeliable Mark on her . In careful not to speak of the place or my experience to get , lest she suffers a breakdown . Seeing one of her demons literally come to life before her eyes and ears ... I feel that would be far to much for her at this point . Especially so soon after her lasted bought of emotional distress I caused and barely was able to salvage and repair . "

" Valder ... he will not be hurt of you kept him out of the loop . My mercenary keep mostly to himself any way , and has bothe a Ghost type and Dark type to defend himself if that ... dog of yours gets loose and goes after him . Of he needs to be informed about it , I can do so myself with him in private . He has to listen dad obey my order , at the nd of the day . "

The researcher unclasped his hands and lifted himselfd from the table , before crossing his arms across his chest. " ...In my personal opinion , since you do not wish for that Houndour 's death , then it would be best to simply give it to a researcher to study . I know of a women who specializes in studying the Dream World in it's entirety , and has the equipment required to contain and study the ceature . If you truelly desire to train and own that demon ...I will trust in your ability to handle thm . I don't want to be involved with it until any and all threat it poses to the party is neutralized , but I won't interfere or bare you from owning that demon. If you prove you are unable to control in in the long term , however ... then I will solve the problem it poses. If I can have a disobedient Pokemon like Apsis under my. stewardship , then so can you , Nate . "

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan's still keeping his voice down.  "I think you're forgetting what this whole town just went through.  I doubt anyone here would receive it very well if they learned just how real that was.  

"He came with me willingly, and I doubt he'll even consider listening to anyone except me, just so you know.  And Shiva and Valder need to be told about him eventually.  There's no way around that, and you know this.  I don't want to scare Shiva either, but she has as much of a right to know what happened as Valder does.  What do you think they'd think if they saw me with him before I said anything about it?

"Besides, if he decides he wants to cause trouble (which he hasn't so far, thankfully), I have Starmie.  With Hydro Pump.  He knows he can't take one of those safely.  Starmie one-shot a rather strong member of his pack with it already."

[Lord Windos]

"...Very well , then . I will follow your lead on this , my friend ; Its your preogative to do what you see for with it . I still believe my fellow researcher is capable of studying it , but your argument is sound , so I will Not push the issue. "

" I know that Shiva will eventually have to learn about then , but can you not possibly wait ? At least until we leave Corsage , well enough away from its gloomy clutches . Give her a couple of days to recover from all that she has endured this far , at the very least ..."

"Starmie would be able to quickly douse any rebellious flames from it , if need be . Don't hesitate to call for my own assurance though . I have my own Water type in the form of Ariel , so I can help you out in locking it down , if need be ."

[Dragonstrike]

Still talking quietly and carefully.  "Thank you.  Besides, if he doesn't wish to be here, he could literally leave at any time.  First thing he showed me was that he could slip back to the Dream World whenever he wished, which probably explains how he ended up in the actual pokeball in the first place.  I try and give him away or displease him?  *Poof*.  There goes the only chance we might have to see what this new subspecies of pokemon is like without being in any particular danger.  I keep him happy and show him staying wasn't a bad decision?  Well, I'm sure you know how loyal the species is, and this subspecies seems to take it to an extreme.  

"If I can't handle it, he'll likely just leave.  Particularly if I ask you for help on it.  If he knows how dangerous Starmie is to him, he certainly knows about whatever it is you did to his friends, which his pack was VERY upset about, I'll have you know.  He seems happy right now though, if not entirely loyal.  I think that's a good sign that things can at least improve.  I've got some meat for him, plan to keep him with me for awhile so he can familiarize himself with everyone...you know, general bonding stuff.  And I'll have Starmie ready at any time I'm not comfortable with him being out.  Like right now.  It's a mutual semi-trust between me and Orthros.  I trust he'll stay and not do anything I don't approve of, he'll trust me to keep him happy and provided for.  Fragile thing, trust.  And I don't intend to break that string I've somehow strung if I can help it."

He sighs.  "Fine, I won't tell Shiva for now.  Unless she starts asking about what happened, or sees me with him.  I can't make any promises if either of those happen."