[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

Flashforward:

Getting so many trades done in the aftermath of the Running is rather more difficult than you expected. People are rebuilding the few things that were destroyed in the aftermath of the escaped Pokemon. Mostly it is superficial damage, but they are still taking it hard.

The Kangaskhan trade is relatively easy, since people were all watching as you took it down. And it's a popular Pokemon in Creshire.
However, no one has quite what you're interested in...until you run into that same shady cloaked character from before.

The buzzing continues to come from under her cloak. "I watched you capture that Kangaskhan. And I said to myself...what can I give this man to get that magnificent beast from him? Then it occurred to me...this man loves his friends more than himself. And I knew just what to trade you." She brings out a little package and offers it to you. "Just swipe your trainer card and the deal is done...but you must never tell ANYONE the contents of this package, except for the person it's intended for."


Stantler isn't desirable right now, since the Running flooded the market, as it were. Eventually someone lowballs you for $1500 Poke, explaining that they are going to sell it for a bit more later, when things have died down.

Absol is the hardest of all. Everyone claims these Pokemon caused the disaster of the Running. "Some people act like Absol just foresees the danger - but you saw it! Absol physically wrecked the place, and directly caused all the confusion! We're lucky it wasn't worse, with twenty Absol in the running! Those Pokemon should be ashamed of themselves!!"

But Ventus understands the criminal underbelly of the world. He eventually finds someone willing to make a trade without need of a Trainer Card swipe, even, if you wish. "I...I have traveled far for this... Absol...the Disaster Pokemon...how useful...."

[Dragonstrike]

No response.

...

"Mesprit...is something wrong?  If I'm stepping out of line, I can...uh...just leave you alone...I'm only here because Absol brought me here...I...don't want to intrude if I'm not wanted..."

[Iron]

No response.

...

"Mesprit...is something wrong?  If I'm stepping out of line, I can...uh...just leave you alone...I'm only here because Absol brought me here...I...don't want to intrude if I'm not wanted..."

Still nothing. Kirlia is frowning, trying to figure out what Mesprit is feeling. But he gets no response, and runs back to Nathan. He certainly wasn't sensing any offense from Mesprit.

During all this time, Mesprit has hardly even moved - just enough you can tell it's alive.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

...That is, until he saw Shiva in the lobby, peering inquisitively about the place as if she was looking for someone. Judging by the worried and slightly dismal feelings he was detecting from her, he had a more than a reasonable guess as to who that person of interest was... With a small sigh and not a small amount of hesitation, Ventus slowly walked over to the witchy woman, and began what he thought would be a unhappy conversation between the two. "Greetings, Shiva. I'm....sorry that I've been abscent for a few days, but preparations and training for the Running was keeping me busy, and I didn't want to bump into Nathan and run afoul with him once more. ...How have you been, my friend?"

At that familiar voice somewhere behind her... Oh Reshiram above, how long did she waited to hear that voice in person close to her! How long has it been since she was able to wrap her arms around him and pull that oddball of Sociologist into a close hug that barely ever failed to fluster him and cause one of these sweet reactions the mischievous parts in her grew so fond of...


...
... ...
... ... ...
...Nope. But not now.

She just stared at him with a lowered head over the rim of her glasses, facing him directly though after he has finished his words, looking extremely drained, exhausted, worried and gloomy over everything, but at the same time there were emotions of happiness, bliss and delight in her. A weird combination, it was like it was cold and warm at the same point, yet still empty. Or, to say it in simple words, a total mess.

It took a little until her mind comprehensed the words he spoke to her. He...apologized? And gave reasons why...? Fine. Fiiiiine. When she spoke, her tone in voice displayed her downcasted mood to perfection without having to exxagerate it. "Ven... No. You come here, all casually and ask me how I've been doing? How about...I rather ask you? Like...you see... HAVE YOU THOUGHT WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING ME , THAT PERSON YOU SO ENDEARINGLY CALLED 'YOUR DARLING WITCH', THROUGH? NOT A SINGLE BIT, HAVE YOU?! You see, you leave and care most or rather only for your goal to protect Nathan WHEN HE ACTUALLY DOES NOT NEED NOR WANT YOUR HELP AND PROTECTION, you put us both through grief and not knowing what to do, have you thought about HOW SCARED I've been for where you are and whether you're alive at all? Not once, have you? Why not??? Nathan clearly made his points, I've talked to him and was there as the strong shoulder and listener he needed, I even agreed to search for you and guess what, I didn't found you at all. Ohhh, busy with practicing, for the Running, huh? Fine. Nathan was too, a dozen of people were, but they did so openly."

For the next words, she came even more closer to him, still facing him directly. Not angry though, rather depressed. "...Why? You know, I didn't just searched for you because Nathan wished me to. I also searched for you because I MISSED YOU. First, we two forge a bond of what I gladly call a platonic friendship, screw the age gap and opposite view on Fairies of us, and THEN YOU GO AND LEAVE ME STANDING THERE, not caring a single bit about what I do meanwhile, no messages, I can be thankfull that I had Cottonee to stand by me and listened to my worries, possilble preventing me to suffer another depressive ep-, eh, you know, WHEN I CAN ABSOLUTELY NOT EFFORT TO SUFFER ONE. You see, I need my energy for Gym Battle, but now... I wont be able to fight today as I actually wished for."

She came even MORE close to him, and...just placed her head onto his shoulder, tired of everything. Oh, but she did a fine job on not crying on him, unless something he says or does would make her. "However, you too must be exhausted like hell... Where you that Ninjalike person in disguise.... Why a disguise... I saw you on screen... Just... don't ever do something like this again... I wouldn't take it."


-------------
Mechanics:
Reminds me on scenes where lovers reunite after a horrible argument. Dunno whether anyone is the Center saw or heard this scene, Shiva actually does not care about this. Choose wisely how to handle her now, Ven, because this has impacts on the futher development. Like, after all, she still cares for you quite a lot.

[Dragonstrike]

Nothing from Kirlia's observation...either Mesprit was using its absolute control over emotion to completely block out Kirlia, or...

"Forgive me for asking, Mesprit, but...are you...okay?  Absol looked rather concerned..."

[Lord Windos]

Flashforward:

However, no one has quite what you're interested in...until you run into that same shady cloaked character from before.

The buzzing continues to come from under her cloak. "I watched you capture that Kangaskhan. And I said to myself...what can I give this man to get that magnificent beast from him? Then it occurred to me...this man loves his friends more than himself. And I knew just what to trade you." She brings out a little package and offers it to you. "Just swipe your trainer card and the deal is done...but you must never tell ANYONE the contents of this package, except for the person it's intended for."


Stantler isn't desirable right now, since the Running flooded the market, as it were. Eventually someone lowballs you for $1500 Poke, explaining that they are going to sell it for a bit more later, when things have died down.

But Ventus understands the criminal underbelly of the world. He eventually finds someone willing to make a trade without need of a Trainer Card swipe, even, if you wish. "I...I have traveled far for this... Absol...the Disaster Pokemon...how useful...."

With Miss Buzzing Lady!

The researcher gives her a calm, serene smile , and with a flick of his wrists, his Trainer Card and the Kanguskhan Pokebals were in each of his hands. "Worry not, not a word will leave my lips about this. Wouldn't want to attract any...unseemly attention on either of us, now would we? Beside that, I quite appreciate the business you have offered, and I rather not do anything to jeapordize your own operations, whatever they may be. Perhaps we can exchange numbers, just in case we have need each other's assitence in the nebulous future? Ah, forgive me, I babble a bit too much, and I'm taking up your time. He you go, and may Reshirim bless your business endevours," he said, before conducting the exchange for the package. This time he did not his Scanner over the item (Due to her providing legitimate goods and the feelings he's receiving from them), and swiped his card in the appropreite device. With a tip of his hat (He re-equipped at some point), Ventus departed, making his way to his next targets, humming a merry tune all the while....

With Criminal!

Tracking down a buyer for his Absol proved to be much harder than he though, and Ventus grew frustrated by the towns folk being close minded gits about the harbinger Pokémon. With every comment about them being equivienlet to being fell demons, Ventus just calmly responded with : "Perhaps its not the Pokémon's fault for causing these disasters, but rather the people too afraid to accept their warnings and choose instead to scapegoat the messanger. Instead of blaming someone to absolve your own ailing feelings, deal with what has come to pass, adapt to trying times, and move on with your lives. Fear and hatred does no one good, and I say that with experience on the matter. Have a pleasant day." Eventually, the sociologist had to call upon his....less than moral past to track down a downright shaddy and dubious figure. At their comment, Ven calmly said to them : "Yes...I can provide you with the Disaster Pokémon, if you have what I desire as well. A TM for Façade, and some Poke for the road. No paper or electronic trail as well. Do we have an accord?"

[Iron]

Nothing from Kirlia's observation...either Mesprit was using its absolute control over emotion to completely block out Kirlia, or...

"Forgive me for asking, Mesprit, but...are you...okay?  Absol looked rather concerned..."

"I rest, until something arises that merits my concern."

[Iron]

The cloaked lady is unwilling to trade numbers.



"Facade is a great move. Versatile. Any Pokemon can learn it....ah, but none of my Pokemon have the dreaded Sleep ability...I will make the trade."

[Dragonstrike]

"I rest, until something arises that merits my concern."

Well, that's one concern alleviated, at least...

"So you're waiting for something...something big...and I'm not ready for your aid in facing whatever it's going to be..."

This is mind boggling.  Never has Nathan thought that he'd actually get a chance to meet a proper Legend...let alone eventually have the implied chance to fight alongside one...well, he hopes he's interpretting all of this correctly...

"How...how will I know I'm ready?  That it's time for your aid?"

[Lord Windos]

The empath silently took her heated words, his slowly tilted downward and the red bangs of his hair shadowing his eyes as he tried to avoid her wrathful, distressed eyes. Every angry word she spoke, the atrocious and overprotective behavior he had exhibited for the past few day, him forshaking her to hide away like some craven thief plotting their next heist...it was all true. He of course knew this already, and even expected the near emotional breakdown his dear friend was currently experience, but that did not make him feel any better hearing it straight from her. When she had finally worked all the feelings of bitter anguish out of her system and leaned into his shoulder, Ventus stood their for a few moment, silent as a grave, before one of his hands came up and gently enveloped her in a timid, half hug.

".......No, I suppose I have not. I've been so focused on my mission to protect Nathan, to be their for him that I...sacrificed almost everything to that lofty goal. *Sigh* Including you, Shiva. In my personal quest these past couple of day, I have excluded everyone else, all without considering how they would be affected by my 'heroic' actions. I just wanted to make sure that the boy was safe and well taken care of, but I took it too far this time. Far to much. I should have listened to his demands, his request in the first place, instead of bulling him over to do what I thought was right for him. I should have kept in contact with you, updated you on what my current status and course of action was, but I choose to hide from everyone to avoid anymore scruitiny for my overprotectiveness. *Sigh* I even disguised myself, all to hide from Nathan and prevent him them from trying to further dissuade or sideline me while I tried to 'help' him to take down that Absol, and prevent him from being harmed by it. All that effort and time, to aid him in his time of need....it was utterly pointless. MeaninglessThe Disaster Pokémon and him quickly outpaced me, and what is more it meant no harm to him by what I later discerned. I don't know where either have headed, but I can only hope and pray nothing terrible has happened. I've potentially ruined my friendship with one of my best friend by worrying too much, and their is hardly a thing I can do about it..."

Ventus was silent for a few minutes, as he mustered his will and depressed spirits to give his dear magical friend something extremely important to her: an apology. "Shiva...I'm sorry for the hell I put you through. It was never my intention to leave you isolated and bereft, but I invariably did in my narrow minded goal in protecting Nate. That was horrendously wrong of me to do that, to make you suffer for my own foolish desire to help someone that needed not my help, and I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my heart for my thoughtlessness. I...I promise I will make it up to you, starting by attending your first Gym Battle, and supporting you every step of the way. Here, *Sticks his hand into his satchel and pull out the Hard Stone he won at the Shuckleball contest so long ago*, take this for your Comite, as it can certainly boost its natural Rock type powers, and help accelerate it acquiring new moves for its own use. I'm also willing to lend any of my family member for you to use in your match against Zamboni, if you desire, as I want to increase the odds of you being victorious in better as much as possible. I can also provide you some Full Heals and Potions, just in case you need them. I'll do all that for you, and much more my dear, dear friend. So please....can you find it within your heart to forgive this wretched man?"

The researcher then went completely silent, and awaited her response. He can only desperately hope that he can salvage his friendship with her, but this time he finds it hard to be optimistic right now...