[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Something about that answer didn't sit right with him...Ginger Town in particular has always been extremely paranoid about the species...

Any further thoughts are rather quickly shoved aside by Shiva's next question, though.  Nathan goes pretty quiet at being reminded about that.

Why?  Why were things okay between Ventus and Shiva?  More than okay, in fact...he just...didn't understand...

"...let's just...not talk about that..."

Swiftfire lazily glances over at Cottonee.  

Meh.  She didn't really care so long as the cottonball stayed put.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

That didn't succeeded to stay hidden from Shiva neither. Placing the teacup on the table, "Something's wrong? Ginger Town might dislike or be wary of the species, but the Daycare doesn't really care about this. You probably know best that Absol aren't bringer s of doom, they're just the deliverer of things they've foreseen with their horn. Anyway... I won't ask questions if you don't wish to talk about what may plaque you, and you won't dig into things the Daycare does. Sounds fair, but...remember..." At this point, her expression got something atht one could call compassionate. Or at least, she tried to express what she was about to speak out.

"...if something bothers you, I am there to listen, but I can't read thoughts nor do I wish to interfere too much. Feel free to come to me when a need arises, but never feel pressured to do so or fear that I'd judge you. Only thing I don't expect are insults towards other people, regardless wheth I know them or not. Okay? I've already forgiven you for acting the way you did there at the Scimitar's Base, same with Ven for leaving me standing there alone while he was preparing for the Running, so please don't be bothered about this anymore. Trust is a thing that is earned, and the ability to forgive a friend when they honestly apologized is a blessing." She even made it to carefully place her hand on his. 

"Now, do excuse me... I'll head upstairs to bed then. It's been an exciting day, and some proper rest doesn't hurt bad. Alright? Well then, take care and have a peaceful sleep among your faithful Pokemon."

Though, if Nathan has something more to say or reply on this, Shiva will hear it for sure. If needed, she'll even reply right away. ( = keep on talking, just in a flashback)

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

With that said and done, Shiva made her way upstairs to the dorms to the Center, her's was still on the highest floor and facing away from the Main Street. Closing and locking the door behind her, the first thing she did was placing the egg in incubator to the floor beside the bed. If it indeed doesn't take that long anymore until it hatches... Well, eventually the time will be ripe, and then the mystery will seemingly unfold about what lies behind the egg shell, what its purpose and traits will turn out to be and why she is supposed to show it to Professor Quickbeam in Botanville. Thinking of that, that'll be also a good point to find out what majors they were teaching there, and whether one or more of them would catch her interest.

For now though, first thing to do was feeding her Pokemon dinner - just usual Dry Food and dried berries tonight - while preparing for the night. While doing so, Shiva did not miss that despite Azurill was still in pain, the blue mouse barely showed that on the outside and joyfully did into the offered food. While her Master was fluffing up both the pillow and the fluff Cottonee shed and gifted her comfort, the blue mouse couldn't help but to jump onto the bed and attempted to playful help making the bed more comfortable by mirroring what Shiva did. This earned her an adorable smile. "My Azurill, despite that you fainted in battle this morning, you seemingly feel responsible for our victory? Well, you're actually not that wrong on this since without you placing some ice the sunlight from outside wouldn't be reflected and Nightshade wouldn't manage to brighten them up to increase Braixen's fire power. So, you can indeed be proud, dear one!~ But...Listen, how about we try to turn your helpfulness into a real move? This move's - very creatively - called 'Helping Hand' and it powers up your battle partner. I remember you enjoy relying on a partner, and they surely would rejoice over some help. Let's see... Oh, I know. Wait a moment."

Stepping to the window and opening it after taking a look out of it, she let the room be flooded with fresh air filled with the scent of night and the slight chill that it brought, and took a deep breath of it before calling both Azurill and Cottonee to her side. The later wasn't very afraid of the sight of how high they were, while Azurill decided to discretly stick close to her Master. This earner her an appreciating strike behind the ears. "So, first up, Cottonee, can you please send a Fairy Wind in...that direction" *pointing where to Shiva's assumption Vapor Falls are located* "and after that, you, Azurill, try to use either a dance or a smile or the simple desire to help Cottonee feeling more confident. Then, blow up another Fairy Wind and pay attention to the difference in accuracy and strength, okay? Now, give it a try, please."


--------------
Mechanics:
Teaching Azurill Helping Hand for 16XP, while it's an Accuracy Training for Cottonee on her so far only Fairy STAB move to increase the range of the move. Afterwards, the blue mouse will be brought downstairs to spend the night sadly not cuddled up to her Master and nesteled in her top hat, but attatched to a Healing Machine. From my side, the next Day can start.

[Iron]

Azurill is really enjoying this move! She summons a rose from Cottonee's fluff.

When you feed Abra, you notice that he is very very quiet, as though he's storing a lot of energy.

With the Helping Hand, Cottonee gets a Canalize Training Roll.
(6)(3)(1)(4)(2)(3)(6)(5) +4 bonus xp

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Aww! That rose will be placed in a drinking glass filled with water that Shiva took with her from downstairs as well to enjoy the precious flower.

As for Helios... Shiva clearly picked up that his quietness was a different one tonight than the one when he was simply sleepy and needed a few mire hours of sleep to reenergize after using his psychic powers. Keeping her thoughts on this for herself, she returned the respectful quietness to not disturb or distress her Pokemon, but he'll stay outside of his Pokeball over the night among with Cottonee - who'll likely sleep right beside her Master who'lk snuggle up to both the shed fluff from earlier as well as the gifted Snivy plush - unless he expresses the desire to be withdrawn.

[Iron]

As far as I'm concerned, Day 27 begin.

Flashbacks welcome!

[Lord Windos]

As far as I'm concerned, Day 27 begin.

Flashbacks welcome!

The sociologist evening with Lucifer was a well spent experience, as while they didn't find any lost Items or Poke while afoot, they got the chance to fully experience what all of Ginger Town had to offer, from local attractions, resteraunts, and businesses that cluttered the place, to the quant yet still beautiful (And Sturdy, given the town's annual Running) architecture of the area. His little devil, once Shiva had departed, had re-emerged from its hidey place in his sweater and let out tiny screeches of happy curiousity at what he was seeing, and he did his best to explain it all to them without being needlessly wordy.

Once they were finished exploring, Ventus and bat returned to the Pokémon Center and turned in for the night, with Ventus crawling in bed while letting his Niobat rest on the back of it outside his ball for tonight, as he still wanted to savor this new level of closeness he achieved with them. 'Overall, despite my continued enstrangement by Nate, today was a good day. I can only pray to Reshirim that their not in limited quantity for my group and I, and that things can remain this stable/sedate until everyone can get their bearings together...' he thought to himself, before he yawned and slowly drifted off to the inky blackness that was his dreams....

When the sun rose and heralded the new day, so to did Ventus rise with it, along with a very perky and vitalized Lucifer, who glided around the room and searched  its every knook and craney while his master conducted his morning routine, before alighting on his shoulder as he exited his room. They got breakfast (Heavily Spiced and Hearty Buckwheat porrage + Fancy Coffee for Ventus, and fresh juicy blueberries for Lucifer), before they moved into the lobby, he (Ven) swapped Hanael with Ariel (For deposit at the Daycare), then awaited everyone else to arrive at their usual table, so that they all could begin their morning plans. The researcher was not in a rush to get any particular task done, as he would have plenty of time to conduct his own research/business/training on the Route towards Stair City...if nothing disasterous happens in the meantime.

'I can only pray to Reshirim for it not to be so, and do my part to prevent any loathsome nuisance rears its head, whether it be from within or without the group. Hopefully Nate is coapping with the....difficulties I presented to him recently, but I doubt the boy is able to work past his own emotions like I can...' they thought, as they waited for the other members of the group, a small frown on his face as he pondered these not so pleasant thoughts. Hey, he can't always be optimistic/hold a sunny disposition; not in recent times, at least.

[Spiritmon]

Heart was in his house after that day of spar and everything and decide to walk for a while to find something to do. Koa as always was in his shoulder prepare for everything. He decide to find someone to fight and see what he can do. After all, he need some little pokedollar in his wallet. Cant afford to go in adventure without be prepare.

(A Pokemon Battle to heat begin the day with everything and make my pokemon in shape)

[Dragonstrike]

Nathan doesn't have any more to say.  Just heads on up to his room to do a little thinking before heading to bed...

Why was Shiva forgiving them for their mistakes so easily?  Why was she so much closer to Ventus than him?  Was it all entirely his fault, or was there more to it?

Nathan's got Orthros out after recalling Swiftfire.  He would have recalled Calam too, but since hearing about that young Absol, he refused to stay in his pokeball...not that Nathan could blame him for being curious.  It was certainly odd.  Absol trainers are incredibly rare in Creshire.  Nathan was likely the first one in probably...he didn't know how long.  The species is fairly rare as it is, and Creshire in general doesn't really trust the species that much...too much harm, not enough good...

Nathan's scratching Orthros behind the ears while thinking about this.  He's fairly comfortable with the dog being around, now.  He might not be entirely loyal still, but Nathan was willing to trust Orthros.  He'd had him for over a week now (had it really been that long since he'd jumped into that nightmare with Kirlia?  It felt like it happened ages ago...), and the dog had yet to cause any trouble, even when Nathan didn't have Starmie on hand.  He still wasn't quite ready to introduce him to the others, though...soon, though.  Soon.  He didn't think it would be long before he was entirely comfortable with the Delta species...

Maybe this is all just a trust thing or something...Nathan was finding it hard to trust Shiva and Ventus openly, lately...partially because they couldn't seem to trust him openly...Ventus meddling where he wasn't wanted nor needed and Shiva keeping a massive secret from him concerning why Ralts had evolved...those had been the final nails in the coffin at the time...and him storming off in the Scimitar base had been the last nail in the coffin for them, too...hiding Mesprit from them probably wouldn't help either, but it was more out of necessity than anything else, so he hoped they'd understand if they found out...

He just...finds it hard to trust people, he guesses...or maybe it was the other way around...maybe both?...pokemon are easier for him to understand, to bond with...people just tended to make him angry, or nervous, or some mixture of the two...he much preferred pokemon and books...

And it's at that moment that Nathan has a realization.

Battling Ventus wasn't going to be enough.  It'd just come across as angry, scared...it wouldn't solve anything for him...if Ventus would have even agreed to it in the first place...he probably wouldn't have...but maybe...there was something else he could do...

Kirlia looks at him, stares...nods.  It was a good plan.  Just have to get the others to agree to it...Kirlia's reassurance solidifies his choice.  

But for now, it was time to get some sleep.  Calam taking a spot at the foot of the bed, Kirlia in his usual place next to Nathan...Orthros even curls up at Nathan's feet.  A dog, a (sort of) cat, and two best friends...what a sight it would be to see, no?

______________________________________________________________________________________

Day 27

Nathan's quick to get to the lobby.  Calam's down there before even him, startling passerby with both his presence and surprising speed.  Nathan has to apologize to several people on the way downstairs.  He'd have to reign in Calam just a little bit once this whole business with the daycare was over...just a tad.  He was pretty sure the whole town knows he's got an Absol, now, be it from the news or gossip.  He was fine with that, though.  Paranoia or not, Calam wasn't causing any trouble.  Just startling and surprising people simply by standing around.  Maybe Nathan could help show there's not too much to be afraid of when it comes to Absol as a species...hopefully some people gave it some serious thought, though Nathan certainly didn't expect Ginger Town's opinion to completely change overnight.

Nathan stops when he sees Ventus sitting at the table.  He sighs, then heads over to the PC.  Specifically, he swaps Swiftfire for Starmie. She could run and relax however she liked in the PC care system since she'd earned it with her magnificent work lately. And Nathan wanted to get Starmie a little more battle time today since it'd been awhile since he'd used the starfish last.

...and once that's done, he sits down across the table from Ventus, probably much to Ventus's surprise.  Doesn't say much of anything, but he needed to tolerate this just long enough for Shiva to show up...

Calam's pretty energetic, still refusing to stay in his pokeball.  A stark contrast to the glum tolerance and determination Nathan and Kirlia have currently...though Kirlia's a tad happy as well for some reason...

[Lord Windos]

...and once that's done, he sits down across the table from Ventus, probably much to Ventus's surprise.  Doesn't say much of anything, but he needed to tolerate this just long enough for Shiva to show up...

Calam's pretty energetic, still refusing to stay in his pokeball.  A stark contrast to the glum tolerance and determination Nathan and Kirlia have currently...though Kirlia's a tad happy as well for some reason...

Nathan assumption was 100% correct, as the researcher's mouth almost opened in surprise at this unexpected move of their, but gets in control of himself just in time to give them a polite smile and a nod of his head, before they resumed drinking their coffee and focusing on their research notes (He got it out in between scenes), going over the fine details and correcting/adding more of them with a pencil when needed. Display openly that the boy can't possibly miss, the pages the sociologist was currently on featured a detailed and colored picture of Kirlia's evolutionary line, and a large amount of text that detailed their behavior around humans, the many applications of its empathetic and Psychic powers, how they interacted with other Pokémon/Types (With a couple of paragraphs devoted towards their interaction with Cottenee and Raphael), their general personality when around just Nathan, their group, or large crowds of people, how their behavior/personality compared to the 'Average' Ralts/Kirlia etc.. Looks like this is what he does while everyone else is asleep for hours during the morning, huh...

Lucifer, who was perched on his master's, looked curiously at their friend, and was a bit confused/worried that they were not speaking to each other right now. The little bat has no idea what went on between them while it was balled for the past few days, so all he knows is that bad vibes are floating between the two of them, and that they were barely managing to be civil about everything. He hoped they wouldn't get into a fight, as he hated when his master had to be mean to his friends, since it hurt them to do it so much...

The devil bat then noticed Nathan's newest addition to his party, an Absol that, judging by rough appearance and flighty, unconsciously wary stance that its been through an awful lot in their life. They let out a worried croon in particular at their scared eye, as that looked like it must have hurted a LOT when they got that wound; it must have been especially bad if it caused the facial area to heal improperly in the first place! That must be hard on him as well, given how dispised an average doom bringer is, but one with a wicked scar like that making it appear even more intimidating? Its was going to be hard for them to make friends with most people....

A few moments after that thought, a metaphorical light bulb light up in Lucifer's skull, and as he discovered a way to both help the Absol out with AND make a new friend! They hopped of Ven's should and glide over to the Dark cat-wolf, before landing on their head and, with a deft movement of their wing, removed the Black Glasses from their eyes and placed them over their own! A few minor adjustment from the bat, and the shades fit them perfectly, completely/mostly hiding the scared eye from view, making them look much more approachable (If a tad bit goofy, but that may be desired in this case!). He let out a happy screech at his brilliant idea, before they bent over to stared at the Absol curiously, wondering if they like his gift.

Order: While direct interaction is currently untenable, how about prompting your (Dragonstrike) character to do so instead? Also, I'm having Lucifer give his Black Glasses over to Callam, as they want to help the new guy out and make a new friend in the process. Nothing says friendship like well meaning and useful gifts!