[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

I'll flash forward a little, okay?


(Ventus however already thought ahead and was so kind to have left a voice message with instructions to reach the pace he set up for the night! Oh how relieving it was to hear his recorded voice... She typed a message back to him, reading the following:
"Dear Reshiram, thanks for the instructions, Ven... Route 4 got me busy (in a positive way, I'm doing fine), but I'll head to you people now and should be there in a few minutes. Tell the others if they're worrying, please keep some of any prepared dinner warm for me, I'll also need your help on a spectral Pokemon I picked up along the way."

"Okay. That's it. Enough to be mister nice guy. What your problem with me anyway mr. Anti-social? If you don't like me, it's okay, I respect your decision, but don't need to be hostile, Nathan Drake."

Heart was very stressed after the words of Nathan and approach him and put two fingers in his face.

"I go where I want, and I don't need your permission Nathan. If you have any problem with me, two words to you: Screw you. I don't need to be nice with someone who treat me like that. And if you need any help, don't expect any mine. Good night Nathan Drake."

Nathan REALLY doesn't appreciate that.  "It's WARREN.  Maybe you'd know that if you bothered to do more than just intrude on my personal business."

(...)

Kirlia is staring daggers at Heart.  Oh he did NOT just antagonize Nathan.  Nope, Kirlia doesn't want Heart to be anywhere near him now.  No way.  He'd have left with Nathan if he could have.

Calam just shakes his head in exasperation.  Well, this was certainly going sour...he tries to encourage Ventus and Heart to continue this conversation in a different part of the tent.

Heart really want to say a few things a little to Nathan but decided to keep to keep the words to himself. He will not bow to the same level as Nathan. Heart see Kirlia nasty look to him. "What you looking at?" It's sounds a little too much more rude he wanted. He sight and put one hand in his head. "Sorry what I say to your friend Ventus. It wasn't really my intention. I normally a peaceful person, but I don't like someone who treat me with hostility. No one is force to like it other after all. The same he have to act like that I have the same. Sorry to make you see that scene good friend Ventus." That was a honest apologize. Heart knew he was wrong to act that way towards Nathan, but he will not apologize to Nathan. He still have some pride after all. All he was just trying to be nice, and Nathan was act was a jerk now.

For the time being Heart will avoid Nathan. He have his reasons to act like that, but he don't need to act that way with everyone! With his friends like Shiva and Ventus, and with Heart who don't know him!

If Ven was already disappointed about Nathan's continued severe attitude towards Heart and his own beliefs, then the rare collector backlash against such treatment and the subsequent air of hostility stunned him greatly. He stood their with a look of sad disbelief, before the researcher let out a tortured groan and shove his face into both of his hands in a double face palm. 'Kyurem's frosty domain, I want these two friends of mine to cooperate and truly enjoy/treasure one another as dear friends, but that seems more and more improbable now. Such hostility, such bittereness and righteous anger, such distrust among them....if I were not used to this, I would be sick to my stomach. *Sigh* Heart is not unjustified in acting like he did, as I know well enough that Nate is not the easiest to get along with, but I wish that he held his tongue; now my job of bringing them together will be that much more torturous,' he thought himself, rubbing his forehead a few times to ease away the spikes of stress he was enduring now, before sliding his hands off his face and turned to regard the pun lover with tired, yet understanding eyes.

Before the empath spoke, however , he noticed Callam's own exasperated disbelief over the conflict and the urging motions/feelings for him and Heart to politely speak about this elsewhere in the tent, and complied. He ushered Heart towards his part of the tent, came back to give both Kirlia and the harbringer of doom an apple to (hopefully) calm them down, before returning to his new friend, using the all time and movement to help organize his thoughts and come up with a response. One that he earnestly wishes would assist in diffusing the tension/hostility between them and Nate later on, and increase the odds of them actually end up as friends. " I understand, Heart, and I forgive you. Nate treated me much the same way when we first encountered each other at the start of our journey, and it was not until after a supreme amount of effort and many foolish mistakes on my part that I managed to open him up. He's...not the most readily agreeable of people, and has the tendency to reject that which does not adhere to his own brand of thinking, but he's a kind, caring soul beneath his stern façade, more willing to be of assistance than he realizes. It is just that he's bad with interacting with people beyond the cursory level, and his anti-socialness is more a product of isolation rather than him being naturally abrasive. Give him enough time to become aquanted with you, and prove yourself competent and 'worthy' , and he'll eventually warm up enough to not shun you on sight, or at least civilly. Though, I would suggest avoiding him for the time being and not 'intruding' on his privacy,  as I've learned that when Nate is upset with someone, the absolute last thing you do is rile him up more."

With that conversation wrapped up, Ventus finally dug his phone (which had been vibrating ever since Nathan left in a huff) out of his pocket and read the text message he received. It was from his blessed friend Shiva, and was fairly surprised (in a neutral way) by the content of it. 'Oh my, she managed to capture a Ghost type for herself, now has she? Hmm...that's somewhat unnerving to hear, but I trust that she's attuned with the spirit enough that it would try not try to possess or inflict any wasting curse on her. Still, its imperitive to learn of what particular Ghost type she has, and offer whatever advice I can provide, as the more she's aware about the inherent threat the type, the better she can guard against them,' he thought, before he decided to exit the tent and go to the campfire (Not noticing Nathan/Shiva if they are around) to check up on the hearty stew he was making and put some into a container for his dear friend. She wanted a nice hot meal waiting for her, so he better hop to it then!

[Dragonstrike]

...

...

"...I don't know if it means anything, but...I'm sorry...I...didn't intend to cause any trouble...nor hurt you...you're right that a friend wouldn't pull a stunt like that..."

Just thinking about that comment...something about it just seems...familiar...

Nathan's still rather downcast, though.  He's finding it difficult to look straight at Shiva again.

"...I'd understand if you didn't want me to hang around, ya know...not the first time I've been shunned..."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Just one word in a dangerously low tone (that was closer to sadness than to anger, though), after Shiva's mind let the words echo through half her inside. Something told they weren't true... How COULD they if he doesn't even remember what he did?!


"Nathan... "
"... ... ...do look at me when you say thing's like 'I'm sorry'."

Still, the words were appreciated. Quite a lot, actually, it felt like a possible key that'll unlock the closed door to the path of coping with this memory. Now, it was time to try if the key matches. It did, but the figurative door was hard to move and Shiva had to take quite an effort to open it. No strength was available to follow the path for now, though...


If Kirlia was only by his side now... He might not really care about Shiva with his selfish love, but he'd certainly inform Nathan that the following words for Nathan were true. They were underlined with appreciation over the act of he gave her an apology at all... "No. Do you fear that I'll abandon ya? No. NoNoNoNo. Why...should I? I said that I won't shun you, since I feel it'd be unfair and not very pleasant for both of us - I mean, it won't help other then maybe ease instant tension. I eased left tension my way after the battle with you. I'll stay since I STILL value you for own reasons, you see? Despite all this... Despite it's beyond me and I'll likely won't ever fully get why people think they can solve their own conflicts by having their Pokemon battle. THEIR POKEMON, that likely don't have a thing to do with the conflict... But, be calm, Nathan, that's just my and my beliefs, while you have your own opinion."

"Don't be downcasted or angry for long, okay? Channel this feeling somehow in a way that pleases you is all that I can give you as an advice to deal with ailing emotions, as they come to me easily just as the positive ones." How neat, she was entering a terrain where she feels okay to talk about herself to Nathan, maybe the admitting of his triggered this? Subconscious she was still nervous, and decided to rearange her cozy Ninetails-scarf just to keep her hands busy. "It's a constant balance between both sides, and your emotions just pile up if you don't conceal them."


------------
Mechanics:
I dunno how much Nathan has to reply on this, and he's free to wander off after doing so without it being weird or off-putting for Shiva.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

I'll flash forward a little, okay?


(Ventus however already thought ahead and was so kind to have left a voice message with instructions to reach the pace he set up for the night! Oh how relieving it was to hear his recorded voice... She typed a message back to him, reading the following:
"Dear Reshiram, thanks for the instructions, Ven... Route 4 got me busy (in a positive way, I'm doing fine), but I'll head to you people now and should be there in a few minutes. Tell the others if they're worrying, please keep some of any prepared dinner warm for me, I'll also need your help on a spectral Pokemon I picked up along the way."

"Okay. That's it. Enough to be mister nice guy. What your problem with me anyway mr. Anti-social? If you don't like me, it's okay, I respect your decision, but don't need to be hostile, Nathan Drake."

Heart was very stressed after the words of Nathan and approach him and put two fingers in his face.

"I go where I want, and I don't need your permission Nathan. If you have any problem with me, two words to you: Screw you. I don't need to be nice with someone who treat me like that. And if you need any help, don't expect any mine. Good night Nathan Drake."

Nathan REALLY doesn't appreciate that.  "It's WARREN.  Maybe you'd know that if you bothered to do more than just intrude on my personal business."

(...)

Kirlia is staring daggers at Heart.  Oh he did NOT just antagonize Nathan.  Nope, Kirlia doesn't want Heart to be anywhere near him now.  No way.  He'd have left with Nathan if he could have.

Calam just shakes his head in exasperation.  Well, this was certainly going sour...he tries to encourage Ventus and Heart to continue this conversation in a different part of the tent.

Heart really want to say a few things a little to Nathan but decided to keep to keep the words to himself. He will not bow to the same level as Nathan. Heart see Kirlia nasty look to him. "What you looking at?" It's sounds a little too much more rude he wanted. He sight and put one hand in his head. "Sorry what I say to your friend Ventus. It wasn't really my intention. I normally a peaceful person, but I don't like someone who treat me with hostility. No one is force to like it other after all. The same he have to act like that I have the same. Sorry to make you see that scene good friend Ventus." That was a honest apologize. Heart knew he was wrong to act that way towards Nathan, but he will not apologize to Nathan. He still have some pride after all. All he was just trying to be nice, and Nathan was act was a jerk now.

For the time being Heart will avoid Nathan. He have his reasons to act like that, but he don't need to act that way with everyone! With his friends like Shiva and Ventus, and with Heart who don't know him!

If Ven was already disappointed about Nathan's continued severe attitude towards Heart and his own beliefs, then the rare collector backlash against such treatment and the subsequent air of hostility stunned him greatly. He stood their with a look of sad disbelief, before the researcher let out a tortured groan and shove his face into both of his hands in a double face palm. 'Kyurem's frosty domain, I want these two friends of mine to cooperate and truly enjoy/treasure one another as dear friends, but that seems more and more improbable now. Such hostility, such bittereness and righteous anger, such distrust among them....if I were not used to this, I would be sick to my stomach. *Sigh* Heart is not unjustified in acting like he did, as I know well enough that Nate is not the easiest to get along with, but I wish that he held his tongue; now my job of bringing them together will be that much more torturous,' he thought himself, rubbing his forehead a few times to ease away the spikes of stress he was enduring now, before sliding his hands off his face and turned to regard the pun lover with tired, yet understanding eyes.

Before the empath spoke, however , he noticed Callam's own exasperated disbelief over the conflict and the urging motions/feelings for him and Heart to politely speak about this elsewhere in the tent, and complied. He ushered Heart towards his part of the tent, came back to give both Kirlia and the harbringer of doom an apple to (hopefully) calm them down, before returning to his new friend, using the all time and movement to help organize his thoughts and come up with a response. One that he earnestly wishes would assist in diffusing the tension/hostility between them and Nate later on, and increase the odds of them actually end up as friends. " I understand, Heart, and I forgive you. Nate treated me much the same way when we first encountered each other at the start of our journey, and it was not until after a supreme amount of effort and many foolish mistakes on my part that I managed to open him up. He's...not the most readily agreeable of people, and has the tendency to reject that which does not adhere to his own brand of thinking, but he's a kind, caring soul beneath his stern façade, more willing to be of assistance than he realizes. It is just that he's bad with interacting with people beyond the cursory level, and his anti-socialness is more a product of isolation rather than him being naturally abrasive. Give him enough time to become aquanted with you, and prove yourself competent and 'worthy' , and he'll eventually warm up enough to not shun you on sight, or at least civilly. Though, I would suggest avoiding him for the time being and not 'intruding' on his privacy,  as I've learned that when Nate is upset with someone, the absolute last thing you do is rile him up more."

With that conversation wrapped up, Ventus finally dug his phone (which had been vibrating ever since Nathan left in a huff) out of his pocket and read the text message he received. It was from his blessed friend Shiva, and was fairly surprised (in a neutral way) by the content of it. 'Oh my, she managed to capture a Ghost type for herself, now has she? Hmm...that's somewhat unnerving to hear, but I trust that she's attuned with the spirit enough that it would try not try to possess or inflict any wasting curse on her. Still, its imperitive to learn of what particular Ghost type she has, and offer whatever advice I can provide, as the more she's aware about the inherent threat the type, the better she can guard against them,' he thought, before he decided to exit the tent and go to the campfire (Not noticing Nathan/Shiva if they are around) to check up on the hearty stew he was making and put some into a container for his dear friend. She wanted a nice hot meal waiting for her, so he better hop to it then!

Heart quiet heard everything what Ventus said. And quiet say to him. "Well, I understand he might don't know how to interact with people, and have to him don't like people with same as he. But I don't go to this journey to gain any approve or something from everyone. If he don't like me, or hate me, it's his problem. Forgive if I been harsh but even you notice how he think about me. If he don't like, I don't care. I avoid him, and I will not talk with, but be friends with him? Difficult." Heart sigh. "Perhaps I was too much harsh to tell what I said to him, but I not apologize to him. Not now at least. But I will avoid him and respect his space."

Then Heart hear about Shiva caught a ghost Pokemon. "Heh, perhaps that Pokemon would be friends with Viktor. Mind if I help you to prepare the meal?"

[Dragonstrike]

...

He's not sure what to say.

He'd been a terrible, terrible friend (both from what little he could now remember and had been told)...and yet she was still staying?

He doesn't get it...he knows he doesn't deserve even that much...

There's no reply from him.  Just the sound of some faint sobs that are some weird mixture of many, many emotions...

They'd all been piling up, all right...

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Heart quiet heard everything what Ventus said. And quiet say to him. "Well, I understand he might don't know how to interact with people, and have to him don't like people with same as he. But I don't go to this journey to gain any approve or something from everyone. If he don't like me, or hate me, it's his problem. Forgive if I been harsh but even you notice how he think about me. If he don't like, I don't care. I avoid him, and I will not talk with, but be friends with him? Difficult." Heart sigh. "Perhaps I was too much harsh to tell what I said to him, but I not apologize to him. Not now at least. But I will avoid him and respect his space."

Then Heart hear about Shiva caught a ghost Pokemon. "Heh, perhaps that Pokemon would be friends with Viktor. Mind if I help you to prepare the meal?"

The researcher carefully listened to the collector's own viewpoint of the conflict between him and Nate, slightly grimacing at how horribly the later had made thier first impression on him, but Ventus didn't rebuke nor try to dissuade him on his views. The boy had outright and honestly said that he was not their friend and considered him a nuisance, so its entirely reasonable for Heart to take extreme offense at such statement, especially since he was trying to bond with them in the first place. His understanding of both side's hostility torwads each other certainly did not make it any more of a comforting reality for him to exist in, but he was still able to accept it all the same.

"Thank you, Heart. When enough time has past and you have firmly established yourself in the group, perhaps friendship between you and Nathan will no longer be such a daunting trail. As for your Pokémon befriending Shiva's, that is up to them and how Viktor present themselves, though I do believe nothing should go amiss. Oh, and I'd also be delighted with you assistance! Four hands are better than two, after all!"

[Spiritmon]

Heart give a thankful nod to Ventus. Ventus it's a kind and understanding person. "Well, uh, let's then prepare the meal. Or should I say...PUNpare the meal!" Heart return to his PUNisher side. He is not 100% okay, but he is better now. And ready to begin. "Me and my Pokemon is ready to begin! What we can help Ventus?"

Perhaps a hard job would help Heart forget a little his problems.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Even as a non-empath, Shiva was able to detect the strong emotions that were emitted from the young Trainer right beside her. They were a fine mess of everything, too much for her to distinguish any in particular. Must be a feast for Cottonee - emotions and what they cause are still a biiig role for Fairy Types - and for Litwick, since that person beside Master was dripping with will combined with currently being fragile and open.

The owner of these two Pokemon was...well, stunned would be an understatement. Why did it seem like she was prone to make Nathan sob... What did she do wrong this time... Was it, maybe, just too much for him? She didn't get it, and instantly she felt a sharp pain somewhere deep. He was breaking in her very hands and she neither wanted to induce that nor had she any idea on hand how to deal with this and him...Was this a natural reaction to her words? Maybe he was not getting why she still doesn't give up on him? Was he not used to be treated like this, didn't he knew how to handle such a hidden patience?

When Nathan is weak though, Shiva has to stay strong. She just has to. Even if it was hard to so in such situations... But in such situations, her compassion was strongest. "Didn't expected me to react this way? Well... Just remember that I'm loyal to selected people unless they openly do harm to me. You didn't do harm to me, at least not deliberatly... When things are hard and you need anyone to talk aside from your Pokemon, come to me and I'll listen if you feel like it could help ya, alright?" Very very carefully, she then got up from the bench, and gave a - probably for today last - careful look to Nathan. "I'll leave you alone for now and head to the camp, if you're fine with this... Pour out those piled up emotions in private, it'll help and get better soon, okay? Fret not..."


--------------
Mechanics:
I guess it's best to leave Nathan alone for now... Unless he strongly implies to have Shiva stay with him for whatever reason, it's time to get to the camp! I'll still leave Ven and possible Heart react first to her arrival with a Litwick sitting on her hand, Cottonee beside her, no Dragon-Slayer-shirt but the new scarf that implies she was at that clothing store and in an exhausted yet delighted state.

[Lord Windos]

Heart give a thankful nod to Ventus. Ventus it's a kind and understanding person. "Well, uh, let's then prepare the meal. Or should I say...PUNpare the meal!" Heart return to his PUNisher side. He is not ?% okay, but he is better now. And ready to begin. "Me and my Pokemon is ready to begin! What we can help Ventus?"

Perhaps a hard job would help Heart forget a little his problems.

Warm chuckles escaped Ven's lips at the pun, a small smile already back on his face as he lead them to the campfire and directed them to accomplish a given task. "Well, since I'm monitoring the stew and keep it from overheating, how about you spread out the blanket and set out plates for everyone? After that, you could also go out and collect some more firewood to help sustain these flames, if you still have some energy left for such an excursion!"

Very very carefully, she then got up from the bench, and gave a - probably for today last - careful look to Nathan. "I'll leave you alone for now and head to the camp, if you're fine with this... Pour out those piled up emotions in private, it'll help and get better soon, okay? Fret not..."

(When Shiva eventually arrives, regardless of whether Nate is accompanying her or not)

Just as he was finishing up Shiva's portion of tonight's supper, she smoothly drifts into the area, wearing what looked to be a scarf depicting an Alola Ninetales ('The subject matter is not too my tastes, but its does look rather lovely on her regardless!'), and what he guess to be a Litwick ('Oh my, I didn't know the species was native here! A dangerous Ghost type to be sure, but he doesn't appear malicious to my senses...') perched right on one of her hands, the light emitted from his blue flames blending with the campfire's to bath the place in an almost errie purple light. Ven was a bit unnerved about how close his blessed friend and her newest spectral partner despite having just bonded only scant hours ago, but he put aside those paranoid thoughts for now.

'I am unsure as to how she managed to achieve such a peaceful union with the candle spirit, but for now I will trust she has her Ghost under control. Despite her erratic emotions and whimsy/mystic filled nature possibily being a liability in regards to the spectral type's own willful and mischevious machimations, their compassionate soul, soothing nature, and excpetional talent caring for people and Pokémon alike should amply shield from disaster. Worst comes to worst, I'll be their to guard and suppress against any fiendish assault the Litwick plans, if it so dares,' the sociologist thought, before deftly flicking his wrist to palm/hide Eternally Gold into his hand (Serious, how?!), before picking up Shiva's meal and approaching them.

"My dearest friend, its wonderful to see that you have safely returned, with a fashionable scarf and a new friend gained in the interim! You can regal me with how your day has been over dinner, and I'll certainly return the favor to the best of my capacity. That is, unless you wish for some privacy to enjoy your meal with Litwick and your other Pokémon first?"

[Spiritmon]

Fast foward for Shiva arrival

After putting the plates and help arrange the firewood Heart give a wave of hand to Shiva. He finally finished the job and decided to stay a security distance since Shiva was Nathan. The situation it's already complicated, and Heart give Ventus stress more than enough. Heart don't want to make Shiva feel that way too. Viktor and Koa was helping Heart to put the plates, and Rose and Gustav help to bring the Firewood. The crab it's very strong!

Slowpoke too is out from his pokeball but he...don't do much just relaxing in some rock. Venipede it's inside the pokeball because it's not wise to have poison type run free. Viktor was curious about the new ghost Pokemon and go to take a look to the other one.

Mechanical: Viktor to interact with Litwik. Perhaps they can be friendly with each other because they are soul eaters and ghost Pokemon?