[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Ventus truthfully didn't see the need to wait/obtain some of Nathan's mothers Ponytas , when the Steel Wonder herself has offered them Metagross mounts ready for deployment, and the boy also had his own Swiftfire, Callam, and Yule as to use as transportation himself and others too. Still, the researcher knew that arguing with the young trainer was pointless, especially since it concerned matters of family AND he had a point, so in the end they just shrugged their shoulders, said: "I would rather we leave for Arrowroot ASAP with the Metagross, but that is just my opinion,' before waiting for everyone else to chip in their two cents on the matter.

The matter about opening Kirlia's heart towards others, however, earned the young trainer a slight grimace and a frown from Ven as they gave some food for thought about this. After a few minutes of thinking, the empath gave his own assessment of that option, which was not overly negative, surprisingly, but not exactly the brightest either. "I don't believe I will be able to help with making Kirlia care about others, I'm afraid, due to our relationship being....strained, as it is, but your idea does hold merit with the others given enough time and care on everyone's part. However, I would rather we work on their empathetic problems while we are in transit between Arrowroot and Stair, as the Prophecy and the Vines are quickly becoming time sensitive matters that must be handled with promptness and all the expediency we can muster. If it turns out the village is a dead end to our investigations, we still have the moments up until then and there after to help young Kirlia become a bearer of 'unselfish love' if we put forth serious effort into accomplishing this. Nothing is stopping us from pursuing both avenues of eradicating the Vines and whatever diabolical force that control them, after all."

"Let me say this real quick: I honestly don't care if we wait a few hours or not.  We leave now on the metagross: great, we're attempting to save some time.  We leave in a few hours, great: you guys won't be complaining about how uncomfortable sitting on a steel pokemon for hours at a time is, and we can move more quickly on the flatland since the metagross won't be carrying us as well as supplies.  Or some of us could ride the metagross while others are on ponyta, I guess.  Maybe rotate who's on which mounts, even.  Up to you guys.  I'm riding Swiftfire either way once we're away from the Great Divide."

Nathan sighs.  He wasn't going to talk about it any further with Ventus right now, though.  If Ventus didn't want to help, fine.  The option was still there if he wanted to take it.  Nathan and Kirlia weren't going anywhere, after all...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Shiva actually gave Nathan a very subtle stern look for somewhat ignoring what she said about that blind loyalty about Kirlia. This look only lasted for a few moments before she looked away - no way she's going to risk again to to be scolded by a Gym Leader. A Steel Type Gym Leader on top of that! One thing was for sure now that she thought about it, her own battle against her could indeed become interesting...

Her voice was rather careful when she spoke again, as if afraid to shatter things once again or destroy moods dwelling. "Little things here and there, you say, Nathan... Actually, this is not too different from what I usually do. I evolved your Ralts, yet unintentionally..." 'And never received a spoken ThankYou for this, only questions as to why this happened' she thought with a resentful taste, "but it does feel a little too much to ask from me to treat Kirlia as he'd be my own Pokemon. Let's await what our trip to the swamp and the village will bring before we honestly consider this option... Alright?" It was nice to see how Nathan was filled with hope that Kirlia might be able to change and become that Bearer of Unselfish Love, as hope dies last (Heart's words on this lingered), but it was still clear that it'd frustrate Shiva to no ends if any effort she'd put into earning the Psychic Dancer's care would be wasted by not bringing the desired result to a pleasant degree. Raising a Pokemon is one call, changing the nature of it was and ENTIRERLY different one.

Ventus received a thankful and faint smile from her for clearing things with the Shelter, before she spoke up once again, in no less careful tone. "I'd actually be down to...well, wait until noon to have a Ponyta with us as well... It doesn't hurt to have backup in case the Metagross are unable to transport us for reasons. Like, if we unexpectedly get attacked or similar. I know how to ride Pokemon, so it's no problem for me... Ven, I'd be down to depart right away as well, but we should not overrun things. Don't you think?" She kept her gaze fixated on him in a non-threathening way while awaiting his reply now, as well as Heart's and Valder's opinion on whether the group shall depart right away or wait a few hours.

After their reply, Shiva would VERY carefully turn to Dagny again. Yes, VERY. "Uhm... Well, in case we agree to wait for the Ponyta... Am I, eh, allowed to head to the GPC meanwhile to swap around my party a little and make room for a Ponyta? As well as simply preparing myself for departure... As soon as the emergency alarms came, I headed from bed down to the Lobby almost immediately."


-----------------
Mechanics:
K, Shiva is all for wait until noon to have a Ponyta additionally to Metagross for along the way to the swamp. If Dagny and the others allow, she'll head to the GPC meanwhile to prepare for departure as well as run into a quick 2vs2 Double Battle on they way to the Center - Kyuu and Yena on my side. 200$ + 1 Antidote from Shiva's side is the wagger (that means, 300$ for her if she wins), no fainting and no poisoning again, Iron. This is mostly for the sake of collecting some missing XP for a third point in Crafts for Shiva and Fake Out on Espurr + Suprise on Yena.

Since Nathan has 2 points in Lore, I also thought that leaving research of the true name of a Pokemon spirit as well as the name of a shrine in Chreshire to him - as Dragonstrike mentioned his chara would be ALL down for Cleanse Tags. In return, Shiva has enough Insight and Empathy to 'sense' if something's special about a mystic, shrine, artifacts, a library may hold the desired information = it may be guarded by a Pokemon Spirit. With 3 points in Crafts, she shouldn't have too many problems actually creating the Tag (even the more 'difficult' ones?) once all ingredients are gathered. Thoughts?

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Shiva actually gave Nathan a very subtle stern look for somewhat ignoring what she said about that blind loyalty about Kirlia. This look only lasted for a few moments before she looked away - no way she's going to risk again to to be scolded by a Gym Leader. A Steel Type Gym Leader on top of that! One thing was for sure now that she thought about it, her own battle against her could indeed become interesting...

Her voice was rather careful when she spoke again, as if afraid to shatter things once again or destroy moods dwelling. "Little things here and there, you say, Nathan... Actually, this is not too different from what I usually do. I evolved your Ralts, yet unintentionally..." 'And never received a spoken ThankYou for this, only questions as to why this happened' she thought with a resentful taste, "but it does feel a little too much to ask from me to treat Kirlia as he'd be my own Pokemon. Let's await what our trip to the swamp and the village will bring before we honestly consider this option... Alright?" It was nice to see how Nathan was filled with hope that Kirlia might be able to change and become that Bearer of Unselfish Love, as hope dies last (Heart's words on this lingered), but it was still clear that it'd frustrate Shiva to no ends if any effort she'd put into earning the Psychic Dancer's care would be wasted by not bringing the desired result to a pleasant degree. Raising a Pokemon is one call, changing the nature of it was and ENTIRERLY different one.

Another sigh from Nathan.  "Shiva..."

Uh oh.  Seems the gym leader isn't who's giving her a scolding...

"If there's one thing that's going to frustrate me about this, it's a half-hearted effort.  We don't have time to not consider this option until later.  We need to be working on it now, as soon as we head out.  I'm not asking you to treat him like he's your own pokemon.  That's not what my mom did.  Kirlia is very much my responsibility still.  I'm asking you to give him reason to care, to make the potential for transitioning easier."

"That's what I'm asking of all four of you.  Everyone has the potential to grow a little if they choose to.  I don't think any effort put into that is wasted effort.  What is wasted effort is not trying when we're already pressed for time.  Particularly since we don't know what option 2 is going to require beyond a long trip."

[Iron]

For the Double Battle, there's only time to do that safely if you're indeed waiting.

"Yes, either way you should head back as soon as our plans crystallize and get packed. Then return here for the Metagross and be on your way. I do have a PC available if that's your only need."

[Spiritmon]

Heart feel a bit surprised by the last of Nathan last words. "Well, you think we could help Kirlia to trust others? I not sure if we can wait so much time, but we can at least try. It's not like the world going to end right now. Any ideas where we should begin?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Not like Shiva was much intimidated by Nathan's words, if that may have been his intention. Looks like he needs ti work a little harder to get that calm, quiet and cold tone in voice she has when disagreeing on something/feeling offended! 

When responding, she did so rather normally, which means softly. Was there an argument incoming? Nope, not really. "Your Kirlia actually has reasons to care for me and trust me, Nathan - unless he forgot how I looked after him back in Trillium, for example. Unless he's forgetting that despite everything, I have not given up on you. Despite everything, we still call ourselves 'friends', don't we?" ... "It seems I in particular just need to remind him on these things. As well as include him in some way to my usual daily care for my own Pokemon. You, in return, have to agree and trigger all this by not keeping him by your side the whole time for example, and encourage him to intract with us a little more. How does that sound for you, Nathan? As well as for you all?"

Oh right... "As for both of you, Heart and Ven... It's obvious you are having ... well, your issues with Nathan. I had and have too. But widen this to his Pokemon, especially in this situation... feels just wrong. Pokemon can exist on their own, without humans. Don't forget that..." Thinking of it, it'd very VERY wrong to assume yesterday's revelation of the Deltadog is off the table already. It's just that...there are more important things to worry about at the moment.

[Spiritmon]

"Sounds good to me. You are acting as a super protective father Nathan. A child when not interaction with other people never grown have difficult to interact with other people. The same goes to other Pokemon. You must let let it go Kirlia for a while to he interact with other people and Pokemon. That way he can grown was a person. I mean, as a grown up Pokemon. I agree with Shiva suggestion."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Thank you, Heart..."

Back to face Nathan again, waiting for his thoughts. "It's as Heart says, Nathan. If we want to work on this second option, it's not just us who are supposed to give Kirlia reason to care. It needs just as much effort from you as well."

[Dragonstrike]

"...like I said, I'll talk to Kirlia about this."

...

"Valder, Heart.  Do you want to wait for the Ponyta or get going immediately?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(Might not hurt to tagg @Nylon and @Spiritmon here if there's no poll to vote!~ What's you people's call, shall we head off in direction of the swamp right away on a Metagross or wait a few hours (until noon) to get a few Ponyta as backup? The Metagross are very useful to get over the mountains, but traveling on them for quite a while seems to be rather uncomfortable. Metagross won't take a spot in the team, a Ponyta will. Shiva would rather wait [and have a Double Battle to air a will to do something instantly], Nathan is fine with either way, Ventus would rather depart right away. A battle can only be done safely if we wait for the Ponyta. What about you @Lord Windos, would Ven be fine to wait as well if we agree to that?)