[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

"...."

Ventus is left speechless as Nathan finally and inevitably broke down in front of him.

The empath had no comforting words to give the careworn boy in front of him, the distance and animosity he built up between himself and them making a normally easy task seem insurmountable to him.

He hadn't forgiven them for forcing Orthros onto him and Shiva, nor for the emotional distress he caused to the both of them in relatively recents times, and doubted he would anytime soon.

However, despite his reservation, despite his grudges, despite all the bullheaded, hurtful things the boy said in front of him....

"...."

Slowly, with great deliberation and utmost care, Ventus leans over and gave Nathan a hug, and stayed their with him as they cried their heart out, and emptied themselves of the vast, toxic quantities of feeling that lay deep within him.

....he could not leave this boy to suffer alone in his distraught state.

Nobody deserved that.

Especially not someone of his age.

History would not repeat before his eyes.

Kirlia's genuinely surprised at that.  That was about the last thing he'd expected Ventus to do...he joins the hug, though (after hopping back on Swiftfire so he can actually reach Nathan).  He couldn't fix things, but he could be there for Nathan...he needed to be.  Just like he needs Nathan, Nathan needs him...

Nathan doesn't say a word throughout any of this.  Just quietly sobs.  He's not going to be the one to break this hug.

All he's ever wanted was a normal life, yet nothing ever seems to work out that way for him...all these expectations and burdens...he never asked for any of them, and yet here he is, trying to shoulder them all between just him and Kirlia...

Swiftfire's rather uncomfortable, seeing as she's stuck in the middle of this, but she doesn't complain.  She knows Nathan's been really stressed for a long time...

Masq tilts his head, looking really puzzled.  This is...the complete opposite of the person he'd met yesterday.  What was going on?  Doesn't seem like there's much he can do for this nice person, though...well, back to keeping watch.

[Iron]

Swiftfire sets her body temperature to a comforting heat, matching the pitch of the hug.

[Lord Windos]

Nathan doesn't say a word throughout any of this.  Just quietly sobs.  He's not going to be the one to break this hug.

All he's ever wanted was a normal life, yet nothing ever seems to work out that way for him...all these expectations and burdens...he never asked for any of them, and yet here he is, trying to shoulder them all between just him and Kirlia...

The empath continues to embrace the distraught boy in his arms, and he not going to let go until he was certain that they got every lingering negative sentiment in their heart. In line of this, when Ventus judged that he had sufficiently calmed down, he gently asked them: "Nathan, talk to me. I'm here, and I will listen."

[Dragonstrike]

The empath continues to embrace the distraught boy in his arms, and he not going to let go until he was certain that they got every lingering negative sentiment in their heart. In line of this, when Ventus judged that he had sufficiently calmed down, he gently asked them: "Nathan, talk to me. I'm here, and I will listen."

*sniffle*

"...I thought you didn't care...so, why...?"

*sob*

[Lord Windos]

"....I may have my qualms with you, but I'm not heartless or indifferent. So please, talk to me Nathan. If you wish, I can also summon Raphael, and let them give some peace of mind as well."

[Dragonstrike]

"....I may have my qualms with you, but I'm not heartless or indifferent. So please, talk to me Nathan. If you wish, I can also summon Raphael, and let them give some peace of mind as well."

Nathan just nods, then sobs a little more.

[Lord Windos]

"....I may have my qualms with you, but I'm not heartless or indifferent. So please, talk to me Nathan. If you wish, I can also summon Raphael, and let them give some peace of mind as well."

Nathan just nods, then sobs a little more.

Receiving an affirmative from them, Ventus quietly palmed his beloved archangel's Pokeball, and summoned then with a flick of the button. Almost immediately after they had time to adjust to the mugged environs of the swamp, Raphael was hovering right by Nathan's side, giving the boy a worried look/chirp as they radiated their natural aura of joy and serenity. The researcher then patiently waited for him to divulge what ails his heart so, patting his back every now and again in a repetitive, comforting gesture.

[Dragonstrike]

Receiving an affirmative from them, Ventus quietly palmed his beloved archangel's Pokeball, and summoned then with a flick of the button. Almost immediately after they had time to adjust to the mugged environs of the swamp, Raphael was hovering right by Nathan's side, giving the boy a worried look/chirp as they radiated their natural aura of joy and serenity. The researcher then patiently waited for him to divulge what ails his heart so, patting his back every now and again in a repetitive, comforting gesture.

A Moment in the Marsh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75YyJ9FQnMI

Nathan sniffles again...pulls Rapahel in to the hug as well if he doesn't mind...

...

"...it's just...too much...I never asked for any of this..."

*sob*

[Lord Windos]

A Moment in the Marsh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75YyJ9FQnMI

Nathan sniffles again...pulls Rapahel in to the hug as well if he doesn't mind...

...

"...it's just...too much...I never asked for any of this..."

*sob*

'Ah, so its the burdens he bears that weight so heavily on his mind and heart. The Prophecy, the strife and conflict he's endured, Alamanc and the Scimitars.....all of that and more have taken their toll on him.'

Ventus looks down on Nathan as he thinks of this, seeing his tears, tasting his pain, and experiencing for himself how torn up he is by everything that has happened in his life.

'......I often forget that Nathan isn't a young man, who, stubbornish and foolishness aside, is weathered and hardened by many a rough year of life. He's just a child, an awkward teenager at best, who has to put up a strong front in order to endure the many challenges his life has thrown his way. A child that, without the aid or support of the group and his Pokémon, would have most likely long succumbed to his own doubts and anxiety. This does not forgive the hurt he has inflicted upon Shiva and myself, no......but that does not mean I do not sympathize with them. After all, I have been in his shoes at one point in my life as well....'

Pondering this revelation for a moment longer, the researcher offer his own form of comforts to the boy at length.

".....Nobody ever asks for responsible or adversity to be handed to them, Nathan, but we all receive it at some point in our lives. Some, like ourselves, just receive more than our fair share of hardship, and often time their is nothing we can do to stop it from happening. Its just a unfortunate facet of Life that nobody ever really wants to acknowledge. What matter, though, is taking the problems that we do have control over and work towards solving them, one step at a time, and learning how to endure problems that can't so easily be solved. Letting it overwhelm you, drag you down into the darkest corners of your mind......its only serves to worsen things for yourself. Its can be hard to stay strong at time, but that why people has companion that they can rely on to share their burdens when needed. So share your burdens with me, Nathan. Tell me what troubles you, what keeps you from getting sound rest. Share it with me. Trust me when I say that you will feel better when you do."

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

'Ah, so its the burdens he bears that weight so heavily on his mind and heart. The Prophecy, the strife and conflict he's endured, Alamanc and the Scimitars.....all of that and more have taken their toll on him.'

Ventus looks down on Nathan as he thinks of this, seeing his tears, tasting his pain, and experiencing for himself how torn up he is by everything that has happened in his life.

'......I often forget that Nathan isn't a young man, who, stubbornish and foolishness aside, is weathered and hardened by many a rough year of life. He's just a child, an awkward teenager at best, who has to put up a strong front in order to endure the many challenges his life has thrown his way. A child that, without the aid or support of the group and his Pokémon, would have most likely long succumbed to his own doubts and anxiety. This does not forgive the hurt he has inflicted upon Shiva and myself, no......but that does not mean I do not sympathize with them. After all, I have been in his shoes at one point in my life as well....'

Pondering this revelation for a moment longer, the researcher offer his own form of comforts to the boy at length.

".....Nobody ever asks for responsible or adversity to be handed to them, Nathan, but we all receive it at some point in our lives. Some, like ourselves, just receive more than our fair share of hardship, and often time their is nothing we can do to stop it from happening. Its just a unfortunate facet of Life that nobody ever really wants to acknowledge. What matter, though, is taking the problems that we do have control over and work towards solving them, one step at a time, and learning how to endure problems that can't so easily be solved. Letting it overwhelm you, drag you down into the darkest corners of your mind......its only serves to worsen things for yourself. Its can be hard to stay strong at time, but that why people has companion that they can rely on to share their burdens when needed. So share your burdens with me, Nathan. Tell me what troubles you, what keeps you from getting sound rest. Share it with me. Trust me when I say that you will feel better when you do."

And it all comes out in a torrent of words, with sobs and sniffles in between each topic.

His worry that he won't be able to live up to the expectations everyone has of him...being the son of both a renowned breeder and a very powerful trainer who once qualified for battling the Elite Four...and now also part of a Legendary's grand designs...he's been living in large shadows his entire life...and he's still not sure what his place in this world is...

His concern for his pokemon, the only ones who ever seem to have really understood him besides his dad...and how he wants to repay that kindness by trying to promote more open-minded approaches to raising the ones that desire that attention, help create more potential homes for the pokemon that are typically shunned or feared...(and yes, Nathan does talk about that jerk of a stranger who hates Absol)

His worry about Almanac and the Scimitars, what they seem to have planned (no specifics yet), and their indifference to what the pokemon they use seem to think...in particular, he talks about what the Almanac said about Ralts, Kirlia, and Gardevoir, and how the entries were completely twisted, with a particular emphasis on how they seemed to view Ralts as 'not particularly useful until it acts more like a Kirlia.' (there's a hint of anger when Nathan talks about this topic, and only this topic)

...how he can never seem to ever be able to do enough nor do anything right for anyone else, despite never intending to do any wrong...(sound familiar?)

It's probably at least a solid half hour before he's done talking.