[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Iron]

It is now Day 49.

As Shiva and Ventus are having their traditional breakfast in their rooms, the wonderful smell drifting through the room...

the pink-threaded Egg starts to hatch!

Something pink and very tiny pops out and makes its way over to the delicious smell. It's a newborn Spritzee! The newborn's scent is incredibly... romantic, in a way of bonding.

It'll have the usual stats for newborn Pokemon.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

This Day, Shiva was a liiittle bit less reluctant to eventually get out of bed when Ventus eventually woke her up... Certainly, she would still prefer to stay in bed for a little longer, but Gothitelle won't register herself to the Ball Shiva will offer her on her own, will she? That was one of the moments she looked forward to at this Day... The other one, which she not really looked forward to but rather was subliminally nervous about, was the Gym Battle against the Steel Wonder herself...

During breakfast up in dorm (which Ven has brought upstairs again, which she never would fail to appreciate), she was more silent than usually, and overall seemed pondering and lost in thought as if she was both anticipated and sceptical over heading down the Lobby and start the Day; and when she had just poured herself another cup of black coffee, she picked up a meaningful tone from the windowsill, right next to the painted piece of wood - true, there were clear cracks in the pink-threaded Egg!!!! Since it didn't hatch yesterday night, Shiva has retrived it from the Incubator and securely bedded it in the fluff Primal Altaria has gifted her. Before she could reach over to the windowsill though, a small pink Pokemon made its way over to the table and placed itself right next to the coffee mug, before it gave out a delighted chirp in the means of enjoying the scent of coffee as well as greeting what it believed to be the one who cared for the egg.

At that point, Shiva couldn't hide the sweet joy she felt anymore, she carefully picked the smol Spritzee up with both hands and lovingly nuzzled it while inhaling the scent it emitted... Either that combined with the fact that Ventus was currently present to share this moment with her or the heat of the first cup of coffee was causing that coy blush of her. She did cast a sweetish glance over to him before putting faintly nervously a strand of hair back into place before she eventually reached for all the occupied Pokeballs she currently carried with her (which were already blinking), selecting her pair of Electric rodents and sending them both to Bill's PC to have room for her new Fairy as well as later Gothitelle.

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

"Oh, yes, about that...Nurse Joy?"

Nurse Joy wheels a little cot into the room. Sleeping inside is not a Monferno, but an Infernape!

"She evolved in your arms while you were wiped out. She's already been through the healing machine, but she needs rest after exceeding her limits so much."

Quick Flashback from day 50


Heart have no words to express his emotions in this moment. "So she have...evolved? Man, that battle was really tough then." Heart try to get up, but he couldnt. "Okay, I think I will have to rest then."

Flash back end

Heart finally open his eyes, and see the Nurse Joy again taking care of him. "Ugh, that night was really tough to sleep..." Then Heart look to his side and see Rose awake and beside the side of her master. "Hey girl, how are you?" Heart pat a little the head of her monkey queen. She make a delight sound for receive the care of Heart. "Sorry for force you to go beyond your limits Rose. I didnt want to hurt like that. But looking the bright side you have evolved to your new form! Cant wait to tell the others." Heart and thinks for a second. Dagny tell the others was informed about Heart condition...so why Heart didnt receive any visit until now? Heart dismisses that though and decided to take the day to relax.

[Lord Windos]

During breakfast up in dorm (which Ven has brought upstairs again, which she never would fail to appreciate), she was more silent than usually, and overall seemed pondering and lost in thought as if she was both anticipated and sceptical over heading down the Lobby and start the Day; and when she had just poured herself another cup of black coffee, she picked up a meaningful tone from the windowsill, right next to the painted piece of wood - true, there were clear cracks in the pink-threaded Egg!!!! Since it didn't hatch yesterday night, Shiva has retrived it from the Incubator and securely bedded it in the fluff Primal Altaria has gifted her. Before she could reach over to the windowsill though, a small pink Pokemon made its way over to the table and placed itself right next to the coffee mug, before it gave out a delighted chirp in the means of enjoying the scent of coffee as well as greeting what it believed to be the one who cared for the egg.

At that point, Shiva couldn't hide the sweet joy she felt anymore, she carefully picked the smol Spritzee up with both hands and lovingly nuzzled it while inhaling the scent it emitted... Either that combined with the fact that Ventus was currently present to share this moment with her or  the heat of the first cup of coffee was causing that coy blush of her. She did cast a sweetish glance over to him before putting faintly nervously a strand of hair back into place before she eventually reached for all the occupied Pokeballs she currently carried with her (which were already blinking), selecting her pair of Electric rodents and sending them both to Bill's PC to have room for her new Fairy as well as later Gothitelle.

Per usual, the sociologist had risen bright and early in the morn as the sun first peeked over the horizon, and had already set about completing his morning rituals and retrieved breakfast for himself and Shiva. Ventus, as he crept over to his fae friend's side to gently shake her awake and mummer the usual wake up call, found it strange, intimidating, and yet still delightful that such a comfortable routine had developed between him and his much beloved cherished friend. Thinking about it just blew him away at the realization that the both of them had grown so close and cared so much for each other that almost every single kind, caring action of his toward her felt so natural, and that she too had felt so strongly for him as to ask for him to be-

And like that, the researcher was reminded that fateful morning, bringing him crashing down from his sweet reminisings as he was reminded of the warm but most unsettling fact that Shiva was romantically interested in him. Him, the paranoid, cynical, formerly and still occasionally pscyhcopathic, most definitely unhinged in some fashion, moral grey at best ,  ex-Team Plasma member. Ven morosely pondered this oddity, as his most blessed friend struggled to remove herself from the bed and meet him over at the table for them to enjoy their meals together, careful to broadcast only happy emotions/vibes so as to not worry his dear. 'Why? Why? Why does Shiva care for.....love me so much? Me, a individual with more problems than solutions, who's done terrible things for even more horrible reasons, and likely repeatidly do things the group may find adverse in future? What did I ever do to deserve the affections of this wonderful, caring, compassionate, and accepting woman? ......How can I possible return such feelings towards her without burdening her with my own sins, or ruin this cherished friendship we already now possess......?'

Ventus was brought out of such melancholy thoughts when, as he was in the middle of eating his oatmeal, he heard a loud *Crack!*, causing his head to dart towards the direction of the sound, and discovered that Shiva's Pink Egg was hatching! Before he or his mystic friend could even react further, the Egg had fully cracked open to reveal a Spirtze, who soon made its way over to their table and appeared to be luxerating in the smell of all their breakfast! Automatically, the researcher tensed up at the sight and heady smell of the aromatic Pokémon, as the fae creature brought back.......unpleasant memories of those Aromatises that.....beguiled his mother so. Oh, how he wished he could forgot that terrifying scene, but at the same time he knew he wouldn't dare to either; such a thing would be far to costly......

With deliberate effort, however, he forced himself to relax before taking out a stick of his lavender incense, carefully lighting it, sticking it in his mouth and started to smoke it to both calm himself down and block out the romantic scent. 'Be calm, my restless mind and soul. This is Shiva's beloved child, not those insidious fae that.....that twisted my mother so. They mean you neither you or anyone else any harm, even if the aroma they emit it rather.......pungent. Look the happy, innocent love they share, and know that Spirtze will mean no harm towards you, or that Shiva will not allow it the chance to do so. Be calm, be calm,' Ventus thought to himself as he watched his most blessed friend at her perfumed child share that loving moment while repeating that mantra several times in his head, until he finally felt at ease enough to give a 'normal' response and finally share in the joy of this occasion.

"My heartiest felicitations for the hatching of your Spiritze, my dear! With you strong affinity with Fairies and all the care you put into raising them, I'm certain you two will form a strong bond that will last a lifetime!"

The sociologist then suddenly looked thoughtful for a moment as the sight of Shiva + Spiritze bonding tickled at a lurking sentiment in his brain (Besides paranioa, of course; that was shouting at full volume), and it hit him: he had yet introduced his latest family member to her, and neatly facepalmed at forgetting to do such an important thing earlier! Fortunately, Ventus had token the chance to [b]switch Lucifer and Haziel into his party to check up on them/feed them some delicious fruit for breakfast before he came back to his shared room, so that could be remedied in short order!

"Shiva, would you mind if I summon a Pokémon of my own to greet both Spiritze and you? He's a Natu by the name of Haziel, and is my latest member of my family that I added a couple of days ago, and I wish to introduce him to you and the rest of the group in due time! The reason why is that he has the most curious yet useful ability to Teleport far more frequently and at longer ranges than an average Pokémon with the move, and so I wanted to inform everyone of his talent in case it needs to be called upon!"

Order: Have Ventus contempulate the lucky break he had by somehow wooing Shiva without even trying, light up an incense to help him cope with Spiritze faster (How do they react tot he frangerance, Iron?) , congratulate Shiva for said fae Pokémon's birth, and offer to introduce/inform her of Haziel ability. Whew, that's a lot of words I had to write, but hopefully it was worth the wait!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Once Shiva has sweetly nuzzled and greeted her newly hatched Pokemon enough for now and probably already smelled like the perfume sector of Shopping Mall Nine due to that, she straightly yet carefully placed little Spritzee onto her shoulder, where she (I'll make it a female exemplar, gender ration is 50/50) almost immediately hid herself between some of her Mum's/Master's strands of hair. While Shiva was none who uses perfume on a daily basis, she was weeeeell aware, even with her not being too interested in history, that royal ladies were selecting an exemplar of these fairies after a smell they were enjoying and made it a habit to then carry it around instead of using a 'real' perfume. Shiva's young Spritzee was emitting an indeed incredibly romantic smell that reminded on lilacs and freshly cut grass! She'll probably keep Spritzee there for the rest of the Day just because. This may include during Gym Battle later this day.

Her gaze then still somewhat coyly fell back to Ven, and realtively quickly she picked up that he seemed...a little less delighted over the hatching of a Fairy Type during his presence, and she has already cottoned on that the oddball of a researcher had the habit of smoking lavender incenses when being...stressed or similar...(She still doesn't think that this was much healthy though, but she'd neverever say this). Her own enjoyment got a tad bit diminished by that and she was wondering what was wrong while she mustered Ven for a little... Before it came to her. Right... Oh hell, she hasn't considered THIS at all... Then, she reached over the table to take one of his hands into hers; and if he'd face her, he'd notice her faintly smiling in a hopefully calming manner. "Ven..." HELL, almost she adressed him with 'Venny'! Bad thoughts, blame the Spritzee's scent!! "T...Thank you for you praise and congrats. But... I bet this does trigger some bad memories for you or put you on edge, but please rest assured and KNOW that this is different... There's no 'danger' coming from my new hatchling. She's just freshly hatched, and I'll take good care of her." Her expression and emotional pool became warm and almost lovingly before she withdrew her own hand from his.

The topic then changed to Ven's new party/family member, and at the opening that it was a Natu, Shiva would have fallen around his neck in excitment if she wasn't currently sitting at the opposite side of the one Ventus were at. Not only had Ven obtained a Psychic Type for himself, but even one that was cloaked a portion of mystic AND was...wait, what did he say was Haziel's special ability...?! "My, that's spectacular to hear, Ven! I'd feel happy to meet him right away!~" She then looked a little more bashful, throwing glances between Ven and the overly interesting floor of the dorm, before she finally spoke out what was lingering within her mind... It felt like this could possibly enable her a trip to Ginger Town. Most likely it would, if Ventus would be fine to... "Uhm... You said he's able to teleport us to further away locations, right...? Do you, well, think he could bring me to Ginger Town from Cress City, would you...loan it to me if I'd ask for it? I'd like to hatch an Eevee..."

She threw a glance over to Vaporeon at the last sentence, who was currently laying all curled up at the end of the bed, resting as the strong fregrance prevented her from sleeping longer. She returned Shiva's gaze once.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(...)

Her own enjoyment got a tad bit diminished by that and she was wondering what was wrong while she mustered Ven for a little... Before it came to her. Right... Oh hell, she hasn't considered THIS at all... Then, she reached over the table to take one of his hands into hers; and if he'd face her, he'd notice her faintly smiling in a hopefully calming manner. "Ven..." HELL, almost she adressed him with 'Venny'! Bad thoughts, blame the Spritzee's scent!! "T...Thank you for you praise and congrats. But... I bet this does trigger some bad memories for you or put you on edge, but please rest assured and KNOW that this is different... There's no 'danger' coming from my new hatchling. She's just freshly hatched, and I'll take good care of her." Her expression and emotional pool became warm and almost lovingly before she withdrew her own hand from his.

The topic then changed to Ven's new party/family member, and at the opening that it was a Natu, Shiva would have fallen around his neck in excitment if she wasn't currently sitting at the opposite side of the one Ventus were at. Not only had Ven obtained a Psychic Type for himself, but even one that was cloaked a portion of mystic AND was...wait, what did he say was Haziel's special ability...?! "My, that's spectacular to hear, Ven! I'd feel happy to meet him right away!~" She then looked a little more bashful, throwing glances between Ven and the overly interesting floor of the dorm, before she finally spoke out what was lingering within her mind... It felt like this could possibly enable her a trip to Ginger Town. Most likely it would, if Ventus would be fine to... "Uhm... You said he's able to teleport us to further away locations, right...? Do you, well, think he could bring me to Ginger Town from Cress City, would you...loan it to me if I'd ask for it? I'd like to hatch an Eevee..."

She threw a glance over to Vaporeon at the last sentence, who was currently laying all curled up at the end of the bed, resting as the strong fregrance prevented her from sleeping longer. She returned Shiva's gaze once.

The researcher's sharp and keen sense of empathy picked up on the lessened happiness and increased worry of his dearest friend in the world in response to his own tulmultious mood, causing him to minutely and internally panic until he quashed those sentiments. Before he could even think of a way to asunge Shiva of the negativity he tried to forestall earlier, however, his fae friend beat him to the punch and instead she was the one doing the comforting! Her prompt action and unexpected, sincere, and soothing words shocked/stunned Ventus, as usually it was him that did the consoling, not the other way around! 

For a brief moment, his guard was lowered by this reversal, and all the anxiety, stress, fear, and uncertainly that lurked just beneath his joyful semi-façade was apparent to her. Quickly, though, he recovered, and soon all that Shiva was greet by a carefully neutral expression that was neither happy nor sad. Just......tired. Pained. Ven was silent for the span of around five minutes, and when he did finally speak up it his voice almost perfectly mirror his expression. "...........I'm aware of this, Shiva. Your child present has no nefarious intentions, nor any desires to beguile either of us. I know all of this..........but still, its hard to forget. To detach myself from that.....that 'fateful' day, from all the horrible first and second hand Encounter's I've had with the fae and arcane. To not condemn every Fairy type I see or meet as a foul monster with capracious designs upon anyone's soul. Its so, so hard at times......"

Ventus expression then shifted towards one of......peace. Content. "Still.....I know not all Fairies and Magical Pokemon are bad, so I must try to be open minded with them, and give them all a chance they deserve. If I completely close my mind and heart to those I perceive as 'bad', to endlessly persecute what I deem 'wrong'......then I would just end up like my brother, sooner or later."

"..........Thank you, dear. I'll get used to Spiritze in short order, so don't overly worry yourself about me, ok?"

Once enough time had passed for him to do as he said and regain his previous cheer, he was able to fully return his mystical enthusiasm with a great big dazzling grin, before he released Haziel onto the table. The prophetic bird in question proceeded to immediately begin a staring contest with her, while also gauging what type of person she was. Given the feelings his master was experiencing right now because of her, the little birdy suspect she was quite the good girl indeed!

"Haziel, this is Shiva, and her Pokémon Spiritze and Vaporeon. Make yourselves acquainted now!"

When Shiva brought up the topic of borrowing his Insightful bird to breed an Eevee at some point, he didn't even have to think as he nodded his head. "So long as Haziel is fine with it, you may borrow him for this task of yours, and any others if I don't have plans to utilize his Teleports myself!"

That being said, Ventus quickly finished the rest of his breakfast, before getting up and motioning towards the door.

"Well, shall we head towards the lobby, and meet with the rest of the group before we set about our personal objectives? I desire to have a go at Dagney poste haste, but that doesn't mean I can't delay a little greet everyone!"

Order: Ven opens up a little bit, introduces Haziel to Shiva and agrees to their plan, before making their way to the lobby with Shiva! Now all's that left to do is talk to Nathan and check up on Heart, and we all can get started on our biz!

[Dragonstrike]

As Shiva and Ventus enter the lobby, they don't actually see Nathan.

Instead, they see Kirlia quickly running into the lobby, looking incredibly worried, his gaze searching for...something.  Doesn't seem like he's spotted what he's looking for yet in his haste...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Flashback because this scene is not yet finished to my taste?

Spoiler

The researcher's sharp and keen sense of empathy picked up on the lessened happiness and increased worry of his dearest friend in the world in response to his own tulmultious mood, causing him to minutely and internally panic until he quashed those sentiments. Before he could even think of a way to asunge Shiva of the negativity he tried to forestall earlier, however, his fae friend beat him to the punch and instead she was the one doing the comforting! Her prompt action and unexpected, sincere, and soothing words shocked/stunned Ventus, as usually it was him that did the consoling, not the other way around!

For a brief moment, his guard was lowered by this reversal, and all the anxiety, stress, fear, and uncertainly that lurked just beneath his joyful semi-façade was apparent to her. Quickly, though, he recovered, and soon all that Shiva was greet by a carefully neutral expression that was neither happy nor sad. Just......tired. Pained. Ven was silent for the span of around five minutes, and when he did finally speak up it his voice almost perfectly mirror his expression. "...........I'm aware of this, Shiva. Your child present has no nefarious intentions, nor any desires to beguile either of us. I know all of this..........but still, its hard to forget. To detach myself from that.....that 'fateful' day, from all the horrible first and second hand Encounter's I've had with the fae and arcane. To not condemn every Fairy type I see or meet as a foul monster with capracious designs upon anyone's soul. Its so, so hard at times......"

Ventus expression then shifted towards one of......peace. Content. "Still.....I know not all Fairies and Magical Pokemon are bad, so I must try to be open minded with them, and give them all a chance they deserve. If I completely close my mind and heart to those I perceive as 'bad', to endlessly persecute what I deem 'wrong'......then I would just end up like my brother, sooner or later."

"..........Thank you, dear. I'll get used to Spiritze in short order, so don't overly worry yourself about me, ok?"

When Ven was looking and sounding so painfully neutral, so stressed, old and plain not like Shiva is used for him to be, she remained completely silent for as long as he found his voice back. In a tense moment like this, she prefered to to speak any words at all, as they were just to endangered to break the silence in an unpleasant manner - but it was obvious that she felt for Ven.

When he spoke up, she finally faced him again with an expression that was just as calm as before, and she listenened to every word he had to say. When he has finished and asked her to not worry herself about him, nothing really kept Shiva at her place by the table anymore, so as some sort of answer she leaned over and extended her hand even more to tenderly stroke Ven over  the left cheek, luring him to face her as well - he'd meet her smiling carefully, yet that smile was one that was purely honest and warm, and it was adressed to him. She'd hug or even kiss him on cheek right now, but with that fragrance of her new Fairy Type on her clothes she abstained from that. "Certainly it's hard to forget, dear... And even harder to detatch yourself from it... But do you even have to forget and detatch yourself from it?" She faintly shook her head, causing Spritzee on her shoulder to move closer to her Master's cheek afterwards. "No. As long as you don't let the paranoia and phobia rule you and determine every of your decision, it's fine, really... Whether you give a Fairy a chance or not is up to you, but I feel blessed that you are giving my own fairies and me a chance." She withdrew her hand and leaned back again to let these words sink in into him.

The atmosphere got a lot better however when Natu appeared! Shiva, being naturally fascinated by the species, offered her hand to the psychic bird to sit on it while keeping the other closed one yet out of sight for it before that starring contest began (one that Shiva lost). "Uhm... well then, welcome, Haziel! Bet with your psychic powers you've also got to know me? If you can guess how many pirsif cookies I have crumbled here in my hand," *showing it to Haziel*, "you can have all of them."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

As Shiva and Ventus enter the lobby, they don't actually see Nathan.

Instead, they see Kirlia quickly running into the lobby, looking incredibly worried, his gaze searching for...something.  Doesn't seem like he's spotted what he's looking for yet in his haste...

Naturally that Shiva didn't miss this, and seeing the psychic dancer so worried RARELY meant anything good. Actually, it never did.

To catch his attention in case the strong fragrance coming from her hasn't already, Shiva waved to Kirlia before casting a glance over to Ventus that seemingly said 'Trouble in the morning... I don't like them at all, but still - can't just sit and do nothing!', before got a little down to be around eye level with Kirlia. "Eh, first of all, good morning, Kirlia... Now, where's your Master? And more importantly, can you try to show us what's wrong and why all that worry?"

[Dragonstrike]

To catch his attention in case the strong fragrance coming from her hasn't already, Shiva waved to Kirlia before casting a glance over to Ventus that seemingly said 'Trouble in the morning... I don't like them at all, but still - can't just sit and do nothing!', before got a little down to be around eye level with Kirlia. "Eh, first of all, good morning, Kirlia... Now, where's your Master? And more importantly, can you try to show us what's wrong and why all that worry?"

Kirlia only sits still for just long enough for Shiva to ask those questions.

He frowns at Nathan being called his 'master.'

However, in response to both questions...

...Kirlia grabs Shiva's hand and starts attempting to lead her back to Nathan's room.

And not once during all of this does Kirlia pay Ventus any mind.