[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

This tiredness...
This negativety....
That simply AWEFUL state her usually so dear oddball of researcher was.....
Combined with some of Ventus' most valuable items so openly on the table......
That was practically enough to let the penny withing the concerned fae enthusiast drop.

Shiva didn't like that sensation, not in the tiniest bit and not ever in her wildest dreams. Immediately she felt an almost overwhelming urge to just WRAP HER ARMS around Ven's neck, hold him and never let him leave this room.

She seemed unable to follow that urge however as something deep within her must have suffered a crack and paralyzed her from the inside. Or, maybe not a just a crack, maybe it has been shattered into a thousand tiny pointy pieces that not stabbed her very heart, making it heavy and arching as pins and needles were attacking it recklessly.

She fell. Deeply. Not from the chair, but mentally. Blackness engulfed her as Ventus spoke out what she seriously feared by now, making her suspicion true. Oh how she now wished that they have NEVER left Mount Sentry, that they were still down there and...and maybe even that that the sensation of being buried alive held for long enough........

Only halfly she listened to her dear's further words. Barely she processed that he was giving out farewell-gifts, no real reaction has been allured by him praising her skills in crafting and Pokemon Breeding - her painfully neutral and blank expression remained as she was only facing Ventus from the side.

Before she fully noticed it, tears ran down her cheek, they came sudden and without a sound or sob. Shiva remained paralyzed like after a Crit-Thunder Wave, letting them now stream down her cheek. Everything felt so away and distant - she should rejoice for being back at the surface. Only a few minutes before, she did, but now... nothing of that felt real anymore.

Eventually however, Shiva SOMEHOW made it to make a move: At first it wasn't more than hanging her head and obscuring her expressionless face partly as her hair fell forward, but a few moment later she covered her face with her both. ....It didn't do anything to make her stop weeping so painfully, it only seemed to INCREASE it only as she tried to fight it with all her might.

.....There wasn't enough strength within this young female with Grass, Fairy and Psychic affinity to deal with these news now. She just...couldn't. She thought there was as she has grown so well since Trillium Town - but it simply wasn't enough to deal with such a thing.



She was still crying and covering her face as she must has found her voice back SOMEHOW upon the small word 'why' from Ventus's side. Right.... If remembering, it wasn't such of a SUDDEN newsflash actually. ....This thought didn't help her in the slightest to cope. Not now at least.

Her words seemed tonless and awefully weak when she spoke up, head still in hands. "Ven...... Oh Ven. Why...? Is it because.....because what you've told me in Atheneum? Because we all.... If I'd only knew before, I'd.... But how do you imagine me getting....along now without you to turn to in hardest times? Who shall I lean into when things are dangerous or overwhelming?.... I wanted to...visit the Zen Garden in Charring Cross with you.... Wanted to...see the praised sunset in Elanor with you.. Learn how to close my mind from negativity when my empathic senses develope further.... Am I...left alone to do all these things...alone now?"

The certainly expensive Fast Incubator and the other gifts for her from him are not thought of now and she doesn't want to take any of them right now by her own initiative.


-------------------------------
(Cottonee is on her lap or beside her at the table, @Iron. Given that she's the Pokemon who Shiva has poured her heart to a few times already and her fist choice when needing comfort, can I leave reactions of her to you?)

(That's also my last post for today, night. Not yet finished I guess, so please pause at an appropriate point if possible, Windos.)

[Iron]

Cottonee feels like Shiva! And without the human prohibition against crying - the little fluffball is sobbing and her cotton is absorbing a steady stream of tears.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Heart eyes almost go out of his face when Ventus announce his (Ventus) depart from the group. "WHAT?!" Say Heart a little more loud he was intent. "W-why Ventus? Why you make such haste decision after we have finally get out of Mt. Sentry? I...I respect your decision but...what about our adventure? The Quest to get the HM-Fly? The mission of get the Dive HM? The battle you promised we would have? About, well, everything! You just gonna go, just like that?" Heart try his best to hold his tears. He is very sensitive about friends say goodbye.

Spoiler

(…)

She was still crying and covering her face as she must has found her voice back SOMEHOW upon the small word 'why' from Ventus's side. Right.... If remembering, it wasn't such of a SUDDEN newsflash actually. ....This thought didn't help her in the slightest to cope. Not now at least.

Her words seemed tonless and awefully weak when she spoke up, head still in hands. "Ven...... Oh Ven. Why...? Is it because.....because what you've told me in Atheneum? Because we all.... If I'd only knew before, I'd.... But how do you imagine me getting....along now without you to turn to in hardest times? Who shall I  lean into when things are dangerous or overwhelming?.... I wanted to...visit the Zen Garden in Charring Cross with you.... Wanted to...see the praised sunset in Elanor with you.. Learn how to close my mind from negativity when my empathic senses develope further.... Am I...left alone to do all these things...alone now?"

The certainly expensive Fast Incubator and the other gifts for her from him are not thought of now and she doesn't want to take any of them right now by her own initiative.


-------------------------------
(Cottonee is on her lap or beside her at the table, @Iron. Given that she's the Pokemon who Shiva has poured her heart to a few times already and her fist choice when needing comfort, can I leave reactions of her to you?)

(That's also my last post for today, night. Not yet finished I guess, so please pause at an appropriate point if possible, Windos.)

Ventus couldn't stand the condemning stare of Heart, nor the outpouring of distraught grief from his beloved Shiva, causing him to shut off his empathy and continued to avoid look at the rest of the group to avoid being....overwhelmed and sink into even more tired self loathing as he responded to them both.


"....I'm.....I'm simply had enough. Enough drama, enough perilous and stressful adventures, enough facing terrifying enemies, enough back breaking responsibility, enough magical and arcane happenstance. I've just had enough. "

He almost exclaimed the last sentence, but with all the stress and anxiety backing his words it surely FELT like he was yelling it. For a moment, he paused to calm himself and not work himself up into a tizzy, before he continued in a much more subdued tone of voice.
 
"When I first embarked on my journey through Cheshire so long, long ago, my main and explicit purpose was to research and study the bonds, behavior, and sociology of the Pokémon here, as well as between their own species, other species, and humanity themselves. Start a family of Pokémon, as recommended to me by my friend Cynthia, attempt the Gym Challenge and other odd events that caught my fancy, and once that was all over, perhaps even start a new life here in this land, away from my....burdensome past in Unova. That was it. A simple task and goal, nothing more, nothing less."

Another heavy sigh left him as he said this, as if saying what he did was exhausting and depressing him at the same time, until he worked up the Will to continue, sounding more sullen, bitter, and disheartened than ever before.

"However, things are never so simple, is it? At least, not for me and my overly interesting life. First, those wretched Scimitars enter into our lives, and serve to make our journey through the region all the more forboding and ominious. Next comes Corsage and those FIENDS that plagued the dreams of the citzens there, and one of them continuing to haunt me so. Then came raiding a Scimitar Base, and learning that not only those mages were FAR more entrenched and well resourced than ever imagined, but Almanac, a leading mega corporation in Cheshire that treats Pokémon Rights and Ethnics as 'optional', were in bed with them in some manner. Following that were those Vines, and our quest to cease their growth to prevent them from chocking the life out Cheshire, which ended with a meeting with some blighted eremit that sealed you into a deal and tried to rope me into a destiny I wanted NO PART OF. Then came the Scimitars nearly crashing the Little Cup in Stair, and further evidence they are more pervasive and dangerous than ever before. Finally and most recently, our quest through Mt. Sentry to reach and safeguard Antheneum, and ALL the dangers and baffling things we encountered on the journey- I won't rehash it all. All of that, and maybe even MORE that is escaping my notice."


" So much EXCITING events, all so dangerous and consequential, and absolutely NONE OF THEM ASKED FOR. NONE OF THEM WHATSOEVER!"

Silence reigned as Ven DID exclaim that last part, seething and fuming at all the sheer Tarous Shit him and the group has been put through these past couple of months, and those were just the major events. He didn't mention all the arguments between him and the group or the (to him) unwholesome MAGIC that had become seemingly commonplace in his life, and the less said of the trust and compassion he lost for his companions, the better...

".....I didn't come to Cheshire to get embroiled in MORE drama and hardship; quite the opposite, frankly. I came here for a fresh start, to be FREE of my past obligations and failures, but ever since this journey of mine start it appears a new set of burdens have come to rest on not only MY shoulders, but everyone elses, slowly but surely. I've been.....tired of this development for quite some time, but until now I was willing to put aside my own feelings and persevere for the group's shake, and help resolve all this crap that kept stinking up our lives."


" After....after facing Seikamater , though, I started to doubt that I could last so much longer with EVERYTHING that happened, was happening, and WILL happen, and when we arrived at Antheneum and....and all that happened there.....…it was the breaking point. If things like THAT were not only going to continue happen, but seemingly get MORE INTENSE and WORSE as time went on.....it was simply maddening and beyond reason. During my stay in the library I thought over the prospect of leaving the group in earnest then, but...I decided to delay that decision, and see if my paranoid premintions of things getting more and more hectic were going to come true. …Given what happened in the tunnels post departure and or sudden arrival here, I was proven RIGHT."

At this moment Ventus looked up at everyone once more, and he simply looked defeated. Crushed. And Utterly fed UP.

"....After we arrived in front of The Cathedral, I've simply decided thus: enough was enough. I NEEDED to get out, ESCAPE this wild, chaotic, and FAR TOO MAGICAL journey I was on, and simply QUIT while I was ahead. I've gathered plenty of data since the start of my journey, I've done Cheshire several good deeds, and I've made friend and family that will last a lifetime. No need to go any further, put myself through the grinder, and suffer any more bloody stressful adventure before my heart gives out or I lose what is left of my mind. "

…

"....I've already arranged for someone else to take over in my abscene in the event I had to.....leave for whatever reason, and I have ensured and vetted they are fully capable of protecting and defending the group in my stead. They've been briefed about everything relevant that has happened thus far, excluding our most recent quest through Mt. Sentry, and I will leave the explaining of the finer details to you. Expect them to arrive shortly after my departure after I get into contact with them, and please...treat them fairly and with kindness. Don't hate or loathe them, and give them a chance, my friends. They're....nothing like me and a good man at heart, so they'll be none of the issues.....you've had with me."

With that additional news announced, the researcher went silent, and let the rest of the group have a chance to respond while he rested. …..Hopefully they now understood why he had to leave now, and if they didn't....he wouldn't begrudge them otherwise. He didn't deserve their sympathy at this point, for leaving them hanging like this.....

[Dragonstrike]

...

Nathan can't really take any more of this.  Once Kirlia is finished putting everything in Nathan's bag...

...Nathan just silently picks it up...

...and he and Kirlia leave the room without saying a word.

...he's taking this really hard and he just...needs to leave the room. He's trying not to show it on the outside, though.

---------------------------

He's trying really hard to not give in to his emotions right now.  Trying really hard to not cry, not be angry...

...anything.  Feeling anything besides that turmoil right now would be better.

He makes his way to the PC.  He needs to check on something before he forgets: Solosis.  He also needs to deposit the Delta Foretress...and grab a few friends.  But checking on the status of the transfer that Solosis is in comes first.

[Spiritmon]

When Ventus have finish everything that was heavy on his mind, Heart look to him not with insquisitive eyes, but with eyes of sadness but understanding. He understand how Ventus feel: The feeling of go to another place, to escape the problems and to feel the burden of responsability you never asked. That was the feeling Heart feel many years ago, when all his clan was destroyed and he was the last ArcHeart. After that he go down to a perilous path, one he is not proud. Then he travel the world, not to just meet all kinds of pokemon, but as a self punishment for everything. He was a arduous and alone path, but was one necessary. To become more wise, until he would be able to face his demons, and finally accept the responsability and to finally know what to do.

He know Ventus choice is up to Ventus himself, and as much he want to Ventus (he want a lot) he understand there is nothing he can do change Ventus choice. Heart stand up and go in the direction of Ventus. When everyone think he would punch him or something like that, he only give Ventus a hug. As a friend, Heart is a really emotional person, and dont like see a friend go. Many tears roll in his eyes. "*Snif* At least maintain contact with us okay? *Sob* As much you dont want to continue this journey, please...dont ever forget about us." Heart then let out the hug and talk again with Ventus. This time with a sad smile. "You know, I think I never thanked you everything you have teach me *Hic* *Sob* We...*Snif* I should have spend more time with you. I regret to not have more conversations with you...or the stories we could have told and laugh..." Now he really crying quite a lot. 

With tears in his eyes. He take the Good Rod, Buck Knife, Wide Lens, and the Marowak. "I...*snif* I will take with great care those items Ventus. *Snif* As much you will not travel with us, we will never, ever forget you." Heart point to his own heart. "You are a important friend. To all of us." Heart then return to Shiva, trying his best to restore his composture. He is called Heart for a reason. He always try to be honest with his emotions.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

(Many thanks for waiting, @Lord Windos. Onwards then...)



Some weird sobbing from directly beside Shiva finally caused her to take her hands from her face and the tears becoming less for a short time (in the means of no stream anymore) as she turned to find the source of these sounds. How she looked plain horrible, defeated and just UNABLE to maintain her calm and whatever fortitude she has build up since starting the journey, is pretty obvious. But seeing her most dear fluffball being just as distraught as she was felt like giving her the rest: In an instant sweeping gesture, weeping Cottonee ends up being dragged into her beloved Master's arms for a hearty and heartbreaking embrace.

Being busy now with comforting Cottonee and wiping of remaining tears with the sleeve of her Ranger's cloak as she's still wearing it, she listens to what Ventus had to say about the reasons why with barely any reaction. Only when he said 'one of them continuing to haunt [him] so' a very weak and knowing smile formed on her features - he'll be free from the issues with that mockery of a dog now. Lucky him. Allured by that the faint and desperate idea of either 1. joining Ventus or 2. being the next one who's leaving the group came to Shiva, but it didn't need much pondering to get that he wouldn't allow that AND it'd go against her promise to leave him alone to cope with the happenings surrounding the Gauntlet (1.) or he outright wouldn't want that; hell, she wasn't even sure whether SHE would want that (2.): Shaking her head a little, she let go of SUCH thoughts.

She didn't react as Nathan left the room without a single word, but faintly gasps as Heart ends up laying his arms around her love, well aware that he as well was 'more than human'. Will he take it, she wondered....?


An understanding nod accompanied with a sob that she simply failed to hold was all that Shiva was able to give Ventus as he went silent before she hung her head again, pressed Cottonee a little tighter against herself and looked away from the dear oddball of researcher as she didn't want him to see her like THAT. 'Lots of what he shared matches with what you feared it was the reason, my dear, doesn't it?' .....she didn't respond, but it was painfullyTRUE.

"...I don't want that" she whispered. "I don't want that you're......going from me, us, but..... It's no use. Just like you need time and are always trying to cope and embrace me again, I need a while until I'm able to embrace your choice here, Ven... A...All I can do is TRYING to give your.....your successor *she almost spit that word out in a feeling of wrongness* a chance. I'll just......hope that he can become someone that will help me when I need aid or a strong shoulder now that you'll be.....so far away, someone who'll still be able to take me on a promised hunting trip... Someone who's happy to spend time with me.... Someone I............ someone I can call a 'friend' until you are back at my side."

Once more she had to wipe her eyes, but while doing so her gaze fell on these farewell-gifts that were still on the table and seemed to be ment to her for the most part. She still was reluctant to simply take them however, as it meant directly accepting his departure for her - she might not get a hold on them unless Ventus definitely makes sure that it's okay, but now she turned faintly interested as it seemed as she spoke up once more to him: ".....You said having 'one more gift to me to be given in private'.... When...IS 'private'?"

[Iron]

...

Nathan can't really take any more of this.  Once Kirlia is finished putting everything in Nathan's bag...

...Nathan just silently picks it up...

...and he and Kirlia leave the room without saying a word.

...he's taking this really hard and he just...needs to leave the room.  He's trying not to show it on the outside, though.

---------------------------

He's trying really hard to not give in to his emotions right now.  Trying really hard to not cry, not be angry...

...anything.  Feeling anything besides that turmoil right now would be better.

He makes his way to the PC.  He needs to check on something before he forgets: Solosis.  He also needs to deposit the Delta Foretress...and grab a few friends.  But checking on the status of the transfer that Solosis is in comes first.

Solosis has arrived! 

H/L/D: 1/1/-1
Overcoat
0Xp moves, Recover, Light Screen, Future Sight, Confuse Ray.

[Dragonstrike]

Solosis has arrived! 

H/L/D: 1/1/-1
Overcoat
0Xp moves, Recover, Light Screen, Future Sight, Confuse Ray.

Whoa, negative Disobedience...dang.

Nathan definitely withdraws Solosis first so he can check on her.  "You doing okay?"

[Iron]

Solosis has arrived! 

H/L/D: 1/1/-1
Overcoat
0Xp moves, Recover, Light Screen, Future Sight, Confuse Ray.

Whoa, negative Disobedience...dang.

Nathan definitely withdraws Solosis first so he can check on her.  "You doing okay?"

"Peep!" 
The hole in her head is healing nicely after a visit to the Healing Machine. Her goo has replenished.

[Dragonstrike]

"Peep!" 
The hole in her head is healing nicely after a visit to the Healing Machine. Her goo has replenished.

Small smile from Nathan.  "Nice to see you're somewhat chipper.  You really think you'll be more comfortable sticking with me?"

Nathan's also making it a point to check Solosis's Original Trainer ID.  That'll be valuable info to have.