[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Nathan looks at the pokeballs for a moment.  Considers what Terra said...

Then he rolls the pokeballs back to Terra.  Plus another one which almost seems to appear from out of nowhere (though Nathan really just very swiftly pulled it out of one of his coat pockets.  They're not a GB, but they are worth as much as one as far as money goes).




"Keep 'em.  I think you need 'em more than I do.  Can't promise we won't be getting in more dangerous situations like that in the future, but I'll try not to make a habit of it.  I can't promise I won't try to think of ways to keep you safe, either.  Every life is precious, in its own special way...and you're no exception.  I don't think it's really that easy to say whose life is worth more, to be honest...besides, it's not exactly good for self esteem to think of it that way, in my opinion."

...

"...ah, uh...I was being sarcastic about the 'friend' thing.  And, uh...I'm sorry for getting everyone in that mess in the first place...*ahem*...anyways...helpin' out is the least I could do here.  I know what it's like to lose a friend you were really close to...*ahem*...so, uh...yeah...no trouble for Gallade to help ya make sure you and your friends get outta there safely.  None at all."

Yup, there ya go.  Nathan feels guilty about that situation too, and he's admitting it.  And for very similar reasons to what Terra just stated, no less.

(I do still want the other loaned red pokeballs back from Shiva and Heart, though.  Great Balls will be divided accordingly)

The mountain of a man is yet[i] again[/i] surprised by the clever trainer giving him the loan Pokeballs + one extra, blinking a few times as he stared at the three dodads, then at them again, before closing his eyes, letting out a small *sigh...*, and nodded, swiping them all up and pocketing them.

"........That will be enough. Can't always keep you or others safe....but can try to. ...And you will do the same for me. ………Thank you, Nathan."

*Beat*

"…Uh....what is.....'self esteem?' Is it something....important?"

Well, that explains a lot....

A little bit later....

"Ah. *Pauses and frowns in thought, then shakes his head* Not you fault. Didn't know about Unown…..weird power, or they would create Art Monsters or Tiny Pink. It is.....okay, my friend. Bad stuff....happens."

He reaches over to pat them on the shoulder, sympathetically and gentle. That...was all for that moment, really.

Eventually, when all things were said between the tow diametrically opposed men, Terra bid them farewell for now, and got prepared to leave for Ancestor Cave ASAP. The first thing he did go over to his PC to teach Melly Hidden Power, leaving him with one copy remaining. He was all too aware of how hobbled they were in that cave fight due to being unable to use Discharge without zapping everyone, so another attacking Move would be just the thing to fix its woeful variety. Hopefully, he can do the same 'repairs' with his Lovely Lapis Lazuil….

He then exited the Center, and did the following things:

- Sold his Star Piece for $4900 Poke, and bought another Potion!
- Went over to the Violet Tent, and purchases a TM of Wil-lo-wisp for Duskull later!
- Earmarks $1800 Poke for their future camp training, and stores it safely away with the TM W.
Has $400 Poke left now!

With all that done and time killed, the simple monk nodded to Gallade, signally he was ready to make the return treck to Ancestor Cave, and set out. He was not going to leave his partners behind any longer than the bare minimum.

Order: Make a return to Ancestor Cave to retrieve/rescue his partners!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The Eevee family is eating and feeling somewhat comfortable, at least physically. Eevee does allow a few pats before he gets restless. Shiva thinks they will soon be receptive to meeting Vaporeon and the Egg.

'Soon'... Humm, that means Shiva would have to keep Vaporeon+her Egg and Umbreon+Dittumbreon+Eevee apart from each other for a little before she's feeling they'll be ready to meet. She's sure that she'll 'feel it' when both parties are ready for some friendly greetings and interactions. That means, she's keeping Vaporeon close to herself now, and the Egg safely in the Incubator and at a spot where Umbreon and Co. and see but not reach it.

She's withdrawing her hand immediately when picking up any hint of discomfort from the young Eevee, pleased that he allowed her to touch him at all. If Shiva wishes to help raising this wild Eevee, she is aware that she'd have to get him used to her care from earliest possible, with the parent's permission.

Taking a seat at the table of the dorm for now, she's leaving the small family alone for a little, but outside of the Balls. Every now and then she throws a friendly gaze over to them, but for the most part she's occupied with taking notes about that strange Psychic Type Eevee from the mural in her own journal, depicting it in a small drawing even as she tries to remember every aspect of its behaviour and look. 

She's especially noting down the genetic curiosities - being an Eevee, but looking much like an Espeon apart from the tail, as well as having a ruff of neckfur like a Jolteon and some flames around its feet pointing to traits of a Flareon. Weird. Has she learned anything more from watching it during the brief time it battled against them, is there anythingelse she would have noticed by doing so that hasn't been mentioned yet? 

Is Dizzy also in the room? Or lurking somewhere outside? 

[Dragonstrike]

Some knocking on the door catches Shiva off guard, she was just trying to get the young Eevee to play a little with her. Staring at the door wondering whether she should open or just ignore it, her senses tell her that it can only be one person, right... Eventually she sighs a little, lets Eevee grab the feather used as a toy, gets up and opens the door - it was indeed Nathan, her intution was correct.

"Well, hello. Come in if you like.... You're probably here for the Unown I caught and Terra has given me, right? Find yourself a seat. Before I hand the Unown to you, would it be okay for you if I, eh... join when you'll be handing them to Professor Laurelin? I'd like to ask her something myself and show her that...Shiny U I caught. Please? When do you plan to visit her?" her voice was calm the whole time, maybe a little lower due to exhaustion, but friendly for sure.

"Yes, I'm here for the Unown."

Nathan does take a seat, making sure to stay a respectful distance away from the Eevee family.

He has to think a little bit about Shiva's request to join him when he goes to talk to Laurelin.

"...that's fine.  I'm actually going to go pay her a visit right now.  She's probably still at the museum, in her office/lab.  Likely working on cleaning up yet another fossil."

Nathan shifts positions in the chair, feeling just a tad awkward about this, despite how matter of fact he's been about the Laurelin stuff.  "...also...so...you still have at least one of those pokeballs I loaned ya left?"

Spoiler

The mountain of a man is yet[i] again[/i] surprised by the clever trainer giving him the loan Pokeballs + one extra, blinking a few times as he stared at the three dodads, then at them again, before closing his eyes, letting out a small *sigh...*, and nodded, swiping them all up and pocketing them.

"........That will be enough. Can't always keep you or others safe....but can try to. ...And you will do the same for me. ………Thank you, Nathan."

*Beat*

"…Uh....what is.....'self esteem?' Is it something....important?"

Well, that explains a lot....

A little bit later....

"Ah. *Pauses and frowns in thought, then shakes his head* Not you fault. Didn't know about Unown…..weird power, or they would create Art Monsters or Tiny Pink. It is.....okay, my friend. Bad stuff....happens."

He reaches over to pat them on the shoulder, sympathetically and gentle. That...was all for that moment, really.

Eventually, when all things were said between the tow diametrically opposed men, Terra bid them farewell for now, and got prepared to leave for Ancestor Cave ASAP. The first thing he did go over to his PC to teach Melly Hidden Power, leaving him with one copy remaining. He was all too aware of how hobbled they were in that cave fight due to being unable to use Discharge without zapping everyone, so another attacking Move would be just the thing to fix its woeful variety. Hopefully, he can do the same 'repairs' with his Lovely Lapis Lazuil….

He then exited the Center, and did the following things:

[b]- Sold his Star Piece for $4900 Poke, and bought another Potion!
- Went over to the Violet Tent, and purchases a TM of Wil-lo-wisp for Duskull later!
- Earmarks $1800 Poke for their future camp training, and stores it safely away with the TM W.
Has $400 Poke left now!
[/b]
With all that done and time killed, the simple monk nodded to Gallade, signally he was ready to make the return treck to Ancestor Cave, and set out. He was [i]not [/i]going to leave his partners behind any longer than the bare minimum.

Order: Make a return to Ancestor Cave to retrieve/rescue his partners!

"...yes, it's important.  Self esteem...is a part of how you view yourself.  Primarily to do with confidence in your own abilities.  Having low self esteem...isn't typically a very healthy thing.  There's a lot of things you're great at doing or can be great at doing, so don't put yourself down too much, alright?"

----

When Terra pats him on the shoulder, Nathan takes a few deep breathes to calm down.  "...well, I knew about Hidden Power, since it's the only move all Unown can ever know...just not what it would do.  I figured it'd be rather dangerous, though...it was just...more dangerous than I think anyone expected..."

Not much else to say here.  Nathan stands, nods at Gallade, and starts getting ready to go about the rest of his business.

"...well, I've got some people to talk to, things to sell and/or purchase, and a Claw Fossil to revive.  I'll see ya later."

----

Gallade nods to Terra in return.  Off they go!  This hopefully shouldn't take very long, and won't be too dangerous for those involved...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Some knocking on the door catches Shiva off guard, she was just trying to get the young Eevee to play a little with her. Staring at the door wondering whether she should open or just ignore it, her senses tell her that it can only be one person, right... Eventually she sighs a little, lets Eevee grab the feather used as a toy, gets up and opens the door - it was indeed Nathan, her intution was correct.

"Well, hello. Come in if you like.... You're probably here for the Unown I caught and Terra has given me, right? Find yourself a seat. Before I hand the Unown to you, would it be okay for you if I, eh... join when you'll be handing them to Professor Laurelin? I'd like to ask her something myself and show her that...Shiny U I caught. Please? When do you plan to visit her?" Her voice was calm the whole time, maybe a little lower due to exhaustion, but friendly for sure.

"Yes, I'm here for the Unown."

Nathan does take a seat, making sure to stay a respectful distance away from the Eevee family.

He has to think a little bit about Shiva's request to join him when he goes to talk to Laurelin.

"...that's fine.  I'm actually going to go pay her a visit right now.  She's probably still at the museum, in her office/lab.  Likely working on cleaning up yet another fossil."

Nathan shifts positions in the chair, feeling just a tad awkward about this, despite how matter of fact he's been about the Laurelin stuff.  "...also...so...you still have at least one of those pokeballs I loaned ya left?"

One more time the natural fae enthusiast is caught a little off-guard, as she was actually intended to stay here in her dorm for a while to recover from everything, to take a breather and calm her riled up nerves, all while updating her journal and enjoying the company of her Pokemon. Maybe crafting something as an activity to distract herself even.

Sighing impercibly, she eventually replies, choosing to oversee the awkwadness she picks up from him. "Thank you. If you wish to go now, then give me one minute to prepare please... Yes, I'll be coming then." Concerning the question of any free Balls, she thinks for a moment before shaking her head. "I'm afraid I have not. I caught that A in one of the Balls you've given me, registered the G Terra has handed me in the other some minutes ago, used a Pokeball from me for that shiny U.... Ah!" She leaps over to a pile of books, shifts something around and presents Nathan the still fainted C Terra has ALSO given her. "That one should go to you as well so that the whole patch of five different letter has your OT and ID. Here..." She carefully hands it to him.

With that done, Shiva hastily packs some stuff together to take along to the visit of Prof.Laurelin, and asks the Eevee Family whether they want to come along the see a little bit of the town they've lived by - "It's peaceful and the people love Pokemon, and I'm staying close. So...?" If there's a positive response from them they'll stay out of their Balls along the way, if not they can remain here in the dorm. Raphael either stays to take care of them or accompanies Shiva if Umbreon/Dittumbreon/Eevee come along.

As a last thing to do before heading off, Shiva also places Vaporeon back into a Box of Bill's PC to bring that Shiny Unown U to her party. All regular Unown she caught with the Balls Nathan has given to her are transfered to him at this point.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

(…)

She's staying a little with Terra and Gallade, returning the friendly wave the latter gave her with a weak smile of her own. Actually, long enough to write up a Note for the resident mountain of a man/@Lord Windos, because she feels some words of gratitude are appropriate. Accompanying it is a single red Battle Nasturtium (the flowers Terra found during Berry-foraging and has given her, remember?) and a package of nuts and seeds from her own food supplies.

It reads the following.

Dear Terra,

uh... well, if you're reading this you're probably already up and about again, or have recovered enough already in order to being able to pick up and read things. That's great to hear for sure, after that attack from the revived Mew hit you so... hard.

That act of yours is also what I wanted to, you know, thank you for. Heaven knows what would have happened if it'd hit any of our Pokemon. I'm not lying when admitting that what you've done, how you stepped forward to take the attack when Mew readied itself, has impressed me. Lots. So... Thank you for protecting us all in that case, thank you for your strong will to risk yourself in order to enable us others to escape, just... just thank you. If what you've done isn't an act of heroism, I don't know what is.

Bravery, valor... All these are things I struggle with, but maybe if you're sticking with us I'll be able to learn a little more about these traits and manage to step out of my comfort zone a little more easily.

Rest a little for now, please make sure that you're alright again. Yes, I'd still love to meet Genie and her meeting my fairies, but that's... that's not urgent, priority is your recovery. From what you've told me about your lifestyle, I bet it won't take too long, haha... Let me know when you'll go out to forage Berries as that's something I still wish to accompany you in.

Until then, stay safe and get well soon.


- Greetings, Shiva A. (only Ventus gets 'Love' at an ending of notes and letters)

(…)

Spoiler

(…)

"...yes, it's important.  Self esteem...is a part of how you view yourself.  Primarily to do with confidence in your own abilities.  Having low self esteem...isn't typically a very healthy thing.  There's a lot of things you're great at doing or can be great at doing, so don't put yourself down too much, alright?"

----
----

*Flashback - Nathan!*

"....Ah. ….Not very good at....many things, so....don't have much self esteem. ...I AM good Fighting, though. Very confident and proud of that, and of my partners. Is that....enough?"

Transition: On the road to Ancestor Cave!

On the return trip, Terra decided to take out the letter from Shiva and read it over, as he had plenty of time to do so now. By the whole, the message caught him off guard, as he didn't expect to be applauded for his attempted sacrifice, especially after his conversation with Nathan. They had all but said that was not a bright idea, after all.

The fact he had become something of a role model for the fae lady was......a bit of a shock too....but not a bad one. It was a....nice feeling to have inspired her and earn her thanks, despite the....rough patches between them. 

'....Maybe we can still be good friend,' the monk though, a small smile on his face as he finished reading, nodding to himself and safely tucking the note away in a plastic baggie, before bringing out the bag of nuts and started munching on them. When he gets back from the cave with his partners, he'll have text her about meeting up for a Berry Hunt and with Genie too, if their was still time left in the day for it! For now, though, he'll enjoy his snack and forge onwards!

*Flashback End!*

[Spiritmon]

Spoiler

Quickflashback:
Heart take the green TM to use later. "Sure. Both of us gonna need some money to prepare ourselves to the journey."

"Awesome.  Hand me that Star Piece, and I'll go sell it and the Stardust on my way to talk with Laurelin.  I'll hand ya your half before turning in for the day.  Oh, and before I forget, you still have any of the pokeballs I loaned ya?"  (Heart should still have 1, I believe)

Heart search again in the bag and take the Pokeball. "Here. I only used one to capture the U Unow. Do you need any Great Ball too? The ones I have I already buy."

[Spiritmon]

Flashback Before Terra head to the Caverns and offer myself to help
@Lord Windos
Heart also go in the direction of Terra room and knock the door. He waits a few seconds to have permission to enter and then he enter. "Hey Terra. How are you feeling big guy?"

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

*Flashback - Nathan!*

"....Ah. ….Not very good at....many things, so....don't have much self esteem. ...I AM good Fighting, though. Very confident and proud of that, and of my partners. Is that....enough?"

"...well, that is certainly one thing.  There's also contests, right?  I personally wouldn't have pinned ya as a Contest Spectacular participant, and yet here you are, defying expectations by being much, much more than a mere participant.  Wilderness survival.  You're also really easy to talk to.  That's another plus.  Have a knack for raising pokemon of all kinds.  I'm sure there's more besides what I just listed, too.  A lot more than just being a big meat shield."

At that point, Nathan remembers something rather important. "...oh yeah, almost forgot...here. Hope ya don't need it, but it'd be safer fir Gallade if ya have this as well." Nathan hands Terra Gallade's Dull Premier Ball. "Just in case he needs to be recalled."

[Dragonstrike]

Heart search again in the bag and take the Pokeball. "Here. I only used one to capture the U Unow. Do you need any Great Ball too? The ones I have I already buy."

Nathan responds immediately with a resounding, "Nope!  I'll have plenty soon enough.  Now then, let's get you to the Center.  We've been out here long enough, and you need to get some proper rest before you'll be fully okay."

And that should be the end of that conversation!  I think...

[Iron]

Is Dizzy also in the room? Or lurking somewhere outside? 

Dizzy's been roaming the town. In fact, Terra sees the young Pokemon inside the Violet Tent, rambling about and sniffing at things. People in the tent are generally OK with him.

Eevee and Umbreon and Dittobreon are up for roaming the town! They troop along in single file, with Umbreon, then Ditto, then Eevee. Ditto always takes care of Eevee.