[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Dragonstrike]

Yes, the talk will be private. Professor Rowan leads Randolph to a back room after everyone is done conversing as a group.

The professor starts the conversation, keeping his end of things brief. "Randolph, I can tell when someone is lying to me or bending the truth in some manner. I haven't lived this long to not pick up on social cues. Who did you tell what was going on?"

[Lord Windos]

Rowan earned another raised at their mild sounding accusation, before shrugging.

"I think you're picking up a bit of your former Absol's paranoia, professor. I've only talked about the job with my partners on the job, and didn't give a hint about it to anyone else. That's the truth of the matter, professor. Can't put it any simpler than that."

Again, Ran's words are truthful in a fashion: he considers Candice and many other people partners after a fashion, and he didn't give a hint to her - he gave her a full and paraphrased version of the story. He's being evasive for the same reasons as before: he doesn't want the frosty lass to get red tapped by the League and utterly benched (and not being able to help as a last resort/back up in some fashion), and doesn't really want to earn anymore of his ire than necessary.

[Dragonstrike]

*rolls*

Lol. 9 successes. Professor Rowan is NOT buying that story. Randolph can hear the professor's foot tapping underneath the table.

"I do not appreciate that you are trying to pull the Mareep wool over my eyes, Randolph. I will ask one more time. Who did you tell?"

Rowan's Intimidate: *rolls* 5 successes.
Randolph's Will: (6)(1)(1)(3)(2)(2)(2) 0 successes. Oof.

Professor Rowan definitely isn't messing around, and he's not even trying to be subtle about it right now. The very fact that Randolph is apparently trying to play Rowan for a fool seems to have struck a nerve. Randolph can't help but be Intimidated by the Professor's piercing, judgmental, analytic gaze. Trying to avoid the Professor's ire seems to have had the exact opposite effect.

[Lord Windos]

Ran nearly flinched back when the gentleman professor decided to abandon his polite demeanor, but just as quickly he recovered and gave him a fairly impressive and nervous scowl, looking displeased and unsettled at their most recent accusation.

"Okay, now I DEFINITELY know you're catching Absol paranoia. Ain't trying to fool ya, professor and I AM telling ya the truth. If ya don't believe me, that's YOUR problem. *Scowl deepens* Look, I know we got off to a Rock Slide start, and you're rightfully concerned about this whole supernatural business causing a national crises if it gets leaked to the public, but that don't giva ya the right to give me the third degree when I tell ya somethning that doesn't agree with your sensibilities. If you're going to start acting like a bad tempered Bisharp to me, then fuck it, I'll quit. Right here, right now, and I'll be booking a express ship back to Canaclave faster than you can blink. With Lucas on the job now, you don't need me as much, and I can rest easy knowing they'll be able resolve things fantastically like the last time they saved Sinnoh. That, and I no longer have to worry about dying or worse on this insane job too, which is a BIG plus. Don't need your paycheck either, as I earned and come by enough up here to make this whole trip to this freezing city worthwhile, so you ain't going to be baiting me with it."

*Beat*

".....Pokeball's in your court now, professor. Watch gonna to do with it?"

Yeap, Ran sticking to his guns (And still be 'truthful' about it all, at that), and threatening to quit over this too at that. He's rather dead set in his chosen course of action, as while he respects Old Fashion and what he's trying to do/his overall intent with this job, that doesn't mean he likes and trusts them enough with what he considers his own personal business. That, and if they do press this issue, then it gives him the perfect excuse to just leave this whole mess of a job behind and move on with his life to greener, safer pastures.

[Spiritmon]

A quick post: Could explain to Rowan and everyone about Kitsunoh and how Kogeki get this info? Just autopilot my char @Dragonstrike.

Also, Kogeki want to know what he can get trading the A-Sandalash. And he will ask Nurse Joy if there is a close PC to do make a WT I available. The trade Pokemon will be 2 Snowshrews.

[Dragonstrike]

Rowan frowns. "...after everything you've heard and seen about what's happening, and what you promised the Lake Trio? I asked a simple question, Randolph. Nothing more. And I'm asking for YOUR sake. If you don't tell me who you told about what was happening, then I have to inform the League to directly look into the matter. Neither of us want that to happen, and I also doubt the Lake Trio would appreciate you breaking that promise you made to them when you accepted that Red Chain."

Professor Rowan sighs after that.

He's doing his job. And that means concern for both the mission and those involved in it.

Even if it means striking a few low blows for the sake of both, or being tough on people.

[Lord Windos]

Ran also frowns back at the old scholar, thought his is equal parts hesitant and consterned. ".....I don't WANT to ditch me partners OR break my word with the pixies, Rowan. Believe me, no matter how much I DESPISE how utterly and dangerously barmy this job of yours has turn out to be, I'm still fool enough to want to help see it through to the bitter end. But if you're gonna to keep hounding me like a paranoid arse of a Growlithe, you'll end up barking no tree at all, as I'll have no choice but to make like one and leave if I don't want suffer stupid, pointless HARASSMENT! I've told ya and I keep telling ya what I said was the simple damn truth, but you just refuse to accept it!"

Yeap, he keeps on with his defense. Stubborn little man, innit he?

Well, until Rowan sprang his latest round of threats, which left the bristly blacksmith stunned and stupefied at first, before he devolved into a sputtering, half-bewildered, half angry mess.

"What.....what.....WHAT?! Are....Are you taking the fucking piss, and chugging it down with a side of Tarous shit Rowan?! You'd, the League, sicking them on EVERYONE over your stupid stupid - ARGH! NEIN NEIN NEIN! WARUM IST DAS ALTES COOT DIE SCHLECHTESTE ART VON STUBBORN MÖGLICH?!?! RRRRAAAARGH!!!"

He continues on like this for a half a minute, before he levels a particularly venomous glare at the gentleman professor like a Poison arrow ready to be knocked and fired, and spits out a answers.

"Fine, FINE, you stubborn older bastard! It was Gym Leader Candice, alright?! Told her about the whole operation and stuff in order to get access to the Temple, and I'd tried to be discrete about that so that she wouldn't get doxxed and harassed by the League for knowing about it, and keep ya off my back for speaking about it! Fat load of good that did now, though! There. Are ya satisfied NOW, you.......!"

Ran goes silent at that point, but it's clear that whatever he was going to say was not going to be flattering in the slightest. He's almost literally steam with impotent rage now, hist hands keep making tight fists the threaten to start making his hands bleed.....

[Spiritmon]

@Dragonstrike

Kogeki knock the door. "Boss, if you dont mind boss, I have a few informations and negotiations I have to do with you professor. I capture one A-Sandslash and four A-Sandshrew. I want to trade the A-Sandslash for something nice, like a Pokemon or some held items. The Sandshrew I would like to trade for Pokedollars, since our trip to Mt. Coronet will not be easy, so I better buy a few important items. How much cash I get from these four Professor?"

After the trading process, Kogeki go direct to nurse Joy to ask about the condition of the little Pochyena.

[Dragonstrike]

Professor Rowan leans back in his chair and relaxes.

"Yes, that will do, Randolph.  Thank you for confirming what Candice told me."

Wait, wha...?

"Surprised?  One of my tasks while I was here was to inform Candice of what was happening, so imagine my surprise when she told me she had already been informed.  While I am disappointed you tried to hide the full truth from me, I am not angry at what you did.  Communication and teamwork are important for jobs like this, however, particularly when it comes to keeping those who have hired you in the loop.  I trust you will remember that the consequences for hiding important information can be quite great, regardless of whether the truth is found out."

When Kogeki knocks on the door, the Professor sighs.  "...time is growing so short these days...if you have something to say to me, Randolph, say it now, and keep it brief.  We both have important business we need to attend to, after all."

(Sorry about the delay, everyone. I'll wrap up any trades you guys want to do when I'm home later. Now that I've had some time to cool off and carefully contemplate the kind of response I wanted for Rowan, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things.)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Professor Rowan leans back in his chair and relaxes.

"Yes, that will do, Randolph.  Thank you for confirming what Candice told me."

Wait, wha...?

"Surprised?  One of my tasks while I was here was to inform Candice of what was happening, so imagine my surprise when she told me she had already been informed.  While I am disappointed you tried to hide the full truth from me, I am not angry at what you did.  Communication and teamwork are important for jobs like this, however, particularly when it comes to keeping those who have hired you in the loop.  I trust you will remember that the consequences for hiding important information can be quite great, regardless of whether the truth is found out."

When Kogeki knocks on the door, the Professor sighs.  "...time is growing so short these days...if you have something to say to me, Randolph, say it now, and keep it brief.  We both have importang business we need to attend to, after all."

(Sorry about the delay, everyone.  I'll wrap up any trades you guys want to do when I'm home later.  Now that I've had some time to cool off and carefully contemplate the kind of response I wanted for Rowan, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things.)

Ran was so angry that Rowan's almost instant non-chalance with his full frankness, until it sank in a little and he gave them a none to slightly incredulous and aggrieved look.

"Wait, that's IT? THAT'S what ya have to say about me trying to keep ya in the deep Dark? What?!"

It takes the good professor clarifying why they're so blase about it for the wee man to fully understand his reactions......and it doesn't do much to diminish the INDIGNANT WRATH he felt. Only taking the edge off, and cooling him down enough for him to make a sharp, snappy comment.

"If ya already knew I told that frosty lass about the case, then why in the nearly god forsaken fucking cold of the north did ya play twenty questions with me, and threaten to sick the dogs of the League after our scrawny arses?! Was it to teach me a bloody lesson I already knew, give me a taste of me own medicine, or did ya just want to take the chance to see me squirm while ya repeatedly browbeat me for information you knew and I was desperately trying to keep under lock to protect that Ice Princess? "

*Growls, and makes a slicing motion with his hand*

"No, don't answer that. I don't want to hear your trite and polite excuses, Rowan. You've fooled around and played enough games with us, and I'm sick of it. Most of us aren't the children you're used to handling and dealing with, and the one that is certainly deserves as much respect as the adults, so ya can just fuck right off with that treatment. I didn't come up here to be fucked about with or handled like I'm a naughty brat, and neither did they. At this point, the only reasons I'm still here and not on a boat back to Canaclave is me own personal commitment to fixing this sorry mess and the promises I made to the pixies, and even then you've sorely tested me conviction, so for yours and everyone else's shake don't give me anymore reason to quit."

Their was a brief period of silence that proceed the latest incensed comment from him, but Kogeki's interruption/Rowan's prompts the bristly blacksmith to continue with what he really wanted to talk about with Old Fashion, his eyebrows coming together as he gave them a frustrated and measuring look.

".....I'll cut to the chase then, unlike you: Why in the hell did ya hire Karen and Kogeki for this job, Rowan? And don't say because they're highly skilled Trainers, for the same can be barely said of me, and that still doesn't mean we qualify for a this sordid catastrophe this job of yours turned out to be. Arceas fucking Heatran on Mystri Stage Rowan, Karen's a wee little lass that's still wet behind the ears when it comes to life, and Kogeki is far too attached to this case AND has been crippled by it that I'm rushing to fix, so they're hardly suited for a BEYOND perilous quest to save some Legends, the region, and perhaps the entire world. Hellfire and brimstone, I still don't understand why ya hired or still keeping me on the job, so why? Why them, why us?"