[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Chi in her base form doing Dragon Dance sounds really adorable. That can be worth 1 Happiness.

But she already has 5 Happiness, haha.
Her Loyalty is 3.


-----

With all her Pokemon cared for and Curie safely back in her Pokeball (with the SootheBell attached to her blue knitted scarf), Shiva eagerly makes her way out of the Pokemon Center - Whimsicott's taking turns in floating beside the natural fae-enthusiast and resting on top of her head, soaking in the sunlight with glee; Primal Espeon carefully and obediently prances next to her. Both these Pokemon's close presence calms and silently encourages Shiva efficiently, as she's definitely nervous as she approaches the Student Intake Lounge of Telperion mentioned here...

...She's first of all on the lookout for Professor Quickbeam while Whimsicott, Nightshade and Primal Espeon enjoy the sun shining through the glass walls.

[Iron]

Professor Quickbeam doesn't hang out in the Lounge, but they advise you that he can be found in his geothermally heated office on the B1 floor. They hand you a campus map.

Lots of students and prospective students are hanging out in the Lounge. Pokemon out of their pokeballs seem to be welcome, and there are a lot of reptile mons in here basking in the filtered sunlight.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Ohh, if Pokemon out of their Pokeballs are welcome AND there is enough space: Out of his respective ball comes Tropius, Shiva's dear and loyal leafy sauropode; he stretches his wings widely and cheerfully accepts the cuddle-hug Shiva's giving his neck. With the campus map now in her mildly trembling hands, she adresses Tropius, Nightshade and Primal Espeon: "So, uhm, do you three possibly like to wait here in this nice sunny place for me? I should be back in a little, and instead of being in your Balls you could bask a bit in the sun like these Heliolisk there! *nods to them basking in the filtered sunlight* This area is friendly, so you should be fine, safe and sound! (^v^ )" Whimicott prefers to stay with Shiva.


With that dealt with, the natural fae-enthusast and ger fluffball make their way up the geothermally heated office on floor B1 she got marked on the campus map. After having take a deep breath to calm her nerves and gather some courages, she knocks on the door: "Uhm, Professor Quickbeam?  You're there? I was sent by Professor Mallorn in Trillium Town with a request to show you a specific Pokemon please..."

[Iron]

"A friend of Mallorn's is a friend of mine!"

The door swings open to reveal a tall, skinny man with long limbs. Behind him is a beautiful room, artfully arranged for maximum feng shui, complete with tropical potted plants/trees. One wall is glass, so you can see a red-lit room stocked with EGGS on shelves. There are also some specialized incubators with computer screens attached.

"Whaddup?"

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Ventus smile grows a bit wider as Nate confirmed his suspicions and give him (in his opinion) too much credit, and soon after nods back to them.

"Thank you, Nate. I can hardly imagine what the fate of this Genesect would be without your unique and splendorous qualities, though, so don't sell yourself now, hmm? *Shakes Head* Don't think they'll ever be a time where my findings can safely be non-covertly divulged, but I appreciate the sentiment regardless."

When the conversation moves onto the Water Scimitars and their potential and most definitely malevolent involvement with the Lake Trio the eccentric researcher's turns brittle as Ice, and his eyes almost seemed to glow as they took on an intense gleam. After they finish up and posed their question, he was quiet for several long and awkward second before they answered with a big, positively saccharine grins.

"But of course, Nate. If our assistance can put a utter end to them idiotic, blasphemous villians, you know I'd be ecstatic to render any aid I possibly can."

His grins turns somewhat sardonic at that point, giving the boy hero a question look.

"Honestly, all of that said should've been a given. Makes me wonder what you're trying to accomplish by tempting my feelings of retribution like so, you know?"

Another short paused passed, until his smile flattened out into a neutral line as he regarded his oft vitriolic friend with an unreadable expression.

"....I still have yet to come to a decision regarding helping that certain friend of yours, so if you're expecting an answer soon I won't be able to give it. You should know this, however: I will not be doing anything for them without them guaranteeing rewards or Favors for my service, and that if those vile archmages are involved with it and its siblings current problems I will act as I see fit with those fiends. I'm done doing charity work for those with great power without promise of payback, and I'm equally done playing nice with the Scimitars after all the trouble they caused and corrupting our mutual associate. Should you have issues with either of those things, then I'd think it would be for the best I remain uninvolved for everyone's shake. Do you understand, Nate?"

Nathan sighs in response to that last statement.  "...if it's primarily for selfish reasons that you'd be helping, Ventus, then maybe it would be for the best if you didn't help.  Mesprit has already assured Heart that the odds of getting a favor for helping are high, but...well, this isn't mercenary work, to put it lightly.  I asked because Mesprit trusts you, and because I still think you can do some good.  But if you would put that trust in danger...*sigh*...well, it might just be a baseless concern I have.  The decision is ultimately still yours.  And I'm telling you this before everyone else so that you have a better idea of what you might be getting into before you make a decision.  That it's very much a real, human threat.  A powerful one, but human nonetheless."

A moment of silence follows as Nathan turns around, his back to Ventus, and looks at the floor sadly.

"...though there's little that's earned the ire of the Lake Trio to the degree that selfish intentions have in the past, and you should probably think very carefully about why you want to help if you decide to do so.  They've had to deal with selfish humans countless times, and were ultimately split apart because of it. So I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be selfish lately.  Trying to consider why things happened in certain ways.  Honestly, I...can't fully condemn all of the Scimitars any more.  Kelda showed me they're not all bad people, and I need to apologize for the way I treated her when we were in the Skull Ruins...honestly, I kinda understand a little of Terra's viewpoint after thinking about it...not all of them deserve a second chance and need to face considerable punishment for what they've done as a part of of the organization, but some of them might also be genuinely good people, if a little misguided.  But why do I want to help them, which ones deserve my help, and how can I do so without coming across as selfish myself in some capacity?  Considering their individual viewpoints is probably a good place to start..."

He kinda started talking to himself out loud halfway through that little speech, but he turns back to Ventus eventually.

"...I'm still looking for answers myself, to be honest.  That's why I'm planning to search for Kelda.  To talk to her.  Maybe find some answers to various questions I have.  And if you think less of me for this opinion, and for wanting to talk with a former Scimitar...well, I can only apologize with words, for it's what I've learned from my ever changing experiences, much like how your opinions have been shaped by yours."

"So yes, I understand.  If I or Mesprit were worried about it enough, though, I wouldn't have asked you in the first place.  I just hope that the trust isn't misplaced in the end.  I made my decision, so now you get to make yours.  And if you have legitimate concerns about safety or trust issues...then don't come with us to the front lines.  I trust you'll make a good decision, though, regardless of what you decide."

Well, that was quite the wordy response.

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

Nathan sighs in response to that last statement.  "...if it's primarily for selfish reasons that you'd be helping, Ventus, then maybe it would be for the best if you didn't help.  Mesprit has already assured Heart that the odds of getting a favor for helping are high, but...well, this isn't mercenary work, to put it lightly.  I asked because Mesprit trusts you, and because I still think you can do some good.  But if you would put that trust in danger...*sigh*...well, it might just be a baseless concern I have.  The decision is ultimately still yours.  And I'm telling you this before everyone else so that you have a better idea of what you might be getting into before you make a decision.  That it's very much a real, human threat.  A powerful one, but human nonetheless."

A moment of silence follows as Nathan turns around, his back to Ventus, and looks at the floor sadly.

"...though there's little that's earned the ire of the Lake Trio to the degree that selfish intentions have in the past, and you should probably think very carefully about why you want to help if you decide to do so.  They've had to deal with selfish humans countless times, and were ultimately split apart because of it. So I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be selfish lately.  Trying to consider why things happened in certain ways.  Honestly, I...can't fully condemn all of the Scimitars any more.  Kelda showed me they're not all bad people, and I need to apologize for the way I treated her when we were in the Skull Ruins...honestly, I kinda understand a little of Terra's viewpoint after thinking about it...not all of them deserve a second chance and need to face considerable punishment for what they've done as a part of of the organization, but some of them might also be genuinely good people, if a little misguided.  But why do I want to help them, which ones deserve my help, and how can I do so without coming across as selfish myself in some capacity?  Considering their individual viewpoints is probably a good place to start..."

He kinda started talking to himself out loud halfway through that little speech, but he turns back to Ventus eventually.


"...I'm still looking for answers myself, to be honest.  That's why I'm planning to search for Kelda.  To talk to her.  Maybe find some answers to various questions I have.  And if you think less of me for this opinion, and for wanting to talk with a former Scimitar...well, I can only apologize with words, for it's what I've learned from my ever changing experiences, much like how your opinions have been shaped by yours."

"So yes, I understand.  If I or Mesprit were worried about it enough, though, I wouldn't have asked you in the first place.  I just hope that the trust isn't misplaced in the end.  I made my decision, so now you get to make yours.  And if you have legitimate concerns about safety or trust issues...then don't come with us to the front lines.  I trust you'll make a good decision, though, regardless of what you decide."

Well, that was quite the wordy response.

Ventus listens very carefully to what Nathan has to say at first.....and couldn't help but snort at it and give them a somewhat wry smile. "I highly doubt that Mesprit has invested as much trust in me as you imply, Nate. Or at least not trust in me. If the Lake Spirit's Empathy and Insightful is as great as the Legends subscribe to it are, they've seen plenty enough in me to have more than a few doubts of my integrity and character. More likely it is that they only gave me as much 'trust' as you  trusted in me, or that I ended up sharing in 'the windfall' of your fruitful relationship with it. Besides that, I once again have to question your faith in me Nate, because so far as I can observe we really haven't had the best of times together to qualify for it in quantity, quality, and goodness - quite the opposite, honestly. *Grins turns more wry* Methinks you have too much faith in me, but I'm flattered by that none the less, no matter how bewildering a fact that is.

"*Sighs* .....Regardless, you haven't dissuaded me of guaranteeing Favors out of Mesprit if I decide to help it. If it takes offense and decides to punish me for having the gall of creating a contractual agreement between us to do a quest that is as nebulous as it's dangerous that you and everyone else decided to take on as a Favor for it yourselves upfront and without them giving much information about it, then it can, pardon my language, rightly continue to and increasingly be royally screwed. To paraphrase an old saying, 'Beggars can't be choosers, and certainly not when some decide to take up their task practically as charity work.'  Plain and simply I don't have much reason to trust in Mesprit enough to do anything for it with only the vague or ill defined possibility for reward. And this is in spite of what it did to help you fight that foul Deoxys and its clones. From what I've gathered it only aided you partially out of its own self interest and in exchange for you releasing it from its 'prison' , and it hardly did enough to directly help you and the others out in my opinion. *Shrugs* Of course, my opinions is just that, and you're free to disagree or disregard it if you so choose.

"Ultimately you're asking me to take part in your Favor to Mesprit, and it's my right to dictate how I undertake it if I so choose. If you think my way is bad, then it would be for the best for me to refrain from helping it. *Snorts* I doubt it'd be wanting of my aid with you and rest of the group already pledge to help it. Hard for a researcher myself to contribute as much as Cheshire's Heroes , Slayer of the Mad Deoxys, Wielders of the Artifacts, and Friend to All Legends, after all."

Well that was a mouthful that could be summed up as 'I respectfully disagree with you, and my choice or opinions haven't been changed.' Can't say they didn't try, though.

The rest of what the young historian has to says initially catches his interest greatly......before the bottom of his stomach fell out like a Munchlax from a Honey Tree as they gave him a metaphorical Sucker Punch to the gut. Nate actually self-reflecting on one of his more intolerable and terrible traits of his, and deciding to do something positive and constructive about it? Bloody fantastic! Doing so in regards to revising his opinions on the Scimitars and becoming sympathetic to some of them? Hoo boy. His everpresent (if questionable) smile immediately morphed into an expression of pure astonishment and then horror as they realized what they were getting at, before it rapidly twisted into one of equal parts stupified, irritated, and downright furious. Then, as they finished up that point, his face just......collapsed into one of the most bitterly disappointed and resigned dismay, as if he had come to terms with their (to him) radical and beyond foolishly idiotic change of heart and.....

Gave up on him. Like he was a complete lost cause, making a huge mistake, but unable to do anything about it other than cutting his losses. Ouch.

".......Yes, I do believe my confidence in you have fallen, Nathan. Greatly. Very greatly."

His tone is heavy, positively laddened with the emotions he's visibly broadcasting. Ventus lets out a most unpleasant chuckle, riff with bitter amusement and hollow understanding.

"Hardly could I fathom you so irrevocably fucking over our relationship again, and to do so in a manner that surpasses our previous feuds? Outstanding."

The researcher goes quiet for a brief moment, before giving Nathan a piercing yet soft look that almost seemed to glow.

"You've made a mistake, and you're making a big mistake, Nathan. But I know you. Nothing I will say can ever change your mind, no compromise or bargain too great on my part will make you alter you decisions. It just can't be done. Not at this point, and not that I even want to anymore. You can only try so much and be meet with so much disappointment, after all.

"One day, Nathan. One day, you'll make a foolish, reckless decision that will backfire on you tremendously. If it hasn't already happened now. You have been resourceful, capable, and exceedingly fortunate in making such decisions profit for you, but one day all of that will not be enough to spare you the consequences a bad course of action brings. Or others, if they suffer with you. or instead of you. One day, Nathan. Mark my words."

A heavy silence befalls the two associates, before Ventus gives a simple smile and claps his hands together.

"That's enough, I think. You've given me a lot to mull over, so I will take my leave and do that. I'll get in touch with you when I have my answer to you about Mesprit. Until then......good bye."

And with that, Ventus turns around and leaves Nathan and Terra.

That went poorly.

[Dragonstrike]

And as Ventus leaves, Nathan mutters to himself, "...and nothing I say can change yours either, Ventus.  Well, maybe I did convince you to reconsider helping directly...*sigh*...I'm sorry, but it needed to be said..."

As much as Nathan didn't like saying it, he did anyways.

Hopefully it will spare Ventus some grief later as the times and the people around him change once again...

Well, that conversation decisively ended, Nathan starts packing things up and gets ready to leave.  "Alright, it's time to go, Genesect.  We've got a lot of work to do in the coming days if we're going to prepare you for what's coming, and I can show you some spots that are safe for us to converse and train in.  Terra, I expect we'll likely be talking about this more at length later, possibly even with Professor Laurelin.  Whether I like it or not..."

[Lord Windos]

(...)

Well, that conversation decisively ended, Nathan starts packing things up and gets ready to leave.  "Alright, it's time to go, Genesect.  We've got a lot of work to do in the coming days if we're going to prepare you for what's coming, and I can show you some spots that are safe for us to converse and train in.  Terra, I expect we'll likely be talking about this more at length later, possibly even with Professor Laurelin.  Whether I like it or not..."

Speaking of the sagely monk, his whole take on that conversation was......surprised and later on pained. He was not too happy or proud with his Boss shaming him earlier (again), but he was shook out of that funk by Nathan extremely surprising change of heart. Him looking upon the Scimitars with a less judgemental, hostile, and scouring eye? That was the very last thing he expected to happen! Still, he couldn't help but be a tad bit bitter about it - or rather the timing of the revelation. If only he had it sometime during their treck through the Skull Ruins or during their harrowing Fight with DEOXYS and its clone army, so many problems between them just......wouldn't exist. *Sighs* .....

Terra didn't have much time to dwell on 'What Could've Beens', however, for Ventus' rather inspired rejection of said revelation brought his mood back down to dismal. Simply put, he hated seeing the two men at odds over the Scimitars, and he couldn't help but question why it had to be that way. He understands why his Boss would hold a grudge towards the Scimitars and what they represent/do, but less so when said grudge is so blisteringly strong and universal  Why couldn't he let go of it just a bit, or at least lessen it with regards to his friends and their own stances on the issue? Why can't Ventus just get along with others normally? Why?

He says as much to Nathan, after a bit of silence from their question too him.

".....Understood. ......Nathan, why is Ventus......like that. Don't understand his hate. His......rejection of you. Your ideas. You trying to.....change him better, like you did with me. Why....?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"A friend of Mallorn's is a friend of mine!"

The door swings open to reveal a tall, skinny man with long limbs. Behind him is a beautiful room, artfully arranged for maximum feng shui, complete with tropical potted plants/trees. One wall is glass, so you can see a red-lit room stocked with EGGS on shelves. There are also some specialized incubators with computer screens attached.

"Whaddup?"

Source/Shiva: https://pokemonuranium.co/forum/showthre...0#pid74620


Oh.....!! Shiva takes ONE glance into the office, and she INSTANTLY likes it! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ It's very beautiful, radiates so much feng shui that it threatens to make the sensitive fae-enthusiast's head spin, it's pleasantly warm due to the geothermal heating, those exclusive plants look, well, exclusive and those Eggs! and special Incubators! with screens on them!!!! It's obvious on the first glance to her that Prof.Mallorn has known who to send her too, Shiva can feel her dear heart leap into her throat from excitement (and nervosity)

Whimsicott staaaaaares into the room from on top of her Master's head and pats Shiva to get her back to the current planet. "*embarrassed cough* Uhm, h-hello there, Professor! I'm , eh, Shiva, and Professor Mallorn has sent me indeed with a request. Or rather, he, uh, sent a different member of the group I traveled with, but he's unfortunately unable to come (aka Vincent)... M-may I come in at first, please? (>o<; )"


+++++++


Being seated in Professor Quickbeam's office then, Shiva can't help but to glance over to the glass-wall with the various Eggs! and special Incubators! every now and then, it's easy to pick up that she's massively interested in them but finds it impolite to stare. She tries hard to focus and keep her nervosity in check. "Uhm, so, the thing is, have you... ever heard of Pokemon Eggs having spots on the shell in clear and pure black?"

[Iron]

Genesect trots along behind you with large steps, his hinged legs folding up to his haunches with every step, so he is alternately stretched out and hunched up.