hollower | Appointments

[OOC: Continued from here.]
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[It's close to dusk now, lanterns starting to flicker to life as the sun's golden glow starts to give way to a more colorful blue and purple. Perona's waiting by the entrance of Sprout tower, eyes fixed on the looming structure, like she's waiting to see signs of spirits wandering in or out from the walls. Sadly, nothing more than a few Murkrow swoop and caw loudly, as if declaring the coming night.

She's pretty easy to spot even with the night falling - her clothes stand out among the more traditional and less flashy fashions of Violet. Perona doesn't seem to care much, though she is getting a bit impatient. Her foot's begun to tap, and she keeps staring out at the surrounding area every minute or two. Ah, she can't wait any longer! The timing is perfect for ghosts to start appearing, she wants to go inside already!!]

[Chihiro may be even easier to spot-- given that the quilava trotting along at his feet has the flames on his head lit up, in order to illuminate his trainer's way. He's craning his neck as he approaches the great dark tower, far more imposing when it is backlit by the setting sun.

Seeing a figure, he brightens up and speeds his steps, but these short little legs only go so fast! As it is, his quilava can easily outstrip him if he wanted to.] Perona-san?

I'm sorry, I hope I didn't make you wait...

[The light of Quilava's fire is certainly noticeable, and that's what really catches Perona's attention first. As it draws closer, she finally realizes it's who she's been waiting for, and straightens up a little to meet with Chihiro properly. This is the first time they've met in person, and she wants to show a bit of refinement, and set a good impression.]

There you are, Chihiro-kun! [Or...chan? Goodness, he really does almost look like a girl. Ahem, at least she knows about and (more or less) accepts okamas are a thing.] Eeeh, it wasn't that long, and now's just the right time for any cute ghosts to come out and play! I bet they're all waking up now to start cursing and tormenting wayward souls that wander into their haunted domain...

[Sigh. ♥]

[Luckily he's wearing pants this evening! Because it's gotten a little cooler now that it's gotten dark. So at least this makes it pretty obvious he is in fact a boy; the whole flat chest helps too. Eheh.

Stopping in front of her, he looks at her with polite curiosity (probably up since he is short as anything), his quilava stopping at his heels and rising up on hind legs to look up as well.]

I-it sounds like it's going to get dangerous... But shall we head inside?

[Pls protect him from curses.]

[Pants don't exactly change the rather feminine features, though at least Chihiro looks a little more boyish with the pants (not that Perona knows or has seen him wearing a skirt before, so). Either way, Perona could care less - she invests herself in appearances, sure, but s long as someone is pleasant and kind to her, she usually replies in turn. Usually.

With a brief and curious look down at the Quilava - she certainly does seem to tower about the duo, being nearly six feet with her four inch heeled boots - she nods and steps forward to enter the Tower at long last. Perona can't wait another second, and the prospect of danger doesn't seem to deter her at all.]

If it gets dangerous, then we can leave! But not until I capture a cute ghost pokemon, understand? I won't leave without catching at least one.

[Definitely towering. Chihiro doesn't even hit five feet, sadly enough...but looking up at people is a thing that Chihiro has come to expect in life.]

Eh-- Ah, of course! That's fine. I mean, it sounds like you're really looking forward to capturing one, Perona-san.

[So he tips his head and his quilava gives a cursory and polite little incline of his own head before he scampers ahead, fire flaring up brighter. He might dim it when they go in for ~creepy atmosphere~.]

I wonder which ones will appear... [He definitely won't leave before then! Far be it from he to get scared and hurry on out of there. Besides, it probably won't be too bad...right... Not that he's ever stepped foot in Sprout Tower after dark. So he walks after her, having to hurry his pace just a little to keep up with a longer stride.]

I am. How can I be called the Ghost Princess without ghosts to control? As many as I can find.

[Yeah, she doesn't know about the six pokemon limitation, might want to enlighten the young woman sometime soon. Because as they step into the tower, and ascending the ladder onto the first floor, there will definitely be signs of ghostly activity. The air seems thicker, heavier, and a few voices echo off the walls...while shadows move in the corner of one's eye. It's the kind of place Perona loves.]

Weeeh, they're definitely here~! I just know it! Keep on the lookout, I can feel their presence. Mmh, it's like they're all watching us from the darkness...how terrifying. ♥ Maybe one will come out with glowing red eyes and sharp, pointed teeth! Aaaah, that'd make me so happy...

P-Perona-san... [GULPS NERVOUSLY. Even his quilava gives a nervous little shiver and all but glues himself to Chihiro's ankle, flames flickering brighter and eyes round. With that ever-moving pillar in the centre of the pagoda, too, it gives the illusion of movement in the half-dark.

But Chihiro finds his courage and looks around more closely as they travel. It really is dark, though. He guesses not many come here in the night to train.]

You...really don't mind it at all. Do you like getting scared?

[Like people who like scary movies or games or stories!]

Not myself exactly...but it's exhilarating, isn't it? Scaring someone, and being scared as well. Not knowing what could be lurking in the shadows...or right behind you. [She chuckles - a soft, hollow sound. It probably sounds a lot creepier, in the empty halls of he tower, echoing off the walls.] Is it your imagination? Your fear making you see ghostly shapes? Or is it real? Are there really eyes watching you? That unknown, that feeling...I love it. I love making people live their worst fears - and make real the horrors deep in their hearts, horohorohoro!

[This time, her laugh isn't the only thing that echoes back through the dark. There are different sounds and voices, giggling along with her. Some are closer than others, too..]

[Chihiro can feel himself getting shivers...and at his ankles his quilava whimpers, flames abruptly going out. Before Chihiro can even look down, it goes and clambers up his pant leg, up and up until he just burrows under his trainer's shirt. There. Safety.

Giga, you're too big to hide there, Fujisaki thinks as he looks around, as though seeking out the source of those sounds.]

I-it definitely makes your heart pound...like nothing else does... I think they [the ghost types, surely, the ones making the sounds around them] are thinking the same thing as you...

[Once the lights on Quilava go out, that's where the noises begin to really pick up. There's swooping and laughing and sounds of scurrying along the floor, even a few brushes against skin or clothes, too. Perona's cooing and fawning over how the little horrorterrors seem to be responding, and if the lights were on, Chihiro would she that she's all but wiggling in place, hands on her cheeks and eyes shining like diamonds. This is wonderful!! Better than she expected! Much better!]

Aaaaah~! You're all around us, aren't you? Please, say hello! Won't you come out and play with us, little darlings? Or I could sing a little song for you! I know all sorts that can stir up the undead... I just want to meet with a few of--

[Before Perona can finish, a grin hangs in the air, suspended between the trio of people and pokemon, glowing in some undetermined light...or maybe giving off its own. After a moment, the grin spreads wide, and two glowing eyes join it, finally followed by a purple-ish mist. The smiling face turns from Perona to Chihiro, seeing them all clearly in the darkness, and begins to cackle and spin around overhead.]

[Chihiro flinches a little, wrapping his arms around himself--rather, the quilava who's shaking away in his shirt. He shrinks in on himself as he looks around at the dark, at the shapes that seem suddenly everywhere.]

Th-this... [He has no real reason to be afraid, does he? N-no, they are pokemon, after all. Ghost types, but pokemon nevertheless.]

They've really come out... Perona-san, that one... [The one that's spinning around. Is that the type she's looking for?]

They have! And it's about time they did! [She was getting extremely impatient. But now that one's appeared, she holds out one hand gracefully, out towards the pokemon. The pokemon wafts down cautiously and hovers without much effort on her open palm.]

Horohoro, hello little cutie! I've been looking so forward to meeting you. Are you having fun? [A few blinks, then a laugh from the pokemon, cries of its name echoing through the halls.] And what are you called? Are there more of you here? I'd love to play with every one of you precious sweeties! Will you introduce me to your friends?

[The pokemon, a Gastly, chortles, its mouth wide in a grin - he's absolutely loving all this positive attention that he and his friends don't usually get - then it lets out a loud moan that seems like it carries throughout the entirety of the tower. Soon after, ominous lights begin to flicker to life, and light up an area around the troupe of humans and pokemon. The lights are coming from Litwick, who keep their distance, but there are many other ghosts, mostly Gastly and a few Drifloon as well, peering closely at the newcomers. Don't get too scared, now.♥]

[Fascinated, Chihiro watches the gastly float over Perona's hand that way, and then glances around at the assembling ghost types. The lump in his shirt quivers before his quilava pokes his head out through Chihiro's collar, staring apprehensively around at the assembled pokemon.

--he disappears into Chihiro's shirt again soon after, but just so he can scramble down to the floor, flames sparking to life again.]

Ah... There are so many of them, aren't there... [He loses a little of his nervousness when the lights (however ominous) are surrounding them like that. But they've all come to meet Perona, he thinks, and looks over at her.]

[The ghosts scatter a bit the moment Quilava's fire bursts to life, keeping well away from the brightest parts of the light. Even the Gastly that Perona was playing with jumps back from it with a sour look on his face. He tries to keep close to the person giving him such attention, but the light isn't something he likes much, and hovers high above it.]

There are! It's wonderful, in't it? But they don't much like the light, the poor things... [She looks around at the ghosts, keeping close to the darkness and peering out from the shadows cast by Quilava'a flame. They're still watching closely, curiously.] I can't take all of you, precious cuties, but if anyone doesn't want to stay in the light, and who wants to stay with me and my pokemon, I'd love to have you! We could have fun and tell stories and sing songs every night! What about you, little one? [She addresses Gastly after taking out a pokeball.] Would you like to come with me? It'd make me so happy if you did!

Mmm... It looks like it. Giga? Can you make it a little less bright? [The quilava gives his trainer a reluctant look, but the flames do dim down enough to cloak the majority of their surroundings in shadow once more. He does keep them burning, occasionally circling himself around Chihiro's ankles.

But for now he watches Perona, curiously, impressed at her affinity with these ghosts. And maybe waiting with somewhat bated breath to see if it will take her up on her offer.]

[When the lights dim, the ghost very slowly, cautiously creep a little closer, though most of the ones from before have vanished entirely, startled by the flames of the fire pokemon. There aren't quite as many spookies as there were before, and only one or two of the Litwick have remained, though they remain a good distance away still, wary of the two humans and the pokemon.

The Gastly, however, seems overjoyed with the attention and affection this human is showing him. Perona's even 'holding' the light as air pokemon in one hand, smile never leaving her face. In her other hand is the pokeball, which she inches closer to the pokemon.]

Please? Won't you come with me? I promise I'll take very good care of you! You can travel with me and my other little cuties and become very good friends! And then I'll get more cute little ghosts one day and you can play together! I have a little egg that will hatch soon, into a ghost like the ones here! You can be friends with it...doesn't that sound fu--hiiieee!

[Her head is yanked to one side suddenly, and Perona reflexively swings her arm out at the perpetrator - a Drifloon - who wrapped its stringy arms around some of her hair and pulled.]

Perona-san--!

[Startled, though Chihiro doesn't dive into action right away, either. Because it's a small little drifloon and it probably (hopefully?) doesn't mean any harm even if it has attached to her hair.]

Are you okay?

Oi...! Stop that! Don't pull it--!

[Small, yes, and certainly very curious about this humans and her wall of colorful, fluffy curls. It really doesn't mean any harm, but it also doesn't seem keen on letting go, even with Perona's whining and struggling. The Gastly laughs at what it thinks is a game, and just dances around overhead, not lifting gaseous finger to stop the little spectacle.

At the least, Perona knows what to do - or really just acts on impulse. She grits her teeth and swirls around, smacking the poor ghost pokemon in the face with the pokeball she had in her tightened fist.]

I SAID DON'T PULL! ...Oh, where did it go?

[Probably inside that pokeball...]

[Chihiro sympathy winces for that pokemon! What a violent capture! By his ankles, his quilava snuffles in amusement and scratches himself with one of his hind legs, fear apparently forgotten.]

I think that you might have captured it, actually...

[And possibly KO'd it with how she smacked it...]

...Oh, did I?

[Indeed she did! A truly critical capture, given that the poor Drifloon didn't put up much of a fight inside that pokeball after it was captured within. The ball lays motionless in Perona's hand as she looks at it curiously, the Gastly from before hanging over her head with equal curiosity. He doesn't seem as bothered as some of the other ghosts, who have again scattered and vanished. Humans are scary...]

Eeeh, not the one I was hoping to catch, but it was very cute. A little ghostly balloon, horohoro! I'll have to think of a good name for it. [She reaches up with her free hand, feeling the chill right above her head from the Gastly there, and lightly pushes it down.] Will you come along still? You'll have yet another friend of yours to accompany you! And I already have a name picked out for you.

[Laughing a little, more than a touch worried for the poor drifloon, Chihiro comes closer, quilava close to his heels. Then, this has been a successful adventure already, hasn't it? She already has one little ghost to add to her team...]

You should go with Perona-san, [he says to the gastly.] I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with her...

[By how much she seems to like ghosts, Chihiro has no doubt!]

[D'aw, Chihiro, this is why she keeps you around. ♥ With a proud puff, Perona lifts her head up as the Gastly looks down at her, curious. After a moment's thought, the ghost pokemon laughs heartily and floats around the two humans, stopping before Perona and licking her face with its tongue long tongue.]

Eugh...! [N-Not what Perona was expecting, b-but at least it's coming along! And it's a cute little ghost, too; a second one! As she wipes her face, she pats the thig's cold, bulbous head with a smile.] Yo remind me a little bit of my hollows, and your floppy tongue just makes me think of them more! So that's what I'll call you - Hollow.

[He does his best, Perona-san!! ♥]

Hehe. It looks like he likes you too, Perona-san. [Aw, he gets to witness someone nicknaming their new pokemon. u///u But then he himself looks to the others, curiously, wondering if any more will come forth.]

[Nope - most of the ghosts are keeping their distance now that they've seen the prior display of brutality. They still linger and watch, closely, but they dare not approach the so-called Ghost Princess. Even their fellow ghost type, with all his laughter and beckoning to the shadows, can't get them to come any closer than where they watch and wait. The other Gastly in the tower are a bit more brazen, but not by much.]

Oh, I must have scared the others on this floor...maybe we can go higher? [8D]

Appointments | IC Contact

[August 9th | Action]

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sdhfsdhf perona...

CACKLES

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