bravenewworld | Open Log // Haunted Ruins

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Open Log // Haunted Ruins

Who: Haruka, Michiru, and YOU
What: DDF field trip to the newly-discovered ruins. Spoopy ensues.
When: Week 39
Where: Coastal Ruins
Summary: God hunting comes with quite a few hazards. Being haunted is one of them.

[ Something is following them.

Haruka's had that feeling ever since she and Michiru entered the ruins, and it's only grown stronger with time. Even her Eevee is taking great pains to be extra-silent as he pads along, though Haruka has a hunch he's trying to impress his new "babysitter", Bundled Hearts the Spritzee. Whatever. It suits Haruka's goals, and that's all she needs.

If only the rest of the day was going as planned! These ruins haven't taught her anything useful thus far, but there's still this ominous sense of something - waiting. Something watching.

Haruka smirks. Her neck's prickling as if there's something behind her, but she won't turn. Not yet. Not until she's sure she can take - whatever it is - by surprise. ] Maybe we should have brought a housewarming gift.

[ Watch it be another explorer. That'll make her feel silly. ]

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[Haruka and Michiru aren't the only psychic reincarnated heroines wandering around these ruins today. Rei is here too, being tugged along by those everpresent threads of fate that seem to be growing thicker and thicker with each step.

Deimos looks a little awkward, drifting along next to her with her usual grace...but a very unhappy grimace on her face. She's no happier to be here than Casius, who's tail is tucked between his legs. They have a bad feeling about this place, like they don't belong and shouldn't be here.

Not that it seems to bother Rei...but there is a definite look of surprise as she follows one of her strings around a ruined building and ends up staring at Haruka's back. She'd been expecting a Pokemon or some other horror. An aggressive spirit, like the one in her vision earlier in the week...not...Haruka and Michiru.]

Ah! [She lets out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, a quick exhalation.]

I...[She fumbles for words...finally managing] Hello.

[well, then. Rei gets a smile. Michiru doesn't look the least surprised to see her, though whether it's intuition or acting is up in the air.]

Rei. Exploring by yourself today? [as if it's perfectly normal to bump into acquaintances (friends?) in the middle of haunted ruins.

Martelé peeks out from around Michiru's leg to smile at Deimos.]

[ Michiru, you -

Haruka lets out a breath and scratches her head. Rei does explore a lot. She knew that much. ] I guess it was just a matter of time. Yo.

Vee! [ Gold is here too hello. Haruka doesn't even tell him to pipe down! She's too busy attempting to convince herself this is a coincidence.

It's not going very well. ] Impulse trip?

[Rei nods to both older girls and walks closer, with her Pokemon following very, very close on her heels. They aren’t about to let themselves get any further from Rei than necessary. And of course, Martele and Gold…well…they’re okay. But really, they aren’t afraid to admit the place is making them a little bit jumpy.]

I’m not alone anymore, am I Michiru-san? [Rei’s smile widens perceptibly as she picks up on Haruka’s discomfort. It’s not a nasty sort of expression, more bemused than anything.]

Haruka-san, you should know by now that nothing I do is on impulse. I’m here for a reason. Likely the same reason both of you are here. [Because those threads just won’t leave her alone unless she follows them…]

[Michiru just chuckles quietly. Inviting yourself along, huh? This should prove to be interesting.

Haruka gets a sidelong look and a smile, before she turns her attention back to Rei.] You mean you don't go on trips to haunted ruins for fun?

[Martelé puffs out her chest and vees importantly at Rei's Pokemon. As if anything here can take her!! (unless they're Bugs)]

I thought we were here for the cheerful atmosphere. [ Hotaru apparently uses snark to cover up that feeling of unease that comes from, you know, haunted ruins. Don't hold it against her.

Also yes Hotaru's there too. Hi Rei! ]

[ There's that unsettling feeling again. Maybe it'll be good to have Rei tagging along. She's a sensible girl, so they won't have the bother of looking after her, and then Haruka can try and determine whether they're bound by more than just Psychic-typing.

At least it's no surprise they all know each other after those few days at the beach. ] Have you seen anything interesting?

[ Greetings seem to be over with. Time for business. ~~Please tell her Usagi isn't lost in here somewhere.~~ ]

[Hi ~~murderloli~~ Hotaru-chan!

Rei smiles at the younger girl...since she had no idea Haruka and Michiru knew one another, but she'd hardly hold anything about ruins being creepy. She may not think so...but...you're allowed.]

I do, actually. I just don't find them all that creepy. They're really pleasant, if you know how to behave. [Come on, this girl lives in a shrine, moonlights as an exorcist, hangs out with ghosts, and is friends with the Feys. ~~And no worries, Usagi isn't with her.~~]

And interesting? Well...I suppose so, yes. Aside from the various ghosts, you mean? How about you all?

[hah. We're not all from the Ninetails Vale, Rei.]

Well, the sights haven't been particularly spectacular so far. [continuing in almost the same vein as Hotaru, but with more amusement in her tone.

But it doesn't feel like all your ghosts are as friendly as you're making them out to be.]

Celosia enjoys it here, at least. [ Her Litwick is, in fact, along for the ride on Hotaru's shoulder. And she does, indeed, look rather happy to be here. Moreso than Hotaru. ]

[ ......nothing gives Haruka the creeps like Celosia enjoying a place. She looks down at the Litwick to check on candle status. ]

Whatever happened here must have been pretty major.... [ She runs a hand along a wall, its surface looking like it could crumble any moment from age and decay.

It's unusually cool against her hand. ]

It definitely was.

[Rei's hand slides down the same wall, fingers playing along ancient cracks and ingrained soot. Other...slightly more morbid things catch her eye, like the shape of some of that soot. The after-image of someone long departed, a phenomenon she'd read about. Shaking her head, she slowly pulls back, not wishing to disturb whoever might be there and certainly not wanting to call attention to the ancient blast shadow.]

It's hardly a surprise that Celosia enjoys it. There are a lot of lost souls here. I can feel their energy even if I can't see them. [Really, she wonders how Litwick's candle isn't burning like a small sun.]

It definitely was hit hard during the war. That much is certain. [Her voice gets quieter, almost reverent. Sad, but without a trace of fear.] And it's been forgotten for so, so long. I'm wondering what we'll find if we go further in. And if that's even something the residents will permit...

Edited (ffff I hate typoooos) 2014-10-10 02:54 (UTC)

[Celosia had always seemed cheerful to her, but well.

Either way, Michiru is standing a few feet away from the wall, arm across her torso and hand tapping at her chin.]

Good thing you came along then, hm? [and she's turning and walking onwards - even if they probably would've gone on, regardless.]

Celosia, try not to upset the spirits by absorbing their souls, all right? [ That sounds like something they'd get angry about. She's be angry if she was a spirit and something absorbed her, okay?

She follows briskly behind Michiru. ]

[ Haruka joins the procession, bringing up the rear to watch everyone's backs - and keep an eye on their party while she's at it. Between the candle and Rei and Michiru's psychic powers, she's probably the one with the least effective intuition. But she has the best reflexes. She'll play guard.

...Wait. Is it her, or does this whole place feel like it's waiting for something? ]

The wind's stopped.

[ At her feet, Gold cocks his head. He hadn't been aware it was windy in here to begin with. ] Vee?

[Rei will follow along, leaving Deimos behind near Haruka and staying near Michiru herself. She gives the Litwick a vaguely warning look too. There was a reason she didn't bring Ophir out for this trip.

Her steps slow at Haruka's words, and she immediately casts out with her senses. What's out there that might be interfering with the wind?]

I...feel it too. Something's coming this way. Or passing nearby, anyway.

[and Michiru is staring directly to their right, where a large building looms. There isn't much to see beyond the crumbling doorway, but it's appropriately dark.

Martelé, taking her cue from her Trainer, jumps in front of Michiru, battle ready and baring her teeth at the empty doorway.

....the Normal type doesn't actually sense anything, but she's worked long enough with Michiru by now to realize that there must be something there.]

[ For a moment, a fierce expression appears on Hotaru's face. As an absol, she can feel even minute changes in the air, and the stillness in the air was simply unnatural.

...And that's when the Litwick hops off of her and starts heading toward the cause of the disturbance, bouncing along happily with a merry "Lit~".

Hotaru's expression becomes more panicky. ] Ah-! Celosia!

Hold off.

[ Celosia has agreed to be their bait, and she's a high enough level that Haruka isn't too worried. They'll have to see what their lure produces. ] Let her see what it is.

[ She inches in the direction the candle'd wandered. Spritzee, preparing for battle, fluffs herself up to appear larger. (Gold, watching, does the same. Of this group, only Haruka looks particularly frightening.) ] Zee.

[ Now, what's made Celosia so excited? ]

[A giggling sound fills the air in front of them, the tinkling laughter of a child tinged with the eerie edge one would associate with a ghost. The sound grows and multiplies, and several others join in to create a ghastly chorus. Movement flickers all around the group, the lights dim. All save for Celosia’s anyway. There are still plenty of spirits to bum off of, though she may want to think twice about going much farther as a trio of Yamask float into a ruined doorway, barring it.

The ghosts continue laughing, one of them spinning in place as they size up the girls.

Rei stops short, of course, keeping a distance from them.]

Celosia…now might be a good time to stop doing whatever it is you’re doing. It’s probably not wise to upset these Pokemon.

[And of course, there are more sounds all around them. Could there be other threats that are less…giggly?]

[Michiru's head turns, intently tracking the sounds and shifts her position, ending up back to back with Haruka. That should tell you exactly what's going on.]

Martelé, eyes up front.

[the Normal type's ears twitch and she vees in acknowledgement, going back to baring her teeth at the ghosts. What's with all the giggling, huh??]

[ Celosia, stop? PSH! Look at them, they're all giggling and having fun! Celosia wants to have fun!

So instead of stopping or.... doing anything smart, really... she just giggles along with them in her own Litwick-y way and joins them.

....Why, Celosia?

Hotaru, meanwhile, feels a little more at ease. Spirits, a little creepy. Ghost-type pokémon made more sense to her. ] Is it just them...?

We'll see. [ Haruka takes stock of her side of the passageway, barely shifting as she scans the area. She and Michiru have sunk into a perfectly synced assessment of their potential enemies. ] Four here.

[ All doing the same disembodied giggle thing and trying to stay out of sight, but bit by bit they drift forward, as if drawn to the Litwick's flame. Preeettty.....they want it. They want what you're gathering.

Clueless, Gold wags his tail at Haruka's feet. Hello! ] Eevee!

[Rei reaches out with her mind, sweeping the area for more threats. So far, nothing save the two groups they've picked out. Good. Maybe they can be dealt with peacefully.

Stepping around Hotaru, her hand hovering near her belt pouch, the priestess confronts the giggling trio with Deimos and Casius at her back. The faithful hound starts sniffing, identifying each of them in turn and sets himself in case negotiations fail.]

We would like to pass, spirits. [Rei fills her voice with command, not quite an order but the nudging all ghosts need.] Will you let us?

[The three up front giggle and drift closer, towards both Rei and Celosia. Two of them fixate on the litwick, one on Rei. That one smiles and bobs up and down but the other two...well...they seem more intent on a snack.

Rei's finger snaps once and a Light Screen floats up around the group from Deimos, the Fairy obeying a well practiced command. The shimmering wall settles around them...but the two aggressive ones continue moving forward. They want that energy! And all of the others energy too!]

We may need to fight some of them off. Get ready for anything, I've never seen ghosts like these before.

[Martelé growls threateningly at the two Yamask floating closer, but doesn't even blink at the appearance of the Light Screen. This is a familiar routine, even if the buff is coming from a different source than usual.]

Go. [Michiru hasn't even turned around, but if we're up to setting up Light Screens, perhaps a Nasty Plot would be in order. Besides, the other one (ones?) seems to be playing the waiting game. For the moment, in any case.

Martelé leaps at the nearest Yamask, attacking with a good old fashioned Bite. She has no idea why that move works, but she has obviously worked with ghost types before.]

Open Log // Haunted Ruins

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