he never mentioned you, she thinks. "that's good to hear. i thought very highly of him," she says. it's an odd, but not uncomfortable position they find themselves in. she may not be as warm as him, but there is a way she carries herself that makes freya's heart hurt. 

it's a terrible reminder of what she owes him. 

"do you have any information regarding the ghost that's haunting this place? honestly, you'd think with how knowledgeable we are about ghost-types' existence, more people would be able to handle them on their own."

ANA STONE

☉

they stand in a courtyard overgrown with moss and crawlers. a bird fountain flowers with an assortment of plants. this place should be a feeding ground for herbivore pokemon, but it's eerily quiet. 

"i've seen too much not to be a skeptic," she says with a shrug. she has her own ideas, but she wants to let ana take the lead on this one. it's still strange, standing beside someone who looks so much like him. 

ANA STONE

☉

"yes, it's not exactly comforting." her own experience with ghost-types is rather limited. even before alexander had upgraded her gear, she'd always carried about a few arrows with silver heads. the peculiar quiver of hers is on her hip now, bladebow in her hands. 

she doesn't think she'll need either, with a capable team at her hands and a partner to boot, but she's gotten into the habit of going everywhere armed. she doesn't like to be without her claws. 

"mm, so was it the candlestick or the wrench that got him?" she says. they cross the quiet courtyard and come upon the door. she goes to open it, but the handle turns of its own accord and the door yawns open, creaking eerily. 

freya shares a look with ana. 

ANA STONE

☉

ana drops a ball and freya follows suit. aeris gives a quick once-over to the fairy beside her, feathers ruffling, but then her tail rattles as she flicks out a tongue. she smells alexander, freya muses - because she'd smelled it too. 

the dragon slips to freya's opposite side once she's relaxed and the women cross the threshold. both keep an eye on ana's gardevoir in case any sudden movement emerges, but after a few beats, freya's posture relaxes. 

their footsteps are muffled by the orrenian carpet laden on the ground. much of it is covered in dust. some cobwebs hang from the rafters. 

"we may have to ward off some spinarak as well," she comments. 

ANA STONE

☉

nothing presents itself, and perhaps the waiting is the worst part. the house creaks and moans. ana offers her a choice and she pauses, listening. 

the floorboards rattle upstairs. it sounds like children running about. a door slams. aeris coils and then slithers up the stairs, tail flicking. 

when the dragon rounds the corner, she pauses. electricity sizzles from the orb on her tail and freya takes the stairs two at a time. but by the time she reaches the landing, aeris has gone still, head cocked in confusion.

ANA STONE

☉

aeris' muscles relax and her vision clears. freya peers down the hallway. a wisp of smoke curls. tinkling laughter echoes behind the doors in the hallway. two upstairs. sounds like a lot more than two, but freya chalks it up to ghost-types' typical antics. 

she drops another ball at her feet and salic emerges. he flexes his claws and gets low to the ground, tongue flicking. aeris darts down the hallway. she loops her tail around every doorknob and flings them open all at once. 

and the laughter cuts off. 

"this is getting ridiculous," freya grumbles.

ANA STONE

☉