his eyes met izzy's and lingered there for just a moment longer than what might have made his companion comfortable. he could hide behind his hat all he wanted, but barnaby recognized a cute face when he saw one. well, cute in a gruff sort of way, he supposed. "yes, let's do the thing. i'll take the lead." the older man replied airily, smirking.[break][break]

quickly, barnaby tightened the elastic band holding his black hair in place before releasing his LIEPARD from its poké ball. it was time. he strode forward with confidence, taking each crumbling stairstep with ease until he reached the weathered front door. a large knocker in the shape of a roaring lion's head was centered on the door itself. the handle was made of heavy brass with an elongated, ornate keyhole. barnaby retrieved the key from his pocket and attempted to open the door... but the key stuck. it didn't even so much as turn a millimeter in the keyhole. barnaby looked over his shoulder and remarked to izzy, "strange. this is the key i was given by the underboss."[break][break]

then, a knock. hollow sounding but deafening amidst the night's silence.[break][break]

barnaby slowly turned back to see the knocker's handle hovering... before dropping again. knock, knock, knock. moments passed and he tried turning the key again. nothing. fine. the ROCKET reached for the handle and mimicked: knock, knock, knock.[break][break]

the door creaked open ever so slowly...[break][break]

+Izydor Baranowski izzy's adorable omggg[break]
mission: paranormal activity

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

barnaby met izzy's gaze, his smug confidence beginning to falter a bit. the self-opening door had definitely rattled him, but the ROCKET tried his best to maintain composure. "yep, we're going in. stay close and don't get separated from me." that's when all the fucked up shit happens in horror movies. dumbasses isolate themselves.[break][break]

his attention snapped back to the other man after hearing his... joke? it was hard to tell, but barnaby smirked nonetheless. maybe the guy wasn't as detached as he seemed. "if i do get possessed, i have full confidence in you to kill whatever demon-spawn has its hold on me." a wink accompanied his affirmation before barnaby took the plunge and entered the brownstone.[break][break]

it was dark as pitch and eerily quiet. a futile flick of a nearby light switch proved useless. sighing, barnaby fished a flashlight from his backpack and turned it on. let there be light. or, a conical zone of light that barely seemed to illuminate the space. he could at least recognize that they were currently in a foyer area; in front of them stood a grand, rotting staircase that curved up to all three of the building's upper floors; to the left was a formal sitting room and to the right was what appeared to be a dining room, though there was no table. any furniture that remained was covered in moth-eaten sheets.[break][break]

as barnaby moved the flashlight around, continuing to inspect the area immediately within the entrance of the home, he stopped at one of the walls closest to the entry door. ringed in light was an alarming message, written in what looked like blood.[break][break]

[break][break]

+Izydor Baranowski 👻[break]
mission: paranormal activity

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

tentatively, barnaby collected the candy from the floor. he rolled it between his thumb and index finger a few times, feeling for any abnormalities. was this a trick or a genuine peace offering? it doesn't matter either way. the ghostly inhabitants of the building needed to be evicted and that was exactly what he intended to do. "keep focused, izzy." barnaby hiss-whispered back. "they know why we're here. let's get this done before they start throwing more dangerous things at us."[break][break]

something suddenly caught the ROCKET's eye. a shadow lingered at the very edge of the light emitted from his torch, somehow darker than the surrounding blackness. and yet, when barnaby tried to illuminate it, it moved just out of reach. "celeste... attaque." without hesitation the LIEPARD pounced, dark energy accumulating around her paws before she struck the shadow with a vicious NIGHT SLASH. her attack proved successful. a PUMPKABOO rolled into the light, yellow eyes dull and glazed over, before disintegrating into nothingness. "one down." barnaby declared, smiling over at the younger man beside him.[break][break]

"where to next? left or right?" he waved the flashlight to indicate either direction - left to the formal living area, right to the dining room.[break][break]

+ Izydor Baranowski [break]
mission: paranormal activity

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"bonne, celeste. excellent execution." the violet cat purred as she returned to her trainer. in typical feline fashion, she pressed up against barnaby affectionately and circled him a few times before sitting at his feet. meanwhile, izzy's own pokémon was doing something... - oh crap! suddenly, the diminutive lizard scuddled off into the next room.[break][break]

"it's smell? do ghosts even HAVE a scent?" barnaby questioned in a tone laced with agitation. not anger, just slight annoyance, and maybe a little fear. i say to stick together and five seconds later someone makes a run for it. just then the flashlight was yanked from his hand and barnaby was... definitely not amused by this turn of events.[break][break]

"merde..." he hissed before launching himself after izzy. like hell was he going to be left alone in the dark. celeste followed obediently after him, her claws extended and at the ready to unleash another NIGHT SLASH when needed.

[break][break]

+ Izydor Baranowski  can't wait to see what myszko finds 👀[break]
mission: paranormal activity

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It didn't take long for Barnaby to catch up to Izzy and his slippery little SALANDIT. Inspecting the scene before him, the ROCKET saw a verifiable FEAST laid out along the antique dining table. It was a grand affair, offering delicacies from countries across the world. The food almost glistened in the candlelight and, God help him, Barnaby felt a nagging urge to have just one bite. Those sweet macarons were singing his name, alluring and supple like an enchanting siren. Just one bite... he took a step forward. [break][break]

Then, a small pain on his forearm. Enough to snap him back to reality. Barnaby looked down to see his arm in Celeste's maw; she held him gently, but firmly. "Chère... thank you." The LIEPARD gave a little head shake for good measure before releasing her trainer.[break][break]

The sound of unbridled munching and the wails of a distressed Pokémon drew Barnaby's gaze back toward the table. It was a foreboding scene because... damn it, he knew what would happen next. Sure enough, only seconds passed before the sound of YAMASK's sobs and cries for help lured in its ghostly protectors.[break][break]

Not one, but two Pokémon emerged from the shadows. As if separating from the wall itself a CONFAGRIGUS, accompanied by an equally terrifying RUNERIGUS, soon hovered before the two ROCKETs. Only the antique table separated the ghosts from the intruders. Exhibiting alarming speed, the CONFAGRIGUS struck first at Myszko using a SHADOW CLAW imbued with dark energy. The RUNERIGUS, on the other hand, turned its attention to the human closest to its wailing child.[break][break]

"Fuck! Izzy, watch out!" Acting basically on instinct, Barnaby grabbed his companion's elbow and pulled him out of harm's way. Simultaneously, Celeste leapt forward so that she was between the ghostly attacker and the two men.

[break][break]

+ Izydor Baranowski sorry for the wait! ;-; i wasn't feeling well the past week or so and am just now getting my strength back[break]
mission: paranormal activity[break]
bingo prompt 1/4

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It may have only been a brief second, but the feeling of Izzy leaning into his chest stirred something in Barnaby. Hmm. He'd have to address that feeling later.[break][break]

For now, shit was going down. The YAMASK, having recovered its golden mask, was now cowering in the corner behind its parents. Parents who were, quite rightly, extremely pissed. Everything in the dining room that wasn't nailed down had begun whizzing around the space, poltergeist style. The flames of the candles, now airborne, were alternating in intensity - dim one second, burning bright another. It made for a spooky show.[break][break]

The RUNERIGUS, angered by the intruders and this turn of events, smacked a nearby chair. The blunt force sent it flying across the room. Wood met wall and the chair basically exploded on impact.[break][break]

"Screw this." Barnaby muttered under his breath before reaching for another Poké Ball - this time belonging to his DELPHOX, Delphine. [break][break]

"Celeste, Delphine - now!" The pair didn't hesitate; the fox Pokémon began her assault with a devastating SHADOW BALL directed at the RUNERIGUS. The outraged ghost wailed in pain, but its cry was cut short; Celeste cut him off with a well-placed NIGHT SLASH. With its last ounce of strength it extended one of its spectral hands toward the YAMASK... before fading away.

[break][break]

+ Izydor Baranowski 👀[break]
mission: paranormal activity[break]
bingo prompt 2/4

[attr="class","pokeclass"]