on one floor above is underboss theo beckett, unaware of anyone else around him but not entirely surprised should he run into someone. after all, mauville hills, despite being a haunted house, makes for a good tourist spot.[break][break]

theo's here to try and find remnants of any crystablooms, however. that, and also to hunt for some pokemon.[break][break]

for now, he remains unaware.

[attr="class","ooc"]normal/fairy/ghost[break]
thomas nightingale[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-luxray color-shiny"]

They come around a corner, Helena fading in and out of view; she’s a rippling illusion, undulating with lines of invisibility. A habit borne out of boredom.

“I’m sorry, am I not entertaining enough for you?” Thomas asks, a touch incredulous; he tests the strength of the first of a set of stairs with his cane, then begins to ascend.

The Mismagius snickers, somewhat menacingly, in response.

At the top of the stairs Thomas is faced with a Haunter, looming out of the nothing. It is only his mental fortitude that stops him from startling and falling backwards; instead, he faces the Ghost-type with a wry grin, and Helena quickly brings it to heel with shadow ball.

“I will admit,” he commented to no one in particular, stepping past the downed Haunter and zapping it in a Pokeball, “that I was hoping for bit more of a thrill.”

Helena grins in agreement.

THEO BECKETT
normal / fairy / ghost
catch attempt haunter

☉

theo's often like a scarecrow in the way he's able to stand still and not be tempted to move. it's what he finds himself doing as he peers out the window from one of the many rooms of the haunted house. he stares at nothing in particular.[break][break]

at least until a sawsbuck comes striding into the open. it doesn't take his luxray long to jump in with a CRUNCH.[break][break]

from his spot, he tosses a pokeball out the window.

[attr="class","ooc"]normal/fairy/ghost[break]
catching sawsbuck![break]
thomas nightingale[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-luxray color-shiny"]

Thomas has never been one for standing still. It’s a skill that’s been trained into him, one iron-wrought from years of practice. Like mortals against their inevitable demise, he fights against it, regularly.

He comes around another corner, revealing someone who is very much alive.

“A-hah,” he says, faux cheer woven into his voice, “is this the unruly spectre that haunts these halls?” His smile is small but bright.

Helena spooks a Carbink out of a hall closet, smashing the accordion doors and sending one slamming against the opposite wall. It teeters, then falls with another loud noise. Thomas zaps the stunned creature with a Pokeball as the abandoned abode relapses to silence.

THEO BECKETT
normal / fairy / ghost
catch attempt carbink
holy shit im so sorry

☉

"?"[break][break]

unruly spectre? in the reflection of the window, theo looks at himself briefly, wondering if he looks like a spirit. he's not been able to get out much so he is more pale than usual. maybe that's it? or is it just his demeanor?[break][break]

either way, DISCHARGE from out the window illuminates the space around them for a moment. through the crack in the window, he tosses a pokeball at the TAIL WHIPPING azurill, catching it off guard.[break][break]

finally, he turns.[break][break]

"i am very much alive. for now, at least."

[attr="class","ooc"]normal/fairy/ghost[break]
catching azurill![break]
thomas nightingale[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-luxray color-shiny"]

“I jest, of course.”

Helena pokes out of the wall, grinning at Theo.

“I’ve not seen a ghost so well put together before.” And handsome, but he leaves that bit out. “So certainly you must be alive.”

A curious Dedenne peeks down from a hole in the ceiling. Helena strikes the caving tile with a power gem, dropping the beast to the floor where it sits, stunned, until Thomas catches it in a Pokeball.

“Are you ghost-hunting as well?” he asks, resting both hands on his cane.

THEO BECKETT
normal / fairy / ghost
catch attempt dedenne

☉

well put together is among the nicest things any stranger has ever said to him, so he dips his head in brief gratitude.[break][break]

"why thank you."[break][break]

he's about to answer the man's question before being interrupted by a curious persian that steps into the room. it sniffs around, then sits by theo to paw at his leg.[break][break]

he offers it a berry, then a pokeball.[break][break]

"i am. though i have not been very successful."

[attr="class","ooc"]normal/fairy/ghost[break]
catching persian![break]
thomas nightingale[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-luxray color-shiny"]

Thomas afforded the man a warm chuckle. “Neither have I, I’m afraid.” Helena makes an affronted grunt, to which Thomas shrugs. “What? You’re a known entity. Not nearly so interesting. But quite a lot of fun.”

This seems to placate the Mismagius, who spies something intriguing out a window and fades away with a nasty chuckle.

“Oh, well,” Thomas says, wrapped in a bealaguered sigh, “perhaps it is true what they say and the real ghosts have been inside us all along. And sometimes, they win.”

To punctuate this extremely profound and not at all stolen from Stephen King quote, a Swellow crashes through a dilapidated window, squawking with fear as it hits the wall and falls. Helena hovers in its wake, cackling madly.

Thomas rolls his eyes and zaps it with a Pokeball.

THEO BECKETT
normal / fairy / ghost
catch attempt swellow

☉

"perhaps."[break][break]

it's the most theo will say in response to the quote because he has no other thoughts on it. his attention is soon pulled away to the approaching palossand, and though it sneaks, it's not nearly stealthy enough to avoid the wary eyes of the underboss.[break][break]

"but there's a ghost right there."[break][break]

he stares at it until it eventually leaves.

[attr="class","ooc"]normal/fairy/ghost[break]
skipping![break]
thomas nightingale[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-luxray color-shiny"]