The sense of dread that Johanna experienced for a moment was pushed away as Ethan regaled her with the tale of what he spent his time with. While most of the answers didn’t surprise her, what did was when he mentioned that he worked at one of those high-end art galleries, Specifically one in Slateport City. For a brief moment she remembered the pictures that hung at home, a fond warmth spread as she decided to reply.

“No you haven’t told me, and I will admit it does surprise me. I did not take you for the artsy type.” But who was she to judge, surely she didn’t exactly strike him as the heir to the Joy family fortune either.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the first store. After letting those who came before them have their turn, the Scrafty and Shiinotic made their way over to lay claim to their well-deserved spoils. And in doing so Johanna was offered some compliments on her choice of costume. She replied back with a thumbs up and a “Thank you.” But did otherwise allow her Pokémon to do the primary interaction with the store staff.

The Shiinotic returned to Johanna’s side one chocolate bar and a tiny pack of gummies richer. The zombie-Mushroom almost glowed vividly with happiness and appreciation for this small treasure trove of goodies. The Shiinotic was about to take the Chocolate bar when Johanna spoke. “Wait until we are finished. Would not want you to get sugar rush before the tour is over.”

And with it, she would lead the way to the next store, this one a toy store that had gone out of its way to celebrate the holiday. The store front was decorated as only professional people could. The staff disguised as a friendly-looking version of what Johanna could only assume was ULTRA BEASTS.

Children crowded the storefront as two members of staff, one on each side of the entrance handed out candy to all the kids and Pokémon. One of them dressed like a Blacephelon and the other a rather plumb-looking Buzzwole. Faces were hidden by very authentic-looking masks, but voices carried a friendly tone.

It definitely seemed like Shiinotic and Scrafty would have to wait in line for this one.

OOC Mission thread for Tricking or Treating
LOCATION: SOOTOPOLIS CITY
COSTUME FULL COSPLAY

@bishop

“Sounds like a good plan.” Johanna nodded in acknowledgment. And so she went to walk by Ethan’s side. The costume she had picked kept her warm, perhaps a bit too much. But she would not let a bit of discomfort get to her.

As she gazed out over the bustling street. She felt a sense of amazement and wonder. To think even though the threat of WORMHOLES, ULTRA SPACE, and its’ BEASTS loomed about every citizen of Hoenn Rocket aligned or not, they still found time to celebrate the little things in life, to remember the dead and so on.

“I’ve been doing all right. Been doing a lot of training, and thinking, mostly.” The big meeting had sown seeds, seeds which still threatened to sprout.

“How about you? I presume you’ve been kept busy, right?” She tried to turn the subject. Realizing that her mouth had perhaps suggested information that had been better left unspoken. These were not times for doubt, hopefully, the appearance of a store would distract Ethan from her doubts.


OOC Mission thread for Tricking or Treating
LOCATION: SOOTOPOLIS CITY
COSTUME FULL COSPLAY

@bishop

Isaac proclaimed their choice right. Nice she smiled victoriously as she made a small victory gesture. The Haunter turned to her, hand raised high and flat. Johanna met it with a hand of her own in a victory High-five.

But the victory pose did not last long, for Johanna returned her attention to listening to the information Isaac so kindly offered her. For the choice of target, his reasoning was more or less the same as hers. It simply made sense, especially because she was well aware that she wasn’t a defensive Pokémon battler.

As for the choice of Mega form… The Haunter looked thoughtful and so did Johanna.

“Well. I don’t know.” She looked towards the Haunter, who looked back at her. “But whatever it picks I am sure it will be great!” Johanna stated trying to ease some of the worries the Haunter was sure to have when it came to this choice. She knew deep down, whatever it picked would grant it the strength to rival even an ULTRA BEAST.

“Boredom and Lethargy, eh?” She looked pondering for a moment. “Candy and Mischief will treat the symptoms, aye, but t’is not a permanent solution – “ She pulled one of the baubles from her costume and held it up. The liquid swirling around. “Now THIS will cure you of both boredom and Lethargy, and MORE!” She gestured towards the Shiinotic who played along as it raised its arms in the most zombie-like way.

And then the act finished, she placed the bauble back in its place as Ethan asked her, not as the crazy doctor but as Johanna Joy, if she was ready. To this, she could do naught but reply with a nod. “Yeah, I am. Figured I’d dress up for the occasion.” She smiled, though her mask hid it.

“So, which route are we taking?” Johanna gazed at Ethan, only now taking in his appearance. His and his Pokémon’s lack of costume disappointed her. But she figured there was no need to comment on that.

OOC Mission thread for Tricking or Treating
LOCATION: SOOTOPOLIS CITY
COSTUME FULL COSPLAY

@bishop

While Johanna hadn’t spent much time in Sootopolis City, she figured in light of recent happenings, perhaps she should familiarize herself with the place. And when the city stores were offering free candy for children and Pokémon alike, then who was she to deny herself a moment of fun and respite?

And so she joined with @bishop, though perhaps he wouldn’t recognize her upon first glance. For she had truly indulged in the spooky season. She had done the attire of an old-timey medical practitioner, fitting given her family’s profession.

With a mask resembling the beak of a Corviknight, and clothed attire with several protruding spikes, as well as shoulder guards and vials, with eerily green liquids, at her hip. She had done all to cover her identity, her long blue hair was even hidden by her uniform. However, if one truly looked, then one peculiar information could be gleaned from her costume, her gender, for while it shrouded her identity her form was accentuated. Somehow artists always found ways to appeal to the baser instincts of humanity. But she could not complain for she had not the skills to replicate it, yet.

Anyhow, by her side, a happy-looking Shiinotic walked, empty bag in hand ready for all the candy it would acquire. Shiinotic wasn’t without costume either. Though it was simply painted on with make-up. Lightly radiation green makeup had been applied to its face, all with a bit of fake blood at strategic places, all to give the impression of a radiated zombie mushroom.

Her steps were casual as she walked up to Ethan. For a moment she considered it a good idea to do a little play with him. Perhaps she should not, but she did it anyways. “Greetings good sire, you look rather pale. Perhaps I can offer a cure for what ailment thou suffers by?” Her voice straining to sound less feminine than what it usually did, all helped along with the mask’s muffling effect.


OOC Mission thread for Tricking or Treating
LOCATION: SOOTOPOLIS CITY
COSTUME FULL COSPLAY

@bishop

It certainly seemed like Haunter wanted to become the one to get the Mega Privilege. And Johanna didn’t mind. It even sounded like a good idea when Isaac gave her some more information on the two forms that Gengar had, even if they were a bit similar. “Yeah, I will have to do some proper reading up on the two forms before I make such a decision if it is even mine to make.”

But Mega evolution was a thing of the future, first Haunter would have to evolve. And so they returned to some further training this time Isaac wanted her to train her decision-making.

First Isaac Sends out Aggron once more. While she wanted to react to that, she realized hitting the tank was a bad idea, it would do little. Secondly, the Galarian Rapidash came. And that’s where she struck. “That one.” Haunter was awaiting her command, and so he quickly fired off a SHADOW PUNCH. Her reasoning being she had seen it providing a Healing role, and she wasn’t certain that she could deal with a team that had the support of a Healer when she did not. Besides, it was also weak to Ghost-type moves, so there was that.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want you to! When that time comes, I fully expect you to give me your best.” Johanna reassured Megan. She wanted to see Megan fighting at her best, while she didn’t know a lot about what Pokémon Megan had, she figured they would all be a bunch of BEASTS worth fighting.

But it was not the strength that held Megan back. No, as she further explained, it was the untraditional challenge that limited her. To this, Johanna’s face grew thoughtful for a moment. “Yeah, it makes sense.” She agreed. “But, does it have to be an original idea?” Johanna blurted out.

“Oh, please don’t get the wrong idea I am not suggesting stealing any of the current gimmicks being used. But Hoenn’s been through a lot of Gym Leaders, right? So perhaps there’s an old gimmick which you could put your own spin on, and perhaps even improve?” Though to be fair, she hardly knew any of the current Gym Leader's Gimmicks.



LOCATION: Fiery Path

Be Small, be quiet, don’t notice me, don’t notice me, please. The thoughts repeated in her mind as she hid, body shivering with fear. She heard Ethan close the door. She dared not check if he had found a place to hide as well. Moments later their predator broke the door down bursting through it.

She didn’t hear much of a struggle, all she heard was the crackling of ELECTROWEB, then the sound of what she presumed to be Bishop’s frame dragging against the ground as the BEAST would return with its catch, had she not known better she might've even thought the Genesect a descendant of the ULTRA BEASTS which assailed their world through WORMHOLES.

Once the sound was gone and her heart quieted down, the timid Rocket would quietly get sneak out of her hiding place.

Two generators left…

Johanna gulped. This was too much. Surely she would fail. She shook her head. Halting the thoughts that were starting to intrude. She had to try, she could do this, if she couldn’t then Gavin and Bishop, no, Ethan would’ve ‘died’ for nothing.

And so she began to hurry towards the location of the next generator. Each stride while quick was much more controlled than the sprint that had brought her to the prior one.


K6knPwmI

@bishop oscar clayton Cillian Quinn

The OMINOUS WIND that blew over Mt. Pyre didn’t dissuade Johanna from approaching the place of endless sleep. Clad for a casual hike in clothes of black with purple spray-paint motifs. Her long blue hair blew gently in the air. As she walked through the rocky pathway.

By her side, a happy Shiinotic danced along with the casual steps of its trainer. Eyes looking around searching for new interesting sights to see. Unfortunately, all it saw was a rather boring-looking individual up ahead.

Johanna nodded in acknowledgment, though she had already noticed the person. But at this distance, she could yet determine the identity of the person. Oh well, probably someone here mourning the death of a beloved Pokémon.



OOC: N/A
LOCATION: MT. PYRE.

He made a good point. It was a tool, not an assured victory as her Haunter so clearly displayed.

Realizing that the battle was over, the Haunter placed itself promptly upon the comfortable blue-haired head of his trainer, who certainly didn’t seem to mind it. Hands in what would perhaps look like crossed arms as he listened. And then he heard it. He had Mega evolution options! Its eyes lit up in eagerness.

“I will keep that in mind." The limited number useable at any given time did seem like quite a downside, but she supposed there was a reason for that. “As for Candidates…” Johanna closed her eyes in contemplation, chin finding rest upon her thumb.

“Perhaps Ke…” Her eyes opened only to find that the Haunter excitedly floated in front of her face and pointed at itself. She looked toward Isaac. “I suppose the choice has already been made for me.”

The Haunter clapped enthusiastically. Completely forgetting the tiny little detail that it needed to evolve before it could Mega Evolve.

It seemed she could simply not refuse. The woman insisted, and who was she to deny it? And so she quickly realized that it was a futile endeavor to continue to refute the offer, with little fight left, she would simply agree as Kyrenai insisted that she should not put the blame upon herself before informing Johanna that she hadn’t been its first attempt at a victim today.

“Oh I am not bothered by this, trust me. These things can happen.” Once again she tried, but the subject quickly changed towards the Happiny.

The Happiny began to smile wide and proud as Kyrenai verbally applauded it for its efforts. ”Yeah, she has always been pretty good at keeping things neat around her.” Johanna spoke, as she was about to move to help the little Happiny, only for it to dismiss her with a gesture of one of her hands.

The Happiny did not need help.

OOC: N/A

Her eyes shot wide as the music started blaring. She should definitely have seen it coming, and yet she was surprised by it. But she wasn’t about to lock up in fear, no, not anymore. She quickly jumped into motion following Ethan.

She quickly almost jumped through the open doorway as Ethan almost commanded her to hurry inside. He didn’t have to say that twice! Her bright blue hair trailed behind her like a tail as she ran through, and gave the inside of the warehouse a quick scan.

She then jumped behind the nearest bunch of boxes, trash, whatever it was that was large enough for her smaller frame to hide behind. She tugged her long hair against her body, hoping to keep it out of sight as she hid. Though if it were not her hair that would reveal her, then perhaps her heavy adrenaline-fueled breath would, only time would tell.

fHBvbRfU

@bishop oscar clayton Cillian Quinn