When Madd first saw the costumed crusader, she almost swallowed her tongue. What the heck was she wearing? And why was she wearing it here? The water and sand would get all over it. Acting as if she’d somehow missed it, Yakuza made a show of elbowing her and pointing to it. Big red eyes kept looking at her for confirmation. A muscular hand wrapped around the badger’s fluffy mitts, trying to stop the dark type from making a show of it. [break][break]


She pinched him. Then, scolded the overgrown weasel in a harsh whisper. “Stop pointing at her. It’s just an outfit Chill.”
[break][break]

Luckily, the redhead didn’t take too long to collect herself. If this girl felt more comfortable dressing like a—uh—whatever that was meant to be, she wouldn’t judge her for it. Hell, maybe her normal job was a mascot at a fast food chain or something. Before landing this gig, Madd had done way more embarrassing stuff. When Andrew drew within a few feet, Madeline offered her a hand to shake.
[break][break]

“They’re pretty cool out here.” Except for that lady who insisted she’d seen Madd on a wanted poster before. Which wasn’t true. Most of her crimes hadn’t been committed anywhere near this place. “And they love the pond Pokemon. A lot of the fish are older than I am.” And, well, she only let nice people take them. If anyone wanted Magikarp filets, they’d have to go elsewhere.
[break][break]

The introduction of the funky little crocodile was met with another surprised blink. Again, Yakuza elbowed in her ribs, trying to point out the cute little guy. Where he got the idea that she was blind, the redhead had zero idea. After they finished shaking hands—if they did—she’d offer a similar gesture to the Fuecoco. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.” A pause followed. “Yakuza loves the outfit.”
[break][break]

Knowing a cue when he heard it, the badger nodded enthusiastically. “I’m Madd. This is Yakky. He’s my live-in slapstick show.” A big mitten waved as she moved to lead the little group to the leg. Once they got to the site of the nearest attack, she gestured to a few indents in the dirt.
[break][break]

“These tracks are all I got..” And, unfortunately, they weren’t much. “You want a drink or something?” The old man wouldn’t notice a coke or two going off the books.
[break][break]

Andrea Vaneau

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Up went a ginger brow. A way about her, huh? The way he said that reminded her of a Karen saying ‘bless your heart.’ In other words, it definitely wasn’t meant to be a compliment. “Not on the best terms, I take it?” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Family’s hard.” Amber eyes temporarily filled with empathy. Though her, mom, and her baby brother got along pretty well, dad was a monster. He might get on his high horse about terrorism, but he was a lot scarier than the confused kids she knew in Rocket.

[break][break]




“No need to act all macho, pal.” Madd cautioned as Sy leveraged himself to his feet. One of her arms stretched out, ready to prevent an embarrassing fall. Though plenty tall herself, she felt small in comparison. “Just take it easy.” She’d taken a few kicks to the head in training. Then, there’d been the time she’d clocked her face on a marble countertop. “I know you’re head’s probably spinning right now.” The swirling maelstrom probably wasn’t helping.

[break][break]




The question was met with a frown. “Definitely the past. I’ve never seen this much greenery before.” Her eyes swept across all the plants. None of them looked like something out of Jurassic Park or anything. And, a quick glance didn’t reveal any giant bugs. “Beyond that, I don’t—” The bubble around them popped. The Obstagoon moved to hide beyond his trainer with a red-eyed glare. She shivered in her coat as a nasty wind blew through. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.


[break][break]


A bright light flashed. Noises suddenly flooded in, no longer deadened by the protective bubble. “That’s not good.” Her eyes lifted to the floating psychic type as it readied an attack. Its spoons gleamed like crossed swords. “Nope.”


[break][break]


She gestured her Obstagoon forward, her fists balling up into impotent fists at her side. “Hit it with a—” Shit, what was super effective against these guys? She wasn’t the trainer in the family. “--try a—just hit it!” Was she panicking? Just a little.





[break][break]

+ @symon

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“I’m no lush or anything.” The redhead turned to look around her apartment. In preparation for this meeting, she’d scrubbed the place from top-to-bottom. So, any of the beer cans or cigarettes had been discarded. “I sometimes chug a beer or two after work.” Which, honestly, shocked her. When her ex had first given her a can, the stuff made her want to gag. Now, even though it still objectively tasted like ass, it was comforting.[break][break]




“I do smoke though.” Her hand jerked toward a surprisingly large balcony and the steps leading to a yard. “But I usually go outside. It’s a lot easier to clean-up.” Though, if it ever got too cold, she’d probably break that rule. The last thing she wanted was frozen nips and a cloud of frosty haze. “Good on you for not smoking.” Madd shrugged her shoulders, feeling awkward at their size. “It’s a shitty habit.” She’d picked it up to punish her old man. Instead, shhe’d just fucked her lungs up and gotten an addiction.[break][break]





The talk of curfews drew a nod. “She wants us back in by 1:30 AM at the latest.” Honestly, Madd found it kind of endearing. “She says it’s dangerous for sweet precious girls to be out alone.” Had Madd mentioned the lady was half blind? “I just try to be considerate of her when I can.” Sure, she might be a terrorist, but she did have mannerr. ‘Speaking of, these is one more thing.”[break][break]





Taking her water bottle, the redhead made her way to the balcony. Beneath it, a set of stairs led down to a large backyard. It’d obviously been beautful once-the ghosts of well-tended flower beds still visible. But Madd wasn’t exactly a green thumb. “We have to mow the grass for her too.” Again, another lift of the shoulders followed. “Takes like 20 minutes with the lawn mower.”

Johanna Joy

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Remiel’s wonderings were met with an introspective hum. Madd seemed immune to Blue’s attitude. Mostly because it reminded her of a toddler who missed nap time instead of anything actually dangerous. Broad shoulders lifted in a shrug at the initial rebuff. “Not usually,” Madd quips back. That was one reason her dad had opted for the whole Stepford child shit. Still, the instant the blue-haired chick shifted her foot, the redhead let her go. From Blue’s shoulders, her baseball mitts went inside her pockets.[break][break]


Noting the discomfort on the other girl’s end, Madd is quick to follow the boys. Though, she can’t quite resist a parting salvo: “You’re welcome, by the way.” No one ever said she wasn’t a petty bitch. Staring out at the field of smiling cabbages, the ginger feels her lips pressed together. She was a pretty big girl, and Yakky wasn’t exactly a ballerina. She had zero doubt that one of them would end up tripping over one of these shit-eating gremlin plants. “So…” Madd fishes a cigarette from her pocket. “Is there a reason we aren’t just flying over them?” The walk was fun and all, but it looked like a huge waste of time. “They have air-to-ground missiles too?”
[break][break]

Not that she had anything that could fly. Just a giant water turtle, Yakky, and a fire slug. Hopefully, one of the other three would be willing to offer a ride.[break][break]


As she waited at the edge, she spotted a strange plant. Its leaves were a weird, speckled indigo color. Remembering it as one her loser friend wanted, the redhead gently tugged it from the ground. Only after tucking it away did she move to delve deeper into the patch of Garbage Pail Kids.

+ ALEXANDER STONE Remiel Calcifet blue murtagh

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[attr="class","credit"]milky

Madeline found herself content to follow the gentlemen’s lead. Aside from a weekend camping at a KOA, she’d never really traveled anywhere dangerous. Hell, for most of her life, the redhead never left the city. And, she doubted these people would be impressed by her obsession with the Alien franchise. After nodding to the last member of their party, she trails after the rest of them. The Obstagoon falls into place behind. [break][break]


If this was a horror movie, she’d pick Remiel most likely to survive. Mostly because dudes with dragons tended to do pretty well. The nice blonde man would probably get picked off trying to give an alien first aid. Resting bitch-face, meanwhile, would likely vanish first. As they walk—seemingly worried about touching the wrong thing—Madd keeps her hands stuffed in the front of her jacket. From time to time, amber eyes flick up to investigate the source of a strange noise. But a dense green smoke obscures a lot of what she can see, leaving things to her imagination. [break][break]



The clearing opens up before them, revealing a message in bent bamboo. It reminds Madd of a hole from that movie Tremors. That put her on edge. Because whatever had made this giant ass hole—and bent all the plants into place—could still be out there. “Why does a hole want a gift?” [break][break]



Blue’s question draws her eyes up. “I mean I don’t know any fire rats, but maybe it’s something to do with Cynda—” Then, her eyes widen. Right beneath the other girl, a plant bulb smiles. “Whoa. Murk!” A thick muscular arm reaches for her, hoping to pull her away from the little bamboo gremlin. “Watch where you’re stepping.” [break][break]



[break][break]

+ ALEXANDER STONE Remiel Calcifet blue murtagh

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