After a couple of minutes staring into the water, the ginger’s head began to spin. The dark, viscous water suddenly seemed like it was writhing—filled with the tentacles of a thousand scheming Malamar. Xander’s comment drew her face toward him, one eye going up.”So, you’re either a zombie or from a really messed-up place.” She hesitated for a moment, arms laying demurely in her lap. In moments like this—when her nerves were trembling—that old socialite peeked through. “Either way, it's definitely not a home I’d come back to.”

On the other side of the boot, the badger bobbed his head in agreement. “Obstagoon.” Sure, he’d grown up under a half-dead bush, but it didn’t have any creepy ghost shit going on. When Cato and Rhugone started—oh god—flirting, he turned away from the pair. His eyes pretending to be focused on a big hunk of nothing in the distance. Madeline, not one for touchy-feely stuff, did the same.

Until, at least, the dark-haired man jerked stiff as a board. “Shit!” Madeline shouted as his throat rippled with the indents of angry fingers. With no concern for the boot, she surged to her feet. Rocket or not, her first instinct was to stop someone from getting choked out. Especially by a ghost. Then, as suddenly as it started, the guy stopped. When he spoke next, his words rolled over her like an oil spill on a duck. “I’m guessing you did a hell of a lot? Real winner we have here.” In truth, money was nice, but she wasn’t about to do whatever this creepy ghost wanted.

Mostly because he sounded like her fucking dad. Before she managed anything else, the guy had crumpled like a sack of potatoes. For a minute, Madeline glanced at the purple-haired woman. She was hard to get a grip on. So, after a brief moment of concern, she gingerly settled down. “Thanks.” She smiled nervously. “Nice form, by the way.” Just not what she’d expect by someone who looked like this.


When Xander suggested docking, the redhead breathed a sigh of relief. They might have only been traveling a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity. “Do you need any help, bud?” Madeline murmured. “Yakuza is pretty spectral proof.” A thumb jerked forward to indicate the Obstagoon currently clinging to the side of the boat. He raised one mitt in a nervous greeting.

All the while, Madeline couldn’t help a sense of dread. Were any of these spirits somehow her fault? Were they bugging her more than everybody else or was that just nerves? Even if she never purposely killed someone, she and the gang had done some pretty grey shit.

When she’d agreed to accompany an old bud somewhere, this wasn’t what she’d been expecting. Just more proof that some offers were too good to be true. That kind of money for a day trip? Talk about an obvious scam. Unfortunately, by the time she realized her plus-one wasn’t coming, the rift had closed behind her. As she stared up at the horizon, the ginger felt a shiver run down her spine. She was pretty sure those were ghosts, and that she was somewhere she really didn’t want to be.


Madd might love horror movies, but the girl had zero desire to actually be in one. And, judging by the barely disguised fear in her Obstagoon’s eyes, he didn’t fancy the new digs either. Still, both were too foolhardy to admit it. Especially when everyone around them seemed so chill. So, instead of running, the young woman merely adjusted her jacket. The Obstagoon meanwhile—better suited to munching Doritos than exorcisms—tried his best to look intimidating .


She watched in relative silence as the male at the front of the party handed over his fare. “Thanks, bud.” Madd murmured as she stepped into the ferry proper. Her amber eyes locked on the ferryman’s face for a minute, trying to discern just what it was. The shadows seemed deeper than the river around them, though. So, in the end, she got nothing but a flash of white and an amused grin. It looks like Charon here knew she was watching.


The hiking bear of a woman turned her eyes to Rhugone. Something about the woman’s calm helped soothe her frayed edges. Unlike the other two, the voices in her head were bare whispers. Though she hated her dad, she hadn’t killed the guy or gone through the trouble of finding a vengeful ex. Though, as she glanced around, she couldn’t shake the feeling that some faces were familiar. The stuff she did for Rocket had consequences, even if by six degrees of separation. “Noted.” She pondered the question for a moment. “I don’t think so, but I’ve never been haunted before. Just mind controlled.”


Amber eyes turned suspiciously toward the water. “So, uh, what happens if we fall out?”

The ferryman laughed. ”I have never had anyone come back to leave a review." The sound was like two coins—two tarry coins being rubbed together.


Not trusting the boat—or the funky-looking ferryman—the Obstagoon took his seat more reluctantly. As the ship rocked in the water, he pulled his knees closer to himself. “Goon.”

[Mentioned desire for money.]

Uh-oh. The redhead thought. This guy’’s cuckoo for cocoa puffs.


Her hands delved inside her pockets, as if afraid the madman would bite her fingers off. Obviously, this kind of situation wasn’t exactly Madd’s strongsuit. While she was happy to give a shoulder to cry on, she didn’t really feel like she knew what to say. The first time Aubre McKenna-Settentrione freaked out on her, Madd froze. While she’d said comforting things, it hadn’t been easy.


The redhead took a deep breath. She really wished she’d bought a box of cigarettes. Gods knew when she’d get her next nicotine fix. “I’m not upset, bud.” Madd said, trying her best to be reassuring. She avoided looking at the Obstagoon beside her. His face would likely look like he’d just spotted a red assed baboon. “My name’s Madeline. Madd for short.” Her voice softened. “No big, dude.” She shrugged. That fall could have messed us both up.” She’d just happened to have her feet the right way.


The clouds of pink were wafted across the ultra landscape. The smell, calming in her panic, drew Madeline right into its spray. She took a few deep breathes of eau du English rose garden. It made her think of home and happier times. One of the rare times her father actually showed pride in her. “Phew.” The nerves lessened as her heart slowed from runaway train to gallop. This aroma was almost as good as cigarette. Almost.

That ease ended when his hands came back slick with red. “Ah, shit.” Without giving it a second thought, Madd offered her coat to him. “Can you dab it off with that? Have a water type who can help clean it?” Maybe that miracle flower thing had some kind of healing powder? She turned away from the blood. Horror movies were one thing but this? “Ugh. I’m sorry, man. You got the wrong cousin.”


Not liking the vicinity to the loony bin, Yakuza moved towards the outer barrier of the rift. A claw prodded it briefly before slowly pushing through. Shit feels like jelly.

The redhead stepped back as she pulled, trying to stay out of the way of her new partner. “I’d say the same, but I only have a couple.” Copper eyes traced her Obstagoon’s form appraisingly. “He’s taken a bullet for me, but he won’t throw a punch.“ She shook her head, wishing she had a cigarette. “Guy’s chivalrous, I guess?” Though the idea of him as some chivalrous knight was hilarious. “Still, I wouldn’t change it.” Annoying as it was, Yakuza was her best (read: only) friend.

The introduction was met with a quirked brow. And she thought her name sucked. The real one, anyway. Being Madd was pretty cool. “Like cigarette? Or, uh, with a y? Like the bird?” That was a swan thing, wasn’t it? She remembered her Aunt Brenna throwing that word around a couple of times. Either way, she wouldn’t want that as her namesake. Swans were assholes. Stuck up, preppy assholes. They were like fancy geeze.

While Cygne stretched, the ginger took to tightening her gloves. The stupid things tended to flop loose after too long. And the last thing she wante was to end up punching a strange bare-fisted. That was a whole other level of aggressiveness. The woman’s next words drew a snort. “Oh, yeah? Same goes for you too, you know?” She gave her left foot a shake. “I used to be a black belt, but I haven’t really practiced in—” Well, she couldn’t use her fingers like this, unless she wanted things to stop at four. "A while."

“Ladies first.” The redhead gestured to herself. “Gorillas second.” Madd bowed as she settled into a more defensive stance, her hands in front of her face.

Snacks in hand, the badger made his way to a bench just outside the ring. Crunch!

No one had a blade out. Fingers were out of noses. Madeline would call that win in her book. This woman didn’t seem too perfect either. So, the nervousness slowly faded into only a thin veneer of wariness. The question coaxed out a groan from within Madd’s barrel chest. Her head dropped back briefly, suddenly boneless. “Special with a capital S. I know it takes all sorts, but geeze.” At least no one had been openly misogynistic or homophobic.

Realizing her own throat was getting kind of raw—due to all this interviewing--Madd picked up one of the bottles for herself. Typically, she scoffed at the idea of fancy water. It was a scam. Just like the brand-name cereals and products, her parents lavished on. But this case was free. A clumsy customer almost put their foot through it, meaning it was up for grabs. “Definitely up there for me. Effortless. Slimming. Edgy.” It was also the color most rock shirts came in. Which sucked sometimes.

“Yeah. I like my beauty sleep too much.” Her lips spread in a wide grin. “Even if doesn’t do much.” She still looked like a gorilla with an 80s teen movie star glued on. “Once I aged out, my hair went pixie.” Through the prism of the bottle in her hand, Madeline watched the Happiny go about its investigation. “?” The redhead turned to the Obstagoon behind her with a brow raised. He didn’t look any less confused than she did.

But Madd kind of understood. When you were small and pink, everything probably looked like a threat. Even Aquafina. “No need to worry about it, Aca.” The redhead reassured the fairy-type with a smile. “No roofies.” She switched her bottle for the blue-haired woman’s. She then cracked it open and took a swig. “Watch.”

Wiping her lips clean with a napkin, surprisingly prim in doing so, Madeline glanced at her list of questions. “Mind telling me why you two are looking for a new place?” In a place like this, it could be practically anything. A god could have dropped on their house.

x - 24-29 - EX-BOYFRIEND/GF - ROCKET

Madd is grateful to this sour fuckstick for one thing: they helped get her out from under dad's thumb. A former schoolmate, this person encouraged Madeline to break out of her family's house. They are also the one that introduced her to a seedier side of life including drugs, Rocket alignment, and theft. On a whole, they're not the best person ever. They do care deeply for Madeline (in their own selfish, immature way) and are still bummed they broke up. Their last meeting ended in a fistfight. I'd love to have them run into each other again.

**Can definitely be a pre-existing character**

SUGGESTED POKEMON:

Up went the strings on the outside of the ring. “Don’t you even—” The copper-haired girl started as the Obstagoon stuck a foot onto the padding on the ring’s corner. “Goon.” Two fingers lifted in a sloppy salute as he freed himself from the ring. “That’s not cool, dude.!” Madeline called after him. But the fight was gone. The badger was a stubborn guy.

Just because Yakuza looked intimidating didn’t mean he liked getting punching people. Especially not his person. He liked watching movies and loafing on the beach. Turning into a roids monster was far from the top of his list. Red eyes fixed on the vending machine at the other side of the gym. One that only looked like it was full of yummy shit.


With a shrug and a huff, Madeline turned to look at the new combatant. Her lips spread in an easy smile. The tall girl moved to tug open the ropes. “I’d love one.” Her attention shifted briefly to the Obstagoon. Though annoyed, the affection in her gaze was clear. That Pokemon had taken a literal bullet for her. “My buddy’s not much of a fighter.”


Across the gym, the Obstagoon made a selection. Judging by his glower, he wasn’t exactly impressed by the selection. How the hell did these weirdos sweat for hours and want a fricking bag of saw dust with a side of raisins? Who actually liked oat cakes? The trail bar he grabbed was the only thing with chocolate.


A hand was offered down to the other girl to help her into the ring.“My name’s Madeline—Madd.” Technically, it was Madeline and like two bougie middle names. But that wasn’t something she ever wanted to share. “You?”

This place reminded her of a bad acid trip. Or, well, the only acid trip she had. Though even if it was ‘good,’ it wasn’t something she wanted to repeat. Beyond the shadows of the rift, shadows moved. Warped, twisted calls of something long historical filtered in through stormforce winds. Every hair on her body stood on end like a cat in a thunderstorm.


Shocked by the change, her Obstagoon lost his grip on his bag of fried cardiac arrest. The crinkle seemed somehow deafening in their false sanctuary. “Goon…” History and stuff had never been his thing, but he knew modern society didn’t just have dinosaurs. They had to be revived and shit.


With all of this to observe, it took Madd a minute to spot the prone body behind her. Her eyes widened as she separated clothes from the gravel below her. Concern punched through her censorship. “Oh! Shit.” Ignoring her own shopping, the redhead approached Symon. Just as she was about to prod him ith her foot, the man stirred. Madd jumped back about ten feet. Definitely not one of her proudest moments.


Instead of trying to eat her brain though, the guy just blinked wearily at her. And then called her the wrong name. “Not quite, bud.” She smiled, offering him a muscular hand. “I’m Madeline—” Wow. This place really was throwing her off. “Madd..”


Her attention shifted as something sparked against the outside of the dome. “I don’t suppose you have a lot of experience getting sucked into the time-space continuum?” God, this wasn’t an emergency school ever prepared her for. She doubted putting a book over her head would do anything to stop an angry Gallade. Or, worse yet, a sexist mob llooking to burn the witch.


“Do we just stay put or..?” The Obstagoon drew closer to his trainer, his raised hackles made him look like something out of a 101 Dalmatians film.

Growing up, Madeline felt like her father’s personal Barbie doll.

Her outfits were always whatever he found in the latest kid’s fashion magazine. She was often squeezed into expensive skirts and tights with zero thought for comfort. Any form of color experimentation—like neons or bright orange—was met with a derisive sniff. And, of course, dressing like a Hot Topic model was the ultimate sin.

With her newfound freedom, her wardrobe became a grungy, casual mess. Not a single pair of jeans was unripped. She had enough black shirts for a full load and had experimented with the entire highlighter spectrum. But, these days, that rebellious wardrobe was mixed with some fashionable staple items and plenty of jogging pants. And the latter was what she was wearing today. Above that was a vintage informational poster with a macabre subject.

Madd nodded first to Joy and then to the Pokemon at her side. The OCD shoe thing was met with a brief flash of worry before remembering that it meant she’d be cleaning less. “Hopefully, the pleasure ends up being mine.” This girl didn’t stink, at least. The redhead sighed, running fingers through her hair. “I’ve met some special people today.” That’s what she got for not jacking up prices.

Instead of sitting down, Madd moved to the fridge. From within it, she pulled out three fun-sized water bottles. The first of which she tossed to the Obstagoon. He caught it in one mitten-sized paw. “GOON!” Red eyes shifted to sight the Happiny, a snicker emerging as he turned to the TV. The other bottles were laid in front of Joy.

“I love the outfit. I always thought black was too cool to be wasted at funerals.” Amber eyes lifted to the cyan hair. “Not sure I could handle that hair though.” A few weeks with it at her mid-back had been more than enough to turn her off the Rapunzel idea.

Taking this as an open.

Taking this as an open with @madelinemckenna

X MCKENNA - 19 - THE INHERITOR - UP TO PLAYER

The eldest brother, Ethan, was blessed with two children. His eldest, much like their father, is a scientific prodigy with a rare combination of intellect and charisma. Unfortunately, like his cousin Madeline, he detests the man. As he wasn't abusive, the reason for this is up to the player. Much like Madd, he tries to pretend he's some rough-and-tumble rebel but lacks resilience. He likely has red hair.

SUGGESTED POKEMON:

KOLE MCKENNA - 45+ - MADD'S DAD - UP TO PLAYER
This guy has a control problem. So much so, in fact, that his Malamar often takes choice away entirely. He has very high standards, both for himself and his family. In a lot of ways, his household reflects that of a 1950s man, though he is not a misogynist. A lot of his viewpoints are extremely black and white. His hair is red.

SUGGESTED POKEMON:

Madeline McKenna stared suspiciously at the Obstagoon next to her. Somehow the fuzzy terminator had acquired a bag of ranch-flavored nachos. One she didn’t remember picking up. Copper eyes narrowed. Up went the eyebrow. “You did pay for those, right?” In way of response, one big paw smacked into the badger’s chest, his muzzle twisting into an expression of stunned disbelief.


‘Who me?’ The Pokémon oozed from its every pore.

Shaking her head, chuckling to herself, the redhead turned away. Sure, the guy had an allowance (and a wage), but he didn’t really care about money. In the wild, you just took what you wanted. Screw morals and ethics. Not willing to lose it over a bag of chips, the ginger’s scold came by way of an offhanded comment. “Don’t come crying to me when that cashier makes you into a rug.”



Yakuza stuck his tongue out at her before using it to scoop a chip out of the air-filled bag. “Eew, dude. That's gross.” The woman shook her head in disgust as she turned down a narrow alley. She lifted her hand to wave at a passerby, careful to avoid the fire escape above her. Then, suddenly, the world filled with noise and static.


The sky above—suddenly unnervingly visible—rippled with a dark violet light. And those buildings? That rusty old ladder? Gone. “Oh, shit.” Madd swallowed nervously. This wasn’t good. “Yakky, where the hell are we?” Something screeched above, its long shadow visible, resembling one of the fossils her little cousin collected.


A chill ran down the woman’s spine, even her six-foot-two frame feeling tiny in comparison. “Make that when.”



Turning over her shoulder, the trainer realized she wasn’t alone. Which, to be fair, could be a good thing. “You, uh, all right over there?"

If she had to guess, she'd fallen into some sort of wormhole. Maybe that’d teach the shithead not to steal.


CRUNCH! Or, maybe not.