How does one strangle someone without actually strangling someone and while also appearing like your normal civilian? If dee would just be demself entirely, the rage would've been easy, as this whole situation is ridiculous and dee frankly has lost der cool. It shouldn't have happened in the first place, but maybe, just maybe, dee is a bit spooked by ghosts here.

Even if der sibling does favour this typing.

"THE LIVING CAN'T MOVE LIKE THAT THOUGH, IDIOT," a booming voice sounds from the Poryphone as it translates Fenelle's sign into speech, hoping that, if the physical contact is futile, mere roasting and burning on a mental level might do the trick. What does this ghost think, that it'll live again by making a living body more ghastly?!

Vespa Baskerville

"Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if there's some warping shit happening and we're walking in circles," Fenelle scoffs a bit, maybe a bit too close to der real persona compared to the friendly civilian dee has so carefully crafted over the years. Still, that situation is growing more and more eerie, and it's not made better by that teen just- walking away?!

"Where are you going?" dee signs, and the Porygon speaking in der stead actually sounds a bit worried about its new Gacha addict friend. And the worry also seems to be rightfully placed, as- a ghost?! Posseses?! Her?!

There is no sound, no word as Fenelle's expression grows horrified, confused and indignant at ghost!Vespa's words, and dee simply steps forward and slaps the kid, as if that would exorcis the ghost out of her body.

Vespa Baskerville

Fenelle manages to stop demself just in time so that dee doesn't nod in agreement. It's true that dee also only has Rotom, but it's not true for Fenelle Miller. So dee simply nods in understanding (a nuance different), signing, "Sounds like Ghost enough, really. I don't particularly have a ghost type in my team, but I have some ghosts in general." At least the endeavour of completing the PokéDex and whatnot is a fairly common sentiment amongst many folks.

However, that next question ... dee looks around, and especially looks at the Poryphone again, the Magnemite. "Yes, actually. Do you, too?" dee asks, curious. Interesting ... depending on what kind of computer technology, this might prove to be actual valuable intel.

And that's seconds before the other is attacked by a Staravia and dee demself finds demself having caught the attention of a Probopass that. Doesn't really seem to leave. Dee shrugs, taking out an empty pokéball and catching the pokémon.

Xuying Zhou
catching probopass

The Porygon seems to confirm Vess' words with some bit sounds, to which Fenelle can only shake der head. But at least, with that topic done, Porygon would be more than happy to provide some more translation services for Fenelle, so that's good. They would also be needed in form of describing what exactly has been going on in their environment. A waterfall again ... interesting.

"I wonder if it's connected to the seal and the water fall we saw a while ago. Guess we can only see and find out ..." Fenelle says as they continue their journey, and sure enough, they are following a river again that seems to either have originated or leads to a waterfall. "Are the sounds getting louder or quieter?" dee asks the other, as der Porygon is fairly bad to report on that.

Still, there's also ... something that makes Fenelle frown. A sensation almost like ... a full body chill that travels further, into the ground seemingly, and ... "Oh."

There's a whole march of souls now - a mix of pokémon and humans alike that wander just a few meters from them, almost holding a parade that seems desperate. Running water ... in stories there to keep vampires at bay, sometimes. Dee wonders if the same applies to ghosts.

Are they trapped on, possibly, an island?

Vespa Baskerville
21 encounter soulmarchers, marching parades of warrior spirits (pokemon or human) with feet that do not grace the ground.

The region is literally torn apart by war and there's still arcades doing their things. Well, dee supposes that dee also is here, so dee really can't complain much. Having freed der schedule from fighting the League to put on civilian clothes once more, dee uses der precious free time of course for one thing ...

The arcade.

It's a special event where they put out a special new machine - one that actually allows Porygons to enter (and not have some do it one way or another) - so that they could play alongside their trainers. It's an additional feature of an otherwise normal shooting game, but there's one caveat unfortunately. Dee still needs another player, so dee simply sets up things on der side and waits for another to join dem and Porygon.

The screen also displays WAITING FOR PLAYER TWO ... while Fenelle's hanging out on the bare minimum customisation screen for der humanoid player character, while a pet is currently rapidly randomised by a Porygon inside the machine.

@open

And here they are ... after a short moment of rest that has been filled with Porygon excitedly telling Vespa all about its collection. At least it makes Fenelle aware that the collection indeed has grown since the last time dee's seen it - but gladly, der own funds haven't really been touched, so most of the funding must've come from somewhere else. And frankly, dee doesn't really care for anything else.

Eventually, however, dee taps the back of der Poryphone to get its attention so it could start translating again. "Shall we continue onward? I think we can slowly see if we can find a way out ... I feel well-rested, at least."

However, a look on the ground seems to confirm the opposite. Dee blinks rapidly. Did der shadow just ... move? And without dee having moved? It even seems to communicate using sign, but unfortunately, all the intelligibleness goes lost in shadow.

Vespa Baskerville
18 lose your shadow, or encounter your shadow moving independently of you.

18 lose your shadow, or encounter your shadow moving independently of you.

21 encounter soulmarchers, marching parades of warrior spirits (pokemon or human) with feet that do not grace the ground.

10 become possessed by a spirit attempting to return to life.

19 involve a waterfall in some way (e.g. training, obstacle).

EXPEDITION TEAM

FAREWELL, MY FREE ADVENTURERS!

CHARACTERS: Fenelle Miller Vespa Baskerville
EXPEDITION #: border 2nd timers, fen's 3rd time, vess' 2nd time
SELECTED PROMPT #s: 10, 18, 19, 21
NOTES: vess: nothing
fenelle: nothing

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There's relief washing over Fenelle's face as they recognise the other signing. They fumble the notebook away, almost dropping the pen in their haste, before taking a deep breath. They shake their head then im remembrance of the question asked, before ... calm down, calm down.

No, my group - we got ambushed. We were told to evacuate- Their signs start out being incredibly fast, almost inintelligble so, before they remember to slow down, that there's some time still, that surely- I barely got away, please they're-

They freeze as seemingly, horrors flash before their eyes before they focus on the ranger captain in front of them. A sight for sore eyes, and a soothing one for a restless mind in a state of panic. Still, the shaking of their body couldn't be stopped just yet. They're in this direction- They gesture back to where they came from, a path that leads through a patch of light wood. Their hands twitch in apparent distress, as if there's another thing weighing on their soul.

(Remember. You thought a shortcut would be good, Fenelle thinks to demself, and it's not even too far off from the main path ... Admittedly, the setup is dangerously close to cliché if they had picked a patch of forest that's dark and slightly spooky, but that would've definitely been too much.)

AIRI WATANABE
post count: 2
50 MP showcase your own character's strength(s) meaningfully. (acting skills to lure airi in)
50 MP have your character directly or indirectly spotlight another writer's character's strengths. (airi kind soul uwu)

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Fenelle is running through the route frantically. Their (currently) green-coloured hair whips around dramatically as they keep looking out for something, someone. Their startled eyes eventually fall onto a face that they recognise from the media - the captain of Lavaridge Town. Surely, she would be able to help them-!!

They hastily run up, arms wildly swinging in an attempt to get her attention as they also try to slow down, as to not to crash into Airi. Out of breath, their breathing is laboured, and ... they do not speak. Still, they seem to point into a certain direction, before they seem to mentally walk some steps back. Pointing at their ears, they shake their head to signal that they're deaf, before signing, Do you know sign language, maybe?

However, the dishevelled person also takes out a notepad and a pencil, and quickly writing - scribbling almost - words on it.

We need help

AIRI WATANABE
post count: 1

Fenelle watches the Shiny Rotom with fascination. "That does seem rather frequent with pokémon of the ghost type," dee comments as dee watches the Rotom being upset about the ball being snatched away by the Simisear, who caught herself shortly afterwards. "Though I do not really train that type myself ..." dee adds, gesturing to the swarm of autism that is gathered around dem. Interestingly enough, they seem to keep a little bit of distance, though their curious eyes are definitely trained on the other.

Which might also be the Dusknoir that has manifested behind the stranger. It's swiftly caught as well, and an amused smile briefly flickers on Fenelle's face. "Truly. It's peaceful, but I don't think without its quirks," dee makes some attempts at light conversation as it is now the autism gang's turn to steal some pokéballs to get some new friends, or something of the sort.

The gang is aware that dee attempts to fill a living dex, and is eager to help out when they currently feel like it. Right now, Magnemite is navigating a pokéball to drop it on an unassuming Rowlet that has merely been watching its surroundings with a lazy look on its face.

Xuying Zhou
catching rowlet

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Fenelle nods at Evelyn as they quickly hurry outwards from Petalburg. They were the quickest to react to the sudden report that has overwhelmed some weak grunts, and were immediately dispatched to take care of this new phenomena that seems to appear all around Hoenn at the moment. Another sign of the end times, for sure, perhaps a warning against the war that is threatening to swallow the region whole.

And yet, here they are still, establishing Petalburg as their own like they did ... with Sootopolis before.

Pushing those thoughts aside, dee starts signing, which would be translated by the Rotom tablet floating by der side into speech, "Pleasure going on this mission with you. Did you face off against those phantoms before?" In the distance, dee sees a flare of golden light - they're coming closer, if the hurled trees are saying anything.

Evelyn Vespera