LuckyBlackCat

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

At the sudden wave of anger, Jess clenched her fists by her sides.

She looked up as her mother placed a hand on her tense shoulder. "Oh, sweetie, there's no need to feel guilty," her mom reassured her, eyes filled with concern. "You'd have said goodbye if you could have."

Even though her reaction had been for a different reason, Jess had to admit to herself if was partly because of that. For five years, she'd carried the guilt around like a lead weight she couldn't get rid of. Guilt over having further hurt her family, however unintentionally. She recalled the sickening anger roiling from her mom back then. It had been directed at the situation rather than at her, but that hadn't stopped Jess feeling that way towards herself.

"I'll... I'll be able to say goodbye now," she replied. It wouldn't make up for not having been to the funeral, but going to the cemetery was all she could do.

Her mother gave a sad smile. "If you want, I can take you later," she offered. "You'll be able to cope with that now, won't you?"

Jess nodded. She had to be able to cope. She had to be able to come to terms with what had happened. She looked over her shoulder at Roxy. "Would you be ok with that?" she asked, bracing herself for how Roxy would react. The anchor most likely wouldn't refuse - standoffish as she was, she wasn't cruel - but it didn't take much to upset her. "We'll be... visiting a grave." The words came out in a hollow mumble. "My dad's grave."

Pokemon Spiral

Going to wait for @Dusksong and @AbysmalDemon before I post

Pokemon Spiral

@fer1323 Request completed:

Pic

Is everything alright? It's been a while...

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess glanced over at Roxy, picking up on a pang of something. Emptiness. Loneliness. She wanted to include the anchor - she'd tried to, by introducing her - but it was clear the other woman would continue to keep her distance, especially after what had happened earlier.

The empath knew all too well how much Roxy's attitude also worried her mother, but for a different reason. Still, her mom kept up that positive front, aiming to be as strong and level-headed as possible even in the toughest of situations. The way Jess wished she could be.

"Your dad would be so happy." As bright and cheery as her mom tried to sound, there was a hint of a tremble to her voice.

A lump formed in Jess' throat, probably partly due to feelings she took on as well as her own. "Y-Yeah," she said, having to speak up over the sounds of kicking and punching. "He would be."

If her family knew the truth... This wasn't the kind of situation anyone would be happy with.

Pokemon Spiral

@AbysmalDemon Remember it's ok to find items like evo stones, fossils etc if you want.

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

"Uhh, it's ok!" Jess blurted, her startled gaze shifting from Roxy, who'd started testing a knife's sharpness in an almost loving way, to her mother. Was the anchor acting like this to get back at her for earlier? "Roxy's just quite the martial artist is all."

There was more to it than that, Jess already knew from the short amount of time she'd spent living with Roxy. Combat seemed to be more than a sport to the anchor.

Jess' words did nothing to ease her mother's nerves. Tension seeped into the empath, clenching her stomach. "And, you know... I've been offered a job here already. Working at the desk. Things are... pretty good." She shuddered. She hated lying, but it was the only way not to ruin the visit.

Her mom put on a smile that hid her underlying worry. "I knew you'd be alright," she said, even though she'd clearly seen right through the false reassurance. It was as if she tried to convince herself as well as her daughter that everything would be ok. "Remember what I kept telling you? That things would surely get better?"

Things certainly weren't as they used to be any more. But would they improve in the way that Jess and her mother both wanted?

Pokemon: New World

@Dark Light Sorry for the delay, Dusk and I were figuring out what we should do.

@Dusksong If you want, you can have the controlled Pokemon attack the Duskull before she can get the Will-O-Wisp + Hex combo in.

Pokemon: New World

✿ Florence Hadley ✿

Location: Greenhaven

@Dusksong @Dark Light

Florence tried to stand, only to collapse from the second earthquake. She winced from the awful metallic screech that filled the air, as did several Pokemon.

"Tiergan!" she shouted above the noise. She wasn't giving up, and neither was the Cacnea. "Hit the Spheal with Needle Arm!" The Grass-type stepped forward through the sand, lashing with his thorny arms at the Spheal.

Apart from the Rhyhorn, the opposing Pokemon were holding their own. If Tiergan didn't hold out... Florence didn't know what she'd do. She wasn't leaving Vernie at the mercy of these poachers, but sending out any other members of her team - an unusual Budew, a newly-hatched Cutiefly, or the rare Pokemon that was Happiny - would be a huge risk. Especially at their low levels.

If only she'd prepared better. If only she'd done that right from the start.

Florence

TP: +1 (38)
Pokemon:

• Chikorita (Vernie), female, lv5 (Missing)
• Budew (Bonica), female, lv7
• Happiny (Panacea), female, lv5
• Cutiefly (Chay), male, lv2
• Cacnea (Tiergan), male, lv5

Inventory:

• Pokeball x1
• Rare Candy x2

Rank: Beginner
Organisation: Aether Foundation

---

♥ Ellanor "Ella" Beaufort ♥

Location: Greenhaven

@Dusksong @Dark Light

Ella stared as the Metang shook off the attacks, readying a move of its own. "Jumbles, use Foul Play again!" she called.

Before the Inkay could do anything, a shadowy beam struck him. Ella gasped, recognising the attack all too well. Confuse Ray. A Zubat flitted overhead while Jumbles swayed, glancing around as if he barely knew what was going on around him. Instead of attacking the Metang, he lashed with one of his tendrils at himself.

"Hang in there!" Ella instantly reached for another Pokeball. "Brighteye! Use Will-O-Wisp on the Metang, then Hex!"

A mass of shadow billowed from the Pokeball, cloak flowing. Blue flames danced in the air as the Duskull prepared her attack.

Ella

TP: +1 (70)
Pokemon:

• Trubbish (Treasure), female, lv20
• Ekans (Smiley), male, lv8
• Duskull (Brighteye), female, lv28
• Inkay (Jumbles), male, lv11
• Stunky (Allsort), male, lv10
• Pumpkaboo (Lucette), female, lv8
• Weedle (Taffy), female, lv1
• Nidoran (Pincushion), male, lv4

Inventory:

• Black Sludge x1
• Pokeball x1
• Great Ball x1

Rank: Skilled
Organisation: None

---

CP

+1 (68)

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess hadn't thought introducing Roxy would cause that little jolt of surprise from her. Then again, it was obvious the anchor thought she didn't care about her, and there was no convincing her otherwise. The empath hoped they'd at least be able to seem like they got along reasonably well throughout this visit.

"Nice to meet you," her mother said, facing Roxy, her words sounding a little false. They contrasted with the flickers of doubt and worry she gave off.

"Uh..." Jess nodded at Roxy's suggestion. "Yeah. It's... It's a comfy place." Hopefully she'd be able to reassure her mother that this wasn't actually a bad place to live. As the three headed up the stairs, she wondered if she should offer to make coffee. After the earlier fiasco over sharing things, though, she didn't know how Roxy would react.

No sooner had they reached the landing than a sudden pulse of shock hit Jess. She cringed inwardly. Great. The knives. Glancing over at her mother, who looked at the workout area with an eyebrow raised, she wondered how she'd explain this.

Pokemon: New World

@Dusksong So who should it be, the Cacnea, the Prinplup, or one of Ella's Pokemon? (It actually can be the Pupitar if you want, it's a Rock/Ground type and doesn't gain Dark typing until its final evolution.)

Just waiting to see what you want to do before I post.