LuckyBlackCat

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess nodded. "Ok, then... uhh..." As she shuffled to the row of outdoor tables, she tensed and twitched. That feeling of resentment grew. It wasn't just from Roxy, she realised. A young couple sat chatting nearby, holding hands, yet beneath the cheerful act, bitterness seethed from at least one of them. Pretending not to have noticed, Jess edged away. She couldn't help it, but it still felt wrong to intrude like that. She headed to a table right at the end.

"Jess? Are you ok there?" her mother asked.

No. No she wasn't. Neither was Roxy. This whole situation was anything but ok. "Y-Yeah," she replied nonetheless. This spot was the most isolated part of the area, but she kept her voice low to make sure none of the few other people sitting outside would hear. "Uh, it's just... still got to get used to being back here... I mean, I still pick up on a little from other people. Just not like befo-"

As if it wasn't already too late, she stopped herself. She looked down at the ground, away from the other two. How much did Roxy know about the way empaths and anchors worked? She'd already mentioned she knew they had to stay within a close range at first, but her guarded behaviour suggested she may not be aware of other details. If she wasn't, and Jess had just let them slip... Roxy wouldn't react well in the slightest.

Pokemon: New World

✿ Florence Hadley ✿

Location: Greenhaven

@Dusksong @Dark Light

"Huh?" One moment, the battle was raging. The next, the Metang disappeared in a flash of light as the mechanic suddenly decided to back out.

Florence stared from the man leaving the scene to the confused younger boy. Of course she hadn't expected them to just hand over the stolen Pokemon, but what was going on here? What was that mechanic doing?

"Please..." She struggled upright, eyes filled with desperation as she faced AJ. "Those Pokemon..."

Her own voice sounded distant. As she took a step forward, everything blurred around her. She saw the ground rise up, heard the faraway-seeming cry of her Cacnea.

Then, nothing.

Florence

TP: +1 +3 (43)
Pokemon:

• Chikorita (Vernie), female, lv5 (Missing)
• Budew (Bonica), female, lv7
• Happiny (Panacea), female, lv5
• Cutiefly (Chay), male, lv2
• Cacnea (Tiergan), male, lv8 (+3)

Inventory:

• Pokeball x1
• Rare Candy x2

Rank: Beginner
Organisation: Aether Foundation

---

♥ Ellanor "Ella" Beaufort ♥

Location: Greenhaven

@Dusksong @Dark Light

"Florence!" Turning from the battle, Ella rushed over and dropped to her knees. "Florence, can you hear me?" The woman, lying in a crumpled heap, didn't reply.

Ella's mind and body froze with panic. Quick! she inwardly yelled at herself. Think! What would Florence do if the situation were reversed? If somebody else had passed out?

"Leisy! Viv! Somebody help!" she called, checking the unconscious woman's breathing. She gave a sigh of relief as she felt the flow of air against her hand. "She's breathing, but she's not waking up!"

This was exactly what she'd feared, Ella thought, watching the Cacnea try unsuccessfully to wake his trainer. She'd known Florence would likely push herself much too far.

Ella

TP: +1 +3 (75)
Pokemon:

• Trubbish (Treasure), female, lv20
• Ekans (Smiley), male, lv8
• Duskull (Brighteye), female, lv31 (+3)
• 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 (70)

Pokemon: New World

@Dusksong Yeah, best way to do it. They'd still want to find the stolen Pokemon, but they're not really in a fit state for any more challenges, and neither are their teams. Someone might have to convince Florence she needs some rest.

Also, I imagine the Pupitar would be back to normal now the Metang's been returned.

Spectral Corp

@Corporal Lance Still want to post next?

Pokemon: New World

@Dark Light @Dusksong Just wondering, what do we do about the timeline? It's not anyone's fault posting's been slow, life can be like that, but it's the 9th and it seems unlikely the events would have taken that long. One battle wouldn't take a full 24 hours. How do we make everything fit better?

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Outwardly, Roxy agreed, but Jess knew that deep down, it was a different story. Everything she did made the other woman feel more and more like she didn't matter. Like she was some sort of life support system instead of a human being. And there seemed to be no way to lessen the impact on Roxy's life without coming across as ungrateful, making things worse.

Jess looked from the anchor to her mom. "Ok... Sounds good," she replied, despite the rather less than ideal situation.

Throughout the journey, she remained subdued. After around ten minutes, the car pulled up outside a quaint, cosy-looking building with a basket of flowers hanging by the door and a row of tables outside.

It should be comforting, Jess thought as she got out of the car, but it didn't seem like anything would soothe either her or Roxy. With a soft sigh, she trailed after her mother. She'd longed to do simple, normal things like go to a cafe. She'd thought - hoped - that it would be with someone who would find it easier to share their lives. Now, even going out for lunch and coffee meant negatively affecting the person stuck with her.

When her mom asked if they'd like to sit at an indoor or outdoor table, Jess turned to Roxy. "Which do you want?" The anchor would probably be surprised again, and say either was fine regardless of what she actually wanted, but the empath continued. "Please be honest. I'm ok with either."

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Again, as Jess addressed her, Roxy reacted with surprise. Was the anchor really that convinced she wanted to shut her out completely? As relaxed as Roxy tried to act, Jess could feel her impatience growing. The empath looked down at the ground. Again, she was being a burden, but her attempts not to weigh the other woman down just made her feel rejected.

She'd been raised to be a problem-solver, and yet here she was, at a complete loss. Her dad wouldn't want to see this.

The thought nagged at the back of her mind as she and her mom stayed a little longer by the grave, talking, reminiscing about happier times, when the family had been complete. After one more look at the stone, both women slowly made their way back along the path, Jess' eyes cast down, her mother's hand on her shoulder.

"He never doubted you'd be ok, you know," her mom tried to reassure her. Jess knew better. Underneath that positive facade, he'd been tormented with uncertainty about her future, about his own condition, about everything.

Even so, the young woman nodded. "I... I meant it... I will be ok." She knew she didn't sound convincing. It was Roxy she was worried about - the anchor clearly had baggage of some kind, and Jess was just adding to it.

She felt the hand on her shoulder squeeze a little tighter. "Before we go back, I could take both of you to one of the cafes around here," her mom gently offered.

Jess took another glance at Roxy. "Do you... want that?" She personally did, it would be another way to bond and catch up, but Roxy would most likely feel like an outsider again.

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

Jess could feel Roxy giving off her usual contempt and annoyance, but thankfully nothing worse. She didn't blame her for the irritation - the anchor had been forced to take time out of her day for someone she barely knew, and didn't get along with. Glancing over, the empath saw the purple-haired woman hanging as far back from her and her mom as was safe.

When her mother stopped in front of a headstone, Jess' throat tightened. Knowing her dad was gone was one thing. Facing the fact, as solid and cold as the stone that marked it, was another. Stepping forward, she crouched down and placed the figurine on the grave.

"Hey... Hey Dad... I made this for you," she whispered, her eyes starting to sting. "Like you used to make. Well, not quite like those ones, but... here it is." She wiped away a tear. "Sorry I wasn't around... then. I-I'm here now, and will be ok." She hadn't wanted to get overapologetic, but right now, she couldn't help it. "Goodbye, Dad."

As she stood up, her mom gently placed an arm around her shoulders. Both mother and daughter hugged. Amidst the sadness, Jess picked up on something else. A hint of relief that the goodbye had finally been said, and hope.

She couldn't disappoint. Her family had already been through enough stress, and although he wasn't around to see this, it would be an insult to her father.

"Thanks, Mom," she said, her voice trembling. Unwrapping her arms, she looked over her shoulder. "And, Roxy... Thanks for coming along." Her gratitude was unlikely to lift Roxy's mood any, but it was all she could give.

Be my Sanctuary

Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey

The journey took around half an hour, the gates of the cemetery coming into sight. Once the car had stopped outside, Jess braced herself before climbing out. To think that her father lay somewhere among those rows of gravestones... She cupped the figurine, hands clenching around it.

"He'd love that," her mother commented, looking over her shoulder as she led both girls. She spoke as if he were still alive, and Jess were simply about to give him a gift.

The empath gave a weak smile in response as she trudged along the path. Roses wavered in the wind, their petals curled at the edges from too much sun, giving off a faint scent. As if pretty flowers could ease people's grief, Jess thought bitterly.

She flinched, a raw ache welling through her as an old man walked past, shoulders stooped, footsteps heavy. He had to have recently lost a loved one. Jess chewed the inside of her lip, less than comfortable at her intrusion into people's feelings.

Trying to compose herself, she took a deep breath of the floral-smelling air. Her dad would want her to be strong, not a twitching shell of who she'd once been. She continued onwards, hoping Roxy would be ok with all this. It obviously wouldn't be the most uplifting experience for the anchor in the best of cases, but hopefully nothing she or her mother said would set Roxy off again.

Pokemon Spiral

@Noxx @Heckno12 Yep, that'd work better. Larvitar and Gible are definite possibilities for where our characters currently are, though, they can be found in caves.