Haunted Mansion [Invite]

Perhaps taking out a jumpy lizard out for a walk in a haunted mansion was not the best decision, in hindsight. Maris, however, didn’t feel satisfied with her last escapade at the estate, so here she was again, dragging along Lio, Ishtar and Fran (of course). It wasn’t very long until Lio spread her frills in self-defense and wriggled out of the trainer’s arms the moment a lone Ghastly popped up and spooked her. Nothing like a wild goose chase in the afternoon to keep you going.

“Lioooo, please come baaack,” she pleaded, wandering aimlessly around the mansion as she tried to follow the sounds of Fran and Lio’s crashing and scuttling. So as not to, “get her vessel in a mess”, Ishtar chose to stick with Maris in her search. The Purrloin continuously groomed herself as she walked by Maris, clicking her tongue.

( “Tsk--fools, the lot of them. The yellow one will not live to see the light of day if she off and scurries at a simple Ghastly.” ) She mused to herself. ( “Though the two of them are fast, I’ll give them that.” )

“I’ll say.” Maris commented, peeking into a room. More crashing followed where what sounded like--the wood creaked above them--the upper floors. It seemed they were switching rooms, as for a moment their yelling was audible and not muffled nonsense.

( “LiioooOO, we’ve been through this before, now come back, would you--?!” ) the Rotom cried out as it zipped after the lizard. It seemed that Fran didn’t notice the same Ghastly following shortly behind them and eyeing Lio.

( “BUZZ OFF!” ) the Helioptile retorted. And off they go into another room, knocking over rotting shelves and drawers. Maris let out an exhale and began her way toward the stairway--at least they know where to try and corner her--until she turned to the sound of opened doors. Ishtar hissed as the sudden light caught her off guard, quick to hide behind Maris’s legs.

Ah, perfect.

“Oh. Uh. Hi.” she waved at the man, albeit a little awkwardly. She quickly looked up to the source of the noise again. “Um.” Back to Raoul. “Could you help me?”

( “Help?” ) The Purrloin peeked from her shelter. ( “Why have we turned to asking mere mortal STRANGERS? I’m more than capable of finding the two myself, with your occasional assistance--” )

She abruptly pat Ishtar on the head, ruffling her fur as she smiled back at Raoul. This did well to shut her up and occupy her with re-grooming her coat--Maris continued.“My other two partners are kind of...erm. How do I put it...”

As if summoned, Fran and Lio appeared once more, transferring rooms as they bickered amongst one another until they were muffled in another room on the upper floor.

“...in a goose chase. It’s hard to corner ‘em with me and Trisha alone. So...”

Maris trailed off as she looked back to the ruckus the two were causing. Admittedly, this was a little embarrassing, yes, but...well. Fuck it.

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Raoul Dantès