Monster Wrangler

After her earlier failure, Ashley moved to a different area. As it was starting to get late, she moved more towards the edges of the swamp. Fortuantely, she was still able to find enough materials to create a monster bait.

This, time the bait stayed intact much to Mr. Wiggles dismay. They waited a little ways away hopfully for a cute little Chasma. Or maybe there was something else. A Carnoid would be bad. She couldn't take one with her to tour.

EDIT: Forgot to say, I will use the Raise to increase the value just in case it can pull a different monster that Agatha isn't expecting.

After her rather scary conversation with Milo- Milo, of all people!- Calico had headed out to clear her head. Get out of town, and away from tournaments and awkward social entanglements and reminders of the fire... and right into reminders of her life for the past six years or so- and of her plans for later in the evening, since she wasn't exactly rolling onz at the moment.

Swampy? Check. Pestilential? Check. Probably more than a bit dangerous to be wandering around in? Check.

Lacking traps, she put her trust in Orlok, whose fluttering wings were doing double duty- they kept him aloft and they blew away the clouds of insects that were drawn toward Calico.

Unlike Ashley (Agatha?), she wasn't out on a hunt, as such, and didn't make much effort at stealth as a result.

Agatha waved to Calico.

Orlok spotted the movement first and chittered.

Calico looked around, spotted Agatha, and waved back.

She hadn't called out, so Calico kept quiet as she approached, with Orlok continuing to fan away the worst of the local smaller-than-a-monster insect life.

Agatha was dressed in overalls and not looking very pop star like. Mr. Wiggles was wrapped around her. "Hey Calico. How's it going? Me and Mr. Wiggles are hoping to make a new friend." She gestures towards the monster bait.

Calico smiled and hunkered down.

"Good to see you up and about, Mr. Wiggles. What sort of new friend were you hoping for? I know there are plenty of chasma in the area..."

A light appears in the distance, growing larger as it bobs and weaves through the air. Eventually it settles down next to the bait and dims, revealing a small bug that starts to chew on the food.

Before she can respond, she sees the Vespark, without a word she moves over to it using her the whistle from her wrangler skill kit. Once she has its attention, she confidently tells it to "Come here." She tone and pattern matches her the secret speech that her grandfather taught her to make a vermin a friend.

[Raises used to bond the Vespark.]

Calico covered her mouth, but her eyes were wide.

It was a beautiful bug.

The Vespark flies over to Ashley and settles into place atop her head. The low voltage coursing through the bug causes strands of her hair to start rising upward.


(Female Juvenile Vespark, Easygoing personality, Under Foot secondary trait.)

Agatha can barely believe it. "I did it! I actually did it!" Now she felt like a real wrangler.

And a vespark even. Her grandpa would be proud.

"What's her name gonna be?"

Calico spoke softly.

Orlok eyeballed the smaller insect carefully.

"Hmm... I don't know. Miss Static. Miss Electric. Miss Sparky..." It then it suddenly comes to Agatha. "Miss Sparkles!"

"Miss Sparkles. I like it."

Miss Sparkles buzzes, also approving. Though she is watching Orolok carefully. Mr. Wiggles seems undisturbed by the saturnadous. He was cool.

"Thanks. What brings you all the way out here? Are you also trying to find a new friend? Or preparing for the championship? Congrats by the way. I'm glad at least one vermin made it."

Seeing the others of her new family didn't mind the saturnadous, Miss Sparkles seemed to relax a little.

"Oh, I was just taking a walk, clearing my head. You know, dealing with stuff. It's... simpler out here."

She chuckled.

"And far as prep goes... not sure how to get ready for Orlok to face Riki. That's gonna be... a bit much, possibly."

She sighed.

"I mean, today was way easier than yesterday- that scovine was nothing on Lucy. But still..."

Agatha nods. "Yeah. Riki was tough. Just got to keep your distance and try not to get pinned by him." Mr. Wiggles hisses to Orlok that it's a super tough thing to do. Miss Sparkles has no idea what a Riki is.

Orlok chittered back, something about having been on fire twice earlier in the day and not liking it much.

"I'm definitely going to try to capitalize on mobility and speed if possible, but... hoo."

She shook her head, then glanced down at Mr. Wiggles with a smile.

"But of course, we owe him our best shot."

"As a commentator, I can't pick sides, but I definitely wouldn't be sad if you won." Mr. Wiggles says he hopes Riki wins so he can be second best at least. "Mr. Wiggles agrees."

Miss Sparkles also buzzes her agreement. She wasn't sure what she was agreeing to. She just wanted to be a part of what was going on even if she had no idea what that was. "And so does Miss Sparkles."

"Uhm... speaking of commentary... who the hell was that earlier? I mean, the second she opened her mouth I knew it wasn't you, the delivery was all wrong, but..."