Midnight Snack [open]

[ULYSSES IEGRIYEGA]

Strange things have been happening around Undella Town, and some parts of Black City. There've been reports of restless people, or rather, no one has been sleeping too well for the past week. Desperate to get some shut eye, many have headed out to Route 14, mostly to find some answers, or at least to catch a Jigglypuff to Sing them to sleep. At most, they found a bespectacled man in a lab coat at his camp by the river, who suffered from insomnia as much as everyone else was. He was there to study the extraterrestrial Pokemon known to inhabit the area; Nothing suspicious about that.

Though, they may've overlooked something that would probably count as suspicious: His Pokemon were always well-fed.

It's nighttime, and Ulysses was heading back to his camp after a brief outing to Undella Town. To his immediate knowledge, no one saw him. And if they did, they'd likely assume he only stopped by to replenish supplies, even if the hour was unusually late. He was often very quiet, avoiding conversations if he could help it. It'd come to no surprise that he'd try to avoid the daytime public. However, his Hypno reappeared by his side, after devouring the residents' dreams. One of the easier Pokemon to feed, thanks to Teleport.

A sigh escaped his lips once they were in the heart of Route 14, and he let out his Bronzong, an undeniably larger and slower-moving Pokemon. Some new trainers were in the area, and they decided to spend the night by the river. Ulysses was glad for the timing. The mist rolling in would conceal his Bronzong nicely... The Steel Type floats on over for its midnight snack. Ulysses hangs out by some trees to make sure nothing unexpected happened. As for his Hypno, he Teleports elsewhere to resume its search for Beheeyem on the researcher's behalf.

[EVELYN FIYERO]

Evelyn was drawn to different towns for different reasons. She was especially fond of places where strange happenings were rumoured and considering this one revolved around sleep, she was quick to make her way beside her group of flame-bearing pokemon to the route that had been plagued with sleepless nights and terror.

Riding atop her Rapidash, the Pokemon's light flooded the path along route fourteen and she was eager to dismount and get herself packed up on the roadside. However, the pink-haired hypnotist by trade was distracted by the looks of a young man who seemed perfectly comfortable by the river. Too close to the water for her taste, she almost dodged around him before she realised that it would be easier to get closer to him than to set up her own camp.

Swinging her leg easily off the fire-unicorn and taking her by the reigns, she guided her towards Ulysses and offered a warm and affectionate smile. She didn't want to use any kind of compulsion without necessity, and she raised a hand in a gesture of greeting. "Hi there, I'm Evie. I was just wondering if you wouldn't mind if I made camp near you. I've been riding awfully long, you see, and it's nice and quiet here beside the water."

[ULYSSES IEGRIYEGA]

Ulysses's heart practically stopped when Evie and her Rapidash approached. His Bronzong would've felt the same way at the sight of the Fire Type, if it had a heart. The Steel Type's eyes widened in fear though, and sought further guidance on what to do next. Ulysses looked over at Evie, whose form was brightly lit by the Rapidash. His expression was largely neutral, if a hint annoyed.

"Yes... Quiet..."

He cleared his throat and kept his voice low, hoping his "guests" would follow suit.

"To tell you the truth, the riverside has already been occupied by other trainers. I was merely taking an evening stroll, and Lutèce got thirsty."

He turned to the Bronzong and nodded.

"Go on ahead. We'll be back at the camp shortly."

With a low hum of relief, the Pokemon drifted further along the misty shore. There were dreams to be eaten.

"Lets continue introductions elsewhere, Evie. We wouldn't want to wake the other trainers up."

Ulysses puts his hands in his labcoat, then walks towards his camp, expecting the other trainer to follow. He might as well go through the motions of showing that he was innocent. In fact, Evie would make a suitable alibi if anything did go wrong.

[EVELYN FIYERO]

Evelyn was comfortable instantly - her fire pokemon were always a good and easy way to feel safe, and unfortuantely for Ulysses she was never in any hurry to put them away. They were a source of comfort for the Knight, and though they weren't exactly ideal battlers, they were companions who would defend her. She gave him an apologetic look however, as he encouraged the quiet, and she followed him along the riverside with the Rapidash eagerly at her heels.

"You're very right," She said with a grin, looking down over the shore and finding herself soothed despite the fact that it was water. Mist seemed much like smoke, and smoke had always fitted so nicely with fire. As they walked she moved to match his pace, pulling pink hair over her shoulder. "Have you been camping out here with all the others? I heard there was people who weren't sleeping well so I came to investigate. I'm good at helping people sleep," She said, her voice a hushed whisper.

She looked over his camp with eager eyes, though noticed nothing out of the ordinary.

[ULYSSES IEGRIYEGA]

Ulysses's camp looked like any other camp, save for perhaps his Noctowl keeping careful vigil over his equipment while he was away. Though, who doesn't have a Pokemon on guard from time to time? Nothing. Out of. The ordinary. A bit militant in the Noctowl's case, as she eyed the visitor with her Rapidash, but it's not like Ulysses had any grunts on hand to have them do it instead, nor did he want more attention than he was already getting on his own.

"Oh?"

At the mention of Evie's apparent specialty in making others sleep, his interest was piqued, if slight. 

"I'm Ulysses Iegriyega. To tell the truth, I am here to study the Beheeyem in the area. In some ways, it has been beneficial that I remain awake for long hours, to monitor their behavior."

Vague, and guarded. No mention about when he got here, to minimize inquiries that may lead to possible correlation between his presence and the plaguing insomnia in the area, and no further details about the Beheeyem, to let her draw her own conclusions about his work.

"I know you are tired, but if you would be so kind as to get the campfire going just slightly. I can make us some tea, or coffee. Whichever you, and your Rapidash, prefer."

He offers Evie a seat in one of his chairs as he brings a spare out from the tent. He's technically a criminal, but Arceus-forbid him being a terrible host.

"So you're good at helping people sleep, you say. Tell me more about that, Evie."

[EVELYN FIYERO]

"Ulysses.. Do you have any nicknames, because that's quite a mouthful." Evie chuckled. Her name was only a syllable longer than her nickname, but she still found she preferred the shorter version. He had introduced himself in such a manner, however, that she doubted there would be much option between them, and she smiled at his following statement instead, sitting down and watching her Rapidash near them, her head nuzzling against her.

The horse Pokemon was glad to oblige with a nod of Evie's head, the flames from it's mouth causing the wood beneath the dwindling fire to crackle more readily once again. The pink-haired girl smiled a little, all-too-trusting at least outwardly as she stretched her arms into the air. "That's true. They're thought to be alien pokemon, right? Susceptible to Pokeballs but no one is quite sure where they came from. At least that's what the stories say."

Her fingertips rapped against the hem of her skirt, and she nodded once as she collapsed into the spare chair as if it was Arceus sent. Her ankles crossed delicately and she raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm a hypnotist by trade and by knowledge. I know how to make people relax." The words came so easily to her she barely thought about them, "Most of it is just tricks and showmanship, but when there's a place that's in need I can work wonders too."

Which was very true indeed. "Sleeping is so vital, after all, and the body just needs the right triggers to be well rested in the shortest amount of time. Getting it to start at one point and spread is all just part of the fun. I've been practicing a long time, too. People used to say my voice was like a jigglypuff and I just learned how to use it as a method of entertainment and profit." In more ways than one. People were prone to taking suggestion much better when hypnotised, after all.

"Sorry, that was a bit wordy. I can talk people to sleep, basically." She grinned.

[ULYSSES IEGRIYEGA]

Ulysses rattled out a shallow sigh at the mention of nicknames. Evie isn't the first to mention his sesquipedalian name. He has been given a few, and naturally, some have mutated beyond the purpose of providing ease of pronunciation, especially whenever he became the target of another's ire and condescension. From Iegriyega to Iggy to Icky... He isn't fond of nicknames. They annoy him, and suggest a closeness that's cosmetic at best. But at least this time, he was given the opportunity to supply one of his own. He hung the kettle over the campfire.

"Some have given me a few nicknames. Uly isn't terribly creative, aside from it being pronounced as 'Yuu-lee' or 'Oo-lee' depending on whom you ask. I'm frankly surprised no one morphed Yega into Jaeger yet."

Now that was a nickname he wouldn't mind. Unfortunately, those who would want to call him "hunter" out of fear often didn't have the creativity to do so. "Creepy Guy". "The Eerie One". "That One Guy Who Dissects People". Who even knew if the last one was even appropriate. Would it kill the grunts to AT LEAST come up with "The Dream Eater", "Nightmare", or "Night Terror"? Still, maybe it's for the best. Icky Hunter wasn't a nickname he wanted to add to the growing list of tailored insults.

Ulysses nodded along as he too took his seat and stared at the flames. He got the expected response regarding the Beeheeyem, but shifted his gaze towards her when she mentioned being a hypnotist. He listened intently, personally noting the mention of tricks and showmanship, for it implied her method. He waved away her apology.

"Not at all. You appear passionate about this topic. So your process; Suggestion via aural means, if I assume correctly, unless there is more to your routine. How long have you been practicing? Say your shows attract those who would theoretically be more susceptible to suggestion, and to a degree, this could also be extended to customers. How do you deal with naysayers, or more... Resistant participants?"

He chose not to show it, but he was intrigued. This was relevant to his interests and research.