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A secret spy mission called for all the best secret spy gadgets and equipment. And by that, Belladonna mostly just meant she made sure to keep her pink clothing to a minimum, turned her skellyphone on silent and didn't wear heels, but instead sensible flats. Which was actually a surprise that she had any, but it was lucky nonetheless, so with a pair of dark pumpkin-sunglasses on, the witch scurried on down to the Old Crypt, a few days early for the Battle of the Band contest.
It wasn't that she wanted to do anything bad, she was just naturally curious.
Had it recovered from the beating the first battle had given it? Would it look different, or the same? Who else was playing besides the zombie trio she already knew of?
So many questionssssss!

Unfortunately, the witch had not prepared herself for the fact that the Old Crypt would actually be in use, specifically by the ones organizing the battle. With a soft, mumbled curse, Belladonna sneakily dodged and ducked her way to stand behind a pillar, so that she could gaze down through the audience stands and toward the stage. Who was running it this time? Looked like a student! Who had run the battle last time? It hadn't been students, had it? Belladonna couldn't remember, but she was torn. Should she step forward and be all inquiry after this purple clad person, or simply wait it out? It might be best to wait...
Hopefully none of those gnomes would discover the witch, as they were notoriously pesky and she certainly not in the mood to deal with any pests.

Strangely enough, skirt twitching wasn't really anything new for the witch. Her skirts were always so large, that they often caught on things, found themselves in sticky situations or attracted the stray branch or minipet. So it wasn't until the voice from bellow sounded that Belladonna let out a terrified shriek and darted backwards. Of course, backwards meant out from behind her pillar and instead stranded in the middle of the walkway, where certainly the boil on stage could see, should he choose to look up.
And just as the witch was about to dart away, refusing to be caught by a gnome, she instead heard a name she knew. Actually, it was a name she liked!
The witch whirled around to look at the gnome, a frown splashed across her face.
"Sorry, I don't date anyone shorter than me." And with that she was over the railing and headed down toward the stage.

"You're Amphi's boyfriend?" Belladonna asked as she shoved the glasses off her face and onto her hair. Wow, this guy looked so tall from down here, but then again the stage was elevated and the aisle slanted, so it only made sense! Totally ignoring the fact that she had been snooping around, Belladonna smiled up at the boil. "Hi! Belladonna Divine, I just had a class with Amphi. She is so cute!"

Uncertain of his teasing, Belladonna only nodded her head energetically at his comments. Of course there was nothing wrong with an ugly ghoul! Some people found ugly to be their exact cup of pumpkin spiced tea and preferred them to the witch. But it still stood that Amphi was a precious doll that deserved to be lavished over. No, Belladonna wasn't biased why would you ask that.
"Oh, not much! Just wanted to do a bit of investigating--" Here she paused to snap her sunglasses back onto her face and toss the little scarf she had forgotten around her neck up onto her head so that she looked like a proper spy. Or at least a gothic starlet out for a country ride. Whichever. "Before the Battle of the Bands. I participated in the first one, but not this one, and wanted to see what the stadium looked like! If it was still the same or if it had changed. The usual."

As for the poor gnome still living with his mother, the witch gave him a sympathetic look. It was tough to still be under the same roof as one's parents. Often times they were horrid, controlling beings! But this gnome was most likely old enough to make it on his own. Why was he still with his mother? In any event, Belladonna still felt sorry for him before she turned back to the boil. Who was tall. Gaaahhhh why were all the boils around here so jacking tall?
The witch had to take a step back and lean back a little to look at his face.
"So are you Sir Director or something?" She asked with a smile and a bounce. If he wasn't well... Its not like he could get her into trouble for snooping, right?!

A mentor!
The words caught Belladonna's attention easily and she lit up all curious to hear more about mentors. Having heard of the special privilege, she'd yet to actually speak to anyone under such special tutelage. Especially one who also wanted to be a Tricker or Treater! It seemed much more common with Reapers, she was sure, so it was pure luck she'd found this boil today.
"Is Nox a good mentor? What all types of things do you do besides organizing school functions? Does he take you to the Human World any? Does he take you on missions? What about his test? Did he have a test for becoming his mentor?" Questions flew out of the witch's mouth quickly, without even a break for a breath. Instead she only stared up at the tall boil, nearly glittering with the excitement she felt.

And then she looked at him. Really looked at him.
There were all these... Little bits of... Jewelry on his face.
Not really having ever been exposed to anyone with many piercings, let alone facial piercings, Belladonna couldn't help but stare. They were so... Pretty? Unique? Interesting? Becoming?
"Does Amphi like your... Piercings?" She asked suddenly, though she couldn't have named a single reason as to why should she be pressed for an answer. It was just something she said before she even bothered to think. Whoops!

Maybe it was the idea of having jewelry in one's face, as an additional place to put gems and sparkles and little bats and skull, that had so caught the witch's attention. Regardless, she couldn't help but stare. In fact, her stare was veering dangerously toward the realm of kirakira'ing.
"They're lovely~" She cooed, hands clasped under her chin.
Oh, oh wait.
"So have you and Amphi been together long?"
Wait, that wasn't right either.
"And you still haven't answered my questions about your mentor!!"
There we go. Good job Belladonna, you managed to bring it back around.

Satisfied that she had thoroughly questioned him, the witch instead went about fiddling with her sunglasses, mostly for something to do. After a moment of thought, she looked back at Roch. He looked so normal. Nearly as normal as she, which was actually such a relief that already Belladonna felt kindly toward him.
Mostly it was because of her deep fondness for the mermaid, but Roch seemed a pretty good sport, so she certainly could be persuaded to like his sake as well.
"You're a Reaper, right?"

Surprised by the boil's sudden drop in height, Belladonna only stared at him for a second. When she realized they were going to have a moment, the witch clambered down to sit next to him, prim and proper as she crossed her ankles over the edge of the stage, but still somehow managing to look interested in his story.
When he mentioned Amphi and the Hunters, when his jaw tightened and he looked so forlorn... Belladonna couldn't help but want to reach out. But she was good and kept her hands to herself, though she did drop her face to look at her hands.
"I heard about that. I am so sorry for what they did to her. But I am glad she is safe." Not all of those kidnapped had returned, after all. It certainly put a grim veneer on their conversation, and for that the witch was a bit sorry.

Still, he at least was willing to talk about his mentor! Though everything he said was a bit vague, but Ren! Ah! The witch hadn't spoken to him in ages. If he had a mentor, that meant he was doing well! In that case, Belladonna wouldn't question Roch over the gryphon.
"That all sounds very... Interesting." Actually it was just confusing, and not at all what she was looking for.
"Do you want to be a Trick or Treater when you graduate?" This question was slower, her voice a little softer. Graduation was still a year away for the witch, but still... She had yet to decide what she wanted to do. Maybe Roch had more insight, as of yet no one had really been able to help her.

"And if you'd like, I can try to help a little today?" It was a small offer, one that might not actually be useful, but Belladonna still gave it with a small shrug of shoulders and a smile.

"One never knows. It is at least always good to have options available." Belladonna replied with a tilt of her head. After all, she hadn't decided what she wanted to be either, so the moment she could actually get a mentor she'd get working on that. And what if after all that work she did decide she didn't want to be a Trick or Treater?
At the gnomes, the witch could not hide a small laugh, though she did cover it with her hands. It was difficult to feel sorry for the gnomes when they were always so pesky. And somewhat curious about what lied under skirts.

"No worries! I'd rather stay out of the way, if you don't mind." She gave him a warm smile, but quickly turned her gaze down to her skirt. Idly she smoothed the material out, not really sure what to ask next.
"Will this battle be similar to the first one?" It was mindless chatter, not what the witch really wanted to ask but... Well. What she wanted to ask was a bit... Depressing really. So instead she only smiled some more. "I participated in the first one actually!"