Briar Holst

Briar is a pleasant, enby with a connection to ghosts, the dead, and the occult. However, despite the common association to the dead being of doom, gloom, and tragedy, they try to celebrate the lives the deceased had, and appreciate the race they've ran.

## History

Briar was originally born in Kanto and moved during their early teens. As their family fled to Hoenn, escaping the chaos and turbulence that Team Rocket brought. Only to move from one bed of problems to another when Team Aqua and Magma performed their schemes. Their initial home was, as you'd expect, Lavender Town where their parents worked in the nearby Saffron City. Why they didn't move there instead? It was slightly cheaper. It was here that their mother and father had a first-born that didn't survive infancy, and where Briar was born. The loss of their sibling instilled a sense of loss in their parents who coddled and sheltered Briar. Preferring them to be safe, rather than be a kid and have fun.

Seeking refuge from Kanto's turmoils, they moved in Briar's early teens to Lilycove City, and where Briar continued to grow and develop. Their parents continued to shelter them, and at the age of 17 where their Father died of seemingly natural causes. Briar would, when able, sneak out of the house to the nearby Mt. Pyre, and Route 121 to commune, help, and interact with the ghosts there. They felt a certain kinship, or calling to them. Not to *be* them, but to help them, perhaps find their dad there, and talk with him. They reasoned, as they learned about ghosts and the occult, that to be a ghost, pokemon or otherwise, life needed to be cruel to you. You almost, by definition, needed to have a bad time in life to be a ghost. And they saw, in their times around others and ghosts, that to be a ghost meant unlife needed to be just as cruel. You now had a stigma placed upon you for your misfortune.

Briar felt this unfair, and endeavored to show compassion, understanding, and friendship to those they met. They didn't know how someone's life was led until their meeting, but they wanted to make damn good and sure that *their* part in that person's story wouldn't be a bad one.

Their parent(s), needing this sense of security for their child, tried to insist upon a young Briar to go to college, and work a safe, mundane job as they had. Ideally something safe for the Devon Corporation, in Rustboro City. This didn't feel like their calling, and after a lot of arguing and debate, pursued a degree in Occult Theory and Pokepsychology, leaving with a Masters

After graduation, they spent a small cooldown and recovery period as they planned what to do with the rest of their career. They spent little time in planning to move to Kairos to pursue the host of troubled spirits there. The last day (only about a month later) of which was a going away party, and the boat ride to their new home the next morning.

## Appearance

Briar isn't especially tall, nor built. It seems if they have any strengths, it'd be in their convictions, and in their head. Their default attire being either what you see in the picture to the right, or a full length, black woolen cloak in exchange for the jacket. They have a rather noticeable wound that has since scarred on their left hand where a Spiritomb had bit them rather badly on their third day in Kairos. They have blue eyes with a somewhat manic expression that seems to juxtapose the otherwise placid or welcoming nature they tried so hard to display.

## Personality

Briar tries their best to maintain, if not a sunny disposition, but a pleasant one. They are, perhaps, a little emotionally fragile, as the thought that they might've inadvertently upset someone might often cause them to sulk in their room for perhaps a few days. However, they gain the energy and joy of the friends in which they try to surround themself, and it's for this that they deeply appreciate and care for the folks in Kairos that they consider their friends.

They have a soft spot for the Corporeally Challenged, and almost invariably refer to ghosts as "their friends" because they want the recently bereaved that they have been seen, their struggles are real, and their emotions are valid.

## Ace Pokémon and Team

Briar has a, perhaps funny, tendancy to name their pokemon after fears or phobias in which that pokemon might exacerbate, demonstrate, or exemplify. Such will be noted.

Camellia (Sinensis), Polteageist; Briar arrived to Kairos with Camellia after a going-away party in which good food, and good tea was had. However, the day after, the dishes weren't done, and a nearby spirit possessed Briar's favorite teacup, and volunteered to accompany them to their new adventure.

Phagis (after Phagophobia, the fear of swallowing), Mimikyu; Phagis was rehomed to them by Primrose who put considerable effort and time into training her, but never found a spot for her on the roster. Briar volunteered to take her, and give her a home. Since then Phagis has been Briar's Emotional Support Mimikyu, almost always somewhere on Briar's person like a clingy lap cat. Briar's all to happy to reciprocate the gesture.

Athazai (Athazagoraphobia, the fear of forgetting, or being forgotten), Mimikyu; Acquired at the end of a Capture Contest, Athazai proves to be a delightful boon to Briar, in terms of emotional support, and a fighter on the field. Athazai loves, and is well loved in kind.

Mark Ruffalo, Wobbuffet

Phasmo (Phasmophobia, fear of ghosts), Gengar

Formido (Formidophobia, fear of scarecrows), Cacturne

Chromai (Chromophobia, fear of bright colors), Spiritomb, This is the spiritomb that almost bit their hand off, and resulted in a bad wound on their wrist that has since healed.

## Friends

Argent Bask, Argent's a warm person with his own issues, and Briar appreciates this, appreciates his perpetual ability to lend a hand, and absolute determination.

Primrose Faye, two of Briar's favorite and important things come from this person, one of the two of their Mimikyu, Phagis, and the house they currently reside in. Admittedly, they don't know the woman that well, but want to take the time to do so, and somehow repay her for the tremendous generosity that's been shown.

Adette Aegisworn, of which they appreciate the stalwart knight-errant's ability to stand strong, and protect those whom need it, regardless of the personal cost.

Rhys "Rimi" Joy, is simply a perpetual ball of joy in Briar's life. They've brought them joy and light in their darkest times, and it's this they prize in her.

Audelle Sisyphorus, whom they have, in their opinion, a rocky friendship. Frankly, Audelle scares them. They're eternally afraid, simply by Audelle's stoic, and hard-to-read exterior, that they're a mis-spoken word, or incorrect assumption away from being yelled at.

Professor Camelia: Briar is to some degree employed by the woman, though the entire arrangement is perhaps a bit flimsy. They have a fond respect toward the older woman however. They have an entirely different ethos to them, but somehow the same general alignment, help those they can.

## Goals

Briar's primary goal, and the reason they came to Kairos is to help the Corporeally Challenged, the souls of the dead who, perhaps, have some issues that need to be resolved. This need not be for the end goal of letting them "pass on" but just to help ease their burdens, lighten their loads. They notice the pattern that the objective of those in their position is to exorcise the dead because "they don't belong here". Briar disagrees with this mindset. Helping a troubled soul to pass on might be an option if that's what that individual wishes, but if they want to linger on amidst the living, they'll gladly help them do so in a manner that's conducive for all parties involved.

However, of late, they've entertained the idea, spurred on by Adette, to attempt to be the Ghost Gym Leader for Kairos. And they're currently entering the Championship Tournament to this end. They feel some discomfort at the prospect that they may need to displace the current owner of that position, Vampira Specter, and hope it may not be necessary.