Zilla's mouth dropped open and she placed a hand over her breasts in feigned offense when Isaac compared her to a baby Deerling. "How dare!" she gasped, "I'm, at the very least, a Sawsbuck." The clarification was necessary, albeit not too important in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps she was nothing more than a frightened Deerling when seated beside the hungry predators in Team Rocket, but she wasn't helpless prey either. If she was a Sawsbuck in the metaphor, at least she'd have a fighting chance.

[break][break]"But you're right about one thing. You're definitely an Igglybyff," she giggled, absolutely reeling over the idea that Isaac wasn't just a little pink puffball but was also full of hot air. The analogy was one Zilla couldn't help laughing at.

[break][break]Even still, she wasn't dissuaded from offering a final warning despite the light-hearted direction of the conversation. She needed him to know that her concern for him was real. It was the least she could do as his mentor and as his friend, not that she'd admit the latter aloud.

[break][break]Fortunately for Zilla — or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it — Isaac had a bit of insight of his own to share. Apparently Team Rocket was "pushing for capital W war." It wasn't something the grunt had heard, specifically, but she'd definitely sensed some tension in the air around the Rocket elites. There were plenty of hushed whispers and paranoid over-the-shoulder glances to make her nervous, more so than usual.

[break][break]"You don't need t' worry about me," she purred while pulling away from her ex-fling, "I've got it all figured out." She didn't, and she would have been a fool to say Isaac was wrong. She really was something of a contractor for the organization, wasn't she? But how long would that agreement last for the syndicate, and what would she have to do to prove herself a loyal member of Rocket?

[break][break]We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, Zilla told herself on repeat, even though she knew deep down that a contingency plan would be needed on the off-chance that she was asked to do something against her own morality. So far, keeping her head down and her nose out of Rocket affairs had served her well, but how long would that truly last? If push came to shove, would she put all her chips down on Team Rocket or would she gamble her life away by fleeing?

[break][break]Talonflame cawed from a nearby tree and shifted nervously, causing the indigo-haired woman to perk up and glance over her shoulder. "More importantly," she said, her voice returning to a normal volume as she took a couple steps around Isaac, "I think we should get outta here before the Rangers show up." The forest fire must have caught their attention, and Zilla wanted to be long gone before they arrived.

[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Yep, that's it," Zilla replied with a nonchalant shrug. "You put yer chips down and wait. That's the game." That was a gross oversimplification of the rules, but as far as the duo were concerned, that was the gist of it. Sure, there was plenty of strategizing required to earn more than you spend, and it required patience and a keen eye for players to observe the wheel over multiple rounds in order to tell if it favored a certain pocket. But if they stripped all that away, roulette was literally just a number-guessing game.

[break][break]"Lots of new players think gambling is more complicated than it really is, so don't be too hard on yourself," the grunt went on to say before motioning at the dealer sitting the head of the table. "Once you've put your chips down, it's all on him." As if on cue, the man placed one hand on the roulette wheel, a silver ball between his fingers. In a matter of seconds, he sent it spinning around the outer edge of the wheel. "He'll send the ball rolling, and you still have time to place bets," Zilla reiterated, "If you want."

[break][break]A handful of other players frantically placed additional chips on the table, hoping to get in some last-minute bets before the croupier ended the round. After a solid five seconds, the dealer waved his hand over the game table, indicating that he was not accepting any more bets this round. "Just like that, our fate's in Lady Luck's hands." The silver ball began to slow on the wheel and fell into the 28 position.

[break][break]A couple people grumbled while others laughed with excitement at their victory. In time with the croupier, Zilla spoke the winning number aloud, "28, red." She turned to face the unnamed woman as the dealer got to work clearing the board and calculating the victors' winnings. Unfortunately, 28 was not covered by the 2nd Twelve square, so both women lost money for that bet; however, the winning number was red, so they would at least win back some of their chips.

[break][break]"And that's game! Once he's finished paying us, the next round'll start and we can bet again. Easy peasy, right?" she asked, her voice trailing off as her dark eyes fell on the empty glass in her hands. Man, she could really use another drink. After a long, somber silence, Zilla turned back to the table and collected her winning chips. She half-heartedly motioned toward the woman's own winnings before saying, "You can pocket 'em and use 'em in another game or you can keep betting here. Up to you."


[break][break]

+ ana fell
[break]+ Located at Casino Starlight for the NYE Bar Crawl.

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

When the woman said that the game was less complicated than she expected, Zilla couldn't help but smile. Even through a tipsy haze brought on by multiple consecutive drinks, she had managed to explain how to play Roulette to a novice. Maybe she hadn't been as thorough or detailed as she might have been when sober-minded and on the job, but the fact remained that she was good enough at teaching the basics. She deserved a mental pat on the back.

[break][break]As players began to put chips on the board in preparation for the next round, the stranger asked if she was able to place two bets. "Yeah," Zilla chimed while placing a stack of chips on the Second Twelve square and another small stack on Red to show the newcomer just how easy it was to bet on each. She went on to explain how these bets weren't as profitable as single, split, or corner bets, but the calculations got lost in the noise of the crowd.

[break][break]"Once your chips are down, you can't move 'em. I think... That's standard protocol, but I guess it's possible Starlight's different," Zilla explained once she'd finished mumbling about the high-risk/high-reward aspect of the game. "But you can keep placing bets until the croupier signals the cut-off. Usually after the ball starts spinning." The employee seated near the wheel wasn't moving, so players still had plenty of time to place their bets.

[break][break]

+ ana fell
[break]+ Located at Casino Starlight for the NYE Bar Crawl.

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

As Jayden approached the table, a familiar smile crept across Zilla's lips. "Of course," she purred while reaching out to fiddle with the wooden skewer on one of the sliders. She'd never been self-conscious about eating in front of other people, but she'd gotten in the habit of letting others eat first; perhaps she was paranoid about being poisoned, or perhaps she was just trying to be polite. Either way, she continued to toy with the pick as she eyed her commander's face for any telltale signs about what he was thinking.

[break][break]"You look well," she said after a long minute. The truth was, he looked exhausted. And stoic, but that wasn't anything new. If Zilla had to guess, she would have assumed that the events surroundings the Meteno meteoroid had taken its toll on Rocket's elite members. While the organization scrambled to get control of the situation, the low-level grunt had been drinking martinis on the beach and preparing for the end-days with her canine companions. Jayden's tired expression reminded her that not everyone had adopted her "YOLO" attitude.

[break][break]

+ jayden cross
[break]+ Located at Ritual for the NYE Bar Crawl.

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Not judging," Zilla replied, her smile wavering as they discussed the reality of the situation they both found themselves in, "Just reminding you exactly who you're dealing with." She was the last person to judge someone for their life of crime, but she also wasn't oblivious when it came to the syndicate she found herself aligned with. No one ought to mistake her carefree attitude and petty crimes as a reflection of Team Rocket's true intent. The organization had dirty little secrets that would even make Zilla squeamish.

[break][break]Noticing that the mood had shifted away from playful banter and onto a serious dialogue about Isaac's safety, the blonde man back-pedaled and admitted Zilla was right in her observation. They were both criminals, sure... but there were even worse people in Team Rocket, people who wouldn't hesitate to blackmail, sabotage, or even murder someone if their commanders asked. And that wasn't even talking about how the affiliation made them enemies of the state.

[break][break]It was dangerous work, but Zilla found that the pros often outweighed the cons. Pros: information about high-paying jobs, security in the form of disguises and backup, and plenty of black market connections. Cons: loyal members were willing to commit heinous crimes she didn't want to be associated with, and she risked a hit being put on her if she ever tried to leave. So long as she kept her head down, she reaped the benefits without ever being asked to do something outside her comfort zone.

[break][break]Isaac, on the other hand, wasn't the type to sit on his hands and let elite members do whatever they wanted, especially if it didn't align with his goody-two-shoes outlook of the world. As his recruiter, Zilla felt an obligation to remind him of the company he was keeping. He couldn't just start running his mouth about morality when he was under the gun. She wasn't the one holding it, but she saw the walls closing in and felt it was only right to caution her ally against making more waves.

[break][break]His response? Saying that some Rocket members deserved better and that Zilla should give them a chance. The indigo-haired grunt cocked an eyebrow. A chance to do what, she wondered, though she didn't voice the inquiry aloud. Knowing Isaac, he'd go off on a tangent about how she needed to open her heart up to people and let them in. She did, but she was also very particular about who she trusted. She'd been mingling with groups like this since her adolescence, so she knew better than to "give strangers a chance."

[break][break]Instead of trying to impart some knowledge on her peer, Zilla smirked faintly and crossed her arms over her chest again. "One of these days, you're gonna give someone a chance and get a knife in your back. Most of 'em are loyal to the team and wouldn't hesitate to take you out of the picture." She had no doubts there were others with loose loyalties to Team Rocket, but was outing oneself worth the risk of finding them or even helping them get out? Not to Zilla.

[break][break]"All I'm sayin' is you need to watch your back. Making friends is fine and all, but don't get blinded trying to find the good in everyone you meet, especially in our line of work." Her small smirk grew into a wide, playful grin as she leaned in close. "There are eyes and ears everywhere," she whispered into Isaac's right ear, her warm breath caressing his skin and sending a reminder of their history together.

[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Zilla snorted in amusement and stole a glance at the woman when she asked how to play the game. That was a good one. Not knowing how to play roulette and asking a stranger for guidance. Real funny. But this lady didn't seem to be making a joke. She was serious about it. As if in response to the skeptical look given by the indigo-haired woman, the stranger went on to explain that she'd only seen people play roulette on game shows. "Huh," Zilla hummed before turning back to the board.

[break][break]"It's all about guessing what number the ball will land on. 0 through 36," she started explaining while pointing weakly at the wheel a short distance away. She then moved her hand to point at the table of squares, numbers, and words. "You make your bet here. You got a ton of options. You can bet on a specific number. Let's say you really like 12. You put your chips on number 12. You're risking a lot 'cause that's... like..." her voice trailed off as she tried to do the math in her head, "a two percent chance of the ball landing on your number. But if it does land on 12, you get a massive payout."

[break][break]The dealer placed a hand on the side of the roulette wheel and sent a metal ball spinning, but Zilla didn't stop. She checked to make sure the woman was still there before going on to explain. "Since that's such a huge gamble, people tend to make broad bets. They don't pay as well, but it's arguably the safer choice." She pointed at the options on the sides of the table. "You can bet that the winning number will be odd, even, red, black, the first set of 12, second set of 12, last 12, the first half, or the second half..."

[break][break]Her voice faded again as dealer swiped a hand over the table, silently indicating that he wasn't accepting any more bets for this round. The silver ball continued to spin around the outside of the roulette wheel, though it was beginning to slow. "You can also bet on columns," she motioned to the column containing numbers 10 through 12, "or rows," she swept a hand over the closest row.

[break][break]"Or you can get real fancy with split bets or corner bets, but those are big gambles since you're putting all your money on just a couple numbers. I usually see people do that to cover a bunch of space on the board while maximizing their payout if they do win," she explained before falling silence. The ball on the roulette wheel fell into the 25 position and the nearby players responded with a mix of groans and cheers.

[break][break]Zilla smirked. She'd bet that the winning number would be between 25-36 and that it'd end in an odd number. As such, she would be receiving chips for both bets, though she wouldn't earn as much as those who voted on 25 itself, did a split or corner bet, or voted for the 25-27 column. The dealer got to work handing out the victor's winnings and clearing the board for the next round. As he did, the Rocket grunt turned back to the curious woman and said, "It's all about taking a risk. The more dangerous the bet, the better the reward. You feelin' lucky?"

[break][break]

+ ana fell
[break]+ Located at Casino Starlight for the NYE Bar Crawl.

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Zilla's grin never wavered, even as Isaac explained that he only cared for her well-being as far as logistics were concerned. He didn't want to be the one responsible for breaking any bad news to her "next of kin" — which, according to him, consisted of nothing more than "a bunch of dogs." He was wrong, of course, because both of her parents were alive and well, but bringing up such personal sentiments were against the spirit of the game. After all, she always appreciated when a cute guy could keep up with her wit.

[break][break]"Mightyena thanks you," Zilla chuckled. Despite not truly paying attention to the conversation, the dark canine heard his name and instinctively cocked his head in response. He watched his trainer for a long moment before turning to Watson and wagging his tail slowly. If the tiny gator met his gaze, Mightyena would have bowed and barked in an attempt to encourage the Totodile to play with him.

[break][break]Just as Isaac pointed out, the two hadn't seen each other in a couple months — though it was probably closer to half a year by now. Part of the blame could have been put on Team Rocket for keeping the teams separated because they had different skill sets. While Zilla was a master thief and Pokemon trafficker, Isaac required a bit more work. He had a big heart and wore his emotions on his sleeves. It made sense that they wouldn't want him poaching Pokemon, for instance, if he hadn't proven himself capable of that type of work.

[break][break]However, part of the separation had to do with Zilla having no need of Isaac's services... for field work or otherwise. As far as the latter was concerned, she'd heard rumor that he'd started seeing someone, and while she rarely held any reservations about being a home-wrecker, the fact that Isaac and his new partner were both Rocket members felt a bit too messy to risk. As such, Zilla didn't see a need to seek out Isaac's favor when other men could get the job done just well.

[break][break]"Been a while," the indigo-haired grunt agreed with a slight purr in her voice. "I see you've been using that time to grow your team," she pointed out while glancing at the group of water Pokemon standing some distance away. She stopped walking when she was within arm's reach of her comrade, and her dark eyes shifted back to meet Isaac's. "Been making some waves too, from what I hear," she murmured, her voice barely louder than a whisper, "Better be careful who you call 'friend'."

[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“What did it land on last?” a new player asked, sounding excited and smelling of booze. Oh, yeah. Zilla had found her people. "25. Red, odd," Zilla replied, incidentally slipping into dealer-talk as she responded to the question. At work, it was important to make everything as clear to the players as possible. When manning the roulette wheels, she was required to lead with the winning number then provide the color and divisibility to help reduce any possible confusion.

[break][break]But she wasn't at work.

[break][break]The Rocket grunt shut her mouth and hardly looked up from the table as she placed a handful of her own chips on both the Odd betting square and the 3rd 12 betting square. She'd been at the table for only about five minutes, but that had been more than enough time to realize that the wheel favored the numbers to the immediate right of zero, which mostly consisted of odd numbers and numbers between 25 and 36.

[break][break]The grunt leaned away from the table after making her bets and downed the rest of her Galaxy. It wasn't the sort of drink she'd normally choose, but it was a new year celebration and she would have been remiss not to partake in the casino's signature beverage. After a couple more rounds at the Roulette table, she'd likely swing by the bar in order to pick up a drink to replace the one she'd just finished.

[break][break]

+ ana fell, sorry for the long wait!
[break]+ Located at Casino Starlight for the NYE Bar Crawl.

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Oh, absolutely," Zilla chuckled, "Those water attacks are as dangerous as they come."

[break][break]Had this been an argument worth having, the grunt may have pointed out that one of Isaac's other Pokemon could have started the fire; that TMs existed, so even if the Pokemon responsible wasn't a fire type, it still had the potential to use a fire move; or it could have been a wild Pokemon who was fighting back against one of his poorly trained party members — which actually had been the case, though the culprit was one of Zilla's own Pokemon, not Isaac's.

[break][break]Ultimately, countering the man's defense was pointless. She had a gut feeling Houndour was responsible, and in truth, she couldn’t have cared less. The only reason she stuck around after the forest went up in flames was to retrieve her missing Pokemon. Had they come straight back, she likely would have left the scene of the crime without ever trying to stop the wildfire from spreading.

[break][break]Her focus was instead on the fact that, out of everyone she could have run into, Isaac was the person she ended up meeting on this faithful day. And, perhaps more importantly, his mutant of a pet.

[break][break]"I'm not above admitting that that thing is an abomination," she pointed at the Dracovish. "You've gotta have a couple screws loose to think it's cute." She grimaced when the beast wiggled and snorted happily in response to Isaac patting its flank. It was ugly. It was frightening, especially when charging. It should never have been created in the first place.

[break][break]And yet, there was some charm to it. It behaved a lot like an oversized puppy, and anyone who knew Zilla also knew she had a soft spot for dogs. She'd never admit her reluctant fondness for Grimance, however. For as much as it frightened and disgusted her, she also found herself fascinated and enamored by it.

[break][break]Needless to say, the look that settled on Zilla's face was a complex emotion to read. She only became aware of her expression when Isaac asked if she was alright. Her eyes focused back on the blonde man and her face relaxed. "Yeah, of course."

[break][break]Mere seconds later, her eyes narrowed and her painted lips curled into a playful smirk before she added, "What? You're concerned for me? How cute~" She took a couple steps forward, closing the distance between them. "You always were the type to worry about others." She paused only a moment. "It's incredibly annoying." Even the insult was muttered with a coy grin and a sultry gaze. Did she really find his attitude annoying or was she just trying to egg him on?

[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Hey! That's my oaf, I'll have you know," a familiar voice hollered from beyond the treeline. Dracovish was already on the move, frantically charging in the speaker's direction to meet up with its trainer. Even Mightyena seemed to recognize the voice, for his stoic demeanor melted away and his tail began to wag with fervor.

[break][break]"Isaac?" the indigo-haired grunt asked, not completely convinced the mystery man was the rookie in question, despite the fact that the voice in the trees did sound like him. Her suspicions were confirmed when he emerged from the thicket, echoing the single-word sentiment by simply uttering her name aloud. A half-smirk crept across Zilla's face the moment their eyes fell on each another.

[break][break]He'd changed a lot since the last time they saw each other — the last time they saw each other in the field, that is. He was flanked by not only his unevolved Totodile but also a Blastoise, Kabutops, Dracovish, and Talonflame. No, wait. That was Zilla's Talonflame! He fluttered over the group's heads and landed on a nearby tree branch, overlooking the congregation as well as the surrounding area. If anyone or anything tried sneaking up on the group, he'd see them.

[break][break]Zilla tore her gaze from the fire bird and looked back at Isaac when he asked what kind of trouble she had gotten herself into. He was met with a scoff and crossed arms. "I should ask you the same thing," she hissed, grin still plastered on her face, "You're the one walking away from a forest fire." She nodded at the ash-choked skies above them. Though she suspected her Houndour had everything to do with it, it was more fun to push the blame off on her comrade.

[break][break]"You know, there are easier ways to get the Rangers' attention. Or maybe you lost control of your Pokemon." She eyed the horrific mutant of a Dracovish before continuing, "You lost control of one already..." Her voice faded to silence before her gaze snapped back to Isaac. "You're welcome, by the way. For calming your monster. It was rampaging through the forest like a rabid Arcanine."

[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]