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Aoi leaned against the passenger door, resting her cheek against the palm of her hand. She wore a bored expression. The corners of her lips tucked down into a slight frown. She peered out her window, admiring the city as it zoomed past.

"Slateport would be a great place for a vacation home." Aoi could picture it perfectly. Nothing fancy, just a two-story house with a patio overlooking the beach. So she could enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset. Alone or with someone else, it didn't really matter.

If only she could afford such a place. There was a time not that long ago where she could have. Back before she'd had her fall from grace. She'd gone from dining with the stars to partying with criminals and crooks. Not that there was much of a difference.

They were all rotten - Team Rocket just happened to be honest about it.

Aoi shifted her attention from the window to the rear-view mirror. Reflected in the mirror were two cages with black cloth laid overtop them. They sat strapped to the bed of the truck with heavy-duty straps. She was curious about what the cages held.

Aoi had picked both up in Mauville, but professional courtesy had stopped her from looking inside. They both obviously held Pokemon but of what species?

"We're here."

She felt the truck slow to a stop, and she lowered her eyes. Off in the distance, Aoi could make out the golden sand of Slateport's beach. It looked like she'd be walking the rest of the way to the rendezvous point. Aoi smiled, her demeanor changing as she exited the vehicle.

"Thank you so much! I have no idea what I would have done without your help." she bowed her head slightly.

"O-of course, no problem at all."

Lifting her head, Aoi brushed some hair behind her ear and smiled at him warmly. "Just let me get my Pokemon from the back, and I'll be out of your way." Aoi released her Gengar and Druddigon from their Pokeballs. With a nod towards the back of the truck, the pair went to grab the cages. Aoi continued to flirt and make small talk as she waited. When both cages were secure, she bid the driver adieu and headed to the beach.

Once she arrived, it took her a moment to find the boat. Had it not been so cleverly hidden, Aoi might have spotted it sooner. She walked towards the beach's edge, rounding the small twist of land that sheltered the Vagabond from view.

The girl captaining the ship looked younger than Aoi by at least a few years. If Aoi had to wager a guess, she'd place the girl's age somewhere between sixteen and eighteen. Concerning given the nature of what they were doing but Aoi didn't let it show.

"Ahoy captain." an enthusiastic smile flashed across her face, and she waved.

"First mate Ozakai, reporting for duty." Dante and Loch stepped into view. They stood on opposite sides of their trainer with cages in hand.

"Just tell me where to place the cargo." and then they could take a peek inside the cages.

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Doing as instructed, Aoi stepped aboard the Vagabond - her smile never leaving her face. It was a quaint vessel. Smaller than the boats she was used to, but big enough for what they needed. She pointed to a spot on the ship that seemed away from anything important.

"There." she said, ordering her Pokemon to set the cages down.

Aoi felt herself cringe as the teenager continued to give her orders. "Someone's bossy." but it was her ship. The least she could do was respect the girl's rules while aboard it. Her demeanor playful, Aoi saluted as the girl spun around to face her.

"Roger that captain." the actress giggled, "I'll keep my loogies and my trash to myself." she clapped her hands together with a grin.

"Now, let's check out the cargo!" her excitement couldn't have been more obvious. Aoi gripped the cloth on both cages and flung them off. Two Porygon greeted the smugglers with wide pixelated eyes. Startled, they emitted a series of high-pitched beeps and boops.

Aoi bent down in front of the cages with a finger pressed against her lips. "Shhh." her voice was soft, reassuring, and she offered both Pokemon a warm smile. "Everything's gonna be alright. We're gonna take you somewhere safe - a place more cozy than those cages." she whispered. The Pokemon calmed, bodies stuttering as they moved - hunting for decit in Aoi's words.

They hadn't found any.

Standing, Aoi looked over to the girl in charge, "Wowie, not one but two Porygons. We've got some pretty valuable cargo captain." too bad she couldn't keep one.

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Aoi nodded, "Right." she says and takes a seat on the ship's starboard side. Peering over the edge, Aoi smiled as the squad of water-types emerged from the water. "Impressive." she whistles, "You certainly came prepared." this clearly wasn't Plank's first time doing this. Aoi wasn't sure how that made her feel. Relived that the teen's bossy attitude wasn't just for show - or disappointment that a girl so young was used to a life of crime.

"Loch, why don't you join them?" the Druddigon nods obediently and takes off into the sky. He flies ahead of the ship - moving just slow enough not to outpace it by too much. Meanwhile, Aoi locks eyes with her Gengar. A silent exchange taking place between them. The ghost-type fidgets with its fingers nervously and sits down across from the cages.

Yawning, Aoi spreads her arms out along the boat's side and glances over to Plank. "So, what's your name? Not that I mind calling you captain, but I'd prefer to have a name to go with the rank." she grins and looks towards the water. "You gotta have a cool one, right? All the best pirates do after all." the actress chuckles - an almost childlike curiosity in her tone.

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Aoi notes the grin, glad to see that Plank wasn't always serious. "How long's a while?" she asks, more than a little curious. "Oh, and don't worry - Loch's smart enough to steer clear of anything that would get us spotted." Aoi winks at the captain. "You're not that only one with a little experience." but unlike her companion, it's not something she's proud of.

Smuggling, working for Team Rocket - these weren't things that Aoi wanted to use her talents for. The stage and the silver screen were where her heart lay. She longed to go back, but that wasn't an option. Not anymore. If she wanted to act now; if she desired the rush that being on stage and playing someone else gave her. She had no choice but to get it here.

Plank's smile, smug though it is, warms the woman's heart. As does the subtle yet obvious hint that she wants Aoi to call her Captain Plank. "It's defiantly cool." she confirms, "Captain Plank." Aoi adds with a smile.

Aoi glances briefly at her Gengar whose still sitting nervously in front of the cages. Silently, Aoi struggles with a choice, and it's a surprisingly difficult one. She wants the Porygon, and while she's playing a character, Aoi genuinely does find herself growing fond of the teen. Enough so that her original plan of having Gengar snatch it when they made land is sounding less appealing.

"So, Captain Plank - we should probably talk about something important before we reach our detestation." Aoi proclaims with giddy enthusiasm. "I really and I mean really want one of those Porygons for myself." she slips a hand through the bars of the cage next to her. Gently, Aoi caresses the head of the Porygon inside.

"And, just here me out here, I was thinking that we could maybe just say there was only one?"

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Aoi giggled, "A while." she repeats, mimicking Plank's voice with a surprising level of accuracy. "You don't have to be all vague. If you don't wanna answer, that's fine." everyone was entitled to their secrets after all. She wouldn't push - even if her curiosity demanded an answer.

"I've been doing this for six years now." her head turns toward the front of the ship. Glancing at the water's surface with a distant expression, Aoi's lips part as she sighs. "Longer depending on who you ask." the moment is an honest one, her words whispered only to herself.

Her bubbly persona is quick to return. Plank's eyes on her, sharp like daggers, does little to dissuade the warm smile on her face. It's the captain's hesitant objection that brings the corners of her lips down into a frown.

"Aw, come on!" she whines, still petting the now softly beeping Porygon. "Just look at that little thing! It wants to come with me." Aoi nods to the Porygon. It's eyes are closed, an expression of bless on its blocky face.

"Besides, you don't have to take any of the blame." Aoi added with a sympathetic tone. "We can put all the fault on me. Tell'em I only showed up with the one because of some accident or mix up on my end." it sounded like a good plan to her. If it failed to convince Plank, then Aoi supposed she could just take it by force.

She'd really have preferred not too, however.

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She's cracking, Aoi notes, watching the young girl's face tighten. Plucking at Plank's heartstrings doesn't exactly make her feel good. She's still a child, but Aoi wants the Porygon. "You're right." she admits, "I'm sure it be elated to go with anyone who showed it a shred of kindness." Aoi looks at the Porygon with sympathetic eyes.

Her lips curve into a frown as she pulls her hand out from the cage. "I'm not green." annoyance hangs thick in Aoi's tone. It's the second time tonight that she's allowed herself to break character. She's trying her best to keep it together - but Plank's comment sets her off. It reminds her of Johto, of how those she'd considered family and friends use to treat her.

Violet orbs look up from the caged beast and narrow on Plank. There's a sternness to her face that wasn't present moments ago. It's the kind of stern expression that only a mother could give.

"Kindness and empathy do not equate to a lack of experience, captain. Nor are they a sign of weakness." despite her expression, there's no anger in her voice. In fact, Aoi's tone is oddly calm - frighteningly so. "The fact you assume so just shows how green you are." silence fills the air as Aoi lets words linger.

She breaks it a few moments later. Flipping a metaphorical switch in her mind that pulls her back into character. She's not entirely same, but the giddy look in her eyes returns. "Now, where were we? OH! Right - discussing the Porygon." Aoi lifts a hand to rub at the back of her neck.

"I was thinking I'd just store the Porygon in a Pokeball and then work my charms on the client. That way you don't have to lie about anything. Sound fair?"