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Naia's stare was mainly outside of the window, her attention in that very moment solely focused on the rushing water and splatter of rain. Rarely did she ever get to see such a scene, typically whenever there were downpours such as this she was in her home far above the ground. Then she felt like she was above it all, and now she really felt like she was apart of the world.

[break][break]The wet barely bothered her, a heavy drop rolled down from a wisp of her hair and down onto the table, the sound pulling her attention away from that scene and down at her hands. Lightly she hovered her uncovered hands around her milkshake, she recalled just wanting to order the same thing as Ashley but after the thought of her Zweilous's messy chops decided to go for something not red. So just requested of them to hold off on the strawberries for now, leaving her with what they called a vanilla and banana shake.

[break][break]"So. What's your story?"

[break][break]Naia would steal a glance towards Ashley, and then back down towards her phone that was stacked in between a bunch of napkins, the best equivalent to rice. She pondered on his question, mainly on what he was trying to ask. Was he asking for a bibliography of her life? And the more important question, how much did she reveal?

[break][break]"Uh.." She'd look past Ashley, seeing if there were anyone who could have been possibility ease dropping, her tension easing as she found no-one. "My mother is a CEO of a marketing company, and my father's a surgeon." and she was this.

[break][break]Naia had no known accomplishments, and haven't made any name for herself. Condensation outside of her glass rolled down and over her finger, and as she thought of what else to say she'd put her finger to her mouth to lap up the drip of water.

[break][break]"I'm bound to take over the company, but there was no guarantee that.. they.." even if she didn't think anyone was listening it was probably for the best for her to avoid using Rocket and instead tried to hint on who she was talking about, ..would find me trustworthy. I guess.. I uh.. picked up a third job."


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"Three? Yeesh, and here I thought hustle culture was toxic. You're over here running the marathon."

[break][break]Naia's eyes drifted back outside, unsure of how she was supposed to reply to such a comment. To her this was just normal.
[break]What she was expected to do.

[break][break]"How is having a mom and dad, anyways?"

[break][break]This drawn Naia back to him. She may have not been the brightest bulb when it came to socializing but she understood the essence of a question like that. Only someone who doesn't have something would ask how something is, and she didn't have to wait long for him to explain.

[break][break]She must have had something wrong with her, because while he spoke she couldn't understand the pain he was feeling. But what she could understand was that it hurt and she didn't know how to help with hurt in the emotional sense. Maybe if she lived a life where her mother didn't exist-- then maybe she'd have some form of freedom.

[break][break]No.

[break][break]A new cage would be placed on her. Naia currently lived the life of freedom in a finical sense, she traded her right to being a human being so that she could live the cushion path her mother set out for her. At least what she could do for him is tell him what it was like, maybe that could help him gain some form of closure.

[break][break]"My mother.. She told me that she had a plan when she moved into Slateport. She left her family when her brother took the inheritance, you can say she wanted to proof them wrong. She said that even after picking out the perfect husband, she didn't calculate her child to be such a disappointment."

[break][break]Naia didn't need to think on the spot for this kind of information, this was just fact. Something she heard multiple times growing up.

[break][break]"She didn't want some school to teach me.. uh garbage so she homeschooled me herself. Once I finished all the curriculum she threw me into medical school. I guess she thought if I was going to be useful it would at least be an assistant to my Father. I'm sure she has a back up to take over the company if I don't manage to live up to her expectations then."

[break][break]Naia at this point wasn't even sad about the fact, she had given up a long time ago on the dream of living up to their expectations. She knew they were insatiable.

[break][break]"My Father.. hm.. I guess he's harder to explain. His existence is like water. I only really get to see him occasionally at home and at the clinic whenever I'm his assistant. He just listens to my Mother. If you want I can always set up a meeting for you."

[break][break]The awkwardness in her voice returned when it came to her father, finding it a lot harder to just regurgitate information on someone who just was so ambiguous in her life. Naia would pick up her drink, taking a few sips out of her drink, giving herself a moment to just enjoy the taste. After talking about her Mother so much she couldn't help but look over and check her phone, it was still dead from all the water.

[break][break]Not like there was much she could do about it now other than flipping it onto the other side, but she can imagine her mother eventually figuring out where she was and giving her a good slap. Naia could almost hear the venom her mother would throw at her, especially if she found out she was playing hooky with Ashley.

[break][break]"Oh."

[break][break]She remembered something he said earlier, placing her drink back down as she pondered how to ask him.

[break][break]"You.. uh- mentioned a partner earlier. Do you normally do.. outings like this with them? Does everyone eventually get a partner?"


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Naia wad following what he was saying, Slight nods of her head to his words, until he started going more abstract. She didn't really understand how a person could be like a flower outside of fragility and she sure as hell didn't know how one could bloom. But none of that really matters compared to the rest of his words, Naia understood that Ashley didn't like Rocket.

[break][break]His words afterwards contrast the joyous feelings he was having just a moment ago. She didn't like killing either, but that was because she didn't like the guilt to be on her conscious but her job with her father has always been life or death at your will. Death to Naia didn't feel the same as others may see it, it's an inevitability-- a promise, and lately Naia has just been pushing that hour hand.

[break][break]"Parents... that's just so odd. My only experience is my father trying to overdose my pregnant mom when she had me. He's dead now though."

[break][break]Why? There was so many things she wanted to make a comment on but she didn't know where to start. Maybe starting with this first and then working her way backwards would be best.. but.. Naia didn't understand that train of thought, was there something that wrong with having a kid? If anything this just showed the full extend to the selfishness people have that her Mother once told her.

[break][break]"My.. Mother said that selfishness is like a bubble. Everyone has one.. What's important is to tell where other people's greed end though. Because if you try to take too much from it, they'll bite back. You can say it's karma."

[break][break]It was probably why Naia can coexist with big personalities, she didn't really have much of a bubble herself so there was never a worry of how much someone took and if she took from others. Her mind was trying to trace back through their conversation, eventually landing on when he was talking about partners. In a weird way she was a big disappointed, it would have been nice to eventually have someone you knew would always take your side and back.

[break][break]"I hope I get to work with Jay--den a lot."

[break][break]A momentary slip up, as her ears would flush slightly. She was trying hard to beat that habit of calling jayden cross by that nickname, she knew he didn't like it and the last thing she'd want is to cause any more grief. He was one of the only people that she knows inside of Rocket, and someone she was comfortable with-- well I guess she could add another person on that list.

[break][break]"A-and you too.. but I don't know if your.. uh.. spouse would like that. So far people have died on every one of my missions.."


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"Nah. I always come back."

[break][break]Naia face would have the slightly movement, a small tense at his words. She didn't know if it was because she was upset that he misunderstood what she meant, or the fact that he instantly assumed her partners kept dying on missions with her. If it was the former was there any point in correcting him? Not really. And if it was later, then that just showed how Rocket was just going to get more dangerous for Naia. Not easier like she hoped.

[break][break]"Sides. I'm not cheater either. He trusts me."

[break][break]His next statement had more of a reaction, one of confusion in fact. With a raised eyebrow Naia would watch him flash his smile and get himself more comfortable in his seat. With only her parents as a real example of what relationships were like, she never understood the anxiety or fear of getting cheated on. Her father could spend weeks staying late at work and her mother would still treat him exactly the same way when he came back.

[break][break]Was Ashley the one more scared about cheating?

[break][break]At that thought Naia tilted her head, staring him down as she was trying to figure out this conundrum. Then he spoked up.

[break][break]"How... do you know Jayden?"

[break][break]Did he know Jayden too? I mean that made sense. Both of them were Rocket and surely they have done missions together before. It wasn't the same sort of anxiety or concern she'd typically show when she furrowed her grows, her head tilting off to the side as she'd think of how exactly she wanted to word this. She didn't want to give too much, after all the reasons why Naia and Jayden knew each other was through their parents dealing and she didn't feel comfortable saying anything that could affect his company.

[break][break]"I.. uh used to see Jayden a lot growing up. You could say.. my mom and his dad were friends.. and we were just a long for the ride. He.."

[break][break]She didn't know how to word this next part, the bashful nature of the subject would brighten up Naia's ears once more as she'd avert any eye contact.

[break][break]"..was my only friend growing up.."

[break][break]Friend was a strange way to word. To Naia who never really interacted with any kid her age at that time, and jayden cross was really the only peer she had. Only connection to the outside world whenever they hung out, but saying anything more than just friend felt awkward. As her mind was stumbling over these thoughts her ears would only deepen further and further before she'd eventually just blurt out.

[break][break]"H-Have you done missions together?"


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"Jay and I... yeah, we have. I knew him in the Kanto days."

[break][break]Naia's eyes would light up when she hard him say Jay, the momentary excited causing her to recoil back and turtle slightly. She was just excited that someone else knew about his nickname, she was always so nervous of accidently letting it slip.. especially in front of Jayden.

[break][break]"Best friends back then. Until I left."

[break][break]"B-But.. y-you guys must have been re-really close if he let you call him Jay."

[break][break]There was this twinge of something in her throat when she said that. It felt like mud for a short second, something she really couldn't explain till she thought back on the conversation. It took a second before that feeling was quickly suffocated with the feeling of shame, her hands moving from the table down into her lap hiding the fact she'd grip onto her pant legs. She rarely felt it, but envy was a really gross feeling.

[break][break]"I-i uh- I guess it was hard to stay friends when you separated, huh?"

[break][break]Maybe this wasn't a conversation to have, most people don't like talking about things that they lost. She learned that lesson first hand from her mother.

[break][break]"A-actually you don't have to talk about it. Uh--"

[break][break]What else could they talk about?" Naia was nervous, one of her hands reaching up to her neck to rub it. It was a common tick she had whenever she felt a bit overwhelmed, but soon it'd eventually make it's way to her cup where the other would join soon afterwards. She knew a topic Ashley liked.

[break][break]"H-How did you and.. uh-- Kep.. met?"


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"Yeah. We were. Turns out though, when I wanted out of Rocket, he had a problem with that. We had an... altercation, and I left. Then he tried to kill me near Dewford a year ago, I got back in Rocket, and well. We're good now."

[break][break]Even for Naia there was so much to take in. She merely thought it was a distance issue that strained a friendship but now it seemed so much more than that. If he would have told her months ago, no, hours ago, Naia too would have been shocked about the mention of Jay trying to kill him, but that seems to be the norm in Rocket.

[break][break]But seeing the shift in his demeanor and face was more than worth the conversation change.

[break][break]"God... alright, so. There I am, getting lunch with an old friend of mine. They bail on me, whatever. I catch ISAAC MERLO getting some groceries, right? Best friend, we're homies. Then all of a sudden, I see this skinny guy near him."

[break][break]While he spoke, Naia took this as an opportunity to just sit there and listen and it was also the best time for her to focus on actually drinking her shake then letting it melt on the table. It was truly a wonder, the more matter of fact kind of way he was speaking before had completely disappeared and he was far more animated; it was such a change that Naia was beginning to wonder if this is what his true colours were actually.

[break][break]"Idunno what came over me, but I want to make sushi for the duo. We go to my place, and I make food for the two, and uh-"

[break][break]Her attention was completely on him, even lingering on his bright cheeks and the nervous way he touched his face. It was such a vastly different reaction then she had ever seen, especially when it came to her mother talking about how she came to meet Naia's Father. It felt more surgical than this.. Naia's head would tilt as she tried to find the word.. fluff?

[break][break]"It's where my Scorbunny hatched. Sunny's birthday. I saw Kep's own Raboot, and figured hey, it's near Halloween, let's go trick or treat. And he comes in this cute Dr. Victor Frankenstein outfit with his Raboot as the monster. Kep and I kiss under a streetlight. Rest is history."

[break][break]There was already a lot of backstory, names being thrown about and the most confusing part to Naia was that just because they had similar Pokémon that they kissed. It wasn't like her and Ashley were going to kiss because they had different kind of Zoruas, so maybe there was something more fundamental she was missing. Maybe it was the cuteness he keeps mentioning, or the fact that she and him weren't flowers as he had described before.

[break][break]Still he seemed really happy none the less, and while Naia was trying to digest it all his voice pulled her back. Isaac was also a named that got mentioned a lot too, though since he isn't saying that he was cute she can't imagine that this was a three way relationship.

[break][break]"What about you? Any romance?"

[break][break]Instantly he'd see her furrow her brows. This was awkward, she didn't know if she should lie or not about this. It wasn't a special story, it wasn't like his escapades with Halloween costumes and-- She bit down on her straw, her face getting visibly darker before she'd let it go and take in a breath.

[break][break]"Uhm... So-Sort of.."

[break][break]She didn't want to lie to him, it was far harder to lie to someone than it was to tell the truth. But what did she say? That she talked about fake dating someone to appease her mother and his? That he was Remiel Calcifet who is practically a target for Rocket? Or-- her ears would slowly start to glow when she recalled the embarrassing way they met, her hands gripping onto the cup for any form of support.

[break][break]"I-I've been on.. a lot of dates before. My mother likes to set me up on.. blind dates with potential suitors. There is no.. uh.. It's just awkward a lot of the time.."

[break][break]She dreaded them honestly, they were always days of her getting degraded and berated by her mother, forcing her to pretend to be someone else and still having the dates turn out horrible. At some point Naia just gave up trying for them, and just found ways to subtly ruin it, well.. until--

[break][break]"W-W-Well.. I guess.. I'm engaged now, just to stop the dates.. My mother is starting to get really pushy about.. me getting married and stuff. S-She's uh.. really invested in this relationship too.. so.. uh.."

[break][break]What was she saying? Where was she going with his? Her head was spinning trying to find ways to beat around the bush and avoid certain topics. She needed to find a way to end the subject.

[break][break]"Th-There really wasn't any like.. kiss - kisses like yours I guess."

[break][break]Why did she say that?


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It was quite a spectacle if anyone were to listen in onto their conversation, the level of ignorance that both of them had towards what real, healthy parental relationships spoke more volumes than the actual topic of their conversation. And as he laced in his comments in between her words it wasn't like she was ignoring them but more she couldn't help herself in her train of thought.

[break][break]Perhaps it was the anxiety and nervousness that was keeping her brain running, but one of his comments stuck to her.

[break][break]"...I didn't realize it was that bad."

[break][break]Was this considered bad? To Naia this was her entire life, the norm her mother set out for her. It would make sense if he misunderstood her anxiety earlier as her being very uncomfortable with this whole ordeal instead of being scared her infidelity to Rocket was about to be exposed. And then came the question that would completely shut her brain off.

[break][break]"You even like them? Your fiancée, that is."

[break][break]Now it was Naia's turn to stare back at Ashley, a bit wide eyed and confused. It was almost as if gears were struggling to turn for a short moment before her eyebrows would furrow deeply. What did she think of Remiel Calcifet ? This entire time she had been placing the thoughts and opinions of other people about him above her own, and she never really considered how she felt.

[break][break]"Uhm.. W-Well.."

[break][break]Tilting her head to the side, while closing her eyes she tried her best to picture what he looked like on their date.

[break][break]"I mean.. he's attractive..."

[break][break]She'd finally open her eyes, an eyebrow raising as if she was question her own thoughts on the matter and after another second of thinking it over she'd nod. No, yeah, he was attractive.

[break][break]"I think I spent most of the date.. to nervous and scared to really think about it before, but he was really nice.. a-and accommodating. I-I mean it speaks volumes that.. he was willing to do this with me.. I highly doubt we'll get married though.."

[break][break]That last bit was Naia muttered under her voice, her face tensing up when she realized that she said it out loud.

[break][break]"Ca-can we keep it between us though..."



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