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There were many lessons Naia had learned over her numerous missions, the first, clothing is actually more important than she thought it would ever be. The amount of clothes and money she wasted because she had to throw away and rebuy them due of the damages and stains would cause the average person to faint. That was inevitable, but what isn't is the practicality, she had to look somewhat causal to blend into society, but not too casual so she didn't have the same issue with her and Hitoshi.

[break][break]It was after all that stress and over thinking that she just decided to wear her typical clothes she'd wear on a day to day basis. The only exception is that she'd make sure to custom order some easy click buttons along the side of her skirts, and wear some biker shorts underneath it. To some it may seem indecent but Naia didn't really care as long as she could move in them easily without having to rip it.

[break][break]Then the second, never expect who you're working with to be sane. Dorian had really set the bar for how people of Rocket were like and despite his cool and calm behavior at the beginning, he was incredibly blood thirsty and violent. It didn't mean to discredit some of the nicer members she had met, but perhaps they were supposed to be the far in between rather than the norm.

[break][break]"Hey, you made it, Naia, right? I'm Zev. Pleased to meet you."

[break][break]It was why it came as a pleasant surprise to see another Rocket colleague greet her with with such a friendly smile, it easing her anxiety enough that she'd even offer her own tight lipped smile. Unless she had her business mindset, prolonged eye contact always made her uncomfortable, so while she was finding something else to focus on her gaze landed on his drink. Thank god this time she didn't decided to buy a coffee for him.. That's be another awkward scenario..

[break][break]"A- Yes, It's a pleasure to-- meet you.."

[break][break]The cadence in her speech was interrupted when she offered a hand up to shake his own. It was something that was so second nature of her when seeing people in suits that it threw her off and without so much as a drink in her hand, Naia had to resort to squeezing the strap on her purse to alleviate the nervous energy building up. Not wanting to leave behind any awkward silence afterwards Naia would pick up with a bit of an apprehensive tone, worried he may find it annoying.

[break][break]"I.. I've haven't been here much. ..Outside of our condo. Do you come here often?"


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"I live here,"

[break][break]It wasn't the shortness of his responses, or the tone of his voice that brought about another feeling of uncertainty, but rather the skepticism. While Naia knew she wasn't a savant when it came to reading people, but from how intimately she grew up with it this was one of the few she knew she could pick out nine times out of ten.

[break][break]"Are you going to be fine meeting our client today?"

[break][break]Naia was starting to get a hang of using these roleplay situations and codes for everything, and ironically dealing with clients was something she was just used to in her day to day work. And weirdly enough this mission was starting to feel like she was talking more to her mother than a Beast.

[break][break]"I've.. dealt with clients like this before," This was technically her third mission taking on something like this, but she still believed she had so much more to learn, and he was probably the best person for it. "Though.. I hope to learn more from you." Even though she spoke in a slower cadence, it was more to be cautious of what she said rather than being currently nervous.

[break][break]"Oh, I.. uh, did bring some extra pens and stuff, if that's.. okay with you..?"

[break][break]She was doing her best to come up with the topic, pulling on the strap of her purse while she spoke to gesture where she was hiding her stuff. It probably wasn't noticeable to him but at least to her she could really feel the extra weight both from her firearm and the extra medical supplies stuffed instead. Another reminder that her parents were still working her to the bone by making her their arran dog even into the night.


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"That's fine with me. The better equipped we are, the better off we'll be at the meeting,"

[break][break]There was a noticeable shift, a little mix of relief as well as content showed on Naia's face as she smiled a bit. While she wasn't amazing at using a firearm, she at least knew how to hit someone, something that really only will get better with more practice and on field training rather than aiming at a still piece of paper.

[break][break]"Our client lives just down this side street in the apartment on the corner."

[break][break]Naia would follow where he was pointing at, a small hint of a sigh leaving her lips as she was washed over with a tiny sense of relief. Thank god it wasn't the same place as before, if they kept going to same building it was going to be really hard to explain why someone with her specific appearance keeps showing up and people disappearing.

[break][break]Then again, maybe she can just pay off the security.

[break][break]Strangely enough she never really show up to this side of town unless it was approaching night, be it because she was rushed over for emergency operations, or she did some shady meetings. There was an odd sense of curiosity to see what this side of town looked like when it was more populated, or better yet, more awake. Maybe she should visit in a few days.

[break][break]"So, Naia, how long have you been working with our company?"

[break][break]She had been in her own world for a bit, looking out at the streets when his voice reeled her back in. Her brows furrowing slightly as she racked how on earth she was supposed to answer this in code.

[break][break]"I.. have always been.. a huge supporter for as long as I remember. My mother is an investor, after all. So, it was.. a turn of good fortune when I.. was hired a few months ago."

[break][break]Security cameras never bothered Naia, in a weird way it had just been apart of her norm, she had learned to just ignore their existence just like how people barely pay attention to what colour of brick buildings had.

[break][break]"How about you?"

[break][break]As she asked she remember how other people have felt, and looked a little bit concerned as she gave into her curiosity.

[break][break]"How have.. you enjoyed working here?"


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"Oh, it's been about ten years now, give or take,"

[break][break]Naia eyes would widen a bit before she'd look away, she didn't want to seem rude but she was honestly taken back for how long that was. It either meant he was way older than he looked or he joined when he was really young, either way were both shocking in itself. Though rather than surprise, it brought Naia to thought about his next response. So far she had heard of people discontent or tired from Rocket, but never really described it as enjoyable-- well Dorian kind have before.

[break][break]Was he more like a Dorian?

[break][break]With that ding Naia followed in suit into the elevator, her eyes instantly drawing where most cameras would be located, only to find that there wasn't any. Then again it didn't seem like this building was putting a lot of their funds into security in the first place, once those doors closed once more did Naia instantly noticed the shift in his demeanor. Such a quick and precise change she didn't know she should be impressed or disturbed by it, but that wouldn't have been on the fore front of her thoughts as much as his next words were.

[break][break]"The target is known to prefer Fairy-type Pokémon, so we need to eliminate them first before they can charm, heal, or otherwise protect their owner,"

[break][break]Fairy? She had been moving while he spoke, specifically she wanted to check to see if her gun was ready to be pulled out at any moment, but just as she heard that word her hand froze mid way through her bag. She was primarily a dark user and sure she did have some psychic Pokémon but they were mainly supportive rather than offensive. How on earth was she supposed to bring that up now?

[break][break]Now her attention wasn't on checking the gun but instead sorting out where Jude was, the small clicks of Pokémon balls bumping into each other before she'd pull one out and let her Espurr out. Once he was out Naia would swoop down and pick him up, a tiny yet monotone of a 'purr' left him, as she'd look back at Zev.

[break][break]"Any last questions for me?"

[break][break]She had a lot, but could all of them really be answered in a short time or were really considered that important. Her eyes would shift away from his face to give a quick uneasy glance over at his Ariados, something about having a predator up on the ceiling just seemed to rub her the wrong way.

[break][break]"What do.. Or what makes you a beast? I don't.. really know anything about them."


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"Some say it's our lethality, but they're wrong. Anyone can kill another person. What sets a Beast apart is the ability to lead and command."

[break][break]She understood that her question was a loaded one, however the shorter and sweeter response was far more appreciated than any sort of speech. It made it far easier to tell that this was less of a physiological change, less of a power scale and far more to do with capabilities and accomplishments. And that without a fact, while this wasn't a goal Naia had in mind, it would be something she probably could never reach.

[break][break]Ding.

[break][break]"Thank you.."

[break][break]The slight hesitation in her voice wasn't because she didn't want to be seen talking to him on the cameras, or that she forced a thank you out of curtsy but instead due to her awe in how easily he seemed to be shift. Naia barely was able to force herself into having a genuine smile even when she was happy yet he seemed to have such a natural control. It was a bit unsettling but it was fascinating too.

[break][break]She purposefully kept her eyes away from the ceiling, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention to his Pokémon as she'd follow him in tow. When he knocked upon the knock and put on his, what Naia has now dubbed as his customer face, she couldn't help put attempt a smile herself. A hand raising up to touch the corners of her mouth to feel if she was doing it right, but even then she could feel the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.

[break][break]It was when the door open did her smile dropped, while in the moment she hopped that it wasn't noticeable but soon Naia would come to realize that it wouldn't matter.

[break][break]"Sorry to interrupt your day, ma'am, but we're with—"

[break][break]"No solicitors."

[break][break]Naia had went from a slight furrow of her brows in frustration to a more neutral expression out of shock. Because she had been avoiding looking at his Pokémon she didn't realize how close it had gotten to the woman, or more specially how it entered into her home. Adrenaline and anxiety begun to settle in even when her superiors had clasped his hand over her mouth, Naia's hand stealthily reaching for her purse as he'd push her further into the apartment.

[break][break]Since he was preoccupied Naia would simply let herself in as well, making sure to lightly close the behind him as if two friends were visiting and with a click she'd lock the door. Letting her Espurr drop down to the ground Naia first and foremost wanted to get rid of any potential obstacles, going through a mental check list of things to keep track of. Did they have their Pokéballs on them? Was there a Pokémon already out? Did she have a clear shot? And most importantly--

[break][break]A chair moved in another room, it wasn't like something knocked it over but it had some weight to it and if that wasn't convincing enough a gruff voice with a hint of concern echoed from the other room.

[break][break]"Yo Vanessa, what was that about?"

[break][break]Was there supposed to be a second person? Was this a deserter? A friend? A partner? More importantly did it really matter? Naia quickly threw a glance over at Zev, her insecurities showing for a second before she'd take in a deep breath and reached into her purse, taking out her firearm. Was this any different from her other missions at this point, at least it wasn't three or 20 people, one or the possibility or two was fine.

[break][break]"Light Screen."

[break][break]She'd speak quietly giving a nod towards Zev's Ariados to dirrect her pokemon as she'd take a second to pull her skirt open and press against the wall. The little Espurr wasting no time to throw it's little paws up and manifest what looked to be thin layers of psychic energy on his Pokémon. At least then if a fairy Pokémon could come out of the wood works then he'd at least have some extra protection while Naia on the other hand just waited for the sign of someone stepping through the door way.

[break][break]She already had her eyes glued and gun aimed at around where she thought their leg would be, so that the moment someone had stepped over the threshold all she needed to do was slightly adjust and shot a couple times at their knee. Maybe a more confident shooter could do it in one hit but she didn't want to leave any room for error and worse case she could miss and instead still get some good damage on some important arteries or damage bones/muscles in their leg in general.


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Naia was nervous as her hands would clench her gun with both hands, the fear that was encroaching on her mind wasn't the idea of taking someone's life, but the fear of messing up. She at this point have gotten uncomfortably close to thought of holding the weight of someone's life in her hands, a gun was a far more violent way of cutting someone open than the preciseness of a scalpel. And in all honesty it was a matter of tweaking your motivations, at least now Naia knows what she should break to do the most.

[break][break]As the creaking of the other man's footsteps approached Naia would see movement from the corner of her eye. It was the vague semblance of a large black mass moving about the living room silently, and as it approached her assumptions were proven correct that it was just Zev. In the moment he saddled up to the side of the wall, did Naia see the a figure stepping past the threshold into the living room.

[break][break]He was taller than expected, and in a split second she needed to adjust the height of her gun for his knee. With a muffled pop from her gun she found she shot just a little higher than she expected, but seeing how far he managed to step through and the blood starting to pool through his jeans she knew she at least hit his femoral artery, or graze it at least.

[break][break]"5 minutes."

[break][break]She'd mutter under her breath, it was on average how how long it will take a person to bleed out if they had punctured that artery, and as soon as he had registered he had been shot Naia would make sure to load in a couple more for safe measure. Far too scared to aim any higher and accidently shoot Zev if the man moved out of the way, Naia would keep her shoots lower focusing on taking out his knee. At least then she can somewhat incapacitate him.


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Everything happened in a flash, barely a moment after she had finished shooting did she hear two others followed by his body collapsing onto the floor. Before she could even register the discomforting rush of adrenaline trying to settle itself back down did Zev address her.

[break][break]"Incapacitate."

[break][break]She was still in her work mode mindset, quick short answers were the norm whenever she needed to communicate with her father during operations, however as the adrenaline settled and she could slowly real herself back in, so did her insecurities.

[break][break]Was her decision the wrong one?

[break][break]Instantly she felt like she did something wrong, no, deep down she knew you should go for the kill every time. All of this was a matter of life and death, Dorian, and Ashley taught her that. Swirling anxiety fed by the diminishing adrenaline, fed the nagging voice in the back of her head to explain herself.

[break][break]"I wasn't- uh, confident in my shot."

[break][break]But even though it was the truth to Naia, it just felt like excuses now.

[break][break]"I'm sorry.. I'll do better."


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