Alison’s face was one of disgust as she sat next to Howard in the stationary car on a bend in Mauville City. She had been silent for what felt like an eon, watching the half-eaten sandwich flail in his hand, small crumbs dusting her once spotless leather jeans, as he explained their mission. Her eyes flicked back and forth from the crumbs to his face, her gaze dragging up and down his complexion as her eyebrows furrowed harshly. Judgement evident on her face, his snide comment felt pale in comparison to what she was looking at.

He wanted a Rocket Beast? Join the club.

“Right,” she said, having barely listened to a word he had said. She peered over in the direction of the sandwich, the little light of the jewellery store making the rings in the window twinkle. Mm. Not a bad mission for a magpie like her. The diamonds looked enticing.

Zipping her jacket up, she fiddled with her hair and quickly reapplied her lipstick in the sun-visor mirror. Popping her lips, she then turned back to Howard.

“Three questions. One: am I allowed to keep any of the jewellery? Two: how are we getting past the guards? And three, please stop flinging that sandwich around. It looks awful and it's getting bloody everywhere!”

howard slayte

☉

With a nod, Alison leant back into her seat, satisfied with his response. At least she wouldn’t be risking her life without compensation. She might be able to get a nice pair of earrings out of this.

Feeling more or less prepared, she shifted her gaze from Howard as she desperately tried not to cringe at the sounds emanating from his direction. This truly was her worst nightmare, stuck in a car with a man who she felt probably didn't even know the last time he used hand soap. Somehow, the bodyguards waiting for them felt like child’s play compared to this.

With his last finger lick, Alison took a relieved breath.

Then he spoke again.

“That isn’t even– ?” Her voice quiet, she trailed off as she covered her mouth with her hands, disbelief and contempt painting her expression.

It’s just one mission. It’s just one mission.

She nodded at his suggestion, swallowing down a gag.

“I can do something like that. I’m not a popstar though, by the way; I don’t ”sing”. But I can perform. I can keep them distracted.”

Straining a smile, she finally turned her body towards him again.

“But I rather agree with your style. I would like killing to be a last resort, if possible.”

Desperate to get out of the crumb-filled car, she looked over at the target once more, sighing dramatically.

“Are we ready then?”

howard slayte

☉

Alison barely processes his words before he and his Claydol disappear into thin air. She pears over at the guards and with a final breathe steps outside the vehicle. As her boots click on the pavement, she throws two Poké Balls into the air, her Ninetales and Mismagius appearing.

“Okay, time for a little fun.”

Flicking her hair over her shoulder, she waltzes into the jewellers, trying her best not to get distracted as the jewellery glints and flickers in the corners of her vision. Stopping just inside the door with crossed arms, she clears her throat, interrupting the guards' conversation.

“Hey boys, sorry to intrude. I was wondering if you’d be able to help me – I was looking for a necklace that’ll look great in a performance I’m in, and it's proving difficult. Let me show you what I mean –“

Before they can respond, she whistles softly, and, with a flick of their tails, her Ninetales performs WILL-O-WISP, several purple orbs of fire dancing across the room above their heads. Her Mismagius then releases CONFUSE RAY, flashing lights emanating from their body and swirling around the orbs, creating little sparks that dim the lights and create tiny firework-like bursts across the ceiling. The jewels flicker and dance against the new light sources, Alison shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly as she watches their expressions.

“As you can see, the lighting becomes so dark, and I need something that’ll really sparkle. Any ideas?”

howard slayte

☉