Jessie could taste blood in her mouth, running down her face and her throat as she gagged and coughed on the ground. Her head was dizzy, the world spinning around her as she tried to sit up. She felt nausea growing in her stomach, her throat-

Until she vomited on the ring.

There was a round of cheers, of hurling and gagging from the sight of her getting sick and pummeled in front of the audience. She caught her breath, trying to push herself as she was kicked in the ribs.

"Little slut. Stay down, you bitch!"

The words swayed in and out of her ears as she looked up, the lights blurring. Fuck... Jessie felt like she was floating, like everything was growing lighter and heavier at the same time. She had to get up... she had to-

But she didn't.

THEO BECKETT

☉

Jessie couldn't help herself as she sniffed and cried, hands trembling while she packed. She grabbed things that she knew were important, the amount of clothes she might need for both Kai and herself. There were definitely several bags, because a baby's things were numerous.

"I have formula. I can't breastfeed."

She stumbled into the kitchen, scrounging through the cabinets to get her containers. She grabbed the bottles in the fridge, storing them in the bags quickly as she heard a pounding on the door.

"Shit. Nina," Jessie said, nausea rising to her throat as she tucked Kai into a baby carrier on her chest.

"We need to go out the escape, unless that's one of our own."

nina larson

☉

"I feel like you would have almost no time for yourself as well, right? You'd battle all day and then would come home to rest. And when you weren't doing gym stuff, I imagine the League had you busy doing things for them too, huh?"

It wasn't accusatory. It was curiosity that tinted her words as Jessie slid her cookies into the oven. They were set to cook for several minutes, while they chatted.

Meanwhile, she allowed Finn to like the spoon she had worked with, since he hadn't caused too much trouble.

"Maybe people also just like the feeling of collecting things. Or feeling worthy. It just doesn't do it for me."

Jessie chuckled, shrugging. Her cookies cooked, and they came out perfectly. Cute little Pokemon shaped cookies, cooling off on a rack. She hummed happily, looking over at Derek.

"Do you want some for yourself? There should be plenty for the sale."

DEREK HOFFMAN

☉

When a proposition for a mission came to Jessica by this new admin, Elisabeth Fiorelli, she was going to turn it down. That was, until she was given the details. See, Jessie was keen on not doing much Rocket work at the moment.

With getting her ass kicked by both jayden cross and THEO BECKETT and undergoing investigations of her own with the gang, she was busy. Not to mention she was also juggling getting income to take care of Kai. Everyone wanted her attention, and she had no desire to give it anymore.

But when she heard that there was a potential lead on the case of her husband's death... she accepted.

Walking alongside Elisabeth in a black dress that hugged her in all the right places and showed all the right spots, she looked over at her with an almost blank expression.

"I know my way around a club. And I know the type of people who come. If he's just like that, he'll be an easy target," Jessie explained simply, opening her mirror to fix her hair a bit before snapping it closed.

There it was. The pity, the sadness. She sighed, closing her eyes before shrugging almost helplessly.

"I don't know. Just... if things start going south... take over. I can't guarantee I can control myself."

Elisabeth Fiorelli

☉

Jessie looked at her father, something in her chest tightening. Like it was threatening to strangle her from the inside out. She could see it, all the effort he went through to try and make them strong.

But...

"Sometimes we just want a dad that holds us and tells us it'll be okay. That is what we need too," she said weakly, wiping away her tears.

Begging for her father to hold her tightly in the embrace he would give her as a child. Run his hands through her hair and tell her that it was all going to be okay, just like when she had a nightmare.

Jessie watched as Gabriel took her son from where he lay, still asleep and only twitching as he settled in his grandfather's arms. He was so small, so innocent. She wanted to protect him from the dangers of the world.

She just wished Niko was there to help her.

"Okay..."

GABRIEL BLACK

☉

"He's dead, and you need to leave in case..."

"What? In case they want me dead too?"

Jessie laughed bitterly, cradling Kai over her shoulder with a pacifier in his gummy mouth as she looked at Nina.

"They can take me... that's fine. Niko wouldn't be alone. I would have him again. I won't be so..."

Her mind cleared for a moment, through the bitterness and grief. Kai. What would her baby do without her? Of course, he'd be raised well with the gang members. But he'd already lost his father, the one who had found him.

How could she take away his adoptive mother?

Jessie sighed, hitching a breath as she cried before wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry. I just..."

Without completing the sentence, she went to grab a bag, grabbing her belongings with the aid of Finn and a few other Pokemon. Her CHINGLING danced beside her, keeping Kai calm and entertained as her AROMATISSE released calming scents for the baby.

And Jessie.

nina larson

☉

"I do, for better or for worse. I've met good people and bad people in the clubs. Some of the nicest people will frequent there just for company. But the sleaziest will show up there too."

But she could handle her own with a disgusting person. It wasn't like she hadn't kicked a man in the balls for trying to harass her or one of the other girls.

Jessie worked with the eggs, the oil, the milk, all of the ingredients as Derek engaged in conversation, measuring them to precision and stirring them diligently with the woodenly spoon. While she didn't make eye contact, she listened intently while swatting at Finn's reaching paw.

"A gym leader? That seems like consuming work. I'd imagine you had a lot of people trying to come and challenge you. That's at least the image I gathered, from what I saw on TV," she said with a small giggle.

She spread a piece of baking paper out on the pan, beginning to form small circles of dough out.

"You know, when I was younger, I would have done that. Fought competitively for gym badges. I wanted to be a strong trainer, like my dad. But since I've come to Hoenn, and gotten older..."

Jessie trailed off, pausing for a moment in her actions as she thought.

"I don't know. It doesn't really appeal to me, you know? I've considered maybe doing it in case I need to protect myself... but not really anything else..."

DEREK HOFFMAN

☉

It seemed that some of the obstruction was crumbling away. But there wasn't an opening quite yet. Jessie looked at Killian, who seemed to frown as he ordered his VIKAVOLT to attack another piece of the wall.

She continued to play as ordered, though her hands slowly grew more and more tired. But she didn't know what would happen should she stop.

Bringing forth her water-types, Marsh the VAPOREON and her LAPRAS, she gave them the orders.

"MUDDY WATER, Marsh. LAPRAS, use HYDRO PUMP."

Their attacks were sent to the wall, to hopefully cause more to crumble and fall.

---

- vaporeon used MUDDY WATER (+90)
- lapras used HYDRO PUMP (+110)
- 180 power to the water tile

Killian Decker

☉

A bat was handed over. It dragged Jessie's arm down for a moment before she realized that it was heavier than it looked, adjusting her grip and holding it with a stronger grip. A thought creeped into her head.

"I don't like where this is going."

And she sure as hell was going to beat the every living shit out of Jayden if he was going to hurt her in the process, whether or not he was of hiring rank than her. She had a baby to take care of, and if she got mutilated, she was going to raise hell.

"Fine," she said, taking the bat and dragging it behind her as she took her stance on the opposite side of the field.

"Whenever you make the call."

jayden cross

☉

Jessie loved the confidence. Her smile broadened to a grin as Nina followed her moves, watching carefully as she mimicked her with the best ability.

And she had to admit, Nina was a natural at this.

"Do what you feel is right with them. Give the audience a tease, or just run them over yourself. It drives people wild. They want to touch you, but they can't unless you let them. The more you tease, the better you captivate, I've seen," she said with a giggle.

She grinned, watching as Nina dipped down as well. Her hands clapped together as she whistled.

"Yes ma'am. Give me more!"

Nina's TOGEPI seemed to agree. Jessie rose, watching with a pleased look.

"You're already so good at this! You just go with the flow. Let the music lead your hands, your hips, everything. Entice the audience. Make them drool, baby!"

nina larson

☉

Something akin to frustration flashed in Jessica's eyes as she gazed back at her father. She threw her arms up for a moment, running them through dyed pink hair, as she spoke back in a rather aggressive tone.

"How do I know what to do? I've never raised a child before. Kai was supposed to have a happy life with a father and a mother. Now, he will never meet his father again. His father is dead. I will have to tell him one day about Niko's death and watching him die in front of me. How can you say I know what to do, Gabriel?"

After a moment of frustration and pure grief, Jessie calmed herself, slouching back against the couch as she rested her hand against her forehead. It ached, probably from dehydration and constant tears. With a sigh and glance at her adoptive son, she spoke again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I just feel lost. I never felt so... in love with someone before. And now he's gone. And I want the best of Kai. I don't know how you think, Dad, but... I feel like you push us too hard sometimes."

GABRIEL BLACK

☉

Jessie let out a loud grunt when her back hit the ground, an aching sensation running through her body as she rolled to the side. She got up, as quickly as she could while protecting her weak points.

However, within a matter of moments, the woman's leg was sent to her stomach, knocking air up and out of her body.

She bent over, left gasping and heaving as she tried to breathe again. Nothing would go in, and she felt like she was going to die. Until finally she could heave a breath in as her hair was yanked back.

Jessie threw a fist to her opponent's face, just barely making contact. But it didn't do much as her own face was met with a much harder punch.

THEO BECKETT

☉