there were a few that could, right? at least a little? but if all of them could… it’d certainly be something.

”my togepi would say that i’m great.” because she treated it like a baby, really. unless it didn’t like being treated like that—but it did seem to.

she sipped.

”what do you think your ditto would say?”

NIKO MANNER

nina looked over as someone joined her at the table. though she didn’t notice her celebrity, the feathers and expensive adornments caught her eye immediately.

she was quite the diva herself. from stacked eyelashes and designer cloth, she looked up with an impeccable glam rivaled by few—but perhaps this woman, who looked more than a bit ripe for the robbing.

with a small, pearly smirk, she welcomed, ”has been for me. good luck,”

the cards were dealt, and long, shiny fingernails tapped on the felt lightly.

the first hand would be won by amber, and nina looked over again. ”nice start.”

Amber Lenoir

grand cove casino was sprawling and luxurious from every angle, inside and out. extravagant decor, everything far too big and overstated, sparkling and gaudy. expensive stone paved the way to a slim chance at a fortune for the average hoennian.

but for some, like nina, that chance was substantially higher.

cheaters. hustlers. masterminds of heist. occasionally, the good-enough made it under the noses of sniffing pit bosses, and were able to carve into into sought-after urban goldmines.

nina was still small-time, but she was teetering at the edge of something greater. with rocket’s push and direction, her sights were set higher all the time.

today, she was working with a new dealer, employed by rocket to rig the games in her favor. sitting in front of them at a blackjack table, clad in a flashy little platinum number, she gestured, winning yet another hand.

”lucky, lucky,” she chirped. 'prii!' trilled a togepi in her lap, waving its tiny arms excitedly.

Amber Lenoir / MISSION

biggo. kind of cute. it contrasted somehow to the violent deed from earlier.

”probably,” she agreed, smiling lightly. a leg crossed, the ice in her glass knocking around. ”it would be pretty scary if ditto could talk.”

NIKO MANNER

she smiled some. as silly as the names were, it showed that he was fond of the pokémon. a soft spot.

”wow.”

he looked vaguely like a gogoat, fishing blindly for his straw with his tongue. she stared, and sipped her drink.

”is it your favorite?”

NIKO MANNER

ghosts were not her favorite, but they did hold her curiosity. still, she shivered at the thought.

”egh. no—i bet.”

her head fell to the side a little as she held her drink in both hands, watching him.

”you call your ditto ‘pink shit’?”

NIKO MANNER

it was always fun to see someone defy expectations. like GABRIEL BLACK , kneading pizza dough in an apron in his kitchen.

the frequency of her sips from the crimson concoction in her glass were increasing, and she turned towards him more an inch or two, warming up a little maybe.

teeth finally flashed in her smile. ”really?”

her straw spun idly in her drink. ”you like ghost-types then?”

NIKO MANNER

soon enough, the bartender was replacing their glasses with another round.

”gastlybusters?” she chewed lightly on the straw of her new drink. ”that’s cute.”

it was a movie she considered more for kids, or old people. like the kind niko punched in the face.

”and you still watch it?”

NIKO MANNER

she hadn’t ever given it much thought before.

"mm… a magikarp named ronda, the typically accused…. reservoir yampers.”

after looking at him a moment longer, she shifted to put her elbows on the bar, gazing down it in search of another drink.

"what are yours?”

NIKO MANNER

the trace of a smile drew across her mouth at his continuing interest, surprised by it. it only curled more at his whispered confession.

"really?”

for a moment, she held back.

”i like... crime dramas,” which she figured was silly, ”and thrillers, action…”

NIKO MANNER

on the surface, she was unaffected by his closeness.

”yup.” she took another sip, nearly draining the glass and setting it back down.

the many lives of nina that she’d shared had been carefully constructed by someone else. so, the mediocre truth tasted odd, and it came out slow.

”i... watch movies a lot.” and sleep. and she’d been trying out books finally, but the skill level was frustratingly low.

NIKO MANNER