if looks could kill. parker drops the hand and makes a face, but it still doesn't have the venom of nina's. and that, after a beat, makes her grin again. i think i like this one. she doesn't press the matter any further, just gestures grandiosely for nina to step inside. 

parker follows after her and unrolls the cash, counting it quickly. surprise lights her up and she thinks, yeah, definitely like this one. nina's gonna be more than cut out for the scheme she's cooked up. 

no, this isn't some place that hardened criminals happen to skulk around. y'know, 'cept this one. the shop has a tiny storefront; it's brimming with glass containers, little baggies with scoops by the side. the owner isn't behind the service counter when they walk in, but a sleepy chimecho by the register gives a little waggle of her head.

an older man pops a head out from the back and grins when he sees parker. the bruiser, meanwhile, is filling up a small baggy with some sweettarts and jolly ranchers.

"sal, meet nina. she's gonna help me steal that engine i told y'bout," she says nonchalantly and winks at nina. 

"ohhh, well. it's a pleasure, miss nina. i'm still moving some boxes out of the way, so you girls take your time." 

he disappears back behind the counter and parker pops a blue raspberry in her mouth. "sweet guy. you'll like 'im, i think. c'mon." she flips the sign out front to closed and snicks the lock, turns her head to the 'employees only' room.

nina larson

☉

oh, perfect. roger's a cheapskate and someone she's had to knock down doors to get to on a few occasions. winning the pot would be big for him and rather than invest in some good parts, he's looking for a quick grab from a babe he's assuming doesn't know her shit. 

idiot. but that's why they do what they do - at the end of the day, it's real damn easy to take advantage of men and their stupidity. 

parker opens the door to the sweet shop, about to politely let nina walk in before her, but then she snickers and shoots a hand out to bar the doorframe. "look, cupcake. you wanna do this? be partners? there's gotta be an ounce of respect here. so enough with this 'grease' shit 'fore i shove that silver fuckin' spoon that's in your mouth down your throat."

besides, she's not that bad. she showers. every few days. (shit, maybe KING WAYLAND 's right?)

nina larson

☉

nina sputters behind her, but parker's already walking away, grinning wolfishly. there's a chance she fails, but the loss ain't that bad, and 'sides, parker needs to know what she's made of. if she can be put on the spot, turned on a dime. and she really does need to get some shit done - a lot more than she can do herself. 

she has to grease quite a few palms to get the information she wants. the engine's under lock and key, of course, and it ain't gonna be easy to get it. and now pink-haired parker, slateport's six, is asking after it. every word that passes paints a bigger target on her back.

that part she knows. 

heard their mechanic's sick. cuttin' it real close to the wire. 

got some guards posted up by the warehouse on third.

ain't these the same guys who lost a few to the champ a couple weeks back? 

no sweeter revenge than winning. 'course, parker thinks it's childish, comparing dick sizes like that. if they really wanted to get even, they'd off the champ themselves. 

but what if it's her? it's not. 

she exhales, almost growling with annoyance, and rounds the corner of the candy shop. that scowl breaks when she sees nina looking mighty pleased with herself. parker leans to the side and looks over nina's shoulder, really smiling when she sees how empty it is. 

"you get a look at who ya sold it to by any chance?"

nina larson

☉

is she? am i? she searches for answers in the chaotic silence that ensues. 'cause the rest of the world is going to shit around them, but they're far removed, in a pocket in the corner of the universe. and parker thinks why can't they just stay here? why can't she just rip her away and pretend like what happens here doesn't happen out there?

it doesn't have to mean anything. 

that's what she wants. that's what she sees in those beautiful fucking eyes of hers. skyler's built herself a cage and wide as she may make it, it's a cage all the same. sometimes it's just knowing you ain't free. 

but what does parker know? 

nothing but what her gut tells her. why can't she just take what she wants? her lips curl and she wants to - fuck, she wants to, but then skyler's dancing away from her. running away from her. 

tempting her, taunting her. and like a fool, parker will play this game.

with their kinetic bubble dispersed, the crowd surges around them. parker glimpses that wild mane of hair through the throng of undulating bodies. she has to claw her way through them, shoving bodies, just so she can launch her full weight into skyler - shoulder at her stomach, arms around her sides. 

"hail the fuckin' ocean queen," she spits. 

skyler dross

☉

i like how that sounds. do you really, dee, or are you just playing the part? either way, parker doesn't mind. these nights tend to turn into her self care nights, whether with herself or another woman that's looking for a one night stand. always plain, those girls, but most of them are compared to davina. 

parker stiffens, surprised, but smooths it over by taking another sip from her drink. fuck, fuck, fuck. she reaches down, snatches davina's wrist. holds her there. this is business. and fuck if davina's distractions aren't making it hard to concentrate. 

"would he take it out on you or the other girls?" if she beats his sorry ass from this way to the highway. "you know i can't go back to 'em without him payin' full."

@davina

☉

that a joke? she's a street rat, been fighting for her pitiful fucking life since her mom popped out the two little kids she called her regrets in some rundown hospital west of slateport. from street rat to urchin to pocket pincher to bruiser. what a career path, that. 

but she's not stupid. she knows about rocket's history with kanto. knows it's probably not some fantasy world where everyone sings kumbaya and goes to sleep with both eyes closed. 

she gives him a funny look. "no," she says. "it still as fucked as it was when ya left it?"

jayden cross

☉

and this is why davina is her favorite. 'cause at the end of the day, even parker can convince herself davina's putting her little act on just for her. she's just that damn convincing. and it's fun, really, the way her own breath hitches, gaze dropping, knowing full well she cannot. touch. 

their flirtations exist only within the confines of the establishment. she gets special treatment 'cause it's part of the job. keep her happy and gideon can keep doing whatever fuck shit he wants to keep doing. the wolves that threaten his business, or the women in it, get a little extra protection and everyone stays happy. 

'cept, of course, when he skims off their cut. 

"mm, you could run this place, y'know," she says and finally takes a sip. it's a little sweet. and davina's being extra sweet on her too. she looks past her, at the envelope. 

fuck. 

parker licks her lips, sets the drink down, and tilts her head. pink hair falls over her eyes and she comes near cheek to cheek, warm breath spilling over davina's ear. "'course i would, dee. no one's allowed to touch my girl. less, o' course, that's what she wants."

she leans back, winks, and takes another sip before setting it down. her palm rests against the table, fingers tapping on the table. she gestures with her chin to the envelope. "how short?"

@davina

☉

how ya been? the question goes unanswered for a few uncomfortable seconds. parker raises a brow, but he doesn't even see that. so she takes another swig and waits for him to come back from wherever the hell he is. it's interesting, really. 'cause now that the job's done, she's willing to forget. but is he thinking about it? about breaking bax's fingers? about the shit they do to get by?

"heard some things, yeah. can't believe ya left without saying goodbye." she snorts. she's not actually hurt. they've known each other a while, but have they ever been close? 

does jayden know how to get close to someone? does she?

she takes another swig and belches into her hand. "you miss all the boogie monsters here? bet kanto's like a fuckin' paradise compared to this shit."

jayden cross

☉

the venom in her words could kill a man, but it only makes parker laugh. she's cute when she's annoyed. and the indignation bodes well for what parker's gonna need her to do in the future. 

they walk away from the garage and cross a few alleys, eventually coming to a flea market. second-rate homemade pokeballs, trinkets and baubles of varying degrees of craftsmanship, and black market goods hidden among the array - the perfect place to pawn off this garbage. 

"that bag i gave ya? sell the parts off. wave 'em around, work up how shiny they are. don't take less 'an two hundred for the lot. meet ya at the candy stand in thirty, sweetheart."

and with that, she's off to make her own trouble.

nina larson

☉

most of the establishment's patrons are men, which is by no means surprising. parker kicks back in her chair, watching men make their moves and vie for a little something special amidst all the attention they're getting. it's funny, watching them fall in love with these women, watching them think that these acts are more than that. she can see the fantasies on their faces, on the flush in their cheeks, the bulge in - 

parker makes a face and snubs her nose, gaze wandering about the place in search of davina. she spies the fox over by the bar, crooked smile lilting her lips. she's wearing the tights parker likes. 

when she slides onto the bench, parker raises an arm and rests it behind her. not touching her, 'course, just letting her know it's there. 

"mm, gideon tuck his tail and run again?" she says, reaching with her other for the drink. "or there someone else here you need me to rough up for ya?" 

@davina

☉

closer to lilycove. an ocean away. skyler saunters closer to her as she tells her this and parker bares her teeth, looking at her like an animal. she's not as liquored up as the other woman - not by a mile - but there's something hypnotic about the madness around them. heart thrumming under her skin, crawling all over her body. 

she doesn't say the question that bleeds over that mercury gaze. is it anger? is it sadness? is it regret? none of them should skyler feel, should parker want her to feel. 'cause she's been chasing her thoughts for days now, telling herself shit's just shit and parker just wants trouble. 

or just someone who can punch harder than she can. 

the sea witch drew a fuckin' line in the sand and parker made a promise, but when skyler steps close and someone stumbles into parker from behind, her arms come out, fingers tight on the sides of skyler's arms. 

eyes narrow, lips parted, teeth coming down on soon after, biting, a breathy hiss snaking out of her. salt tickles her nose and her brows furrow.

"you're jus' like me, y'know," she says lowly, voice rough. 

skyler dross

☉

this is by far, one of parker's more pleasurable stops. the job doesn't come with many perks. most illegal activity doesn't. paid time off? she wouldn't even know what to do with it. and besides, she'd rather not pass off the monthly pickup from davina to some fucking moron or worse. 

and she's sweet on her, alright? 

the other hostesses get just a little on edge when she walks in. she's an intimidating presence herself and her rap sheet doesn't lend many to giving her friendly smiles. 'sides, it's always stressful when someone comes a-knockin' for money. for any reason. 

davina's different though. spitfire woman who'll put parker in her damn place. keep her waiting (not too long, of course). 

the other girls know not to bother her, so she takes her regular spot and settles in. 

@davina

☉