[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


At this point Jude hasn't left the bucket, instead the espurr choose to watch the scene unfold and then focused in all his attention on Isaac after he caught Naia. It's tiny little body eventually pulled itself up from his comfortable sit and took a step back, there it waited. One second then two. After it had come to some sort of decision or silent argument did the small fluff launch itself forward, knocking both it and the bucket over to ascertain it's freedom.

[break][break]He didn't need to move quickly since he know his owner wasn't in any sort of imminent thread, but the noise attracted the attention of Zweilous as they'd make their way over to the commotion. Heavy foot steps spelt the doom of Jude as he'd roll over and comedically place his hands upon his chest, it's eyes staring blankly up at the ceiling. Though a savor in the form of jerky arrived just in time!

[break][break]Even if in reality nothing would have happened otherwise

[break][break]The two heads of Zwei were far more interested in the smell of food, and despite the generosity of him splitting it into two portions; if Isaac didn't take his hand quick enough his fingers would have become a part of their vicious tussle. One head swooped down to try and bite at the other's food, resulting in a far more aggressive and howl of a growl far more primal than when they were dealing with Naia. For this fight they didn't just solely relied on their jaws but invited the use of their claws, rolling and viciously attacking till both pieces were eventually consumed.

[break][break]In a stark contrast Jude stayed silent on the ground, his undying gaze peering back to Isaac. It was just as he had finished sitting down did Jude lift it's little paws into the air, in a plea to be picked up from the ground. It's tiny paws opening and closing as it waited.


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


Naia showed up way too early, her eyes peered over at an over hanging clock to see she was nearly an entire hour early for her meeting. This was completely uncharacteristic of her, she was normally the person who was just scrapping by to be on time, but here she was sitting down on a local bench near their agreed meet up would be.

[break][break]It was perhaps because she wasn't staying home today, Naia Kayode had her own mission after her Rocket one which was to seek out some of the real estate and potentially get themselves another building. with how chaotic and destructive the world has been, finding yourself a back up may not be a bad idea, plus the environment here suited her mother's taste more than their current home. It was for this reason why her Father couldn't drag Naia into being his assistant and her mother didn't bother to end her any assailments.

[break][break]She was practically on a second Vacation, and this one didn't need to have the bloodshed of several people to make it happen.

[break][break]Casually dressed in a high-rise, black pencil skirt and white sleeveless white turtle neck, Naia was fairly comfortable in her typical business casual. She didn't feel the need to be completely in disguise yet, in fact she felt that if she was wearing around a mask in public then it would look pretty weird to any pedestrian passing by. Probably to them Naia looked like like someone waiting for a date, a coffee in hand while a tray holding both a second coffee and a paper bag sat precariously on top of her tote bag.

[break][break]The plan was most likely to get their papers, then get changed. With that thought in mind, Naia took a sip of her coffee and reached for her bag carefully to slide out her phone. All just so she could check the time.


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


This was an incredibly naïve way of thinking, but the reason on why Naia ended up taking another hit mission like this was mainly due to her interaction with Ashley Shepard . There were far too many traitors from Rocket and someone with his skill would be able to deal with them easily, however he didn't have the desire to keep killing. He made promises, carried guilt and took it upon himself to do the same for other people. Naia knew that people like that weren't going to last and so if she was going to keep him in her life then she should at least help extend his mentally.

[break][break]Further thinking on it, missions like this killed two birds with one stone. On one hand, yes she took away missions that forced Ashley to kill but these missions were also the best way to garter faith and trust within the organization. In her mind, if Rocket knew she'd keep seeing what happened when you desert then they should believe she wouldn't do it herself.

[break][break]Since this was her second rodeo Naia was also a bit more prepared. Unlike her first mission she wasn't going to come completely unarmed, using some of her mother's connections she had managed to get herself her own handgun and with a silencer just like Ashley had, but for extra percussions she'd also carry herself a knife. She knew very well you could lose your weapon at any time. Though for clothes Naia stuck to something far more casual, like she came out for a night jog than any assassin mission.

[break][break]It was why when she noticed her partner's attire did she turtle up slightly, perhaps they were supposed to go for a business man approach? It would really suck having to wash the blood out of it.

[break][break]“You know what I hate ‘bout your country? Your food sucks.”

[break][break]The look of concern quickly changed to confusion, the woman staring back at him as if she was trying to calculate and discern what he was talking about. Country? Food? 'bout? Was he from a different country just to end up joining Rocket? Without saying a word she'd shift again to a look of pity. Did he really miss his home country's food that much?

[break][break]"U-um.. If you want.. ma-maybe we can, uh.. Find a restaurant that serves authentic food... After..."

[break][break]It was the first time she ever invited someone out before without it being some form of location for a meeting, her fingers seeking the touch of each other as she'd nervously waited on his answer.


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


"Nah. I always come back."

[break][break]Naia face would have the slightly movement, a small tense at his words. She didn't know if it was because she was upset that he misunderstood what she meant, or the fact that he instantly assumed her partners kept dying on missions with her. If it was the former was there any point in correcting him? Not really. And if it was later, then that just showed how Rocket was just going to get more dangerous for Naia. Not easier like she hoped.

[break][break]"Sides. I'm not cheater either. He trusts me."

[break][break]His next statement had more of a reaction, one of confusion in fact. With a raised eyebrow Naia would watch him flash his smile and get himself more comfortable in his seat. With only her parents as a real example of what relationships were like, she never understood the anxiety or fear of getting cheated on. Her father could spend weeks staying late at work and her mother would still treat him exactly the same way when he came back.

[break][break]Was Ashley the one more scared about cheating?

[break][break]At that thought Naia tilted her head, staring him down as she was trying to figure out this conundrum. Then he spoked up.

[break][break]"How... do you know Jayden?"

[break][break]Did he know Jayden too? I mean that made sense. Both of them were Rocket and surely they have done missions together before. It wasn't the same sort of anxiety or concern she'd typically show when she furrowed her grows, her head tilting off to the side as she'd think of how exactly she wanted to word this. She didn't want to give too much, after all the reasons why Naia and Jayden knew each other was through their parents dealing and she didn't feel comfortable saying anything that could affect his company.

[break][break]"I.. uh used to see Jayden a lot growing up. You could say.. my mom and his dad were friends.. and we were just a long for the ride. He.."

[break][break]She didn't know how to word this next part, the bashful nature of the subject would brighten up Naia's ears once more as she'd avert any eye contact.

[break][break]"..was my only friend growing up.."

[break][break]Friend was a strange way to word. To Naia who never really interacted with any kid her age at that time, and jayden cross was really the only peer she had. Only connection to the outside world whenever they hung out, but saying anything more than just friend felt awkward. As her mind was stumbling over these thoughts her ears would only deepen further and further before she'd eventually just blurt out.

[break][break]"H-Have you done missions together?"


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


"Hey! No!"

[break][break]Ah.. This was the first time they actually bit her, not that it was very surprising she knew from the way they treated each other one day she'll end up getting hurt, and despite their personality she knew it wasn't entirely on purpose. The creature itself was just desperate for survival, blind the only way they can perceive their world is through something nearly every creature take advantage of. They both want to become strong and powerful, two minds trapped in the body of one, both in fear that the other will starve them out.

[break][break]It why when food was offered they smarten up, laying down patiently despite looking the wrong direction, perhaps the echo of the room had confused the poor little guys. However the moment they smell the food, they'll know exactly where it is, that much was certain.

[break][break]But as Naia stood there a scary and real realization took over, she wasn't okay anymore. Her body in that moment felt nothing more like an empty husk, just like earlier her breathing felt like heavy chains dragging her consciousness deeper and deeper into her body. Her heartbeat raced as panic was starting to settle into her core, no matter how desperately she begged her body to move it didn't listen anymore. Not only did it not listen anymore, but the sensation of touch was fading away. She couldn't feel her feet, or really what her feet was doing anymore, but at least she didn't have to guess long.

[break][break]"Sorry..."

[break][break]She wanted to say more, explain more, but it was all she was able to muster. The hand that was held against her ear would sliding down into a drop as her world then tipped.

[break][break]Naia didn't even get to feel the drop.


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


Naia waited on bated breath when she said her name, even if she was starting to calm down from chatting, there was always this feeling of uncertainty. This date if anything felt like she was on thin ice, never in her life did she found herself being at odds with following her mother's orders.

[break][break]She did do as her mother asked and played the perfect puppet, making the best out of this date and peruse it to the bitter end? Or did she do what she knew what was right for Rocket and try to make this date fail? The very fact that her mother was even in cahoots with the queen to make this happen could be suspicion under securitizing lens. It wouldn't be too far of a stretch for them to twist Naia officially joining as some double agent scheme.

[break][break]"Oh? I haven't, actually. Though not through lack of trying, I can tell you that much."

[break][break]But perhaps she was getting a head of herself, paranoia always took over whenever she tried to think for herself. Plus it was starting to feel like maybe Naia was the only one getting stressed out about this, the very thought caused her to chuckle in defeat.

[break][break]"It seems our mothers can do the impossible when they put their minds to it, however, can't they? Tell me: do you even like seafood, Naia? I'm not particularly fond of it."

[break][break]A wearily smile forced on her face the moment her mother was mentioned, Naia averting her gaze to look off to the beach, "They really can.."

[break][break]She paused for a moment when he asked her what she thought about seafood. In all honesty she didn't really have an opinion on most food, she only liked sweets so much because of the sugar in them. She liked the fake energy they brought rather than anything significant, but in this moment she didn't know if she should be so honest. They were after all at Oceanus Stella, the place where you'd assume their main dishes would be seafood.

[break][break]"I.. uh.." She raised a hand to rest it behind her neck, before giving in with a light sigh followed by a gentle chuckle, "I don't actually care for it much either-- I mean, I don't have strong feelings either way.. Oh, except for crab legs. Why did they make them so hard to eat?"

[break][break]Finishing off with a sheepish smile, Naia realized that towards the end she spoke without much of a filter and with a small sense of shame she could feel her ears heating up again.


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


She almost regret feeling the hands of her partner pull her up, for once she truly felt at peace with the world, her body screaming and pleading for a chance of rest. But the show much continue. At least that's what she kept telling herself, pushing herself more and more. With a stumble she managed to get onto her feet, in her mind she wanted to instantly pull up and compose herself but everything came out so delayed. In the few moments she used him as support, Naia has no thought of a filter just blurting out what came to mind.

[break][break]"You're really are as nice as Ashley.." It took a second of Ashley Shepard 's face popping up in her head, a hand reaching for her face to rub her tired eyes, ".. and just as sad."

[break][break]They both really were sad and Naia couldn't understand why, perhaps it really was just the guilt finally wearing on people. Just like how this day is wearing on her, already she expended so much of her energy, her closed eyes becoming ever so hard to open.

[break][break]"Why couldn't they have just installed an elevator..?"

[break][break]She only managed to get a half an eye open, the other eye being attacked by the back of her hand still, but even still she managed to make it inside of the base. The first thing she noticed was that it was really dark and with her dull and blurred vision made no different if her eyes were open or closed. What she did notice outside of her faulty vision was the sound, it was far too quiet to be a base that should have been over taken by Pokémon.

[break][break]Ah right. Zwei. Rummaging in her pocket, she'd eventually pull out a pokeball, casually letting out her biheaded Zwei free from it's imprisonment. Almost as if they continued where they left off, the two heads of the Pokémon begun to snuff and nuzzle their furry little heads into her face. One of them sneaking in a nip at her earlobe.

[break][break]"Ow..

[break][break]What went from cute cuddles instantly turned aggressive as the other head would growl and snap at the aggressor, and not wanting to be apart of their fight Naia would just take a step back, a hand holding her ear. She didn't need to see her hand to tell that there was blood from the way her fingers slid, but at least it wasn't a lot, she'd live.


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


Naia wad following what he was saying, Slight nods of her head to his words, until he started going more abstract. She didn't really understand how a person could be like a flower outside of fragility and she sure as hell didn't know how one could bloom. But none of that really matters compared to the rest of his words, Naia understood that Ashley didn't like Rocket.

[break][break]His words afterwards contrast the joyous feelings he was having just a moment ago. She didn't like killing either, but that was because she didn't like the guilt to be on her conscious but her job with her father has always been life or death at your will. Death to Naia didn't feel the same as others may see it, it's an inevitability-- a promise, and lately Naia has just been pushing that hour hand.

[break][break]"Parents... that's just so odd. My only experience is my father trying to overdose my pregnant mom when she had me. He's dead now though."

[break][break]Why? There was so many things she wanted to make a comment on but she didn't know where to start. Maybe starting with this first and then working her way backwards would be best.. but.. Naia didn't understand that train of thought, was there something that wrong with having a kid? If anything this just showed the full extend to the selfishness people have that her Mother once told her.

[break][break]"My.. Mother said that selfishness is like a bubble. Everyone has one.. What's important is to tell where other people's greed end though. Because if you try to take too much from it, they'll bite back. You can say it's karma."

[break][break]It was probably why Naia can coexist with big personalities, she didn't really have much of a bubble herself so there was never a worry of how much someone took and if she took from others. Her mind was trying to trace back through their conversation, eventually landing on when he was talking about partners. In a weird way she was a big disappointed, it would have been nice to eventually have someone you knew would always take your side and back.

[break][break]"I hope I get to work with Jay--den a lot."

[break][break]A momentary slip up, as her ears would flush slightly. She was trying hard to beat that habit of calling jayden cross by that nickname, she knew he didn't like it and the last thing she'd want is to cause any more grief. He was one of the only people that she knows inside of Rocket, and someone she was comfortable with-- well I guess she could add another person on that list.

[break][break]"A-and you too.. but I don't know if your.. uh.. spouse would like that. So far people have died on every one of my missions.."


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


At least she didn't have to kill anything today.

[break][break]She also didn't have to worry about making much noise, the pace at which she moved at was slow enough that her walking was practically muted. Her eyes were trying to fix onto Isaac however as he climbed up the tree house she needed to lift her head, there was a sense of lightness with her movement. It felt almost too fluid by any standard and that was because it wasn't just her head tilting back but her entire body.

[break][break]Unlike last time she managed to stumble backwards and regain her balance once more, her foot bumping into a piece of food that was scattered across the ground. Oh right, Zwei.. He must have been standing on the outer edge waiting for Naia to return.. but she couldn't afford to bring him where in this zone.

[break][break]Zweilous, especially her own have serious hunger aggression. The moment they catch a sight of all this food they will stop at nothing to finish it all, even if it means growing at snapping at each other. They weren't the quietest of eaters.

[break][break]"... And hey, check it out!"

[break][break]This entire time Isaac must have been speaking, and seeing how he was able to explore and bring out something like this must have meant it was safe for now. Her urgent desire to go and find her Zweilous was interrupted with the sight of his Pokémon getting inside of the bucket. She wasn't going to fall for it a second time when it came to watching it climb up, but seeing how there was no flatted Pokémon afterwards it meant it worked.

[break][break]"You can send your Zweillous up here, I'll pull him up while you climb, okay?"

[break][break]"There's no need... I'll just.. uh.. resummon him up there.."

[break][break]Her speech was almost slurred, but it seemed that everything was coming together nicely, and that climb didn't look too bad. Thankfully she didn't need to completely return into the bush to go and get her Pokémon back, he had been impatiently inching forward and when they both caught the site of her begun to make their charge. with just a click of a button that charge would disappear in a red light and a sigh was left in it's silence.

[break][break]Yelling up at Isaac was wasting too much energy, and she needed every once of it if she wanted to scale this ladder. Placing her Espurr into the bucket instead of her Zweilous, Naia would start her ascent up the ladder. At first it wasn't too terribly hard, every couple of steps she'd find herself slumping against it and resting her forehead on the next rung. Though if she was being fair to herself even without being tired her fitness level was no where near what it needed to be for running, climbing and fighting. This just was rubbing salt in the wound.

[break][break]It was miserable, when she was able to finally see the entrance, Naia just gave up right there. Half of her body was on the treehouse while her feet lazily stayed on the rungs. Heavy and upset sighs and pants were the only words that left her frame, her heart was erupting out of her chest, and her lungs felt like they were struggling, again that suffocating feeling returned but two times fold.

[break][break]She gave herself an attempt at giving herself the last push, her upper body going limp, strangely she was extremely comfortable in this position. So much so she could just give in and sleep like this, but anyone with half a mind would know that this was extremely dangerous and she needed to get up now if she didn't want that to be a reality. So, in a silent plea she'd lift both of her hands up, still leaving her head down on the ground; hoping Isaac would get the message to pull her up the rest of the way.


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


"Three? Yeesh, and here I thought hustle culture was toxic. You're over here running the marathon."

[break][break]Naia's eyes drifted back outside, unsure of how she was supposed to reply to such a comment. To her this was just normal.
[break]What she was expected to do.

[break][break]"How is having a mom and dad, anyways?"

[break][break]This drawn Naia back to him. She may have not been the brightest bulb when it came to socializing but she understood the essence of a question like that. Only someone who doesn't have something would ask how something is, and she didn't have to wait long for him to explain.

[break][break]She must have had something wrong with her, because while he spoke she couldn't understand the pain he was feeling. But what she could understand was that it hurt and she didn't know how to help with hurt in the emotional sense. Maybe if she lived a life where her mother didn't exist-- then maybe she'd have some form of freedom.

[break][break]No.

[break][break]A new cage would be placed on her. Naia currently lived the life of freedom in a finical sense, she traded her right to being a human being so that she could live the cushion path her mother set out for her. At least what she could do for him is tell him what it was like, maybe that could help him gain some form of closure.

[break][break]"My mother.. She told me that she had a plan when she moved into Slateport. She left her family when her brother took the inheritance, you can say she wanted to proof them wrong. She said that even after picking out the perfect husband, she didn't calculate her child to be such a disappointment."

[break][break]Naia didn't need to think on the spot for this kind of information, this was just fact. Something she heard multiple times growing up.

[break][break]"She didn't want some school to teach me.. uh garbage so she homeschooled me herself. Once I finished all the curriculum she threw me into medical school. I guess she thought if I was going to be useful it would at least be an assistant to my Father. I'm sure she has a back up to take over the company if I don't manage to live up to her expectations then."

[break][break]Naia at this point wasn't even sad about the fact, she had given up a long time ago on the dream of living up to their expectations. She knew they were insatiable.

[break][break]"My Father.. hm.. I guess he's harder to explain. His existence is like water. I only really get to see him occasionally at home and at the clinic whenever I'm his assistant. He just listens to my Mother. If you want I can always set up a meeting for you."

[break][break]The awkwardness in her voice returned when it came to her father, finding it a lot harder to just regurgitate information on someone who just was so ambiguous in her life. Naia would pick up her drink, taking a few sips out of her drink, giving herself a moment to just enjoy the taste. After talking about her Mother so much she couldn't help but look over and check her phone, it was still dead from all the water.

[break][break]Not like there was much she could do about it now other than flipping it onto the other side, but she can imagine her mother eventually figuring out where she was and giving her a good slap. Naia could almost hear the venom her mother would throw at her, especially if she found out she was playing hooky with Ashley.

[break][break]"Oh."

[break][break]She remembered something he said earlier, placing her drink back down as she pondered how to ask him.

[break][break]"You.. uh- mentioned a partner earlier. Do you normally do.. outings like this with them? Does everyone eventually get a partner?"


[break][break][break]

[attr="class","postnotes"][break]

[attr="class","posttext"]


With Espurr back in Naia's hands she'd realize how far she had been on the ground, the true struggle now was getting back on her feet again but with the help of a nearby tree she managed. Her mind was fixating on random things, rather than checking to see if the boss was still asleep Naia was far more preoccupied with wiping the dirt off from her clothes. Slow and meticulous, with each pat it felt like a heavy weight was being placed down on her, even the bump on her shoulder.

[break][break]"We're all done here. Well, almost."

[break][break]That's right there was the big guy left, and the birds inside. Or were they outside? She couldn't remember anymore, each breath taking it's toll on her mind as it slowly sucked her deeper into a fog. It almost felt surreal seeing the casual interaction in front of her, it felt like she was watching it through a tv screen than it being in arms reach, yet she didn't have the will to reach out and test if it was.

[break][break]She didn't even realized she had turned her head to watch the Machomp scuttle away till Issac spoke up to Naia. It was disorienting hearing his voice from a different location than she anticipated. She couldn't understand why he was complimenting her so much, she was barely pulling her own weight in this mission and it just make her feel even more guilty. Was he testing her? Just like Ashley Shepard has done so? Is that why he kept asking her what to do next?

[break][break]"We.. should.." Her voiced seemed to drag on much longer than normal, in concern she'd pause before starting up with a slightly quicker cadence, "Let's sneak by.. ha.. If we fight we should have an advantage on the high road."

[break][break]She should be able to climb it.

[break][break]"If you really want to fight.." She'd wipe her chin again, trying to clean up imaginary sweat, "..now would be the best time. We have the element of surprise.. but we run the.."

[break][break]What was that word again? Oh yeah.

[break][break]"..risk of weakening ourselves for inside. Its better to clean up mobs before the boss.."


[break][break][break]