It had been her slip up that had caused her to be captured all those weeks ago. She was tortured and beaten in that fucking prison, carried out in a walker for her troubles, and it only made her return all the more humiliating. After a silent vow to take things more seriously here, the nepotism hire stood before the man who had greeted her months ago.

"It's been awhile."

Himiko said nothing as he called his Pokemon out. He wasn't cutting her any slack since they met, and she couldn't blame him. Her own blackened nails tapped on the surface of two of her own team. A Ceruledge and the one Ultra Beast she had been eyeing the most. A part of her wanted to chide him for tormenting her like this, though she was curious about what its capabilities it held.

"You know how to make this interesting." A snake-like grin grew on her face as she brought up two pokeballs. "I agree to your challenge then."

Two throws later, a Hisuan Zoroark and a Salandit were called to the field. The former of the two, Rouge, had looked at both of its opponents and leak out a frightened noise that was almost some sort of sheepish squeak. A sharp look from her trainer was enough to keep her out on the field. Himiko had experienced more than enough humiliation for a lifetime.

"I take it you won't hold back then? Good, then I'll repay the favor."

Zev Harcourt

☉

It was already her first day back in active Rocket duty and already, Himiko was ready to just start lashing out in a fit of daddy's girl rage. She sat beside the Rocket known as "Cato" as she had run into him groveling at some plight he had with another person, any of whom she could care less about. But out of having nothing else better to do, she'd relent.

It was supposed to be a drink and a "you'll be fine" session, but Arceus, was he a sob story.

Himiko sipped on her drink before it was roughly set on the ground. Not enough to break it, but some precious alcohol jumped out of the interior. Her patience was wearing thin at his antics and had she the right Pokemon, she'd poison him ten times over.

"You're the most important on the team, hm?"

Himiko goaded him in the smarmy "rich girl" energy that she had come to be known for. Her eyes played the part of a sympathetic ear so well, yet tired of hearing his drunken rambling.

"I think somebody should teach him a lesson, shouldn't they? I mean, you gave him the keys to this palace of his, maybe you should remind him of who it was that's responsible for it?"

It wouldn't help not piss her off, but causing a little bad blood between people was a nice past time.

cato

☉

Rumbling came from outside of the building which caused Himiko to look over in interest. The slumbering Salandit was pushed awake while the two women had noted the appearance of their saving grace from spending a full 12 hours in this freezing little hellhole. Himiko had been thankful of not having to go scrounge around for any more firewood or anything, though wondered how it would appear to the next person to find this place. What story would be laid out for them to discover?

"Thank Arceus. I thought I was going to go mad in here."

The warehouse door let out a pained cry as the metal doors announced their opening with a high-pitched cry. A small group of Rocket personnel stood outside and chattered on the radio as they looked inside at the both of them. The Kanton stretched a little while recalling her Salandit back into its ball and crossing her arms over one another.

"Anyway, thanks for the talk and everything, Boss. It's been a pretty fun evening, aside from almost getting locked up. Although a night with you sounds like a fun time."

Just as quickly as the wall had been torn down, it had been rebuilt anew, if not stronger.

She nodded her head along with Elisabeth's invitation and followed the Underboss's path towards the entrance. Somehow, the colder temperatures felt a tad bit more welcome than they had before. SHe inhaled the harsh winter air and smiled to herself.

"Thank you for the lovely night, Boss."

Elisabeth Fiorelli

☉

"Nice to meet you two, Nikola and Fluffy."

Himiko jumped alongside everyone else at Fluffy's sudden "borf!" to happily announce its elation at meeting her. She continued showing her love for the Arcanine, envying the poor sod who had just up and abandoned their pokemon for a good home such as Nikola to take. They asked about where she was from as her usual tried and true answer came out in full swing.

"I'm from Kanto, before the borders closed anyway. I was actually trying to go back there before news of the Rocket takeover had gotten to us. For now, anyway, I'm just a florist without a place to call home."

NIKOLA SAMSA

☉

Himiko had gotten quiet at his question. She pursed her lips together and began thinking about how to really answer what Cian was curious about.

"I don't think I ever will be, to be honest. I never left her side when I was younger, and the one time I do, I wasn't there when she needed me the most."

The Kanton woman turned back around to Cian, giving him a meager, small smile at the man.

"But such is life. We have our regrets and we have to live with them. I'm sure she'd never want me to show my face there again for never returning, even if it wasn't my fault."

CIAN MAHER

☉

"My grandparents, mainly. When I was young, my grandmother would show me how to work in her garden while watching me. My parents were often busy so she took care of me." Himiko answered with a faint smile on her face. One that was happy but did show that she missed the older woman.

"I never really got to say goodbye to her since I was so little when she passed. I made trips out to visit every week since. As you may have guessed, we're the embodiment traditionalism. I often wonder if I should have been a miko rather than a florist."

Himiko laughed softly at Cian. It was rare of her to open up about her feelings, especially to a stranger. But he didn't know anything about her on a grander scale. Just two souls passing by in the wind. So she did feel a little more safe about opening up to him.

"Have you said all of your peace? Or would you like a little more time to yourself while I clean up a bit?"

CIAN MAHER

☉

She was expecting something less official, but Himiko should have known better. There was very little in the way of possibilities that she could have done back home with that Druddigon. Now matter how much she tried to push it out of her mind, it would never leave.

A permanent mark on an otherwise spotless record.

Elisabeth's answer made her reconsider her decision that day. There was a lot that happened, and she could have been the first person to realize what had happened on her watch. She would never know at this point, and yet, she couldn't help but apply Elisabeth's answer to herself.

A million different scenarios played in her head, but only one would be there to face her when she stepped outside of her head.

It had been a few seconds since the underboss's answer as Himiko sat in silence. She didn't move or speak at all. A total focus inside of the maelstrom that was her mind attempting to put logic and reason together. She scoffed to herself.

"Nothing. Just some question that popped into my mind." Himiko deflected. "Do we need more fuel for the fire or something? You went last time, so I can go this round."

Elisabeth Fiorelli

☉

"Work, mainly. I'm a florist by trade. It's been in my family for a couple of generations now."

It was jumping the gun a bit, but she was more focused on the Arcanine more than anything. They always had a tendency to be little bundles of fireworks, ready to explode into a full speed sprint at a moment's notice. At least the story of how they met was pretty standard. A real "fated meeting" between trainer and pokemon.

Predictable as a birthday card, but she kept up the appearance of a sweet woman, laughing softly to herself.

"I can't imagine anybody would abandon such a sweet pooch like that here. I've always wanted one of my own before I left home. Maybe one of these days I'll find the time to search for one."

Himiko smiled at Nikola and their pet, walking towards the coffee cart that was on the other side of the small park. Her gait was slow to match the other person's, sometimes idly clacking against her own pokemon belt. None of her team would make for a good play partner for the Arcanine. All of which were either battle focused or adverse to emotion.

"I'm Himiko, by the way." she said, nodding her head to the stranger. "It's nice to have met the both of you."

NIKOLA SAMSA

☉

"You can, if it helps you focus." Himiko answered him back, "Or if you want your privacy, you may think them as well. As long as you can envision yourself letting them know."

She gave him a moment to get ready and waited for him to finish saying what he wanted. It could have been peace, forgiveness or a wellness check. She had heard it all before. Said it all before. Even just doing this made her feel a tad more homesick.

"I haven't done this since leaving home, actually. It's made me worry about who I used to visit myself."

CIAN MAHER

☉

Her heart ached but she couldn't curl up into a ball right now. Why did she have to let herself bawl right here and now? In front of her boss no less?

Himiko blinked and looked up at the roof of the building once Elisabeth had given her an out. Yeah, the roof was leaking. This was in a pretty shady looking warehouse anyway. Stupid roof was going to get them killed.

"Right..." she said through grit teeth hidden behind ruby lips locked in a pout. "The snow's just gotten through all of it somehow. The League can't even weatherproof their own storage areas." She gently nudged her Salandit up as the reptile slowly came to. Himiko pointed at the ceiling and gave the direct order. It was confused, but carefully scurried across the wall and used controlled bursts of FLAMETHROWER to fill the holes.

Yeah, that made her feel better. Even if just a little bit.

Thank you for letting me out with my dignity intact. Himiko thought to herself glancing back at Elisabeth as their gazes mnet for a moment. Things will be better here, maybe. I miss home, but I've meet so many people that leaving here for Kanto almost feels like pain all over again.

She exhaled and closed her eyes, smirking to herself.

For an underboss, you're okay, Elisabeth. I'll gladly serve under you...just don't tell anybody this.

She nodded along with the woman's words and whistled for her Salandit to return. It happily returned by the fire. This time, it found itself lying next to Elisabeth as it stretched itself out to absorb the heat. Like a lazy little Purrloin.

"Hm." Himiko looked into the fire for a moment. Hesitation gripped her throat as words felt pained to be squeezed out of it. The taste of suffocation was not a pleasant one, especially around such a topic. But after some time, her voice returned to her.

"I actually was wondering, you're somebody in a position to boss people around, so you might offer some perspective."

Himiko hunched over in her seat. Her insides felt like they were being squeezed out of a tube with how much she wanted to just explode. A pause came from her for a moment while picking away at the exterior of the crate with hinger index finger.

"If you made one mistake that led into a Rocket wide problem, what would you do?" she asked quietly.

"Try and hide it? Maybe you could escape blame or point it at somebody else? Or would you just come clean?"

Elisabeth Fiorelli

☉

Oh, that did make sense. Himiko had been told about the area beyond Hoenn, mostly from Rocket superiors. Once such location had contained a beauty beyond words, that Nihilego of hers. The perfect poisonous pokemon for any poisoner worth their money.

She obviously was going to go, regardless of what anybody said, but for now, she could use a friend in Hoenn. No need to get on his bad side.

"It does sound dangerous. I think I'll just stay in my shop for the time being."

Himiko teased and came to stop before the name of Cian's friend that rested here.

"Here, let me help you get into position."

She moved behind him, that lavender scent sticking to her able to waft around his form. Her arms guided his limbs into the correct praying position. Knees down, feet outward, and torso bent at the halfway. Himiko then scooted down beside him and smiled.

"This isn't exactly one of the shrines back at home, but we can make do. Close your eyes and quietly picture him in your mind. It can be a happy memory you shared when you were kids or a day that has some sort of significance to you."

"Once you have it pictured, think of what you wish to say to him. It will make sense once you're in the middle of it."

CIAN MAHER

☉

"I'm fine. Just a little...uneven." Himiko shook her head again in an effort to clean her hair of any small tidbits of unclean things or remnants of leaves. Anything that could dash her beauty. Looking at the Arcanine, her inner rage could be quelled for the moment. Despite just knocking her on her ass, they were pretty cute.

And that fur was cozy enough to fall asleep in.

The offer to buy her a replacement coffee had been a bit unspoken, but Himiko had been expecting much. She wasn't one to order the most expensive drink on the menu, but hey, she could spend money on better things that a fancy coffee.

"That's sweet. I'll make sure to keep it cheap." Himiko gave a sweet laugh that a florist would have. Brimming with pollen and honey, as sweet as could be. "It's just a latte with some of the usual things on it. And while we're waiting, you can tell me more about your Arcanine. I haven't seen one since leaving Kanto."

NIKOLA SAMSA

☉