Sasha pursed her lips at Mr. Roche's admonishment, taking mental notes of his reaction and demeanor. With a tap of her finger, she opened a few social media apps and scrolled through them. [break][break]

"There's been a rise in Team Rocket's public activity in the last two years," she explained, choosing not to remind her employer of his recent transfer—and, therefore, lack of personal knowledge. [break][break]

Pausing her scrolling, she continued, "There used to be a lot more protests both for and against them, but last year they really fell out of favor in the public eye after they kidnapped former Councilwoman Elinor Anderson." [break][break]

Sasha looked up at Mr. Roche. "Of course, Miss Anderson was rescued, but there's been increasing paranoia and heightened security about everything ever since. People on social media are just waiting for the next big strike from Team Rocket." [break][break]

She hesitated, recalling a recent debate she read online. [break][break]

"And they fear a single person won't be the target this time, but many."

TAGS – Colin Roche[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Sasha stared at Saskia, perplexed. "Wait, you wanted to get caught in one?" she asked. [break][break]

Then again, the younger woman had always struggled to conform to quiet office life during her stint as an intern. Was it any wonder she preferred an outdoor adventure? [break][break]

"I'm here because I was taking a walk when it was a clear, sunny day," Sasha explained, leaning against Clefable for the reassurance of something warm and solid against her side. She fell silent for the briefest moment before admitting, "And, you know, I'd heard what happened here." [break][break]

The incident at the peak, she meant. The reason for the Top Champion's disappearance.

TAGS – saskia volosenkova[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"Saskia?!" Sasha exclaimed, her body tensing as the younger woman stumbled into her, even as she recognized the "stranger's" voice. Before she could say anything else, however, the storm winds blew even harder, forcing her to duck her head and brace against it. [break][break]

We need to get to shelter, Sasha thought, her big sister instinct kicking in. Wrapping an arm around Saskia's shoulders, Sasha turned their backs to the wind and started to pick a route down the volcano. [break][break]

Eventually, they reached a small cave just big enough to fit the two women and their Pokémon. Relieved to be out of harm's way, the blonde woman set about brushing sand out of her clothes and wiping her eyes. She took a swig from her water bottle, then handed it to the brunette. [break][break]

"So what are you doing out here, Saskia?" Sasha asked. Frankly, it was a question she could have asked herself.

TAGS – saskia volosenkova[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Sasha could not help an awkward laugh at Benji's rambling. She did finally shake his hand, surprised to find his grasp careful, not clumsy. A light blush colored her cheeks as she inwardly chastised herself for her earlier judgmental thoughts. [break][break]

"I do, actually," she replied, releasing his hand and setting hers back in her lap. "I paint and draw in my free time, so it's always interesting to come to these fairs and see other people's art, too. Even if it's not all painting and drawing." [break][break]

She settled against the back of the bench, turning her head slightly to make sure their Pokémon remained in her peripheral vision. [break][break]

"What about you? Do you come to these often?" she asked Benji, though she was sure she'd have seen him before if he did.

TAGS – benji sawyer[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Indeed, Sasha screamed in shock and fear as a hooded figure emerged seemingly from thin air. Huge red eyes stared out at her, while some kind of horned beast loomed at its side. Her cry immediately turned into sputtering, however, as the wind whipped more sand into her mouth. [break][break]

"Stay back!" she warned, though her voice wavered with uncertainty. "My Pokémon knows how to fight!" [break][break]

Truth be told, Sasha was still working with Clefable to turn her into a decent fighter. The Fairy-type hadn't had much practice yet. To her credit, however, she stepped valiantly in front of her trainer to defend her from the stranger. [break][break]

But would she succeed with such limited visibility and cutting sands?

TAGS – saskia volosenkova[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Sasha sat in the back of her employer's car, behind the front passenger's seat, her tablet balanced on her lap while she tapped away at her phone. Colin Roche himself sat opposite her behind his driver, but she put him in the back of her mind for the moment. The email she was composing was her primary concern. [break][break]

Only when she was fully satisfied with her wording did she press SEND. "There," she said to her boss. "I've let the press know we will not be taking statements about the Mauville City break-in at this time." [break][break]

The EvoEx branch in Mauville was their destination that day, their goal to meet with the police and gain a full understanding of what happened. [break][break]

Tucking her phone into her purse, Sasha picked up her tablet and thumbed through the news articles pulled up on its screen. "There have been a lot of break-ins of other financial businesses lately," she commented, shooting a glance at Mr. Roche. "It almost feels coordinated."

TAGS – Colin Roche[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Sasha didn't know how she ended up so unlucky. Deciding to enjoy an easy hike around the lower section of Mt. Chimney, she had set out with her Clefable. Unfortunately, partway on the trail, an unexpected sandstorm kicked up along the mountain, catching both off guard. [break][break]

"We need to head back!" the woman shouted at her Pokémon over the howl of the winds. Or she tried, getting her hair and a bunch of sand in her mouth. She promptly coughed and tried to spit it out. [break][break]

The pair turned and started retracing their steps to the start of the trail. Sasha kept her arms raised to shield her face from the sand, but the storm raged so ferociously that it was impossible to see through it.

TAGS – saskia volosenkova[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

As soon as Sasha stepped out of the stall and into open air, she felt better. Freed from such cramped quarters, she could slip into the crowd for an easy escape—another of her mother's lessons. [break][break]

But she did not. Instead, she committed the stranger's name to memory. [break][break]

"I'm Sasha," she said. The name came so easily now, as if she'd been born with it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ben." With her hands full of the broken candle, she had an excuse not to shake his own in introduction. He seemed strong enough to crush her fingers. [break][break]

Dedenne hopped out of her purse as she made her way to a trash bin. The small mouse hurried toward the Furret, bouncing up and down in excitement, and started running circles around the larger Pokémon. [break][break]

"Don't run off too far," Sasha reminded Dedenne gently as she surreptitiously slipped the candle into the bin. She spied a bench nearby and sat down on it. "We'll be right here, okay?"

TAGS – benji sawyer[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Sasha gave the stranger an awkward smile as he babbled, one that shifted into genuine gratitude when he offered to pay for the broken candle. She stood to the side as he and the vendor exchanged bills, still cradling the wax pieces in her hands. [break][break]

As soon as she was out of sight of the stall, she planned to throw them into the nearest trash bin. [break][break]

At that moment, Sasha's large tote purse wriggled. Dedenne was awake, roused by the earlier jostling. The small mouse poked her head out over the edge of the purse and immediately spotted the Furret draped over the stranger's shoulder. She erupted in a series of excited squeaks, tiny sparks flying from her cheeks. [break][break]

Sasha laughed lightly at her Pokémon's forwardness. To the stranger, she said, "I know how you can make it up to me. Dedenne wants to play with your Furret. Maybe we can have them run around outside where there's more space?"

TAGS – benji sawyer[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Mr. Roche's compliment, however restrained, was enough to reassure Sasha that she hadn't completely fucked up her answer. It granted her enough courage to meet his gaze as he assessed her, despite feeling like his violet eyes were boring a hole through her very soul. [break][break]

And then, just like that, she was hired. [break][break]

"Oh—yes, of course. Thank you, Mr. Roche," she stammered, flustered by the suddenness of his decision. Still, she could not help the relief that washed over her and the warmth that flushed her cheeks. [break][break]

Only when he had disappeared through a side door did the meaning of his words register in her mind. [break][break]

Seven a.m. is a late start? she wondered as she picked up her résumé and started toward the main entrance of his office. It opened before she could reach it, and a man in a butler's livery stood in the doorway expectantly. [break][break]

"Hello," Sasha said to him, her smile a mix of relief and nervousness. "You must be Simon. May name is—" [break][break]

But then he turned and stalked away, obviously expecting her to follow. Feeling flustered once more, she jogged to catch up with him.

TAGS – Colin Roche[break]
NOTES – mission | outfit

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Sasha loved craft fairs. She never had opportunities to visit them as a child; her parents told her they were frivolous wastes of time. Yet her heart yearned to admire the beauty of the creative world, especially that made with others' hands. [break][break]

Since leaving home, she'd resolved to attend as many as she could. The annual fair in Lilycove was a favorite, one she enjoyed perusing again and again. [break][break]

One vendor in particular sold a variety of products made by Pokémon on their farm: Gogoat cheeses and soaps, Combee wax candles, and flowers tended by Cutiefly, to name a few. [break][break]

Sasha was admiring a beautiful wax rendering of a rearing Rapidash, turning it over in her hands, when someone walked right into her from behind. It was not the gentle bump of another customer in a small space, but instead felt like a small mountain had decided to run her over. [break][break]

"Ah!" she cried out as she dropped the candle, her hands scrambling to catch the edge of a table so she wouldn't fall into it. Mortified, she watched as the candle hit the floor, pieces of it break off from the main body. "Oh no!" [break][break]

She gathered the broken object in both hands and turned to the vendor. "I'm so sorry. I'll pay for this." [break][break]

Only then did Sasha turn to look at whoever—or whatever—had run her over. She found herself face-to-face with a tall, broad-shouldered man who looked as flustered as she felt. [break][break]

"I'm—I'm okay, yes, thank you." [break][break]

Then she hesitated. He should have been watching where he was going, but she should have had more awareness. Perhaps the crowdedness was why her mother hated craft fairs.

TAGS – benji sawyer[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]