Alison struggles to stifle her yawn as shuffles down to her garden with her Ninetales. Dressed in a pair of fluffy slippers and a long dressing gown, she had decided to check on her plants.

Pushing open the gate with a loud creak, she spots the growing plants before her and releases a breath of relief. Still alive. Somehow.

But then, as if on cue, a rustling within the bushes catches her attention. As her ninetales stiffens, Alison sighs, pushing sleep out of her eyes with a sharp, manicured nail. She reaches for a spare pokeball in her pocket.

“Alright, no funny business. Show yourself before this gets silly.” Her voice is a low murmur, weary.

With a final rustle, a bright eyed emolga scurries out. It’s cheeks, full with food, fizzle with sparks of electricity, and at seeing Alison and her pokemon, it freezes.

Alison stares at it, scrunching her face.

“You’re… Small.”

The emolga’s ear twitches.

“Cute, though. I don’t have one of you… Hmm”

She shrugs and turns to her Ninetales, giving him a nod. Understanding, her Ninetales performs a QUICK ATTACK against the emolga, knocking them prone. And with one swift motion, the poke drops on top of the emolga.

It rolls. It rolls. Then clicks. Caught.

“I’ll give you berries myself from now on. No need to steal,” she speaks directly to the pokeball before putting it away. She dusts her hands on her front, before turning back to her plants.

“Now, where was I...”

shiv

☉

Her eyebrows raise momentarily before a grimace falls across her face. The Elite Four. This was just what she needed. A vainglorious individual.

Not that she was any better.

“Alison. Everly,” she says. She doesn’t elaborate. He had either heard of her, or he hadn’t. He wouldn’t be surprised if he had, considering her situation, but it was his loss if he hadn’t. Not that someone like him could ever understand the work she did, anyway.

“So, is there a reason an Elite Four member is currently messing around with the electricity of my theatre?" She questions with a sarcastic smile.

"Shouldn’t you be somewhere bullying kids, or is being a mechanic a part time gig for you guys?”

Greyson Connors

☉

Alison waves her hand dismissively, scrunching her face with a light smile.

“Don’t be silly. I get it. It can be suffocating, even when you know the opportunities are beneficial.”

“The things you want and love the most can easily become a chore after a while – it’s just – important to remember why you started it in the first place.”

Her eyes waver on him for a second before she takes a long blink, swigging her wine until only a few millimetres is left in the glass. With every word Sevastian said, even despite his frustrations regarding his current circumstances, she was struggling to hide her jealousy. She was trying desperately to sound supportive, to be what he thought she was; but ultimately, that wasn't who she really was.

She wanted what he had. Badly.

“Why can’t you decline?” she continues nonchalantly, raising her eyebrows at him. “And why do you want to?”

sevastian beau

☉

“Really?”

She looks at him doubtfully, sceptical that wooden and plastic swords weren't anything in comparison to the real, metal weapons. But she takes his word for it. She had to start somewhere. 

“Attack you? Right now? Alright…”

She goes to retrieve one of the swords in the case, picking the one with the prettiest hilt – one decorated with flowers. It was a lot heavier than she expects as she moves it around in her hands. She turns back around to face Jayden.

For her, sword fighting had been a dance, a performative exercise of delicate steps and practiced strikes. But unlike before, she wouldn’t know Jayden’s steps beforehand, nor have practised with him. Unlike before, there was no script. She would have to improvise.

Taking a breath, she steps forward and swipes her sword with the intention to hit.

jayden cross

☉

Alison averts her eyes at his initial words, trying her best to hide the humiliation she felt. An unconvincing performance? There wasn’t a worse phrase to demean her.

Media training had left her often sounding robotic in her responses, all to secure sponsors and to be likeable. Yet, in trying to garner support from the underboss, that practice had failed miserably.

Her mouth opens to speak but shuts as he continues, Alison pursing her lips together awkwardly. Each additional sentence he utters feels like pressure on a bruise, a dull reminder of what she had lost. That she had nothing

But, he offered her redemption.

Her eyes flit back over to him, going no higher than his shoes. Unlike her tone previously – scared, nervous - her words come out more monotone.

“I apologise for my response. The question surprised me. I responded out of habit.”

“I know our priority is to ensure the organisation thrives, that we seize control over the masses. That we exert our power onto others and minimise League’s influence. I want to ensure that is done.”

“And yes, you are right. I had it once.”

She pauses, gritting her teeth.

“But I want it back. I need it back. I will be stronger than this. For Rocket. For myself. I’ll do anything.  I want to survive.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

At his words, Alison pouts her lips sympathetically and shakes her head.

“Ugh, it’s always the way. We could always go to another store to try and please your frilly desires but then – if it was the fates, maybe you shouldn’t tempt them.” She shoots him a mischievous, closed-mouth smirk.

Brushing down the fabric of the dress, she does a final turn in the mirror and folds her arms over her chest. She could see his eager smile in the reflection, and it wasn’t helping her in making a logical or well-sound opinion. Ambrose had often been the culprit for many of Alison’s debatable decisions, specifically regarding fashion.

Today seemed to be turning out to be another.

“Stop egging me on,” she says playfully, narrowing her eyes as she mulls over the choice, “You are right though… Maybe I should…”

With one final look down at the dress, at its delicate pleats and the sensual curve it gave to her body, she succumbs to the pressure.

Who cared about credit card debt anyway?

“Fineeeee,” she drags the word out, placing her hand on her forehead with a sigh, “I’m blaming you when I can’t afford anything thing else for this entire month, by the way.”

Retreating into the changing room and returning back into her original clothing, she holds the dress over her arm and signals for one of the shop workers.

“Excuse me! I’ll take this, please.”

ambrose orion

☉

As the Claydol shifts and rises out from underneath the sand, Alison’s eyes slowly move upwards as it ascends in front of them. Fear, concern and – disgust? – flash across her face as she pouts her lips tightly, contemplating.

Not only should a Claydol never be that size, but she was meant to help fight it?

She began to wonder if it was too late to leave.

“This was such a mistake,” she murmurs to herself, shaking her head in disbelief, “But–“ She shoots her Ninetales a toothy grimace. "–we’re in it now. Might as well try.”

As her companions begin chipping away at the Claydol – Alison chirping in with a encouraging nice! at each successful hit – she notices the opening given by Thea Naito ‘s Wigglytuff and nods her head in acknowledgment.

Throwing her hair back over her shoulders, and releasing an aspirated breath, she points a singular acrylic nail at the dynamaxed Pokemon in front of her.

“Okay Nines, let’s try to get this done quickly. Will-o-wisp – now!

With a light bark, her Ninetales runs at the Claydol, stopping a small distance away before spreading all his tails out behind him. Iridescent balls of blue fire shoot out from his body towards the Pokémon in quick succession, hoping to inflict a searing and lasting burn on the target.

vxjzLiiD

☉

ACTION - will-o-wisp (afflict, -10 HP dmg each round) [break]

SPOILER: Click to show

flamethrower: strike, afflict[break]
will-o-wisp: afflict[break]
extrasensory: strike, hinder[break]
baby-doll eyes: hinder[break]
quick attack: strike, rush[break]
fire spin: strike[break]

Alison responded with gentle nod of her head.

It was an overwhelming position being in Rocket. Preparing for war, learning combative skills, building strength – she was struggling to keep her face from scrunching at the temple at all the information offered to her.

Ultra space sounded interesting enough, especially with its chance at offering powerful Pokémon, but perhaps a simulation would be better for now.

“I see. Well, that sounds interesting. I would love to give it a go. The ‘RKS’.

Ultimately, Alison knew to succeed the go-go boots and sequin dresses had to be put away for a while. Risks had to be taken, and she had to venture into new ways of training. It was the only way she could become strong enough to achieve her goals. Even if the RKS – as Ameena said – could make you question your sanity, she had to try it.

“If you are available, I’d definitely appreciate your helping hand in it – or I’ll find someone else if you are busy. I can imagine you do get quite busy.”

Alison paused for a moment in thought, her eyes flitting to the other’s Alakazam.

“Are there opportunities similar to the RKS that can help train my Pokémon – or is it an ‘all-in-one’ sort of – thing?”

ameena abadi

☉