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kasper isn't sure what they're expecting from this, but it wasn't just chatter. the other three acted like this was just an every day scenario and, fuck, maybe it was. maybe six months from now they'd be talking about this like it was nothing, too.
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they kind of doubted it, but nothing was impossible. they had grown up in hoenn, after all.
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that was even if anything showed up. so far, they were just scouting, so it was probably fine? as fine as the circumstances could be, anyway, when they were still certain any fuckup would be horrible for them.
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the ground begins to shake and splits, a gigantic golurk rising from the sand, and kasper's first thought is that it's absolutely the fuck not okay, actually. temp has it under control, though, or they hope. he barks out orders, and kasper scrambles for the pokeball of the lycanroc they had been lended.
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kasper is pretty sure the pokemon is just as confused as they are, but it rights itself quickly with a howl, already seemingly more prepared for the battle than the person (temporarily) in charge of it.
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sSf2ZBop

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they should have expected this. they think they had expected it, a little, if you counted expecting it as wholeheartedly dreading it, but the more optimistic part of kasper had hoped it wouldn’t come to this. regardless, they don’t outwardly argue as they move to stand in the hallway, further away from ameena, and with a grimace as soon as their back is to her.
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her words are almost more terrifying than the idea of the ghost pokemon. part of them wants to ask where their stay will be, if anywhere, if rocket deems them not enough- but they bite their tongue. “i can offer undercover things. distractions, getting information from the league- whatever rocket needs.” it’s not quite practiced, really, but, for their credit, their voice doesn’t waver too much.
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when the gastly floats from the floor with a scary face, they shrink back, hoping that it looks more like a get the fuck away from me reaction to any outsider rather than one of fear. They don’t answer ameena, instead reaching for the pokeball that holds their tyranitar as the closest thing to a response-
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and the green pokemon is lunging towards gastly with a snap of his jaws in an attempt to bite the ghost pokemon before they can even say anything.

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to say kasper was scared shitless would be an understatement. and it wasn't even because of the giants they'd potentially be facing- although, admittedly, those played a role in things.
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right now, though, with the giants absent, they were more scared of the other rocket members than anything. or maybe nervous was a better word? intimidated?
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a glance at one of them- cillian- and his shadowy claws confirms that, yes, they're all terrifying, actually. tempest doesn't seem bothered, and neither does lulu, but it leaves kasper feeling like they're themost normal person in the entire group. however long that would last.
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"so," they start, "remind me of the plan, again?" it's directed mostly towards temp, because they've at least talked to him before- and they think he'd be a little more likely to understand that they're mostly asking so they're not the one that blatantly fucks this up.

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this had been, admittedly, an impulse decision. kasper had seen the opening, and it had only taken a second for them to decide they were going to sign up. not that they were regretting it or anything- if anything, it was a good chance to test out how well they worked with their new pokemon.
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and to try to better that in advance. for whatever rocket had them do.
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the gym is so big, bigger than what they were expecting, when they step through those doors. they understand why it has to be- to account for larger pokemon, but they still feel tiny in comparison.
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"um. hi. i'm kasper, and i kind of...signed up to challenge a couple of days ago?"

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kasper only vaguely knew cassidy. really, they thought it'd be better to say they knew of her rather than anything really solid, because most everything they knew came from sometimes crossing paths. they wouldn't call her a friend, and they'd even hesitate to really call her an accquantiance. maybe stranger and also coworker was the best option?
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regardless, their relief at not being attacked by a ghost only lasts a second, because she scares the shit out of them in her own way. the eevee that runs to greet them is more of a welcome sight in the long run, and they mindlessly reach to scratch behind her ear even as amaryllis tries to bat her away, still half-clinging.
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"sort of?" it's the understatement of the century, but they don't really want to just admit that spirits terrify them. "i watched a lot of scary movies about ghosts and stuff when i was little, and-" they wave at the tunnel in front of them in a grand gesture, even as their forced grin wavers a little at the sight of it again.
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"this is exactly what would be in one."

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temp doesn't immediately brush them off as being useless or, more likely, just a teen over their head, so that's...something? they hope? they weren't expecting the idea of planting bombs to be his immediate thought, but they'll take it as long as someone thinks they can be helpful.
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otherwise, though, they end up at sort of a standstill. they don't really want to go first, especially not with their audino still looking at them like they've stolen his favorite toy, but temp- and his nonexistent vote of confidence- makes it impossible for them to not go first. unfortunately.
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"right. okay." they take a deep breath, try to ignore the look on their pokemon's face, and mentally prepare for the ass-kicking of a lifetime. "use...take down?"
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wait- maybe they shouldn't have said it out loud. is that even how rocket battles? it's too late to overthink now, though, because amaryllis is focusing on charging toward the eevee almost as soon as the words leave kasper's mouth.

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oh, this woman can absolutely tell they're nervous. something about the way she grins all but confirms it for them, but they take her hand anyway in an attempt to seem less scared for their life. and not for rocket-related reasons, this time.
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mostly.
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"wouldn't seeming like a target be a good way to draw them out?" they ask, before they can think twice, and then they resist the urge to kick themself. now if they do get targeted by a ghost pokemon, they're going to have to act like it's something they planned. easier said than done.
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the question about kasper's pokemon team is enough to take their mind off of ghosts and ghost possessions- and not in the good way. "you want to know what my pokemon can offer?"
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their first thought is to default to amaryllis, and they doubt saying the audino would be able to cling to people would be the best joke.

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