#bossrocket

“B-Boss??” James’ mouth drops open -- of any fellow Team Rocket member who could have made an appearance, this is certainly the grandest. If the Boss himself is making an appearance, it must be important!

On his shoulder, Mime Jr. copies his shock, and then his salute.

“I trust you’re enjoying yourself,” Giovanni says tonelessly, his hands clasped together in his lap. His voice breaks the quiet, echoing ever so faintly in the large, nearly-empty expanse of the room. The dining area is lavish and built to accommodate a large gathering of people, but is currently occupied only by Giovanni, Mobei, and their guards.

The large table at which Giovanni and Mobei sit is full, however, covered in the sort of food that’s almost too expensive to waste by actually eating it. Giovanni has barely touched his own meal beyond an initial demonstration that nothing here is poisoned-- not that offering such proof is particularly necessary. Mobei must know that such an indirect method of murder is not Giovanni’s style, and that even if it were, the mob boss wouldn’t dare try anything of the sort tonight.

Not with Silver’s location still unknown and his safety uncertain.

“I would usually save the business talk for after dinner, Mr. Mobei, but I think it appropriate to begin now. You have bested me; I must say, I am impressed. No one else has ever before dared to cross this particular line, much less manage to succeed. You have my attention now, and I suggest you make good use of it.”

Welcome to scenic Isola Radiale, Boss Giovanni!

You will be housed in HOUSE 105!

You will retain everything your Persian, however it will be in its starter form, Meowth.

You will also retain some basic Pokeballs, however they will serve no function.

“What is he, in a meeting? No, I’m not gonna do anythin’. I just want to talk,” Barry says to the executive blocking him, impatient, every word struggling to stay surfaced from an undercurrent of rage.

When he’s finally allowed into the office, he makes eye contact with Giovanni and does not look away. He doesn’t take an aggressive stance, doesn’t do anything to give an impression how badly he wants to take this fury out physically. He doesn’t want to get carried out or killed before he can say his piece.

“You wanna explain yourself? You make a habit of this with your ‘trusted’ employees?” he says, and his tone dares Giovanni to pretend not to know what he’s talking about.

so it’s late, they’re hungry, and they’re being kidnapped.

hopefully. they really hope it’s just a kidnapping, because the alternative is probably that they’re going to be dragged out into the woods and shot. they fidget with their seat belt, glancing out the window as the streetlights pass them by. they’re not really close to any woods right now, but who knows?

it occurs to eve that the intimidating teal-haired man isn’t making any efforts to blindfold them or otherwise keep his identity hidden. if they were gonna be kept alive, he’d be wearing a mask or something, right? so maybe they are going to be killed after all.

“i think i saw something like this in a movie once,” eve finally says, unable to stomach the silence any longer, as they turn back to face the man with a shaky smile. “i used to watch a lot of movies, though, so i’m not sure which one. crime stuff isn’t really my thing, but i know i watched this one, so it must’ve been good, huh?”

the man doesn’t take his eyes off the road.

“i don’t really remember how it ended, but there was definitely a scene-”

the car slows to a stop at a red light, and the man finally turns to meet eve’s eyes with an irritable glare.

they fall silent and look back out the window, now gripping the seat belt with white knuckles.

maybe they should reflect on their choices -- or better yet, try to send a distress signal. the man didn’t even take their phone.

who would they call, though? barry, maybe? no, he’s innocent. eden? no, definitely not eden. they’re trying to get them out of trouble, not drag them further into it.

so they really don’t have anyone, huh. guess that leaves reflecting.

...

they, uh, don’t do that. their thoughts are meaningless, discordant, high-pitched noise, and they’re starting to drown in their own head.

“out.”

the man startles them back to reality, and they blink rapidly at the realization that the car has stopped moving. “huh?”

“i said out. the boss is waiting.”

they’re in a well-lit parking lot. the illuminated sign above the door is in a language they don’t know, but it looks like the front door to a nice restaurant.

“oh.”

this wasn’t how the movie went, was it? they wrap their arms around themselves against the night’s chill as they step out, following obediently behind the man as he holds open the front door for them.

it’s definitely a restaurant. it... doesn’t quite add up with the whole ‘getting shot in the woods’ theory, but it doesn’t do much to reassure them of their safety either. at the sight of the two of them, the smiling waitress behind the podium sobers quickly and straightens up. “the usual booth, sir?”

“not for me. the boss has a meeting with our friend here.”

oh, that’s them. they hold up a hand and smile stiffly at the waitress, and she regards them with something close to fear.

“right this way, then.”

she picks up a menu and begins to walk towards the back of the restaurant, leading them towards a booth. its only other occupant is a man they don’t recognize, but whose name they immediately know.

eve looks at the driver one last time. he jerks his head in the waitress’s direction.

[🍞]--- “Hi Giovanni~” Mizi pushed the to-go cup of coffee gently and slowly across the counter by pushing it with his fingers. Then he leaned forward; letting his elbows rest against the glass-top as he did so. “It’s been awhile. I was starting to think that you got--” He pulled a finger across his throat; mimicking a slicing gesture. “-- or something.  I was so worried~!”  

Now, everyone who came in Lovely Loaves was treated with the same amount of respect as anyone else...but...could Mizi help himself if he wanted to flutter his eyelashes at an intimidating and well dressed man? Maybe draw few hearts on his to-go cup? He was only human, and a little flirting never hurt anyone!

“Coincidentally, allow me to lend you a piece of advice, Giovanni,” she says, her look souring, “Do avoid hiring hitmen with morals. It is a most... tedious arrangement.”