Nascour smiled thinly, placing a hand over Rui’s where her arm was hooked through his. Both a protective gesture, and a sort of… possessive one, too. She wasn’t free to go anywhere just yet. “I hope you’re having a good evening,” he intoned, voice pleasant yet somehow threatening as well. “Have you stopped by the appetizer table yet? Some of the finest delicacies from Kalos, I’m told.”

“I haven’t,” Gonzap muttered, eyes flickering from Rui to Nascour and back again. Then he finally took a step back, rolling his shoulders uncomfortably in his shirt. “Maybe I will, though. And drinks are free too, right?”

“Naturally.”

Gonzap shot Rui one last dirty look, before lumbering off in the directions of the refreshments. “I need to speak to you before the end of the night,” he said, in an attempt to sound assertive again, “but later, I guess…”

Nascour inclined his head graciously at the retreating Snagem leader’s back. “Of course,” he acknowledged. But as soon as Gonzap was out of earshot, he made some kind of irritated exhale. “I hope that dreadful man didn’t disturb you too much, my dear.”

Rui shook her head, though her thoughts were elsewhere. She remembered Nascour, but even if she didn’t, she certainly knew of him. She and Wes had crossed paths with him briefly in Phenac City. And then, just like now, she felt paralyzed by his dreadful aura. It was nearly identical to the Shadow Pokémon aura, but much more complex, difficult to make sense of… and more ominous. She never specifically felt like a Shadow Pokémon meant to do her harm, even if she knew it was more volatile and dangerous. But Nascour felt threatening.

The Cipher executive smiled thinly, before he gently led her in some direction through the crowd. “I don’t believe we’ve officially introduced ourselves,” he remarked casually, “though I am well aware of you, of course. Rui Shizuko, isn’t it? The lovely and rather persistent thorn in our sides. Try as my employees might, you seem to have evaded them all thus far. At least, with the aid of your dashing companion.”

Swallowing, Rui finally mustered the courage to speak. “W-What are you going to do with me?” she asked. “Wes won’t let you get away with—”

“Oh, do relax, my dear. I am not interested in anything more than getting to know you a little better,” Nascour chuckled. “After all, I have you and Mr. Harkoven right where I want you. There’s no need for a fight.”

Rui frowned, but realized maybe he had a point. They were already at Realgam Tower, and if Nascour wanted to harm them, he could have easily done it by now. Perhaps she really was safe… at least for the time being. “…You’re Nascour,” she mumbled, finally looking up at him. “I guess you’re the big boss here, huh?”

Nascour hummed in acknowledgement and looked down at her. “I suppose you could say that. Nascour Breaire… chief executive officer of Team Cipher. It is a pleasure to finally make your formal acquaintance.”

His mouth curled into a thin, amused smile as he paused to take in Rui’s appearance. Her usual red pigtails were gone, and her long hair now fell in carefully curated curls around her face. Her royal blue dress looked like something more suitable for a high school prom rather than a high-rolling gala, but was pretty nonetheless—a strapless gown with intricate sparkling beads patterned across the front, and a fluffy tulle skirt.

“You’re quite radiant tonight,” he offered, unlooping her arm from his so he could lift her hand to his lips in a brief kiss. “But I feel you already knew that. I’m sure your companion is a gracious and complimentary gentleman, despite his background.”

Rui made a face and pulled her hand away, wrapping her arms protectively around herself. “Speaking of which, where is he? You better not be trying to distract me with… with… charming and polite stuff while you kidnap him or something.”

Nascour laughed at that, seeming genuinely amused. “Not at all,” he assured, still chuckling. “Though I suppose that means you find me charming?”

“W-What?! That is not what I—”

“Master Nascour?”

The soft voice, almost drowned out by the noise and bustle of the crowd around them, made Nascour pause and look up. Rui followed his gaze to see a tall, beautiful woman with long hair pinned in a bun, red but in a much darker shade than Rui’s. In contrast to her usual revealing attire, Kimberly wore a modest, almost vintage looking maxi dress that ended just below her knees, with a modest neckline and short puffed sleeves. Her matching red pumps gave her even more height, and she looked almost taller than Nascour. Her dark eyeliner and bright red lipstick only added to the striking look, and also made her look much more mature and proper.

The aura around Nascour faded noticeably, if not completely. Rui caught a brief glimpse of something soft in the Cipher executive’s expression as he regarded his direct subordinate. Then he smiled, bowing his head politely. “Darling, there you are,” he greeted. “I have a favor to ask.”

Kimberly folded her hands in front of her. “Of course, sir. What is it?”

“The lovely young lady here has misplaced her companion. Perhaps you could locate him for her? I’m sure you’re quite familiar with Mr. Wesley Harkoven.”

Brown eyes darted to Rui, but Kimberly’s expression never changed. “It would be my pleasure.” She inclined her head briefly to Rui, before turning and heading off into the crowd.

“There, you see? I do not wish you to remain separated from your friend any longer than necessary.” Nascour took Rui’s arm again, though she didn’t resist, somehow realizing she really didn’t have a choice in the matter anyway. “Until my dear Miss Kimberly finds him, however, I insist you remain close. For your safety and comfort.”

Rui narrowed her eyes but followed along anyway. “Definitely feel safe and comfortable like this…” she muttered.

Nascour smirked slightly to himself, but didn’t otherwise react.

The two made a slow, lazy circuit of the reception hall, before he led her through an open door into what looked like a ballroom. Guests with drinks or food plates in their hands gathered at the edges of a dance floor as they chatted; those in the center of the floor were obviously several drinks into their evening already and dancing energetically, screaming and laughing with delight as some popular dance song blasted over the speakers. Nascour smoothly avoided the dance floor and sidestepped the crowds until they could get closer to the front of the room. Rui winced at the thudding bass, and Nascour paused several feet away, gesturing toward the rather conspicuous DJ having a grand time. As soon as Miror B. noticed his boss waving to him, he gave a beaming grin and pushed a button, letting the song play on while he moved to greet him.

“Well HEY!” he exclaimed, loud and excited. “If it isn’t Master Nascour! And the little lady who didn’t want to hang with me in Pyrite! What a shame, what a shame!”

Nascour smiled politely and led the three of them further away, where they could speak without being drowned out completely by the music. “All in past now, Master Miror B.,” he assured. “Miss Shizuko and Mr. Harkoven are our guests tonight.”

Miror B. smiled, his eyes obscured behind a large pair of sparkling silver shades that matched his glittering disco suit, which looked like the wearable version of a disco ball itself. Long strands flowed off the forearms of his sleeves, which fluttered around every time he gestured dramatically. “Ohhhh how wonderful!” he exclaimed, looking down at the much shorter Rui. “It is quite the party, isn’t it? How gracious of Master Nascour to let you enjoy the fun, too!”

“Indeed. After all, Realgam Tower is a testament to what our team aspires to, a shining spotlight on everything we have to offer.” Nascour smiled darkly, and Rui could feel his aura darken once more. “If the world’s most powerful men and women are allowed to see our power and might, surely we can afford our… rivals… the same luxury.”

Miror B. chuckled, though he sounded a little less enthusiastic. He glanced over his glasses toward Rui with an expression almost akin to sympathy. “Right you are, Master Nascour! Clever as always. That’s why you’re the boss!” He took a step back, bowing deeply and forcing Rui to duck away, as his afro swept the space in front of him. “Enjoy the party, little lady! If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my DJ duties!”

With a nod of acknowledgment, Nascour gently tugged Rui away and out of the ballroom. She felt relieved once the thumping music faded to a much more manageable sound behind her. They walked past a busy bar and a refreshment table piled high with snacks, and Rui ducked her head as they noticed Gonzap stuffing his face in a corner.

“Uncouth man,” Nascour muttered, as if Rui’s discomfort was quite obvious. “Perhaps we—”

“Oh! Oh Master Nascour! Over here!”

Rui practically cringed as Venus’s familiar, faux-sweet voice lilted through the air, and Nascour stopped. He turned toward Venus and watched as she half-led, half-dragged Ein through the crowd, waving to him excitedly.

“You look positively dashing tonight, Master Nascour!” she exclaimed brightly, clutching his free arm. Then she seemed to notice Rui holding onto Nascour’s other arm, and her expression darkened considerably. “Oh! What’s this…? Sir, you let her into our party? But whyyyy?!”

Nascour maintained his polite demeanor, even with Venus practically bruising his right arm. He pushed Rui behind him, as if trying to keep distance between the two women. “My radiant Lady Venus,” he began, in a placating tone that made Ein noticeably scowl next to them, “now is not the time to be getting upset. You should be having fun, and if our guests wish to have fun also… I see no need to cause a fuss.” He paused for a moment, his eyes shifting between Ein and Venus. “You look breathtaking, my dear. And perhaps the same may be said for you, Master Ein.”

Ein glowered at the sentiment. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t mock me, Master Nascour,” he grumbled. But even Rui had to admit, he looked somewhat dashing in his outfit, even if completely uncomfortable. He wore a deep grey, high-collared blazer over a matching set of slacks, fully buttoned as if to hide everything. His left arm was still in a sling; the memories of the events in the Shadow Pokémon Lab made Rui wince and look away uncomfortably. Fortunately, Ein didn’t seem particularly concerned with her presence.

Nascour chuckled. “Not at all, Master Ein.”

Venus seemed pleased at Nascour’s assessment of her outfit, something just as bright and eye-catching as the dress Rui had seen on her before. Tonight, she chose to wear a bold flamenco dress, long and form-fitting with long sleeves and numerous ruffles that billowed over the ground behind her. Her brown hair was placed up in a braided bun with matching pink flowers, and she swished her dress around as if to show off. “You really like it, sir?” she asked, eyes wide with admiration.

“I love it, my lady. You are always a sight.”

Ein rolled his eyes, but didn’t seem entirely offended when Venus returned to his side and clamped on to his uninjured arm. “Did something happen to the gallant young hero of Orre?” he questioned casually, his attention finally turning to Rui. His gaze was stern through his dark glasses, though not especially hostile. Rui timidly looked up at him and nodded a greeting.

“Not at all. I’m merely keeping the young lady company until we find him again,” Nascour explained.

Venus seemed slightly annoyed by this explanation, but she laughed all the same. “Always the pinnacle of gentlemanliness,” she teased.

Nascour nodded, already pulling Rui closer as he prepared to stride off again. “I am nothing without my… gentlemanliness,” he quipped, reaching out to Venus graciously. She placed her hand in his automatically, as if this were ritual by now, and he kissed it gently. “I hope to speak with you again later before the evening is out.”

Venus beamed, seeming in high spirits once more. “Of course, sir! We look forward to it!”

Ein made some kind of sound of acknowledgment, before he was dragged off by Venus once again.

Nascour patted Rui’s arm gently, guiding her through the crowd yet again. His eyes swept the crowds as they walked along, and his voice was a soft yet pleasant purr. “You see? My associates and I… we can be pleasant company,” he said. “You are more than welcome to share in that… if you cooperate.”

Rui felt her heart pounding again, but she also felt emboldened by having Nascour’s company for the last several minutes. He wouldn’t cause a scene now, right? “If you’re trying to get me or Wes to stop what we’re doing… forget it,” she growled, in a low tone only he could hear. “Being polite doesn’t make up for all the Pokémon you’ve stolen and turned to Shadow. All the people you’ve hurt and threatened.”

Nascour’s eyes narrowed, a glint of red appearing so briefly Rui almost thought she’d imagined it. But the aura around him flared, something not quite angry but almost frustrated, and she knew she wasn’t imagining things. “I am being polite because it is far more preferable to my other methods,” he intoned darkly, the threat clear in his voice. “And my Kimberly would be ever so heartbroken if I was pushed to more extreme methods. Don’t make me upset her.”

Rui’s eyebrows raised in surprise, but before she could respond, Nascour stopped and he gestured to their left. “Ah, speaking of which… there she is now.”

Several feet away, Rui saw Kimberly again, and her heart fluttered in excitement when she saw the woman was talking to Wes. In contrast to his usual dark clothing, he cut a very different and impressive figure in an outfit of all white—he wore a long white coat with the collar folded down, a white button up, white jeans with a casual fit, even white boots. It made him look positively tan in comparison, and his dirty-blond hair look much darker than usual. His brow was furrowed as he and Kimberly spoke in low voices to each other, but as Nascour and Rui approached, he looked up, and his expression softened—but only slightly.

Nascour bowed deeply to Wes, before releasing Rui’s arm and coaxing her back to her friend. “There he is. We were worried we’d lost you.”

Rui quickly returned to Wes’s side, squeezing his hand tightly. Wes squeezed it back and studied Nascour dubiously. “So I heard. But I figured Kimberly wouldn’t lie when she said you’d bring her back soon enough,” he muttered gruffly.

Nascour chuckled and held out his hand. “It is quite the honor to officially meet you, Mr. Harkoven,” he said, his eyes dancing with small flecks of red even as he smiled. “I told you that we’d see each other again somewhere, and so we have. Nascour Breaire… chief executive officer of Team Cipher and your host for the evening. I do hope you and your lady friend are having a pleasant time.”

Wes stared at Nascour’s hand with a look almost akin to disgust, but he swallowed his reservations back and shook firmly. “I’ve had worse,” he replied.

Kimberly glanced at Wes one more time before she moved to stand alongside Nascour, and he took her arm gently. He never stopped smiling at both Wes and Rui. “Such a charming pair,” he observed. “Am I to assume Miss Kimberly has not swayed your position on where we stand?”

A scoff escaped Wes as he shook his head, almost immediately. “Not a chance in hell.”

“Hm. A pity.”

Suddenly… what seemed like a dark shadow seemed to fall across all four of them, and everyone turned—and craned their necks up—to see Dakim, practically blotting out the overhead lights as he towered over all of them. To Rui’s surprise, the giant man looked rather clean-cut and nearly civilized in a standard three-piece suit, black jacket over a white vest over a black button up and tie. His slacks and dress shoes were well-sized, and even his large mess of red hair had somehow been tamed into a spiky but tidy style, too. In fact, he almost looked normal, save for the red markings still painted across his face, and the fact that this suit would look absolutely absurd if one were to see it on the hanger.

“Master Nascour,” Dakim spoke, voice low and respectful, his eyes only briefly glancing in Wes and Rui’s direction. “Might I have a moment of your time, in private? It is… somewhat urgent.”

Nascour raised an eyebrow with mild surprise, before he nodded and patted Kimberly’s hand. “Ah, of course, Master Dakim.” He looked down at Wes and Rui once again, a cold smile twitching upon his lips. “Please excuse me… and please, enjoy the festivities. Tonight is a night to indulge. But make no mistake…”

He turned with Kimberly on his arm, striding off, but his voice lingering ever ominous in his wake.

“…You had best reconsider your position by tomorrow, or my graciousness will not be extended. You are in our territory now. And this will be resolved… one way or another.”

(PS: I am not, and never will be ashamed of how much I enjoy writing my Nascour. <3)