❝I don’t slip when it comes to knives. Drunk or not, still an expert.~❞
He was once again bragging about it. Why shouldn’t he? He was proud of his skills. He then rolled his eyes, ❝Shovin’ a safety pin in your ear you be high on my list of dumb things I’ve done. Can’t I just take you to my piercer?❞ He again didn’t want to be responsible for any kind of infections she may or may not get from that stupid idea. ❝Suppose that is a good idea, but I wouldn’t rely on your Pokemon for everythin’. There may be a point where they can’t bail you out.❞
❝Sure am.~ One of my many talents is just pure dumb luck. Though… Like I probably wouldn’t have lived through that if my Sneasel didn’t flag someone down to help me.❞ Wish he could say he remembered that event but didn’t. One minute on the ground, next in a hospital bed.
❝First one to say they are cool, so I suppose I can let you keep that.❞ He shrugged, taking another sip from the bottle. He was feeling pleasantly warm, a bit dizzy, his chattiness was only another sign of how the alcohol was affecting him. ❝Don’t want nosey people askin’ questions is all. I’m really not sure what to tell people ‘bout them. Got caught up in the wrong crowd and nearly got beat to death? What a story. Preettyy sure Houndoom was involved. Back still hurts ya know. Like fresh burns, I just learned to live with it.❞
He let out a small laugh, ❝I wouldn’t call them lame. Justa’ lost souls like me. Had nowhere to go, and so they decided to be there for each other. I don’t know, I think it’s somethin’ to admire. Still a buncha’ dumbasses.❞ He wasn’t about to just lay in the sand and get it all in his long hair, instead, he curled a leg under himself. His knife still always in reach like he was paranoid of something, ❝Annddd that’s what my other group is for~ A little order mixed into the chaos. Nice balance.❞
❝ Sometimes I wish I had your chance of a quiet life. No worries. No one comin’ after ya. Thought ‘bout openin’ a little flower shop or somethin’.” He shook his head, sloshing the bottle around just to check how much was left,
❝As the sayin’ goes; once a criminal, always a criminal.❞
He was a bit surprised at how forward she was being about her life story. He was a total stranger and she was telling him everything. Alcohol really seemed to give you loose lips.
❝That ah-❞ He stopped right there, eyes wide in shock like he had just been shot in the chest. Just hearing that group’s name made his ears ring uncomfortably. Deep breath… Don’t lose your temper. She was only a little girl. Even still his hand was ever so subtly over his knife. He didn’t make any sudden moves to alert her to that. ❝Ahaha, that’s not somethin’ to joke ‘bout there, Missy.❞ A joke. Had to be a joke. Some rebel that didn’t know what she was saying. Just the alcohol… He swallowed a bit, mouth suddenly very dry,
❝Cuz’ if you aren’t jokin’ we’re about to have a problem… See Team Rocket mighta’ been involved in nearly killin’ me, and I’m not a forgiven’ person.❞Oh how the tone changed. It was thick, and worse than when he had the knife on her. This wasn’t playful seriousness.
His eyes remained locked on her, the bottle now forgotten and dug into the sand to stay up right.
“Alcohol takes most of what skills I have, ‘cept being charming. You’re really something.” It was half a joke to her personality, she knew she had a tendency to be a bit prickly. Still, it felt easier to actually enjoy people and strangers with a few drinks in her, she could almost just actually like people.
“Houndoom really are awesome, Can’t wait for mine to evolve... you can get a real enemy for life, make people remember you.” A thought that should have stayed in, she didn’t catch that it was insensitive.
“That type of luck of yours is better than anything, ‘cause you got to live, yeah? that and a close relationship with your Pokémon, better than any skill you got ‘cause it kept you in the fight.” She had no problem continuing from her flask.
She was reaching her limit on alcohol, and her guard was completely down as she listened to him talk about team skull. “Just a rag tag group of morons supporting each other, huh?” They probably formed for the same type of reason she actually joined Team Rocket, despite how different the groups were.
She didn’t catch the reason right away for why he seemed startled by her admission and history. Her guard was down, she had been one step too trusting. Why would she be joking about it?
and then it clicked
Should she prepare to defend herself? Could she get out of this? would her houndour be the right choice, or would that make it worse? Could she win a fight without having the upper hand, without surprising him? Her normal reaction would be to run, but could she outrun him in the state she was in? Despite her talk of bashing in the head of someone who deserved it, she had accidentally made herself that person, hadn’t she?
“If it wasn’t a joke... It’s not like I was part of it...” if he was an enemy of team rocket, he was her enemy, right? The night probably had to end, didn’t it? Even if he decided he was fine with her, was she allowed to be okay with him?
“a joke...” She didn’t think he would believe her, she didn’t know how to escape or deescalate the situation. “I’ll tell you it’s a joke if it’s the only thing that lets me not ckoke on my own blood and bleed out in the sand...Don’t think I can outrun you, or beat you in a fight. I don’t have your kind of dumb luck, so, if you leave me for dead i’ll probably stay that way and... “ Actually denouncing Team Rocket wasn’t on the table, she couldn’t sincerely pretend that, if push came to shove she’d get more bold about it, not back off.
“I’ve lived my life, you’ve lived yours... what happened to you... ‘s not my fault.” She was afraid the curiosity and excitement of how he’d deployed his skills before now filled her with anxiety, her whole posture was tense. The fear and alcohol would make her lash out if pushed, be bold and stupid, declare herself for rocket and blame him for his own maiming, it wouldn’t be pretty.