#::💥 hassa tag.

[irxnmaiden]

"All of the movies and comics I'd ever seen Scizor featured in portrayed them in such unpredictable roles: sometimes the hero, typically the anti-hero, occasionally a very well-written villain, the list continues. Despite this, or actually because of this, they were always intriguing to watch or read about. I inevitably found myself wondering, as far back as I can remember, what it'd be like meet one in person.

Bug-types are a whole other beast than steel, though, as I learned after befriending Bugsy. It seems to take a lot for them to trust a human, and it appears many of them hold a specific code of ethics, which has always been fun to observe... But, I'll be honest, training one seemed more than a little intimidating—and this is coming from someone who's wrangled two Steelix.

Though, I– can never turn down a gift. It was a complete surprise, when Bugsy sprung upon me the idea of a trade. At the time, I had Subo with me—the gentlest Shuckle you'd ever seen, though painstakingly shy. So shy, in fact, that he'd spend days at a time tucked within his shell. He wouldn't touch any of the berries I'd gather for him while walking Oshi, which would become increasingly worrisome as days rolled by...

I'd mentioned Subo a lot when hanging around the gang, so obviously everyone knew how dire the situation was. Bugsy, thankfully, was quick to offer his assistance, going as far as saying he had been training in-secret the "perfect Pokemon partner" for me. I must admit, I was perplexed, unable to imagine what he could possibly meant by that.

My eyes lit up, watching as the Scyther that appeared holding a metallic jar of film warped through forms right in front of me. She became– much taller than myself, looming over me with the most menacing stare, almost as if on instinct. Bugsy seemed incredibly pleased with himself, I guess completely missing my look of shock, because he and Subo were off before I knew it...

Subo is doing very, very well these days, by the way.

Hassa, as I dubbed her, was another story. While Subo began properly eating and becoming more sociable, Hassa and I struggled to communicate whatsoever. Any question I had, comment I made... they were all met with a death stare unlike any other. I could– sense the judgement there, and her disregarding commands in battle proved my hunch all the more. There was simply no getting through to her that, after exhausting every last resource I had at my fingertips, I eventually stopped trying.

I soon after began finalizing the paperwork for my new role as Olivine's Gym Leader. While the auditioning process had been fun, and really helped me break my shell when it came to interacting with others, the lead-up to assuming the role was just positively soul-crushing.

Finalizing my roster had a few bumps in the road, which didn't help things. Stahlos was much too "over-leveled" to properly conduct battles at my designated seat within the League, that his daughter Titania—freshly evolved, though still practically an infant—had to take the position as my ace instead. Admittedly, even despite earning my specialization and succeeding in every officiated demonstration, the steel-types I did have with me at the time weren't many. Hassa, being my only other fully-evolved Monster, didn't make the cut—something I was secretly thankful for.

The twins assumed the final two slots, and within a week the doors to the Gym were reopened. In walked a Lass—Melody, if I'm remembering correctly—and my career as Leader officially began its course.

Stories at the time were breaking left and right about a "Team Rocket", a name I heard a lot of when I'd first moved to Olivine a year or so prior. People began acting more paranoid, more shifty—even around those they were closest to? I wasn't getting enough sleep at that time, and not because of the public's shift in consciousness, but because I was beyond exhausted. Gym leading wasn't at all the glamour and glory seen in movies and whatnot, it's intensive and demanding. Things I had expected when walking in, but not to the extents to which I was pushed.

Battling lost its spark, and quick. No challenger that passed through those doors was able to take out Titania, which led to my reputation extending from Olivine to all throughout Johto, probably even Kanto. The media began hounding me more, in between segments about shady instances that were happening all throughout the region. To put it bluntly, my patience was what was being tested at the time, while my skills were not.

And I'm sure Hassa took note of that. I could see it in her glare that she didn't take me seriously, that she saw me as unfit to be her mentor. It stung, it really did. But I continued to push for that spark to return, and kept pushing until my fingers bled.

In walked Kris, one day. We'd connected in Goldenrod months before that point. The wildest thing was finding out that our fathers knew each other, that they'd grown up together in Alto-Mare and had been pals. Dad was still a– sore subject, for me, but it felt nice meeting someone with a familiar background. We became incredibly close, as we are to this day—I know few people more reliable than her.

But, in battle, history is swept aside. I'd heard of her track record up to that point, and extensively. After becoming the first person to take down Whitney's Miltank in goodness knows how long, I knew to be prepared. I wiped the sleep from my eyes, straightened my focus—I would not stand to be upstaged in my own Gym, and especially not against someone I held such a deep respect for.

I felt my blood pumping once again as sparks lit up that old arena. I found myself forgetting about Rocket, responsibilities, expectations, my dad–

Though it ended with me handing out my first Mineral Badge, I still feel as though I won something from that match, too.

Is it strange, for a Gym Leader to celebrate a loss? Maybe so... but, celebrate we did.

Over the course of that night, Hassa's whole energy had seemed to be... changing. I could tell a softening in that once-cold stare, her domineering stature less tense than before. She seemed more willing to mingle with me and the others, and it was so starkly different that I was caught completely off guard. I was as surprised as I was when we'd first met, though my surprise now came built with a foundation.

We both seemed to learn things about ourselves, that day."

[irxnmaiden]

◓

Send ◓ for information about my muse’s pokemon team! [✉️]

“This here is Hassa! One of my very closest companions, for many years now.

She was originally a gift from Bugsy, when still in the form of a Scyther. Apparently, she’d been incredibly eager to evolve. Considering Bugsy knew little of raising steel-types, and I was just beginning my mastery of them back then, he figured trading her to me would be a wonderful opportunity for the both of us. She evolved during our exchange—I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Pokemon more excited to evolve in my life!

Since, she’s remained on hand nearly everywhere I travel. Although she can be a little intimidating, especially when around male Scizor, Hassa is faithful to her resolve and has never let me down! If you keep on her good side, you’ve got a friend for life.”

[irxnmaiden]

TAGS POST YES this was re-purposed. part two is here.

[irxnmaiden]

Hassa [Lvl 100]  ♀ OT: Bugsy  Origin: National Park, Johto Impish; somewhat vain.

Known moves: X-Scissor, Bullet Punch, Superpower, Dual Wingbeat, Sand Tomb, Steel Wing, Metal Claw, U-turn, Slash, Knock Off, Bug Buzz, Night Slash, Counter, Swords Dance, Agility, Detect, Roost.

Bugsy traded Jasmine a Scyther as a gift.

he knew she had always wanted a Scizor, so the gift came with a Metal Coat.

initially, Hassa would not listen to Jasmine at all.

a bit of a primadonna, still.

she is incredibly stoic, and very hard to read.

dislikes noisy environments.

somewhat of a clean freak.

is obsessed with mega-evolving, and so she’s typically Jasmine’s go-to there.