Slot 3 of 8 on the Team Rocket recruitment line, here's Miss Asteria from the quieter side of the Cosmotropolis's gambling den! The delightful commissioner for this one wanted a Ninetales with a more stoic & mysterious vibe to her to go along with the Dusk Ball's personality changes, and it was fun to go along with that suggestion and emphasize her foreboding aura with some different lighting/shading around her downcast face.

Ms. Asteria works a few different positions throughout the night; sometimes she's a dealer for the Blackjack & other card tables (one that you do not want to try any sleight of hand with), other times she'll lurk around patrons and show up at the most startling moments, usually with a Tarot card in hand to offer people a glimpse at their fortune. Of course, some of her suggestions are pure Barnum effect, but no Ninetales is without a degree of precognition... especially one with skills like Extrasensory and Hex.
Although she'll often use her eerie presence and level-toned charisma to sway people into following her advice, as per her Boss's orders, Asteria is generally a fair player when it comes to the tables. She has no patience for cheaters, and will inflict severe punishment upon anyone who tries to put one over on her with Will-O-Wisp, and a quick trip to a Hypno-Ball soon after... they can work off their debt to her soon after.
(Whenever she's not on duty, she's often seen with her Pachirisu of many months. She seems to be the only one that Asteria will brighten up around...)

---

Like my art? Wanna see more of it? Come check me out at my other locations:
www.furaffinity.net/user/azure…
www.deviantart.com/azuretfwork…