it's not enough.
[break][break]
the thought comes like a wave breaking against the shore, a surge of helplessness as she steps out of work with flour powdering the ends of her sleeves and a small paycheck burning a hole in her pocket.
[break][break]
and there he is.
[break][break]
katja approaches, cash in hand, eyes lowered. 
[break][break]
"i need more time."
[break][break]

+ THEO BECKETT         

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

his gaze stays fixed on one of the shelves in the bakery, only acknowledging her words by extending his hand over, palm facing up, ready to receive the cash.

"how much more?"

regardless, rocket has little tolerance.

katja weiss
mission!

☉

she risks a look. up from her shoes, past the open palm and waiting fingers, settling on his face, however briefly.
[break][break]
katja drops her eyes and relinquishes her money. weeks of work handed over, but it does as much for her debt as a bucket of water thrown overboard a capsizing ship. 
[break][break]
"a month." she tries, her hand finding her opposite arm for comfort. she digs her fingers into her bicep.
[break][break]
"maybe — or maybe two." she pounces on the silence, afraid of what he might say if she leaves it on that disappointing note: "b-but i just started a new job so i'll be making twice as much soon!"
[break][break]

+ THEO BECKETT         

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

where the silence may be damning to her, it means little to him. he knows how to use it to his advantage, to make her fill the void without ever needing to contribute himself.

and sure enough, she does.

"you understand what happens when you fail, don't you?"

he continues regardless.

"i've given you plenty time. what happened?"

katja weiss
mission!

☉

katja gives the smallest dip of her chin at his first question, still looking down her nose at her shoes like a plaintive child being lectured by her parents. that is what this is — something to make her feel bad on top of the feeling of unease that has her stomach twisting up in knots.
[break][break]
she looks up, eyes settling somewhere around the bridge of his nose rather than meet his gaze directly. "i don't know."
[break][break]
she squeezes her arm again. even with the loan covering her sister's hospital stays, she still finds herself chasing loose ends. house bills. medications. 
[break][break]
"my family needed help." the confession comes out weakly. she's sure he can infer the rest — the dip into her nest egg, the teenaged confidence that she could figure something out before the deadline, the now-realization that the deadline is here and the money is far too little. 
[break][break]

+ THEO BECKETT         

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

family. even now, years into this organization and life, the mere mention of it is enough to bring back unwanted memories and feelings. a soft spot, perhaps.

his hand slides into his blazer, but it's not a weapon that he pulls out. he fishes out a cigarette, then offers her the pack after. he lights his, then inhales, exhales.

"how's your sister?"

katja weiss
mission!

☉

katja's eyes widen as his hand disappears inside his coat, her mind racing down the list of things he may have concealed beneath the fabric. the cigarette he procures is a dark horse, as is the pack he holds out for her a heartbeat later. it feels like a respite from money talk, so she lets go of her arm and takes one.
[break][break]
"she's still in the hospital." she punctuates the news by holding her cigarette out for a light. "but the treatments are working and her doctors are optimistic that she'll be out soon." 
[break][break]

+ THEO BECKETT         

[attr="class","pokeclass"]