[attr="class","beck"]sootopolis brings with it a slew of unresolved emotions and memories that threaten to surface. naturally, he represses them well enough to not ever have to confront them, but the discomfort still lingers even if it is only slight.

the house is nice. he glances up at it, then around them.

"we're the only ones here."

which means attention will be on them. not ideal for a criminal.

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma is distracted, wrapped up in her own negativity and grief to notice anything amiss with Theo.

But she should have.

Her attention follows his for a moment, down the street, up to the roof. She resettles on the front door, breathing in deeply. Right now, it is impossible for her to hide how agitated and uncomfortable she is.

"Because I've already bought it."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"oh."

with no alcohol inhibating his senses, her demeanor is easily recognized, though not necessarily understood. it's just a house, isn't it?

tilting his head at her, he asks:

"would you like to go in?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma stiffens at the prospect. It's a reasonable ask, but she seems to tense up, jaw tightening enough he'd be able to see it.

"No."

But she doesn't leave. The old owners are the ones inside, and they're now exiting the property with the last few boxes. The house is completely bare inside, a blank canvas.

They wave to her and she dips her head to be polite. Keys jingle and the woman leaves a set of keys in the mailbox, gesturing to it with a thumbs up.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]theo doesn't ask, at least not until the old owners are out of earshot.

"why?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"Because it was meant to be ours."

Emma steps forward, tipping her ball-cap down to cast her face in shadow. She makes her way up the front steps quietly, fishing in the mailbox for the key.

And then she tucks it away.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"ah."

theo has little to offer besides that because he doesn't truly understand what it must feel like. he's never reached a level of intimacy that she had once; he doubts he ever will.

all he could offer her when she returns is a cigarette.

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

The key feels heavy in her pocket, and she turns away to walk down the steps. An ice-cold shiver trickles down her spine, and her hands shake as a result of it. She shoves them into the pockets of her jacket, fingers curling around the key in her pocket, holding it tight.

"It's in the past."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]a thought surfaces; one that would've usually stayed unvoiced. but for her, he voices this one:

"i think you should go in."

he shrugs.

"to make it your own."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma hesitates, swallowing hard. She doesn't look at him and her hands remain buried in her pockets. The metal bites her skin.

"It's just a house."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"then you should have no issues going in."

he takes a step towards it, beckoning for her to follow.

"come on."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"Hm."

Slowly, and with a long, drawn out inhale, Emma pulls the key from her pocket. Emma steps backward to follow him, overcoming the man to unlock the front door.

But she hesitates with her hand on the knob, eyes closed.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]theo sees hesitation, understanding it enough to take a step towards her. he places a gentle hand on her shoulder, reassuring.

"it's just a house."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe