this wasn't the first time she'd attempted to speak to him, nor would it probably be the last. avery sighs and lifts his feet up to cross them over the table, fingering in his pockets for his phone.

"time for you to shut the hell up, i imagine. or did you need something to fill that trap of yours?" he yells back, flipping one of his social media apps. the first image he saw was a thirst trap, and of course, he gives it the proper double tap.

he knew he shouldn't engage but, arceus it was amusing. who knew life with rocket could be so good?

@sole

against his better judgement something flares inside of him. annoyance, irritation, and even the desire to crush what little spirits this woman had left.

he stands, nearly jetting himself out of his seat, and moves to the door of the cage. what he saw was held a certain symbolism; a growlithe waiting to be euthanized.

"says the mutt locked in a cage," avery spat, a condescending smirk tugging at one side of his mouth. "beg me properly and i might even feed you a snack."

@sole

"woman?" his eyebrow raises, chin pointed in superiority. "dirty, matted, and used. what man would want you?"

he reaches into his other pocket for a bag of unopened jerky. it was bacon flavored and bought just tonight. he cracks it open and tosses a piece into his mouth.

"you might just get your wish then."

@sole

"not the brightest, are you?" his tone is low and dangerous, forehead leaning against the bars to peer between them down the bridge of his nose. "how's that bravado and ego fairing for you? i'm sure even eating would be difficult, with all that shit you're spewing."

as if he were teasing a malnourished dog he tosses one of the large pieces of bacon towards her, letting it land just a foot or so in-front of her.

"go on. have a bite."

@sole

"you're not wrong there. at least lift up your shirt, give me something worth while to look at it." he mindlessly bites off another piece of jerky, lips coiling into a serpentine smirk.

"that's what life's about isn't it? takin' what you get?" he stares at the dirty, disheveled woman. he admires, for a single moment, her tenacity and will. in the end it would mean nothing, but here, have your token respect.

"i'm sure you'd do worse if the positions were swapped. you league dogs have had your boots on our necks all this time. tell me, mutt, how's it feel to be the one kicked into the dirt?"

@sole

it's his turn to sneer now. lips part to reveal canines, fledgling as they may be, but sharp enough to cut a wounded dog.

"you've sat upon your throne for long enough, don't you think? looked down on us peasants like royalty. turns out when you shake the hive long enough, something is going to come out and sting you."

had he not suffered enough? his family? his sister? he was done begging for the scraps that would fall to the floor. he was done putting up with it.

sol might've been innocent, but she was just as involved in this as he was. fighting to keep a status quo that had been nothing but destructive.

if her death meant someone else could be spared, well, so be it.

@sole