her eyes remained on the wall, tired from the drugs they’d given her and weeks of sleeplessness that seemed to hit her all at once.[break][break]

i’m so weak…[break][break]

it echoed in her mind, as she accepted it as a gutting truth. maybe she could come back from it. at that moment, however, it felt it would ever get better.[break][break]

where was her poor noivern? had he killed it like he said he would?[break][break]

with a voice dull and lifeless, she said simply, ”Greyson Connors.”[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]Cillian Quinn

she blinked sedately on the bed, her face soft and vague. the shadow miasma was a small comfort, and she watched it crawl along the walls idly like a child watching a candle flame. in it were clouds of a galarian sky; a game of chess in a courtyard, cut short by a storm rolling in so long ago that it hardly felt from the same life anymore.[break][break]

death taunted her. it put teeth around her skin and watched her like a dog looking for a reaction. such was a dance all hoennians had come to know, but that day, to her, it felt like a lonely suffering. like an exhaustion only she could feel in quite that way.[break][break]

in the distance of what hazy vision her mind could attempt of the future, revenge looked tiring too — but they would kill Greyson Connors anyways, together. [break][break]

”i know.”[break][break]

it was only after a long stretch of silence and staring into time that she answered her brother’s next question.[break][break]

”i’m so tired, cil.”[break][break]

her voice held none of the tension or spite he’d come to know and expect from her as of late.[break][break]

”can we leave?”[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]Cillian Quinn

she looked up at the ceiling, her eyes shutting to ignore the medical staff that was easily and predictably shooed away.[break][break]

”thanks for that.”[break][break]

with a sigh, she slid off the bed, feeling a little weak in the knees from the drugs they’d given her. she blinked away some of the drowsiness and paced a couple of steps to get the feeling back in her feet.[break][break]

it wasn’t until he’d asked ‘where to’ that she realized she wasn’t sure. her island was the answer that came to mind first, but to feel that lonely place was her destination after all of this was disappointing.[break][break]

there was another lonely place she much preferred.[break][break]

”my old lighthouse.”[break][break]

the land had been purchased where it still stood, though no one occupied it anymore. it was empty and useless beyond sneaking in to perch and gaze pensively out at the horizon.[break][break]

it seemed a perfect time to do just that.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]Cillian Quinn

though she’d not been able to reach it during those harrowing moments beneath Greyson Connors , she did have an alakazam on-hand.[break][break]

”teleport,” she responded dully, reaching for its ball. when the fox appeared before them, its wise eyes held unanswered concern. she only requested, ”the lighthouse, please.”[break][break]

she put a hand on her brother’s arm, and they were whisked away in a bright flash.[break][break]

they appeared on cement beneath the open sky, and the ocean far below, past the railing. she looked over it and pulled out a cigarette, offering him one.[break][break]

”i miss it here. i come back sometimes – less lately." there had been so much to do. "no one ever notices, though.”[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]Cillian Quinn

the case was stashed away again, and she lit her cigarette and offered him a light as well. her dulled eyes never made contact before looking back to peer over the waves once more.[break][break]

like old times…[break][break]

”no.” she had never considered buying it back. ”it reminds me of something i’m not anymore.” powerful, able to sink into the many shadows that swathed the dim old building, where darkrai had once lurked too on occasion.[break][break]

she didn’t leave room to ask what she meant exactly, moving on to the next topic.[break][break]

”i didn’t tell you, but back at that island we found regice in?” the same island where they’d argued, and she’d screamed at him, and he’d used his powers on her. ”i battled PENELOPE LIVY , and she told me rowan gave the league intel on me. isn’t that some shit?”[break][break]

and to think she’d gone up against cillian in defense of their rat of a younger brother. she blew a long, sighing cloud of smoke.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]Cillian Quinn

hate.[break][break]

she’d let so much of it go, supposedly, on that vacation in galar – all thanks to a friend. but then, she’d learned of her betrayal too. confusion set in, like hot coals, waiting to catch fire once more.[break][break]

they were catching.[break][break]

what did she hate more than the prison of team rocket? the league, and the heroic mask they paraded around with.[break][break]

the league, that had tried to kill her on more than one occasion without trial.[break][break]

the league, that had stolen her brother.[break][break]

cillian’s apology hung in the air for a moment, drifting away with the smoke from their cigarettes, and the burning down of her stubbornness, and perhaps what sanity she’d found in the snow too.[break][break]

”no, i’m sorry. i shouldn’t have gone against you that day.”[break][break]

”should’ve killed him.” when i had the chance.[break][break]

she thought back to the missed opportunity in the clearing, when everyone had been looking for Rowan Wrynn , and she’d found him first and spared him. what a mistake. he was gone like a ghost again.[break][break]

but now, she had someone else, who stayed in the spotlight. Greyson Connors was a perfect target for the hatred that flared back to life. he should’ve taken her down.[break][break]

”i want to kill connors.”[break][break]

she turned to look at her brother. the drugs couldn’t hide the crazed look he’d seen once before, covered in FERNANDO SILPH ’s blood.[break][break]

”i want to make it nasty.” brutal. more than he deserved, but all of what the league begged for.[break][break]

”i’ll need your help.”[break][break]

she was back.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]Cillian Quinn