[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]her silence persists even after he asks a question of her, after he fills spaces with words and syllables and concepts.

she has to blink life back into the eyes. the sound of strings pulling too tightly echoes in her ears as her head turns.

"um, no."

not a single clue.

"what did the brief say again?"

she missed that part and the part after... all of it, in a way. it went into her ears, sure, but nothing stuck.

and beneath confusion lies a secret prayer sent to whatever or whoever above that her partner might just get frustrated enough to go on without her. it'd save her the misery of having to play along, of having to fake loyalty and dedication and everything that makes her want to throw up at his feet.

she knows, though, that she's not that lucky. if she was, she wouldn't be here in the first place.

Isaac Merlo

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]okay, that tree looks exactly the same as the one she just passed.

is that a normal woods thing or is she going around in circles?

here, beneath the crown shyness of petalburg woods's trees, she isn't sure. hesitation makes her second and third guess herself until she's ready to yank her hair right out of her scalp.

"i hate the woods."

it's mumbled out, an angry little huff as she begins to stomp off in a different direction...

only to end up in exactly the same spot she had just left mere moments ago. ugh!

this time, however, is slightly different.

this time, there's another person standing in the clearing.

"are you lost too?"

Elise Calcifet

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]after a much needed self care day and yet another nap, she's finally getting out of the apartment to take the skitties on a walk.

they're unruly today, she realizes. bundles of energy who are mad at mom for taking a nap instead of playing with them (how dare she!).

no matter... the walk will expel some of the chaos they have in their little pink and peach bodies.

if not, she'll be running laps until they're calm again.

on her stroll down route 115, she stumbles across a stranger. her smile is small, hesitant but encroaching on kind territory.

"hey, enjoying the nice day?"

spring has finally come and thank fucking god. she does not like the cold.

Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she's strayed from the safety of rustboro for what feels like no actual reason.

and maybe, in the end, there really is none...

but she's never seen the aftermath of the meteor plan or the damage it caused. she has this funny notion, you see, that if she simply looks at the wreckage then leaving will be easier.

she actually believes she could have the strength to do it by simply looking at littleroot. it's a foolish concept, she's come to realize.

as she looks upon the quaint town of littleroot, she feels nothing close to strength. only guilt.

noise sounds to her side and she turns suddenly, eyes wide with surprise. there, she finds a man.

"oh, hi. sorry, didn't see you there..."

awkward.

Josh Devlin

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]this is a mistake.

she knows it, feels it, but she still agrees to the offered task. she's supposed to be leaving. she should have been gone already.

and yet, the pressure to keep up the appearance is still there. it feels like a red target on her back. one wrong move and she's another body in the ground.

her partner for this lockbox scouting is a guy she doesn't quite recognize.

well, that's not true... she feels like she's seen him in passing at least.

and she doesn't say a word to him regardless. she doesn't trust herself to say anything.

instead, she simply... waits for him to direct her. a puppet on strings, slowly cutting herself free while dancing to the same tune that drove her over the edge.

it's sickening now, she realizes. she misses the comfort of home, of CIAN MAHER's loaned apartment and all of the plush blankets she stole.

Isaac Merlo

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]after a few days of cleaning, packing, and almost ripping all of her hair out, she has finally finished prepping CIAN MAHER ’s apartment into her own makeshift home.

it’s temporary, sure, but she no longer feels like she’s an intruder in his place.

his ex’s things have even been neatly packed into a box, tucked beneath the bed for safe keeping. she didn’t have the heart to throw them out, perhaps.

and when she finally collapses on the couch after finishing the bathroom, she hears the door lock unclicking.

it startles her into awareness, eyes widening. and really, it should set in that it’s probably just cian or one of his friends thinking he’s here but she waits behind the door with her whip in hand regardless, coiled up and prepared.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]she lets out a laugh, almost an amused sort of sound.

”you know, i’m not surprised.”

she sees it as a compliment, perhaps, that the concept of her number in his phone is temptation enough.

her hand reaches to take the phone back, eyes dropping to the navigation he’s pulled up.

”looks simple enough. do i need a key or anything to get in?”

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]”okay, i’ll take care of it.”

it’s the least she can do for staying in his apartment rent free, right?

and for the first time in a little while, a laugh escapes.

”i won’t, i won’t.”

she’d actually use the front door for once.

his hand extends, then, and she stares at it for a moment before slowly offering her phone.

”you could’ve texted it too, you know.”

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]it takes a few seconds for his words to process.

and when they do, her head tilts curiously.

"you sure throwing it out is fine?"

won't his ex... want their stuff?

she makes a mental note to pack it up anyway, if only because the last thing she wants is to have his ex show up for their things only to find just gia and none of their belongings.

that wouldn't go over very well.

"not the address but maybe the windows?"

somehow, a small smirk slowly unfolds.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]just say no. it'll be easier, more independent, less relying on him.

she's quiet for a moment.

and briefly, like faint little flashes, she swears she vaguely remembers his apartment. it's blamed on the night creeping in, on exhaustion eventually settling into the nervous system.

"okay."

she'll regret it.

"as long as i'm not imposing."

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i"]oh...

right, shelter. that's a thing people need.

"no."

she really did not think this through.

"i can manage on the streets if needed."

it wouldn't be the first time and surely not the last.

perhaps hoenn's alleyways will be kinder than celadon's had been.

CIAN MAHER