[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]she's hesitant, that much is obvious.

"i've trusted you before."

it did not end well for her.

and maybe she shouldn't be so guarded about this, but it's difficult. she doesn't want to let him in, doesn't even want to ask for his help in this... but what choice does she have?

her eyes widen slightly at the question, however, and the depths of this entire concept are heavy on her shoulders.

"i... have to change my name?"

it's all she has left. without it, what is she?

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]okay... he does have a point. she hates that fact but it's unable to be ignored.

"i don't know."

her mood is souring with each concept of difficulty being presented. why can't having a good life be easy? is it really so hard to be happy?

"people are going to judge regardless. if it's not for being ex-rocket then it's for something else."

and didn't he present the opportunity to be different?

her arms fold over her chest, almost defensive.

"i didn't think very far ahead about this so i guess i have to trust your judgement on it."

she hates that, too.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]her expression becomes more torn as each second passes into minutes.

”do i have to do that?”

does she need to become someone else to live a better life?

can’t she simply… live a good life as herself? is that too much to ask for?

a soft sigh escapes and she turns, body angled away from him.

and half of her wants to say nevermind, that she was stupid for thinking of this and even more foolish for asking him of all people to help her.

”i don’t want to only be able to live a normal life by being someone else.”

otherwise, what’s the point? she’d only be pretending.

”plus, how would i even get a job like that?”

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]she almost looks at a loss.

it's been so long that she isn't quite sure she knows the answers to each question anymore. the ties question is avoided entirely in favor of the others.

"i used to work under marcel maeda , but he left... i'm not sure who i'd report to now."

he had been a frequent mission partner too. another that left her behind, perhaps.

"haven't done many missions since you left. when i do, they're usually stealth and supply based."

get in, steal what's needed, get out... she's grown tired of the repetition of it all.

and when he gestures to her, her eyes snap toward him. they're sharp, bright against the darkness creeping in.

"why would i need to kill myself?"

isn't that counterproductive?

eventually, she relents. her tone grows smaller.

"i wouldn't know who to be after this... not like i knew who i was before, but this is all i've known."

she had always thought it was all she would ever know. the bad, the repulsive... it felt like karma for whatever she has done in previous lives.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]okay... she's not sure exactly how, but the things they're facing here and now have managed to go from shitty to shittier.

as ollie morales nearly topples into her, mint frost and thomas nightingale try to break away from the things chasing them.

she tries not to look back, tries to just keep moving...

but she's a curious creature. they were right to say such a thing killed the cat.

satisfaction would not bring her back this time.

she observes as thomas nightingale bleeds, as mint frost covers their retreat. she scrambles to grab them, to yank them forward to safety.

and only when they're all out of the rift in one whole piece does she release the anxious grip.

ExbMZvDZ
mint frost thomas nightingale ollie morales

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]in hindsight, she hadn’t really asked for his help.

she had wanted the blueprints he used for his own escape, tips and tricks to make it easier on herself.

and yet, his willingness to assist is appreciated nonetheless. it makes her hate him a little less… well, almost, anyway.

”okay.”

she doesn’t pry into whatever life he has or thought he had… it’s not her business, not anymore.

”where do we start?”

she’ll be out of his hair soon enough.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

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

she supposes watching her make a fool out of herself in public is better tham boredom.

and it’s with this in mind that she rises from her seat, ignoring the way her body sways for a moment. the room spins once, twice, thrice before righting itself.

”let’s find something to do, then.”

the night is still young in her sluggish mind.

caden maher

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]isn’t that the question of the hour: why did she call him?

she doesn’t know. perhaps it had been a lapse in judgement or a sudden desire to not be left to her own devices.

the list of people she could, realistically, call has dwindled into extinction anyway.

”why’d you come?”

caden maher

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]why now...

it's the one question she doesn't quite know the answer to.

perhaps it's been a long time coming, creeping in from the shadows.

or maybe she's just tired.

"i want a better life, the one other people have."

she refuses to look back at him. instead, her head tilts up a little toward barely there stars.

"it's not fair everyone else is happy."

hasn't she taken enough?

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]she stills.

for a moment, she's quiet, almost pensive.

"yes, i am."

and she can't look at him with admittance on her lips.

there's a vulnerability in breathing those words out. she detests it.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]his responses irritate her.

short, nothing tangible. there's nothing to be used, to be helpful for her.

"right."

her eyes narrow and after a moment of simply staring at him, she takes a step back.

there's no use interrogating someone when it's clearly not working.

"helpful, truly."

biting sarcasm lingers in the air and she turns back toward the alley she had came from, as if considering leaving him to his own devices.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]she tenses with his laugh.

it sounds wrong. different than the way people on the street sound, less mirthful and more morose.

"you're wrong."

it's not convincing. she keeps going, hands feebly trying to shove down the urge to yell back into her lungs.

"how'd you do it?"

she says it's curiosity, nothing more, but she knows better.

and she tries to keep animosity from leaking out. really, she does...

but she's angry and bitter and it bleeds into a frown.

"how could you do it?"

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

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

[attr="class","giada i"]this is not the reaction she expects of a man with a better life.

it makes her bitter, angry, ready to shake him by the shoulders and scream he doesn’t deserve to be free anymore.

and yet, she simply blinks at him. her head tilts in question.

”should i be?”

part of her wants to.

kill him and take his happiness for her own. she’ll put it to good use, wouldn’t she?

the whip resting on her hip is more an idle reminder than a threat.

”how’s the good life, hm? everything you dreamed of?”

CIAN MAHER