isa 🌷

That piques Mayhem’s interest, her curiosity betraying her slight caution as she eyes up the Insider, all grit and glamour so intense that Mayhem blinks back a slight feeling of insecurity. “No? So why exactly are you gracing me with your presence?”

Raven picks up a faded cover of Little Women, loosely flicking through the pages before tossing it aside as though it were nothing. She drags out the moment, taking expert care to wipe the dust from her hands before focusing her intense scrutiny onto Mayhem. “As a gesture of thanks for doing away with that idiot Flack, or whatever his name was, I have an opportunity for you that would benefit us both.”

Mayhem tenses at the mention of Chuckie Floop. For a moment, she considers correcting Raven, but granted the guy was an absolute asshole, she stays silent. She fiddles absentmindedly with her jacket sleeves, the facade of toughness she tried to project to seem in league with the other drivers dropping, instead trying to seem more casual and approachable to mask her nerves. No one had been there when it happened, the warehouse was empty except for the two of them, even outside there were no other cars except for Chuckie’s.

Mayhem cleared her throat. “Mhm, uh, how did you know that I—”

Raven scoffed, detecting the nervous wobble in Mayhem’s voice. “I have friends in high places. He was insufferable, he was competition, and a lousy roommate. So when he didn’t walk through the door, I wanted to find out who had the pleasure of killing him.” She explained cryptically with a satisfied smile, stepping closer to Mayhem, the clacking of her heels filling the weighted silence that settled between them. “Though, I didn’t expect it to be you. That was a welcome surprise.” She drawled, before reaching into her pocket and extending her hand towards the younger girl.

Mayhem looked down at what Raven held in her outstretched palm, some sort of small, green rock. She was immediately underwhelmed, a weird little rock made for a strange thank you present. Then again, Mayhem had gotten more bizarre gifts from her time on the Outside. She took the stone from Raven, holding it up to her eye to get a better look at it.

“Is this some sort of currency on the Inside? You guys trade weird little rocks in there? Wow, I’m not missing out on anything at all.” Mayhem joked, slightly confused at the gift.

“That’s green adventurine, it’s symbolic,” Raven answered stiffly. “It represents opportunity, abundance, good luck. A little token of my appreciation that solidifies our alliance.”

Mayhem’s eyes widened slightly. “Our… what? You want to form an alliance with me?”

Raven nodded, impatience showing in her face. “You took out Flack, and sure John probably hates my guts but having you… and by extension him, on my side should things go awry isn’t a bad idea.”

“What are you talking about? Is something going to happen?” Mayhem asked, moving from the side of the desk to sitting on the end of the bed, a look of genuinely surprise showing on her face when she realised Raven was right. It wasn’t some trick, not some sort of deceiving architect of her destruction… and Mayhem was beginning to wonder if Raven was the same. She was right, with the way John had talked about Raven, he really hated her. But here she stood, offering an alliance that was more strategic than malicious. She wanted protection, and joining up with Mayhem would ensure just that. A new, strange feeling of responsibility settled on Mayhem then, the realisation hitting her that she could actually be useful to someone without them trying to kill her.

Raven stiffened slightly. “Look, Calypso isn’t too pleased I’m in his little game and neither am I. Whatever he’s planning, I want my wish. But I need an insurance policy. I’ve seen what you’re all like, the three of you. You’ll go far in this, and if I kept going at it alone…”

“You wouldn’t. I get it, that makes sense,” Mayhem finished, crossing her arms. She’d watched Raven carefully as she spoke, the gears in her brain turning as she anticipated some sort of nefarious twist that never came. The goth woman was genuine, actually genuine, and it surprised her. It surprised Mayhem more, the way Raven tensed slightly every time she mentioned Calypso, spouting his name like it was venom, like it was a curse. One that she didn’t seem to want to fuck with. Almost like… she felt threatened. And one of the most powerful Insiders looking that jittery was never a good sign.

“Do you know him?” Mayhem asked.

Raven clenched her fists, shaking her head. “I don’t have time for this. Are you going to accept my proposal or not?”

Mayhem shifted in her spot. “If you get security by joining up with me, which John and Quiet really won’t like by the way, what do I get?”

Raven didn’t hesitate. “Your wish. Whatever it is, you’ll get it granted. That’s a guarantee.”

“So you do know him, huh?”

“Your wish, my safety. Take it or leave it. So do you accept or not?” Raven snapped, doing her best to ignore Mayhem’s insistent probing, her gaze filled with a shocking intensity that stunned Mayhem, silencing her on the subject of Raven’s likely history with their elusive master of ceremonies.

“Uhh, yeah. Lady, you got yourself a deal. I accept your terms. But John and Quiet, if they see you hanging around me, it won’t be good for you. Like, they’re really pissed.”

Raven nodded. “Yeah, no shit. Let’s just keep this between us. I’ll talk to you when I need to, out of sight of the others. I doubt I’ll have to…” She said, trailing off as she noticed Mayhem’s eager expression. “But the option is always there.”

“Fuck yeah, secret alliance!” Mayhem exclaimed.

Raven turned on her heel, hearing what she needed to hear. “Please don’t be annoying about it. And spreading rumours like you did before the Qualifier was ballsy but stupid. The trick is to not have it be traced back to you.” She said as she headed to the classroom door, looking back over her shoulder. “I never said that cockroach lady was a bug-brained freak. I thought it, but I never said it. Nice try, kid.” She said, heading into the hallway after closing the door with a soft click.