reticent

-

If Ash’s going to say yes to this plan after hearing everything, there’s no fucking way they’re going to back down. “Fi, you should know that when I’m in, I’m in.” But they couldn’t say for certainty without all the details. “Last time I didn’t get all the details Rick was put in jail, I’m not going to repeat that mistake.” They’ll put all of their knowledge into making sure that every little thing is going to be covered and make sure they’ll have all the possible back up plans. “Is there anything you can tell me beforehand? Might make my decision a little easier.” They gave Fiona a soft smile. 

There was a hint of a smile on Fiona’s lips for a fraction of a section as she watched them, then she gave a short nod, “I would love to tell you things but even if I tell you what the job is or what it entails, you know as well as I do that Rick’s plans tend to be a bit more nuanced than even we can understand... so we might end up far deeper into things that we originally intended. I can’t tell you exactly, but... I can tell you we can do this.”

“I’ve spoken about my issues before, Fi.” she’s hesitant as she speaks, a look not often seen upon the woman’s features. “I’ve spoken about them to our dear old Rick, no less, and I didn’t see anything being done about it.” now that’s where that dash of bitterness comes into scene, staining her words in a way she’s not particularly proud of. Angie takes a few moments; takes a deep breath, too, and finally gives in. “I’m sure you’re together in this so I hope when he hears about this, you let him know.  I know what I’m good at and capable of but he’s always chosen to dismiss me.” no matter how close they were, how they would confide in each other and form a bond  -  when she asked him for a chance, he dismissed the possibility seemingly without much thought. That was precisely what stained her will to be in that crew, even before the Archie factor of it all. “I’ve told him time and time again, you know- I know this is what I’m good at, keeping our marks busy, making a huge fucking fool of myself while everyone else does their part. But it doesn’t mean that’s all I can do.” a frustration so long kept tight inside her chest finally spilled out; Angie doesn’t recall mentioning any of it to anyone but Zena, and even though the mere prospect of appearing so vulnerable to Fiona gives her a chill, it feels right to finally address it. “So, Fi. Is it something you can fix?”

It was harder than anyone would ever understand, to navigate the world of all these varied personalities whom all had ideas on how they could be better utilized. It wasn’t just Angelina that had ever wanted a different role — a bigger part, perhaps — but it almost always fell to Fi to handle those requests; Rick wasn’t one for interpersonal relationships on a basic level, but he had the charm to talk almost anyone into anything — evidenced by how he’d charmed her overall, a entirely far too hard sell.

It must have been one wrong first impression that ruined their relationship. One word or glance out of place, that wasn’t supposed to do any harm, but that ruined everything. It was highly likely that Zena perceived some non-existent slight and got defensive and resentful from the beginning. But since neither of them could remember what started this feud, there was no way to apologize and forgive each other for it. And there was no way Zena could concede out loud that she may have been the one to poison the water at the start. 

Zena is taken aback but Fiona’s compliment, even if it is a qualified and reluctant one. She takes a moment of pause, “Well, if you keep admitting the truth like that, I’ll have no reason to argue with you. Give me a few days to ponder it and I’ll get back to you. This isn’t a small request, you know. Why is it so important to you, this heist?” 

There was a level of respect that Fi had for what it was that Zena did, she just found it hard to trust the other woman, no matter how far they’d come over the years. Perhaps one day she’d get over it, but as a woman set in her ways who also trusted her judgment paramount to anyone else’s (for the most part) she couldn’t shake the feeling in her gut.

“I don’t know that it’s that important to me,” whether it was truth or a lie was anyone’s guess, but it was always hard to tell with how close Fi played things to the vest, “but I think it’s something that we can do and we should do. We were never really out of all of this regardless of how much we might have thought we were...”

even when fiona’s being direct, hugo’s always found that she leaves just enough room for anything, even his own name, to be left up to interpretation. it’s subtle, sophisticated. he welcomes the familiarity. “ you know i find it hard to say no to you when you say my name like that. ” 

“ but you don’t really believe that, do you? ” everyone is necessary. if he’s learned anything over the past few decades it’s that everyone is replaceable and life goes on. he speaks with a certain nonchalance that doesn’t hide the fact that he’s enjoying himself. “ sure, jack will be involved but he’s not necessary. we have angie. you know that. i know that. but you want the whole crew, right? ” a pause. “ why? half of us have been out of the game and you never struck me as the sentimental type. ” 

The way she blinked at him was almost a bat of her lashes, but far slower. The truth was, Fiona probably knew how to flirt as well as anyone else, but sometimes her flirting wasn’t even that provocative. She merely smiled if necessary, and she knew how to  play some people. Not to say that she was for sure playing Hugo in that moment, and in truth she’d probably admit to finding him attractive, but... some things were more imperative.

“I think even the people that I might not agree with being there are necessary to be there to make the whole stronger. There are pieces in every mechanism that might not seem important until you remove them and the whole thing comes to a halt.” She skillfully tiptoed past answering why pulling out the entire crew rather than trying to build a new one. Maybe it as comfort, or maybe she truly believed in the whole of them. Fi may not be sentimental by the nature of it but she was wholly aware of how it was stupid to change something that wasn’t broken, regardless of how the last job might have turned out.

-

That’s the words that Ash has been waiting for, frankly. For someone to give them an exit plan, a chance to escape if they don’t think the plan would work. “Do you promise me? I’m not trying to sound afraid- I’m not, I just- I need information, without information, I’m in the dark and I don’t like to be in the dark.” They fucked up so hard last they were in the dark. ‘You have very little to lose’ now that sentence made Ash laugh. “All of us have something to lose by agreeing to this.”

“Forcing you to remain if you were not entirely in it would be as detrimental to the plan as it would be to you, and neither are ideal.” Fi was also a fan of the old cut-and-run but had found it harder when she’d started with this crew. There was something about all of them, even the ones she didn’t entirely trust. She knew, however, that she had to say the words to make it clear, “I promise, Ash. If you do not feel comfortable you can walk away. But it has to be before the job starts. If you accept and you’re in it, I can’t have you cutting in the middle of the work, yes?”

At the mention of everyone having something to lose, her mouth twitched down into a frown — a ghost of a thing that felt more like a whisper than a full expression — and she sighed, “Perhaps...”

She seemed tired of the conversation and maybe with him. Not entirely unusual, as he sometimes had that sort of effect on people, so he just chalked it up to that or perhaps jetlag. He didn’t doubt that she’d try her hardest to get everyone back in, although he was confident that dangling the right carrot would work for most of them anyway. That said, he certainly didn’t want to be doing her job.

“What I want out of this? That’s a bit of a loaded question, don’t you think? I mean, I’m guessing there’s something worth our time, pulling some people out of retirement even. For me, a second shot at something big.” He didn’t specify what that something was, but it didn’t really matter that the context could be ambiguous. All she needed to know was that he wanted another shot at pulling off a big heist, and that was certainly part of it. He was tired of, though not ungrateful for, the relatively small schemes that had been well oiled over the years. “Is this something you’ve been cooking up for the past 25 years?”

Fiona gave off an air of always being tired of everyone. Whether it was truth or just a face she put on out of necessity was anyone’s guess, but she’d perfected it over the years and made it into an art. There was rarely any person who understood just exactly how she felt about them, and in some ways she prided herself on that. People cannot leave you and break your heart if they never mattered to you at all — which isn’t to say no one has mattered to her but as far as anyone else is concerned they haven’t — and she is happy in that knowledge.

Her thumb runs across the nail of her forefinger for a moment as she shakes her head, “It sort of fell into my lap. I didn’t seek it out but it is hard to pass it up and I don’t take it lightly.” There’s still that overhanging notion of what he wants to get out of it, and part of her might even know the heart of the situation but it isn’t for her to tell him; people tended to react poorly if you told them things they hadn’t admitted to you, in her experience.

That much Angelina had a talent for  -  pushing people to the very edge.  That instinct to steal from people the flattery they weren’t willing to give always speaks louder, and the woman wears it well. She knew Fi was a fitting opposite, and finds it difficult herself not to smirk at the other’s rendition of her name. “Oh, Fi, I love that look on you,” finally does she give into a grin, “Pleading.” she adds as if it weren’t obvious, pointing the remark with a sip of her drink. “I know we were good, Fi. Shit, we were better than that. I don’t doubt our ability to do something great, trust me. But getting screwed over isn’t the only thing that makes me think twice about going back.” a sudden eruption of honesty brings a little known look to her face, one free of all teasing and flirt. That wasn’t something Angelina mentioned often, used to brushing the sensibility aside and putting on a bright smile on top of every frown. Seemed to be too late, now.  “It’s just not that simple.”

Her composure was something she was known for, so even as Angelina tried to push her buttons by pointing out the fact that Angie had gotten her to plead, she offered the same placating smile that didn’t quite reach the eyes that she always had. It was silence for a long time as she listened to what Angelina was saying, impassive in her expression and somehow still looking thoughtful — an enigma in her own right — and then she parted her lips, “This would all go a lot smoother if everyone would just tell me what their issues were so I could attempt to fix them. I feel like everyone I have spoken to has some nebulous idea of what’s wrong without saying exactly what it is. I cannot fix something unspoken for fear of breaking something else entirely.”

Zena didn’t like being told what to do. Especially not by someone who acted like they knew better than her. and while it was highly likely that Fiona was far more intelligent and correct in almost every situation, that only made Zena resent her more. The only reason Zena liked Rick is that he reminded her of the men she grew up around.  She would never admit that bias, though. 

But it was a weak spot, and Fiona knew it. So at the sound of the name, Zena sighed, “If he’s the one who’s asking, then he better come ask me. I don’t owe you any favors. And I especially don’t owe you enough to uproot my entire life.” 

The trust between Zena and Fi was non-existent, and Fiona knew it was mostly her own fault by whatever she felt was the problem with Zena. She couldn’t place it, but she found it hard to trust the other woman from the jump of everything and yet she’d always been willing to work with her because she was, for better or worse, the very best at what she does.

-

Their busy schedule could be moved, delayed and reworked, but that wasn’t really Ash’s problem with the idea of rejoining the group. Did they miss the heist, the feeling of accomplishment? Yes, of course, but after what happened, after feeling like they disappointed the group by not seeing the betrayal coming? No, they were going to need every detail in order to prepare accordingly, to make sure that nothing goes through Ash without double and triple checking it. “Are you going to tell me the details before I say yes or is it a case of ‘you only get details if you’re in’?”

“I’m willing to foot you coming along to hear it all laid out for everyone and you’re free to say no after that moment. We’ve never really been good at locking anyone in. Everyone has always been free to leave after a point, have they not?” What had happened before still resonated well within Fi’s consciousness and she often thought about it, but... she left it at the door when the new job was apparent (a job she found, for that matter) and was risking herself and her rather comfortable lifestyle to see it through... for whatever that meant, “You have very little to lose, Ash.”

The visit wasn’t something he’d expected, though certainly not unwelcome. They’d blown through the small talk quickly, and obviously she wanted to cut to the chase. In all honesty, he would gladly sign up just to take another crack at something big, but he wasn’t going to show that.

He grinned, “Of course. No games.” It was a lie like a lot of things that came out of his mouth, but she probably knew that, too. “Then I’d say that I would be interested. But I’d like to know who else you’ve asked and are planning to ask.” She’d know just as well as anyone that putting the right team together was crucial. And, as if he couldn’t help himself, he added, “You must be really racking up the AirMiles for this. Sorry, force of habit.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s say that if you can get the others in, I’ll be in. And to help, I’ll even give you Ash’s address and contact info, if you want it. Technically I’m not supposed to be giving it out, but they could use this. Sometimes it’s better to break a promise for the good of the person, you know?”

When offering things to Jack it always became an answer within a question within an answer, and everything was a riddle. Even the comment about the both of them not messing around with things was as much a declaration of intent as anything. She sighs now and reaches up to press fingers into her forehead — maybe she was getting too old for this — and turns her attention towards him with a smile.

“I’ll get everyone else in. It’s sort of what I do, Jack. Even if I have to grease the wheels in non-conventional means.” She pauses and focuses her gaze on his own, forcing eye contact and exhaling slowly even as her gaze remains steady, “I’ll take the help, sure, but you know as well as I do that eventually I’d find it... let me ask you something, though?”

It came without surprise that the one behind it all was Fi. Angelina often found herself intrigued by the woman, and the way she seemed to have suspicions towards Zena didn’t hit her the best way. Now, Angie herself did secretly admire her. She always did, women like her - that had a presence that didn’t need all that dolling-up to be taken seriously. It never really shows, but Fiona removed the alluring by nature woman from her comfort zone. Was it fear of being judged or a crippiling desire to impress, she still couldn’t quite tell. “So we’re a package deal, huh.” not a surprise, either - anyone could discern how the women would be together on that decision, all in, all out. Angie, however, has to indulge in the way Fi puts all responsability of Zena coming back on her. Leaning forward, chin resting on her hand, she muses, “So talk to me about how you all reeeeally need me right now. I mean, I need to convince Zee, sure… but you guys still need to convince me. Hum?”

This. This was the part of a heist that Fiona liked the least. It seemed as if it would be easier if Rick were to come ask everyone himself, and yet it fell to her to make sure everything came together. It wasn’t that she couldn’t, or even that the job itself didn’t entice her, but everyone seemed to want something in specific these days and generally it involved a lot more flattering than Fi was used to doing, “Angelina,” her full name, just to let it roll across her tongue for more time, almost as if she herself was flirting and yet with an air of absolute seriousness, “you know as well as I do that even with all our flaws, together our team is unstoppable. Even when we slip we get it done and all of us are no worse for the wear. We have someone willing to take that fall for us, generally... we won’t let them, but... we do. So why do we continue to play games? Join us, please.”

in every other scenario but this one, he prefers it when people cuts to the chase. maybe it’s because he’s already made his mind up, or the surreal yet nostalgic feeling of seeing fiona again, but hugo’s looking to have some fun before getting to business. “ and the sky is blue, the grass is green, you look great and i need a drink, ” he quips, then waves down a bartender to order another round of drinks. “ i’m a simply guy, li. i’d like free back massages, fresh orange juice in the morning and no jack bailey. ”

There’s a smile that crosses her features, a brief ghost of a thing, and she shakes her head slowly. The list was what it was and they could only make it work with the numbers they had, “Everyone is necessary, Hugo.”

The way she said his name was like she was trying desperately to convey some hidden message, as if there was some unspoken note between them that she was fully aware of and understood but couldn’t vocalize in proper fashion. No, she seemed very set in her way and even if there was a playful hint of return volley, she was all business.