cryptic

Stopping as he heard the girl say something Tribiano turned to face, the same smug look on his face as she spoke. “Who can’t get a break.. You?” Walking back as he stood on the other side of the bed. Francis remained as he faced Tribiano for a moment, reaching up to cover his lips before lowering it down then slowly turned to face Hilda. Same dazed look in his eyes, glossed over. What was happening. Hell if he knew. Tribiano stood by with the smile, arms crossed. Knew exactly who she was talking about but opted to mess with her a bit. “If you’re going to talk girl.. Speak up and continue. Don’t pussy foot around it. Either talk or keep your pretty little lips shut.” Staring, waiting for either an answer or silence he smiled. “Everyone has the impression you don’t care about much anything.. So why care for this whore then. Word is you’re not on speaking terms. Did you piss him off, or did he piss you off? Strange you’d be here sitting like you care about this.” Waving towards Francis at the last sentence, he smiled down at them. Loved seeing his little slave in the state they were in. Head injury or not, it was just another easier means to toy with him. 

Francis looked miserable as he lay fading in and out of consciousness, unsure what the two were even talking about. Or in this case what the man who loomed before him was saying. Facing Hilda as she seemed to stare back at him. “Who is he.. Who are you..” Voice was weaker, he should have been resting but rather awake in fear. “He’s lost his mind hasn’t he..” Pulling up a chair, even though Hilda had said a few words, it was more than he would have expected from her. Sitting down now beside Francis on the other end. Reaching for his hand and caressing it gently, an act of caring. A façade. “Are you capable of this hm? Comfort him, show some affection.. If not why speak up in the first place? Why pretend?” Interlocking his fingers now with Francis’s hand, while the other reached for their face to brush back his blond hair from the damaged eye. “Healed up nicely didn’t it..” Running his hand over the scar Tribiano chuckled. “Even I have more sense.. So tell me dear, what was it you said? Either speak up.. or shut up.” 

Even as Tribiano almost loomed over the two, Hilda just kept staring at him, not breaking eye contact as he went on his own little tangent. She’d heard that he was two faced as all hell, especially towards Francis. She’d heard the rumors regarding the scars and whatnot, and just generally how he was towards Francis. It truly made her wonder why, especially considering the fact that she was witnessing it right now.

Not getting a response from her as he spoke, he stared as the look of confusion became something of fear. Was he where he was supposed to be? Was he safe? Turning his head slowly at the doctor when they walked in, now speaking to them slow and hoarse only to be told to stay quiet and rest. It wasn’t much help either. When the man walked away Francis could only gaze back at Hilda. The usual look he had in the past, that of a bold annoyed demeanor gone and left with a weak man. Remnants of a broken kid as he just stared, repeating himself. Scared with not knowing, fear in the fact he couldn’t remember anything but his name and scattered past. “Who.. are you.. Where am I..” 

It wasn’t very long until Tribiano walked in, amused by the fact the cold woman was there. Word had gone around the two weren’t on speaking terms. He was fine with that, possessive as it was. Walking towards the blonde’s bed and loomed over them a moment. Speaking to Hilda. “I heard what happened, surprised that you’re here.” Looking down at Francis, how pathetic and weak he was at this moment. One could say this pleased Tribiano, that and the fact his “friend” was here with him. If they even were friends. Cold as ever it seemed, she amused the man in that sense but was nothing more than another one working under him. Still the boss had to make an impression as he leaned down, gripped the blondes hair which prompted a sudden cry in pain. Quick to muffle the cry with a deep forced kiss, leaning in as he pressed his lips against the others to silence them. Brown eyes watching Hilda, he didn’t expect any sort of reaction but made his mark. This man was his. Pulling back with a smirk before reaching for the mans cheek who stared wide eyed unsure what just happened. Caressing gently, almost tenderly.  “Get better Francis.. Don’t delay now.” With that he gave one last glance at Hilda, amused before walking off. 

Seeing Francis in such a condition almost made Hilda feel something. Almost. However, she opted to just... not say anything. Honestly, she was finding it hard to respond. Though, just when she opened her mouth, Tribiano walked in. Although it didn’t reflect at all on her expression, she wasn’t particularly happy to see him. Not after witnessing the things he’d said to Francis that one time. The scene that unfolded, however... yeah, it made her feel even more negativity towards Tribiano. She had yet to acknowledge it, but she was subconsciously beginning to care for Francis a little bit- a feeling that was incredibly foreign to her.

Watching her with the same look of confusion and daze, he couldn’t recognize her. As Hilda spoke it didn’t make much difference while he stared. He knew her, yet didn’t know her. Felt like something was missing, as if he were in a dream. “Don’t.. make myself.. do what?” His voice was hoarse, dry. It was apparent Francis wasn’t all there, from the glazed far of look in his eye to the confused yet tired expression. “Are you.. sure..” Did he really know her? Was this a dream or everything else a dream. Knew his own name, couldn’t remember how he got here. Who she was, where he was. Continuing to stare from where he lay, speaking again though a broken form of French, had a hard time finding his own words. Asking her name, where they were at before reverting back to English. 

Staring for a bit in silence again before repeating. “Who.. are you..” His mind seemed to rewind and repeat. Though this was temporary, it was still fresh. Reaching up towards his head again, feeling the sides throb, still dizzy. Weak and heavy. Wincing once again at the touch. It was clear what ever happened had an affect to his memory. One who remembered everything now remembered barely anything. Octavio walked by to check something for a moment before speaking to the new girl. “Bullet to the skull does that.. He’ll be fine, lucky it was from the side or he’d be dead. His memory will be here and there, he’ll be confused often but he will return to himself after some time. Memory and all.” She didn’t seem interested to the doctor, still she was there, might as well tell the girl what was up. 

Upon noticing Francis’s confusion, Hilda didn’t say anything. Hell she didn’t really respond to him as he spoke; she didn’t even know why she bothered. After all, it made sense as to why he would be just a little bit out of it after a literal shot to the head. She only just very vaguely nodded, recoiling ever so slightly as she watched him once again touch the wound on his head.

After thirty minutes Nic was back and handed her a soda. Lingering a moment as he watched his friend. Odd seeing him like this, in a bed hooked to wires and a heart monitor, so fragile. Head wrapped as the blood that had been there before seemed to finally stop. Aimed and shot through the left temple, miraculously survived it. The doctor and his daughter did their best and the rest was up to Francis now to pull through. Eying Hilda the man stared at her for a moment, unsure what the relationship was between her and him. Acquaintances, friends? She didn’t seem to fond of Francis so it was odd that the girl was here.  Nic couldn’t stay very long, had things to do and eventually left the room. Planned on returning later and hoped his friend would be at least awake when he did. 

It was a couple hours and a few change of the IV bags that eventually Francis parted his eyes again. Half lidded, exhausted but there. Staring at Hilda again in silence. Not quite knowing who she was, where he was, what even happened? Felt dizzy despite the fact he was laying in bed. Reaching his hand up to his head he winced at the sudden pain before lowering it back down. Couldn’t remember a whole lot, this was something like a concussion but worse. Much worse as he stared at Hilda with a visible look of confusion and uncertainty. Mainly who was this girl, did he know her? Part of him felt he knew her yet couldn’t pin point from where. Trying to speak, slow and hoarse he reached for her. “Who.. Do I.. know you?” 

All while Nicolas was in the room, Hilda of course didnt pay any attention to him. It was the same with the doctors; she just found herself rather fixated on Francis as she... desperately hoped that he would be well. That he would power through this injury.

If your character could sum up all of their experience into one piece of advice, what would it be? Why would they pick this piece of advice? 

"Don't lose yourself."

A simple job gone very wrong, Francis couldn’t get his mind in the game. After what happened, the way he left Hilda like that, he was too harsh on her. Went too far, of course after that day they hadn’t seen or talked to each other. Part of him wanted to find her, part of him felt it was best to let it go. Still he couldn’t shake this guilt. Upon thinking everything over he completely missed the fact that the enemy approached him and shot him in the head. It took Nicolas to find the man seemingly dead on the floor only to find they were still alive, barely. 

Dragging their friend into the building and trying his best to yell for help. Of course this was a few days ago. Francis was in the medical wing and it was a hit or miss whether he would recover or completely go brain dead. The shot was from the back and so far it was 50/50. Nic was in the room as Hilda seemed to approach, he hadn’t outwardly met the girl but knew Francis had and stared at her from where he sat. Sword on the side of the chair. The injured man was in the bed, head wrapped as tufts of blond hair stuck out. The usual eye patch wasn’t covering the left eye and showed how badly scared it was. Watching the girl stare at Francis, Nic stood and figured he’d grab a bite if she was going to be with him. Grabbing his katana and walking past her. 

About ten minutes after the man left did the blond part his eyes, the usual light blue and the other empty and milky white. Francis looked confused, very confused as he stared at the ceiling then towards Hilda who was looming over him. Didn’t seem to recognize her as he stared with an empty sort of gaze. Dazed. Not entirely there but he was alive and awake. Mumbling something incoherent for a moment before his eyes rolled back and he passed out. 

As Hilda waited for some sort of indicator from Francis, she just... sat there, staring blankly in his general direction. Her phone buzzed here and there; she had work to do but that was by no means of priority to her right now. The tech department could survive without her skills.

Upon seeing the slightest of movement from Francis, she actually perked up a little bit. This was definitely a good sign; so he was alive and... seemed to be surviving the injury. She was well aware that recovery would take a long time, but as long as he survived, then that didn’t matter. Though she didn’t know why, she felt a bit relieved to have reached this conclusion. The mumbling, to her, was yet another positive sign.

“There’s nothing in your files because you give nothing.. You literally just started working here and know one knows who the hell you are aside from your skills. We’re all in this shit hole because of some ability and skill, but our pasts are all relatively fucked up  all the same. No one is like you.. Like a wall you talk to, where you question if you’re listening or not and feel stupid because you’re talking to yourself at some point despite the fact you’re sitting right there. Yeah I noticed, you don’t pay attention to half the things I say.  You’re not even listening to me now I’m sure. Or deflecting. God your apology the other night was just as empty.” Running a hand through his hair he frowned. 

“Pretty sure were either raped and fucked over and over until your wires crossed and you lost yourself or saw something so horrible your mind just fucked itself over. Whatever the case then I’m sorry you’re now a robot with nothing to show emotionally said for a computer.” He was angry, same expression same monotone voice. Pulling back he stood. “Keep in mind.. Everyone in that building has a skill that is useful.. and we’re all fucked up in our own rights.. but no one is like this. Empty.. Don’t act so high and mighty because you’re less human.. Thanks for the beer but..” Pulling out some cash he set it down to pay her back before walking away. 

Even more time had passed. God, Hilda didn’t even know how much time had passed since that last encounter (even though it had only been a small handful of weeks). All she knew was, she didn’t want to associate with Francis anymore. And so, just like when she’d struck the nerve with him, she made sure to leave pretty much zero trace of her existence towards him. Minus the fact that some lights were on 24/7 in her own little corner, there was zero trace that she was even there. And, of course, contact with everyone else was minimal, as it had always been.

It was a few days after the incident, but word finally made it to her that Francis had been shot- in the head, no less. The news was a complete shock to her, and she was rather quick to navigate her way to the medical part of the manor.

Frowning as her response was the same and empty, he slid his mug aside and pulled away whatever drink she had too. “I speak none sense to you perhaps.. but something happened. No one is born like this..” Maybe sociopaths but even they know how to act. “I’ve been through a ton of shit and I’m not this dissociated as you are.. I should be all things considered.. So what happened that had your emotional wires were snapped because it’s not exactly normal Hilda. To be in a constant state of expressionless, uncaring and dissociated from well what makes a human.. a fucking human.” 

Frowning he shook his head. “I don’t want another drink, I want to know more about you. You’ve got me realizing I know nothing except for a name and what you do. How old are you, what is your last name, you know much about me through files I’m sure.. How else did you know about my side job yet..  I know nothing about you said for a name, one name and it doesn’t seem all fair.” 

As he pulled away her drink, she somewhat visibly tensed up. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him, and she vaguely bit the inside of her cheek as she listened to him. Of course, she gave no indicators that she had been listening, minus yet another lazy shrug. He was beginning to strike a nerve with her that she’d been unaware of.

Same expression, same empty look. Giving her an annoyed gaze he went back the drinking finishing up whatever was left in his mug. Facing Hilda again as she spoke. “Yeah, and even then you weren’t all that interested. I got the impression I was annoying or bothering you.” She didn’t seem to care, yet again. Same monotone manner speech, same unchanging expression. Hell he got more out of her when she struggled to apologize. “So I’m just someone you picked to talk to and hang out with?” Not so much in the talk, if anything she never really listened when he was talking. Didn’t feel like she was anyway. 

Pausing a moment in silence he faced her with a frown. “Did someone hurt you.. Were you traumatized or something as a kid to be.. Well.” Waving in her general direction, he couldn’t understand why she was the way she was. Like a robot or a zombie. He didn’t mean to come off as offensive but this was bothersome. “Do you have any emotion that isn’t this look of constant disinterest. I’m not trying to be rude and you’re probably not even listening to me, but.. what happened to you.” 

By the time he finished talking, she seemed to have been caught completely off guard. Now he was asking the questions she truly didn’t expect to hear, from anyone. All she knew was, Tribiano had recruited her for her skills and work ethic, not due to... whatever it was that had happened in her past. Clearing her throat and blinking, she looked over to the bar tender as if nothing had happened.

Listening as he held the glass of beer, how her stalker behaviour was merely because he was predictable and she easily figured out his pattern. How he works, when he comes home. It sounded so boring, for her to know this. “You make it sound so.. casual when it’s not.” Yeah maybe he was predictable, maybe his schedule was easy to find out but he still found it odd that she went out of her way to somehow be with him. Be around him. Questioning her motives and why she was doing this now, Francis faced her. “Can I ask why?”

He was still upset with her words earlier, and her apology felt forced. “You insult me.. give a rather pathetic apology and.. continue to try and be around me. I thought I annoyed you, why go through all this just to by some chance find me.” He couldn’t read her, couldn’t understand her. One moment she goes one way, the next goes another. “You’re odd.. But it’s not a bad thing.” He didn’t mind her, still upset over what she said but knew he would get over it. It was his life and situation he was angry with, not her and her robotic self. 

When he asked why, she looked over to him, eyebrows slightly raised as she was evidently curious as to what he even meant by that. Then, he elaborated, which admittedly somewhat caught her off guard. However, she didn’t let that show. Instead, she offered a rather lazy shrug as her gaze just wandered to the various liquor bottles that sat behind the bar.

Francis had gone straight to bed when he arrived to his home, placing the coffee in the fridge for the next day. His job was relatively simple, gather information from the locals, not bad. Later had a client who was eager to get with him and missed him. She was an annoying chick but money was money. Unfortunate that he was stuck with her the remainder of the day as an escort then a toy at the end. It was over eventually and he had cash so figured why not hit the bar. It wasn’t that late and the day was relatively simple. To his dismay as he walked in to find her sitting there, waiting. 

How in the hell did she even find out where he went to. Groaning Francis walked to where Hilda sat, sitting beside her as a mug of beer was there as though it were for him. “You’re kidding..” Facing her he frowned, unsure what this was. A means for the girl to get back into his good graces? Why did she even care. Half the time she wasn’t even listening to him. Felt like talking to a wall and he felt stupid after. “What is this.. you’re stalking me outside of the general area now?” Free beer was free beer as he sat down anyway. “I’m going to make a wild assumption that this is mine.” Didn’t exactly wait for an answer as he chugged down the contents in one go. Unsure what more to say, what she even wanted and why she was seeking him out. Quite as he faced the bar and the man running behind it. 

Honestly, Hilda found herself surprised again as Francis accepted the beer and even sat down next to her at the bar. Then, of course, there was the internal surprise, because she knew she actually very vaguely cared to some degree. To his initial reaction, however, she found herself giving the simple huff that indicated laughter and amusement.

Raising a brow as the girl finally seemed to speak, she was surprised by his approach it seemed but he didn’t care. One thing was for certain, Hilda was struggling to speak, to apologize. From the fact she was blushing to averting her gaze from him. Did she mean it? He wasn’t sure. “You’re.. sorry?” Then she suddenly collapsed to her knees, what for? Was that so hard for her to muster it physically hurt her? Leaning down he set the cup of coffee on the floor beside him. Reaching to tilt her chin to face him. Eyeing her in silence for a moment before finally speaking. 

“I can’t say I believe you.. I didn’t take you for one to apologize and I was right judging from your fall.” The blond spoke softly, almost soothing and sultry. “You don’t care.. so this apology nothing.. Maybe this is meant to help yourself and whatever you’re feeling… Apologize to yourself.. Not me. Not when you don’t mean it.” She was cold and mechanic. Stoic and didn’t seem to care for much anything, how could such words coming from her be real if she had such a struggle in saying it. It didn’t feel genuine, not to him. Lowering his hand from her chin, he reached for his coffee and stood. “Thanks for the coffee. Good night.” With that he walked past her. 

Francis’s response, was yet again, something she could have only assumed would happen. Or rather, the lack of acceptance. Even then, it... hurt a little bit, in whatever sense just apologizing had hurt her. His kneeling down to her only made it that much more embarrassing for her as well. After a few moments’ shock, she got up and headed back to her domain for that night.

The next night, however, she found herself at the bar opposed to waiting to bother Francis the second he got back. Word had somehow gotten to her that he’d be at the bar as well, and she figured why not have a drink or two herself? She knew she needed it from just the night before.

Stopping as the girl called out suddenly, randomly. Facing her while still holding the cup of coffee unsure why she wanted to go to the courtyard. Why after two weeks she suddenly approached him with coffee as though nothing had happened. Standing in silence for a little bit with this small distance between them, Francis was curious as to what she wanted. Why go to the courtyard? She never asked that before. Returning to her as he shuffled back he frowned. “Why? You want to go to the courtyard.. for what reason. Look I’m tired.. I’ve had a long day and in no mood for games. If you want to say something just.. say it now or I’m leaving.” 

He kept hold of the coffee cup, didn’t drink it. Was going to save it for the next morning as ice coffee. He could tell as he stood before her that something was up with the girl. Her gears were certainly spinning but over what he didn’t know.  “Hilda just say what you want to say.. I can tell you’re just itching to say something. No one is here.. It’s fucking three am and I want to go to bed.” Didn’t call her robot, no regular teasing or games. He was tired with everything and just wanted to go through day by day until it was over. Either by a bullet or some sexual sadist who makes a mistake. He was tired, and it showed. Watching her, growing impatient he let out a long sigh. “What is it..” 

His response to her request partially surprised her. While she wasn’t surprised he didn’t want to go to the courtyard, she was surprised when he verbally responded- and even more so when he actually approached her a little bit. This reflected externally, as her eyes widened a bit. While he rambled a bit, she found herself working up the courage to just say it. Peel the band aid, get it over with.