THE MEPHISTO WALTZ

“NOW IS NO TIME TO DELAY. THIS IS THE EDGE OF ACTION.” ― sophocles

WHO: angie, the distraction ( @angiestrick​ )

“and? what did you think?” rick asked, tapping the surface of the illy cup before taking a sip of the espresso. he took a moment to look at angie, a smile on his disposition. he’d missed her company, and he missed this kind of rhythm. after angie and zena’s reconnaissance, it’d only seemed fitting to celebrate with some coffee. it felt as though they hadn’t had time to catch up properly since the start. 

“i did… a little,” she laughed, “but 25 years does that to everyone, including me. we’re not our younger selves.” it was nice to talk to him, since she had adopted the habit of sugarcoating things since she started living in an affluent neighborhood in upstate new york. she hated having to talk all the time like everything was perfect, especially other people. but with the team she didn’t have to be anyone but herself. 

“she did,” zena’s lips pursed, her dislike for the right hand painted obviously on her face. she crossed her arms over her chest, her shoulders rising instinctively. “i have a good life, rick. a nice home, a hefty bank account, and even a book club that i’m apart of but never attend. i don’t want to lose that. and there’s not much i stand to gain from this. i don’t need more money.” 

all he could do is laugh. in the aftermath, though, he got quiet. “i guess not,” rick half-murmured, shaking his head but perhaps not even enough for zena to notice. he hadn’t expected this  ⁠— no, not some of the crew turning fi’s plan down. that he had anticipated ( if anyone had the right to have reservations about it, it was zena ). but what he hadn’t foreseen is how often their days of the past would pass by, as if dropping a quiet greeting and slipping away once more. zena was right  ⁠— 25 years would do that to everyone. 

    “a book club...” he repeated, trying not to frown out of respect for her. “you don’t have to lose anything. we’ll be back in the blink of an eye,” rick added, gently. he made for a bad salesman, but being pushy would get them nowhere. “besides,” then, however, he almost held back a grin. an eyebrow rose, “who says we’re in just for the money?” 

There was a step in and a hug that was as close as Fi would likely get to showing true affection to many people (and the fact that she showed up at all was more than she’d do for most) before she’d step back and look him over, shaking her head slowly, “Please, if I didn’t do it who would?”

It wasn’t framed as an insult, and in fact was said with the utmost pride — in her mind she cared for him more than anyone else probably would and a lot of that was because of her own messed up center of emotions rather than anything else, “Besides, we have time to talk about… some things, no?”

almost instinctively, rick returned the hug. he was happy, and he gave into a smile while his face wasn’t in her view. in response to her question, he nodded, as if in defeat. she had a point, but admitting it was a bit less painful than he’d expected. 

   “it’s only fair that i drive us on the way back, then.”

   rick could sense the seriousness in fi’s next question. it didn’t come out of the blue. still, the uncertainty and curiosity that bloomed at it, interwoven and topped with the faintest bit of pleasant unease, was unique. it hit him then that, whatever it may be, it would be exactly what he’d been hoping for. 

It helped that they were old friends. She wouldn’t dare speak to anyone else like that. But he was their leader, which mean that she had to bring him down to her height everyone once in a while with a dig or a jab. Just to remind him that even though she respected him opinion and instructions, she still saw him as a fallible human. Not that he had too much of an issue with pride, it was Zena who had the issue with authority. She pats his arm, “I’m only kidding Rick, you look much better than I expected for someone who just got out of prison. Granted, that bar is pretty low.” 

She flicks her hair back in an over-dramatic gesture of poise, “Oh you know, charming, courteous, and all around content. I suppose you’re here to ruin that, though?” 

“you don’t have to back-track. you meant what you said - at least i know i can trust you to be honest,” rick said, though, he did not care in the slightest how much his physical image had deteriorated this past couple of years. subsequently, he didn’t take offense at zena’s bluntness. in fact, he appreciated that she hadn’t changed, or developed some habit of sugarcoating things. “well, what were you expecting?” 

upon seeing fiona parked by the main gate, rick had to force down a smile. he even felt inclined to chuckle at the gesture. instead, the man shook his head, and tried not to focus on how much he appreciated that she had gone to the trouble. 

  “you know you didn’t have to come all the way here, right?” he offered, the grin just slightly tugging at the corners of his mouth. if that counted as a greeting, it was definitely a shit one. “there’s better things you could be doing with your time.” 

@mcstermind​

“Oh Rick, it’s so good to see you,” she hugs him in a tight bear grip, “You looking fucking awful.” 

Rick couldn’t help but laugh as he reciprocated the gesture, even if her words made him feel miserable for a few seconds. “It’s good to see you too, Zena,” still, his smile was genuine. “Worst part is I actually feel the most well-rested I have in ages. I even thought I looked more decent than usual, so’s all a big ‘fuck me’ in the end, I guess.”