gotta job

HE HAD BEEN VUNERABLE. it had been something she had so desperately wanted out of him -- needed, even, but he hadn't been willing to give it. and this girl had ripped the carpet right out from under him. anyone would be heartbroken by such a betrayal. perhaps it's why iris hadn't found it within herself to settle down, to get serious with anyone after him. even if she and nico had their closure, she was terrified of getting hurt again. even if it wasn't by him. after a moment, iris slowly takes the bottle from his hands. " if anything's going to come back and fuck you in the ass tomorrow, it's this. " she mutters, accompanied by a quiet confidence. after a moment she stands, placing the bottle on her kitchen counter, across the room. " water. that's where we'll start. " she founds the corner into her kitchen, thankful for the open floor plan of the shoebox she called home. she could see him from here. once she's seated next to him again, she releases a shaken exhale. " you really care about her, don't you? adeline. " she mutters, placing the glass in front of him. " i'm sorry. i only knew her in passing... but she was always kind to me. that's a rare thing.. in our world. " a hand comes to rest on his shoulder again. " we don't have to say anything, but.. i mean it when i say i'm not going anywhere. okay? "

ruby didn't initially plan on spending her night drinking with nico, but it wasn't the worst thing in the world. she could use a pick me up and whiskey could certainly do that job. she took the bottle, taking a swig before setting it down on her coffee table, huffing as she stared ahead at the television that wasn't even playing anything. "i haven't been drunk in a long time. i'm probably overdue."

THEY WERE TREADING INTO uncharted territory, fresh, unexplored waters. going from distinct hatred to friendship, while something she wanted -- still felt like whiplash. as he collapses into the worn fabric, she closes the door before following not far behind. it's then she notices the bottle. he's not done yet. she makes a mental note to grab him a glass of water, or five, but for now -- she opts to be there. be a shoulder, a support. brows raise at his newfound rift with vittoria. that was unexpected. her face softens at the mention of her motivations. fuck. just when nico was finally learning to be a human being -- this. " you trusted her. " iris begins, making some attempt to make sense of it all. " fuck -- i'm sorry. " while she knows better than to touch him, she feels the reflex tugging at her. to remind him that she's here. she's real. " anything i can do? " get water? just sit here, just be? " i'm here. and i'll stay right here, as long as you need me to. " she eventually speaks again. " henry got hurt. so did stella. i was at the hospital until like... an hour ago. i can't even remember. "

"seems like the perfect night to drink if you ask me," she stated, a shrug following her words. they'd lost someone, and it hurt. she joined him where he was seated, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "nothing better to do, right?" there were probably many things she could be doing instead, but she just couldn't seem to allow her mind to relax enough to do so.

Ruby knew that everyone was in a different state of mind. It was to be expected, given everything going on. Nobody was thinking clearly, and she fully understood why. She hadn't been doing so well herself. She cared about everyone in the gang, and losing someone? It was like a stab through the heart. "Sure, there's some beer in the fridge. Whiskey in the freezer, too. You can take whatever you want." She didn't believe he was fine, but she wasn't going to call him out. "I'm alright, too," she lied right back.

WHEN MAGGIE HAD FIRST arrived with the society, she was already a skilled and seasoned thief. however, she lacked the ability to be part of a team, to delegate responsibility to others. now, not only did she have the experience -- she had another person to think about. having someone else watching her back was occasionally the thing that stood between her and leaving her nephew to fend for himself. it was why she had allowed herself to be more open when working with others -- even nico, who had a history of getting under her skin. for a long time he had always seemed aggrivated by her, but frankly, she didn't give a fuck what most people thought of her unless she decided they mattered. but, in the last few months -- she'd noticed a change in him. perhaps it's why she picks up on a shift in attitude while their alone in the headquarters. " are you thinking about the explosion, or is there another reason why you look like you just swallowed a wasp? " maggie questions, arms crossed over her chest. while she is inately sarcastic, contrary to popular opinion, she does care. she just has a bit of an unconventional way of showing it.

"I didn't think I'd see you here tonight." Kaia said, walking over since she spotted him on the other side of the bar. She offered him a smile before taking residence on the stool to his right, though it was hard to not notice that his mood seemed off. "Did they make your drink wrong or something? You think a few round of shots could take your mind off the mistake?" She questioned, though it could of been nothing — still she had to offer.

Asher couldn't understand what the hell Nico's problem was, but he took a breath, choosing to scale it down for Jason, seeing as it was Jason that said that Nico had been through a lot. "Want from him? I don't want shit from anybody - you think I need money from my younger brother? Fuck no. You want to know the whole fucking story? You fucking asked for it then." Asher took a breath, shaking his head. "Our old man was a piece of shit, cheated on my mom and all - and the old man just died, a few months after my baby brother overdosed and killed himself. When our pops died, he left a note and my mom confirmed that there was another brother out there - a half brother and since losin' both big members of my family - I wanted to reach out - for me and for Maddie. There. Full fucking story." Asher rolled his eyes, lighting up again, needing the cigarette. "She's young, because my old man was a piece of shit who would neglect my mom, and then come back, in and out their entire marriage - and got her pregnant later in life again and that asshole would only ever call Maddie an accident. Now he's fuckin' dead and I'm helpin' my mom. She's a great lady who owns an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn and is constantly busy. That okay with you?" Asher asked, shaking his head. "Listen, you can fuckin' hate me, whatever - but I ain't pullin' any shit on Jason. We're brothers, and that little girl is his sister - and I wanted her to have more family that didn't think she was a fuckin' mistake and ignore her. If you got a problem - then fuck off. What the hell kind of shit do you come from where you think people got motives like that, huh?"

THANKS TO A MYSTERIOUS stranger ( who refused to say his name ), iris had made it out of the explosion thankfully unscathed. however, when she had heard that two of her friends were injured in the blast -- she found herself in the hospital anyway. she hated them, but it seemed like an unoriginal experience. understandably so. adeline's death only became knowledge to her after she left, but she sometimes didn't know how to act around nico. they had their closure, he finally understood just how deeply she cared. how badly he had hurt her. does she reach out? offer a hand? she plans to, but once she's of a clear mind. however, he seemes to have beat her to the punch. she's dead. the words aren't the only thing that take her breath away, but his tone. his stance. the broken nature of it all. after a moment, she steps aside for him to come in -- her ever loyal bulldog looking on. " i know. " pause. " you can crash on my couch. "

The ringing in Amara's eyes couldn't stop - the constant ringing and the screams and cries. She didn't even know someone was speaking to her until she heard the little girl screaming and crying, begging to know where her brothers were. Amara could see the man had a few bruises, scrapes, and the little girl as well - a big scrape to the side of her face, but all superficial. "I'm - I'm okay. I'm okay, I think. Listen, I'm a doctor - are you okay? Is she okay?" Ashie, ASHIEEEEE! NO!!! WHERE IS ASHER AND JAY JAY?! The little screams made Amara wince, the absolute desperation in them and Amara could only imagine how terrified the little girl was. "Can you just - can you help me up? I can - I can look at the scrapes on you and her. It's okay, it's okay." She reassured them both, letting out a few breaths.

She had been locked away in her apartment for roughly a day and a half. Sitting around at the hospital felt like it was pointless. She wouldn't be doing anything of value there. She kept in touch with everyone in her circle, but she didn't want to wait around, she wanted to find answers. She hadn't been successful yet, but she wasn't a defeatist. She'd figure something out sooner or later. Her guest wasn't unwelcome by any means, she just hadn't been anticipating any company. "Can I get you anything?" she offered, taking in their appearance. "How have you been feeling since the carnival?"

"Hey, you doing alright after the carnival? I didn't really see you after our shift." So maybe the fire had put a sense of care into her voice, but he was her brother after all. The blonde didn't know much of what went on beyond the phantom texts and horror newspaper headlines, though the explosion wasn't something to easily ignore. "The fire either." She continued though Aspen remained a safe distance away from the smoke until she got the hell out of there. “Where the hell did you go?”

IRIS KNEW SHE NEEDED to get out of the hospital. the moment the sterile walls began to close in on her -- until she felt like she couldn't breathe. her neighbor was kind enough to check in on kenny. even if it was just for a night of rest, some time with her dog, she knew she'd feel somewhat refreshed when the morning comes. for most of the evening, she feels like she's come back down to earth. the rest of the syndicate is telling her that henry is okay. he's still breathing. she's been able to make herself a healthy dinner to relaxing music, watch an episode of her favorite show -- but, the memory of the explosion doesn't quite dicipate. no matter how hard she fights it off. just as she settles into bed, later than she cares to admit -- she hears a knock at her door. kenny hears it first. she knows better though, and takes the time to identify who stands at her doorstep. " nico? " she questions as she opens the door, rubbing the bleariness from her eyes. her face changes, however, when she's hit by the stench of booze. " are you drunk? "