this is why she picked sy. never her sister, head turning at every noise to be involved in a situation. certainly not holly with loud mouths and chirping honesty. and while she respects indigo, she knows they are not bothered by the perpetual upset that crimson brings. sy, he will escape, helping her along as a friend might, though he has none of those. she has none of those.
the interest in her work has waned with the rise of potential infraction and her coat is wrapped around her shoulders. there is no lockdown for her, but the window of time is closing in this line. “on y va.” she reiterates, her own charming tone curves around each word, softening their demand. “let the doctor work.” he would have it no other way.
“reports are for those in the midst.” the path to the elevator is clear, the talk of work is winding down all the same. he's concerned, she never is. there's no reason to be. there's no other place in the world they could work, even if they refuse all the responsibilities therein. "and they must be done with a clear head." she plans on neither for her evening, he knows as much.
The coat is on. He's free to go. He nearly forgets to catch himself, last minute ditch of the cigarette before crossing the threshold. It's put out hurriedly against the metal doorframe, stuffing ash in the hole where the lock goes. A genius can make anything into an ashtray, kids.
"Chut," he hushes. The walls have ears. Worse. People use theirs. Footsteps and chattering words are heard on the other side of the building. Impatience of a different kind on opposite sides. One is life-threatening. One is life-avoiding. Sy's always had a paranoia touch to him. His head flips to one tilted side after checking around the corner. He's acting like a cartoonish prisoner, but it's not his first time escaping. It will hardly be his last.
"Little time left," he finally whispers to her after assaulting the elevator button, tapping repeatedly as if that'll hurry it up. It's because of him that button has a crack. Again. Not his first escape, and by the sound of the ding and the doors finally opening, he lives to see another chance.
"You'll be my death," he mutters the moment they're sealed up. That's not resignation. Not premonition. Could it be blame? Or closer to compliment? There's no telling behind the veil of newly formed smoke.












