#trebias

You look down to everyone, because unlike them, you don't let yourself be burdened by other people; you're happy to throw the entire world down the plank if it's to save your own skin.

When one of the fools that have been right under your thumb approaches you, spieling dumb sappy shit, it's the perfect chance. You don't even think it twice. This idiot is willing to fall even deeper into your grasp, and all you have to do is act a bit nicer with him than with the rest. Nothing you're not familiar with.

So you accept, and keep going with your life. The heist is in two weeks, and now the best planner in your team is head over heels for you. You have everything under control, everyone ready to do anything for you at a moment's notice.

As the plan goes, you start spending more time with Stebaloo. All in all, the dude isn't too annoying. Far more decent than the others, at least.

You don't even notice when it starts becoming actually fun. Are you looking forward to spend more time with him? See what stories he has to tell this time? What dumb, bad joke he'll come up with now, yet still get a laugh out of you? You don't even mind holding his paw as you walk down the streets, chatting and feeling more free than you have ever felt before. Maybe you can visit again that store you went to check with him a few days back. Maybe even get him something nice to celebrate tomorrow was the day of the big heist-

...

You are nothing but a fool. An idiot. Something twists in your stomach as you realize this is precisely the weapon you use against those lesser than you. You are catching on feelings you should never have had in the first place.

You are becoming weak.

It's sickening. This was NOT in the plan, and now you have to get rid of it all if you don't want to continue exposing yourself.

Yell at him. Treat him like the stupid shit he should have always been. Tell him how much you'd rather see him dead than close to you ever again. Make sure there's no way he'll ever want to face you again, and that way you'll finally be safe again from all this confusion; from this deep weight in your chest.

He runs away, and while the feeling only mixes with.... something, making it heavier, you can't help but give yourself praise. You're safe now.

That has to work, right?

Frankley originally joined the gang to help out their friend Trebias (the yellow one here). He seemed like a nice, friendly guy who saw talent in Frankley and, hey, could use the help! It's a hard life, but sometimes that's just the only way you have to survive.

Then a few other grumpuses join: Golliver, Rannata and Stebaloo (Golliver being the purple one and Rannata the red one. Steb is not in the picture). It's a chaotic but still somewhat functional gang. It lasted a good few years. Things were never perfect; fights were common among the group, discordance a daily factor. But with how things were going back at home, Frankley quickly found themself relying more and more in the group until they were all they had left.

As the years go by, the group—and particularly so Trebias—gets more ambitious. Situations become more tense, and Trebias always had a tendency to... lash out when things don't turn the way he wants them to.

A great heist was on their way, weeks and weeks of planning gone by as the morning of the big moment arrives... It's understandable that tensions are high, but still, the fight that day is particularly different from the rest. Unlike the others, no punching or fun wrestling is involved; it ends in just yelling and a terrified Steb fleeing the scene.

Trebias has always been someone volatile, but he's doing worse than usual. It doesn't help that Frankley saw the value in Steb's side of the argument, and the whole situation's got their anxiety riding up high, but the mission is still a go.

It's almost a given, but things don't go as planned. With Frankley shaking at the wheel and Trebias belittling and yelling in their ear all along, their anxiety only turns into panic and they crash.

Frankley scampers off, mind fuzzy and tear-filled eyes as the yelling continues... Then watches in horror as they realize the others didn't get away on time, captured by the police.

They keep on running, Trebias' threats fresh in their mind; they're no longer welcome, catalogued as a traitor. They have nowhere to go.

It takes a while to calm their own breath and stop the tears from falling. With no plan whatsoever, all they can hope to do is call those they can still keep in touch with; let them know they won't be able to contact them soon until things calm down...

They drag themself over to a phone booth.

Had the other side of the line taken a couple more seconds to pick up, Frankley would have placed the phone back and left. Maybe she was busy–or out on another trip–, and as uncertain as their situation currently was, they could find a way to let her know where to find them later on, whenever that may be.

Lizbert's voice was clear against the receiver, somehow more energetic than usual, but it quickly faded into concern when she recognized the other's tone. Instead of the surprise they expected, her own sounds rather exasperated at the situation. The I-told-you-so stings, but they can't find it in themself to reply back–nor have to. Soon enough, her enthusiasm springs back up.