The frown etched deeply upon the young woman's face was so uncharacteristically unlike his companion that Sterling could hardly help but to take notice of it. How weathered the usually feisty woman seemed, the very...exhaustion, of sorts, only alluded to far more going on within his companion's life then she was telling him. His brow furrowed in consideration. Tetradore, it seemed, was quite a sore spot for the woman, one he would make every effort to further avoid, his own thoughts aside. The warlock's shoulder rose ever so slightly in a vague shrug. "Henry was the first guy I ever dated and look at how that's turning out. I should stick with girls, clearly." He commented, his own voice dripping with bitterness, though truly he could hardly help himself. Things with Henry had always been...messy but the man had been the first interest Sterling had that truly invoked real emotion from him. At the very least, hopefully, the change of topic might ease the troubles that so clearly afflicted Harley. Her warning was accepted in silence with a small nod before he made some vain effort to reassure her. Truly, he expected those words were utterly useless and yet...what else did he have to offer his closest companion? Both of their woes, at the end of the day, were their own. The pair entirely inclined to keep those problems close to their chests.

An almost shrill squeak abruptly filled the room, drawing Sterling's gaze as a ghost of a simper crossed the warlock's features. Ace, it seemed, was still fairing as fine as ever after his efforts at magic had turned back the tables of time for the once aging dog. He was glad that he could at least give Harley that, as unnatural as it was. Still, in the silence after, Sterling found himself sighing at the details of his own story. His tale, admittedly, hardly compared to Harley's own. What was a scorned lover in comparison to your life being thrown upside down? He understood this, after all, he'd watched Henry go through the same thing, the man hardly coping any better then it sounded like Harley was...still...that didn't make anything Henry had done right, did it? The curse upon Harley's lips drew Sterling's attention back towards the present. A weak simper crossed his features at the girl's vengeance, one that so clearly mirrored his own. Harley's assurance that this wasn't his fault only caused his shoulders to rise in a vague sort of shrug. It was clear to him that Henry was not happy with this...with them...perhaps he never really had been. After all, why else would he continually fail to remain true to all they had? "Yeah, I know," Sterling responded, if only because he knew they were the words he was supposed to say.

For several long moments, the pair fell to silence, each lost within their own thoughts. What Sterling hadn't expected, however, was that mischievousness that came along with such stillness within his companion. Her mention of a plan, however, served to pique Sterling's curiosity, though it was with caution that he asked after it. His brow rose at the mention of grabbing clothes, the pieces finally falling into place as she concluded with a 'road trip'. God, how fucking amazing that sounded. He so yearned to get away from this place, the man in between jobs as it was (restaurants so frequently failed their first year, unfortunately), leaving Sterling entirely capable of giving into that whim. "A road trip...huh?" He inquired, considering it. It could be a nice getaway from all this...some way to start things anew...sort of. Harley's insistence that she had someone for Ace caused a small nod to his head and yet...Fiducia was another matter entirely. The bond the two had somehow had progressed into something...deeper of late, to the point where Sterling found himself unsure anymore if the osprey was a normal bird at all. "Fid does whatever the hell she wants these days. I'm sure she can sense the change in you too." He commented, his head shaking ever so slightly. Still, his connection with the bird was a matter for another day - quite literally as Harley suddenly bounded to her feet. The woman all but dragged him off of the sofa, shoving him out of the door with the threat that she'd collect him in a few minutes.

Admittedly, Sterling hadn't anticipated a whirlwind adventure like this when he had first knocked on her door. Maybe someone to help him throw Henry's shit away or something but...this? Still...he could use an adventure to push away the thoughts of his now ex-boyfriend. Their last conversation still sent him seething, after all. A soft breath left his lips as Sterling reached up, his hand running through his ebony locks and yet, by the time he made it back to his own apartment, he was already considering how many days of clothes would be needed and where his duffle bag was. It hardly took long before Sterling emerged from his flat with a black bag slung over his shoulder, his clothing intermixed with a few items of Henry's own, per Harley's request. He was hardly surprised to find the woman waiting for him - her trunk open and ready for his own bag with Ace so eagerly pacing the back seat for whatever this adventure might hold for him. Somewhere above, he could hear Fiducia screech her own displeasure, drawing his gaze upwards as Sterling tossed his things in the back of the car. With a soft thud, the trunk closed and easily, Sterling found himself settled in the passenger seat of Harley's car.

The very last place that he expected, however, was to find himself soon sitting in front of the Ark of all places. They weren't going to confront Henry or something, were they? He sure as hell wasn't ready for that. His arms crossed over his chest as the blue of his irises slid towards the woman in the driver's seat. The skeptical look upon his face clearly said far more than he actually voiced as Harley quickly insisted that she intended to drop Ace off with the very man she so clearly abhorred. Really? This was her plan? "....uh-huh....." He commented dubiously and yet, it was hardly his place to say what Harley should or should not to. Rather, the man remained settled within the passenger seat of the vehicle, entirely keen to stay out of that ship if only for the concern of running into Henry. His gaze skirt towards the open ocean to his left, the man well aware of the monochromatic bird that had followed them - one who was now keen to enjoy the feast the ocean had to provide her. For several moments, he simply watched Fiducia as she dove towards the water, her golden gaze clearly eying fish he would never be able to see. It was almost....peaceful...and yet how temporary that was.

No more than fifteen minutes later and the loud sound of shoes on the asphalt drew Sterling's attention. His head slowly tilted to the side as he watched Harley all but race towards the vehicle. She swung open the driver's side door, all but scrambling into the front seat before throwing the car into drive. The warlock hardly had a chance to voice even a single syllable before Harley slammed on the gas, the tires of the car squealing as the vehicle lurched forward and down the road. For now, Sterling said little of it, letting the woman steal as much distance from the Ark as she needed. It was only once she gave him that grin that Sterling's brow rose. "I don't know, is it?" He inquired at her inquiry. Her escape from the Ark certainly hadn't seemed 'all good' and Sterling was not oblivious to the way she kept eying her phone. Her sudden declaration to be her navigation system, however, caused the boy to reach for his own phone - her jest alone causing him to pause. "....what?" He inquired as if he hardly sure she was joking. That confusion, however, was enough to prompt an answer from her, Harley's smirk all the more concerning. Really? She was going to drive them down to California? Well....there were worse places...and he hadn't ever been...

He hardly had a chance to respond, however, before Harley continued on insisting that this was the best revenge he could possibly take on Henry. Pft! Like he was waiting to hear back from Henry! Sterling could hardly help the roll of his eyes before his head shook. "That would require him to text in the first place, Harley." Sterling insisted as his fingers deftly unlocked his cell phone. He was entirely certain that he would not hear from Henry, the man rarely inclined to admit his own mistakes. But...Harley was right, he sure as hell deserved the chance to be as blissfully unaffected as he was certain Henry was. His fingers flicked easily across the screen as he pulled up the map for California. 21 hours. Well, here we go. "Turn right at the next street." A little beach time would do them both some good.

STERLING TENEMBRAGE