stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

cardboard is boring, we brought our matches - look how it burns

Alexis' underhanded comment earned her a steely narrowed short-lived look. Oh, how that woman had no god damn clue. There was little desire to explain herself, a mere exhale of a scoff escaped her all the same. There was no way she would explain herself to a pack so deeply entwined within Tetradore's reign, not a single soul in this damn room would get it. Unfortunately, the closest was the man she despised himself, a truly maddening endeavour she had no interest in provoking. Yet the question still remained, why was she here?

The Okapi fared far better beneath the healing hands of the fox, and yet even still the man seemed content to follow Harley around which certainly made it more difficult to escape the chaos upon that ship. The extremely tall man was practically a beacon to her whereabouts. Tetradore's booming voice, both equal parts commanding and irritating sliced through the wild commotion. The Okapi taking his leave, to save his own skin but at least possessed the mortal decency to offer an apologetic look before fleeing. Harley considered the risk to simply blatantly ignore Tetradore. After all, he would have been delusional to expect anything more from her, their relationship cursed to ruin from the very start.

Yet, something inexplicably odd left the raven-haired spitfire frozen in place, as if willing to at least hear him out. After all, his night was toast. His very home sinking by the moment, his empire along with it. She turned upon the balls of her feet before she made her way toward the pair of felines. The blonde one possessed no ties to the pack like the others did. Yet she certainly acted like a pack, after all, why else would she help? Curious. The ever astute Harley was almost curious of that strange dynamic she made no voice to question. Harley's arms crossed as that easily formed sarcasm peeled from her lips that Tetradore ignored before demanding help.

Help. He wanted her help. That was rich. How one-sided of you. She thought. Where was his help when he dragged her into the bowels of hell itself? When he sat and watched... only to eventually partake in her own demise. Yet... she stayed on her own accord and that in itself was fucking conflicting. She bit her tongue from allowing those words that swelled within her. There was enough havoc and she didn't need to contribute to it. She was not quite the callused beast that would have probably served her well. Tetradore didn't bother to offer either woman a singular glance as he expected them to follow. Tall dark and moody strikes again. What was so important on this rapidly sinking ship that was worth risking their lives for?

Until those cars came into view, Harley's eyes widened. Oh. The cars. What she would have done to get her hands on one of those. Exotic, sleek, and fast. She hardly needed instruction to know what he intended. He wanted his precious fleet saved from the grasp of the deep-blue graveyard that awaited them below should they do nothing. Her mind all but considered her situation and then finally those words of that fox bothering her far more than she let on. Was she finally losing her way? After all the shit she had been through, had she finally met her breaking point?

Tetradore barked his orders like the bossy-pants he was. The fact that he asked her to touch his precious babies alluded to just how completely desperate he was. Considering her value in her own vehicle, one out of more sentiment than anything else perhaps gave her an appreciation for those pretty little toys he collected. Even though Tet made his demands, Harley took it more like a request. "I'll do it.. But one day, you are going to let me drive one of these." She spoke with complete confidence, not offering a chance to protest in response. His back was against a wall and she knew it.

She turned from him and strutted her sweet self toward the Mclaren, considering how she could best wield her still untamed gifts. It was at least a challenge she could focus upon. Not to mention it gave her an opportunity to hone upon those powers. She couldn't focus on the commotion around her, putting all her attention into concentrating, tackling that task with the same steadfast resolve as she did everything she put her mind to.

Harley stood before the Mclaren, her brilliant purple eyes assessed the vehicle, sensing the metal within it. That metal and magnetism that felt at her mercy. Once Tetradore and Carolina had removed their first vehicle Harley channelled her powers, causing the vehicle to rise and wobble unsteadily like a ghost car. She gritted her teeth in concentration, jaw clenched in determination and yet she could hardly help the way her lips curled into a satisfied smirk. Oh fuck.. This was far more challenging she thought, it was a power she needed to cultivate more clearly. Yet what better way to practice on Tetradore's beloved cars. She raised that car higher and higher, her body straining for control but she felt her hold on it surprisingly strong. Her hands placed before her as if she were holding that energy that flowed from her will. It was the entrance she was most concerned with as she walked with the exotic vehicle. What she could do with this power if she only honed it. It was her wandering thought that caused the vehicle to slip just so, catching it before it hit the ground. Okay.. okay temperamental are we.. she thought, frowning returning her focus to unloading the Mclaren.

She saw an opening next to the Bugatti, as she attempted to place it as lightly as possible. A finesse she had yet to completely master. The vehicle jostled slightly as she fought with it to settle. By the time she made it to the final two the prickle of sweat that beaded upon her brow. This was exhausting, it was like working a muscle she hadn't known was there for the first time. She could feel it trembling through her as if her muscles were being used.

Harley paid no mind to Henry's proximity except for the venomous glare in honour of Sterling's pain even if he looked like he had seen better days. Why the man didn't fucking call and apologize was beyond her.

At least that was an energy that the raven-haired woman could use to funnel into her powers. She was left with the final two cars, the Ford and the Toyota which were still waiting for her. The boat whined and echoed a ghastly sound that suggested time was no longer a luxury any of them could be afforded. Fuck. She had to brace herself as that boat shifted further into its watery grave, adjusting herself by leaning and bending her knees as if to anchor herself to the ground. So.. she did what any sane person without a full grasp on their powers should do... and attempted to juggle both. She was certain it was a mistake and yet she hardly let that stop her. She could not help that amused sound that escaped her then as that controlled magnetism caused both of the vehicles to float. It felt like trying to balance an elephant on a nickel, it was precarious at best. Only one of them brushed up painfully against the entranceway when she stumbled down the steep ramp a slew of creative curses falling from her lips. Although she supposed a little scrape here and there was a far better outcome over waterlogged cars, which were about as useful as shredded money.

Finally, with her task done, she remained with the vehicles leaned against the nearest one, arms loosely crossed keeping to herself, content to observe the pack from afar as they gave their motivational speeches of home and family. Soon they would all find places to stay and Harley would be lost to the cool shadows of night even though she chose to rest a second, her powers pushed and tested in new ways that left much to consider.

A sigh escaped her, the woman desiring the comfort and familiar surroundings of her home and perhaps a tall drink of something with a little kick to it. Her vibrant violet gaze shifted from the now clustered pack members that looked as bad as to be expected. They lost their home and belongings. Yet they still tried to rally, even against all odds. It was admirable to witness that closely-knit group working together, even if it was executed with the grace of a flailing hot mess.

She looked to the descending ship a final time with inappropriate thoughts of some Titanic number playing in her head even despite the fact that she could not deny that strange creeping sadness that felt like the heaviness of exhaustion. After all, she wouldn't even wish this on her own worst enemy.

Harley Westward