stuff us in boxes that's where you want us

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

Those words circled in her mind and tugged out a momentary glimpse of dismay to flash across her features, before looking away if only to conceal the vague understanding that grew. It felt like an ice bucket poured over her head and curdled within her stomach from the thought. Risque gave Tobias to Ruben. It was one thing hearing it from Darcy and another from Tobias. Just as it was difficult to tell, if the way he stammered over the slender vampire's name was from some unspoken trauma or it was simply the unique way the lanky boy spoke. But she didn't need his words to know that basement was no stroll on the beach at sunset. How she could not imagine what it must have been like to be given to that depraved and twisted man for any period of time, nor did she ever wish to find out. Her expression quickly melted into a pinched frown in momentary consideration. Instinct, told Harley that the slender vampire was cut from a far different cloth from most beings in that hellish pit called Syn. It was probably why they kept him out of sight. Her shifted gaze returned to the leopard in time to catch the way his features contorted as if he tasted the unpalatable memory. Ruben was a level of depravity she had wanted nothing to do with. Gross. Even the thought of him made her want to take a scorching shower. Settling for the mere rolling of her shoulders as if to rid herself of it.

Yet it was Tobias' heavy dark stare that did it, he didn't bother to blink as she eyed him back curiously. It was like she could practically feel the massive case of dry eye he was probably experiencing. His lips finally contorted into that uniquely twisted grin before admitting with a proud declaration that he bit him. Her lips twitched into an almost smile at the thought before her lips parted in to speak. "Good. Creepy vamp probably had it coming too." She remembered that moment when his grimy hands ran through her own feline coat, to pet her. The memory of those spindly, long fingers even touching her for a moment was enough to make a girl shudder. She leaned in just so like she was about to share a secret, a shared experience. "I bit him too. I will bite him again if he tries to touch me." How she did a lot more than that after the vampire tried to strangle her. The risk was worth it when he ended up with a bullet hole in his head. It was impossible what Tobias found funny at the moment, her own words or a thought of his own... The boy clapping with zeal in temporarily but unabashed joy.

The pair's conversation continued on, randomized, and yet she had no problem keeping up. The comment about his height seemed to be the peak for the leopard. She decided it was much better when he was happy and yet those moods were ever changing, very much like clouds. Do a trick, he said pointedly. The shift in conversation so abrupt she could hardly fathom what he meant. Huh? The man finally clarified that he had shown her his powers and now it was her turn. It was only fair. Ah, so that was what he wanted. It did not take much convincing after that or too long to begin the harmless game against the alpha that was the stand-in for Risque. It was almost unfortunate that Tobias had pointed him out and in turn making him the perfect target. It was unsurprising to Harley that she had come to find out that the alpha below was yet another man with a raging temper. It only served to make the show all the more entertaining, the man's reaction ballooned and fueled her teasing. It was far greater than she could have hoped for, including for the way his pack chimed in with their own amusement. This was fun. She perhaps enjoyed the hell-raising a little too much because once she started, she hardly wanted to stop. Especially when she caught a glimpse of the leopard who seemed to love every minute of it. That feeling was addictive.

How she never thought she could actually find enjoyment upon that very ship with an equally unlikely companion. But she was. Even still, she could not deny the heavy strain of using so much power that began to weigh on her. The groan of protest of mental strain for doing too much too soon was evident as the seized metal objects she held in the air by her command started to wobble. It was like lifting a heavy weight her body wasn't used to for far too long. It was something she had not properly prepared for. It was like the beta sensed it, all before he drew to her side, his hand reached out to touch her, claiming to help somehow. Harley was pretty certain that was not how that worked. But his touch was surprising gentle for someone so unpredictably volatile. Yet even still, he seemed cautious, searching, and aware enough to notice if that touch was unwelcomed. Their eyes met in some strange soundless agreement as she offered a brief, single nod. There was a strange sensation that stemmed from his touch before almost instantly, part of that strain lifted. Just like that. Tobias was actually doing as he said. How? It hardly mattered. She didn't care. Now she could do this all damn night.

The leopard, however, had other plans. It was impossible to know if it was part his plan the whole time or he had simply saw the money and decided he had to have it... But his focus changed. Those coins that levitated were summoned toward him obediently before he left everything else to drop unceremoniously. It was an impressive show of control if she had the moment to actually appreciate it. No, she was left scrambling to at least rescue those phones from meeting a fate of shattered screens and far too many consequences she did not want to deal with if her prank got out of hand.

Tobias hardly had the same worry, his interest only on one thing, his new collection of stolen coins that he drew into a significant pile before him. He reminded her of a dragon at that very moment, appreciating his shinies that he had so easily called to himself. At last, Harley was able to send her own objects to a chaotic pile in the middle of the room below for the poor patrons of the Ark to sift through.

The relief of having released her affinity was immediate, the question that left her lips only affording her yet another scowl from the leopard-man that drew a sigh from her lips. The frail progress that had been made was so easily shattered. If there was even such a thing to wreck. It was obvious there was only one being he seemed to care about in this world. Much to her surprise, he decided to answer her at the very least. An answer, even though it was hardly the one she sought.

Without another word, the beta returned to his prized pile, but not without plucking a single coin from the top that he placed within her hand like it was a reward. A single quarter. One that she placed in her pocket all the same after eying it. How... bizarre. Maybe that meant he... liked her? If that were a possible thing. The leopard then abruptly spoke and there was not a thing that could prepare her for it. He spoke in an accented voice so unlike his own, so unlike his usual broken dialect. No, this was different, it was fluid. Perfectly practiced, like he had heard it from somewhere else and parroted it to perfection. The moment was over before it began, much like his very moods. If she hadn't questioned her own wits than she was certain she would be questioning this now. The man was once more, all but content to ignore her in exchange for the far more imperative task of counting his hoard of coins instead.

Harley was all but forgotten in the wake of those moments, a thing that was impossible to get offended by. The quiet moment allowed her to simply look down below, to casually eye the disgruntled rummaging below. At least some people were not taking it that badly. Some people were taking it all in good humour. That was when she caught the eye of one very pissed off, glaring alpha and he was looking directly at her. Like he knew. Fuck. That was one thing she definitely did not want to deal with. Out of sight, out of mind. If only that actually worked. The raven-haired woman quickly turned as if she didn't even see him, leaning casually, unfettered against the sturdy railing with arms folded loosely as she watched Tobias count. If someone could classify what Tobi was doing... as counting. Sure, that was what he was doing. There were numbers definitely involved, said in no particular order.... Even numbers that didn't even exist.

It was impossible to know where eleventy had come from, the woman questioning it in her mind as the boy slid coins into two semi-formed piles she didn't bother to question. She knew better. Even in that short time she had spent with the beta. Even still, this was far better than dealing with the aftermath below. She just needed a little bit more time before she could make her grand escape.

At long last, the leopard seemed all too pleased with himself when he declared he had fifty hundred million coins that he would share with Tetradore. The amount was clearly not as he claimed. Yet it was not the number of coins the boy had in his possession that surprised her most, it was the lingering question how Tetradore created such loyalty and love within this place when all she had seen was the complete opposite? Tobias exclaimed that Tetra would be happy and this appeared to make him happy. That unwavering devotion was nothing but clear. It was far easier when things were black and white.

Any reply the woman might have said was abruptly silenced by the dread inducting sound of footsteps thudding, heavily up the stairs of the balcony. Okay, that didn't sound like happy footsteps. No body.... Panic. Was it Tetradore, come to reclaim his throne and find out what the ruckus was all about? Had someone woken him? Those footfalls seemed to only get louder and fueled her anxiety as her own gaze sliced over to anticipate some unpleasant interaction. She had made some terrible mistake in allowing her guard to fall. But it was the simmering gaze of another alpha she met and he had eyes for one. Not even in the good way. That gaze barrelled down at her, causing her body to stiffen in anticipation of some likely assault.

He wasted no time with each purposeful stride he took toward her, his stance undoubtedly aggressive as the look in his eyes. Why did all the angry alphas have to be so damn tall? Why couldn't they be super tiny and only mildly threatening? Was he going to try to pick a fight with her. Harley unfolded her arms, her reckless tongue at the ready, considering all the ways she could possibly fight him and win... His irate gaze shifted from Harley, the source of his ire, only to momentarily break to finally take note of the lanky leopard. Tobias only affording him a single but convincing glance. It was all that it took to cause that angry threat to simply die as the recognition of the Nightshade beta to cause him to freeze in place and immediately reconsider his course of action. It would have been funny if it wasn't her ass on line. He did not even make it halfway to where she stood as he uttered the Beta's name in surprise as if he didn't expect to see him there. It was like someone took a needle to his rage balloon and the situation diffused in a near instantaneous second before deciding against what he had come to do.

'Sorry,' was all he muttered half-heartedly before storming away down the same way he had come, missing the fact that she wiggled her fingers in a little cocky wave, unable to help herself. Fuck, that was close. That was really starting to become her motto as of late. "Good talk," she called out behind him..

People were clearly afraid of the beta, even though Tobias hardly done a thing. One look was all that was needed. The leopard didn't even appear concerned. He didn't even need to move a single inch away from his piles of coin. That declaration that he had won caused a sound of amusement to fall from her lips. Harley no longer concerned with threat, could not help that easy laugh that eascaped her.

"Yeah.. In like a lion and out like a lamb," Harley uttered wryly, half-amused to herself as if she wasn't at all worried for even the briefest of moments. Not even a little. Tobias returned back to sorting his coins like nothing happened at all. Not long after he was seized by a large yawn that could have stolen half the oxygen in the entire room... just before the dark haired beta flopped onto the floor in all his glory. The act was nothing short of dramatic witnessing a full-grown man act the way he was. He declared it was time for her to go home, it was time for sleeping. From the looks of it, that was exactly where he wished to sleep. She bit back that laugh. Well that was her cue. "Looks like it is. Goodnight, Tobs." She rose a hand in a loose wave, that final glance she offered him was one he likely did not see. The man looked already halfway asleep before she even left the platform.

What a curious creature. With that, the petite woman sauntered down those steps, sinking her hands into her pockets, toying with that single gifted coin as if she didn't have a care in the world. Alright, she did not exactly possess the magical answers she had come for but definitely gained far more than she had asked for... that and a quarter richer and whole lot to consider.

Harley Westward