[She panicked. She panicked and ruined it. But she can't imagine this working under the table. If he looks this pissed now, she can only imagine what would have happened if the unthinkable occurred, and she did stand between him and the enemy without preamble.
The fallout of this alone is going to physically ache.
But half of this was predicated on cooperation, and the hope she would have it, and she was aware on some level that communication needed to happen. But she also knows...she would have been shot down and blocked from trying if she did bring it up beforehand, which only speaks to how successful this wasn't going to be, but she persisted.
Trish approaches stiffly, hands held clenched at her sides, fingers tightening when she chances a glance and catches the stormy look in Bruno's blue eyes.
She would keep her gaze elsewhere, but that accusation has her lifting her chin, taking one step forward – and then the words die on her tongue as he continues, flinching under each and every question.
What...does she say? She's not prepared for this, her thoughts scattering and fleeing to the edges of her mind as if they can escape this. Fleeing without her, and leaving her blank.]
I...
[One chance, he says. And then what?
She thought about consequences, in that they would certainly exist. Betrayal comes to mind. Loss of trust. Forgiveness withheld. Why should she need that from strangers like him?
Even if they're from the same year, the same Italy....they're from entirely different worlds. She's always going to be the odd one out, even if she tries to be close to these boys. Maybe that's why trying is scary. Maybe that's why it hurts.
Maybe...she should keep her distance, even if that hurts too.]
I still stand by that. I'm no gangster. So I'm...I'm on no one's side but my own.
[Her gaze lists to somewhere past his shoulder, her fangs showing in bared teeth.]
But you're right. I don't have any power over a single one of you. All I have is my word, and I gave it to Doppio because he...wanted the same thing. That's all.
[Her word, which means nothing without support. Doppio...can't be trusted, not implicitly, but he listened to her, which is far more than she expected. It was...validating.
This now? This is terrifying. Shameful. What else can she say but the truth?]
UGH im in pain, thank you
The fallout of this alone is going to physically ache.
But half of this was predicated on cooperation, and the hope she would have it, and she was aware on some level that communication needed to happen. But she also knows...she would have been shot down and blocked from trying if she did bring it up beforehand, which only speaks to how successful this wasn't going to be, but she persisted.
Trish approaches stiffly, hands held clenched at her sides, fingers tightening when she chances a glance and catches the stormy look in Bruno's blue eyes.
She would keep her gaze elsewhere, but that accusation has her lifting her chin, taking one step forward – and then the words die on her tongue as he continues, flinching under each and every question.
What...does she say? She's not prepared for this, her thoughts scattering and fleeing to the edges of her mind as if they can escape this. Fleeing without her, and leaving her blank.]
I...
[One chance, he says. And then what?
She thought about consequences, in that they would certainly exist. Betrayal comes to mind. Loss of trust. Forgiveness withheld. Why should she need that from strangers like him?
Even if they're from the same year, the same Italy....they're from entirely different worlds. She's always going to be the odd one out, even if she tries to be close to these boys. Maybe that's why trying is scary. Maybe that's why it hurts.
Maybe...she should keep her distance, even if that hurts too.]
I still stand by that. I'm no gangster. So I'm...I'm on no one's side but my own.
[Her gaze lists to somewhere past his shoulder, her fangs showing in bared teeth.]
But you're right. I don't have any power over a single one of you. All I have is my word, and I gave it to Doppio because he...wanted the same thing. That's all.
[Her word, which means nothing without support. Doppio...can't be trusted, not implicitly, but he listened to her, which is far more than she expected. It was...validating.
This now? This is terrifying. Shameful. What else can she say but the truth?]