𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 — insurance

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 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐀𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 completely and utterly pissed.

 To awake in a room he'd never seen before with ankles and wrists bound by rope clawing at his skin. To peer around the room and see the gaggle of people who had smuggled him from the confines of his cell for Saints knows what... only to catch sight of the woman who had threatened and stabbed him, grinning like a fool as she teased him further.

 He looked ready to lunge. Ready to erupt from his binds, shatter the poor chair holding his form, and commit a vile act indeed.

 Aleksa, however, wasn't at all deterred as a hearty scowl was sent her way, for he soon moved his sights back to Nina. The Fjerdan didn't once blink as he stared down their delightful Heartrender, he didn't move his gaze at all.

 Even when Kaz tapped his gloved fingertips against the cold edge of his new cane, his mouth parted to describe the heist they'd planned. Oddly, Aleksa did have to admit that the twisted look on Matthias' face wasn't exactly out of place; he'd been dragged from prison, stuffed into ropes, and now he had to listen to Kaz's stony voice tell him that they wanted to break into the most secure place in all of Fjerda.

 They wanted Matthias, a Fjerdan... a Druskelle... to guide them into his homeland, all to steal from his people. Not exactly the most perfect of sales pitches.

 When Kaz finally finished, Matthias gave them his obvious answer, "No."

 Aleksa's eyes rolled to the ceiling, watching as the flickering flames of the lantern cast strange shapes above. Kaz, however, tipped his head to the side, "Believe me when I say this, Helvar: I know getting knocked out and waking up in strange surroundings isn't the friendliest way to start a partnership, but you didn't give us many options, so try to open your mind to the possibilities."

 Obviously, Kaz would know. He'd mentioned how this deal he'd struck with Van Eck had occurred. How he'd been plastered with a fist against his cheekbones when a person seemingly drifted through a wall of stone. It was like he'd been attacked by the breeze itself. Though, of course, when he'd awoke before Van Eck with a throbbing cheek, he'd learned the truth.

 Matthias sneered, "You could have come to me on your knees, and my answer would be the same."

 "While I'd have loved to have seen that, and will absolutely keep it in mind for the next time we attempt a prison break for an overgrown ass... You understand we can put you right back where we found you, yes?" Aleksa chimed, merely peering at her glistening nails. Genya's delightful Tailoring effects had cast them in glimmering pearl, and her effects still had yet to wear away.