the watch /night+blanche blitz

"Well I've got Aces high," you tell Blanche with a shrug, then gesture at his kings, "Sorry cousin."

Not like you'll hold him to the coffee, not when nicotine and iced coffee is about all you can stomach these days anyway so you'll be getting it either way. Technically coffee has water in it though so at least you're managing to stay hydrated.

Blanche asks you an easy question but you have to remind yourself to at least look like you're considering your response first before giving it. You don't want to seem like a complete psychopath, but half a one is probably alright, considering the line of work that you both share.

"Make them suffer," you answer after a moment, "We keep them alive, get as much information that we can out of them and then send them home through letter mail." You don't need to break down what you mean by that, not for Blanche. The two of you have been working together for a couple of years now and many things have passed between you unspoken in that time.

"We'll need to know who sent them so they can be reminded who they chose to mess with," you say with finality, then you sweep the cards up into your hand to shuffle them. Over the past couple years, through loss, that sweet kid who you once were has only grown colder. Now there are few pieces left of you that are recognizable to even your own self anymore.

You pass the deck to Blanche to deal, gaze never leaving Storm's window through any of it. Your cousin's words from earlier run though your head again and you can't decide exactly why they bother you. "You were right, earlier," you say slowly, flashing the cards he's dealt you briefly in front of your face before placing them down again, eyes on the window.

"He deserves to be safe," you say, "But I can't look away."

Your eyes flick to your cousin briefly, staying beside you through the night, even though this could all be pointless, he hasn't questioned you once.

"I think this district thinks the Adroxis family has gone soft," you say.