are there some aces up your sleeve?

[glassbox]

WHO: frank castle, renee montoya, and lil crawley
WHERE: residence #002
WHEN: saturday evening
WHAT: let's behave like adults here
WARNINGS: angry annoying canadians

No.

[ her body was saying it as much as her mouth was -- the way she was barring the door, arms folded under her chest with her temper visibly rising in her posture, permeating through her spine and to the tip of her tongue, making the word sharp as a knife. there was no getting around her, not physically -- not with him still wheelchair bound. ]

Y'can't go. Look at you. I ain't lookin' after your stubborn ass so that y'can go out tryin' t'be some kinda four-wheeled vigilante an' get messed up worse.

[ maybe she should have reconsidered picking a fight with frank when just a little while ago, she'd invited renee over to catch up. but lil was never exactly the type to plan things well -- or back down from a fight. ]

Comments

[fronttowardenemy]

Not up for discussion.

[ He should have known this would happen. Staying with Lil was a strategic choice; injured as he is, he cannot manage half as well on his own. If threatened, he's not as capable as he should be. If he wants to recover fast, he needs assistance.

However, if she continues to get in his way, this may not be the most productive partnership. ]

Move, Lil.

[glassbox]

We ain't discussin'. I'm tellin' you.

[ it's just plain rude, the way she puts her foot on the edge of his chair and pushes him backward, away from the door behind her. but she's always been a little bit of a bully -- an affectionate bully at times, but a bully nonetheless. and with the memory of finding frank broken and bloody in the city's ruins still fresh in her mind, there isn't a chance on this earth or any other that she's going to let him go. ]

Y'can't make me move. An' if y'ever wanna be able to ever again, y'better give this up right the hell now.

[fronttowardenemy]

This isn't-

[ His reply stills when he hears the knock. He glances towards the door, then back at Lil. His expression isn't expectant; just waiting.

It's not like he's in any position to make a dash for the door if she opens it. ]

[glassbox]

[ the sound of knocking on the door interrupts their argument. surprise washes the blatant anger out of her face. oh. shit. she'd practically forgotten. but it's too late to reschedule around her blow-out with frank, so what's a girl to do?

giving an exasperated exhale, she runs her fingers through her hair before turning around to open the door and let renee in. her greeting doesn't spare anyone. ]

Hi, hon. Will y'please tell Frank he's bein' a moron? Maybe he'll listen if someone besides me says it.

[fronttowardenemy]

[ It had to be Montoya.

Frank doesn't know much about her and Lil, but the affectionate way Lil speaks to her, and the fact that Renee is here at all, betrays some friendship between them.

Which means this won't end in his favor. ]

She didn't put me in this. [ With a gesture to the chair. ] If that's what you're asking.

[glassbox]

Bastard did it t'himself.

[ she's quick to point that out, though it's not necessarily the truth. she did find him that way -- so clearly, whatever events transpired up to that point, his current state is his fault and not hers. though the tense awkwardness quickly filling the air could probably be blamed on her. not, of course, that she notices or cares. she's too busy putting a hand on her cocked hip, looking frustrated as she gestures with her other hand at frank. ]

Now he wants t'go out an' do whatever the hell he normally does, like he ain't got two broken legs.

[fronttowardenemy]

[ Frank arches a brow at Lil's response. Indirectly, it is his own fault: he should have been more aware. Errors like this could be fatal and he should know better. Still, it's not exactly a fair comment -- but he doesn't bother correcting it. ]

This isn't house arrest.

Move.

[glassbox]

[ she eyes them both, clearly irritable. her frustration always comes from a place of caring -- which, instead of softening it, tends to make matters worse. after a few tense beats, she finally just throws her hands up, rolling her eyes with an annoyed exhale. ]

Fine. Y'know what? You're a big boy, an' I ain't your wife or your goddamn babysitter. [ she grabs her keys, huffing half to herself: ] I need some air.

[ and just like that, she's gone, slamming the door shut behind her. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

[ It's about as much as he expected. He should be grateful that now it's not both of them standing against him -- however, he isn't sure Montoya will yield any more than Lil was willing to. ]

Going to go? [ He asks plainly. ] You came here for her.

[ He doubts he'll be so lucky. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

[ He had a feeling she'd say that. ]

Must've noticed the end of the world.

[ He speaks plainly, leaning back in his chair. ]

Didn't get out of it clean.

[fronttowardenemy]

Implying something?

[ He almost says more, but he is cut short by the same noise that draws Renee's attention. He frowns a bit. He could take care of that himself -- but the housing isn't really made accessible from his level.

Frustrating and humbling. ]

[fronttowardenemy]

Couldn't dodge so well when the whole world collapsed.

[ It's a bit short, and also honest. If he's trying to call him incapable in face of what happened, then she's making one harsh judgment.

When he realizes what she's doing, however... ]

Montoya. [ His hands drop to the wheels of his chair and he guides himself toward her. ] Unnecessary.

[fronttowardenemy]

[ If he tries to leave, he's certain Montoya will pick up where Lil left off. So, he lingers, and he watches Montoya silently for a moment before he speaks. ]

How do you know her?

[fronttowardenemy]

[ She speaks like a parent guarding their teenage daughter, and that doesn't bode well. ]

This is the rooming we're assigned. [ His response is flat. Not a lie, but not the whole story ] She offered her help; I accepted.

There's nothing else to tell.

[fronttowardenemy]

[ That isn't what he expected. His brow arches as he studies her. ]

If you think that you already know, then why bother asking?

[fronttowardenemy]

I already told you.

You're expecting something that isn't there.

[fronttowardenemy]

You are. That question proves it.

I don't know what she's told you, but don't waste your time.

[fronttowardenemy]

I don't pretend.

She knows better -- don't encourage her otherwise.

[fronttowardenemy]

[ He's tried. It isn't that easy -- and admitting that alone is a sign he's gone too deep. It's already become too complicated.

But he won't say that to Montoya. ]

Offered her help until I recovered. I'm leaving once it's done.

That's all there is to it.

[fronttowardenemy]

City doesn't suit me.

I'll be gone.

[fronttowardenemy]

Confidential.

[ He isn't that stupid. ]

Detective.

[fronttowardenemy]

Depends what she wants.

[ He gives her a look, sizing her up. ]

What is it you want?

[fronttowardenemy]

I want to return to my mission.

[ In the end, they want the same thing. ]

That's it.

[fronttowardenemy]

[ He glances down at his legs, pointedly, then back up at Renee. ]

She knows what this is.

[fronttowardenemy]

Making assumptions.

She's the one to talk to. I've never hid intent.

[fronttowardenemy]

Then you know.

Nothing else to tell.