Topic: Seeking Protection

Tessa Reed · Date: 2017-01-30 10:30 EST

At this point, Tessa didn't know what else to do. The texts she received from their assailant earlier shook her to her core. It was more than the fact that she was being threatened, the car bomb, the fact he knew her name when she didn't know who he was. The fact her people were in danger. That he seemed so hell bent on killing Daphne. What was the worst on this? He knew what she looked like that day, and no more than a few minutes later.. he'd sent that picture of him touching Daphne's face. The cold pit in her stomach clenched tightly like a fist at the realization that "he" might not just be one person. Oh, pretty Tess. How do you know this is just one person? It was either that or he could be in multiple places at once. It wouldn't be unheard of in Rhy'Din, but that didn't make her feel any better.

She'd been twitchy and seeming to look over her shoulder all day. Breathing was more of a task for her than usual and every person that had looked at her that day (with a few exceptions), she couldn't help but think: is it you?... Paranoia was a plague on her mind and was engulfing her at this point. More than it usually was. She'd wanted to stay shoved up Daphne's ass the moment she received that text, even before then, but she had a responsibility to take. Daphne had put her life on the line for this protest and she couldn't ditch their people on their last day.

So when the last few people shuffled off after she'd reminded them not to walk home alone, she pulled the card she'd taken from the man offering protection services the day before. She didn't want to get others involved in this, but her hands were tied. She was at a loss of what else to do, and panic was gripping her throat to the point of suffocation. Her eyes scanned the remnants of the protest until they lifted to Russo, who hadn't left her side for even a second that day. "I need to call someone," she mumbled to him, reaching out to loop her arm through his like he was her last lifeline and pulled her phone out of her pocket, dialing the number on the card before lifting the phone to her ear.

Ringing, why was there ringing? Quinn was having the most amazing dream, sleeping like a baby when in the dream, a phone began to ring. In the dream, sitting in the breakfast nook in Rio he laughed. "We agreed no cellphones at breakfast. Who's being naughty?" It took a moment before actual Quinn realized that the phone wasn't in the dream at all. Hand slamming around on the sheets trying to find the culprit of the hideous noise. Finding it, pad of thumb swiping the call to answer and speaker. "Ello?" He was clearly half asleep and was rolling towards where he'd dropped the phone one the bed.

If this was Manny, Quinn would probably blow a gasket on him, but it was about that time where the market would open in...wait, he didn't do that anymore. Picking up his alarm clock he held it near his face and squinted with one eye closed. Too early for mimosas, he should find scotch. Hand on the nightstand dropping the clock and looking for cigarettes.

Russo had come a long way since the day he'd met Tessa. His skinny body hadn't put on much weight, but he did look healthier, he seemed happier, and he was clean--only in the sense that he showered often. He was a far cry from that strung out greaseball she'd come to meet. He was worried for her, spent most of the night awake, trying to calm her down into getting some form of sleep. It wasn't as if he could protect her, but he felt a lot more comfortable knowing he was there to try. At the very least, he could be a good distraction while she got away. Though, with her loyalty, they'd more than likely die together. He was okay with that, too. Russo merely didn't want to live in a life where he lost two loves of his lives, and wasn't there to protect either one of them.... Juice. He lost two juices of his lives. Ahem... Olive juice.

When she looped her arm through his, tired coal black eyes shifted over to her and he smiled weakly and nodded. He sucked on the filter of his cigarette and stayed close to her. Like a useless guard dog. He hated seeing her like this. He wanted his happy Olive back, but he'd settle for her being unharmed. With her arm linked through his, Russo gave her the slightest of squeezes. Trying to assure her that he wasn't going anywhere.

They were both tired, downright exhausted. He'd tried so hard to get her to sleep, but every time she closed her eyes.. all she could see was that flash of blinding color. She could hear the loud explosion the moment she dozed off. Daphne's face shaking her head to try to will her to not answer that phone call. The blood.. Safe to say, sleep did not come to her last night. Poor Russo had his work cut out for him, and not in the fun kinda way.

Bloodshot whites surrounding crystal blue irises looked up at him, and yet there wasn't an ounce of THC in her system. Weed didn't taste as good with Daphne in the hospital and fear of being too high to catch something off had her refusing to smoke. Though that didn't mean she hadn't tried to keep Russo high that day. The reassuring squeeze had her forcing a smile for him until her temple rested against his shoulder as exhaustion got the best of her, closing her eyes to the ringing of the connected line until that sleepy voice spoke his greeting. She winced. Fuck, it's late. She forgot that other people actually slept these days. "H-hello?" Her coarse voice croaked until she cleared her throat to get her pitch back to normal. "Hello? Sorry, did I wake you?" She kept her voice as steady as she could, but it was still tired. Still numb and somewhat bland. She didn't even have anger to fuel her at this point.

It was the coarseness in the voice that caught his attention and had him sitting right up and grabbing the phone to put it off speaker. "No, I mean yeah, but that's totally fine, what's up?" The voice sounded familiar and he went through his mind as to who it could be, was it one of Grace's friends? Was something wrong? Who's turn was it to take her home from work? Mason's? Mark's? Saila? Surely it wasn't his, he'd known that. Then it hit him.

The business cards.

"Hey this is Quinn, are you okay? Who's this?" He was already getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom to find the clothes he'd peeled off and thrown on the floor. Hopefully his keys and wallet were still in his pocket. He'd no idea what was what yet, but preparing early was always better than arriving too late.

Russo had stayed high, he didn't really function well when he wasn't. Though he did keep away from the hard stuff. Sober Russo's mind wandered too much for his liking, and Tessa met him at his worst, and still liked him. He didn't feel the need to be anything else around her, though there was a want, something nobody had made him feel in years. A want to be a better person; he hadn't felt that way since Lily died. He kept close and tried not to listen in, instead, he smoked silently. Every so often, he'd give her that reassuring squeeze.

Her eyes were scratchy and dry so she kept them closed while she talked, returning the squeeze to Russo every time he offered one. She felt bad for waking the man up, wanting to tell him nevermind go back to bed! but that would be a moot point and would probably just piss him off. Yeah, Tess. Wake him up in the middle of the night then tell him to go to bed. Shaking her head to get back some focus, she took in a deep breath when he confirmed his identity as the one on the card. "This.. this is Tessa Reed. I, um, I was the weird hippy with orange hair that hugged you yesterday.." She'd sort of accepted that as her title these days. ".. at the Humility First protest? I'm okay.. well, I don't.." Her voice shook briefly and she swallowed hard. No, I'm not o-fucking-kay. My best friend got blown up, we've got a creep on our ass who knows our every damn move and wants Daphne dead. Yeah, friggin' peachy. She grunted, winding herself closer to Russo as she spoke until her chin was practically propped on his shoulder. She was shivering, but it was only partly from the cold. "I think.. I think we're in need of your protection services. Can we set up a time to meet?" The admittance was reluctant like she didn't want to admit that the situation was bad enough to hire someone, but she didn't know what else to do.

Tessa Reed · Date: 2017-01-30 10:33 EST

The jeans were being pulled on, tuck of t shirt, wiggle into sweater, feel self up for keys and pray there was scotch in the truck. He was listening to her pauses and breaks in speech and it broke his heart. Weird that he still had one of those, but when you got good sleep things like compassion came flooding back. Feet slid into doc martins and the laces trailed behind him. Looking through the laundry he grabbed the shirt he wore to the protest. "Are you safe where you are now?" He was pushing the door open and kicking it shut heading down the walkway with a crunch of gravel breaking the silence around him like the thunder of gunshots. The camp was a ways off from the house, but he didn't see anything going on, just a couple of folks by the fire. "Listen to me very closely. I can hear you're not alone, if the person with you is friendly tell me the street where you are right now, if they are not, say yes the coffee shop on main is fine, and I will call on some help and we will track you from where you were yesterday." Could he do that? Yes. They'd hugged, she'd been pressed against the shirt in his hand, he was positive he'd be able to find her again. And if he couldn't. He knew who could.

She would hear the buzz that his truck made when you got in and put the keys in the ignition without shutting the door. He slammed it and headed for the marketplace, because really, that was a lot more central than his home in the boonies.

The approach of Tessa wasn't something that was uninvited. Fingers lifted to gently brush some orange locks from her face as he looked over at her. The cigarette was taken from his lips after a drag was taken and he lifted it to hers. If she wanted a quick puff, the offer was there. He couldn't hear the conversation, but he watched her carefully. The fact that she even needed to make that call, was... Well, it made him want to scratch the skin off of his neck. "Olive juice..." he whispered very softly. It was Russo speak for, I love you.

The brush of her hair was comforting to say the least, and while Quinn talked, she accepted the offered puff from the cigarette. She was inches away from climbing the man like a goddamn tree, man and clinging to him like a koala. Even though it would probably just knock them both over. They were the same damn height at 5'11. And she was scrawny with nothing to her, but he wasn't all that big either. She almost snorted when Quinn asked if she was safe. I don't think anywhere is safe.. Instead, she exhaled the smoke through her nose. "As safe as it's gonna get.." She understood what Olive Juice meant now and the whispered words made her smile a bit and rub her cheek against his shoulder while speaking to Quinn. She crinkled her nose to the question of who she was with though. Of course he was friendly. "We're where the protest was. He's friendly," she added to the concern about who she was with. "But coffee does sound really good," she groaned, rubbing her face into Russo's shoulder like it could possibly wake her up. "Can we meet at the coffee shop anyways?"

Coffee shop, O'Dels, that's where he brought people, because well, that's where life was safe. Were they open? They had to be open, if they weren't open well too bad. A deep breath taken and he smiled and calmed considerably, the woman and her friend were safe. "Sure, the coffee shop sounds good. It's just behind where the protest was. I'll be there in," eyes the dash and then the street where he was. "About 3 minutes." If that. He didn't know. He didn't hang up, she could if she wanted to, but he'd been where she stood, being hunted, because of what you believed in, because of what you were. He'd been there.

Okay, yeah... Russo would probably fall the fuck over if she tried to climb him. That didn't mean he couldn't support her. He looked at the tired girl rubbing her face on his shoulder and took a final drag of the cigarette before flicking it away. As the two made the decision on where to go, he pulled away from her. It wasn't long after that, that Russo was crouching in front of her. If she wanted a piggy back ride, he was more than willing to give one.

Quinn mentioned a coffee shop being close by, and she let out a pleased sound. "Mmn, perfect." From the haggard sound of her voice, she needed it. Something told her the boys would too. One just woke up, and the other got just as much sleep as she did: which was close to nothing. "We'll meet you there.. and.. thank you.." The appreciation and blatant relief of help could easily be heard in her tone, if not a little emotional. She hoped Quinn wouldn't meet the brunt assault of her emotional bitch ass but.. she couldn't promise anything. We're talking about Tessa here. Russo was used to it. She did hang up, however. If only because she wasn't comfortable with being on the phone with someone while they were driving. Don't need him getting into a damn accident, too. She was hanging up as Russo was pulling away and she huffed in a needy way like where you going?! At least Russo took it better than Brady.. But she blinked at Russo turning and crouching like he was going to give her a piggyback ride. She considered it, worrying her bottom lip as she almost told him no. But would someone really jump them in the three minutes it took for Quinn to get here? Yes. But she brushed her paranoia away. Maybe she just wanted to cling to the man.

...And she wasn't exactly thinking straight with her overtired mind, so when she approached Russo, she might've given his butt a quick grope before climbing onto his back while making grunting and grumbling sounds. She locked her arms around his shoulders, legs wrapped around his sides as she did her best to hold herself up so he didn't have to do so that much. "He said there's a coffee shop close by here. And he's three minutes away. We're gonna meet him there."

The phone was tossed on the dash and he used his knee to steady the wheel while he leaned to the glove box to find either butts or bud, oh or both. Both would help. Looking up long enough to swerve away from a parked car. How did that even fucking get there. Damnit. A shake of his head and he was back at looking for his cigarettes. Finding a pack on the floor he propped himself back up and looked around. The bottom of pack was tapped and a single smoke slid from the soft pack. Lighting it he parked the beast and didn't even jump when it backfired. Wasn't someone romping with a mechanic. He needed to talk to her about that. The mountain of a man unfolded himself from the truck and looked around. Probably getting there about the same time as them he figured.

If someone jumped them, you can bet your ass that he'd be carting her off on his back and running away like a scared chicken! He stayed crouched there until she made her decision, and when she groped his butt, Russo uttered the softest of squeaks. He wasn't used to people touching that general area, okay? He was thankfully well protected against Vida and her advances between Tessa and his ability to use his brother as a (literal) meat shield. When she climbed onto his back, he rose up to his feet and began a nice fast-paced walk toward the coffee shop. It might take him just over three minutes to get there, but with her on his back, he arrived.

The squeak that came out of him made her giggle, though her weird neck blush flared up something fierce when she realized what she did. Luckily, she was behind him so he couldn't see it. When she was on his back, her chin rested on his shoulder as he started toward the coffee shop. There might've been a moment or two where she drifted off, only to twitch and snap her eyes wide open with the images in her head. You'd think Freddy Krueger was after her instead of some creep, or.. maybe it was. She couldn't tell the difference at this point. When they reached the coffee shop, she lifted her chin from Russo's shoulder to look around. There was a truck there, she could tell that much. And then she'd see the mountain man, and point. "That's him." She never forgot the face of someone she hugged. And then she'd be scrambling off Russo's back, almost busting her ass in the process as exhaustion had her stumbling a bit.

It was super human the speed at which he moved to steady the girl so she didn't bust her ass. A hand clapped the wispy man on the shoulder and he looked around. Tick of nostril and he couldn't find anything he saw as odd, but to fair, he had no idea what had the woman spooked in the first place. "I'm Quinn." Said to the man who he didn't know as he pushed open the door to the coffee shop and tried to usher them both inside. Inside was better than wide open places. Inside was safer. Inside Quinn knew there were two ways out of the back but they funneled to a single swing door behind the counter and if he said at the table by the window, and put them backs against the wall, no one could get in or out without him noticing.

Russo had turned when she stumbled, holding out a hand but Quinn was faster. Then a hand was clapping his shoulder, and he flinched for a moment. Like he'd been expecting a punch in the face? That happened a lot to Russo, okay?! "Thanks," he muttered, turning his eyes to his feet. A hand moved to collect Tessa at the waist so that she knew he was there, and the other way around.

She teetered like she was drunk, but within a blink there was suddenly a Quinn there to steady her. "... Do you hit your face off ceilings?" She asked bluntly, blinking up at him. The girl needed some damn coffee, and soon. She caught the flinch out of the corner of her eye and frowned softly, about to reach out to Russo until he caught her waist. "Oh, and thanks," she was a bit slow on the draw at the realization that appreciation was in order. She moved more into the curve of Russo's arm and was looking around like she was expecting someone to be lurking in the shadows. Which wasn't even slightly off. "I'm Tess, as I said on the phone.. this is Russo," she mumbled, eyeing the surround with that clear paranoia on her expression before she noticed Quinn had opened the door. "Ohthankgodcoffee," she breathed, and the girl was a whirlwind of black with a stark contrast of orange hair as she found some energy out of nowhere, grabbing the front of Russo's shirt as she barreled through the doorway.

Quinn wasn't one to punch...okay back up, Quinn wasn't one to punch innoc...nevermind, the kid was pretty safe in assuming he was about to get punched. Quinn had been going through months of fist fights to make sure he could still feel something other than anger. Yes. Crippling pain was totally different than anger. Mark had kept him as busy on patrols and picking up Grace and dropping her off. But in the times between, the times when Saila was with Hex, and he was alone, and there was quiet? He looked for trouble, it was brilliant when he found it.

"No, doorways mostly, sometimes hanging light fixtures. I destroyed a Tiffany chandelier a couple weeks ago by getting tangled in it. It's um, well its something one gets used to." Another tick of nostril as he took in the man and then the woman making sure to catalog them away somewhere in the crazy mind maze of his. A last drag taken from cigarette before he tossed it into the street and stepped in to order himself a scotch and tossed down some bills to pay for the round.

He moved to the seat and watched the door waiting on them to come sit.

Tessa Reed · Date: 2017-01-30 10:35 EST

Russo always assumed he was getting punched, and was the type to never throw a punch. Except that one time in Tess' honor, because olive juice. "Nice to meet yo---oooh!" Yeah, he was being yanked away and followed like a moronic, obedient puppy. Russo's arms dropped to his sides and he followed after her while she tugged him along. Of course, instead of looking annoyed, his eyes trailed to the back of Tess' head like it was just the prettiest back of the head he ever did see.

"You poor thing," she whimpered, looking over her shoulder at Quinn when he said he smacked his head off light fixtures. "Tiffany had it comin'." That was her rendition of it, anyways. "Things are too expensive and flashy," she grumbled with some sort of vehemence to them. She had a rich background and her parents liked to squander their wealth on things that didn't matter. Like shiny chandeliers. But that didn't matter considering they were dead. Anywho.. she tugged her puppy along and stared at the counter like it was Valhalla. "Sweet mother of Gods.." she whispered, ordering herself a cappuccino with a double shot of espresso. Because she needed it. Looking to Russo, she'd wait to see what he was ordering before looking around and spotting the seat Quinn had chosen. She didn't question it, would just wait for Russo's order before tugging him -at least by the hand this time- toward the chairs at the table.

It was about then that he smirked to himself. Rainbow Brite. That's how he knew her. She was Grace?s friend. They had been doing all sorts of fun stuffs. And the one Russo he was there, well some of the time. He was picking through it. When not needed he had been finding himself evading sleep and running in circles chasing dragons. It's a tough life being on a seven month bender and never, okay until recently, sleeping without terrors. "It's late, you're both exhausted, I am not going to pretend I don't know about the bombing, because I do, and I have been looking into it, but lets get down to the nittiest of gritties." He was lighting another cigarette and taking a gulp of scotch. Oh great stick in the ass Quinn. He wasn't a fun guy. Why is he here anyway. "You are what I like to call non human allies, making you apparently a massive target for humans who are too chicken shit to actually try and take anything real from us, because to be fair we are faster, we are stronger, and as a whole, they are right, most non humans consider humans to be lackluster, useless, and then the other side, it's like a food source thing where you're needed but not at all equal. And then there is me, who has a very strange soft spot for squish bags of blood and boo boos and would REALLY not like to see your kind eradicated by mine for being heady and downright stupid. So be sure you understand you've backed the right horse and I am willing to put myself out there for you for it." He paused and took another drag and drink before he looked between them. "Where do you live?"

I wish she looked at me the way she looked at coffee? A fleeting thought from the hopeless guy's head before he realized she was expecting him to order something. His cheeks swelled with color for a moment, and he all but yelled in her face. "Coffee! Black coffee!" Clearing his throat, the terribly awkward guy ran a hand through his hair and looked away. "Uhm...large, please." Squeaking out that last lyric before. Then she was tugging him along and not a bit of protest came from the man. When they got to the table, he'd pull her chair out and wait for her to take a seat. Then he'd be working himself from his jacket and hanging it over the back of his chair before taking a seat. He'd be quiet for now. This was her call. Quinn just...got right to it. He stared for a moment, then lowered his eyes, then glanced up, and lowered them again. Well, shit. That was too much information for his foggy, tired brain to register at once. He hoped Tess had a better handle on it than him.

She did look at Russo the way she looks at coffee. He just never sees it. He might Olive Juice her, but she Coffee'd him. They liquided. Wait. Ew. That sounds gross. She blinked at Russo, slow before she gave him that wide-eyed look and then just to make him feel better.. Looked over at the one taking their order and did the same. "Coffee! Black coffee! Large! ... Please." Offering that warm Tessa smile, she reached out and patted the man's chest like hang in there, hun. But then she'd tugged him along and muttered her appreciation when he pulled out her chair for her. She plopped into it in the most unlady like fashion and slumped almost instantly, rubbing her face before she paused all movement. Information was tossed to her and those bleary blues just stared at Quinn as he laid down his own peace on the matter. Mentioning the bomb, she lowered her hands and eyes that teared up a bit. Her eyes drifted over to the window, though she was still listening. Nodding slowly, she crossed her arms, uncrossed them, squirmed in her seat. He hit the nail on the head and all she could really do was be quiet and listen. At one point, she gnawed on her bottom lip until their coffees came and she took hers and ran her thumb nail over the side of the travel mug. She couldn't really look at the werewolf, but surely he'd hear her soft words. ".. I just don't want anyone of my people to get hurt over all this.." Blinking, she looked up to him finally with furrowed brows. "What?" She was tense to that question for some reason, though it wasn't a huge secret where Tess lived, it was clear she was a highly paranoid person. "Oh.. Um.." Her eyes darted around like she was waiting for someone to come out of the shadows and say gotcha! muahahahah! Wiggling in her seat, she sat up a bit more and raked her fingers through those traffic-cone snarls. "On Jumbi Street." Yes, Jumbi. Deal.

"I get it, I have lost people. More people than I'd like to think about. Human people. How many of your people are there? Because I have a group of 4 wolves, one of which I don't think I should put on this, and I don't trust outsourcing. Not with this. I suppose my thing is, you two, are closest to Daphne? Yeah? I'd like it if you stayed with me for a bit until I can figure out who we are dealing with, you can say no. This isn't a prison thing. Also I need to know ahead of time if there are going to be any large get togethers, because to be honest, it's stupid, but I get it, she is in a coma for this and you can't exactly stop now can you?" Pause and he wondered if this was a race thing that they couldn't look at him. Maybe it was a I'm twice your age thing, who knew. He chewed at the side of his thumb and flicked his ash. Quinn didn't understand that not everyone mourned the same. "Listen I have a safe house, it's for gypsies technically, but none are there now, and I could take in, shit if you're willing 2 to a bed," he paused and thought " Eighteen, that would be your high profile folks. I can assure a non human guard at all times, 3 squares and cable. If you're looking to lay low."

It most definitely was not a race thing. Hell, Russo was lost to the fact that this man wasn't human. He wasn't so quick on the draw. When it came to Tess? He was. When it came to her, he noted every change in emotion and posture. He reached out to gather her hand the moment Daphne was brought into it. Russo would give it a little squeeze as if to say, I'm here. He didn't even have a car! There was no way he was gonna get blown up. Russo chewed on his lip and raked at the side of his neck with fingernails that were nearly chewed to the bone.

She appreciated the squeeze to her hand when Russo took it, squeezing back as she nodded slowly in understanding. He was there, and that meant something. It killed her to know that Daphne had gotten blown up over this, but they knew the risks going into the protest. Russo.. something told her that she was the only reason he was there. She was the reason that he was in danger. Wincing at that realization, she blinked away more tears and swallowed hard as she looked at the window yet saw nothing. She stared for a moment, sipping the hot coffee that she didn't really mind burned her tongue. It was hot, it was coffee. And a few burnt taste buds were the least of her problems. Looking to Quinn, she furrowed her brows when he talked about moving. She knew she was being difficult at this point, but she couldn't help it. Shaking her head, "no. No hiding. I know that's a lot of trouble I'm asking for by not doing so. But.." She sighed, giving Russo's hand one more squeeze before she was reaching into her gym sweatshirt to pull out her own cigarettes, setting the coffee on the table before her. "Daph is in the hospital in critical care. Brady's in the hospital. She's the leader, and without her.." She paused to light the cigarette, holding both the pack of Marlboros and the lighter out to him. She didn't bother with roll your owns these days, it wasn't enough. Looking Quinn dead in the eyes, her own tired and bloodshot from lack of sleep and crying for the past few.. okay, the past week. "Listen. If we go into hiding, what is that saying? It says he's won. I know it's stupid. I know it makes your job easier. But I have.. a lot of Strays." Some accounted for, and she gritted her teeth at the fact that after months she still didn't know where the fuck Billy was. "If you want to pack them up in a safe house, that's one thing. But I'm not. No. The goal here.. is to disband Humility First. Obviously." And that little bit of fierceness that she'd arrived to the Protest with today reflected in her eyes, the Tessa that had stormed out of that house with the golf club earlier. "Humility First still fucking stands. And I'm not hiding." She looked stubborn as a mule then, taking the opportunity to suck down a heavy hit of that cigarette.

"Cool, then I'll come to you." A shrug of shoulder as if it was just that easy. "We pack your guys in the house and I give them a guard dog, load em up with dope, or pot, or booze, whatever keeps em happy, cart them back and forth to protests and my ass stays with you." He was fierce and when she looked him right in the eyes he stared back with a sort of emotion that probably didn't belong there. Pride. He was proud of the girl. She was fighting for his rights, not her own, and he wondered if she understood that. "Now, the question is, why did you call me tonight?" He knew there was panic, he could smell it. But she hadn't explained the texts yet.

Tessa Reed · Date: 2017-01-30 10:47 EST

Russo finally took a drink of his coffee, sipping slow so that he didn't deaden his taste buds. Which were probably already kinda shot to hell from cigarettes alone. Speaking of, when she held out the pack, he plucked one and took the lighter. "Thank you," he said, looking proudly at her when she spoke those words. Of course he was worried about her, but what kind of hypocrite would he be? He knew the risks of drugs, and yet he did them. He couldn't ask her to stop something to make himself feel better. She hadn't once did that to him. "Daphne would be proud," he said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. He only knew Daph from the protests, but had gotten to spend a good amount of time with her since her and Tess were so close. "But... You had a compromise with the thing that puts me in danger, I'm only allowed to do it at the house?" he muttered it which was futile, since Quinn was a wolf. "...you gotta let me be with you when ever you go somewhere..." he muttered, pleading with those big puppy eyes. He didn't want to be needy, he was just worried. Compromise, right? Eyes shifted to Quinn when he asked the last question, and he gave her a nod. He'd let her explain.

She was puffed up like a bird. She thought she was more intimidating than she was, but.. unless she was swinging at someone's face with the golf club or losing her shit on someone for doing harm to one of her Strays, she... well, she was as intimidating as a tree hugger could be when they were mad. And the ridiculousness of that neon orange hair didn't help. But she tried, dammit. That counted for something. Really, she'd just worked herself up putting her foot down like that only to deflate instantly when she wasn't met with a brick wall. She'd expected an argument, to be told she was being difficult and she was making his job difficult. She'd expected to tell him to walk if he didn't like it. But when he complied with her terms, she just blinked at him like what? We're good? Oh. Okay. She took another drag of her cigarette and nodded. "I'm not their master, it's up to them if they want to be packed up. I know Daph would want Nikki put in a safe house. She's just a damn kid. That might take some convincing." She raked her fingers through her hair again, making a face when they got caught in a couple tangles but she worked through them anyways. She opened her mouth to speak when Russo mentioned Daphne being proud and she looked at him with wide glistening eyes and boy did she look like she was going to burst into tears. She even had that quivering bottom lip. "..You think so?.." One tear managed to escape before she laughed and shook her head. ".. and also be mad at me." The last part was muttered. Russo laid down her terms and she eyed him for a moment, pursing her lips as she sniffled, looking like she was still on that damn emotional brink. She was, she always was. "...Fine. But you're not allowed out of my sight either.." She squinted at him. That was her terms too. She wanted him in the safe house, but she also didn't like being detached from his hip either. She swiped at the corners of her eyes, dragged from her cigarette, swallowed down more coffee. Finally, she sighed and looked at Quinn and nodded. Right, the reason she'd called him in the first place. "There's this...guy.. or people. I don't know how many there are. He blew up Daphne's car, been texted her for a while I guess," she grumbled in irritation. "Death threats. I didn't know until I was going to use her phone to call the ambulance.. and.. read them.." She swallowed and her breathing got a bit quicker, as well as her words. "He fucking called right then and there. Dude's completely crazy. Told me that he wanted Daphne dead, that he wanted the protest to die with her. And then, today.. he started texting me.. He knew my name when he called and everything. Found my number somehow.. here." She dug her phone out, flipped to the message log and tossed it across the table. "The picture.." She muttered, and that's when she started shaking and looked like she was going to break down again.

Blocked ID-12:45PM: My, my. What a bold fashion statement, Tessa. Tell me, what do you plan on doing with that golf club?
Text from Tessa Reed(12:47 PM): I'm gonna shove this thing up your ass is what I'm gonna do about it. Creep-Mabob. But you're a coward hiding in the shadows.
Blocked ID- 12:49PM: Such a temper. I can tell I'm going to have a lot of fun with you, Tessa.
Text from Tessa Reed (12:50PM): Don't you have your basement to crawl back to? You know, just you and your hand tonight? Did mama run out of Hot Pockets?
Blocked ID- 12:50PM: Be careful, Tessa. I have plenty left to do, you know.
Text from Tessa Reed (12:51PM): ... If you don't mind, I've got some protesting to do, creep.
Blocked ID:- 12:55PM I noticed! I am truly surprised you left the hospital.
Blocked ID- 12:56PM:
Blocked ID- 12:57PM: Don't worry, I'm taking very good care of our wounded little bird. Early condolences for your loss.
Text from Tessa Reed (1:05PM:): I don't know how you know about what I'm dressed like at the hospital. But it's pretty clear you've got too much time on your hands. I wouldn't suggest staying there.
Blocked ID- 1:07PM:Oh, pretty Tess. How do you know this is just one person? Thanks for the heads up, though. Don't worry, I move fast.

"Okay you've your terms I have mine, so," he reached out and tapped at the tracks on Russo's arm very carefully. "This, here, makes you slow, makes you stupid, and makes you a liability to her." Eyes shifted to Tessa then back to Tessa. "Not in the house, not anywhere until this is done, you'll be easy to watch if you're dope sick but that's only a perk of the whole ordeal." There was not an ounce of judgement from Quinn about it, these were facts, if he got strung out and sloppy she'd be in danger. Jabbing out his cigarette and picking up his scotch. "I'll make a go of it with ya kid, we can both clean up for this." An admission? Yes. Eyes to Russo then and he reached out, phone was taken and the messages were read with a strange quickness. Setting it down only after he'd forwarded the entire thing to himself. Sorry Tessa, probably should have asked first.

"Second term, you don't play with him. He messages, I wouldn't advise you answer. He's insane, but he needs your attention to matter, don't give it to him and he doesn't matter. I'll see if I can find someone to watch Daphne, I mean, she's viral, so it won't be hard to find someone passionate about this to watch over her." He paused, something about the man being with Daphne didn't make sense but he couldn't put his finger on why. "And finally, neither of you go anywhere without a guard. At least until this is figured out."

"I know so," he nodded. "When she wakes up, she's going to give you the biggest hug in the world..." It felt weird being so optimistic, and if he was being honest, he'd probably call bullshit on himself. What man could be truly optimistic, when his four-year-old kid died in his arms? He put on a brave face for her, and then she began teetering on her breaking point he opened up his arms to hold her. Only to have Quinn snag his arm and expose those marks. There might not have been judgement on from Quinn, but there was a hell of a lot of shame on his part. He lowered those eyes. When he spoke of quitting, even Russo expected himself to be like, what? No drugs? Sorry, toots. Good luck! Okay maybe not that casual, but still... It was a surprise to himself that he nodded his head in agreement. "Okay," he agreed to his part in the terms. A single arm wrapping around Tess while the other held the smoking cigarette.

She whimpered and nodded to Russo's words, regardless if they were surprisingly optimistic for him. When he opened his arms, she leaned and almost flopped into them but paused with a wince to Quinn's blunt words. There was a tightness to her jaw seeing Russo's shamed expression and she fought the urge to throw something at Quinn for it. But tossing hot coffee at the man she was seeking help from probably wasn't the best shot of hiring him. That didn't meant there wasn't a displeased look on her face aimed at the wolf. He'd soon learn -if he didn't already- how protective she was of hers, and it wasn't just in a physical sense. But as Russo complied to the man's terms, she continued to lean on him and nuzzle in an attempt to comfort his shame against his jawline. Coffee? she couldn't wholly say she wouldn't like to see Russo off the needle though.. She sighed to one of Quinn's terms but nodded to the next. "Deal on the last, but I don't think the second matters. Daphne ignored his texts, she didn't respond to a single one and he tried to fucking blow her up. I don't think it's a 'don't feed the trolls' kind of situation," she scoffed, sucking down more nicotine and caffeine. ".. But I agree on the bodyguard thing."

"Easy there, it's not some secret, nor do I give a shit about whether he uses or not." Funnily enough, they both used for the same reason. They lost their kids. Quinn wasn't about to sugarcoat anything, he was trying so hard to not just walk out on them, because they were fighting for him but to be scoffed at, and glared at for being honest was grating at him. A thick swallow and he finished off the scotch. He was careful with the next bit, how he worded it so as not to scare him. "The man who will be taking care of you while I get everything sorted at the house is named Wyatt, he's slightly feral still but he won't hurt you, I trust him with my life, I suggest you do the same." There was no call made, not on the phone at least, and yet when they left there would be another lycan sitting in the bed of the truck.

To be fair, Russo wasn't scoffing or glaring at anyone. He knew what he was, and he was ashamed of it. That was on him. He shook his head lightly, "It's alright," he said. Then he spoke of the feral that would be caring for them, and he nodded his obedient head. Russo was a pretty easy going guy, for the most part. He'd fight for Tessa--and lose, probably, but he didn't seem to mind if anyone insulted him. Not that Quinn did in the slightest. He took a drag from his cigarette and a sip of his coffee before turning his head to plant a kiss on Tessa's crown.

Her eyes were downcast when Quinn told her to ease off, her thumb nail scratching at the side of her cup. "Sorry," she muttered, glancing in Russo's direction before looking back to her cup. Out of most of her Strays, she was most protective of Russo. Especially now that she knew what had happened to him. And she coffee'd him. There was that. She just really hated seeing that shamed look on his face. It made her heart hurt. She didn't mean to glare at Quinn, but she hoped at least a part of him understood. This... this was her pack. She looked up when the wolf spoke about one of his, but didn't seemed bothered by the feral thing. I have a Brady. I get it. He's pretty damn feral. As feral as a human could be, really. Nodding, she took a drag from her cigarette and her eyes got a bit heavy to the kiss to her crown. Blinking that sleepiness away, she leveled her gaze on Quinn which had softened considerably from the glare. "Thank you, Quinn... for all of this.." She shook her head and let out a brief laugh, you know, one of those awkward ones that didn't have a touch of amusement. "... I was starting to feel a bit hopeless.." She muttered the admission, not meeting either men's gaze that moment when she took a swallow of her coffee.

Tessa Reed · Date: 2017-01-30 11:26 EST

A hand stretched over the table and yes, he understood, Amare was a prick, Dirk was an arrogant asshole, and if anyone had pointed that out Quinn would be pretty pissed and cruel about it. His hand settled on Russo's arm and then onto Tessa's. "Listen, this is a tough time, and I will make sure everyone gets through it as pain free as possible. But we have to work together. I didn't..." He paused and clicked his tongue. "I didn't mean to upset anyone, I just, have this habit of..." He opened his mouth and let his tongue roll out as if he was trying to say that he just said whatever. Which he did. "You will be alright. He will make sure to it." Nodding to the man sitting in the back of his truck trying to untangle a bunch of rope. Oh good Wyatt look like a crazy person. At least he was in clothes this time. "Come on, lets get you home to bed." He stood up and headed for the door. Holding it open for them so they could follow.

The man wasn't easily offended, not when it came to himself. If Quinn tried to talk shit about Tess, or disrespect her, then he'd more than likely throw a punch. ....and promptly get his ass handed to him on a brass platter. Not a silver, though! He kept a hold of Tess for the time being, even when Quinn reached out. He didn't flinch that time, instead, he smiled tiredly. Maybe now Tess would actually sleep. He'd probably stay up for a little while after to make sure she didn't have a nightmare. When he stood and held the door open, Russo ushered out the girl with an arm around her waist. "Thanks, man.." he said softly, still avoiding eye contact. It was a Russo thing. Finishing up the cigarette, he flicked the butt once he was outside and kept her close. Oh shit, my jacket... The realization hit him the second the cold hit his arms. He looked back that way and then sighed. I don't need it. Reluctant to leave Tessa's side even for the seconds it would take to retrieve the thing.

With the relief of Quinn's help lifting mountains off her shoulders, she felt like she could breathe again. They might be safe now. And with that relief, came the crushing exhaustion that even the double shot of espresso couldn't touch to keep her awake too much longer. When Quinn reached out, she pulled those tired eyes to him and gave him that soft and warm Tessa smile. The man understood. Shaking her head, "can't thank you enough, really.. and it's okay," to his apology. She gave a lazy pat to his hand and looked over to Russo. The shift in her demeanor was definitely more relaxed now, regardless of the exhaustion. Quinn suggesting going home and going to bed had her groaning softly. "Yesssss," she whined, giving Russo's shoulder a brief nuzzle before forcing herself to her feet with the man's ushering. Finally looking the feral wolf untangling the rope in the back of the truck, she raised a brow but there was an easy smile on her face as she giggled softly. She looked to Russo when he looked back, seeing his jacket. Firstly, she wouldn't leave that behind. Secondly... her phone was still on the table. "One sec," she slid out of Russo's arm and made quick work of going to the table, taking a moment to stub out her cigarette before cramming her phone in her pocket and snatching up his jacket. Returning to the men, she wiggled her way back to his arm and pressed the jacket to his chest. "Not forgettin' this." A soft crinkle to her nose before she smiled to Quinn. "Let's get the hell out of here, huh?" And she might actually get some sleep tonight..

(A thank you to QuinnDeFortes and Russo for this scene! You guys are amazing <3)