Oh, It's You [Aina/Ver]

Looking over her shoulder, Aina would only see the soft, shining glimmer off on a distant rooftop. Verdada herself adjusting her glasses specifically to get Aina's attention and more urgently: To get the woman off the fucking roof of the hospital.

The tired-looking woman adjusted her glasses and sighed, waiting until Aina made her way over to where she was. But ...well....it did occur to her that the woman might not be able to. She'd give the woman a bit of time, before she'd sonido over to the place herself, grab her, and then promptly move her to another rooftop. So long as she got off the damn hospital.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Her voice delivered flatly, ignoring that teasing little line as she spoke around the cigarette in her mouth. Her eyes thoroughly unimpressed with her charge. "I know you're having a lot of fun being around here and thinking about things. But ....well, first of all. The roof of a Hosptial is not a place you can just hang out, Aina. IF you got caught they'd arrest you." She chastised, her eyes narrowing just a little. But Aina would recognize the look, and especially that glimmer of worry in Verdada's eyes.

All the while she circled Aina, looking her over for any injuries and signs that she'd gotten into trouble.
"You shouldn't even be in the city of lights. You're not even in a disguise. Can't you at least ...I dunno, do your hair different or something?" She hissed and peeled a facemask out of her pocket. It was one of those little surgical masks, the kind you'd wear if you weren't feeling well but still had to go out and about, and promptly held it out to Aina, making it very clear she wanted her to put it on.

That flat stare didn't relent as Aina blew off her concerns.

But some small glimmer inside of her did feel happy, seeing the woman's smile. If only she could just understand why she had to do this. It was a pain in the ass. Aina was Algos. And yet she.....wasn't. Those memories. She hated them. How she wished she could just get rid of them. Destroy them. Let Aina be ....her own person. Why did she have to be cursed with those looks?

She visibly relaxed a little when Aina slipped the mask on, and her eyes slowly drifted to a close, sighing audibly as she listened.

"You don't understand. There's plenty of people who might not recognize you. Small towns. Shit like that. But this is the home of the Vandenreich. And Algos was their number one Most Wanted. There are OTHER places you can do all this shit at, Aina." She stepped in, and attempted to grasp the woman's wrist. Firmly, but still not roughly. But .... Aina seemed to capitulate. Aggravatingly.... Verdada couldn't help but sigh. It was still so abundantly clear that Aina did NOT understand. How many times would she have to guide her?

"Don't try and guilt me with calling yourself ugly, little miss. You're a Six at worst." She murmured dryly. Staring at Aina for several long moments. "You have Twelve Hours." She growled, moving close and reaching up. She peeled the ribbon out from Aina's hair and began meticulously tying the hair up into a tough pontyail. Hmmm. She'd prefer if she had a curling iron or something, but this would have to do, between the hair shift and the mask.... it was better than nothing.

"You lay low. You don't go to any major streets. And NO more volunteering. You have twelve hours to tie up any business you have in the city. After that, we're leaving." She noted with firm sternness in her voice. In contrast to her capitulating to give Aina enough time to get whatever she wanted done. That was the most she was gonna allow her. She paused, looking off into the distance before looking back to the girl. "I know this sucks. I don't lik having to corral you like this. But you have to try and be more careful Aina. There's plenty of places you can go. But ...Major cities. Areas with authorities who know you too well. Until we can deal with your looks...." It felt cruel to say such a thing. But there was no helping it. "We have to be careful."

She gently squeezed the hand that had found her own.

"I appreciate you listening to me." She murmured softly, before releasing the woman's hand and turning to head for the door to the building they were on. "Cmon. This city isn't safe for me to garganta in. ANOTHER reason this place fuckin sucks." She murmured.

Aina's comment about being a cutie was met with that same deadpan stare, sincerely not interested in letting the girl get away with her little cute antics while she was being scolded.

All the same, ugh..... she sighed as she listened to Aina. Annoyed. Why did Aina have to say this shit. Why did she have to act like this. Like Algos. Acting like things just where what they were. As if there was no choice in the matter. And for just a moment, staring into Aina's eyes, a deep....pained....and sad look crossed Verdada's expression. An expression devoid of hope. Hurt by how ......flippant everything Aina did was. Why did she still have to be so much like Algos? Why didn't she CARE about anything? Even as Aina capitulated to her desires.... it was still right there.

Aina acted like she was only doing this because she didn't care one way over the other. Like some toddler carelessly running along the edge of a pier. Oblivious to danger. With not a worry or care in the damn world. She wanted to hit her. Shake her. Scream at her. IT was painful to watch her. Remembering that familiar tone in that dead woman's voice. But sadly....she knew it wouldn't even Phase Aina.

How long would it be, until she was watching over Aina's corpse as well?

She turned and started leading Aina down the stairs, taking a tired drag from her cigarette before she put it out into her own thumb. Not even a flinch as the hot tip sizzled out and she flicked the butt onto the rooftop as she walked indoors. "Yea yea. So why did you even come here anyway? Something catch your interest?" Certainly it was always strange when the seemingly aimless woman suddenly went somewhere with purpose.

Verdada listened as Aina explained what she'd been up to. Which....frankly didn't fully answer her question. Why here? There were plenty of cities and small towns that needed help with hollow attacks or demons, or even rampant danava or rogue shinigami. She didn't bother asking this of course. But she did pause for a moment and look over her shoulder on the stairwell when Aina asked her that question. She went quiet for a few moments. Before....

"I just worry Aina. I know you .....you are how you are. But you remind me a lot of some...unpleasant people." She furrowed her brows. Thinking of Algos. And even frankly Mana. "You're so ........floaty. You say that you care about stuff. But if anything happens to them, you don't seem to respond. You were happy and excited about being here. But when I told you we had to leave, you just acted like it was no big deal. You have no stakes, you don't seem passionate about anything. Everything is just something you're....'trying out' it feels like. Even when we're in danger....even when I talk about what might happen if someone finds you and realizes what you were.... you don't even break a sweat. You just let it all wash over you." Just like Algos. Just like Mana.

"Its terrifying." She noted softly, looking over her shoulder. But not expecting to find anything. Nothing real. Being around Aina didn't feel real. Even now...having to drag this woman away from this city. Aina acted like she'd already been on her way out anyway. Did Aina care about her? OR was she just part of the background? She sighed...wishing she could smoke indoors.

"Let's keep going...." She murmured softly, starting down the stairs once again.

It was painful, just how much Aina didn't understand. Verdada looked to the woman with dead eyes as the woman attempted to console her. Expressing that she did indeed have these feelings and worries. But what good did that information do her? What did it matter if Aina felt fear if she still pulled shit like this? She'd never seen Aina laugh at something suddenly. She'd never seen surprise or fear strike the woman's face. She'd never seen her stuck or uncertain. Even now, though Aina SAID that she wasn't sure how to express something. She did so passively. Dismissively. She didn't struggle, the only way that Verdada KNEW that she might, was simply because she said she did. There was no urgency. Throughout this entire conversation, even with that expression of worry?

Aina's energy in how she spoke never changed. She might raise or lower her voice. But there was no enthusiasm in it. Aina expressed....that she cared. But Verdada didn't even know if she believed it.

"Don't know what to tell ya Aina. That 'at the mercy of another's whims' thing? Thats how every other living thing on earth exists. It's how life works. The fear of death is what makes people who they are. How they deal with it. Having fun. Making friends. Fuckin. Playing games. Taunting others. Being scumbags. It's all people trying to make the most out of how much time they have left. But you don't have that about you. You talk about death like it's the weather, and it makes you seem like a serial killer. Like an Asthavon." She noted calmly. Before she turned and continued down the stairs.

"And I gotta say. I don't even know how you'd fix that. So let's just get outta here." She murmured softly. Her voice still laced in resignation.