From Rage, Remorse [Isabella/Cecil]

He couldn't help but think about the other day. Tensions flying high, harsh revelation, and the constant squabbling that permeated everything. It was a bad, bad day for them all, and there wasn't anything really handled right then.
And he could think of one person who definitely shouldn't have been caught up in it all.
He checked the business card.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Hey, uh. It's Cecil. Remember me? Back from the medicine mix-up?
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Was remembering what happened and wondering how you were doing.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Realise we don't know each other that well, but uh
UNKNOWN NUMBER: It alright if we meet up? Just a little worried.

There.

"Right, and we'll have that followup interview next week. Great. Thanks again, and see you then." The woman spoke with the closest thing to a customer service voice she had, as she stepped out of the office, slipping her pen and notepad into her purse, before pulling out her phone, somewhat surprised to see multiple messages having popped up. And from an unknown number.

Looking at the time, it was around fifteen minutes since they'd been sent. but opening the message thankfully revealed the sender. Cecil. It took a few more minutes for the blonde to get down to street level, before she started tapping away at the screen of the smartphone.

Isabella K.: So sorry couldn't get back to you sooner. Was at an appointment, phone silent. Have some time to meet up, I suppose.

And send.

Though she couldn't help but... feel a bit off. With the timing of everything.


Isabella K.: Is something wrong?

The blond waited impatiently for a response, nervous energy keeping him in motion. He really needed to get in contact, and while the wait was relatively short, but it wasn't exactly painless.
He sighed with relief as he got a relief, though he frowned as he actually read what he saw. Truthfully, he supposed there was a problem in this situation, but...

CECIL: Nah. Not particularly. Just a little irrational worry over things that happened ages ago.
CECIL: Mostly just want to talk about stuff.

Not much wait before she got her response. Well, kids nowadays can't seem to pull their noses away from their phones for five minutes, but it does make things more convenient in cases like this. Or maybe, just... No, it couldn't be.

Isabella K.: Understandable. But I have maybe an hour or so to spare. Whe-

She stopped typing for a moment, before hitting backspace a few times. Wouldn't hurt to be cautious about giving away locations.

Isabella K.: Understandable. But I have maybe an hour or so to spare. What would be a good place to meet up?

And sent.

CECIL: I can get to East Eden or the Backlight without much issue.
CECIL: Someplace in Vista's good, too.

Not that he expected her to be out in the farmland, but still. Odds are, she was somewhere in the main body of the city, anyway.
Probably in the area of SMILE. They'd managed to keep going without Superbia, though there was still no news about what happened with her. The only thing that was known about for sure was the broadcast.

She'd nod to herself. Before thinking what to reply.

Isabella K.: Currently in Vista. Have business in Backlight, would there work? Somewhere out of the way.

She couldn't be sure if her work under a government-controlled organization just meant she'd be observed with just that little bit more scrutiny. Not going to places where she'd have no reason to is certainly a good step to stay safe.

He was already moving.

CECIL: Yup. That works.
CECIL: Just let me know where to look.

She picked up her pace ever so slightly.

Isabella K.: You know the Islabucks next to the chinese food place, the one by the intersection? Head about two blocks toward the News studio from there. You'll find a small, hole-in-the-wall hookah place. The owner owes me a favor. It's out of sight.

CECIL: Got it. On my way.

With that, he slipped his phone into his pocket and started moving with purpose.


There wasn't a hint of nerves as Cecil entered the location, hair back in a ponytail like the one he wore a few days ago back at Nadia's place, smiling brightly as he spotted Isabella.
It wasn't a bad act, but he was hurried and tense in a way he wasn't normally.


"Hey, good to see you!" He dug one hand into his pocket as he came to a stop. "Interesting place."

Getting there was simple enough. Convincing the owner to let her have one of the rooms all to herself for a while another thing altogether. Still, dangling hat owed favor was simple enough. So after a few minutes, she stepped into one of rooms, lit dimly in a light-orange shade.

So she'd sit down onto one of the large comfy cushions on the floor, and leaned her back against the wall. And she waited. She'd lean forward, but not stand up as Cecil found his way there. She hadn't been using the hookah, but there was a still a not-so-mild smell to the air. "It's good to see you as well, Cecil." She'd then gesture him toward one of the many cushions and small seats. "So... I guess I should ask what's up?"

The smell was...strange. He didn't quite have a frame of reference for it.
In the dim room, he settled himself down, and fished a letter out of his pocket before handing it over to Isabella. "Well, if there's anything particularly up, I figure this is it. Don't leave it lying around." Shrugging, his smile dips a little. "I also wanted to talk about that night, though. Things were rough, but..."

He paused. "Thanks for trying. And sorry that you had to."