As much as Farah despised Ink, she knows how badly she needs the rest. She almost collapses into the chair when it is provided, but she quickly becomes alert again after his comment. "What on earth do you mean?" she shoots back. "Myself?"
Aiden laughs. "You heard me. You have nothing to offer me besides you." he shrugs, grabbing nother chair and sitting down a few feet away from Mistress.
She gives him an up-and-down glance, attempting to see if he's being truthful or not. "So… I surrender myself… to you…" she analyzes his offer and pieces the situation together slowly, "and it all stops? All the destruction, the chaos… everything?"
Aiden laughs at her once-over, and does the same for her. "Yup." he smirks, lounging in his chair. "Although, you get to set the terms as to how I get you."
Farah lifts her chin and tries her best not to look disgusted with him. "And what on earth is that supposed to mean?"
Aiden looks at Mistress with a glimmer of amusement. "Exactly what you think, Mistress."
Farah winces as she processes the decision. Her life in exchange for the safety of millions. It should be a no-brainer. She closes her eyes with a sigh and shakes her head. "Fine."
Aiden laughs. "No terms, no conditions? Just like that?" he says, standing up. "I expected more of a fight from you."
I did too, Farah thinks. "Whatever it will take for you to stop this… madness you think will get you somewhere," she replies. "I can't allow you to continue putting innocent lives at risk. All for what?"
Aiden looks at Mistress a moment, then does something. Immediately, his tattoos seem to disappear. "Because of this. You thought I was just crazy?"
"What else was I supposed to think?" she shoots back. "You've tourmented this city and these civilians for years. I figured your only plea would be insanity."
Aiden looks down, and his scars now become visible. "Look again, and see the marks this city and its people have wrought on me." he snarls. He takes a deep breath, then exhales. "My anger is not directed towards you. It is merely where it is coming out."
Farah inhales sharply. A new feeling twitches inside her heart at the sight of his vicious scars. Sympathy? No, no, she should not feel sympathy for someone who destroyed so much while caring so little. And yet… She shakes her head. "Still, there must have been some other option."
Aiden looks up. "What other option? I've tried everything. None of my pleas were answered." he says, his scars disappearing and his tattoos reappearing. "And besides, this life suits me better anyways. And now I have you."
"Suits you?" Farah scoffs, but at his tone, she shivers and looks away. The greater good, she reminds herself desperately. That's what this is all for. I'm doing it for the greater good of the people.
"Yes, it suits me. What else would my powers be good for?" Aiden asks, a miniature fountain of ink appearing on the palm of his hand. It quickly turns from black to silver to gold to pink and back to black. "I mean, I could use it to help, but then I would just be another tool for society to use at their leisure."
"You'd be a tool?" Farah questions sharply, though she is enticed by the fountain of ink and interested in knowing how his powers work. "That's like saying I…" She trails off quickly. Her mouth hangs slightly agape.
"You understand my point now, Mistress? We are but tools for society to use at its leisure." Aiden grins, walking over and kneeling in front of Mistress.
"I am not a tool!" Farah snaps, but she turns her head down and to the side, refusing to meet Ink's gaze. The greater good. The promise of the greater good.
"Are you so sure of that as to try and leave this place and 'help' more?" Aiden says, cupping a hand against Mistress's cheek. He meets her eyes and gives her a solemn look, letting her see the truth of his words. "You would only be a tool for the city if you remained a hero. Whereas if you were to stay with me, you would be an equal, a fighter worthy of defending the city rather than being restrained by it."
(Aight, I need to log off. I might get back on in a little bit or later tonight. I'll definitely be on again tomorrow.)
(Okay!)
Farah looks deeply into his eyes, searches them thoroughly. "I am not a tool," she repeats quietly, but just as snappy. Quickly, she looks away again, attempting to hide the conflict inside her.
Aiden knows well that Mistress is fighting against herself. He gets up and walks away, sighing. "Just… please. I have nobody. I-" he breaks off, his voice uneven. When he next speaks, his voice is normal. "No. I cannot be so selfish as to get you. Just- go. Do not come back here, please. I- I can't. I just can't anymore."
“If I must give up myself for the protection of this city, so be it,” Farah replies tiredly. “I will not leave only to find that you have broken your promises yet again. If my surrender is what it takes… take me.” She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever comes next.
Aiden sighs. "Very well…" he says, walking back over and kneeling in front of Mistress. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to. I just need a friend, someone that will stay by me."