Honesty
Characters: Ryan and Susanna Setting: Her room, late
Ryan made his way stealthily to Susanna’s room, not stopping except to listen and look and not coming across anyone else on his way there. He smiled faintly in the darkness, knowing he was both lucky and smart and that he was going to get away with what he’d done. He reveled in that feeling, even if there was a niggling little bother in the back of his brain that kept telling him wasn't finished yet.
So this place would ruin complete satisfaction in nearly everything, he thought with a sigh. But still, his cheer was high and his blood was pumping, and he wanted to shore up his alibi.
And well, when else would he get a chance to talk frankly with Susanna, with no one listening in? he mused as his hand went to her doorknob, slowly turning it to see if her room was unlocked as well.
Susanna’s door was not unlocked. She’d been bored out of her mind all day and was quickly growing tired of this place. Sure, she could spend as much time as she wanted in the gym, and she had done so even today with the rain pouring down and over the glass walls, but what else was there? She didn’t really have friends here, which truly suited her just fine. No, she just wanted to know just what the hell she had to do to get out of here, to get some semblance of a life again.
Currently, she was laying on her bed, staring at the ceiling in the dim, flickering light of the single candle she’d procured days ago. How the power had gone out entirely was beyond her. Seriously, what kind of idiots were running this place that they didn’t even have a reliable backup generator? It made her wonder if there might be other vulnerabilities, something she could exploit in order to escape, but she didn’t feel confident enough to try tonight. She had no resources even if she was able to escape. No, her best bet would be to see this program out - at least for the time being.
She could do that. As long as boredom didn’t kill her first.
Ryan sighed to find it locked, though he couldn't say he was surprised. Susanna had a good dose of common sense, or at least a highly developed sense of self preservation. He had much of the same, though a more self-gratifying sort at times. He enjoyed risks, though within reason--like power outages. He could indulge during times like this. He lightly tapped on the door, increasing the sound just a bit. He didn't want to draw anyone else's attention but hers, so he was going to keep it as quiet as he could.
She would give him an alibi, he was sure. Not that he wanted another lecture to go along with it, but it was a small enough price to pay, especially since he'd been extremely careful.
The initial knock to her door went unnoticed, as it was too soft to hear over the storm raging outside, but when it increased slowly in volume, it finally broke through, and she glanced at the door with a raised brow. There was only one person that she could think of that would seek her out, as she really didn’t think Reece would do so (not that she was thinking of him), and she stood from her bed with a small smile and an even smaller drape of fabric covering her.
“Well, hello darling,” she greeted as she opened the door after unlocking it. Stepping back to invite him in, she waited until he was inside to close the door again. “Out taking a stroll in the dark?” she asked in a softly seductive murmur.
Ryan's smile grew slowly as he took her in, draped in so little and obviously not displeased to see him. He hooked an arm around her waist, drawing her to him as he entered and kissing her lingeringly. "Mmm, something like that," he murmured, pleased by the warm welcome and the knowledge that for once there were no eyes on them whatsoever. "Can't say I'm impressed if a bitty storm like this can knock it out, though," he added with a drawl, foot pushing the door closed behind them. He reached back to snick the lock firmly back in place. "How are you this oh-so-fine evening?"
Susanna went into the kiss more than willingly, practically melting against him, giving as much as she got. She chuckled softly when he said he wasn’t impressed. “Oh, you’re not? Can’t say that I am either. I wonder... Do you have any ideas on how we’d be able to break out of here? It’s what I was pondering just before you arrived,” she admitted, thinking he might appreciate the topic. “Bored out of my damn mind! Please say you’ve come to entertain me,” she answered teasingly, eyes sparkling with anticipation. Being with Ryan had always proved to be enjoyable and entertaining thus far, and she had no doubt that this time would be any different - maybe even more so without hidden eyes on them.
He guided her to the bed, tumbling them comfortably back onto it. He'd much rather have a conversation in bed than just standing there. It might take him a few minutes for the moment but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy her fine body and mouth and talk to her while he got there. "Ooooh, hmm. I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind," he told her just as honestly, glad for once to not have to hide everything, or talk around something. It all took such dreadful effort. "Blowing the wall is a fond if extravagant one. Climbing is out unless one could rig something to catch on the roof on the other side. What have you thought of?" He was admittedly curious.
His lips curved up mischievously in the candlelight. "Always looking for entertainment, darlin'," he told her, leaning in to nibble lightly on her lower lip. "And you're definitely extremely interesting entertainment."
She was more than content to let him lead her, and she curled against him as they settled on her bed. While she normally wasn’t much of a cuddler, she enjoyed his company and knew that he wouldn’t become overbearing about it. Snorting softly in amusement at his rather over-the-top idea for escape, Susanna shook her head, smiling softly. “Hmm, I hadn’t actually come to any clear ideas thus far. I would imagine that with some planning and ingenuity, we would be able to work a way over the roof. My biggest concern with that is the unknown of what would be waiting on the other side. They have to know the power is out, and it would seem rather foolish of them not to have the facility surrounded in some way,” she mused, expression thoughtful as she considered it all.
“Mmm, but of course,” she agreed with both statements, humming as he nibbled her lower lip. “You seem to be in particularly good spirits tonight,” she observed as she casually hooked her leg around his, her hand sneaking down to the hem of his shirt, sliding beneath it to brush against his skin.
"It's also rather foolish of them to not have an independent generator," he grumped quietly. He wasn't much of a cuddler either, but she was warm and the day was grey, and she was the one person in this place that he thought could understand him at all, if he actually told her everything. Or more, at least. It was a kind of nice private celebration of the day's actions, even if she was unaware of it. "Though I'm sure those guards that shove people down the elevator have to come from somewhere, I suppose."
He ran a hand down to squeeze her ass, pulling her closer to him. "I am," he said, and if he were a bit smug, well, he thought he was entitled. God, that little blonde virgin. If only he knew how much more time he could have had with her... He'd have made it last. "It's been a good evening." And he was going to ask her for an alibi, yes. Maybe she'd turn him in, but he suspected not... at least not without a very, very good reason. "I've been here since shortly after the power went out, by the way," he told her, his hand sliding up her side.
This was the first time she’d been alone with him since her drinking game with Reece the other night, she realized, though it was something she really had no desire to focus on, so she pushed the thought away. “Mm, yes, that as well,” she agreed at his quiet addition. This place seemed to be riddled with flaws, vulnerabilities that were just waiting to be exploited. And with all the everyday items at their disposal, it truly shouldn’t be too difficult to find a way to exploit them. It was just unfortunate that they hadn’t already had a plan in place, as she would be truly amazed if they had an opportunity such as this again.
She didn’t really think they could get any closer, but she did press firmer against him at his urging. He certainly seemed a bit smug, and it caused her to raise a brow at him. “Has it? Now why does that make me think you’ve already enjoyed someone else’s company tonight?” she asked teasingly. It wouldn’t bother her in the least, and she knew it wouldn’t be the first time he’d come to her after being with someone else. “Oh? Have you?” she asked, both brows raising this time. Without waiting for an answer, though, she continued on. “Oh yes, that’s right, you have been,” she agreed easily. It wasn’t much of a leap to assume that he’d been with someone doing something he decidedly shouldn’t be doing, and if that were the case, the less she knew the better.
"Some of those things in the shed have to work on a wall, you think?" he mused quietly. He doubted he'd be getting out of here in any other way than by escape. The admin seemed to have taken a special dislike to him, to which he said screw them, but it made his life difficult. Not to mention he didn't seem to get the perks that some of the other people got.
"Mmm. Perhaaaaaps," he drawled, but if she didn't understand that he gravitated toward her every time, he'd be surprised. She was perhaps his favorite, for all she was a willing participant. He wished once again he could take her outside this place. He had a feeling she'd be the playmate he'd always wanted. Sydney had been his first real attempt, and it had ended badly; knowing Susanna now, he had a feeling he'd actually been looking for someone who would think for herself at times. His lips curved up into more of a smirk. "I have, yes." And it was as simple as that, he thought as he pressed his lips to the corner of her mouth. She didn't ask, and he assumed that meant she didn't want to know.
“You would think so,” she agreed. “But when do you think we’ll ever have an opportunity like this again? It’s unfortunate that we don’t already have a plan. I’m positively dying of boredom here.” She had a feeling he could relate, even if he had found a way to indulge in his urges from time to time. Hers had far less opportunity to indulge in, but she was making do. Dominic being pulled out of here last week truly had helped things, and she really was serious about doing whatever she had to to get out of here. She could play the game.
There was no doubt in her mind that he had done just that, though she wasn’t offended. She simply wasn’t the jealous type and thought it was ridiculously boring to only be with one person. She truly was not suited to traditional marriage. She smiled slowly when he confirmed again that he had been here basically all night, her hands tugging on the hem of his shirt, pulling it up and waiting for him to tug it off. “Well then,” she began once his shirt was off, pressing on his chest a bit to urge him to roll onto his back. “I suppose we should make the most of our time together tonight. We have candlelight, the delightful storm out there, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not really wearing much,” she murmured seductively as she straddled his hips. Her hands moved over his chest, rubbing lightly, though she slowly increased the pressure as she massaged his muscles.
"I doubt we will get any more chances, but with this, and these storms, there's really no telling. It's not like they can install an independent power source very quickly, and it'll mean lockdown for us again, too, I'm sure." At least, he suspected as much. And he hated lockdown badly, always had even back in his old prison. He cupped her breast and squeezed when she said she was bored, letting her know he would definitely be willing to relieve that boredom, though he rather thought she knew that by now.
He tossed his shirt aside unceremoniously, following her lead for the moment. "Definitely. Especially," he drawled, "Since there are no cameras or mics." His voice rumbled in a sly purr at that statement, enjoying the freedom to do what he wished more than perhaps he should. "Oh, I've definitely noticed. Very hard to miss," he said, hands traveling up and down her sides, pushing a little into her touch.
Lockdown. Dear god she would be furious if they ended up on lockdown because of these imbecile’s shortsightedness. “Hmm, well it’s something to consider, though not having any idea of where exactly we are makes the thought of escape less desirable. I don’t know about you, but I have no resources on the outside. All of my accounts were frozen. Apparently I was a flight risk,” she said with wide eyes, as if she couldn’t possibly understand why they would think that.
Susanna hummed softly as his hands moved over her. She had no doubt that he would be more than capable of relieving her boredom. When his shirt was tossed aside, she made an uninhibited sound of pleasure, her nails raking over his taut muscles appreciatively. He really was an attractive man; not entirely her usual type, but quite attractive in his own right. She laughed when he pointed out the lack of cameras. “Oh darling, when has that stopped us before? I have no qualms with giving our keepers a good show.” Though it was quite nice to have the opportunity to not have to censor herself quite as much as usual. “Oh good, I’d have been concerned if you hadn’t noticed,” she purred in reply, her hands continuing to massage his chest. She wasn’t in any rush, especially if he’d just come from being with someone else.
"I have some stuff stashed away, but that's all the way in Texas, and this definitely isn't Texas," he said somewhat dryly. The weather was definitely not right for it to be there. "I always liked to have something hidden away." And working construction gave one an opportunity to hide away things where he could access them at a later date; money, and even.. bodies.
He arched slowly into her touch. Slow would be okay now, and she seemed in the mood to play. "Oh, I know. But it's nice to not have to censor oneself before speaking for once," he drawled softly, hands going to knead down her arse slowly. Smooth skin, sliding so nice along his fingers. No holds barred, if they wished, though they still seemed to play their cards a little close. He wished they weren't in a situation where it felt like they had to. He stretched languidly under her, the slow play helping him to come down from the giddy high from just a little while ago even as it stirred him slowly in other ways.
Susanna sighed at that. “Damn,” she muttered. She could admit, at least to herself, that the thought of escaping with Ryan wasn’t altogether unpleasant. In fact, she rather thought they could have quite a bit of fun together. “It’s an intelligent thing to do. I do wish that I’d have thought to do that, but as I’ve said before, my crime was not premeditated. Hindsight,” she said with a heavy sigh. She definitely would have done things differently if she could go back and do it over again.
It was interesting - or it would be if she would have stopped to recognize it - how she seemed to give so easily with him. Perhaps it was an instinct that he was a kindred soul, that they were similar in ways that made them so compatible. “Mmm, yes, that as well,” she murmured in agreement, leaning down to kiss him slowly after he’d stretched. They didn’t seem particularly interested in taking advantage of not having to censor their words at that moment, but she wouldn’t mind doing so after she enjoyed his body.
"I have always been... Cautious," he said, thinking that was sort of the right word. Careful. Discriminating. "I've always known I might need some mad money." Not that it had helped the way he'd been caught, but when that thing with Sydney had happened, well... "Next time, darlin', you can plan ahead." His smile was predatory after a fashion, but not at her... More for her.
His hands stroked her. He wasn't a cuddler, wasn't even interested usually in giving back. But his comfort levels with her were very high. "Tell me," he drawled. "What would you do if we could escape tonight?"
“And yet not cautious enough, apparently. How did you get caught, anyway?” she asked curiously even as her hands continued to move over his torso. “Next time?” she asked with a little laugh, tipping her head back a bit. “Optimism? You really think we’re ever getting out of here? I’m not so confident in that, though I am trying to play the game. I’ll be damned if I rot away in prison.”
Susanna truly enjoyed how comfortable they were with one another, and she hoped that it wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass. She couldn’t help but suspect that it might at some point. Was it worth it, then, to continue this affair with him? Only time would tell. She hadn’t been lying to Reece; she had terrible taste in men, and it wouldn’t be the first time being with the wrong man got her into trouble. “Mmm, tonight? I would want to get as far away as possible. I’d want to be in France before they realized we were missing. And what would you do?” she asked, turning the question back on him because she wanted to know just how in control he was and what his priorities were.
The corners of Ryan's mouth tightened at the question, though his displeasure was obviously not at her but at the memory of what happened. Her hands were soothing though his muscles nonetheless tensed a bit. "My... girlfriend," the word sounded like a curse, almost, "fucking pricked holes in all my condoms," he growled, his hands rougher on her sides as he distracted himself at least on the surface with her numerable charms. "And I hadn't realized, of course, so I thought I was being careful." He was free with his words now that he didn't worry being overheard. He didn't really care right now anyway.
"If we do, I might as well have a plan for it. I want out." Not that he hadn't and couldn't make a place for himself in another prison if this fell through; he simply preferred to think he might play the game and get his freedom.
"Hmmm. I'd probably go far away too, though I'd love to go back home and kill those two little bitches who got me in prison in the first place." The words were almost casual, though the anger, one of his few emotions that endured truly, tightened his face and he meant every single word he said in that moment.
Even as she listened, Susanna’s hands continued their soothing massage over his torso, intentionally ignoring the way his muscles tensed. She felt a little stirring of anger on his behalf. It was a shame, really, that he’d been so careful only to be thwarted by his own girlfriend. “Was she trying to trap you by becoming pregnant?” she asked curiously. It was a concept she just couldn’t understand. Why would anyone want a screaming baby that would be utterly dependent upon them? Perhaps it was a result of her own parents not having had much to do with her own life as a child, but she simply couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
“Mmm, yes, I want out as well,” she reiterated. There really was no telling whether or not they would make it out, but it sure would be nice to have some kind of future. At Ryan’s answer, said almost casually even with the anger showing around the edges, her eyes sparkled a bit. “I’ll make you a little deal, darling,” she began, leaning down close to him. “If we get out of here, we’ll take care of those two little bitches and then leave the country. I’ve given it quite a lot of thought, and there are many ways to make a body just... disappear.” Not that she thought they had to stick together on the outside, but it had some promise to it.
"Yes. She wanted to make sure I wouldn't leave her," he said, voice scoffing. He'd never wanted kids, and he likely never would have had one if he'd had his choice about it. "She did end up pregnant. Gave birth around the time my trial wrapped up. Seen the kid a few times. He's definitely mine." He didn't care, except for how the knowledge affected other people and could be used. Part of him wondered idly if the boy would be like him--if he was like normal people, or had the mindset that Ryan knew was abnormal in society. His muscles relaxed slowly under her hands again.
Ryan didn't miss the spark in her eyes, and it stirred something inside him. She was in for murder, and she'd almost said that she'd liked it, the once, in a very circular sort of way. He leaned up to kiss her lingeringly in silent approval. "You can even kill one of them, if you want," he offered. It would be... interesting, to say the least, to see her kill someone. Hot, even. His hands cupped her breasts and tweaked her nipples, finding the thought exciting. "Oh, there are places," he breathed. "I know of places. And there's plenty more, yes." He'd definitely go with her. There was the appeal of a partner in crime to share in certain passions and discover new ones.
Her reaction to that was completely genuine, nose wrinkling in distaste and an utter confusion at the behavior. “Well, isn’t that interesting,” she murmured. “So that was one of your truths; which was the lie?” she asked, referring to the ridiculous game they’d made them play the day before.
“Oooh, aren’t you such a gentleman,” she purred with a light laugh. It would be exhilarating, she had no doubt about that, but having a partner in this was not something she had any experience in. It could provide to be far too risky, but this was all hypothetical anyway seeing as how they had no idea whether or not they would ever get out of this place. “And what of the child?” she wondered curiously. If they would kill the child’s mother, she just wanted some assurance that he had no intention of bringing the brat along with them. That and as much as she did not care for children, she didn’t actually think she could kill one.
“Ahh, the things to look forward to! However, if we’re to ever get to do these things, we’ll have to be on our very best behavior here. Have you... covered yourself for tonight’s activities?” she asked, not actually wanting to know the details of what he’d been up to. She worried about his ability to control himself, but she was still hoping to encourage him to be in more control, at least while they were still imprisoned.
"I didn't total my car," Ryan said with a smirk. He hadn't felt the need to tell everyone which was the lie and which were the truths. Not that it mattered. It just amused him that everyone pretty much assumed he had indeed crashed his first car. Actually, he'd been very careful with it; it had been a beauty. He'd loved the stupid thing more than he'd cared about most of the people in his life.
He shrugged negligently. He didn't especially want the boy dead, but neither did he want the kid himself. "My parents already help take care of him. I'm sure they'd be thrilled to have custody," he said. He wasn't into killing kids, that he knew of, and he was curious to see how the kid would turn out. He just wasn't attached to the idea of having to raise him and give up anything he wanted from the deal.
"I was careful," he assured her, not about to give the details unasked. He was sure she'd figure it out eventually; maybe she'd even tell on him. Right now he didn't especially care. He'd take care of it if it came up. "I left nothing behind." And he'd do laundry first thing tomorrow, just in case, though he was pretty sure he was good on that regard as well.
“You had a high school sweetheart?” Susanna asked rather than responding to his answer. She’d had a hard time imagining him totalling his first car, but she’d also had a hard time believing he’d had an actual high school sweetheart. “How did she die?” She couldn’t help but wonder if Ryan’s urges ran a little closer to her own and how far back they went, considering hers had first manifested that night with John.
She couldn’t say she was disappointed by his disinterest in his own child. If they did happen to get out of here and stick together, she definitely didn’t want a little brat in tow. “Convenient,” was all she said in reply, though.
“Good,” she replied at his assurance that he’d been careful. It was all she’d wanted to know, as the more details she was aware of, the harder it would be to lie should anyone question her. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe that no one would suspect Ryan of whatever he’d been up to tonight, nor that he’d come to her hoping for an alibi considering he’d made it clear that he’d been with her all night. “I should hope so. I like you, Ryan, but if you get careless, I won’t go down with you,” she said in a moment of pure honesty.
Ryan's hands traced designs on her skin. "Yes, I did. She was a very.. good girl," he said, for lack of a better way to describe her. She was his first and longest experiment in manipulation, and though in the end it had failed and she had died, well, it had been great fun and a lot of learning. It was lucky she had died, really; she'd figured him out, at least somewhat, and he couldn't have that. He could have been ruined before he'd hardly been started. "She was in a very bad car accident. Went into a coma and then died," he said. "The love of my life." He sighed and looked down, doing a very good mask of sadness, but he knew he didn't have to be that mask with her, and so the peeking under his lashes at her gave lie to his lie.
"Very. My parents always have been." And he still had them fooled, last time he checked. Thank God for small miracles, as his mother always said.
"I know you won't," he replied just as frankly. "Nor do I expect it, really. Just don't let anyone push you around, should it come up. I wasn't careless, and don't let anyone imply otherwise. I know how to go about these things. I was never even suspected before Sydney's idiot sister and my bitch of a girlfriend. So if someone does come cryin', don't let them scare you or push you around." His tone implied she was better than that. He knew she could stand up to them; she was like him, she had no real fears or emotions. Not like other people. He could tell, somehow, just talking with her as he had so far.
In all actuality, Susanna could see why Ryan would be drawn to the good girls. For all his honesty with her, he truly seemed to enjoy playing the game, putting on an act, manipulating people. She could understand that. Hadn’t she married a good man, after all? It was just a shame that he’d made the mistake of questioning her. Things might have gone so very differently if he hadn’t done so. “Oh, what a shame,” she said, managing to keep it from sounding completely false even if her lips twitched in amusement at the peeking look he was giving her.
At least he didn’t have any illusions about that. She would always look out for herself, and if covering for him looked like it was going to be detrimental to her own future, then she just wouldn’t do it anymore. “I won’t,” she said simply. She had no intention of letting anyone bully her into anything. “But you must understand that things are different here. You’ve already been outed as a wrongdoer, even if they didn’t state your crime. People are likely to suspect you regardless of anything I may or may not say or anything you may or may not do now.” Trust was a sacred thing, difficult to come by and so very easy to lose. And she knew she hadn’t done Ryan any favors when she’d been drinking with Reece, but that wasn’t something she was about to tell him about now.
Ryan's lips twitched and he chuckled, hands caressing over her skin. "Suuuuch a shame," he drawled in an echo, obviously amused. They really were so very much alike in some ways, for all they had slightly different tastes in some things. Ah, if only they were free. He'd love to see her in action, instead of living in the mask she lived in here. The game she played to get out was a good one, but he wanted to see her unrestrained by these social niceties.
"I know. They screwed me over," he said, hands splaying over her thighs. He would be very displeased if she did give into pressure or told anything on him. "I can face down suspicion. After all, they don't know what I'm really in here for." So long as she didn't tell on him for that one, he'd have a good case of plausible deniability. "They won't push me around."
Susanna blew out a soft breath at that, rolling her eyes a bit. They hadn’t screwed him over nearly as badly as they could have, but she didn’t think he would appreciate her pointing that out. Nor did she think he would enjoy hearing that he’d screwed himself over by not being more in control of his urges. He just needed to play the game a bit better, was all, and she did hope she would be able to help him do that. “No, they don’t, and let’s try to keep it that way,” she murmured. She had no intention of being pushed around either, but she’d grown tired of talking about it. And so, she leaned down over him and brushed her lips against his. “I think we’ve had enough talking for the time being,” she whispered against his lips, enjoying the way the candlelight played the shadows over them.