[He watches Niko struggle with himself before chugging his vodka. Wordlessly, he takes the bottle and fills his glass again. He's still not sure what to say. All he knows is that Niko doesn't want to be alone right now, and making him feel awkward about what just happened isn't going to help. He stares down at his glass, then takes a bigger mouthful.]
Carla, she...
[He sighs through his nose. When he speaks, he's quieter. The memory is still painful, but maybe Niko needs to know. He knows what Niko is going through, in some way. Maybe he won't feel so alone. Or hell, maybe this won't help at all. He trusts Niko enough to talk about it, though.]
I was on guard duty. Worked nights. Came home one morning to find her gone. Knew something was wrong. Managed to track her down to a place called Cottonwood Cove. Got cliffs all around it, so I could see what was going on through my scope without getting spotted. Legion was there, and a bunch of slaves. They were selling her.
[He takes another drink. Stares down into it.]
Too many of them. Couldn't get help. By the time I found enough people and got back, they would've been long gone. I'd never see her again. And the way the Legion treats women... already knew what life was gonna be like for her. For...
[For their unborn child. He can't seem to get those words out, though.]
Couldn't save her. Did the only thing I could to make sure she wouldn't suffer.
[He feels like he's talking a lot, but it's hard to get to the point when you have to explain how you made the hardest decision of your life. The point isn't that he made it, though. The point is why he had to.]
Someone sold her to the Legion. Someone we both knew. Told them when I worked, and how to get to our room without being spotted. They only took Carla. Spent months not knowing who, didn't trust anyone anymore. People stopped talking to me. Only looked at me when they thought I wasn't looking at them. Probably wouldn't have found out who it was if Elle hadn't showed up. Turns out it was the mayor. Everyone figured she was just this kind old lady. Didn't like the way Carla talked about her town, so she sold her to the Legion and covered it up.
[He goes quiet for a moment, draining his glass.]
Couldn't do what you did. Killed her as soon as I found out. Then I left.
no subject
Carla, she...
[He sighs through his nose. When he speaks, he's quieter. The memory is still painful, but maybe Niko needs to know. He knows what Niko is going through, in some way. Maybe he won't feel so alone. Or hell, maybe this won't help at all. He trusts Niko enough to talk about it, though.]
I was on guard duty. Worked nights. Came home one morning to find her gone. Knew something was wrong. Managed to track her down to a place called Cottonwood Cove. Got cliffs all around it, so I could see what was going on through my scope without getting spotted. Legion was there, and a bunch of slaves. They were selling her.
[He takes another drink. Stares down into it.]
Too many of them. Couldn't get help. By the time I found enough people and got back, they would've been long gone. I'd never see her again. And the way the Legion treats women... already knew what life was gonna be like for her. For...
[For their unborn child. He can't seem to get those words out, though.]
Couldn't save her. Did the only thing I could to make sure she wouldn't suffer.
[He feels like he's talking a lot, but it's hard to get to the point when you have to explain how you made the hardest decision of your life. The point isn't that he made it, though. The point is why he had to.]
Someone sold her to the Legion. Someone we both knew. Told them when I worked, and how to get to our room without being spotted. They only took Carla. Spent months not knowing who, didn't trust anyone anymore. People stopped talking to me. Only looked at me when they thought I wasn't looking at them. Probably wouldn't have found out who it was if Elle hadn't showed up. Turns out it was the mayor. Everyone figured she was just this kind old lady. Didn't like the way Carla talked about her town, so she sold her to the Legion and covered it up.
[He goes quiet for a moment, draining his glass.]
Couldn't do what you did. Killed her as soon as I found out. Then I left.