The Liars Game (Cereza)

--- Cereza so often said 'a good liar often embellished a lie with some truth'. It was most certainly a motto she kept close to her chest. She became pretty good at it that it was just a natural reflex. It was a part of her now to throw a little lie in depending on the situation, yet it often sounded so convincing. All the same she didn't have to tell a lie when she was like the Queen of deflection. Again it was simply an instinctive trait. Today Cereza wasn't in the mood for anything but to just simply get her day over with. There was much work still needing to be done. Things still in need of being set off. There was a lot of set backs but she expected that much considering the things that had been going on lately.

--- Yet here she was lazy lounging in the ever so boring math class just doodling on a piece of paper. Her attire was her usually distinctive wear as she kept her head a little tilted down as she drew waiting for this new teacher to finish her roll call. When she got to Cereza's however she felt the difference in the way she said her name, the fact that she used her middle and last as if it was her first or even a hyphen. The pause cause Cereza to pause briefly but not look up just yet.

~Now why did she say my middle and last name like that?..Odd.. She didn't pause on the others the way she did mines.. Why? Don't tell me we're gonna have a problem for a reason unknown to myself..Here we go. And here I just wanted to have an easy going class.. Alright Ms. Kito who are you and what do you want?~

--- To anyone else none of that might've seemed important or relevant but Cereza was always the perceptive one, cautious about her surroundings especially when it concerned solely herself. She raised her hand nonchalantly while finally glancing up to catch the woman's gaze. If Ms. Kito didn't have her attention before she certainly did now. So now what?

--- Undoubtedly Cereza noticed the somber expression on the older woman's face. Mentally her brow perked while her outer appearance remained completely unhindered to the woman's motion. The look was more than odd being that she didn't understand the reasoning behind it. Cereza didn't recognize this woman and she was sure if she had seen her she would remember such a face, such features. They were distinctive enough to keep in memory had she seen her once before. What was the woman recalling that granted that expression Cereza would probably soon find out. Maybe. Possibly. There was no real guarantee. The only thing that she knew for certain at this point was clearly she wasn't going to be leaving this room at the sound of the bell. She just had the feeling. So fine let the games begin. 

--- The woman lingered far too long that it made Cereza reposition herself straighter within her seat no it wasn't because she felt intimidated, it took far too much for that. Her repositioning was due to the fact that the woman continuously eyed her throughout the class so Cereza emulated the fact that she was well aware of this. That she was watching her back. Cereza wasn't a girl to back down so easily to no one. Whatever the woman was looking for she wasn't going to find with the brunette. She didn't give anything away and even if she hadn't noticed Ms. Kito's nature prior the woman would still be able to tell nothing about her truly. At best if she hadn't noticed anything the woman would just note Cereza barely paying attention but since it was not the case, the two exotic women were at a standstill till the end of class. 

~Tick tock~

--- So the bell finally rung. Round one over. Round two prepped and primed for. Cereza didn't move immediately like how the others did. She knew there was no point to follow for she assumed she was going to be called after class. Then tension was present from the moment her name was spoken. It only grew as this woman continued to dart eyes at her throughout the classes entirety. Still the woman's image appeared nowhere within Cereza's memory bank so they certainly never crossed paths at all. The more she thought about it the more she started to deduce this woman new someone connected to herself, but the question was who? Her step father was the more obvious choice but no then she wouldn't have said her name the way she did.

--- She looked at the woman when she was addressed. Cereza was one of the last to stand as the rest ushered and mumbled to themselves. She was used to the whispers and rumors so what they thought or said didn't matter to her in the slightest. Causally she drifted to the front as the woman took a seat she appeared to be going to the door but her gems stayed glued to this teacher. No Cereza wasn't leaving but as soon as the last left without looking she shut the door and walked back over. She went over to a desk in front of the woman's and rested her butt against it, folding her arms over her chest. The woman presented the inquiry to if Cereza knew who she was. In truth she wasn't one for the pleasantries at this point.

"Let's cut with cute formalities and false politeness hm?.. You can drop the 'I'm a professional teacher' thing and we can talk like regular two people."

--- Her pause lingered for a little as her gaze hovered over the woman following her gaze to her name on the board. Cereza looked at it reading it on the surface for what it was Catherine Kito. It was a quick deduction that this woman's name was not what was written. So obviously there was something in the name that was the clue which meant Cereza had to know who she was. Fine so it was a game of MadGab it was. Her mind started to twist and turn the name, sounding it out till it rang out something she heard once. The whole moment passed quicker than it seemed as her eyes went back to meet the woman. A smirk crossed her lips followed by a short chuckle, shaking her head a little at the thought.

"Cachito."

--- This was Damien's long lost backstabbing lover? If Cereza was being honest and well let's face it she usually was, she wasn't impressed at all. So this was about Damien. To know that she had anything to do with him she had to be doing some digging. Now why would she do that after betraying him so long ago? What did she want? So many questions ran through her mind suddenly. She heard the tale from his side. Even saw that his love was still there somehow some way. She found it interesting. She really didn't understand that truthfully. Love was a fickle thing with her. But now it made her recall that seldom look Cachito gave earlier. Was that remorse? Oh Cereza was not the right person for this woman to come to about remorse shit. Whatever this was fine, Cereza would play along for now. Damien wanted to poke and prod his nose in her past her business then she would just do the same right back. Opportunity knocked and Cereza held the handle stepping through the door.

"What do you want?"

--- Without the the facade of teacher and student being agreed upon the two women were seemingly ready to speak plainly to one another. Unfazed and poised she remained watching Cachito unwind, prepping to tell Cereza whatever it was that she pulled her aside for. Oddly enough for some reason, Cereza had never met this woman till today but everything in her was pulling her to just quickly dislike her. No real rhyme or reason behind it. Yes she heard the story of this woman's betrayal and for anyone else it would make them immediately despise the other party. But this was Cereza. She often did the 'betraying' enough to not really care when it happened to others. Was she going to taken vengeance on this woman on Mayhem's behalf? No that would mean she gave that much of a damn. That would mean she 'cared' and well pretty sure she didn't. That was his business and she didn't go poking around in it, well originally. She didn't declare 'hey I WILL find out whether you tell me or not' thing like he presented to her. 

--- This right here just presented itself to her so why not indulge in it. Two can play the game after all. But then why the sudden rush of dislike for this woman if she really didn't care? That was the kicker wasn't it? That was the question of the year. It probably was never going to be answered. Cachito got to the point and Cereza merely stared. This woman wanted her to do her messaging? Since when did she become reduced to someone's messenger? That didn't sit well with the brunette she was no one's lowly messenger. It did make Cereza question why didn't Cachito just tell him herself. Mayhem wouldn't kill her Cereza already knew that. Apparently he still held feelings for this woman she stood before. Maybe she thought he would but then why was she here in New York. Why was she in this school? She came into his backyard at this point and really thought he would just back off? Cachito tossed an object at Cereza to much of her disdain but she caught and looked down at this locket but didn't bother opening it, she could just assume that inside it held a picture of the pair whole or not.

--- Uncaring she pocketed the locket within her blazer and folded her arms over her chest again. She was right about being connected to him but she didn't seem to know the level. But was it hard enough to tell that it was at least to a point that he was comfortable enough to tell Cereza about Cachito? This woman's words made Cereza smirk amusingly, chuckling at the mere thought of telling Mayhem to let the past go.

"Let sleeping dogs lie.. Heh with him? Yeah sure."

--- Shrugging she turned her head looking out the window, before gazing back on the woman. Her tone kept even.

"I'm nobody's messenger. If you're so ballsy to come here then why don't you just tell him yourself? I find it funny that you think I would just do what you want.. What both of your issues are doesn't concern me."

--- She would pause for a moment. 

"So why should I for you?"

--- For a woman she didn't know. For a woman she for whatever reason did not like, maybe it was just instinct. Still she was curious and she was certainly waiting for any form of threat towards her cause she didn't take kindly to that.

--- She listened carefully to Cachito keeping some of her opinions to herself until the woman was completely done. Yes Cereza was a difficult person and there was nothing anyone could ever do to change that about her. Funny that people often called her that when she didn't sway their way though. Why should she after all especially when she didn't even know them? She was never a very trusting person either so why would she ever bend to others. Her head tilted a little watching the woman casually brush her hair. Why did she slightly remind her of Val? Maybe that's where the instant dislike came from. No for Damien to have actually loved this woman she was better than Val, but Cereza couldn't help but to see just a few similar qualities. 

--- When she asked Cereza what she wanted she found herself smirking with a short scoff. This woman really thought she could just come here and try to buy her favor. Interesting indeed. It was becoming more and more apparent to Cereza how limited Cachito's information was. She knew her by Nova which meant she didn't know who her step father was. She only knew they knew each other obviously through the underground fighting world. Cereza wasn't feeling to divulge that she knew him past that but then again what did it even matter honestly. 

"People do a lot of dumb shit for multiple reasons.. Clearly you were dumb enough to get yourself into whatever your situation is. Does that answer your question?"

--- There was that Cereza sass. But she meant every word of it as she rolled her eyes lightly shaking her head and proceeding.

"There's nothing you can offer me. So honestly you're wasting my time trying to figure that out.. Why don't- "

--- Cereza was interrupted by a particular ringtone playing from her pocket. Sighing softly she removed her cell and answered it.

"I'm busy I'll-- Princess stop playing with the phone.... Of course.. Well maybe you shouldn't leave your phone laying around, I'm busy right now."

--- Hanging up she pocketed the phone without a care and looked back at the woman once more. 

"Look let's cut to the chase. You want him off your back after you betrayed him and I'm supposed to just go to him and say 'Hey you know that bitch from your past, she said lay off can you do that please?'...Aside from the fact that I don't really care for either of you, you're gonna have to do a whole lot better than that.."

--- She had no reason to do the woman a favor nor did the woman present a reason to give Damien had she decided to tell him.

--- There were some that would describe Cereza as morally ambiguous. She often knew the right thing to do but rarely ever chose that path. Chooses came with consequences didn't they? Cereza knew that from once upon a time. But that story was not all her own tale. The choice was not completely hers but still consequences came from that affiliation. One would think from that time onward that she would've learned a valuable lesson. Oh she learned something alright but not what it would take to alter her mindset truly. That being said when the woman approached her with a picture in hand, Cereza looked down with no emotion. Her eyes remained on the picture as the woman spoke about this picture being that of 'their daughter'. Damien and Cachito's child. Damien had a child. A child he obviously never knew about. A daughter.

~Ain't this a bitch. How didn't I see this coming? No it makes so much fucking sense. Tch what do I fucking care. This isn't my problem.~

--- What was her problem was the little threat this woman threw at her. Trying to make her, no manipulate her into informing Damien for her or else face his wrath. This woman was something else. Then again can't say Cereza wouldn't play the same card but she was on the receiving end and she refused to be manipulated in any way shape or form. There was an innocent child however in the mix of this clusterfuck. If that had been Amara Cereza would've gone batshit crazy. That only should've made the choice easy but in Cereza's mind it all twisted and turned like cogs in a clock. Instead of finding her heart Cereza found the shadows. The dark corners of her being. Her eyes slowly, steadily crawled up from the outdated picture to the woman before her. Her body followed finally standing looking a little down on the woman as Cereza had a few inches on her. There was nothing meant to be intimidating by this but it was clear that Cereza was starting to have enough.

"You're amusing I give you that, but I really couldn't careless for your problems. I don't give a fuck about you or your Mephy's issues. You stupidly did this to yourself and her. Don't try to place me at the center of your lovers quarrel. Don't attempt to threaten me with that bullshit. I don't care for his bark or bite. You're right you're not scary you're just annoying and wasting my time.. She'll be better off."

--- Cereza figured at least it wasn't Amara otherwise she'd probably care. In truth she should care just based on principle alone but everything in her currently was refusing to. Better someone else than herself right. Maybe no one understood how selfish she could really be. How much she truly did look out for number one. How could she turn a blind eye to this? She who had a niece she would do anything for. Cereza could have easily been in the same shoes as Cachito but she wasn't so she refused to place herself anywhere close to it. If the woman had more to say it would be towards Cereza's back as she would walk away unless she was hindered by Cachito. It's so funny Cereza was never easily angered not even really by Val. But yet her blood was boiling here. She was annoyed, agitated and certainly more abrasive than usual. There was however one person that got her to that point rather quickly and that was her mother. Maybe that's what it was. Maybe Cereza saw particular aspects of her mother not necessarily Val and she couldn't see passed it. No it was much more, it just had to be. But it seemed Cereza was for certain not going to cooperate. She wasn't going to do no favors.