there will be thunder | Jess & LeRagester

[LeRagester]

Kain took a moment to gather his wits, but a flicker of panic was making itself away across his weary face. Of course, it was a little hard to distinguish, amid all the bruising and scarring. The sickly lighting did him little justice as well. Kain's emotions weren't easy to read, but they did exist. Blindness was a new terror he wasn't yet ready or willing to experience. With somewhat illogical stubbornness, Kain seemed to consider this impending disability much like any other foe, though it wasn't one he could vanquish. This was an inevitable fact, an uncomfortable truth, that he avoided like most of his medical bills. Eventually, both would catch up to him, but until then, he would run. Kain usually gave most of the problems in his life a good whack upside the head, but when confronted with something he couldn't control or change, Kain couldn't fight. If he couldn't fight, he refused to only surrender. There were always other options, despite what his cynicism said. There had to be, and he would ferociously pursue any other avenue. Helplessness wasn't an option, nor dependence. Kain had a dependent; he couldn't become one.

Violet's voice mildly startled Kain, and he turned his face to her, struggling to see her face. His left eye didn't refocus, but Kain managed to see through the blur with his other eye. Abruptly, he stood, though rather gingerly. There was slight hesitation in his posture, as he was no longer fully sure of his surroundings, though he'd seen them just moments before. Swinging one leg over the chair, Kain gave Violet a long look, as if trying to read her. Genuine sympathy or aid wasn't something he trusted, and he often considered it a sign of weakness. As it was, Violet had helped him more than anyone else within recent years, also making her the most suspicious and benevolent character he hadn't yet emotionally crushed.

What bothered him was that she seemed genuine. Her ulterior motives weren't visible, and Kain was impatient.

Truthfully, Jenny had gotten further, as well as closer, with Kain than most medical professionals. He was a terrible patient, being noncompliant and rude. He shied from physical touch, and blatantly refused to remove any articles of clothing. At this moment, he was feeling grim, drained, and uncomfortable. Of course, there was a large amount of pain, but it was mostly physical. "It's the only one I've got," he replied rather grimly. He turned his eyes from her, raising his bruised hands to his temples to massage his skull for a moment. As his blindness began to subside, he felt a rush of relief, making his way to the door. His grim line was only followed by another one as he thanklessly opened the door, casting a glance over his shoulder.

"Everything is risky, sweetheart." one side of his mouth twitched upward briefly. For some reason, he wasn't fully abandoning her here at Jenny's. Dormant chivalry dictated that he wasn't allowed to let Violet walk home through the shady neighborhood. Only due to the fact that she had helped him, of course. He didn't like owing people.

 

[Jess Incognito]

Violet kept her eyes on the man. There was no quick-witted back and forth with him. It was as if their words were caught in quick sand. There was time to think and carefully plan the conversation. She wasn't used to this. In her world, it was only who could get their opinion out first. The facts stood from there.

Hanging back a moment after Kain stepped through the door, she thanked Jenny for her help again. Once the door shut them in the darkness of the hall, Violet found herself standing, and not following. She closed her fingers around the bottle in her pocket.

"Doesn't it make you tired?" she asked, thinking about this 'risk'. She stepped out of the alcove of Jenny's door. Moonlight filtered through the dirty pane at the end of the hall. Violet certainly got tired of the uncertainty in her life. Didn't it bother him? Was he really okay with it? Such a smirk on his face always; she didn't want to believe he could really be so content with his position. She thought about the things he had 'done'. Maybe she should have been afraid of him.

 

[LeRagester]

Kain didn't really believe in small talk. The world was filled with senseless chatter and noise, each insecure person trying to drown out the next in a desperate attempt to be heard. However, each person screamed in desperation, and nobody listened. What good was it to cry out, when there was nobody that would answer? This weary soul had long ago quieted, his refusal to join the din a motion only shared with the dead, though some had yet to be physically buried. Like a voiceless ghost, Kain observed the senseless cacophony without taking part. This was often why Violet heard such curt replies from him: if there was nothing important to say, Kain didn't bother saying it.

As it was, Violet was one of the first to listen, also efficiently disallowing Kain his usual animosity and invisibility.

Kain flicked a glance to Violet's face, not blatantly ignoring her for once. Sighing, he shoved his hands into his pockets, wincing as the rough fabric chafed his battered knuckles. He turned his eyes back to the street, rolling his shoulders. "Of course," he replied with rather surprising simplicity, though he did seem slightly annoyed with the stupidity of the question. He'd shown Violet rare grace, answering her question rather than giving her a dirty look as an answer. However, he soon made up for this social nicety, returning with his usual attitude.

"Do you plan on haunting this hallway all night?" Kain asked with gruff impatience, obviously eager to take his leave of the place. He may've seemed like an ass, but at least he was extending the silent offer of being a momentary bodyguard. However, if this difficult woman tried his patience, he would let such chivalry die, impatient exhaustion taking its predominant position. Kain's manners usually lasted a manner of seconds, and the strain of showing kindness was beginning to show. He was stretched thin.