RICH KID A$$HOLE - PAINT ME AS A VILLAIN
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@asdiirt
RICH KID A$$HOLE - PAINT ME AS A VILLAIN
sideblog to hammerlockcd
Clay !!! 😍
asdiirt:
you do freakin’ snore , he wants to add , his childish nature excused for obvious reasons. but one of them had to be the big man here - it had always been clay in the past , forced into the catagory of level-headed because everyone else had more fun shooting off at the mouth , making a damn scene. he hated it , sometimes , like now , when he felt more suited towards being a pain in the ass and giving this guy everything he thought of him. but then clay remembered nisha , and how much she smiled these days , and he was all but forced to hold his tongue.
it was why he’d hid so long , at any rate. clay learned a long time ago that you don’t get in the way of your elders or your betters. he might’ve sat up a lot of those early nights , gun in hand , waiting for this clown to make a wrong move , but besides that ? don’t let him know you’re here. keep a low profile. they can’t hurt what they can’t see. it’s all he’d ever known , and sure , it might’ve been time to break that habit , but … he wanted to keep her safe. more than that , he wanted to keep himself safe , this new life he’d started building safe. he didn’t want to leave. the more he thought about this conversation , the more fear ran cold through his belly. with a disappointed sigh , he shoved his cereal bowl away from him , appetite gone sour.
“ i ask her , “ he admitted quietly , elbows on the table , chin propped up in his palms. “ if - … who you is , i mean. ain’t like she ain’t screamed your name before. “ okay , that part might’ve been a little cheekier than he wanted it to be. “ … i’m - … i’m clay. my name’s clay. you can call me what you want , though , i ain’t picky. “ another beat or two of silence , feet kicking under the table a tad , before he’s finishing up his thoughts. “ … she call you her boyfriend , before , but i ain’t believe it. you have relations too much for that. “
drink in hand, jack settles on the other end of the table, considering this conversation far from done. can’t just abandon mid-chat and go back, even if the fact that he’d gone down here in only his underwear is one he’s starting to regret. it’s gotten kind of chilly now that the warmth of the bed and nisha’s warm body aren’t around. not that it matters as the kid speaks up again, causing jack to nearly choke on the drink with that.. dirty comment in particular. because yeah, okay, he’s not going to deny that, it’s just freaking hilarious to hear a kid say that out loud like that. or maybe… it shouldn’t be.
“guess that just means i’m doing something right with your sis, huh?” in any way jack’s starting to like this kid a tad more. awful attitude from the start aside, he doesn’t seem. all that bad. that name, however? “cl—clay? who the f—who even names a kid that.” really, though. “okay, okay, i’m not judging. just— it’s a little funny.” it’s freaking hilarious, really, but jack isn’t about to ruin the somewhat good mood that had settled. well sort of good mood. can’t know whether the kid will end up taking this the wrong way or not and right now? he doesn’t need nisha’s brother disliking him.
“and she did, did she?” boyfriend. well then. that settles the worry that’s been nagging at the back of his mind— this back and forth question of where to put whatever this between them is. sure feels good to hear it though, even if it peaks his curiosity. that the kid doesn’t buy it, because okay, jack’ll bite. “okay, clay—” and he has to stiffle a small laugh at that. “–i gotta hear this, then, who did you think i was?
he doesn’t really know if laughter is a good thing or not. this guy - and maybe clay is reaching a little bit , he doesn’t know - seems like a person that laughter doesn’t mean much from. meaning , he just does it. nervous , angry , sad , whatever - not that there was anything wrong with a default. clay defaulted to smiling himself , like those phoney science magazines were right and it actually would do something for his mood. at least others thought he was having a fine time.
either way , clay just shrugs. he knows what screaming means , not what causes it - maybe she’s just done with him at that point. all he knows is what’s through the wall , and what’s through the wall is some variations on speed and his name on full blast. he doesn’t wanna talk about it. he’s already heard it , he won’t put himself through the anguish of remembering it in detail. “ i , uh ... “ he glances down at the table sheepishly , pulling his legs up criss-crossed on the seat. “ ... it’s short. for , uh , clayton. i ain’t like one more than the other. “ of course he wanted to lay into jack for that , but ... well , he isn’t wrong.
“ thought you was one of her , uh ... people , i guess. y’know , people you just bring home to love on , an’ kick’em out the next day ? but you just kept comin’ back , so i thought maybe you was ... doin’ favors for each other or somethin’. “ if clay knows anything about sex , it’s that it can be a powerful tool for trade. “ like , y’know , ‘ you scratch my back ‘ ‘cept it’s less scratchin’ and more ... uh ... anyway , i didn’t think you liked each other or ‘nothin. “
asdiirt:
… okay. now he’s starting to get the feeling that this man is sleazy and stupid. whatever nisha wanted , he guessed. if she thought ignorance was sexy , who was he to judge ? “ … yeah , “ he’s speaking slowly , halfway afraid he’ll give this guy an aneurysm if he drops the truth too fast. “ nisha been ‘lettin me stay here for … i dunno.” his eyes flash to the ceiling briefly , setting his spoon down to count on his fingers. “ uh , three months ? you snore real loud. “ he’s tacking on that last bit as an afterthought , like this guy needed proof of his existence. he did everything else real loud too , but … some things can be left unsaid.
he’s shoveling his breakfast down a bit quicker after that , eager to have an excuse not to talk on top of being hungry. you never know when it’ll be the last decent food you get ahold of for awhile - just because it’s been three months under her roof don’t mean it won’t end up being his last day here. especially after his vague explanation - so they were dating. right , okay ; a million insecurities flood his mind at once , followed up by questions to cure them. how serious were they ? how long had they been at it ? did that mean he had to be on his best behavior , because he’d already made a shitty start at it …
he opens his mouth to start on his tangent , and … closes it again. right. his turn. he turns back to his cereal , stirring it halfheartedly with his spoon , chin in hand. “ … so , uh … we - … i mean , she’s … her daddy and my daddy were the same person. so i’m … crashing here , for awhile. been try’na stay out of the way … “
“i don’t—- freakin’ snore.”
it’s more mumbled out, defiantly, like a petulant child would have done as jack finally decides to move to grab that drink he’d been there for. all the while mulling over how he hadn’t picked up on the fact that someone else had been living there with nisha. three months were a hell of a long time and considering his visits had become more and more frequent? either the kid kept a really good low profile or jack really wasn’t that observant whenever he stayed over. and who could blame him if he wasn’t?
still, the longer this .. weird as all hell conversation drags on, the more it clicks that alright, so she had a brother, then. one she didn’t say a goddamn word about. and that’s fine, really— it’s her business if she does or not and with these hookups—sucks. yeah, but either way— maybe he should start getting onto this kid’s good graces, because jack sure as hell knows that that probably is the right way to go about it, anyway. nisha might appreciate it. if at the very least. and that’s good enough for him. maybe. worth a shot.
“huh.” now if only the kid had acted a tad nicer before, it might have been easier, because right now? not the best impression. “you got a name or should i just stick to kid? kiddo? whatever, just gimme somethin’ to work with here.” he’s got a feeling he’s going to be seeing him around more, after all. “i’m jack, by the way. dunno if nisha’s told you.” and maybe it sounds a tad bitter, but even then, he wouldn’t hold it against her if she didn’t. well. probably.
you do freakin’ snore , he wants to add , his childish nature excused for obvious reasons. but one of them had to be the big man here - it had always been clay in the past , forced into the catagory of level-headed because everyone else had more fun shooting off at the mouth , making a damn scene. he hated it , sometimes , like now , when he felt more suited towards being a pain in the ass and giving this guy everything he thought of him. but then clay remembered nisha , and how much she smiled these days , and he was all but forced to hold his tongue.
it was why he’d hid so long , at any rate. clay learned a long time ago that you don’t get in the way of your elders or your betters. he might’ve sat up a lot of those early nights , gun in hand , waiting for this clown to make a wrong move , but besides that ? don’t let him know you’re here. keep a low profile. they can’t hurt what they can’t see. it’s all he’d ever known , and sure , it might’ve been time to break that habit , but ... he wanted to keep her safe. more than that , he wanted to keep himself safe , this new life he’d started building safe. he didn’t want to leave. the more he thought about this conversation , the more fear ran cold through his belly. with a disappointed sigh , he shoved his cereal bowl away from him , appetite gone sour.
“ i ask her , “ he admitted quietly , elbows on the table , chin propped up in his palms. “ if - ... who you is , i mean. ain’t like she ain’t screamed your name before. “ okay , that part might’ve been a little cheekier than he wanted it to be. “ ... i’m - ... i’m clay. my name’s clay. you can call me what you want , though , i ain’t picky. “ another beat or two of silence , feet kicking under the table a tad , before he’s finishing up his thoughts. “ ... she call you her boyfriend , before , but i ain’t believe it. you have relations too much for that. “
the basics:
name: clayton “clay” harris archer age: 27 , as of bl3 zodiac sign: libra one good trait: charming one bad trait: money-driven
habits:
one bad habit: hiding his real self from anyone he meets one good habit: processing his emotions healthily one habit they can’t break: hypervigilance one they’ve broken: sticky fingers what they’re afraid of: losing the last shreds of family he has left
family:
their parents names: augustine archer , father unknown their siblings names: amber , finch , and dawn , various unknown half-sbilings favorite childhood memory: using his first paycheck to just buy a bunch of junk food that he didn’t have to share or ration. made him sick as hell , but it was worth it. favorite childhood toy: he jailbroke his echo to have one of those star projectors in it. used to spend hours in a dark room , just looking at the tiny galaxy in front of him. embarrassing story: archimedes dared him to go skinny dipping on pandora once and a group of bandits claimed his clothes for themselves. he had to wear achimedes’ shirt as a loincloth while they wrangled his shit back. favorite family member: montgomery a story about that family member: monty sat him down in his office once , after discovering clay kept thousands on him in cash / in a shoebox , and showed him everything he needed to know about finances - how to balance a checkbook , start a bank account , invest money , etc. took them half the afternoon and most of the night , and it took clay way too long to get the meaning behind most of it , but he values that memory and that information more than anything.
what they prefer:
coffee or tea? showering in the day or night? taking baths or taking showers? tv or movies? writing or reading? platonic or romantic love? iced tea or lemonade? ice cream or smoothies? cupcakes or cake? beach or mountains?
favorites:
song: chromeo - old 45′s band / singer: he doesn’t really have a favorite artist , just picks up songs every now and again. outfit: his standard duds , but if he can get away with just sitting around in his boxers , that’s just as fine place: knotty peak memory: the first book he ever read person: wainwright
tagged: @starcrcwns tagging: anyone that hasn’t done it yet !
asdiirt:
clay didn’t know whether to balk or stay strong here. every instinct he’d had tells him he aught to play alpha dog here , protect his turf and his family - but he’d been working hard to break those instincts since coming here. nisha was scary , and she didn’t know her ass from her elbow when it came to being sisterly , or maternal , or whatever she was going for , but … she’d done more for him in a few months than anyone’d done for him in his life. she deserved to have a normal kid under her roof , and he’d do what he could to give her that.
so telling him to fuck off was off the table. unfortunately. this guy reeked of sleaze and shitty cologne , but he was the one making his sister happy , so … clay shrugged , shoving another spoonful of cereal in his mouth to buy time. his eyes scanned over the stranger a few times , taking him in somberly ; if there’s any plus to this situation , it’s that he knows exactly what he’s dealing with. could’ve probably gotten there with him clothed , too , but scars tell a lot about a person. this man seemed to have plenty.
“ who’re you ? “ he asks , as innocently as possible. some strange man come parading around his house , he’s entitled to a few questions. “ you come ‘round , like … once a week these days. “
smart. deflect question with another question. or something like that, jack didn’t really give a damn at this point. he was there to grab his drink, he’s damn well going to do it, kid or no kid. still he doesn’t like the eyes that follow him, as if the kid’s scanning him for … whatever the hell he wants to find out, sitting there all casually, eating his cereal like it’s no big deal. because it’s not, really. not if jack doesn’t make it one. which, yeah, sucks, nisha probably should’ve mentioned something along those lines, considering the kid’s been around whenever jack had opted for a visit, which— what the hell?
"oh for fuuu——” maybe not the best impression to curse in front of the kid, despite how odd this whole situation might be. “—-so you’ve been here? this whole time??” and jack hadn’t even managed to notice? in his defense, he had better things to look after, but even then, the things this kid had probably heard? well. whatever. sucks to be him. jack didn’t know.
“and i’m— the guy that’s—” great and jack has to pause there to figure out the wording first. because boyfriend? nah, definitely too soon. they’d been hooking up more often, sure, but, even then. “—dating her.” yeah. sounds about right. something in between? it feels like more than simple hookups and yet. not quite there. the kid’ll get it. hopefully.
“now i’ve given you what you wanted to know, pumpkin, why don’t you tell me what i wanna know, hmmm?”
... okay. now he’s starting to get the feeling that this man is sleazy and stupid. whatever nisha wanted , he guessed. if she thought ignorance was sexy , who was he to judge ? “ ... yeah , “ he’s speaking slowly , halfway afraid he’ll give this guy an aneurysm if he drops the truth too fast. “ nisha been ‘lettin me stay here for ... i dunno.” his eyes flash to the ceiling briefly , setting his spoon down to count on his fingers. “ uh , three months ? you snore real loud. “ he’s tacking on that last bit as an afterthought , like this guy needed proof of his existence. he did everything else real loud too , but ... some things can be left unsaid.
he’s shoveling his breakfast down a bit quicker after that , eager to have an excuse not to talk on top of being hungry. you never know when it’ll be the last decent food you get ahold of for awhile - just because it’s been three months under her roof don’t mean it won’t end up being his last day here. especially after his vague explanation - so they were dating. right , okay ; a million insecurities flood his mind at once , followed up by questions to cure them. how serious were they ? how long had they been at it ? did that mean he had to be on his best behavior , because he’d already made a shitty start at it ...
he opens his mouth to start on his tangent , and ... closes it again. right. his turn. he turns back to his cereal , stirring it halfheartedly with his spoon , chin in hand. “ ... so , uh ... we - ... i mean , she’s ... her daddy and my daddy were the same person. so i’m ... crashing here , for awhile. been try’na stay out of the way ... “
vaultiism / @vaultiism
jack had been there so many times by now, he practically knew the layout of the whole damn place. well, the parts that mattered, anyway—namely the ones leading up to nisha’s bedroom and other stupid essentials like the bathroom and hell, the kitchen if the need for a drink or .. whatever else arose. he knew the place well enough to know that the pair of eyes he’s met with when he makes it to the kitchen in order to do just that were something new, so either this kid snuck in there somehow or— there was something else at play he wasn’t getting.
for a moment he debates whether he should slowly back away, wake her and ask why the hell there’s a kid, sitting at the kitchen table, reading and eating cereal like it’s no big deal, but by the time said kid opens his mouth jack knows he’s probably meant to be there, anyway. sneaky— how he hadn’t seen him before is beyond him, but then again his eyes were only focused on one thing and one thing alone whenever he would stay over, anyway. and she was still very muchasleep. and probably unaware that jack had gotten up from the bed.
“ ‘sup—-kiddo.” is the first thing he can think of, having paused in his stride to grab the aforementioned drink, offering a small wave, before he realizes that wow, okay, maybe he shouldhave put more than just his boxers on. but that was before he knew that this kid also apparently lived there. for some reason nisha didn’t deem important enough to have him know. whatever.
“say, you—wanna uh, refresh my memory and tell me who you are again?”
clay didn’t know whether to balk or stay strong here. every instinct he’d had tells him he aught to play alpha dog here , protect his turf and his family - but he’d been working hard to break those instincts since coming here. nisha was scary , and she didn’t know her ass from her elbow when it came to being sisterly , or maternal , or whatever she was going for , but ... she’d done more for him in a few months than anyone’d done for him in his life. she deserved to have a normal kid under her roof , and he’d do what he could to give her that.
so telling him to fuck off was off the table. unfortunately. this guy reeked of sleaze and shitty cologne , but he was the one making his sister happy , so ... clay shrugged , shoving another spoonful of cereal in his mouth to buy time. his eyes scanned over the stranger a few times , taking him in somberly ; if there’s any plus to this situation , it’s that he knows exactly what he’s dealing with. could’ve probably gotten there with him clothed , too , but scars tell a lot about a person. this man seemed to have plenty.
“ who’re you ? “ he asks , as innocently as possible. some strange man come parading around his house , he’s entitled to a few questions. “ you come ‘round , like ... once a week these days. “
[ anyway just the song Alexander Hamilton is literally about clay
Look at where you ᴀʀᴇ Look at where you 𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐸𝐷
The fact that you’re 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 is a miracle
Just 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦
That would be enough
———— @vaultiism / handsome jack
NISHA LIKED HER COMPANY. clay never thought to make a fuss about that . he might’ve been twelve , but sex never really bothered him ; more often than not , he’d slept in the back rooms of the red light district , where his handler had a woman to squeeze or knew a gal or two that’d give them safe harbor ‘til their ship rolled in. he’d been lulled to sleep by creaking springs and women’s work too many times to mistake what he heard coming from her bedroom at night , as much as she wanted to brush it off come daylight. he didn’t mind. he couldn’t mind. he hadn’t needed to fire the pistol under his pillow yet , and no one had ever stolen anything , and nisha was happy. small price to pay to see her that way.
lately , though , nisha’s company had come a little more ... regular. he’d seen the same pair of shoes by the door , same coat on the hook , same booming voice in the hallway whenever he left , unaware there was another person in the house to keep it down for. maybe it was better , clay thought. at least he’d know who it was if ... y’know. something happened.
he couldn’t sleep. he’d been trying since dawn , bargaining with himself to just catch a few more hours , but by then , it was more tiring to lay around than just get up and start the day. camped out at the kitchen table with a book and his bowl of cereal , clay wasn’t even surprised when the man of the hour came waltzing into the open. aprehensive , maybe , and a little appalled he hadn’t dressed himself properly , but not surprised.
“ ... she still sleepin’ , or she know you up ? “
𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 : 𝒅𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔
›› 𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙽 ——— toothy grins , stories around the campfire , clothes covered in pet hair , hot temper , old jeans , heartbeat in head , potatoes and steak , beaded jewelry , bruises like galaxies , mementos , backpack stuffed full , craigslist furniture , spontaneous road trips , air ripped from lungs .
›› 𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙳 ——— homemade bread , white lies , easily excited , trying on hats , band geek , pep talks , no impulse control , sunsets , vintage fashion , long showers , selfies , following dreams , rosy cheeks , song mash-ups , pink lemonade with tequila , loves easily , animated storyteller , full of comebacks .
›› 𝙲𝙻𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙲 ——— list of wishes , biting their tongue , band-aids and neosporin , shoulder to cry on , morning sun , necklaces , trial and error , homemade quilts , formal clothing , astrology fan , messages in bottles , pleated braids , speaking up for friends , feathers , motivational quotes , vivid dreams .
›› 𝙳𝚁𝚄𝙸𝙳 ——— bird watching , shy kid , wind chimes , good at whistling , summer camp , apple orchards , lost in their head , glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling , hoodies , thrift shopping , saving worms off the sidewalk , pig latin , bare feet , thunderstorms , numb fingers , braided hair , naming potted plants .
›› 𝙵𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙴𝚁 ——— goose bumps , leather jackets , adventure , chewing nails , cares deeply but can’t show it , bronze locks , no sleep , taste of iron , netflix binges , never forgets , combat boots , stories behind scars , table for one , official soundtracks , sore calves , trusts themselves the most .
›› 𝙼𝙾𝙽𝙺 ——— always trying to be better , wanderlust , meditation , sweat pants , old photographs , yoga , sleeping in hammocks , nostalgia , minimalist design , breath of fresh air , baby animals , volunteering , perfectionist , doesn’t care about fashion , healthy snacks , noticing the little things .
›› 𝙿𝙰𝙻𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙽 ——— school uniforms , thick jackets , sleeping with the windows open , logical advice , scrapbooking , compasses , i fight for my friends , sculpture gardens , cold morning air , big soul , likes routine , secret romantic , last to get jokes , sunflowers , practical presents , misty weather .
›› 𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙶𝙴𝚁 ——— herbal tea , smell of rain , blinking away tears , camping trips , collecting bones , swiss army knives , first impressions , anxious thoughts , bobby pins , burnt marshmallows , too competitive , clothes lines , messenger bags , holding grudges , gets along better with animals than people .
›› 𝚁𝙾𝙶𝚄𝙴 ——— flirtatious sarcasm , candid photos , lost phone chargers , adrenaline rush , picking dirt out from beneath their nails , social chameleon , clashing clothes , self-deprecating jokes , claw machines , sits in chairs wrong , smudged eyeliner , has too many sunglasses , eats nothing or everything .
›› 𝚂𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝚁𝙴𝚁 ——— infectious laugh , family trees , shivers down their spine , lipstick and roses , mood swings , clumsy , believing in destiny , high expectations , sleeping in darkness , collection of nail polish , passionate , good grades but never studies , poetry books , blowing kisses , not knowing their own strength .
›› 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙺 ——— knowing everyone’s secrets , backpack covered in pins , envy , being in walmart late at night , earl grey , selective memory , conspiracy theories and cryptids , keysmashing , need to know basis , can’t cook , bags under eyes , experimental art , flickering bulbs , black clothing all year long .
›› 𝚆𝙸𝚉𝙰𝚁𝙳 ——— piles of textbooks , cat in lap , keeping a diary , indecisions , scented candles , studying alone in a café , lingering touches , museum dates , unanswered questions , taking on too much responsibility , collections , chalk dust , comfy robes , unnecessary apologies , coming home after a long day .
Tagged by: @starcrcwns
Tagging: anyone who hasn’t been tagged yet !
———— @leaveatip
“ no , ma’am. made it a point not to mess ‘wit whoever holds the booze a long time ago. “ he’s raising his glass with a good-natured nod , sipping at his concoction thoughtfully. he wasn’t one for trying new things - once he found something reliable , he stuck with it , and whiskey had been more of a kind friend to him , but ... when in rome , he guessed. moxxi poured him what she wanted , and he drank it , even though the sugar burned his throat more than the alcohol did. he’s mastered the art of not pulling faces ; hopefully , as far as she knows , he likes it. or is neutral to it. or doesn’t hate it.
he cleared his throat into his fist , finally settling in on his stool. the coat isn’t coming off , nor are the goggles , but he’s at least decent enough to take off his hat. “ yes’m. they treat they people right - not like maliwan or none of them. “ it’s weird , being here. he always thought moxxi’s was a bit too rich for his blood , even after he started on the well and true path with jakob’s. sure , he always made enough coin to spend , but the atmosphere and the company kept , well ... made him feel otherworldly half the time. like the bar itself knew he wasn’t local.
“ well , i can’t blame you. it would be mighty hypocritical of me , anyway , uh ... but no. there’s no shame in holding your own. i wouldn’t expect anything less. “
A person that’s done what I’ve done…
Does N O T deserve to dream…
But I still do
kicking up dirt and desolation is my only vocation
[ btw if y’all ever wanna mess around w ,,,, young clay, lmk?? I won’t be satisfied until he managed to run a deal for everyone in sanctuary before he was 13
“ you’d miss torturing me too much , “ he snickers , a little more life in him than a few moments ago. it all fades , though , once she isn’t studying him so closely. though he prides himself on not thinking too hard on much of anything , some things can’t be avoided , and the longer they walk , the longer his brain insists he aught to focus on how bad he feels. the space behind his right eye throbs miserably. at least the physical can be explained.
he’s already shucking off clothes before he’s even in the door. his leathers are sunwarmed and uncomfortably stiff from the heat ; if nisha hadn’t been there , it would’ve all just been dropped to the floor , but she’s a terrifying reminder to at least put it on a damn hook. hat , coat , and boots are left at the rack , overshirt haphazardly chucked in the direction of the laundry room. he hopes she hadn’t moved the ibuprophen again - ladies need more of it than men , for some reason , and she liked to hoard that shit like she’ll never get her hands on it again.
his echo buzzes gently in his pocket , and it brings an odd amount of comfort. maybe angel knows enough to keep outta his head when he’s feeling off. “ you wanna do takeout tonight , or you want me to cook somethin’ ? or your loverboy gonna take you out again ... ?” even though that ... puts a small damper on the parade he’s so carefully built up. the idea of being in the empty house again another night doesn’t do a thing for that fist around his heart. “ he still owes me a bag’o chips , y’know. ate mine the last time he was over. “
he didn’t know which was worse , really - it wasn’t his place to start a pissing contest anyway. to be born on purpose and live a life of suffering , or to be born by accident and live it as a ghost - it was a hell of a call to make , wasn’t it ? and to think they’d only met up by accident ; they could’ve gone their whole lives without knowing the other existed. could’ve gone even longer not knowing they were related.
he’d only been a small , scrawny thing when they’d met. a bottomfeeder , teetering on the edge of survival. he thought he might’ve been dead by now , if she hadn’t done her best to keep him steady. she gave him food , water , a bed , a job. people to know. people to love. she’d done everything for him.
sure , she could be a pain in the ass , but ... if only they’d met sooner.
if only they’d been together to start with.
he’s grumbling at the affection , too soft for either of them most days. though he’d been ... mostly fibbing , about the headache , the longer they stood in the sun like this , the more it was becoming reality. after a quiet sigh , he’s sauntering back towards home , swigging from his canteen to push off the inevitable. “ what , that you like gossip as much as any old maid ? this’ll be you in a few years anyhow , sittin’ in your rocker on the porch , shootin’ blanks at anyone who looks like they might be havin’ too much fun. “