I'm not close I'm not safe

[unobtainableredemption]

Characters: Kaine and OPEN
Date: December 23rd
Location: Brazen Turtle; Various
Situation: Kaine has an empty nest. Clearly this means there is something wrong with him as a person.
Warnings/Rating: PG-13 to be safe (Kaine has a filthy mouth)


Option A (Kaine):
[Kaine sat at the bar of Brazen Turtle, staring at his beer. He didn't know why he was as bothered by Peter leaving as he was. After all, how many times had he threatened to kick Peter out? He didn't even particularly like the smaller version of Peter Parker. All his presence did was remind him that there were more idealistic idiots out there than even the Peter he was familiar with. The kid was nothing but a nuisance, constantly butting into his business and forcing him to do things he didn't want to do. How could this kid, this boy who didn't know the first thing about him (by design), mean anything to him?

He had spent his entire life alone; he had always preferred that to the company of anyone. There was no one in the world--in the universe, he supposed--that was like him. They all had souls and families and relationships. He was a human shell hiding a monster within a monster. Miles Warren, his father, had put him on his destructive path by creating him, but Kaine was fully aware that he was the instrument of his own destruction. His own actions through the years had insured that he could never join society the way that Ben had tried, no matter what he did in an attempt to atone. Kaine knew this... he embraced it. So why was it bothering him now, all thanks to a kid he didn't particularly like?

Aracely. Peter reminded him of Aracely. That was the only thing he could think of. And he didn't particularly like her either. She was just someone who needed help, and he was the unlucky sap who got saddled with her. If he had left her, she would have just gotten killed... in any of those times he had gone back to save her. She was just a child. She deserved a second chance. Peter deserved a second chance.

Kaine downed the rest of his drink, knowing full well that it will probably come to bite him in his low tolerant ass later.]

Option B (Scarlet Spider):
[Kaine needed something to punch. It didn't matter what or who, so long as it had a face that he could connect with his fist. He had no recollection of putting the costume on, or leaving his suite for that matter, only swinging through the air throughout Keeliai, looking for someone relatively out of place. He was a man on a mission, one who wouldn't be satisfied until he was able to take his frustration out on someone who looked like they might deserve it, preferably someone of the criminal persuasion.]

Comments

A. Ish. Let me know if okay!

[werethatgood]

[ It was true, Cassie was walking home a bit later than she should have. She was keeping to well-lit streets, and - well. She wasn't nearly as defenseless as she looked, between self-defense and combat training, and, well, other things. ]

[ She still kept her eyes open. So when the man stumbled and leaned against the wall for a moment, she caught the motion, and loped closer. ]

Excuse me, sir. Are you hurt?

Totally okay!

[unobtainableredemption]

[It didn't matter that he still possessed his spider agility, it seemed to go out the window the second he got drunk. Which, thanks to Peter Parker and his ridiculously low tolerance for alcohol, was more often than he would admit. At least tonight he was trying this time.

Kaine barely looked at the female voice. He was so done with people. He should really have learned his lessonby now. Okay that's it, lesson officially learned. No more people.]

'm fine. Leave me alone.

W00!

[werethatgood]

[ Riiiight. The teenager shifted her weight to the back foot and crossed her arms. ]

As though you'd buy it if somebody told you that one.

[unobtainableredemption]

[Flatly.] Yeah, I would. Because unlike you apparently I don't give a fuck.

[werethatgood]

[ Pause. ]

So not the same. Believing something's not the same as knowing it's crap and not caring either way.

[unobtainableredemption]

[ Forces himself off the wall currently supporting him and attempts to draw himself up to his full height of 6'4" (193 cm). After a bit of swaying, he mostly accomplishes this. Kaine isn't attempting to intimidate her, merely hoping to be taken more seriously.]

Again, I don't give a fuck, kid. Why are you bothering me?

[werethatgood]

Like you said yourself.

[ So sweetly. ]

I do give a fuck. You don't look likely to reach wherever you're headed to, right now, and while that might happen any night when I'm not around, I can't see it and just turn my back on you. Call it a problem I have.

[ Cassie's eyes narrowed, and she though she might. Take a gamble. And try to shake him a little off that 'don't give a fuck' stance. ]

And if you keep arguing, I'll tell you how this is like helping old ladies cross the street.

[unobtainableredemption]

This isn't the first time I've gone home drunk an' it's not going to be the last, either. I don't need or want you--

[His eyes narrow.] Did you just compare me to an old lady?

[werethatgood]

Are you walking more steadily than one?

[unobtainableredemption]

I have all-- [Barely manages to catch himself before he blurts out "the agility of a spider." He'd told enough people as it was. While he still didn't get the purpose of a secret identity, he knew the kids wanted to keep theirs. He had to respect that.... he owed them that much, at least.]

I can take care of myself.

[werethatgood]

[ Funniest part is that Cassie knows about May. And can connect the dots about Peter. She just. Hasn't made the connection of this guy to either of them (yet). But that's not what matters. He's drunk, and she's already gotten a quick look of night-time violence by the gangs. ]

Well, then you wouldn't mind me tagging along. Just so you can prove me wrong.

[unobtainableredemption]

[Why wasn't this girl taking no for an answer? Why wasn't she just going away like he wanted her to? Why won't she just--]

Leave me alone!

[Lunges towards her, heat rising from his hand as he instinctively moved to give her the Mark of Kaine. Upon realizing what exactly it was he was doing, he quickly recoils before he reaches her face, burning a hand print into his shirt before the heat fades away.

What the hell was wrong with him? What was he thinking?]

[werethatgood]

[ Well. That was. ]

[ Unexpected. ]

[ All the humor fled from Cassie's face, and her posture straightened, focused more. And, yes, she ducked away from the flaming hand, promptly enough to have avoided it even if he hadn't pulled back. And, just a blink later, she was actually taller than the man. Not much, but enough that he would notice, no matter how drunk or distracted. ]

And you have just given me a very good reason to make sure you get home and nobody gets hurt.

[ There's no fight in her voice, just the sort of authority that's not quite the way a fifteen-year-old should fail to be authoritative. There's enough practice behind it to show some experience. ]

Did you burn yourself? Or just the shirt?

[unobtainableredemption]

This is all the more reason I should be alone. [But the fight was gone from his voice. He had almost hurt a child. Even when he was an assassin, children were off limits.]

I can't burn myself. [Shows her by trying to leave the Mark of Kaine on his other wrist, and though it sounds like he's burning his own flesh, there is nothing but steam when he pulls his hand away.]

[werethatgood]

Maybe. But I can also handle myself.

[ Gentle. Then she frowned a little at his demonstration. ]

And that's neat. And it's a start.

[ Her eyes went up to his face, before the first question of an interrogation she thought likely to take. A while. Not necessarily all tonight. ]

So, how hard did you try to do it to yourself, before you really verified that it wouldn't work?

[unobtainableredemption]

[Jeez, was his former death wish was that obvious? To be honest, though, he never had the guts to try to end it himself. He tried to have others end it for him.]

None of your business. [Gets up and heads in the direction of his suite.] Now go away.

[werethatgood]

[ She's a teenager who's spent more than a little time among teenagers with powers. Sorry, some things, she's not that blind to. ]

[ Cassie tilts her head to the first part, but, as he's actually moving, she lets it go. ]

[ For now. ]

[ Resuming her usual size, she falls into step with him. ]

Once you're safe and sound, I will. Promise.

[unobtainableredemption]

....Did you just get smaller? [Jesus he was more drunk than he thought.]

[werethatgood]

[ Cassie manages not to burst out laughing. BARELY. ]

I guess you sorta missed the part where I got bigger in the first place. Like I said. I can also take care of myself. Or both of us, if I have to. It's all right.

[unobtainableredemption]

[Nope, he was too busy trying to kill you. Also, he's now convinced more than ever that all teenagers possess powers these days. It's getting ridiculous.]

Are you deaf? I've already told you, I don't need your help.

[werethatgood]

Not deaf. But I already told you I can't just go. You've got a you thing, and I've got a me thing. Between being shaky and potentially being a danger to others - and I'm far from the only person around there who could piss you off - leaving just isn't an option for me.

[ Well. Considering the teenagers on the turtle, he's way more correct than he should be? ]

Of course, it might get better if you think of it as having company, rather than a minder or anything, because that latter is sort of ridiculous, but that's up to you.

[unobtainableredemption]

[Sighs.]

I don't like company.

[But at least he's finally getting that this is a losing battle.]

[werethatgood]

It's okay. I'll only be around for a walk.

[ Beat, but now she's curious. ]

What did company do to you?

[unobtainableredemption]

[Damn kids.]

Are you always so fucking nosy?

[werethatgood]

[ Cassie thinks about that, or at least pretends to. ]

Yep. It's a whole new world, with whole new and different people in it. Wouldn't you get curious about things?