[OPEN] A game of tag

[lilliane sinclair evans]

She wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging herself tightly. "Take what you need." She didn't look at him as she spoke. She didn't want him to see the sadness in her eyes. He had nothing, and it wasn't right. What little he had his ex took, and he couldn't even keep up with her demands. Laine had more than enough, and could always get more, so why not do what she could?

Still making a point of not looking at him she pulled two mugs out of the cabinet, a black one with a white phantom of the opera mask for herself, and a dark blue one with a white moon for Tybalt. She set it on the counter for him as she loaded her cup with sugar and then a little bit of coffee.

[tybalt rogue maychester]

Tybalt shook his head. "Only two hundred.." He insisted softly. He took the coffee cup with mumbled thanks and poured himself a plain cup, black with nothing extra before trailing towards the table and sitting down. Taking a sip of the hot coffee, he turned the cup around between his work callused hands, careful not to pladh any of the hot liquid out of the mug.

[lilliane sinclair evans]

Laine followed him to the table, setting her mug down as she eased into the chair across from him. She sat still for a moment before getting up and opening a cabinet, pulling out a cookie jar. She opened it and dug around, pulling out a handful of bills. She replaced the lid and shoved the jar back in the cabinet before returning to her seat. "Here. Should be about two hundred." she held it out to him, looking at him through her bangs with icy blue eyes. "If you ever need more, just ask."

[tybalt rogue maychester]

"I-...thank you..." He set them aside so he could put it in his wallet later. Bythe end of next week it would be empty and he would be starting over yet again. It looked like cheap food the rest of the week at this rate, no eating out. He couldn't afford it, but hell, he didn't even have a fucking microwave.

Taking another sip of the coffee, he sighed. "You mind if I take a shower?"

[lilliane sinclair evans]

She studied him as she sipped the hot coffee. He was such a proud creature. It was easy to see why he had fallen on such hard luck once you knew that fact. When he asked about the shower she nodded, pointing towards the bathroom. She got up again, taking her coffee with her as she went into one of the rooms whose door had been closed. She used the extra rooms for storage, and she kept almost everything. Sure she had something in his size she looked for the boxes from her third husband. He had been a burly man, having struck rich working oil fields. When she found them she eyed them somewhat suspiciously. They were out of date, but not awful. She came back and handed them to Tybalt, apologizing for them.

[tybalt rogue maychester]

"Thanks.." He murmured. "It's fine." He would have to run to town at some point and wash a load of laundry. Standing, he took the clothes and made his way towards the bathroom. Closing the door he tossed his boxers aside and ran the hot water.

The feel of it over his tense body was soothing and he relaxed as he scrubbed out his dark hair and washed off any grease smudges that had escaped his notice, cleaning under his nails as best he could, though they were stained beneath from the wear and tear of work.

He got out, toweling off and pulling on the clothes, hair a tousled mess as he stepped out of the bathroom a little while later.

[lilliane sinclair evans]

Once she was sure he was in the shower she went back to her bedroom, pulling open the bedside table to retrieve an old framed photograph. It was of her wedding to her first husband, the only man she had ever loved. Her smile was a true smile, and their love shone in their eyes. She slid a finger across his face, sadness welling up in her. Whenever she thought about him there was a tightness in her chest, and her eyes remembered how it felt to cry. She had never been able to mourn him properly. All she had done was avenge him. It wasn't enough. "What do I do now John? What am I feeling for this kid?" She wished he could tell her.

[tybalt rogue maychester]

Tybalt ran a hand through his hair again, stepping back into the main room. He didn't see Laine there, but figured she was off somewhere else, and sat back down to sip at his coffee in silence. He opened up a picture on hhis phone, gazing down at his little girl quietly.

A shaky breath passed his lips as he set it down on the table, playing with his empty cup.

[lilliane sinclair evans]

She heard Tybalt get out of the shower, made no effort to move. She was rooted to the spot, just like she had been when she came home to a bloodbath, not thinking, not moving. A soft cry burbled from her lips as she shoved the picture back into the drawer and slammed it shut. Taking a few minutes to compose herself she ran her fingers through her hair before pulling it up in a messy bun and looking for pants. She slipped on a dark blue pair of skinny jeans and stepped out into the kitchen, avoiding his eyes. Laine did not want him seeing the emotion in hers.

[tybalt rogue maychester]

Tybalt glanced up, watching the way she was acting, how she wouldn't look at him. He didn't press it, he did the same thing in such situations. Gazing down at his phone screen a moment longer, he locked it delicately.

His phone bill was due soon, he couldn't pay for it much longer. Huffing, he got up and set his cup in the sink, pulling the window open in the kitchen and lighting a cigarette, blowing smoke outside.