[attr="class","icon"]

"and what an unfortunate fate that'd be."

[break][break] there's a small, secret smile in the corner of caden's mouth as he says it. not the kind of smile that he gives people like emerson whitlock in a dimly lit bar, not the kind of open laughter that he gives @symon in the recluses of their apartment.

[break][break] this one — there's something real about it.

[break][break] "c'mon," he says, pushing his sleeves to his elbows. "put me to work, rory."

a slow smile curves on his mouth, like that of a deadly liepard looking upon a dedenne.

[break][break] "yes, you."

[break][break] there is a low, sultry way in the way that caden speaks, his tenor rumbling warm and tender through the speakeasy's quiet jazz.

[break][break] however, the little mouse catches him offguard and caden finds himself blinking, sitting up. his brow arches elegantly.

[break][break] "you know me?"

[break][break] that would make things a little complicated.

[attr="class","ooc"] emerson whitlock [break]
the ritual [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]

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friends.

[break][break] they had never been something that caden had very much cared for, and it had never bothered him that it was one of the many areas that he lacked in comparison to his brother CIAN MAHER.

[break][break] but for some reason, standing there with Rory Faust, stirred something within him.

[break][break] the touch of her hand on his felt different.

[break][break] "thanks, rory," his eyes glitter in the dark. "what would i do without you?"

[attr="class","icon"]

caden is a good liar. which means that he's good at telling when other people are.

[break][break] but for the moment, he's glad for the lie.

[break][break] it covers him like an old blanket, sheathing him in it's familiarity.

[break][break] "well," he murmurs before flashing her a smile. "thanks. i don't have many friends nowadays."

[break][break] his brothers are gone, his father is dead. he's too guilty to talk to Antoinette Spina, or even his roommate.

he arches a brow, his expression simple.

[break][break] "because i find you interesting."

[break][break] he knocks back another drink, this time ordering a daiquiri instead. it's a bit sweeter than he normally likes.

[break][break] on one hand, his hand closes into a fist and he rests his cheek upon his knuckle.

[break][break] "so what do you do? are you a programmer?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] emerson whitlock [break]
the ritual [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]

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he shrugs.

[break][break] "was bored."

[break][break] but his interest of this conversation was dwindling quickly. there was no saying whether it'd last for much longer.

@symon manages to draw a laugh out of him. one that's not sardonic or filled with thinly-veiled insults.

[break][break] "you fucking idiot."

[break][break] it was before caden knew him, presumably, so it wasn't like he would've been able to stitch him up. then again, it looked like whoever had stitched symon up had done a bang-up job.

[break][break] "so what then? what'd the homeless man do?"

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @symon [break]
the nimbus [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]

"mm. interesting."

[break][break] caden hides a smile behind his glass as he takes another swig of his drink. it's bitter on it's way down, but it's just like he likes it.

[break][break] "what do you read?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] emerson whitlock [break]
the ritual [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-munna"]