Human again and forever

As promised, Saint was at the proposed meeting spot at 7am; dressed in clothes that didn't fit, hair starting to curl around his ears and the nape of his neck. He twiddled a lighter in his long fingers, glancing around suspiciously.

Saint took it silently, pulling out a cigarette and holding it between his teeth as he held the lighter up. It was a zippo- silver, scuffed up, something unintelligible carved into it.

Bell hummed under their breath, arms wrapping around their body while staring somewhere else but Saint.

Saint allowed the words to hang in the air a moment, blowing out a plume of smoke. He'd never liked cigarettes in reality; only smoked them because it started a conversation, gave his hands something to do other than fidgeting with the wire that hung too heavy around his wrist.

"I don't." Bell was perceptive, had been trained to be. They noticed the small things about others like a cautious animal trying to figure out if the thing in front of them was hostile. It was a defense mechanism part of their paranoia. "Not in a personal way, if that is what you are concerned about. There is just something... Unique about you. I cannot put my finger on it." Or they could, yet chose not to say it. Lying had also been part of the job description for them.

"Word gets around. By word, I am saying that I have learned to eavesdrop." They look down at the falling ashes from their cigarette, stomping on them to hide the evidence under their boots. "Quiet. You sound like I'm a hitman." Bell rolled their eyes, simultaneously taking a drag with what little skinned they showed. The mask had become a habit for them to wear, it made them not see the memories the mirror brings.

He did have a point there. Honestly, it was kind of stupid to get him to open up without sharing some of themselves first... well, whatever remained of them.

Saint didn't respond for what felt like a very long time. He dropped his cigarette, crushed what was left of it into the ground with the heel of his boot. The idea that he was broken was one he often considered; after all, he must have been defective in some way to have done what he did to him.

As promised, Saint was at the proposed meeting spot at 7am; dressed in clothes that didn't fit, hair starting to curl around his ears and the nape of his neck. He twiddled a lighter in his long fingers, glancing around suspiciously.

Saint took it silently, pulling out a cigarette and holding it between his teeth as he held the lighter up. It was a zippo- silver, scuffed up, something unintelligible carved into it.

Bell hummed under their breath, arms wrapping around their body while staring somewhere else but Saint.

Saint allowed the words to hang in the air a moment, blowing out a plume of smoke. He'd never liked cigarettes in reality; only smoked them because it started a conversation, gave his hands something to do other than fidgeting with the wire that hung too heavy around his wrist.

"I don't." Bell was perceptive, had been trained to be. They noticed the small things about others like a cautious animal trying to figure out if the thing in front of them was hostile. It was a defense mechanism part of their paranoia. "Not in a personal way, if that is what you are concerned about. There is just something... Unique about you. I cannot put my finger on it." Or they could, yet chose not to say it. Lying had also been part of the job description for them.

"Word gets around. By word, I am saying that I have learned to eavesdrop." They look down at the falling ashes from their cigarette, stomping on them to hide the evidence under their boots. "Quiet. You sound like I'm a hitman." Bell rolled their eyes, simultaneously taking a drag with what little skinned they showed. The mask had become a habit for them to wear, it made them not see the memories the mirror brings.

He did have a point there. Honestly, it was kind of stupid to get him to open up without sharing some of themselves first... well, whatever remained of them.

As promised, Saint was at the proposed meeting spot at 7am; dressed in clothes that didn't fit, hair starting to curl around his ears and the nape of his neck. He twiddled a lighter in his long fingers, glancing around suspiciously.

Saint took it silently, pulling out a cigarette and holding it between his teeth as he held the lighter up. It was a zippo- silver, scuffed up, something unintelligible carved into it.

Bell hummed under their breath, arms wrapping around their body while staring somewhere else but Saint.

Saint allowed the words to hang in the air a moment, blowing out a plume of smoke. He'd never liked cigarettes in reality; only smoked them because it started a conversation, gave his hands something to do other than fidgeting with the wire that hung too heavy around his wrist.

"I don't." Bell was perceptive, had been trained to be. They noticed the small things about others like a cautious animal trying to figure out if the thing in front of them was hostile. It was a defense mechanism part of their paranoia. "Not in a personal way, if that is what you are concerned about. There is just something... Unique about you. I cannot put my finger on it." Or they could, yet chose not to say it. Lying had also been part of the job description for them.

"Word gets around. By word, I am saying that I have learned to eavesdrop." They look down at the falling ashes from their cigarette, stomping on them to hide the evidence under their boots. "Quiet. You sound like I'm a hitman." Bell rolled their eyes, simultaneously taking a drag with what little skinned they showed. The mask had become a habit for them to wear, it made them not see the memories the mirror brings.

As promised, Saint was at the proposed meeting spot at 7am; dressed in clothes that didn't fit, hair starting to curl around his ears and the nape of his neck. He twiddled a lighter in his long fingers, glancing around suspiciously.

Saint took it silently, pulling out a cigarette and holding it between his teeth as he held the lighter up. It was a zippo- silver, scuffed up, something unintelligible carved into it.

Bell hummed under their breath, arms wrapping around their body while staring somewhere else but Saint.

Saint allowed the words to hang in the air a moment, blowing out a plume of smoke. He'd never liked cigarettes in reality; only smoked them because it started a conversation, gave his hands something to do other than fidgeting with the wire that hung too heavy around his wrist.

"I don't." Bell was perceptive, had been trained to be. They noticed the small things about others like a cautious animal trying to figure out if the thing in front of them was hostile. It was a defense mechanism part of their paranoia. "Not in a personal way, if that is what you are concerned about. There is just something... Unique about you. I cannot put my finger on it." Or they could, yet chose not to say it. Lying had also been part of the job description for them.

As promised, Saint was at the proposed meeting spot at 7am; dressed in clothes that didn't fit, hair starting to curl around his ears and the nape of his neck. He twiddled a lighter in his long fingers, glancing around suspiciously.

Saint took it silently, pulling out a cigarette and holding it between his teeth as he held the lighter up. It was a zippo- silver, scuffed up, something unintelligible carved into it.

Bell hummed under their breath, arms wrapping around their body while staring somewhere else but Saint.

i am EVIL ena. I'm YOU but I have a LOVING family and THERAPY and I DON'T have DADDY ISSUES

You said to give you a ring. I can come any time.

Hey. I understand that we might not know each other, but you interest me. I do not trust you, and neither should you trust me, but I can sympathize with you.

I have a handful of brands for your taste, and time. Answers? Depends on the question.

I do not care about being accepted again. I have learned to not depend on anyone, just myself. I have been doing fine ever since.

I know ya're dads enemy but.... oh well...I'd like to invite ya for dinner.

Ah, it is him you mean? I cannot say I'm not at least suspicious. Then again, I always am.

I see. Then I suppose there is no harm in stopping by. Not like I have much to do by myself.

Noted. I do like cats.

I do not care about being accepted again. I have learned to not depend on anyone, just myself. I have been doing fine ever since.

I know ya're dads enemy but.... oh well...I'd like to invite ya for dinner.

Ah, it is him you mean? I cannot say I'm not at least suspicious. Then again, I always am.

I see. Then I suppose there is no harm in stopping by. Not like I have much to do by myself.

I do not care about being accepted again. I have learned to not depend on anyone, just myself. I have been doing fine ever since.

I know ya're dads enemy but.... oh well...I'd like to invite ya for dinner.

Ah, it is him you mean? I cannot say I'm not at least suspicious. Then again, I always am.