What We Do Means Nothing

J wasn’t sure if this man was just blunt, or merely dense as a brick.

“I suppose I can agree with that.” What odd tension. To any bystander, the two of them would appear to be getting along - But in reality? One couldn’t be more wrong. The air between the two was gloomy indeed. 

“Ah, I don’t believe i’ve introduced myself; J Genesis, pleasure to meet you.”

An odd name, but it wasn't like V could comment. It would’ve been hypocritical. He extended his hand to shake the other man’s.

…Did this man really refer to both of their fashion senses as “brave”? 

How funny.

“I suppose you could call it flashy. But if you ask me? Everyone else is just under-dressed.”

"That's also true." Though, V would argue some of these people were somehow more overdressed than the pair of them.

“Ya know if you’re not careful this ‘child’ could make you regret those words!” He might not be as strong, but he can at least do something. “You stink of someone who’s been baby fed everything in his life. I had to work for my scraps. And that’s what I got. One person actually believed in me and she-” He froze and looked to the side. 

"You think you can make assumptions about me. That's cute."

And cue Kadoc punching the other in the jaw. “Who the hell said I wasn’t trying?! The only reason I even have these damn dark circles is cause I try to damn hard because of rich. long line mages who think just cause they have lineage they’re better! They had it handed to him I have to work my ass off!”  

V had to admit - he did not see that coming. It didn’t hurt, but the shock was enough. He held his jaw in his hand, grimacing. “Your attitude stinks. You act like a child who was wronged because his sibling took the last ice cream from the freezer.”

“Well when you’re put down all your life you learn to say screw it.” 

"Ah, a whiner. Because life magically changes when you don’t even try.”

J wasn’t sure if he was meant to hear the other man’s words, but they had managed to reach him nonetheless. 

“Oh, why thank you - you’re not too shabby yourself.” 

Oh. His not-so-polite comment did not go unnoticed. V would’ve been embarrassed if he didn’t mean it. “Ah-- thank you.”

“Don’t have that either.” He mumbled. 

“Great! Thanks! Now my insomnia is magically cured! Thank you.” He sassed back, putting his hands on his hips. “And I don’t have make up.” 

"No one said anything about makeup." V shrugged. “Cucumber slices and tea bags help with dark circles. Preferably green tea, though regular tea bags also help.”

    Only a couple of days. He thinks on it, unsure if he should accept that as the truth or not. The segment about not being the enemy helped, but as always; he was untrustworthy to different environments and suspicious of the people in them. It was difficult to accept a complete change in atmosphere without thinking the worst in it.

  “Alright, if you’re not my enemy, then what are you?” He keeps the name in mind, but doesn’t share his immediately. It was up for how he answered the question whether he would receive it or not. Attention hyper focusing, he prepares to nitpick every detail of the guy that he can.

The other man was cagey. V couldn’t blame him, he was the same. Though at least he seemed to calm down enough to have a proper conversation. That was enough.