Neon Lights & Bloody Fights

“My priorities are taking care of four children. Not that I expect you to understand something like that”

“You managed to get a chick pregnant 4 times already? Or was it four different chicks?” he asked in disbelief. “Whatever it is you did man, I hope it never happens to me.”

 “Playing dumb. A classic response, but no matter, I won’t press further, only for more important matters,” he laughed. “You seem very adamant about me joinng this knitting club. Don’t tell me, are you going to ask to join with me? Make it as date? Lucy, I thought you’d never ask.”

Since Lucien was just glad that the other was willing to drop the subject that easily,  he decided not to make any further comments on the matter. “Listen, I’m just saying I had a couple of introduction classes and it’s more amusing than you might suspect.” he chuckled. “How dense are you? I’ve been dropping hints for months now Ford, it’s about time.”

“I know there are..” he trailed off, leaving the man to wonder. “But, you should give the shirt to Athena. She an get anything out.”

“Ask Athena to wash my clothes? I might as well get myself a casket while I’m at it.” he scoffed, semi-offended that the other would even suggest such thing. “If I were to ask her to do my chores like that she’ll personally strangle me with this very shirt no thank you.”

Calum snickered as he watched as realization washed over the man features. He’ll never get over how people continued to talk to him even after finding out he couldn’t hear. Typing a message, he turned it towards the man: ’I’m going to assume you said something about talking to yourself, and how much of an idiot you must look, but I can honestly say, I don’t care. But I would like to hear about this cat,. Pun intended.’

Lucien lowered his head in embarrassment as he was faced with a phone screen yet again.  Instead of making the same mistake yet again he also took out his phone, opening an empty note and quickly typing: “I’m kinda new to this whole talking to deaf people thing okay? cut me some slack. Anyway, I adopted this kitten, his name is Hannibal and none of this is as cheesy as it sounds.” before turning the screen towards the man.

“Sounds good.” Kaya agreed, suddenly feeling a burst of excitement for their plans. She was actually quite surprised, since she went a little…crazy, the last time she was there. Either way, it seems that he has forgiven her. “Oh God, you totally would as well.” She said with a chuckle. “Wait…Do you think it’s possible that….I cause the drama?”

He would probably have smiled contently at the knowledge that he and Kaya had plans in the near future but since that would just awfully uncool he remained a neutral expression, only nodding as a confirmation. “You? Cause drama?” Lucien asked in feigned surprise. “Honestly, I can’t imagine.” a teasing smile tugging on his lips. “But maybe your departure just made him so depressed he didn’t even find joy in ruining our lives anymore.”

Calum paused for a minute, realizing that the man probably didn’t know sign language. Pulling out his phone, Calum quickly typing out his message: ‘Did you get a cat?’ 

At first, Lucien was confused as there was a phone screen was shoved in his face but eventually, he nodded in response, “Yeah I did- wait you can’t actually hear me can you? Does that mean I’m talking to myself? “

“Whining? I asked a question, in which you answered.” he shot back. “It’s not a presume. Though, I’m not exactly interested in sex.”

“Sure bud, whatever helps you sleep at night.” he just hummed in response. “You really should set your priorities straight man.”

“Time,” she repeated, sounding defeated. She could understand that, but it worried her. If she had gotten involved with him, if she hadn’t pissed Kaya off, then none of this would have happened. It was undoubtedly her fault. The sudden urge to punch something ignited in her, and she clenched her hands into fists. “So there is nothing I can do?”

"I mean- I don’t know, I guess...” his voice trailed off, this was far out of his area of expertise. Yet he didn’t want to leave Sarah hanging on the topic, not when she was so obviously struggling with it. “Just make sure you two don’t drift apart okay? I get that you want to give him space and shit but if you distance yourself now because you blame yourself it won’t benefit either of you.” there was a brief, awkward silence before he added. “Or something like that, I don’t know.”

Kaya thought to herself for a moment before giving him an answer. “I’m free whenever.” She told him, feeling glad they were making plans but of course she would never admit that out loud. After he spoke, Kaya couldn’t help but cringe. “That sounds disgusting, please never say that again.” She instructed, chuckling slightly. “I missed the Landlord, actually. All the drama he caused, there was no one like that in New York. I was starved.”

“Hm I’m working the next two nights but after that I’m free. At my place as usual?” Lucien asked nonchalantly, almost as if she had not tried to kill him with an ashtray the last time she had been over. “Are you sure? Because I kinda wanted to print that on a shirt and gift it to you on your birthday or some shit.” he teased. “ He’s actually been pretty mild the last couple of months, can’t say anything really dramatic happened during your time off.”

“I believe that’s where we differ than. You see, I rather find it thrillin’ to be in the center. To be the source of someone’s downfall, to be able to watch their world around them crumble and knowing it was because of you, truly exciting.” There was a moments pause, as Aron studied the man. “I’m only joking.” No, he wasn’t. “People who don’t want on their clothes, I assume.”

Lucien kept quiet for a minute, eyeing Aron suspiciously. Did he believe the man when he said it was just a joke? Definitely not. From what he had heard about the other there were quite a few things wrong with him, right now Lucien seemed to agree with that. He decided not to comment on it, sure it would only leave him with more cryptic comments “Ah well, it’s just a shirt after all, I think there are worse things to worry about don’t you think.” 

“I’m not going anywhere, hun.” She assured him, looking up at him. She was used to being short though, and it didn’t influence her confidence one bit. “If someone like you can last here, I’m sure I’ll be just fine.” 

“That’s not a good thing around her tiny, believe me.” he shot back coolly. “Someone like me? Hm I think you might be getting ahead of yourself here. As far as I am aware, I don’t actually know you.”

“Don’t get any hopes up. When I talk dinner I talk ordering pizza and drinking beer. Restaurants get far too much hype.” She said, waving her hand at the dismissal of restaurants. She couldn’t help but smirk as he asked about how long she was planning on staying. “I got nowhere to be. Might as well stick around. Besides, New York isn’t as great as everyone says it is. And yeah, the weather here this time of year is great.”

“Pizza and beer sound good too me, when?” he asked, fully intending to take her up on the offer she had probably made unintentionally. “Hm, you can take a girl out of the Rag but you can’t take the Rag out of the girl now can you?” he teased. “Can’t say I relate to voluntarily wanting to come back to this place though but I figure you just must have missed me a lot.”

“I thought you’d finally mature, I guess we are both disappointed,” she shot back. “Look, I can’t go to Thomas, because, well, he’s an idiot. There is something mentally disturbed with Aron, so he is out. Brie is well Brie, and completely useless.  I was hoping since you are friends you would know, or at least pretend to know.” She was ranting. Was she nervous? This was a first. She did not like it. “I told Des about me, about everything. He was fine, but I told him about someone, and now he’s…different?”

He shrugged her comment off, fair enough. “With those first two I agree actually, about Brie being useless I’m not as sure but hey whatever works best for you.” admittedly, Lucien was taken a bit aback by it all because 1. he was considered to be Des’ friend, was he? and 2. All of this was serious enough for Athena to consider asking him for advice. While Lucien wasn’t 100% sure about what Athena had told Des, he had heard stories around the gang before referring to Athena’s past. “Uh- I mean it’s not like I specifically talked about it with him.” thinking of it, when was the last time he had even held a conversation with Des. “Listen I’m not the best with all this mushy stuff okay but all with all, he went through a lot lately. The incident, you telling him everything. He might just need some time to process it all, sort his head out. It’s not nothing you know.”

“And what makes you say that? Because I answered your asshole-ish toned question, with a snark?” He deadpanned. “How original, do you get your insults out of a book?”

“Because you’re whining like a horny high-schooler that’s why.” Lucien replied simply. “And hell, since when is saying you need to get laid an insult? What’s wrong with wishing sex upon someone?”