little lamb

【 ♀ 】It’s a rather pathetic view.

Not like men were particularly capable of giving one deserving respect, but what can she do about it? It’s rather amusing, often providing an entertaining scene she could never get bored of. Meeting Vincent is certainly no what she’d want to suffer yet knowing he remains a tad unchanged was oddly reassuring. Despite it’s a rather mundane scenery in a typical convenience store (is he purchasing beer?), she liked the smaller details and is almost willing to find his semblance endearing.

Oh, how she’d love to wring his neck. She can’t forget and forgive, after all he made a fool out of her but it’s selfish to assume he plagued her every thought and impulsed her actions, No, if fate has intertwined their lives again then why not go for a second round ♥ ? She still wants more.

Thus, she approaches by holding onto his left arm. Catherine knows her mere presence will suffice to cause a disruption in his daily activities.

“So you left bars to drink by yourself at home? That’s depressing, Vince.”

❣ mandrinkingalone

Yes, he is in a convenience store. And yes, he is buying beer, dammit. Not his fault they’re out of the stuff he vastly prefers... that, or they just don’t carry it. The thought makes him scrutinize the labels further, realizing that none of these brands even sound familiar to him.

He’s about to call it a day and just pay for the goods. What else is there to do in here?

Vincent turns, and--

Oh. Oh. Oh god.

He very nearly drops the entire case of alcohol, making a quick, awkward save by swinging back toward the refrigerated shelf; it falls out of the case and knocks over a few things, but it’s better than spilling all over the floor. He’s not really concerned about that right now...

“Ca- Catherine!? I... you...”

Why aren’t any excuses popping up in his head for him to get the hell out of there?? It’s like he’s gone mentally blank, and Vincent stares at her with wide eyes, completely at a loss for what to say. Or do.

“Whatareyoudoinghere...” 

He can’t even bring himself to tug his arm out of her grasp.

“I, uh... can’t exactly call this home! Heh heh...”

Katherine let out a heavy sigh. She didn’t want to answer; she wanted to leave. She wanted to speak with him, and she wanted to stay. It wasn’t really driven by affection so much as it was the years behind them that made it all difficult to let go. How do you just spend five years with someone and then completely cut ties? She’d just… keep trying.

“Yes, you did,” she answered simply. There was a strange reinforcement that came with Vincent’s self-deprecating words. If he didn’t regret it at all, the blow to her pride would be much worse. Really, she needed to find a better significant other than the schlubs she kept winding up falling for.

“We don’t really have anything to talk about. Being friends with someone after a relationship has never worked for me.” Her gaze on him was wary. She honestly didn’t know what to expect from him, besides maybe more excuses. “…But you’re the only person here that I know, not that it means much.”

She thought for a moment, not moving from her spot. “Do you know anything about this city? How we can leave?” Her desperation to understand this confusing environment and to get back to the one she was comfortable with overpowered her contempt. For now.

Woah, she’s staying? She’s... actually staying...! He feels the faintest hint of relief; even a pinch is more than he’s felt with her in what seems like forever.

But then she responds, and her tone just makes his heart sink. It’s not a no, it’s not a I-hate-you-go-away, but... 

“I... Hey, that... please, just give me a chance...! Please.”

Vincent wanted to make things up to her, to try and fix whatever was left of their relationship, but he was also a little lost, a little confused, a little scared. Katherine was normally so collected... just hearing the small amount of uneasiness in her voice made him even more anxious.

“Well... uh, no. I have no idea. But maybe we can help each other out?”

He reaches into his jacket pocket, fiddling around for something until he finds that phone that’s not his but... probably kind of is, now. Shit.

“Did you get one of these too? I haven’t really used mine yet, but maybe we could call or text each other if we get any leads, or something... heh.”

Vincent’s praying she doesn’t bring up that she deleted his contact info from her phone before all this. Maybe her desire to figure out what to do about this situation will convince her to get his new number. He just wants to talk to her again, even if it’s about this weird city shit.

Her mind told her to keep moving, but that mind of hers was often weak to her heart. She hesitated mid-step, rocking her foot on the ground. In the end, she took one more step and stopped completely. Katherine chided herself for doing so. Walking out of his apartment had been simple. Ignoring his calls and his text messages had been simple. Her more than sensible self-control had only started weathering over time, chipping away little by little once she allowed herself to miss him.

Stopping here wasn’t the same thing as forgiveness; that was the furthest thing from her mind. He didn’t deserve her hearing his voice, but after five years of hearing it on a near daily basis, it had the power to make her listen when she hadn’t heard it in a while.

“What do you want, Vincent?” Katherine asked curtly, turning only enough to look back at him without causing pain in her neck. Her voice was as cool and distant as her final goodbye to him. “We have nothing to talk about anymore. I don’t think I have to remind you of what happened,” she said, lifting her hand to run through the hair over her shoulder.

She didn’t want another apology, nor would she accept one. She’d just missed… his voice.

Oh my God, she actually stopped. Why Katherine didn’t just keep walking was beyond him, but he wasn’t about to miss this opportunity. It could be the only one he’d ever get here.

“Listen... I know I really fucked things up. I know saying sorry isn’t going to fix everything between us.”

What else can he say that won’t make her run even farther away this time?

“But... I wanna keep talking to you. I want to at least still be friends, y’know...?”

Without finding what she’d wanted, Katherine left the convenience store with pursed lips and frustration in her system. It wasn’t important enough to keep looking for today—just a particular type of candy—but she’d been craving it all day regardless. The sliding doors parted and she stepped out, trying to come up with a better idea to ease the evening. It only looked to get worse from here, unfortunately, as she came face to face with a man she knew just outside the store.

“…Oh,” she said, surprised and suddenly completely unable to think for a few moments. Vincent. Why was he here? Despite finally finding a familiar face, this was the one she least wanted to celebrate or probe for information from. 

Catching herself after she’d stood in a daze for god knew how long, Katherine’s expression hardened and she brushed past him without another word. It might have been over between them for a while now, but there was still a cut on her heart that hadn’t quite healed.

I doubt he wants to see me either. I’m doing us both a favor.

Vincent was looking down, fishing through his pockets for his wallet; upon reeling it in he looked up to see the most familiar face he’d ever laid eyes on.

“Katherine?!”

From the way she responds, he knows something’s up--and why shouldn’t there be--she stands there with a sort of petrified gaze, and his heart sinks. Dammit...

Before he can say another word she’s leaving just as quietly, marching right past him.

“Hey...! Katherine, wait--!”