SYPHON

“ It’s funny how you think you have a choice in the matter.” he scoffed. Pulling Syphon by the arm out of his nephew’s old room. Wolverine pushed on the middle of Syphon’s back as they made their way towards the kitchens.

If Syphon had his way, he would end up spending the majority of his time alone. Which Wolverine could understand, because he had done it himself. The thing was, coming out of it on the other side. There was no telling who would still be there. Wolverine got lucky, and even made a couple of new friends on the way. Of course, he also didn’t decide to go on a alcohol benders. Whatever loss Syphon had gone through, it was a loss that affected him to his core.

He had always seemed so disciplined to Wolverine. Good guy, excellent shot and seemingly someone other wanted to be around. Until resently anyway; what ever it was that was driving him to be this version of himself. Wolverine thought the least he could do was make sure the guy got some food in him.

“ Look, you don’t have to talk about why whiskey has become your best friend,”he said.

As they approached the kitchen doors, walking the majority of the way in silence.

“I’m not looking to pry so, you eat the food I make and we’ll leave it at that. Sound good?”

  Did he have a sign plastered to his forhead saying DAMAGED, PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE!

He supposed that he should be grateful, after all. He was more then a little bit of a mess. He was a disaster if he was being honest; only recently coming to grips with the concept of acceptance. Now, he was paying for his bad choices... ten fold.

Looking over at Wolverine, he got the impression that the man really wouldn’t take no for an answer. As much as Syphon wanted to cross his arms and dig his feet in. Determined to try and fix things on his own. He thought better of it for a second.  Mostly because... Wolverine kind of scared him.

Not in the, he’s going to kick my ass way. He didn’t look bigger then Achilles and he had put up with that shithead for years ( okay maybe it was the other way around.) Regardless, Wolverine gave off this vibe, one that was more unssettling then Achilles. At least with Achilies you knew - for the most part- what you were getting. With Wolverine, he kept things so close to his chest. You never knew what you would end up with.

Wolverine gave a nod. He had assumed the Syphon didn’t realize as much. Probably to drunk to have noticed. A part of him wanted to be upset, that he could be so disrespectful but another part of him. The part of him that understood what was happeneing—or at least thought he did—  couldn’t be mad. Not when it was clear Syphon was going through some shit — and going through it for quite a while if what he heard was true.

“You’re fine,” he said giving a little shrug. “  I’m just happy you didn’t get sick and throw chunks all over the place.” he scoffed

They stood in silence for a little bit. Wolverine taking the time to observe Syphon as he finished getting dressed. He looked like hell, what the hell had he been doing? Shaking his head, he turned  back towards the door. He still planned on clearing the room out finally. But first, he would take care of the living .

Pausing, outside of the door. Wolverine turned back to look at the other man.

“Come on,” he said gesturing for Syphon to follow. “ — let’s get some food in that belly of yours.”

Syphon gave a shake of his head. No offense to Wolverine but he had his feel of making an ass of himself to last him a lifetime. Now, Blood Oath’s resident blacksmith wanted to make him something to eat. Even knowing that it was a gesture done out of want and care... Syphon didn’t think he could stand it.

Yet another person taking care of him.

Meant another person he would be letting down.

The list of people was slowly growing. At the top Cat, then Kali. David, Achilles. Even Mandy and Randy; not that he could tell you why. With each new name a sickening feeling hit him. Tempting him to have another drink and, he was really trying to get a handle on how much he drank. He fucked up last night but he would make it his last slip up.

“ I appreciate it man but, if it’s all the same to you. I think I’ll just grab something on my way out.” he shrugged tucking his hands in his back pockets. “ Busy day and all.”

Luna rolled her eyes, but at least the asshole was self aware. “Yeah it was kind of hard to miss,” she muttered at his sarcastic, ‘if you hadn’t noticed’. She hadn’t expected that to lead to him actually talking about it though. What was this, fucking group therapy for brats that needed to get what they want lest they give way to tantrums? Well. Might as well have been. If Luna looked closely–and she really didn’t want to– she could pick up a thread of similarities between the two. They accepted that their personalities weren’t great, pushed away their support group, probably when they needed them most, and knew how their presence was shit for the ones they loved. But at least Luna had stopped pushing away the people that cared for her. For the most part.

She was too tired to really respond, and she didn’t know him, didn’t know his situation or these people in his life. Maybe his friends were right, and he was pathetic. They both looked pretty pathetic at the moment, what with Luna still half hiding behind the potted plant. But she had a feeling he wasn’t telling her all of this for her to offer empty words of comfort–even he could tell she wasn’t the type to give them, especially not to strangers. Maybe he just needed to get it out, talk about his situation out loud to make it real.

Both of their apologies were about as pathetic as the sight the two of them must paint, but at least it put them on equal footing. Luna huffed out a laugh. “Two minutes? That’s too generous,” she said, sarcasm plain as day, but not as venomous as it was before. “Magie doesn’t just have a mean streak, though, I can see why you’d throw shit at her. I’m starting to think they coded her as a drug addict who has to steal pain potions from her patients and that’s why the bitch keeps fucking lowering my dose.” Luna got a bit too heated as she leaned forward to complain more about the sadistic nurse, causing a sharp pain to bloom in her lower ribs again. “Oh fucking fuck, speaking of pain potions,” Luna said, pain furrowing her brows, “Think you can push your call button for a nurse? God, don’t let it be Magie. I don’t– I don’t think I can get back up,” she said with a grimace. There wasn’t enough time to feel weak for asking a stranger for help, to be ashamed she had to ask, because her upper body was too busy trying to perform a magic trick and cut her in two. “Or, you know, I could stay here for another twenty minutes and pixelate in your room, which, I hear can lead to hauntings. And the lingering smell of death, or whatever. I assure you I’d be even more unpleasant as a ghost.” 

“ If she’s lowering your pain meds, then you pissed her off.” he chuckled only to hiss in pain clutching his stomach as he did so. “ Best to make amends quickly. First its the meds, then it’s your favorite foods until you square things away.”

Syphon wasn’t sure, when their fight went from- wanting to kill each other to being cordial- and he wasn’t sure he liked it. However his body was telling him to pick his battles. The other player looked just as bad as he did at this point. Didn’t mean that she wouldn’t give him a hell of a fight if he was still looking for it. And to be honest, all the fight was out of him now. Leaving him with the searing pain from his stitches and a slight head ache.

It took him a minute, but Syphon was able to pull himself off of the floor( with the aid of the his mattress) A part of him tempted to push the call button and get Magie in here. Mostly, to see how much she would flip out on his intruder. However, that would be doing the exact opposite of what he wants so instead. Syphon hobbled over to the dark hair-woman. Avoiding the mess they had both made with glass - or as best he could. Reaching an hand out towards her . Sighing when she didn’t take it right away, “ Look, I’d rather not have Magie on my case . I hit the call button and she’ll be on the both of us for this shit.” he said nodding towards the glass next to her. “ Consider this my peace offering; one that expires in two minutes so... chop, chop.”

It was hard to pretend that everything was okay when it came to her brother. Because it wasn’t, he wasn’t. He lost something huge and immediately plunged off the deep end. It took a lot of yelling between the two of them for him to realize how it was affecting more than just him, and for him to actually get hurt for him to realize how bad it affected him. While she did join Blood Oath to be closer to her family, it wasn’t so she could hover over his shoulder, he was doing well enough to not need a babysitter anymore. 

Rolling her eyes at him and only complaining slightly when he took her pretzels, she nudged him back. “I leave everyone’s reports in my office thank you, this is just for fun. And please, I know everything in your chapter is true, you’ve told me literally everything already.” 

She did the best she could to be discrete about assessing him, seeing how his posture was, facial expression, if his breath had any linger scent of alcohol. For the most part he seemed okay, but she wasn’t sure if that was now a tolerance. “Did you come to annoy your little sister or did you have another mission?”

Shaking his head, he laid back in the grass. Throwing an arm over his eyes; “Suprisingly, no. I came out here for a little peace so I can think. And happened upon baby sister.”

Garrison had decided keeping a low profile was probably his best bet. After everything that went down with Cat at the hospital. Garrison was feeling some sort of way about the whole mess. He believed in his gut that he had done the right thing. That there was no way that he could even think about pursuing Cat when he wasn’t okay. 

Throw into the mix the fact that he had hooked up with a woman that Cat hated. And she had her reasons for it, he was avoiding that conversation as well. Garrison was doing a whole lot of avoidance  and yet he had said he wanted to turn over a new leaf.  Wanted to fix his own shit... his landing definitly needed a little work. Letting out another sigh, Garriosn nudged his sister leg with his own. “If I say I need to talk to you? Are you going to be your typical self with the  ‘I told you so’ looks and heavy eye rolls. Cause I’m kinda at a lost of what to do here.”

Dale Wicker

Username: NightBlood

Class: Warrior

Level: 70

Guild: Bloodoath former Circus memeber

Position: Battle Strategist

Dale new what war looked like, he knew how to fight. Knew how to hunt and knew how to kill. He was a killer, snapper in the ninth regiment. Dale had made a profession living out of killing some of the worlds most dangerous people. He was a soldier; give him a reason to fight ( other then making money) something that he could get behind. That he could belive in and he would go after a target. In all his military life he had only missed one target.

A stain on his other wise glowing track record.

Velia had been suggested by his therapist. A way to help him get through his PTSD. Honestly, he hadn’t thought a video game would help with that. In his mind, he was far too broken. A dangerous animal that couldn’t be tamed… and a part of him still believes that. Because when he entered the game he joined circus. His blood lust had no bound and since he figured that they couldn’t kill anyone - thanks to his beta testing the game early - research in the hopes that this would be a viable option for other soldiers who suffered from PTSD. He didn’t think anything of it. He killed with abandon and relished the fact that he became one of the first to get a red cursor.

A perpetual need for violence fuled him. But once he found himself trapped in a game and seemingly in a guild that was out to kill you. Survival instincts took over. For the next two years, he killed for circus, he killed player after player with no remorse because if they didn’t then they would kill him. He happened upon Lizzy out on a floor on her own. Running from players that were hunting her down. He sat on his perch in a tree and watched as the predator players got closer and closer.

If you ask him why he did it, he would simply say “ they were an easy mark.” In truth, the sight of Lizzy running for her life had set off a barrage of images. From Afghanistan to Kuwait; images of women and children running for their lives. Dale, desperate to help them. His first kill had been to protect them, his whole point of joining the military - to help those who couldn’t help themselves. It had awoken something in him. Something he thought he lost a long time ago,

A conscience.

Lizzy held his hand as she led him into the guildhall of Blood Oath. Taking him to their Leader; Jupiter. Retelling the story of the hero that saved her life. Hero, he could have laughed when he heard her say the word. Could have laughed at all of them as they gave him praise and thanks for what he’d done. What he’d done was what he had been trained to do… kill. Jupiter told him if he ever wanted to join them he would be welcome there. Why? Dale wasn’t a brain but he knew the other man didn’t trust him. Could see it in his eyes, in fact Dale detested men like Jupiter. It all seemed like a big farce to him but none the less he told him that he would think about it.

Two months later, a bloody and wounded NightBlood limped into the guildhall asking to join. After being ambushed by two of his own guildmates. Not that he would have known since they wore no colors. Circus faught for themselves and while at one point NightBlood would have thought the same, his encounter with Lizzy had changed him.

He is still a killer, he will always be a killer. The only difference was he had a reason to kill.

Name: Sorren Thacher

Username: Papabugbear

class: Archer

Level: 45

Guild: Blood Oath

Sorren, a 45-year-old single father entered the game with his two daughters. Lizzy now 17  and Josephine now 19; and he protects those two with his life. His aptitude with a bow and arrow coming from his background of hunting and gaming. Living in the more rural parts of Virgina, Sorren was one to live of the land and didn’t care much for all the technological advancement man had made.

However, when you had two girls coming into womanhood. Their mother Cynthia dead for several years now, he caved and outfitted their cabin with internet and cable. Both girls could hunt, fish, gather like their father. Though Jo took to it with the same viger and joy as her Sorren. While Lizzy, found it all to be to low-fi for her liking.

When the game Velia came out, Lizzy begged her father to buy it for her. Insisting that it wouldn’t make her the odd man out in the school since all of her friends were going to log in and she wanted too as well. Of course, he caved but only after making sure that the family could log on together. Three years later, The Thachers had taken up residence in Blood Oath ever since.

The hunter kept to himself mostly, not fitting in right away. In fact, the only place he seemed at home was out hunting monsters on the different levels. Jo had joined the guard and Lizzy… Lizzy was still Lizzy focusing on her guild uniform and trying to look as fashionable as possible. Once Syphon got to know him, he found his devotion to his girls honourable. Often picking his brain about what to do with Phillip when they got out of here.

Their friendship is very much that of a wiser uncle. Sorren was smart, reliable and had intuitiveness in a battle that rivalled even the strongest players in the game. He didn’t care about the politics between guilds. His first priority was his girls and keeping them safe, what better way than to join the largest guild in-game. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his daughters and as long as you could get with that. You were acceptable in his book; put them at risk. You could find yourself facing one of Sorren’s precision arrows…

Aimed right at your head.

Bounus!!!

Josephine (Jo) Thacher

Lizzy Thacher

Anderson Clark

University Professor

During his early university days, Garrison was miserable. He was in a new country. His family and friends he’d grown up with thousands of miles away. He was seriously thinking of just dropping out and back to Australia with his tail between his legs a complete failure.

In walked Professor Clark.

Anderson ( who he would later refer to as Andy) had the silent confidence of a man that had seen much and done even more. A successful business mogul in his own right. Clark took a teaching job at  The University of London on a whim. In fact, Garrison and classmates had been  his third batch of students he had taught his first year. Andy was warm and inviting and took a shining to a young Garrison.

Their relationship didn’t develop into something more until his second year of school. It was late, one night. Garrison and Andy found themselves going over a young Lannister’s options and what he wanted to do with his life and where he wanted to go. To this day he couldn’t tell you what it was about the other man that he found so alluring but one minute they were laughing and the next… Garrison had leand over on the couch in his office and kissed him. Then promptly ran out feeling like an idiot when Andy sat there dumbfounded, looking at him like he had snakes growing out of his head.

This awkward tension stayed between them for a month or two. Garrison racing out of his class each day or avoiding him completely when he ran into the other on campus. When Anderson finally cornered him and explained that he couldn’t start something with a student, no matter how attractive he believed Garrison to be. He was gracious and always made an effort to be friendly towards Garrison. When Cat popped up, the tension eased a little. Anderson saying how happy the other looked even though for himself he looked sad as if he had lost a chance at something special with the other man.

Mandy Malas

Username: ManDbaby

Class: mage

Level: 67

For her self Mandy Malas family migrated to  Spain from Turkey then to the states for asylum   when she was four. She was considered odd by classmates when she first came, her english being very little but she picked it up rather quickly. Wanting to blend in ratheR, through middle school and high school she was considered on of the cool kids. That didn’t stop her love of science; no matter how nerdy her other friends thought she was for doing so.

Meeting Randy wen she was excepted into Carnegie . Mandy thought it was funny that she and her boyfriend since freshman year had very similar-sounding names. Maybe it was part of her appeal to him. Mandy was a Science major and fell right away for Randy’s confident demeanor ( and it didn’t hurt that she found him very attractive). Her family however didn’t like the idea of Mandy dating him and thus told her to end things. When she refused; they cut her off refusing to help her continue to pay for school. She moved in with Randy that same day and had been by his side since.

In velia, she stuck close to him. Willing to go along with most plans that he had because she trusted him with her life. He protected her, watched out for her and with each day that passed her faith and trust in him grew. Meeting Syphon ( as unconventional as it was) happened to be a blessing. Mandy liked him and her heart went out to him ; she didn’t know exactly what had happened to him but knew that his situation had been the reason they chose him as a mark.

Randy Menifeild

Username: RanD4U

Class: Archer

Level: 65

Randy is what you might call a bad influence. their relationship developing after a night of drunken revelry . Syphon wouldn’t go so far as to call the other a friend. But if you are looking to have a little fun then he is your man. Entering the game with his girlfriend Mandy. But don’t let his cavalry and haughty attitude full you. The man is a genius when it comes to electronics and robotics. Before getting trapped in the game. He was top of is class at  Carnegie Mellon University Institute. With a job as cheif engineer and technology line up at Richard Aspens company.

No one thought a kid out of West Philadelphia on the wrong side of the tracks would come so far. Randy learning early on that if he didn’t want to end up in a gang or flipping burgers for the rest of his life. He would have to put in the work to make a better life. Cause no one was going to give you opportunities… you had to take it.

Wolverine fist pounded against the door. It’d been a minute since the blacksmith step foot in the building. Let alone on this floor; the halls still looked the same. Not that they wouldn’t, he just figured after staying away for so long—with the exception of meetings and such. Wolverine thought it should look different to him or feel diffrent. Nope, it was still the same. Just like when he first join three years ago.

The major difference being Trevor was gone and some dipshit had moved into his room. Six months ago he died, and Wolverine had left his nepwhes room untouched in his house as well as headquarters. Now, that he was going to start training for the next battle with David. Wolverine thought it was a good idea to start— leting go— of  his nephews former possessions.

If the shit-head in his room would open the damn door. Pounding again he flinched as he heard something careen into the door and clatter to the floor on the other side. A muffeled voice calling out to him; he turned the nob to find it was indeed still lock. Hoisting his foot up. Wolverine, kicked the door one time, two times as it flew open allowing him to enter into the room.

“Christ, why does it smell like a distillery?” he grumbled

Making his way towards the window pulling back the red curtains and filling the room with the afternoon glow of the sun and clean air. Before turning his head back towards Syphon.

“Look, you want to drink yourself into a drunken stooper fine. But not in here.” he huffed kicking the end of the bed with a heavy boot. A teasing grin on his face.

“Up an at ‘em, sunshine.” 

Syphon let out a low groan as he felt the sun against his eyelids. Only facilitating in making his headache worse. “ I’m not drunk,” he growled glaring towards the other man as he felt the bed jostle beneithe him. “I’m hung-over, there is a diffrence.”

Sitting up, Syphon squinted trying to block the sun from his eyes as the light came pouring in. What was Wolverine even doing here? The other player had taken to  showing up for guild meetings and or events. He couldn’t even remember the last time he saw him. After Tervor’s death, Wolverine pulled away from everyone. In fact, this was the most words the warrior had spoken to him in months.

He might have been happy to participate in some witty banter with the other. But as it was, his life was a shit storm. Banter wasn’t really on his list of things to do. “And why the hell can’t I drink in here?” he huffed throwing the covers back as he stood, catching himself in the process. Damn, Kali was going to have a feild day if she found out he got trashed last night. Reaching for his discarded shirt on the floor near the foot of the bed. “ It’s my room...”

Had he been paying attention; he would have noticed that his ‘room’ (the one he rarely used before but now lived in) had been  two doors down the hall. But he had been so distracted and a little tipsey he hadn’t realized. Now in the light of day, he noticed that his things weren’t in here. Pictures and posters covered the walls; a lance leaned against the far wall near the door. On the nightstand, a picture of Wolverine and a young man smiled back at him.

Lifting the photo, azure eyes widen in understanding.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath looking over at Wolverine now. Rubbing the back of his neck, as his facial features turned from sour to apologetic. “ Wolf, man, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this was Trevor’s old room.”

players: @iamwolv3rin3​ and Syphon

The pounding on his door, amplified the pounding of his head. Syphon wouldn’t say that he was hung over. At least, he didn’t think he was. Okay so he had gone a little bit over board on the five drinks in a day rule that he established by... a lot. At least a bottle and a half had been consumed by himself. The upside, he wasn’t out in some feild half or completly naked. Hadn’t hung out with Randy or Mandy since the last boss fight. In fact he had been doing pretty well.

Until, he learned that Kitty found out about his one nighter with Hela.

And that she had gone and beat the woman up and killed someone?

Syphon didn’t know how true that part of the story was. But it was enough to worry him; which had led to and extra shot. As he stewed and tried to think of the best course of action. Before to long, he had passed out against his bed on the floor bottle in hand. When had he ended up in his bed, with the bedsheets tossed around him he didn’t know but that was beside the point.

Bang, Bang, Bang.

The pressing matter was the incessant banging at his door. Reaching for the alarm clock on his night stand. Syphon hurled it towards the door, well, more like the general direction. Since his vision was obscured by the pillow planted firmly on his head.

“ SHUT UP,” he croked waving his hand furiously towards a person on the other side. As if to shoo them away. “ COME BACK TOMMORROW! When i’ve firmly attached my head back onto my body.”

Their lips crashed gently against one another’s at first but Hela was unable to stop herself from letting the kiss turn fiery. As soon as she felt his tongue swipe across her bottom lip, she automatically granted him access and allowed their tongues to fight against the other’s for dominance. She was going to put up a fight but ultimately, she knew he was going to take full control. Her brat-like tendencies were too strong for her not to give in. 

His moan against her lips caused vibrations to course through her lips, adrenaline and lust building uncontrollably as the two of them swapped and changed positions at least twice in the space of two minutes. A sharp gasp escaped as he squeezed her rear, upper body pressed against his chest entirely as she drew him closer with her arms now around his neck while leaning against the wall. The pair of them seemed to be getting too excited in the dimly lit alleyway but with how much the two had drank, neither of them seemed overly bothered with their location. Tilting her head back, she let him explore the skin of her neck. Biting her bottom lip hard to prevent any further sounds escaping. Though she failed; another quiet gasp sounding as he ventured further down her neck. 

Heavy breathing filled the alleyway as the two of them pulled apart for a mere few minutes, her grip still tight on the material of his shirt to keep him close. “Lead the way, sir.” She whispered, interrupted by his desire to kiss her again to which she deepened without a second thought. 

Syphon lips lingered a moment or two longer against Hela’s. Before he was pushing himself away from the chilled brick walls and making his way down the alley towards the hotel. “Yes ma’ma.”  Focusing on the buzz that was coursing through him. In part because of the alcohol they consumed, the kisses they shared. The sound of her whimper in the back of his mind. It was all these reasons and more, pushing him forward.

It didn’t take long, before they  rammed through the front lobby entrance. Laughing and giggling, tipping an imaginary hat towards the npcs behind the front desk.  Syphon hands now on either side of Hela’s waist as he shakily led the way towards the elevator. Placing like kisses along her shoulder, ushering them in to the compartment quickly.

Once the door was closed behind them, his lips crashed into hers once more. His hands exploring the length of her leg, pressing her against the far wall of the elevator. He could hear the ‘dings’ as they passed each floor, though he was more focused on Hela touching him and how the muscles in his abdomen tighten with each caress from her. Syphon was so lost, in the little bubble the pair had made for themselves. He hadn’t heard the loudering ding signaling that they arrived to his floor.

When he pulled her into his chest, full sobs racked her body. That moment was all she wanted for months. To feel like he was fully there, not heavy with alcohol, hands holding her the way they had before. She listened to his words, head dipped into his chest. Despite him reassuring her that he was fine, she had a hard time believing it. Even sitting there with him, she felt like he was being torn from her hands and she was rendered helpless.

Words to counter his sprung to the back of her throat, getting stuck in her mouth. She had people she could count on. To her, he was priceless, she didn’t see how she could be better off without him. She’s lived through it, Cat knows what it’s like to be without him and she can survive, but she doesn’t want to have to.

As he pushed her away, she felt her crying slowed to tears rolling down her cheeks, eyes focused on him and what he said. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts all at once, but the overwhelming theme was that he was leaving her, that he was giving up on her, on them. Everything she had done, every ounce of love she had poured into him had just been thrown back in her face. Cat tried to straighten up, hating the feeling of being small, still trying to think of the next thing to say.

It was hard to meet Garrison’s eyes, the way she sat on the side of the bed feeling all too familiar to when her husband told her things weren’t working. A small scoff left her mouth as she wiped her cheeks with her hands. “I don’t think..” Words breaking off as her voice cracked, Cat gave in. She could sit here and argue and cry all she wanted, but she knew from experience that if someone said they were done with you, they meant it. “If that’s what you want.”

No. Every part of him wanted to scream out the words.

To pull her back into his arms and tell Cat he was sorry; sorry for hurting her. Sorry, for making her take care of him for so long, for making her worry about him. Garrison wanted to tell her how much he loved her. Her strength and her tenacity, her loyalty to people she cared about. How good and strong and beautiful she was.

But what good was that?

She was someone that deserved more then just his words. Cat deserved to be shown all those things through action. Something he hadn’t been doing as of late, somthing he couldn’t do... not yet. There was so much guilt in his heart and fear. Fear was the biggest thing, because he still saw Charlotte. In his dreams, in his waking moments. He still saw her, still heard her voice. As much as he loved Cat, and wanted to be with her. Garrison couldn’t because he hadn’t let go of Char, at least, not yet.

Complicating matters was his drinking problem and it was a melting pot of disaster. And that was the last thing he wanted to leave at her door step; a pile of shit that he made for himself. Expecting Cat to clean it up and make it better.

He had to do that on his own. Before he could even think about a future with Cat.

Was there a better way? Maybe, but not one that wouldn’t leave Cat thinking she could help some how. She would stick with him, and as much as he wanted her help, and wanted her by his side. Garrison didn’t want her to stop living because she was taking care of him. He wanted them to take care of each other, as partners together. He just prayed that it wouldn’t be to late.

It was a bad idea, but even that thought didn’t stop him. Gently brushing her hair back away from her cheek. tucking it behind her ear, fingers linger along her jawline as he tilted her head to look at him. “ For now, I think it’s for the best, love.”

location: open training area

Syphon let out a long yawn, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he tried to focus on the target a few feet ahead of him. Why had he agreed to waking up at the butt-crack of daw for training? He had no earthly clue but Syphon wasn’t happy about it. Still, he found that refuseing Apocalypse would do him much good. The man would only dog him into training at some other point and time. If this was going to be a thing they did, Syphon was going to have to renegotiate the time in which they did it.

“Look mate, I know I’ve been shit with my shots lately but seriously can’t i just use my regular bow and arrow and not this.” he huffed.

Holding out the toy bow and arrow that had a round head that would stick to a target rather then pierce it. Syphon wasn’t even drinking any more... well, not as much as he was before. Just a shot to get him through the morning and another to get him throught the afternoon and one more at night with dinner and one before bed. Hey progress, was progress.

“ This is insulting, not to mention unnecessary.”