*// NIGHTMARE.

he blinks once then twice before letting out a laugh, it’s quiet but it’s full of amusement, a certain mirth spells in his gaze as he gives a look to the other. “shit, jace, it’s like you don’t know me at all.” a perhaps the other really doesn’t know him; good, that’s always his intention. “that’s me, park greyson, the asshole.” he proudly states before snorting and shrugs his shoulders, rolling his neck and feels the crack that is both a little painful, but at the same time relaxing. he sighs and lets his breath become visible in a puff of smoke in the cold air. “dude, it’s nothin’ to do with your looks, but to answer that, no because i’m obviously the one that looks better, but hey—maybe one of these days i’ll indulge you on that.” his gaze turns hard, like soft hues of blue in his irises turning an dark, ice blue. the transitions of eye colour due to his temperament, except…he doesn’t have a temper right now. even he doesn’t know when his hues are transitioning. “it’s just how i am, man. what do you expect? worry about when i’m not bein’ an asshole to you.” ‘cause that’s probably the only way to realise that something’s wrong with me. he snorts and shakes his head (mostly to himself). “try me.” is the immediate response as he even tilts his head to expose his sharp jaw, bruised knuckles in sight as his slender forefinger taps against his jawline. “just don’t expect me not to punch back, y'know. out of habit.”

❝ know— ❞ that— alright, that got him to look for more than a couple of seconds, which was probably a feat in itself when he had some enthralling coding on screen that he could be tending to. gaping, he lowered his gaze to the shirt he had stolen, then lifted it again, and there was a grin twitching at the corners of his lips. he actually took the opportunity to slide the laptop off of his lap. ❝ maybe i know what to do. doesn’t mean i’ll do it, ❞ he pointed out. suddenly, the shirt was as inconvenient as it was incredibly comfortable. the latter won over; he didn’t seem to be intent on removing it. ❝ maybe i don’t follow orders. ❞

❝ what are you saying ? i am not pretending at all – why even would i ? ❞ confusion written across youthful features while disbelief danced behind DARK eyes. noel always BELIEVED himself to be earnest , to exude a certain PROTECTIVE charm over those he cared about but perhaps that wasn’t the case ? had he FAILED the other ? ❝ –i am not everyone … don’t group me with people who have DISAPPOINTED you – i care FOR you and i would NEVER lie about such a thing. you’re NOT useless … – if you could only see what i see … ❞

teeth SINK into tender bottom lip , nibbling it softly before tongue replaces whitey pearls ( swiping across the surface ). a nervous habit of his that NEVER seemed to go away no matter how hard he tried. ❝ i know i am …. i mean i think i know —– i don’t know …❞ save for eli , the one person he LOOKED up to && had HELPED him when he was in trouble – there weren’t many that would bother to spend TIME with a boy who could DITCH you in an instance ( who would loose interest && move on to the next ).  ❝  but  okay , if you’re sure. we can go out for food ?  ❞

❝ yeah. why? ❞ not even a breath of hesitation. he has no excuse, anyway, but he doesn’t exactly care to offer one on most occasions that he’s guilty. he’s looking pretty comfortable, feet propped up, laptop over his thighs. he deserves a day like this. ( as if this isn’t every other day. ) frankie still isn’t looking up from the screen, scrolling idly, until he gathers that maybe ryan is looking for a reason as to why he’s had his shirt stolen. so he just shrugs, spares him a quick glance. ❝ i wanted it. want it back? ❞

❝ we can ALWAYS reschedule you know ? you have a busy life … which is understandable.  ❞ not everyone was LIKE him after all ( wandering from one place to another without much direction ).

❝  is everything okay ? you seem a bit … down ? ❞ voice was GENTLE – empathy strong within the male. brows furrowed as he awaiting for ANY sort of response ( hands wringing together – itching to comfort but were held back by him ).

❝ what are YOU doing here ? didn’t i say not to come over again ? ❞ tired look evident within eyes && with the way body slumped against the door post. not quite UNDERSTANDING why the other showed up at his door (and truthfully in the state of mind he was in right now – it was better they just leave ). he was beat , previous high coming down , leaving only a HOLLOW feeling behind. and in these moments , aiden wasn’t ever quite KEEN on having company.

[ ... ]

but that’s the fun of it all, gambling with life and death and even fate. he’s never really thought it through. the possibility for a sabbat to discover him or what would immediately happen if a camarilla was around, but the sabbat would see potential or not, the camrailla would exterminate at the spot; unless deemed fit and this is part of the society that confuses him the most. he remembers what his godfather said to him, the reasons why he became an antitribu. he shakes his head, feeling like he’s slipping from reality again and ghosting into the past, overthinking of this and that for no apparent reason, but at least it’s not setting off his mood. he hops onto a ladder of a train before his head turns to peer to where jaehyuk may be. he laughs then and grins knowingly as he climbs onto the top and settles there, waiting for the latter to join him. as he waits, he leans back with palms pressed against the cold surface of the rusty train. he closes his eyes, letting the breeze of the night brush through his light brown locks and tickle against his skin before blue hues flickering open and settle on the nightsky. “tellin’ me to stop bein’ an asshole is like tellin’ me to stop livin’. what, jace, you can’t handle me bein’ an asshole anymore?”

‘    i’ve  tried  it.  the whole  generosity  shit.  all i can say about that is  NEVER AGAIN.  you shouldn’t let people walk all over you   …   if i were you i’d tell ‘em all to  fuck off.    ’

‘    you act like i do this for shits and giggles,    ’     ink murmurs as he pats down the bandages,  watching as the colour turns a  deeper  red and it almost amuses him,  distracts  him from speaking further before he’s returning to reality in a split second,  eyes finding her  judgmental  gaze.    ‘    i fought.  ‘cause we needed extra money.    ’     he explains,  short and simple.    ‘    i won.   ’    he has to include that,  for the sake of his pride.    ‘  of course i’m going to change   —-   but not because you  said  i should.  i’ve had to sleep in bloody shirts  plenty  of times in my life.  can’t complain.    ’