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Kurt drank deeply of the rum and Michelet was not inclined to stop him. The man needed a balm for his frayed and raw emotions, even if it was only a temporary one. Rowan looked to him with worry when the duke began to laugh, the plant witch’s eyes asking questions that were difficult to answer. Still, Michelet lifted a hand, palm down, in a calming gesture. There was no need for Rowan to get upset. The duke was hurting, worse than he had been before, but so far at least Michelet did not think he was a danger to himself or anyone else. The rest they could play by ear.

Michelet mulled over the situation as he tucked away his much emptier flask. Kurt thought he saw more clearly now, did he? If nothing else, Michelet had to say that Trinity was very effective with her cutting words. Too effective. He might have to reconsider whether Kurt was a danger to himself after all. Kurt had leveled an icy gaze at him, but when no vitriol was forthcoming, Michelet had thoughts of his own to share.

”You see what she want you to. She lash out now; you hurt her so she wan’ hurt you jes as bad. Easier bein’ angry den hurt; Ah would know. Easier lie about what she feel den admit you de only one can reach her like dat.” It had been easier for him to be angry with Kurt as well and he didn’t even like the man at the time, let alone love him. He didn’t want the snide blond to see that his comments even had the power to cut. He was much too proud for that, and that was a trait he seemed to share with Trinity and the duke both. He couldn’t even imagine how much more painful a careless word could be from the love of his life. ”But you don’ wan’ hear dat right now. Iz fine. We gon’ tawk about dis, but it don’ gotta be now. Right now… you wan’ get outta here or what?”

Michelet paid little mind to the looks they received, he was used to being stared at anyway. But he was worried about the duke. That was still a damned strange feeling to have, but he had it. He was worried about Trinity too, but that was out of his hands for now. Getting Kurt away from the public eye and somewhere he could metaphorically let his hair down seemed like a good idea. As far as his abandoned breakfast, well… he could always wrap his bacon in a slice of eggy bread to munch on while they walked. He didn’t care all that much about table manners. He didn’t even have to ask to know that Rowan wouldn’t hesitate to follow them out for Kurt’s sake. But where on this damned campus could the man even go to hide from his own head where Trinity’s words were sure to still be lingering?

Michelet shook his head and bit back a sigh. He was definitely right about one thing, it was no time to talk to Kurt about what had just happened. He wasn’t ready to heal a hurt this fresh yet. Instead, he would just rip the wound open wider himself, hurting himself more deeply. Kurt was punishing himself just as much as Trinity wanted to punish him. And maybe he did deserve it a little, but this was too much. This was dangerous. Michelet wanted to shake the man, but he had a feeling that would only make things worse. Still, he couldn’t just leave things as they were, could he?

There was no way he could just stick around in the cafeteria eating his meal while the duke wandered off. Michelet may not have been the warmest person in the world, but he couldn’t just let this man be alone when he felt he had nothing to live for. Kurtis’ farewell sounded entirely too final for his liking and a frown tugged at Michelet’s lips as he listened. ”Ain’t it up to us we wan’ be kind t’you? You no burden on us.” Words didn’t feel like enough. Strange how words could cut so easily, but could not mend what was broken. But what did he have to offer besides his words?

How could he apologize to Miss Penny for a thing like that? There was no way that sweet girl was even angry about it. If anything, she would be just as worried about Kurtis as he was and probably a lot better at expressing it. What would she say, if she was here right in the moment? What would she do? What would his maman have done? She was always so warm and open and others opened up to her so easily but Michelet had never been able to elicit the same response. In part because he was bokor, of course, but he doubted his demeanor was any help.

Rowan found his voice once Kurt had walked away, but Michelet already knew what he would say. He was worried, and he should be. Michelet lifted a hand to give Rowan an encouraging pat on the back. ”We go get ‘im.” That much it felt obvious they agreed on; they both wanted to help Kurtis and now he needed it more than ever. There was no way he got to just walk off alone after all but speaking his suicide letter aloud. Rowan was already on his way out of the door and Michelet was hot on his heels. But what could they say that they hadn’t already?

Thank the loa for Rowan, who had plenty to say this time around. Under other circumstances Michelet may have smiled to see him actually scolding the duke, his sweet face looking serious and stern for once. It was an expression Michelet was pretty certain he had only ever seen Rowan use once before on Blaise. Michelet let Rowan speak, thinking perhaps he was better suited to it. He was kinder than Michelet; maybe the words would mean more coming from him.

Somehow he honestly didn’t expect the hug, but it was so fitting from Rowan. It was so easy for him to express his care for other people. Michelet couldn’t have even imagined just hugging the duke and wasn’t sure the man would even accept it. But maybe it was more important to show Kurt that someone cared than it was to stay in the lane of what had already been deemed acceptable between the two of them. Maybe this was what Miss Penny would do, if she could. Michelet stepped up behind Kurtis and wrapped arms around him and Rowan both.

”Lissen. Iz hard, knowin’ you let down de pipple dat matter. I know how it feel, too. You see Rowan arm; das on me. Ah no leave well ‘nough alone when I should. But look at him; he no mad. Jes’ happy we bot’ okay. You really tink Mizz Penny be mad at you for sumtin’ like dat? Cause I tink she be way more upset anyting bad happen to her fren. You tink about dat, fore you do anyting she goan cry ovah. Ah’m no gon’ ‘pologize; you kin tell her youself ovah tea t’morrow and de day aftah dat and de day aftah dat, too. You don’ get it yet, mebbe you kin no understand ‘cause you wan’ so much more from youself, but Ah’m jes’ glad you was dere. Mizz Penny was no alone. She had a fren at her side. Tek it from sumbuddy can still count his fren on one hand, dat kin mean evertin’. So don’ tek for granted what you mean to you frens. You got more kindness t’claim den you know. I know iz no de same as havin’ Trindy, but… you got us. An’ we no lettin’ you go.”

Izzy laughed openly at the meek girl's comment on learning some of her 'jackassery'. It was hilarious to hear her own crass words from someone appearing so mild mannered. “Well if you ever want a lesson in Jackassery 101 you know who to call.” She thumbed her chest with one hand while strumming the open strings with the other to punctuate before continuing to plink a few melodic notes.

“Pfft, you're never too young to sleep for an eternity. I swear if I didn't have such an obnoxious room mate I probably would have slept through my entire freshman year, maybe even through to graduation. Heheh” This wasn't much of an exaggeration, Izzy liked to sleep a lot more than many other vampires she knew. It felt as though if she didn't get at least 18 hours sleep a day she was always hungry instead. She wondered if Luna had a similar relationship between rest and feeding.

Luna's bright laugh and sudden fumble brought a coy smirk to Izzy's face, “Heh, alright. I'll agree to keep swearing up a ******** storm if you agree to stop second guessing yourself. I'd rather get to know you than the you that's weary of how I would react.” Raising a cheeky brow and mischievous grin, she turned the phrase back on her companion. Hoping that it would allow the pair of them to relax a little, “Deal?”

What Luna said next surprised her though, enough that her finger slipped and plucked an off key note that cut off the previously relaxed melody. Care about her? She met the deep red gaze with her own worn eyes like a deer in headlights, staring through the curtain of white silk wisps of hair. She couldn't say no, she didn't want to say no, the poor girl clearly needed a friend, a connection, something... But that was harder to accept for Izzy than she realised.

Thankfully she had a moment to breathe when Luna broke away from a grumbling hunger. Snapping out of it, Izzy blinked and steadied herself before slipping the guitar from her knee. Leaning it onto the sofa next to her, she stuck her hand into her inner jacket pocket. “Here.” Pulling out the blood pack she stashed from Lexi's she half tossed it into the girls lap. There was a bit of a hunger in Izzy but if Luna hadn't fed all weekend she definitely needed it more. Besides Izzy was sure she still had a couple back in her room she could grab later on.

After taking the moment to calm she leaned back in the couch and threw both her arms over the back. “I won't stop you caring about me though...” She tilted her head back to look up at the ceiling. Izzy usually avoided the fuzzy feelings talk, it was too easy for people to take advantage of, something she knew from experience. Luna though was so docile it felt somewhat easier. “And I guess that means I care about you too then.” With a half smile she shrugged, “If that's not too weird to say.” Again she turned Luna's words back and glanced over to her with a cheeky smirk and wink. “Cause I think you're okay too, Lu.”

Silias glanced over to Sophie a little flustered. “Honestly I kind of figured there was someone behind it, it's not everyday that a random portal and demo-dogs decide to wreak havoc on a random university. I just needed something to back it up.reasonable doubt and all.” Silias leaned back, crossed his arms, and stared up and out. He racked his brain for anyone who possibly looked suspicious during the night or someone with the right motivation and capabilities to think of and execute an indirect mass murder. Though Silias didn’t know many people on campus, he wasn’t exactly a shy critter. Over his time here he had struck up enough conversations with random people to get a good sense of them. But he was human and fallible. Finding the culprit wouldn’t be easy, nothing in life was easy.

But it was at what Sophie said that forced a deep sign from him. “I know… I know that I’m probably not the best person to be investigating this.” He said uncharacteristically serious. “But that doesn’t mean I wont try. People I care about were affected by this, so many people I don’t even know are injured, dead, traumatised…” He let the words trail away, losing the energy to defend his actions. He was human, weak and brittle… a liability. He just wanted to be useful in the only way he knew.

Silias shifted resting his elbow on the the table, head in hand. He wrote down what he knew in swirling scripts. “Like a back door? That certainly is a possibility. We would need to figure out what these defences are in order to work backwards from there. There might also be some weaknesses that could have been exploited,” he replied to Anya’s mumbling.


Silias’s head snapped up. His pencil hovered over the forgotten words. He nodded slowly, feeling uneasy about Sophie's tone. This had no chance of ending well. “Ok,” He replied steadily, knowing that at the end of the day, even with his unease, he would rather have a testy vampire at his back than the empty rush of air.

Anya looked at Sophie with a hurt and confused look. Are they together? he wondered, but quickly shook off the thought. That wasn’t his business. Silias twirled the pencil in dizzying loops. Did he know the ‘Saint-Germain girl’? The name sounded familiar but he couldn’t quite put a face to the name.

Kurt barely got to the end of the hallway when his name was practically bellowed by the meek Rowan. He looked back for a moment with a tired expression, before continuing on a few more steps. Why were they following him? Didn't he release them of their moral responsibility to him? Burdening them further was what he was trying to avoid, so he kept walking in hopes they would give up.

This didn't happen though as a hand suddenly grabbed onto his arm. He turned to respond with a dull half-hearted apology, but on seeing the usually sweet Rowan looking so stern and disappointed in him, the words caught in his throat. All he could do was look away to hang his head in shame and listen to the lecture. It all gave him a twisted feeling of guilt as none of it sunk in. He wanted to talk back to Rowan, tell him that he didn't understand, but even he could see how wrong and selfish that was. So he left his distant gaze on the floor ahead and kept solemnly quiet. It wasn't until he was suddenly pulled down into a hug he managed to turn back to Rowan with surprise. Even though his voice was softer, Kurt listened more intently. People cared about him? It was hard to believe, but telling this to the man that literally chased him down to say so was difficult.

Kurt's gaze dropped down again in thought, but before he could talk himself out of Rowan's point further another set of arms wrapped around him. Michelet? He hadn't even realised the man had followed till he spoke. The golden hearted plant witch was one thing to fall over himself to help another, but Michelet? The man whom Kurt would have assumed to let him drown than throw a life-line a week prior. Why would he have any reason to go out of his way to help Kurt unless he meant it? The words the man spoke held more weight too, he felt like all he did was hurt and hinder the people he care for, Michelet seemed to at least genuinely empathise with this.

What was said next though practically stabbed Kurt in the gut, he would make Penny cry if something happened to him? He wasn't even sure how much his parents would morn him past using it as a publicity stunt. Even his fiancé told him how better off she was with him gone. To hear that there were people who really cared... Tears streamed silently from his cheeks. Rowan, Penny, Fish, even Michelet. He hadn't known them for very long, but he already owed them so much, and even now he was being selfish, about to hurt them in a way he could never take back.

After a pause of silence, Kurt sniffled and wiped his face upon his sleeve. He had to stop running away, it wasn't going to solve anything, and clearly it was only burdening the people who truly did care about him. Making them chase him and worry. He owed a debt to those that called him friend and he should fulfil that promise where he could. With his mind having stepped off the proverbial ledge, the outburst of emotion he had held subsided. Turning himself between them he wrapped an arm around each of the men. “Thank you, and I'm sorry, friends.” He spoke in almost a whisper. At a previous time it would have been outrageous to call the Michelet a friend, but if they weren't going to leave Kurt as he said, then Kurt was going to embrace them in turn.

Finally releasing them he straightened up and cleared his throat. “Well, I'm afraid I dragged you both from your breakfast, we could return?” This wasn't a particularly favourable idea for Kurt, especially after the brief cry and rum binge leaving his face flush and his head spinning. Still this wasn't about him, so if they wished he would go. Just after his momentary breakdown he wanted to swiftly pull himself out of it. They could always talk on deeper terms later when they weren't stood bro-hugging in the middle of a increasingly crowded hallway. “There is also Rowan's arm to see to.” He had hoped to see Rowan safely free of this supposed curse for his own peace of mind. Especially now that he had definitively set himself to serving and aiding the men who literally saved his life twice.

︵‿︵‿୨°l||l°୧‿︵‿︵

Location: Hallway outside cafeteria
Company: Rowan & Michelet
Mood/Thoughts: 'I need to be better, for my... friends...'

Good boy, was all she could think when her words were received without a problem. Thank the gods for the cute and slow males in the world like Lucas Levy-Hawke. They made things so much easier for creatures like her. Amused by her own thoughts, she let him lead the way and was happy to lean into his support as they moved. She said nothing about his comment on the sun, having nothing really to say about the shining orb in the sky. Personally, she preferred the moonlight but that wasn’t something he needed to know. His sole purpose for her was to be a distraction, a welcome little snack to appease her never ending hunger.

Reminding herself of that, she settled comfortably back into her seat and strapped herself in. She knew him to be one hell of a crazy driver, and while he might be immortal she most certainly wasn’t. While she waited for him to join her, violet eyes moved over the interior of the truck and took in all the little bits and bobs that were tucked away. It was all so Luke. The thought had her grinning at him when he slipped into the seat beside her. His offer of both his phone and a pair of sunglasses surprised her, dark brows rising as she blinked at the cell for a moment. She opened her mouth to decline, only to have her lips snap shut at the sudden lurch of the truck. Damn male was a lunatic behind the wheel!

”Has anyone ever told you that you drive like a bat out of hell?” Shaking her head at him, she took the phone and began to flip through the choices. She recognized a few and couldn’t help but giggle at others. In the end, Trin chose what appeared to be a playlist he frequented most then set the phone aside. She slipped the shades he’d given onto her face and flipped the vanity mirror down, examining her features behind the glasses as he went off about where they should go to eat. Her preferences were really a moot point, since the only thing on her mind at the moment was sitting beside her in the truck. Of course, she kept that to herself as she looked around them to see what he was referring to.

”I’ve never come into town for food before, to be honest. I don’t drive much, and Kurtis…” The mention of her former fiance stalled out her thoughts, the pain rushing back to steal the air from her lungs. Her hand moved to rest over the ache that had begun to reform in her chest, rubbing at the bruised organ beneath as if it would help still the hurt. In the back of her head she knew it wouldn’t. That nothing she did would fix the agony that she could still feel radiating through her body. But she didn’t want to focus on that. She wanted to enjoy the company of the adorably dumb brunette at her side for as long as she could keep him under her spell.

”Well, let’s just say I don’t get out much. So, if you like the place, then I’m all for it. I’m not too picky when it comes to what I put in my mouth.” She shot him a teasing grin before snapping the vanity back up into place. While she knew her body had to eat actual food, she didn’t want him forgetting the parts of him she wanted to devour. Not when she had him so enamored by her in the moment.


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