Jim: The last six months had been nothing short of hell. Though his life as an underground fighter was over- as far as he knew- the grudges he harbored with the street gangs and alleyway gamblers remained. What money he had kept from his life with Tayn and Kama had gone to feeding him for the first few months. Once funds grew short he began gambling once more in hopes of stretching his rapidly vanishing funds.

Eventually, however his lifestyle cost him even his termite-hole of a home, all the decent clothing he had come to own, and a collection of bruises and cuts. Many of which were fresh, still red or seeping blood through his filthy skin as he trudged himself to a nearby cafe. Water was always free, as were napins and sugar packets.

Tayn: (7:58:53 PM): Said cafe, whether Jim had entered knowingly or not, just happened to be where Tayn had held a part-time job for the past several months. He also happened to be assigned the area of the floor where Jim's chosen booth was situated, and thus was the first to find the bloodied and brusied Jivvin, sweeping up with a warm greeting before noticing his state. "Hi! Welcome ********, Jim, is that you?"

Jim: (8:01:20 PM): "Clean up your language kid." he replied even before lifting his head up from the table, "You might offend someone."

He slowly looked up through his shaggy, unkept hair. One eye had begun to swell shut, his nose and mouth had a steady stream of blood dripping from them. Aside from his fresh bruises, his already cropped ears were cut up here and there, his fingers and hands bore scars, rubbed and bruised skin from fist fights, and a good layer of grime covering them.

Tayn: (8:03:56 PM): "-I- might offend someone," he drawled, raising a brow at the Olplyn's appearance and shaking his head. "Hold on, I'll be right back." With that, he disappeared back into the kitchen, but returned only a minute or two later with a tray carrying a damp towel, a glass of water, and a plate of french fries. He set the lot on the table and slid into the chair across from Jim. "I put in an order for a hamburger too, but you can't have that until you get cleaned up a bit. Here," he added, holding out the towel.

Jim: (8:07:05 PM): Jim slowly took the towel and started dabbing at his face. "I'm not workin' here kid, I can offend anyone I damn well feel like."

He worked the towel around his face and then to his hands, sighing a bit as the natural tone of his flesh showed itself for the first time in perhaps a week. "I don't got any money to pay for it, kid. Didn't even know you worked here." He glanced shortly to either side, half expecting Kama's scrawney form to appear looming over them somehow.

Tayn: (8:10:43 PM): "It's on me," Tayn assured him, shaking his head, but stealing a fry. "I've been working here for a while. One meal isn't going to hurt. And water's free anyway." He paused for a moment, and stole another fry. "You look awful. What happened?"

Jim: (8:12:35 PM): Jim winced a bit and started into the fries as soon as his hands were clean enough to do so. He didn't answer until half the basket was gone, it would be safe to assume he'd not eaten a full meal in a while. "Life." He sat back and sighed, flipping a fry around between his fingers, "I started running short on funds... so I got wrapped up in my old life again."

Tayn: (8:15:50 PM): Tayn grimaced. "That quickly? Couldn't you find a job somewhere or something? I mean... Look at me. Cafe's not ideal, but it pays the bills." He eyed the half-empty basket of fries, but opted to let Jim finish them off. "You're a smart guy, you could find something."

Jim: (8:17:41 PM): He shook his head a bit, "I kept messin ' up. I'd get a job then loose it. I gave up after a while, lived off what I had. I'm not a polite sort- I let my tongue slip one too many times." He looked up to Tayn, leaning on his hand a bit. "So where's Kama?"

Tayn: (8:22:56 PM): Tayn tensed slightly at the all-too-familiar name, ears falling back briefly, but he quickly regained composure. "Back at the House, I guess. I haven't seen him for a while. Don't work for him anymore," he replied with a faint grin. "Have my own place. Have for a while now."

Jim: (8:31:06 PM): He smiled a bit then reached up to pat Tayn on the shoulder, "Good job, kid... I'm proud of you. Only wish I coulda gotten you outta there."

Tayn: (8:32:22 PM): "Can't take care of anyone else until you can take care of yourself," he quipped in reply, raising a brow. "But thanks for trying. Kama actually let me off pretty easy. I didn't have to raise as much as I thought I would...But he's dealing more with other stuff now."

Jim: (8:34:03 PM): "b*****d." He grunted in reply, finishing off the last fry. The salt bit at the cut to his lip every time, but his growling stomach was enough to convince him it was completely worth it. "Hoped you wouldn't have to see me like this either. I kinda left hopin' I'd show Kama up."

Tayn: (8:35:28 PM): "Looking at you now, I'd almost say you were better off with him," Tayn admitted reluctantly. "At least then you'd get treatment." He paused briefly, then stood, nodding towards the kitchen. "I'm gonna check on the burger. Stay here." And off he went.

Jim: (8:41:23 PM): "....thanks kid." He nodded a bit then slowly lowered his head to the table, careful of his horn. By the time Tayn returned, Jim had fallen asleep- it had taken only a few minutes really, but he'd been exhausted. With food in his belly, he was comfortable enough for a nap at least.

Tayn: (8:45:55 PM): Tayn returned a moment later with the burger, but only set it on the table when he noticed Jim had dozed off. He dipped into the kitchen again, returning with a jacket, which he draped around Jim's shoulders before returning to work until the Jivvin woke up. He would see to it that no one bothered him.