08-27-2016, 03:24 PM
Cain had to take a deep breath at Nox's smug words and expression. It was like the guy hadn't learned anything from the last ten minutes. The redhead felt the urge to punch that self-satisfied look off his face, but it was just an urge. The brunt of his anger had faded and instead was replaced with shame. He absolutely still thought that Nox deserved a good kick to the ribs, but now that he wasn't blinded by emotions, he could remember why he'd stopped getting into fights. They never proved anything, and they never really made him feel better.
The magician remembered what his grandmother had told him growing up, even if it had taken years for the meaning of the words to sink in: "Cain, only children use their fists to talk. Part of being an adult is learning how to deal with your own pain without pushing it on others. You're never going to be able to control what other people do to you, only what you do in response."
Nox had made him angry and scared, and Cain hurt him to make himself feel better. There were all sorts of excuses: Nox was an asshole, he'd been triggered, the man needed to learn he couldn't mess with other people... et cetera ad infinitum. What it boiled down to in the end was that Cain was hurt, so like a child he'd wanted to make someone else hurt too. But it was stupid and pointless. Fighting fire with fire only got everyone burned. He'd learned that lesson the hard way, and his grandmother had never been as proud of him as she had when he'd first walked away from a fight. She would be so disappointed to see him now.
Cain closed his eyes and breathed deeply again. He couldn't afford to think of her right now. He saved thoughts of her for when he was alone and felt like he deserved to torture himself. Just as he was drawing his attention back to the matter at hand, another woman entered the room. When she introduced herself to him, he shook her hand. "Hey, I'm Cain. Nice to meet you."
It didn't take a genius to see that Emily was Rachel's sister, and he found himself feeling resigned. Great, something was probably going to go down between her and Nox.
He found himself feeling pitying and annoyed towards his friend at the same time. The guy was so clearly in over his head that it made Cain want to help him out. Still, Nox could probably make things easier for himself by not inviting so much trouble. Cain sighed. He'd just have to stick around and try to mitigate Nox's more self-destructive tendencies. Underneath all the shite, Nox was a good man, and he deserved better than the hand he'd been dealt.
Edited by Cain Belasis, Aug 27 2016, 03:26 PM.
The magician remembered what his grandmother had told him growing up, even if it had taken years for the meaning of the words to sink in: "Cain, only children use their fists to talk. Part of being an adult is learning how to deal with your own pain without pushing it on others. You're never going to be able to control what other people do to you, only what you do in response."
Nox had made him angry and scared, and Cain hurt him to make himself feel better. There were all sorts of excuses: Nox was an asshole, he'd been triggered, the man needed to learn he couldn't mess with other people... et cetera ad infinitum. What it boiled down to in the end was that Cain was hurt, so like a child he'd wanted to make someone else hurt too. But it was stupid and pointless. Fighting fire with fire only got everyone burned. He'd learned that lesson the hard way, and his grandmother had never been as proud of him as she had when he'd first walked away from a fight. She would be so disappointed to see him now.
Cain closed his eyes and breathed deeply again. He couldn't afford to think of her right now. He saved thoughts of her for when he was alone and felt like he deserved to torture himself. Just as he was drawing his attention back to the matter at hand, another woman entered the room. When she introduced herself to him, he shook her hand. "Hey, I'm Cain. Nice to meet you."
It didn't take a genius to see that Emily was Rachel's sister, and he found himself feeling resigned. Great, something was probably going to go down between her and Nox.
He found himself feeling pitying and annoyed towards his friend at the same time. The guy was so clearly in over his head that it made Cain want to help him out. Still, Nox could probably make things easier for himself by not inviting so much trouble. Cain sighed. He'd just have to stick around and try to mitigate Nox's more self-destructive tendencies. Underneath all the shite, Nox was a good man, and he deserved better than the hand he'd been dealt.
Edited by Cain Belasis, Aug 27 2016, 03:26 PM.