SAD SOULMATE AU

[crimeson]

[So hey, Kaine is being released from prison! But first he's gotta meet his parole officer. Of course, Kaine is in a pretty high security class, so they probably assigned him some hardass who'd shove him back in prison at the drop of a hat...

But when he's brought to the meeting room, the door opens on a handsome redhead balancing his chair on two legs, hands folded behind his head. He's in uniform for now, looks pretty nice all buttoned up, but his vibes are still so casual when he brings the chair back down on all four legs and raises a hand in a wave.]

Heya!

Comments

[crimeson]

[swallows his mouthful]

I'm not comfortable just ditching you and coming knocking to spook the shit out of you if you aren't coping perfectly.

[markofkaine]

Mmngh.

[He's still chewing, but he's staring at Randy suspiciously.]

[crimeson]

Seriously. Not my bag. I got assigned to you because I'm inconvenient, too, so I'm not interested in playing along like that. Think of it as spite if you gotta.

[markofkaine]

[Chewing slows... he mulls it over. Then swallows.]

You want to be roommates.

Out of spite.

[crimeson]

I mean, no, but some of it is spite so I'll emphasize that bit to keep you from spooking.

I can't afford to get you a place of your own, so this is kind of the option that isn't screwing you over.

[markofkaine]

I'm a terrible roommate.

[Shoves fries in his mouth]

I break things in fits of rage and I don't know how to clean.

[crimeson]

You know you can like, work on that, right?

[markofkaine]

You adding therapy to my parole conditions?

[crimeson]

Not a condition. Might be somethin' to think about, but I'm not letting your well-being ride on it.

[markofkaine]

Well I don't think there's a therapist that exists who can deal with my shit.

[crimeson]

Sometimes there just ain't someone with experience...

Maybe someone who works with Vets. Who knows.

[markofkaine]

[...]

I'm not a soldier. Just a murderer.

[crimeson]

[that's a finer line than anyone would like to admit, thinks randy, who grew up straddling that line.]

Mm, there are definitely therapists that work with murderers, though?

[markofkaine]

[Mutters,]

Not the kind with my family...

[crimeson]

Sounds like you need help with a helluva combo. We'll see what we can find, if you're interested.

[markofkaine]

Pass.

[slorp milkshake]

My brother's life is complicated enough as it is without me dishing details to some random stranger.

[crimeson]

Mm. Family is complicated.

[he says with the gravity of someone who is definitely also going through some shit there.]

And privacy laws only go so far, so fair enough.

[markofkaine]

[Maybe it's the chocolate talking, but Kaine physically sags in a moment of quiet honesty.]

The last thing I ever wanted was to make life harder for my brother. He deserved better... and I made everything worse.

[crimeson]

I'm sorry. That sounds hard.

[voice soft and a little rough, a lower pitch than usual and much more muted.]

[markofkaine]

It made sense at the time.

But I might have been out of my mind. It's hard to tell.

[crimeson]

There's time to examine that kind of thing. At your own pace, in safety.

[polishing off the last of the food he can personally eat, and leans back in the booth with a sigh]

[markofkaine]

"Safety."

[never met her. the idea is actually kinda laughable.

Kaine's still eating. Maybe he CAN eat enough for a body builder?]

[crimeson]

Well, y'know. As much as can be found.

[markofkaine]

...So what, I just find a job now? What do normal people even do?

[crimeson]

All sortsa boring things. Apply to whatever sounds like you won't hate it the absolute most, see what sticks?