โ โ โ โง โ I have seen the city turn to f l a m e , โ
โ โ โ watched it ๐๐๐๐ , and was left to ๐๐๐๐๐โ
โ โ โ through its ( ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฌ ). โ โง
โ โ
thumbing through an old journal , he nearly dropped it upon hearing the familiar voice , clutching it tightly into his hands as he immediately stood.
"N-no. Sorry , am I late for something?"
coming to a halt amidst the doorway
leading into @vicusumbraโs room, a wooden doorframe was soon to be leaned on ; arms folded across his chest.
โ you busy ? โ , a rhetorical question, really ; simper against lips.
He should ask what that meant โ of course he should โ ( before ) taking the hand offered out to him , yet his logical thoughts mattered little , movements founded by his ( heart ) as he took his hand , grip firm , and shook it.
Confusion lingered โ and despite his attempts to keep the uncertainty from showing on his visage , that clearly remained , as well. When the other stood and his smile grew , he pushed the chair back a bit , under the assumption he was meant to stand , โธป
โ then i consider myself a fortunate
soul to have been granted your .ฬฒ.ฬฒ.ฬฒ ๐ympathy. โ , albeit a polite rebuttal in its overall execution, a tinge of challenging intent, deeplyโโโrooted amusement, was not entirely preventable ; โบ
as well , but was hit with the realization of the gloved hand extending out to him to seal the deal. His brows knit at his words , eyes softening at the ( bow ) , the curious nature in his stare and overall demeanor never fading. โธป
โMeager.โ He repeated . the word clearly sounding vile on his tongue , the insult causing fingers to dig into table cloth , which he was nearly promptly distracted by given the fabric of it โ what it might be worth. โธป
shortโโโtempered. james had
already come to witness it firstโโโhand mere days ago. and yet, a question was merely answered with a placid smile ; as if nothing in the world could disrupt the earlโs so poised and tranquil โบ
genuinity behind his words he could not deny even if they were hidden behind a carefully crafted facade that was intended to make him difficult to read. โI say yes . . . and you will help the boys โ ๐๐๐ก the orphanage? Any aid they receive does not go to their charges. โธป
โHmm.โ Was all he could muster for a moment , trying to will himself to not take offense to the subtle denial of his once presence there โ albeit it was not said out loud. โHave you?โ He asked , quietly , though there was somewhat of a clipped edge to his tone. โธป
๐indness. a foolish quality amidst
a life such as the thiefโs, for it was one to easily be exploited or act as finishing force. .ฬฒ.ฬฒ.ฬฒ how many kind souls have found their death to starvation solely to feed anotherโs โบ
question, as it was very clear that his experience โ his (years) being trapped there โ had been far different.
His gaze settled on the plate in front of him as the offer had made itself known , eyes slowly lifting to meet his. โWhat would you ask of me?โ โธป
โYou know as well as I do young men should not have to fight over meals with one another.โ His stomach growled at the visible feast before him โ and yet , all he could think was how it could feed three of them in that cramped , hellish hall.
His statement made him twitch ever so slightly , looking down as he finally reached forward to grab one of the forks , pushing it along the edge of the white of an egg. He didnโt remember him โ and why would he? He shouldnโt take offense to it , โธป
there was something about the
other that elicited ๐amiliarity ; like a fleeting face youโd spot amidst the crowd before it would disappear again. .ฬฒ.ฬฒ.ฬฒ james had met artemis somewhere before, of that he was sure, and yet โบ
His eyes met his , briefly, wondering if there would be any inkling of recognition behind his own โ or if he had simply erased that time from his life ; he wouldnโt blame him , of course , considering where he sat now.
Again โ why would he remember someone like ( him )? โธป
Artemis watched him with great interest , despite (attempting) to be subtle about it , taking in his motions , what cutlery he chose , the manners as to which he simply . . . moved. So different from what he remembered , but not . . . unpleasant โ though on anyone else , โธป
in actuality, james understood.
he could still remember the day heโs found himself in the arms of a new family. and albeit crude in their behaviour, hateful towards their adopted child, he had discovered a world beyond a normal โบ
it would be earning a lip curl in distaste. Envy , perhaps. Words spoken brought a smirk to form on his mouth , a brow arching for a moment , head tilting. โ Clearly. โ Quipping in response , he shrugged , โItโs not as though Iโd be unsuccessful โ and , โธป