Hatred [Finished]

[Kari Muffin]

There was silence for one long moment after he explained what had happened. It didn't really help to clarify the situation. Her mother had been crying. There were three instances where she could recalling it happening besides this. One was the time where she told Xiven the whole story about Basil. The second was when she spoke about Fluffy. The third was when she was pregnant with Falks, Ben and Vas. In all three instances she had only cried when she was at the end of her rope. Her mother didn't cry at the drop of a hat.

In front of other people anyway. So Pale had clearly overstepped a line. He may have thought he was innocent, but damn, he really wasn't. They were both acting like idiots.

"The pair of you are like two warring children, and it's utterly ridiculous. I don't care what either of you did to each other, but I expect you to act like civilized beings." She growled. "My mother has never cried without a damn good reason, Pale, and you clearly hurt her worse than you realize. To put it bluntly, my mother is afraid of losing her family to you. And I'm sorry you can't understand that, because that's the reason why she dislikes you so much."

The woman paused looking at him with narrowed eyes, her arms were crossed as she spoke to him in a clear and level tone. "I may not care much for my mother and her antics, but I do love her. And really, it would be nice if you two could get along for more than five minutes. I sick of both of you two on this crusade to ruin each others lives. I think you have every right to be angry at each other, but you both have gone entirely too far."

[carcinoGeneticist]

Though he remained perfectly calm while she spoke, Apocalypse could feel himself getting angry all over again. Xiven didn't give a damn about him or the expense he went to in order to keep her happy, healthy, and sane, did she? She didn't realize how many snide remarks he swallowed, how much discomfort he pushed aside, how many times a day he took a deep breath and let something slide. He understood her desire to protect her mother, he really did, but this...

This stung.

His lips closed over his pointed teeth and he cast an even gaze at her, waving the weapon away. Then he turned back to his desk. "I haven't thought a single thing about your mother since after I fucked up with Eldy. I have never intended to ruin her life. This is one of... what? Three personal interactions I've had with her that have ended up poorly, and the rest is general snark that she's always seemed to enjoy? Need I remind you that the first time it wasn't even me who was pressing my blade to her throat?" he said softly. There had been a lot of rage then, but a wise friend had told him to try his damndest to focus on the good. "I have interacted with her on a level playing field. My relationship with her has been nothing but professional, as I make every attempt to avoid her." he set down a heavy stack of paperwork, then turned to face Xiven.

His eyes were narrowed, the pupils specks in an expanse of orange. The red mark on his face from Peaches's slap had blossomed into a full bruise. "If you are suggesting to me - even for an instant - that I should sit back and listen to her threaten me, allow her to cause me physical harm, then we have a serious problem. I will not be used, Xiven, and that means that I will not allow others to walk on me. If she was so severely hurt by what I did, of which I did extremely little, then perhaps she has bigger problems than my so-called attempts to ruin her life to worry about." He paused then, and laughed, pressing his face into his hand, grinding the palm against his cheek. Jesus, that stung. "...You realize, of course, that she has no qualms with taking your family away from you, don't you?"

After all, the first words out of Peaches's mouth had seemed to imply that she would be thrilled beyond compare if the ex-weapon would just pick up and leave.

[Kari Muffin]

Really now?

Xiven shifted her weight so she was leaning against the door frame. She watched and listened quietly to the man. He made valid points, to some degree. And of course there was no denying his true feelings. Her grip on her own arms tightened slightly when he brought up the subject of being used.

That kind of felt that he was implying Xiven, herself, as a villain. And it was an impossible feeling to ignore. She watched him press against his sore cheek. That was going to bruise quite a bit now....

Unlacing her arms she slipped the door shut behind her. She closed the gap between herself and Pale. "You can cause all the physical harm you want as long as you don't kill someone important to me. That's not what I'm worried about Pale. It's the mental state of both of you. And you two are unfortunately similar when it comes to unresolved feelings."

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, biting the inside of her cheek so she could find the proper words. She looked at him, hoping that he wasn't still fulled with rage. "No one wants to be used. No one wants to just be a tool for someone else. I wasn't saying that you should let her have her way and let her walk all over you." She took a deep breath. "I don't want to lose either of you over something like this, okay? My mother may be a stupid bitch but she's important to me. And Damn it Pale, you're one of the most important people to me. And seeing you with my Mom like that just... I...."

She looked away when she couldn't find the words that would finish the blasted sentence.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Initially, he wasn't sure how he felt about her closing the door, and he watched her almost warily. He crossed his arms over his chest and straightened, that same thin-lipped expression on his face, his overall posture indicating extreme discomfort. She was coming close.

For a brief moment, he actually bared his teeth at her, thinking she was going to slap him as well. When that never happened, he drooped slightly, staring at the floor. What was wrong with him? He just felt so tightly wound, like he was a spring ready to snap at any moment. He was furious, on some level, generally discontent on another. He just... didn't know what to say to her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He reached out for the woman, folding his arms around her and pulling her close, his forehead pressing against hers.

"I know that. I just..." Fuck, what? He just what? Was suddenly gripped by this terror that no matter what she asked of him, he would do? Would he? He didn't know anymore. "I just hope she leaves me alone. Xiven, she's the reason that I had a child with Rosemary, someone that I hate, and not..."

He actually choked on it. He couldn't say it. Abruptly, he pulled away. "It's fine. She's fine. I didn't do anything to actually injure her. I probably scared her. And I didn't fuck her." he turned to look at her, expression turning exasperated. "I need to get ice. I'll be by your office later with the last of the recruitment forms."

The intent was clear. Apocalypse was done with this conversation.

[Kari Muffin]

She was surprised by his sudden closeness, but took it all in stride. She frowned briefly at his comment. Yes, Rosemary was still a point of bitterness. But there was Linnea. The adorable little girl... really was a bright point.

When he pulled away she drooped a bit. Apparently there conversation was over. And he wasn't comfortable with continuing. In all honest Xiven probably looked like she had been back handed. She turned away at his comment about the recruitment forms. Right.

"All right. Get some ice and handle that at your leisure," she said quietly as she walked towards the door. She should have known better than to think that something was going to be solved so easily. She should have known the subject was going to be dropped. Now had to find her mother, and pray the woman wasn't going to explode again at someone. Complications. Everything was so damn complicated.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Kari and Xenon receive 1 token each, to be redeemed in Ashwin's Shoppe. This will automatically be added to your recorded totals in the shoppe. Congratulations, and keep up the good RP!