#♡. kalen.v01 ( main ) ⁄ ⁄ if you had the chance to ; would you ?

[astrummorte-m]

"You look awfully exhausted. May I treat you to a warm drink?"

@stellafortunae ( juliet ) has never seen this man before.

[astrummorte-m]

"Yes. Mistakes aren't supposed to feel good, they're supposed to feel like you MADE the mistake." it's not a growl, but it's close to an annoyed sneer that leaves him, knowing full well what that GUILT turns a person into without someone nearby to curb that feeling of self hate, and hatred at the world they live in.

it was curious, maybe, to see someone who reflected him in such an abhorrent WAY, but at the same time, it made him aggravated. to see this person crumble where he would be able to RISE. free of shackles, of chains, of oaths and another's truth. but the anger calms, at least for now, for long enough for him to settle on his feet once more and not with hackles raised and teeth bared.

"You don't have to believe you deserve a second chance to earn one. You don't give those to yourself, others do. If another being believes you've earned a moment to believe in yourself, to come back from the person and choice you made... then you don't get to squander it. At least they're alive. Blaming yourself for what COULD HAVE BEEN, that's only going to make you damned to repeat it."

@astrummorte asked: [ kalen ] "why do you believe that you've earned death over a simple mistake?"

Raw Lines || Accepting !!

❝ You call betraying a group of good people, a wonderful woman, a "simple mistake" ?? ❞

The repeated phrase leaves a bad taste in his mouth, as if anything he did wasn't calculated & planned. The dog who followed his master's orders. Index finger taps away at the cigarette in hand, helping to make the excess ashes fall, his misdeeds haunt him every day like the shadow attached to his feet. It would have been easier if she wasn't apart of that group. If she wasn't there.

Why did she have to be there? An angel amongst demons.

❝ She- They could have died. Those people. Because of me, & that's no mere "mistake". I'm grateful for my second chance, but... I don't believe I deserve it. ❞

[astrummorte-m]

TIED UP IN PRETTY YOUNG THINGS.

self rp, non canon.

"For what it's worth from a stranger, you don't seem the kind of person to wear a frown for long." comes the haunting refrain of a voice following the click of heavy boot heels against the all too normal cafe's wooden boards. hands rest behind his formal suit, finery hidden by an old and well loved coat, as rugged in its own complexion as he was in his own. "Munni for your thoughts, young man?"

[astrummorte-m]

"There are easier modes of persuasion, easier ways to get what you want, than letting yourself take what you're given."

@zodiac--muses ( gwen ) has never seen this man before.

[astrummorte-m]

"... You would get along with my husband and girlfriend."

@fleurladari captured the interest of an odd engineer.

[astrummorte-m]

kalen izunia tags

[astrummorte-m]

"Not the face of your friend group, are you, then?" he jests with a light smile, warm & gentle for someone who to most would be off-putting. "I get it. My husband is the one who talks for the both of us. My motivational speech days are long behind me. Too old for people to seek me out for words of wisdom." plenty, though, he may have for others.

"Good thing I'm not much for small talk, either. I'm better of leaving that to my friends." It wasn't difficult to keep pace with the man, Kalen. Though, for someone who said money wasn't an issue, you'd think he'd get that coat fixed... "I'm Juliet. I'm more of a... A traveler, I guess? I haven't exactly gotten myself a job yet." Definitely not a lie; It's at least better than the full truth.

[astrummorte-m]

"I'm not much for small talk, you'll have to spare me the weather and wailing." he scoffs as he turns slightly on his heel and gestures for the woman to follow him, tucking his hands in his ragged looking coat, an old thing that looks like it wouldn't even be good spare fabric at this point. who knows how long he's had it. "My name's Kalen. I'm an engineer by trade. Who might you be?"

"Just a little bit." Still, nothing seemed to be outright threatening about the man... And he was right. She was tired. At least tired enough to not start a fight over nothing. "I'm...honestly in the mood for hot chocolate. Tea is nice, but I'd like something a little different."

[astrummorte-m]

"I apologize - that must have come out of nowhere. I just don't like seeing people so tired," he says as he has quite the set of bags underneath his own eyes. "so I try to offer what I can, where I can. It isn't as if I don't have the money to spare." he chuckles. "Is there anything you'd like in particular? Hot chocolate, alcohol, tea? Something else?"

There is a blink, a cautious look being given the stranger. "...I wouldn't mind a warm drink. That sounds nice."

[astrummorte-m]

"Well, violence isn't the answer, either." a pause, "Admittedly, it may be the question, and whether the answer is yes or no is situationally dependent." he tries to joke, that smirk crackling into a lopsided grin. "But, everyone has something to teach. Everyone has something to share. Just speak your mind, it'll come naturally."

"Oh, not in the slightest. I'm more likely to punch a guy than talk things out." A laugh and a grin crossed her face at the comment, giving Kalen a small shrug. "Not like I can go around giving people words of wisdom, either. Too much of my own shit to work through. I'd be a terrible motivational speaker."