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[@Hammerman]
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Rurik shuffled off out of the main crowd once his dance with Christine finally came to an end. It... hadn't been much of a dance, and anyone who'd paid enough attention now though he was the scum of the earth. More so than they already had, anyway. Oh well, he hadn't cared about that kind of stuff before, and he certainly didn't now.

He watched as Christine went on to dance with others. There were those who might've glared at any men who managed to finagle a dance with their girlfriend, but Rurik wasn't terribly concerned. If anyone else thought it would be cute to let their hands slip, Rurik knew he wouldn't need to get involved.

They'd be fighting off a case of frostbite long before he would have a chance to do anything.

No, he was content to fade into the background for the rest of the ball. Well, as much as someone with five fake knives sticking out of their back could, anyway. Yes, he was perfectly fine riding it out alone and- 

[color=CFD3C6]"Fuck me..."[/color] He swore under his breath as he saw Katherine walking in his direction. It was probably a coincidence. It wasn't like she knew he was over here. She'd just pass on by-

"Rurik," she spoke. To him.

[color=CFD3C6]"Fffff- What?"[/color] He grumbled through gritted teeth. Had she seen his slip-up? Did she want to give him a piece of her mind? [color=CFD3C6]"It was an accident. Piss off."[/color]

"Wh-? What was?"

[color=CFD3C6]". . . nothing. What do you want?"[/color] Bullet dodged, then.

"I've just... had a lot of time to think about things since that fight in the park."

[color=CFD3C6]"That's a lot of thinking."[/color] Rurik leaned against the wall, avoiding direct eye contact with her. [color=CFD3C6]"Let me guess. You got a headache?"[/color]

He watched Katherine take a deep breath, and then miraculously [i]not[/i] bite his head off, "You did punch me pretty hard, but haha, no." She frowned. "I just... realized that even when I knew I was bleeding to death I couldn't stop myself from trying to break your kneecaps. I guess... I mean if that of all things couldn't stop me. Look, I just... I mean..."

[color=CFD3C6]"No, no, take your time, words are hard."[/color]

Another deep breath, "I'm sorry. I know I've been a bitch. Christine's tough enough to take care of herself. I don't need to be interfering all the time."

[color=CFD3C6]"Wow."[/color] Rurik nodded a few times, processing her words. [color=CFD3C6]"An apology?"[/color]

"Yes." Katherine fought to keep a straight face. "If Christine's happy, then... whatever I guess."

[color=CFD3C6]"An apology... after over a year of making my life hell."[/color] Rurik finally stared directly at her. [color=CFD3C6]"Well damn. Hey, maybe another few years and I'll actually give a shit."[/color]

"Wh-what?" Kath's eyes went wide and her jaw hung open. She'd swallowed her pride to say that! She'd even talked herself into accepting he was a decent fighter and not just some coward who was trying to leech off her sister! 

[color=CFD3C6]"Fuck you, Kath,"[/color] Rurik pushed off the wall. [color=CFD3C6]"I don't need your apologies. I don't want to be your friend. And I certainly don't want to see you around any more than I absolutely have to. Because you're right; me and Christine is our business, not yours."[/color] He made to walk away as Kath stood there, hand's clenched tightly and trembling as she tried to contain the pit of rage each word had fueled into existence. [color=CFD3C6]"Oh, and Kath?"[/color] She grit her teeth as she looked over to have. [color=CFD3C6]"Have a [i]great[/i] night,"[/color] he spoke with all the condescension he could muster, while her eyes quickly locked onto the solitary finger he held aloft.

With that, Rurik figured maybe the party was over for him.