[CENTER][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019cbad8-c5ea-7108-9dbe-ce38b3c1323e.webp[/img][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c707d-b3d7-71df-8c47-a492d9f1e78a.webp[/img][/CENTER]
[right][code]September 7th
Warehouse
Interactions: Lexi [@FernStone][/code][/right][hr]

He was wrong. He was wrong he was wrong he was wrong hewaswrongwrongwrong—

Everyone was always trying to get to him, Camille knew that, so why did he even try? Why why why? He tried so hard, he always did, and they just used that against him, again and again and again.

Was there truly something so profoundly wrong with him to make him such a target? Was it him? Was it them? Was it because they were Americans? His life wasn’t always like this, or was it and he never noticed?!

He should have trusted his instinct, should have listened to the voice at the back of his mind screaming at him to trust no one, the voice now screaming both in triumph and horror at being proven right.

And now Lexi thought he was weak. An easy target. A loser, a pushover. That she could do whatever. He couldn’t have her think that. Everyone would be watching. He couldn’t show fear. He couldn’t show anything.

Anger. Anger was the answer. Anger hides fear. Anger protects. Anger is easy to show.

Camille bared his teeth. [color=crimson]”Fermes ta câlisse de gueule.”[/color] His voice was flat, neutral, like it usually was, but the feverish gleam in his eyes showed the moment he decided to do something stupid. Something violent.

In one swift movement, he grabbed the front of her jacket, dragging her close towards him, and reared his head back. A few split second calculations flashed through his mind, as he swung his head back towards Lexi’s face. Hitting her mouth was a bad idea and would result in cuts. Hitting her nose would hurt, but he didn’t want to break it. The temple would be ideal, would severely stun her or knock her out, but he didn’t have the right angle for it.

Instead, his forehead crashed into the top of her left eye socket. Not even a second later, not flinching from the impact, he struck again, this time aiming for her left cheekbone.

Come morning, he’d have a small bruise on his head. It was nothing compared to the black eye he’d doubtlessly left behind.

He released his grip on her jacket, using the same hand to roughly push her away from him. [color=crimson]”[i]Dat[/i] iz why people do not speak wit me.”[/color] He threw his cigarette on the floor, crushing it under his foot to put it out. [color=crimson]”Leave.”[/color]

Leave leave leave leave leave—

[hr]
[CENTER][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c917d-cdf1-74df-a3e2-5a9d3f66f06a.webp[/img][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019cad3f-4a3f-709a-8f7e-9672efe1ca2b.webp[/img][/CENTER]
[right][code]September 7th
Warehouse
Interactions: Vicky [@Atrophy][/code][/right][hr]

Oh, okay, so it was [i]that[/i] bad. Kersten swallowed a pang of hurt at Vicky’s words. She was drunk, and heartbroken, and didn’t know just how close to his insecurities she hit. It wasn’t important right now anyways, making sure she would be alright was the priority. So instead of snarking back at her, he just put on a placating smile. This would call for a bit more delicacy than he’d first thought.

[color=greenyellow]”Alright, I’m sorry Vicky, you’re right, you’re fine.”[/color] She handed her the promised bag of Cheetos, surprisingly still sealed amidst the sea of munchies-havers around. [color=greenyellow]”And I don’t care what Chef said, haven’t really spoken to him at all tonight, and I’m honestly glad for it, ‘cause he’s gotta be a right dick to ditch you like that in the middle of a party.”[/color] That much was true, the man in question had only popped in briefly at the start of the party to get his fill, and then left them right after. Not much time for conversation.

He waited a few seconds, testing the waters. When Vicky didn’t immediately start tearing into him, he continued. [color=greenyellow]”And alright, I’ll admit I didn’t know you smoked, but I’m still gonna make sure you’re gonna be fine first.”[/color]

[color=greenyellow]”You had a couple drinks. Alcohol can make you a lot more sensitive to THC.” [i]And also you’re agitated,[/i][/color] Kerten added mentally, but not out loud. That would have been a sure way to set their guest off again.

[color=greenyellow]“I don’t know how well you’ll react, and I don’t want you getting a bad trip. It’s that simple.”[/color] They grabbed a lighter and a joint from their breast pocket, placed it between their lips, and lit up. [color=greenyellow]”Hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks… These are all things that [i]could[/i] happen if we’re not careful. So we’re gonna be careful.”[/color]

She took a few more puffs, put out her joint in a nearby ashtray, and pocketed it again for later. [color=greenyellow]”So… We’re just… gonna relax, and wait for your friend to bring you your drink, and [i]then[/i] we’ll see about getting you, like, a brownie or something.”[/color] She gave Vicky what she hoped looked like a reassuring smile. [color=greenyellow]”She’s a good friend, you know. You’re not gonna die alone, not with her around.”[/color]