^{val fished through his pockets for his cigarettes. he offered one to ky. (see? he could be generous. he wasn’t a selfish prick all of the time). he lit his own, kicking his feet up on the table. he peers at ky’lar around a fanged smile.}

^{he’d never trusted a damn soul, but that never stopped him from collecting people like they’re shiny trophies. he kept them begging for his praise and fearing his wrath. it kept them loyal. it kept him safe.}

^{“to each their own. now, i’m not asking you to trust me, ‘cause i sure as fuck don’t trust you, but i’m saying we both got a lot to win and nothing to lose here. what do you say?”}

_{“there is always something to lose,” he stated bluntly as he took the cigarette. “it may be something small like time or even your favorite jacket, but something’s always lost.” or maybe that was just in his mind.}

_{truth be told, he didn’t care. whatever happened was out of his hands, but what he could do was contain whatever damage could happen as best as possible. a reason to why his answer – even if it was a little hesitant at first – would ultimately be final.}

_{“you may have much to win, but the way i see it? i have everything to lose.”}

_{“Eventually, you’ll come to understand that reality is shit, and everything you do means nothing.”}

_{// @valcfar}

“At least make it a challenge for me!”

_{“the only way i’d ever make it a challenge is if i wanted you dead.” a pause. “i don’t by the way, but that could be changed.”}

^{“Is that what you tell yourself when you’re alone at night?”}

^{Val flashed him a grin to let him know he was only joking. He finished counting for the second time, satisfied at last that it was all there. He slipped the bills into his jacket. He leaned back his chair and gestured as he spoke, his movements vague and loose.}

^{“Listen, I’m not saying you should depend on people, just that you should use them.”}

_{it didn’t matter what he said at night. in-fact, all that truly mattered was that ky got exactly what he wanted. people were frail, they could be bought, and they could be sold. their sides changed quickly – even more so these days. all the same, he kept away from them for a reason; why risk more than you’re willing to give in the first place? it just wasn’t his style. not anymore.}

_{“an’ i’m saying it’s not worth it.”}

_{“to be quite fair, i stopped DEPENDING on people a very long time ago.”}

_{// @valcfar}