*** START OF FILE ***
----------------------------------------
In a break of silence, Kane calmly put his teacup down gently back to the saucer from whence it was placed.
"Young Jake, you cannot be a Cardinal Sin."
"Don't call me young. I'm tired...of all the lies I was fed to make me this... WEAPON. I'm tired of their shit, Kane. And like everyone in this god-damned city, we can't leave. If I'm gonna be a butler at least I want to be like you guys. You do whatever you want, whenever you want...
Right?"
Jake stood before the Sin of Pride inside his study, barging in uninvited expecting his boldness to be rewarded. Jake knew who he wanted to find, and it was no other than the elected captain of the Sins themselves. Kane just looked at him with an annoyed expression, the only thing keeping him from threatening this boy's life was his sheer audacity to walk up in Sinners Hollow and demand in his face he wanted to be a Sin. Some pride... "Young Jake-"
"I SAID DON'T CALL ME YOUNG!" Jake immediately retorted in rage.
Kane didn't flinch, but it was enough to make him pause. "Well you voice HAS gone deeper, your height taller, your body more taut, and your skills...ehh...improved...
In some way...
But I've never heard of anyone having the audacity to come to my study,
One of low blood with third rate skill,
a scrub,
someone who does not have an ounce of finesse or grace for SHIT come here and demand he be placed in league with people like me and my comrades.
You dare insult the Sin of Pride, little boy?"
Kane didn't move from his relaxed position, but he saw how Jake's face melted from determination to that of shame and regret. Jake felt the air get heavy. He expected to be pissed from a man like Kane, but what's worse is that his sharp words...
They carry truth... "I'm... I'm so-"
His apology was stopped by Kane's movement. It was fleeting, it was silent. He already had his saber with the tip pointed right at his neck, his stance wide and unrelenting, just ready run it through like white hot steel through lard. The point was so sharp that it didn't hurt, but actually itched. Warm blood trickled down the teen's sweaty neck while his breathing sharpened and faltered, forced to be still for the wrong sudden movement would tick the man he so offended to kill him right there and then. He's heard the rumors of Kane having no regard for lives of those who royally piss him off. Was this one of those times? As Jake stood frighteningly still at the mercy of the man in front of him.
"Stop bullying the kid."
Another voice said by the door. Kane's murderously steel glare at the young man softened, and he drew his blade away away. Jake touched his neck and saw his hand red wet with his blood and sweat. While the man in the gold and white suit started to walk back behind hisn desk. Jake turned around to see who stopped them. It was a woman, with her hair styled short and hair tied to the side back. She wore version of the butler uniform styled personally, but as Kane had stark cream with bromxe and gold, She wore all black, with shorts instead of standard length trousers. This was another Sin, Jake can only guess.
"I've heard of teaching shit to kids while they're young so they like... attach, but really Kane? A kid?" The woman leaned against the door post.
Jake was able to gather his bearing, she has to be one of the Sins. He'd only met three of the seven, and this one wasn't in any of the ones he'd met before.
The way she spoke to Kane at least suggested some closeness. As Kane walked back to his desk, his sword slowly dissolved into golden dust, changing it's form to some sort of... Quill? It was gold, like everythign else in his study that's not polished wood, or a richly hued metal. After some recollection, the man sighed
"This is one of the few places a man like me can get peace. Yet this lowlife son of a...somehow manages to..."
The woman expected Kane to pause. And he did.
"That's right. He managed to get as far as your study.
Ain't that right cub?"
Her words rattled Jake back to reality by the way her gloved hand ruffled his hair. She even managed to chuckle.
"Sins ain't picked for their skill, Kane. Though I can't blame you, being in your high shit horse and all. There's no doubt about it though,
the little cubs marked. And his mark is strong." J
ake started to become annoyed again, being called boy, a scrub, now a cub. He swatted off the woman's hand out of his head and took steps away. He saw how Kane changed the way he sat too. Whatever this woman was saying, Kane believed. Mark? As far as his study? What does it all mean? He did deduct enough to ask once again.
"So... I can be one of you guys?" And instead of a quick answer, Jake found the two Sins share a glance.
"Maybe," she said. "Maybe not. Being marked of Sin doesn't give you a ticket to the position, kid, but it gains you the right to at least be recognized by us...
Right Kane?"
Kane didn't reply and only went back to his business, pouring himself another batch of tea in his brass-colored teacup. "Be that as it may, this study isn't for this conversation, and since you're are more than entertained to educate the boy,
Do it outside my study."
She crossed her arms and sighed. He was right. This boy needs to be told was he's in for. She rested her weight to one hip and turned to the boy.
"What district d'you live, kid?"
----------------------------------------
*** NOTHING FOLLOWS ***