Whats another bruise Reopened

The day was cool and brisk as Illowy made her way up the grounds towards the castle, having been coming from the lake, Killian trailing close at her side. Quiet, gloomy days like this were her favorite times to get away and have some time to think, draw, study, or anything really where she didn't want to be disturbed. After all, not one really wanted to be out and about too far from the castle when it looked like it wanted to rain. Just as well, cool days were perfect for her Silver Siberian familiar.

Things seemed to be looking up finally in her life. She'd made it onto the dueling team, granted she hated her partner, she had a date for the ball, her school was going well overall and there hadn't been too much drama this year. The snake found that she didn't have too much room to complain right now. Then again, it was still early in the year, and Hogwarts was never short of it's surprises.

As she wandered towards the castle, the familiar figure of her cousin caught her attention, as he sat off by himself under a tree. Naturally, she started over to him, as as his details came into focus, whatever pleasant expression was on her face faded quickly. The lad looked absolutely brutal with blood on his face and his skin starting to swell a little and discolor from bruising, "Bloody hell, Kyky." she spoke as she got closer, unsure if he'd noticed her approached or not.

When she reached him, she didn't hesitate to drop her bag next to the tree and kneel next to him, "What the hell did you do to yerself this time? Bolt, face first, into a tree?" it was a joke, but there was no hiding her concern. Illowy knew the lad had anger issues, and carried a lot of pain and guilt with him; and she more then understood why. Who could fault him for it? What she hated was that it resulted him making a literal bloody mess of himself.

He caught her scent on the breeze before he heard her and he closed his eyes, letting out a sigh of annoyance as he heard her voice. Its not that he didn't like to see her or have her around, It's that she had a tendency to worry and, as he would put it, mother hen him. Fret about every nick and scratch as if he hadn't been in fights since he could walk. as she was walking over to him he glanced up some and saw the cat, as always was with her and he could almost see the judgement in its eyes. He return a sort of 'Dont judge me' look towards the cat before moving his eyes towards his cousin's face

"Would it be cliche to say, 'you should see the other guy'? or can I get away with it" to anyone else he might have sounded annoyed but his cousin could probably pick up on him just using some Dry humor to try and break the tension. "Bumped into some guy wearing a Montrose scarf. Told him his team was shite, so he badmouthed the Kestrals and well" he motions to himself "Things escalated"

he shifted some to try and get comfortable once more while his body was sore, if he was being honest hed rather be running his knuckles under some cold water and go fall face first into his moving pillow. though the idea of letting that thing taste human blood might not be the best idea...

he ran a bruised knuckle under his nose to wipe up some blood to keep it from dripping past his lips and falling onto his shirt.

@Kyle DeRook

Illowy raised an unimpressed brow at him as he gave his reasons. And though she certainly could have given him a lecture about picking fights and whatnot, there came a time when you had to pick and chose your battles. If she scolded him every time he got into a fight, she'd probably drive herself inside along with him, "Montrose is shite." she agreed simply with a short shrug of her shoulders.

At her side, Kilian gave the boy a curious tilt of his head after Kyle gave his own strange look at him, the mass of fluff that was the creature's tail swayed back and forth. After a moment, as though echoing his mistress's shrug, the animal trotted off a couple steps before plopping himself in the cool grass and stretching out. An odd creature, Illowy often thought, but he certainly had a personality all his own that she thought was endearing. At least to her.

When Kyle shifted a bit and wiped at his nose, Illowy turned her attention to her bag, "Yer lucky I'm practically Maimeó." she teased, making a quip about their grandmother. A rather traditional woman both to the wizarding world, and towards their Irish heritage. Illowy took a note or two from her growing up; one of which was one she found rather practical. Always carry a handkerchief.

The snake pulled a simple black handkerchief from her bag, a yellow rose embroidered in the corner. It had been the first thing she'd set on her enchanted embroidery hoop when she'd first gotten it, and one of her favorites that she usually kept with her just in case, "Nothing is broken is it?" she asked simply, curling the fabric over her finger to try to clean up a bit of the blood from his split lip, taking the opportunity to look him over a little closer before offering the handkerchief to him, "You know the drill. Hold it to yer nose, lean forward, breathe through yer mouth." she recited. Certainly this wasn't the first time in their lives she'd ever helped him for a bloody nose; and she doubted it would be the last.

Kyle rolled his eyes as Illowy started to mother hen him. "Ah cmon Magpie, You know ive been into worse scrapes than this. No need to dote on me now." though despite him sounding annoyed it would be impossible to miss he did grab the handkerchief and press it to his bloody nose and lean forward as instructed. "How many times have you come across me after a fight now? At what point does it become a strange occurrence." he chuckled a few times before he snorted and spit out a bit of coagulated blood in a very attractive fashion.

after a quick flash of a memory he perked up alittle bit "Hey you remember that scrap with Jackie Donovan? Right raucous dust up that was. Man, Duke and I rea-" he voice catches in his through and he goes silent. he clears his throat and hangs his head, and starts to bounce his leg some.

After he sits there quietly for a few moments he clears his throat again and speaks in a low tone "Duke could really scrap. He was always smaller than me, but he could take twice the punishment and keep getting back up. Always wondered who would uh...who would win if we threw down. for real, you know?"

Kyle reaches up with his free hand and rubs his forehead "You Think Duke would still like me? The way I am these days?"

@Kyle DeRook

As Kyle assumed the position, Illowy readjusted herself into a more comfortable one as well adjacent from him, leaning back on her hands with her legs stretched out and crossing her ankles. Of course this hadn't been the first time she'd seen him bruised and bloodied, but she could never find herself totally desensitized to. Maybe one day, but not today.

As he started on recalling one of his little squabbles, Illowy reached to stroke Killian behind the ears; however the moment Duke was brought up, he hand hesitated. They'd never really talked much about Duke since the night. Illowy always did her best not to bring the boy up around Kyle if she could help it; both because she didn't want to upset Kyle, and because she hated thinking about that night that still haunted her nightmares.

The girl hesitated to speak a moment, before mentally settling on a tone that would keep things lighter, and uphold the poor lad's memory, "Firstly, Duke would kick your arse." she stated matter of factly, "The lad had no quit, and was twice as clever as ye. He'd figure out how to get ya down before you could wrap yer head around it." the girl offered her cousin a small smile.

Chewing on her lip a little as she looked over Ky, she answered honestly, "That's a stupid question. Kyky, of course he would've. You two were like, kindred spirits. And knowing him, I can't imagine he'd have stopped being your mate over this."

Kyle let out a bit of a forced laugh. It hurt but...it was right. "He always was the idea man between the two of us. When we fought Jackie...Duke figured out how to put him down after about 5 minutes of us getting our teeth kicked in. flinched when he stepped on his back leg. figured it was sore. hit him in the ankle with a bit of wood and then it was game over. Duke and me got in a few good hits then ran before his Cronies could step in." Kyle lowered the handkerchief and fidgeted with it some. "Wasn't a problem around Duke couldn't get us out of given enough time..."

Kyle took a deep breath and shook his head, trying to shake away the bad memories of the last problem Duke found himself in. If only he had some more time...he would have figured something out.

Kyle looked over the bloodied cloth that still held the scent of his cousin despite his own additions to it. "You uh...you want this back?" he asked awkwardly as he tried to offer it towards Illowy.

He could see the look on her face and he knew how she was also traumatized from that night. The things she saw and heard, the gruesome end she almost experienced. "I know you dont blame me but...Im sorry. If I just told you, Told Duke...Maybe things would be different. I just...I miss him you know? I just get so damn angry all the time..."

@Kyle DeRook

The girl smiled a bit to herself as she listened to Kyle finish tell the story. Before everyone, she'd have probably rolled her eyes, annoyed at listening to him recount for the hundredth time him and Duke great conquests over some other 10 year olds she didn't know, nor cared about. Things were different now though. Now... she kind of liked listening to the stories from back when things were normal. Before he was cursed, before she was cursed, when things were simple and she only had to worry about pulling the boys out of some abandoned house with enough time to get to dance class.

When he offered her back the handkie, she shook her head, "You keep it. In case ye need it again. Which I'm sure ye will." she teased.

Kyle's starting to apologize for that night took her by surprise. As he rambled on about 'woulda-coulda-shoulda's', Illowy reached to touch his hand, "I know ye miss 'im." she spoked gently, "And as hard of a time you two gave me, honestly I miss 'im too. A lot of things could have gone differently. Sometimes I wonder if I'd gotten Auntie and Uncle up sooner, or if I'd just run faster, if I could've done more to help..." the girl took in a deep breath, pressing her lips in a tight line, "No one can blame you for being angry about that night. It shouldn't have happened, but it wasn't yer fault. And I know Duke wouldn't have it seein' ye blame yer'self."

"He should blame me Magpie. I am the idior who attacked a werewolf with a fuckin' fire poker and got bit. Kept the curse a secret. Didn't scream my head off for my folks as soon as I saw Duke. No matter how you cut it, it is my fault. But, everyone tells me its not. Poor Kyle with his curse. not yer fault lad, beast made ya do it. Beast Makes ya mean. Beast makes ya angry. Just drink yer wolfsbane and be a good boy while the beast sleeps." he sighs and shakes his head, wrapping the handkerchief around his wrist, looping it around his thumb to cover the back of his left hand.

"Fact is, I am an Arsehole. I like to fight, I like seeing people's faces when they are scared of me, and I hate people. I dont just have a beast. I am one. And I'm sick over always hearing I don't. Duke, he was a good kid. but he knew the darkness I had in me, and faced the brunt of my temper more than once."

Kyle sighed and wiped his hands on his pants and he stood up, stretching his back. He looked at Illowy, the only person who always had his back. Wasn't scared off by him or ran off by his abrasive and aggressive nature. It was only a matter of time until he hurt her, he knew it. Everywhere werewolf story around ended the same way. Those close to the werewolf were killed, cursed, or ran off. He would prefer ran off, cause atleast then her life wouldn't be ruined. Kyle sighed and slipped one hand into his pocket and turned to leave.

"Thanks for cleanin' me up magpie...I uh...Got some shite to get to. Catch ya 'round I guess"

@Kyle Derook

As the lad rambled and wallowed in his pity party, Illowy watched on with a furrowed brow. She'd seen him upset plenty of time, mostly angry and inconsolable... but this side of him was a first. It sparked something of a mix of sympathy and frustration in her as she climbed to her feet after him.

"Kyle Gil Derook, you stop talking like that right now." she spoke firmly, though not quite raising her voice, "You were a kid when you got attacked. We're still kids. No one expects you to have known the right thing to do in situations that a kid should never be in in the first place. You did what you thought was best at the time, and there is nothing wrong with that. You were twelve bloody years old." the snake snapped.

Fearless and defiant to him as ever, she approached him reaching to gently take his arm in her hand, "You're right. You can be a complete arse. You fight, you get yourself into trouble, and you like to show off your strength at the expense of others. You've always been like that, even when we were little. But I also know you can be caring, thoughtful, protective, and intelligent. You might be an arsehole, but you are not a beast. I know you. Probably better then anyone else 'cause believe it or not, we're not that different and you aren't the only one between us that pulls this kind of shite."

Folding her arms over her chest, she challenged, "You think I don't get why you like to fight? Why do you think I duel? Because I want to show off my 'big bad brain' or whatever?" the girl rolled her eyes, the pair loved the same poison, just different flavors, "I like bringing an opponent to their knees. I understand the rush when someone hits you as hard as they can. Its like steel to flint. I get the thrill. I get putting someone down that's weaker then you, intimidating them, scaring them and making them believe if you really had a mind for it, you'd end them." there were some things she'd done in her past that she wasn't proud of, things she somehow been cunning enough to get away with. It was because of this small, burning coal in the pit of her stomach, that she'd been struggling with the fear that she was just as dark by nature, and sometimes it felt like a constant struggle to keep her own fears, anger and actions in check, "Contrary to your belief, I'm not exactly 'Little Miss Perfect Goodie Goodie'."

Pale, cold eyes bore into his, "So then, if that's what you truly think of yourself; then if you're a beast, I'm one too."