Ameteur Mic Night (Calamity)

[Kevin Collessano-Alvari]

It's said that 50% of marriages end in divorce. He'd bite his bottom lip at the thought. It hadn't consumed his mind, but he had the faith in being a part of the other 50%.

"It's true. Nobody's doomed to being alone forever. That's what friends're for...that way, when ya finally get somebody you can floss the new hubby or wifey to 'em once those friends stop being the only people you can spend time with."

He smiled, not knowing exactly where this was coming from...subconscious desires slipping out? Maybe. Weird thing is, he was actually sober. He really hadn't had a girlfriend at 552, just the crushes: Kyr & Linda. But Linda nearly killed him & Kyr met Xaier. Kevin let both situations be, considering them lost causes. However, being with Calamity sparked up just a bit of resentment & regret; what if? Kevin wondered how his life may have changed or how he could have managed...or even bigger, how he could manage in the future with someone to hold him down mentally on more than just a friendly role.

Kevin's eyes soon found themselves looking for a neutral spot in the building, away from the couple.

[Jenna Scorn]

"It's true. Nobody's doomed to being alone forever."

She'd suddenly look at him.
The action of letting those eyes fix on him was quick, she'd almost glare.
Those thin brows narrowing upon him.

"I beg to differ."

He didn't know her.
Didn't know what she had been through.

How heart breaking her life here in America had been.
She'd come to America, to California for peace.
For rest.
For a new life.

To escape from the hardships of Japan.
To escape her fathers death, and rid herself of Daisuke.

But now, the pain she'd felt in Japan was nothing compared to the shit she'd gone through in America.

Winters.
He'd loved her.

But love, that word seemed, and felt so meaningless.
The way he'd tossed that word around, said it as if it had meant nothing.
Like it was just another word, another phrase.

Valekin, well nothing could be said about that man.
Nothing horrible anyways.

He ate people, so what.
He'd protected her, for a short time.
Been there.

And Hiroko.
He'd loved her, at least said so.
But had he tossed the word around like Winters had?
She didn't want to believe so, almost couldn't.

Hiroko had genuinely loved her.
She knew it.

He was her happily ever after.

But now...

"That's what friends're for...that way, when ya finally get somebody you can floss the new hubby or wifey to 'em once those friends stop being the only people you can spend time with."

"...Friends."

She smiled, and a laugh would almost escape from her lips.

She had none of those.

[Kevin Collessano-Alvari]

"...Then why're you & me chillin' right now, same table, same room, same city?"

He was about to get somewhat philosophical...or at least try to. "This planet's pretty big to hold as many people as it holds...with all those folks, you have to TRY to isolate yourself. If you don't try...well, it's impossible to be alone, ain't it?"

Kevin smirked before continuing. "There's too many people for someone to not have a connection with any of them. That's just how nature works, holmes. Somebody's gotta be out there that you can trust, that you can live for. Damn sure know who mine is."

He ordered another lemonade with no ice, thinking about his mother...in the city, right under Kevin's nose, but he couldn't sniff her out of the rest of Long Beach. Fuck.

[Jenna Scorn]

"...Then why're you & me chillin' right now, same table, same room, same city?"

Those blue eyes would soften, letting them relax on Kevin.
He was so sweet, so kind.
Sitting there, and taking her negative bullshit.

What a sweet boy.

She looked away though, reaching for her cup of tea and bringing it to her lips.

"This planet's pretty big to hold as many people as it holds...with all those folks, you have to TRY to isolate yourself. If you don't try...well, it's impossible to be alone, ain't it?"

she nodded to him, letting her glass rest against the table top.

She knew where he was coming from, understood it all.
But did he understand?
She didn't have the will anymore, at least she didn't think so.

Sure, she'd go out, she'd talk, she'd mingle.
But to really try?
To actually put forth an effort into a friendship.
She didn't know if she had it in her anymore.

"There's too many people for someone to not have a connection with any of them. That's just how nature works, holmes."

That was true, and she'd nod to him.
Letting her hands rest upon the table.
Palms of her hands press against the cool table top.


"Somebody's gotta be out there that you can trust, that you can live for. Damn sure know who mine is."

Again, her head would rise to look at him.

"Ya, but I doubt I can trust him."

Reaching for her tea again.

"Now, living for him? Sure. But trusting? thats a different story."

She'd give quick sigh, releasing the grip on her cup before really looking at Kevin again.

"To be honest with you, There isn't much for me to live for."

And she'd smile, raising her hand to him to object to any comments that might spill form his mouth.

"And before you let on with your meaningless prattle, about how I probably have so much to live for and blah blah blaaaaaaaaah..."

She'd lean into the table.
Letting her lips part to whisper to him.

"I work for a man I absolutely despise...And yet, I can't stop thinking about the bastard."

[Kevin Collessano-Alvari]

"...Can't stand 'im, can't stop thinking about the guy? Girlie, you got some Ike & Tina stuff goin' on...that, or for the sake of wishful thinking, you got a crush on him & can't admit it...but you're obviously too stuck on what's wrong that that can't be the case."

Kevin chuckled; he was trying so hard to play a God's Advocate, if there was one that could possibly exist. Yet, it was people like Calamity that made optimism such a hard virtue to hold onto. However, he'd already started. He felt compelled to try & drill some HOPE and WILL into this girl, to show her that the world wasn't such a bad news story...yes, it was one. Just not as much as most people thought. The fires of Armageddon weren't THAT close to coming. Yet.

"Look...I know you don't wanna hear it. It's totally convenient for ya to stay where you are, not wanting to get up, get out & get someone who'll actually watch your back. It's hard to trust people. I understand." He'd lean in, his smile fading, his gaze now serious. "...I went to jail for someone betraying my blind trust. But I learned that a few cases of someone stabbing you in the back didn't mean that there wasn't someone out there that could heal the wounds & watch that sore back of yours. Calamity..."

He'd reach for her hand, & if she allowed it, he'd take her hand in both of his.

"...It's time somebody had yer back. I know we haven't known each other for that long, but I can't sit here, knowing you're going through what I did, not being able to trust nobody out of the fear they'd hurt you again. I just can't do it...so take the chance, make the effort & trust in me. I swear to God, you won't regret it. I'll be the friend you need...the friend that somewhere inside, you want. Just lemme in."

And his smirk came in.

"...And be ready to pay up 'cause I like to buy a shake every Friday, and I don't wanna pay for yours just yet. Ya look like you gotcha own guap & don't need mine. Deal?"

[Jenna Scorn]

She had grown silent.

"...Can't stand 'im, can't stop thinking about the guy? Girlie, you got some Ike & Tina stuff goin' on."

Drawing in a deep breath into her lungs, letting those shoulders rise and slowly fall with every breath. eyes had settled onto the rough table top, her right hand letting go of that cold glass, fingers lingering over the rim for a moment before falling onto the table.

Silent still.


"..that, or for the sake of wishful thinking, you got a crush on him & can't admit it."

Letting her hand inch away from the glass, running along the table top now for a short moment before glancing up at Kevin as he spoke.

"...but you're obviously too stuck on what's wrong that that can't be the case."

Licking her lower lip now, finally giving a sigh.
Huff of air escaping her mouth before giving a small shake of her head.

""Look...I know you don't wanna hear it...."

He was right.
She didn't.

So why was he...?

Looking up with those blue eyes, a few strands of blond bangs were scattered before those bangs and she'd blow them away.

Why was he trying so hard?
What did it matter?

She repositioned herself in her seat, heels skidding across the floor as she did so.
Licking her lower lip.

He was talking, telling her things.
Actually talking to her.
Not at her, or down to her.
But to her.


"...I went to jail for someone betraying my blind trust. But I learned that a few cases of someone stabbing you in the back didn't mean that there wasn't someone out there that could heal the wounds & watch that sore back of yours."

Her eyes fell to her near by purse, and the thought of fleeing came close.
And the simple action of gathering her purse seemed so simple.


"Calamity..."

She looked up suddenly, looking towards Kevin.

"...It's time somebody had yer back. I know we haven't known each other for that long, but..."

Watching him still.


"...And be ready to pay up 'cause I like to buy a shake every Friday, and I don't wanna pay for yours just yet. Ya look like you gotcha own guap & don't need mine. Deal?"

Eyes narrowed upon him as she tilted her head.
blond strands fell in her face as she watched him.

"....Guap?"

[Kevin Collessano-Alvari]

Kevin...had to laugh.

"Guap? Money? Bills? Paper? Yayper? Gouda? Cheese? Bread? Scritch? Scrilla?"

He then reached inside his back pocket, sliding out about 5 Benjamins - of course, not any that he earned without being under his father's 'supervision', but he had the money on him. He'd slide it towards her with his right index & middle finger.

"Tell you what. You can have this, AND I can offer you the opportunity to live good WITHOUT having to work for it...if you just take me up on letting me in & letting me be a friend." Kevin smirked. "All bills & living conditions paid for, none out of your own pocket. Just by making a friend. How 'bout it?"

...Count on Kevin to produce such a weirdass idea for making friends.

[Jenna Scorn]

"Guap? Money? Bills? Paper? Yayper? Gouda? Cheese? Bread? Scritch? Scrilla?"

"Ah."

she nodded, gently pulling her hand away form his as she leaned back in her seat.

"Well, I'm sure I can handle myself in that department."

Leaning back, letting her chair teeter backwards, balancing on two back legs for a moment before letting all four legs rest against the floor.

"Tell you what. You can have this, AND I can offer you the opportunity to live good WITHOUT having to work for it...if you just take me up on letting me in & letting me be a friend."

She watched him, flipping through the money and now sending some her way. All she could do was lean forward, letting her fingers press against the paper and send it back his way as she'd laugh.


"All bills & living conditions paid for, none out of your own pocket. Just by making a friend. How 'bout it?"

"Actually...As tempting as that is..."

Letting her hands rest in her lap again, looking up at him as she'd lean into the table.

"I don't need a man to pay for any of my shit."

That's right.
She worked for a living.
Now, honestly that job working for Winters wasn't enough to sustain her.

But it was enough to get by.
She didn't need to pay rent.
Hiroko had owned his building.

And she was practically sitting on thousands of dollars as the new owner of the Katashi family's business.

Kevin's money was no use to her.

[Kevin Collessano-Alvari]

Ok, so she was independent. Bad approach, but it might not have screwed up things just yet...hopefully.

"But still...lemme be a friend, yo. It's not good to play this 'all by myself' game. Doesn't get you anywhere except more miserable." The depression, the turn to drugs, the unconscious urge in the back of his mind to end it all--- it played again in his brain like Lifetime Movie Network reruns. Ugh...how could he let himself be so stupid back then?

"Take a chance. One last chance. Hell...at least say you'll meet up with me sometime for shakes."

[Jenna Scorn]

"But still...lemme be a friend, yo. It's not good to play this 'all by myself' game. Doesn't get you anywhere except more miserable."

She smiled, giving a small nod, sending a few strands of blond hair into her face before she'd look away. She'd glance towards the door and let herself settle backwards in her seat before letting her eyes fall on Kevin.

"Take a chance. One last chance. Hell...at least say you'll meet up with me sometime for shakes."

She shrugged.

"Ok."

Brushing a few strands of hair from her face as she leaned back in her seat.