[LOCATION: MAIN STREET]

[friar_trip]

[Trip liked his alcohol. That much everyone knew. Rarely a day went by when he didn't have a drink of some sort. But given the responsibilities of both of his jobs, he rarely got drop dead stinking drunk.

At last call tonight, he'd passed that 5 beers ago. Everything, from Mal's admission then avoiding him to the usual feeling in the pit of his stomach that was somehow made worse by the situation, had come to head and he just hadn't been able to stop.

And now he was walking home through the deserted street, abet slowly and with many detours, so as to avoid the disappointed looks from Leo and Felix. Everything was funny and nothing hurt. For the moment.

And that telephone pole looked fun to swing around right about now.]

Comments

[scarlock]

Do you really want to know why? It's because I'm a murderer. I killed a man when I was younger and nearly everyone who knows about it tends to treat me as if I'm some loose cannon about to snap and kill someone else. That's why I didn't want you to know me, because I didn't want you to learn about that. It doesn't help that I'm still a coward.

[He sighs and sees if his coffee is ready, wanting to distract himself from the conversation a bit.]

I don't think it's right to lie to someone, especially when the majority of the town knows that Ruby is very much not my type, our common interest in red aside.

[pettythief]

[ Chris gives his cousin a crestfallen look, then quickly turns to Trip to try and intercept. He has no ground to try and deny, but he does have a fact that Mal's conveniently left out. ]

It was self-defense. Mal wouldn't do that for any other reason.

[friar_trip]

[Well...that wasn't what Trip had been expecting. But, even with how little he knew of Mal, lose canon didn't exactly sound right to him. Still, his gaze locks on Mal's, wanting the truth. He believes Chris but he wants to hear it from Mal.]

Is what he's sayin' right? Was it self defense?

[And a blush does cover his cheeks, as he was one of the few who apparently didn't know about Mal's preferences.]

[scarlock]

[Mal really doesn't like talking about this, but there's no way he can stop now without giving Trip the wrong idea.]

Christopher is in fact correct. It was self-defense, though that doesn't really matter to me. I killed a man and sugarcoating it won't change a thing.

[pettythief]

It's not sugarcoating. There's a difference.

[ It isn't easy for Chris to talk about either, but it's even harder letting Mal beat himself up for simply protecting his own life. ]

[friar_trip]

Chris is right. There is a difference.

[He paused for a moment thinking, for once, about his words before he said them. He felt like there was a lot riding on them.]

The Bible says thou shalt not kill. But it sure as hell doesn't say thou shalt let thyself be killed either. Ya ain't the loose canon type, hell, I barely know ya an' I can see that.

[scarlock]

In the end, it doesn't really matter. I still have his blood on my hands and neither of you would be able to understand what that's like.

[He goes silent and starts drinking his coffee, not really wanting to continue this topic.]

Christopher, do keep an eye on the food or you'll burn it.

[pettythief]

That doesn't—ah, shit. [ Chris hops away from the counter and squeezes past Mal to check on the food. Mal's right, of course, but Chris knows it was just a change of topic. Not that anyone can blame him for it. ]

[friar_trip]

[Ah shit was right and despite wanting to say something more, Trip looks down into his tea and busies himself drinking it. ]

[scarlock]

[Topic averted. Now Mal can drink his coffee in peace and not have to worry about awkward conversation.]

[pettythief]

[ Not entirely. Chris hisses as the tip of his finger gets too close to the burner while he tries to save the food, then shoots his cousin a sour look. It isn't helped by the fact that said finger is now stuck in his mouth, because ow. ]

[friar_trip]

[Used to taking care of the kids in the church's care, Trip recognizes that hiss and stands up automatically. He reaches for Chris' hand while turning on the facet so cold water poured out.]

Don't do that. Doesn't help as much as ya think it does.

[scarlock]

[Now Mal's gonna slip past Chris to save the food and let Trip handle the burn.]

He's right, you know.

[pettythief]

[ Chris gives them both an incredulous look, and makes the token effort to reclaim his hand from Trip. ]

And you would know? [ Mr. Perfect In the Kitchen. :| ]

[friar_trip]

[You get the same look he gives 5 year olds in this situation Chris and he doesn't let go, keeping the hand under the stream.]

Don't know how he does but look where I live and who I live with.

[He'd been helping Felix and Leo fix up small scraps and boo boos for as long as he could remember.]

[scarlock]

[Mal gives a slight smile at that before he frowns at the food.]

You forget that I'm usually working on security systems. I've gotten a few burns from the systems shocking me when I'm not paying as much attention as I should.

[pettythief]

I know who you live with. [ Chris huffs, obviously embarrassed to being treated like this... by someone who isn't Mal, anyway. ] It's not that bad. Both of you.

[friar_trip]

[One day, Trip is going to find out the deal with Chris and Leo. But right now, he had his hands full with the other cousin.]

And it'll be even less bad if ya let me look at it.

[Once he was satisfied, he pulls Chris' hand out from under the water and inspects it.]

Got any cream or aloe? It's not bad but better to be safe then sorry.

[scarlock]

[He chuckles at Chris acting like a big child about all this and puts his attention back on the food. Maybe he could salvage it. If not, he always has a backup plan.]

In the bathroom under the sink.

[pettythief]

I don't need cream. It's barely anything. [ Chris gives his hand another tug, pointing a Look toward Trip. ] Just let me finish breakfast or something.

[friar_trip]

And it'll be nothing if ya let me fix it. [He pointedly holds onto Chris' hand for a moment longer then he has to to prove a point. Then he lets go and turns to head back to the bathroom.]

An' I think Mal's got a hand on breakfast. [He throws over his shoulder as a parting shot.]

[scarlock]

Yes, breakfast is under control. Don't be such a child, Christopher, and let him take care of that burn. I don't need you acting like how you were when you got sick.

[pettythief]

I have no idea what you're talking about. [ His tone says that he does, though it's really only through hearsay. He genuinely doesn't remember most of the time he was ill. ] You know, I was the one who started that.

[friar_trip]

[Trip knows the way to the bathroom and slips in quickly, shuffling through the cabinets until he finds what he is looking for.

But before he returns to the kitchen, he goes back to the bed room he'd woken up in and looks around with a more sober eye, in hopes of possibly finding out a little more about the mystery that was Mal.]

[scarlock]

You were complaining about the bed not being as comfortable as the hammock and acting like a giant child. And I'll be the one to finish this.

[If you're looking for info on Mal, Trip, you're definitely not going to find it in the bedroom of all places. His room is empty for the most part beyond the bed and a small desk. Most of the items in his room are different shades of red, another point towards the fact that it's his favorite color. On his desk is a mechanical book and a piece of equipment Mal has been tearing apart in his free time. Other than that, there's nothing on interest in view.]