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[Gotcha.

And it's unfortunate, because he really actually does like Kate. But that's why he's doing this, right? In part to get at Aidan, to ruin a little bit of his life. And in part for Sally--not that he wants her with Aidan. And in part because Kate shouldn't get involved, because--

Well, he stops there, because because ends in ways that Mitchell knows how even casual sex could lead to death, and he's not going to go there, even in his own head. Bad enough that his glance goes, once, quickly, to Kate's throat. He looks at her face instead, meeting her gaze.]

Look, I don't want to get involved. But I don't want you to get involved, either. Not in something you can't get yourself out of.

Not that you can't handle yourself. I'm sure you can, and I mean that. I'm not trying to offend you. I'm just telling you, know what you're getting yourself into before it's too late.

[ Her kneejerk reactions are offense and defensiveness, and there's a stubborn clenching at the hinge of her jaw that doesn't bode well. But he's trying, she can see that. And it's not like this is some generic warning-off situation. She suspects he knows, and probably doesn't know she knows. But on the off chance he's concerned about something else entirely, she's not about to offer the secret she hasn't even technically been told.

She swallows down an urge to snap at him and lets her response come a moment later, even, sincerely friendly. ]

I appreciate the concern, really. I promise I've got my eyes open here. [ Sort of. ]

[You don't live over half a long life as something very predatory without learning a few tricks here and there. The clench of her jaw is something he notices, the turn of thoughts through her head. And then she smiles.

Mitchell gives her a patient smile in return.]

Yeah. The thing is-- I know how this-- [This; he points to her. The inclusion of Aidan is implied.] --ends. And I'm sorry, but I don't want to see that happen to you.

[ Kate's reckless, not suicidal, but finding the line between brave and stupid is a work in progress. This conversation is doomed to be a losing battle for Mitchell, but she's not wholly uninterested in what he's selling. (She'd be the first to find fault with Twilight, but she'd also say this isn't like that.) ]

Has he hurt anyone since he's been here? Or tried to? [ It could be a line of argument (will be if he says no like she expects), but it's an honest question. ]

[please don't talk about Twilight.

He meets her question steadily, doesn't let that deter his gaze at all--doesn't answer straight away, either, but just studies her, both tense and thoughtful all at once. The questions themselves imply she might know more than he'd originally thought.]

And what d'you do next, if I say that he has.

Check around and find out what happened. I mean no offense, I'm not saying you'd lie to me, but I don't want to be judging just on rumor. And then... [ She lifts both hands and drops them again to thwap against the outside of her thighs.] I mean look if the idea here is that he's playing me and he's hurting people that's very different from him having the potential to do something accidentally.

[He turns away so he can push his fingers through his hair, with a sigh. It's not an impatient sigh, or frustrated--more tired than anything else. But he lets her get through with what she's saying.]

Look. I get it. I really do, and I'm not-- trying to tell you what to do, or how to think of him.

But you have t' know that it's more than potential. No matter what you think, or how he's explained himself-- [And he lets that be broad--even if she knows, and she has to know, from what she's said--but even if she does, he's not going to be the one that outs Aidan. There's levels to being an arsehole.] --it really is more than potential. And you deserve to know that.

[ Kate is silent for a long moment, and though it's clear that she's taking that notion seriously, turning it over in her head, it's less clear what she's making of it. It could be taken as a good sign or a bad one when she asks, ]

Are there things I could be looking out for? Tip-offs, warning signs?

[Being subtle, talking around it, maybe that's not working. He folds his arms over his chest, leveling a look at her.]

That depends on what you already know t' look for.

[ Well now they're at an impasse. Kate levels a look right back, the jut of her jaw as much uncertain as stubborn. What now? She speaks a little more slowly, considering. ] I'd like to know the answer to this, if you have one.

But I'm the one hooking up with him here and you don't even like him to begin with. So if one of us is going be spilling specifics it's not going to be me.

Edited 2014-07-11 15:32 (UTC)

[He doesn't even bother with how do you know I don't like him, or other protests in that vein. That's all bullshit, and not exactly secret bullshit.

And he's not, by the way, an animal. He doesn't give her a once-over, doesn't so much as look at her throat--the words 'hooking up' are pretty direct, and that's not exactly high on his list of Things To Picture--and in there, too, is some pity for Sally.]

The reason I'm askin' isn't to put off answering your question. I don't like him. I don't trust him. But if there's shit he's not told you, about himself, about what he is--and what all of that means--you shouldn't be hearing it from me at all. You should hear it from him.

[ Kate has suspicions about Mitchell, but at this point vampire hunter seems equally likely. With Aidan, she's sure, she's had more than enough chance to confirm his lack of heartbeat, while doing all those things Mitchell's trying not to picture.

But he hasn't told her, and as much as this conversation grates on her principles, Mitchell's right. Asking him is just somehow easier than asking Aidan, which is stupid and a bad sign for whatever their thing is but fine. Fine! Sigh.

She shrugs, and it looks like a concession. ]

Yeah. That's... fair.

Edited (YEAH WE ALL KNOW HE WANTS ON THAT ) 2014-07-11 23:56 (UTC)

[gross Kate

But whatever. He can't press more on this without outright saying what Aidan is, which still feels a little like somehow betrayal to him, no matter how much he dislikes Aidan. And it's better not to think too hard about it, or he risks thinking too much of himself in the process.

So. Fine. He shrugs in return, a little.]

Just be careful. That's all.

I will. [ She smiles, and lifts the video, flaps it once to remind them both it exists and was the ostensible purpose of this visit, or whatever. And that now she has it, she'll be leaving. ] Thanks, Mitchell. See you.

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crawls back to finish this SORRy

my turn to crawl back to finish this SORRy