Snippet #2615761

"A fool like yourself never belonged to the upper class in the first place." Jonathon scoffed back "Hence why you could not last long in our courts. How easily you label yourself as a victim of fate rather than admitting the reason you were probably cast out was a lacking in yourself; nothing as supernatural as fate. And if distressing my sister results in her not following your pathetic pathway than I will gladly do so."

Julian smiled thinly, "Of course, the fault is mine, though I profess, I am glad of it. High society is filled with people like you."

Let him prod, Julian thought. Let him try and hurt me with this. Perhaps if Julian and Jonathon had met years earlier, his prods might have hurt. The wounds were rawer then, still fresh and hurting. It would have only taken a few words to make Julian feel small. But now? Now the wounds were healed. While he retained some of the mannerisms, Julian had long since left his privileged life behind. The wounds had healed so well that they couldn't be seen.

"Lorena is a good person, and she is our friend, she doesn't belong with anyone who thinks she's bad, because she's different. She belongs with us."

Billy smiled resolving to try and be a little more like Mila. She was brave in a way that was often ignored. It was a bravery born of kindness. The world he had grown up in didn't have much room for kindness for kindness' sake. It had even less room for bravery. Keep your head down and get on with it. Don't speak up, don't argue, don't complain. Punch the boy next to you if you had to, but never punch up. Punching up leads to trouble.

"I've had enough of listening to this lower class trash-"

"And I suppose that means you don't have to reply to Billy's comment. Or do you have no honour?"

Billy raised his eyebrows, folding his arms and waited for Jonathon's response, "Well? Are you a man of honour?" But when had Billy ever let trouble stop him?

"I do not have to answer to any of these people." Jonathon hissed at Lorena. Billy noted the tightening in Julian's jaw. "But there is nothing really to answer to." He turned to Billy, "Do you really think I would be embarrassed of enjoying the company of a few wenches every now and again?" He let out a humourless laugh. "I can do whatever I please with those whores. Considering where they are in the hierarchy when I pay them for what they offer it should be considered charity."

"Ri-ight," Billy nodded his head, "Of course. We're not good enough to associate with, but we're good enough to bed, but only if you are paying an Iron Touched. My good sir, I think it's them who are doing you the service, not the other way around," Billy smiled brightly, "But I'll leave you to your view of the world." Billy looked to Julian, "I think we're done here."

Julian narrowed his eyes, "I quite agree," he answered curtly, his gaze remaining on Jonathon. He turned to Lorena, "If you wish to come with us, you're more than welcome. If you wish to return home with your brother, the choice is yours. Mila?" he called to the girl, indicating for her to follow himself and Billy.

"Come on Mila, how are we going to fix Pan if we hang around giving this guy an earful?" Billy asked, slowly heading away from the docks, giving Mila time to catch up with him, and Lorena, if she had a mind to.