It's The Hard Knock Life For Us(Mark Smith)

[Yancy]

(OCC: July 30th, afternoon. Mark and Yancy bonding)

Yancy was tired. And hungry. And replaying that battle over and over in his head. He had got hurt and got into fights in the past. But it was nothing like this. He even got a scar on the right side of his collar bone for it. Yancy didn't regret it, anything he could to help out the war was a step closer to redemption. But at the same time it made him realize how important his life was. It was made even more aware seeing mark's reaction. Now he and mark became relatively good friends, and when he got hurt mark practically begged him to be more careful. Especially since a member of this army was killed in said battle. The thought that someone cared for him was a lot of humility and relief for yancy. 

So he decided to heal at roses', which was a safe haven for the sick, injured and too young to fight. He was sitting in the kitchen, eating leftover fried chicken and drinking a beer when he saw his good friend step down. His feelings had been steering closer and closer to a genuine romance but yancy was unsure how to say it. So with a smile, he looked to mark and replied "Heya mark, good to see ya pal. Care for a drink?"

[Mark Smith]

Mark was exhausted. He kept having nightmares of Johnny. Some things happened the same way. And others Johnny killed Mark, Lisa, or both of them. He still couldn't believe he let Lisa manipulate him like that. She didn't love him or Johnny. Hearing of this war gave him some hope hearing how people came back to life. He wanted Johnny to be alive again even if he never spoke to him again.

As he walked downstairsh he remembered he was at Roses's house taking a shift there. Helping watch over their secondary base and some of the younger members had been a good way to introduce him to the war slowly. He wasn't sure how much help he'd be in a fight but at least he felt useful doing this. As he walked down into the kitchen he spotted Yancy and smiled. He'd developed a crush on the man. He mostly dated women but he occasionally found men attractive. But he didn't want to blow another friendship so he wouldn't say anything.

"Hello Yancy." said Mark.

He nodded.

"Sure. I'd like a drink. What do they have here anyway?" said Mark.

[Yancy]

Yancy smiled in delight as Mark accepted his invitation. Yancy was glad to spend time with his friend. Part of him screamed in undeniable need to pop the question that had been on his mind since he got here. But he decided to wait on it for now and see. He then cocked his head to the fridge replying "We got beer. Soda pop. Lemonade. Apple juice. Pick your pleasure" Yancy then winked showing off his beer "I got mine" He then sipped his beer to prove his point. He then awaited for mark to sit by him and couldn't help but immediately notice mark looked way beyond tired. Mark looked like he hadn't slept in days. Maybe even weeks.

The curiosity and concerned part in him began to theorize on all the possibilities. But yancy knew assumptions weren't facts. He felt it best to hear it from mark's mouth as opposed to his anxious mind. Yancy looked mark up and down before replying, concernedly "Heya pal, are you alright?" He then replied, calmly "You look like ya hadn't slept in days" He then tried to avoid any denial by being straight forward "Listen, if something's botherin' ya, yous can tell me. I won't tell a soul" He then looked at his beer again, sipping it before looking at mark again "I won't judge either. Me of all people shouldn't judge"

[Mark Smith]

Mark paused pulling out a beer and taking a few sips and sighed. When Yancy spoke again he chuckled.

"I guess it's that obvious huh?" said Mark.

He sighed again.

"Back in my world I made mistakes. My best friend's girlfriend was bored and she seduced me. She manipulated me into wanting her, betraying my friend several times. When he found out he confronted us and then he.... killed himself. And then she had the nerve to say we could finally be together. I realized it was just about sex with her. She didn't care about either of us and I lost him. Johnny was my friend and now I can never make it right." said Mark.

He paused taking another sip.

"I keep having nightmares. Some I find him like before. And others he comes after me. And lately I've stopped running in the dreams. Maybe it's just a dream but maybe part of me thinks it should have been me instead of him." said Mark.

[Yancy]

Yancy chuckled right back, shrugging at mark's joke "Eh. It's just an observation. I'm good at observing" Yancy replied calmly. It was true, yancy was told many times by the warden about how observant he was. And yancy had gotten many friends in the prison system as well as learn HOW to escape the prison just by observance alone. He then noticed mark get much more antsy. And a lot sadder also. Yancy knew he was going to be told the story of why he wasn't sleeping. So yancy dared not interrupt while his friend spoke.

Yancy listened interestedly as mark explained his situation. A good friend of his passed on due to his girlfriend having a affair with mark. Said friend, Johnny, then confronted them only to kill himself not long after. Mark felt grief, yet the girlfriend seemed all too happy to move on. Mark then explained he felt shame for it and had nightmares about his friend. The dreams either entailed playing the story as it worked out or have a twist of johnny attack him. Yancy took a breath. That was rough. Losing a friend was never fun, it was even harder to have them die. And it also sucked to be used the way he was. Sure mark could've resisted but it sounded like the girlfriend emotionally abused him.

Then mark started to say that maybe it was better to be him and not his friend. Yancy's heart broke after that. Mark was a good guy. Way better than yancy ever would be. And yancy was not going to let his friend push himself so hard. Impulsively, yancy got a bit closer, being a bit tipsy he didn't notice his hand on mark's. He replied, assuredly "Now you listen here. You are not to blame for his death. Sure, you were with the girl but you cared about your friend and to me, you are trying to do everythin' you can to honor him" He then replied, insistently "Yous are a great guy mark, you deserve to be here just as much as any of us"

He then replied calmly "The gal just blew up smoke with you. She lied to you and him and she'll have to answer for it eventually. If anyone is to blame, it's most likely her" He then sipped his beer for a small while before sighing "You're a saint compared to me. I was a criminal. I stole from all types of banks, stores and what have you. I've assaulted people for looking at my friends funny. I've done WAY worse than you ever had or will" He then looked down, filled with shame. He knew mark knew that yancy did some bad stuff but he was worried mark would be ashamed of him. He sighed "If anyone's a monstah it's me"

[Mark Smith]

Mark listened to him in shock that he was being nice to him and defending him.

"You really think I'm a great guy?" asked Mark.

He blushed as he realized he'd said that out loud, but still feeling touched. Like no one had said that to him before.

"I almost wish I could have had her arrested but cheating is sadly not illegal." said Mark.

He raised an eyebrow as he said he was a criminal.

"So you have a dark side huh? Well, you can't be all bad. You've joined the hero army. You've tried to cheer me up. A bad guy would have kicked me when I'm done or walked away. But you helped pick me back up again. I think you're amazing." said Mark.

He paused at the words and shook his head.

"You're not a monster. We've both made bad choices. I saw we're more like kindred spirits but not monsters." said Mark.