This is why he didn't elect to be openly kind towards others- it was never appreciated, so why even put the effort in? The lynx point bit a lip as he attempted to swallow a growl as the she-cat chose to casually berate him in the public eye of the clowder. "Nuisance, I am not!" The smaller-sized tom barked out a response with his fur on end. By the stars, if he had the ability to control the elements...he'd summon a damned lightning storm to strike Viper from where she stood.

How dare she have the audacity to mention his father and their relationship.

"Business between my father and I, it is ours alone! Your nose...keep it out of it." As Recluse's voice began to drip with venom, and he had to unsheathe his claws to steady himself from where he stood. He wanted to rip her throat out for saying all of that. He wanted to will her out of his world, just like he wished to force his sister out of it. But he had no choice...he had to play along with it. "...Sucking up, I am not." He seemed to steady himself, willing in a sensation of calm despite the agonizing loathing he felt towards Viper in those moments. "Compliments you cannot take, my fault it is not." He added in those words quietly, as remnants of the resentment that remained.

He tried to move on, to let go of the indignation that had become so ingrained in him, but it felt impossible to do so. The hatred that burned so deeply in his heart, the emotion of betrayal and jealousy directed at his sister...it overruled everything. It made him nearly forget everything else, save for his ambition and desperation to win his father's heart. But in truth, all of that was tied together. It was all one big bundle of frustration.

Recluse had no idea what a "hoser" was- Viper said strange things to him. He imagined the cats here spoke in a different dialect as well, maybe something similar to Viper. Ugh, they were asking too much of his brain... "...different clans, different elements they must have. Counter water you might, but fire..."

Thorne

No, his father didn't mean it...!

It was a reality that he had to bitterly face, but it was something he refused to admit to. No, with enough effort and elbow-grease, he could prove himself a capable son and make his father proud. If he found her and brought her back...that would surely win his sire over. Recluse sent the dusky molly a resentful glare before curling his lip. "...Prove myself, I will." He wasn't sure if he was telling this to Viper, or himself. It sort of seemed to be the latter.

He snorted at her comment towards his "small thinking abilities" and disregarded his companion as nothing more than a fool. If she wanted to play around with fire and get burned to a crisp, then so be it. Maybe if she just used her claws rather than her teeth, she wouldn't get fried. Genius. "Reality it is, small thinking it is not." The lynx point stated firmly, sliding his scrutinizing blues back over to Viper. "Claw the life out of fire, you cannot. Try...only a fool would."

Thorne