Turned Around

KORBIN

And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,

He did not contradict the traits she listed. Could think of a few more to add as well, but there was no point if she didn't search for them herself. Her request was met with a very long silence, as Korbin turned it over in his mind. Preaching was one thing, stepping in to correct the faults he berated was another. Did he have the mindset to help anyone right now? Did he want to get further involved with this woman? She was Noah's partner, for better or worse (definitely for worse) so avoiding her entirely was not plausible if he planned to spend any time around his friend. But putting up with her and actively going out of his way to spend more time in her presence?

Ugh. No. He did not want that.

"I don't actually like you," he pointed out, with surpreme bluntness. "And I have enough problems with piecing my own life together. I can't help anyone. If you want to learn how to survive here, talk to Noah. He would be overjoyed at a chance to teach."

Did it make him a hypocrite? Korbin hoped not. Didn't think so. Truth was, the whole business of getting the Kraai back on its feet and dragging his ass out of bed in the morning was about as much as he could handle right now. Being responsible for helping someone else better themselves... was not something he could or should shoulder.

The potential damages he might do were far too great to risk it.

Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.