Good to be Back (Bolt)

Trahnael

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The cold was still harsh. People would normally enjoy staying indoors on days like this, drinking some hot chocolate or coffee and watching movies, but Adelene has been outside for a couple of hours now, taking her bittersweet time to get to where she really wanted to go.

It took strong determination for her not to back out on this. It shouldn't really matter so much, but the girl can't help but feel guilty for suddenly disappearing for months without even letting most of her friends and acquaintances know what had happened.

That included Yeagar. And while she had every reason to think that the old man didn't think as importantly of her as she did of him, the fact that she hasn't dropped by again still ate at her. And that was why she was standing in front of his shop, for more than ten minutes already, playing out in her head some scenarios that could happen once she steps inside and then preparing for anything bad that she could think of.

Eventually, she decided to stop. Just get on with it, she thought to herself, before pushing the front door open just enough for her to slide through. She let herself in as quietly as possible, but the door was still able to make a creaking noise.

Yeagar was there a few meters away, and seeing his back turned to her, she can't quite help thinking if he even remembered her after all those months...
@Bolt
 

Bolt

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Another day, another project. Nothing changed at the Rusty Gear nor for it's owners. Business went on as normal, though it was slightly noticeable that it's owner was annoyed about something. What it was not even Rob could even begin to guess. Still Yeagar went on day by day like nothing every happened.

The bell to the door went off and Yeagar let out a small annoyed sigh and set down his tools. Why would someone possibly be out and about on a day like this? He had other jobs he needed to get finished and had planned on doing them that day given the weather. Still, he was a businessman, if one could call him that. The monotonous voice showed he said the same thing to every customer that came though his door.

"Welcome to the Rusty Gear. What can I do for....You?"

As he turned towards his door, cigarette in his mouth, Yeagar's eyes went downward and saw little Adelene standing there. His mouth slightly opened as the cigarette fell from his lips and hit the floor. Well this was a shock and a surprise. He was all but convinced the girl had moved on and forgotten about an old man and his "toys" if one could call them that.

"Huh. So laptop break again? Doesn't seem to be the case since you have nothing with you...."

Stepping on his cigarette he walks over to Adelene and looks down at her. What reason did she have to be there? She disappeared for months and now this? Well he wasn't going to be a complete ass, he still had a soft spot for children after all.

"Let's go to the office. If you've been out there you need something to warm you up. And then we can talk about why you're here out of the blue."

A brief smile as he rustled her hair before turning around and walking towards his office. Well hoped she liked coffee because he didn't keep any hot chocolate in the office. He stepped on the cigarette once more before moving into his office. He really hated smoking around children.

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Trahnael

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"H-Hi..." Adelene was hesitant, both in her quiet voice and small smile. It was probably weird for her to suddenly drop by-- that's probably what Yeagar was thinking. But whether it was strange or not, Adelene was already satisfied with his reaction-- with the obvious fact that he has not forgotten her.

That, however, stirred up the gnawing sensation of guilt in her gut.

"That's not really right... I brought something." She held up the box of pizza, which was probably out of Yeagar's sight when she first entered. Before fully crossing the shop, Adelene briefly paused and put the box down to take off her beige overcoat. She held it on her arm and picked up the pizza before following Yeagar to the 'office'.

"So... How've you been, Mr. Yeagar?"
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Bolt

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"Mister? Well now I feel old again."

He could smell the pizza after she had mentioned she brought something with her. As they walked it was well kept and clean. Brown painted walls that looked professionally done, black desks against the far wall with stacks of folders and papers in neat stacks, two computer monitors on each desk and a flat screen TV hanging on the wall furthest from the office. It was rather spacious and felt like an actual room compared to an office.

Yeagar pointed to an empty spot on the black desk sitting in the middle of the room. Yeagar sat on his side of the desk, a comfortable one sitting right across from him. He was liked his guests in his office to at least have some comfort and not some crappy dollar store chair to sit on.

"Same as always really. Fix this, fix that. Work on this. Blow up that. What about you? Don't strike me as the type to up and vanish like you did. If you don't want to talk about it it's alright, we all have secrets after all."

Yeagar had a small look of worry in his eyes, but the rest of his face and voice told nothing. He was still curious why she came to see him of all people. And it bothered him more as to why it bothered him compared to a lot of people who saw him once and disappeared.

"I would get Rob, but he's in a maintenance cycle for the next several hours. I'm sure he'd like to see you too. So anything new with you?"

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Trahnael

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Adelene let her eyes wander around the room. She placed the box of pizza where Yeagar pointed, and after that, hung her coat on the seat's backrest so she can work on opening the box. "I hope you're okay with beef. And mushrooms. Glad to see you and your shop's doing fine..."

She took her seat only then. She helped herself with a slice, and took one small bite on it at a time-- too casually-- almost as if she didn't just come back from a few months of disappearance. But just like how Yeagar's eyes were tainted with worry, the pair Adelene owned were also filled with anxiousness.

"I'm sorry if it seemed like... I just forgot about you and the Rusty Gear. That's not really what happened though. Got injured really badly and I had to be hospitalized. It wasn't really that bad but... I didn't know I was taking meds that could amplify negative emotions so... the stress and trauma skyrocketed to the point that..." Adelene paused. She was already trying her best to explain herself, but in the first place, did it matter to Yeagar? Surely it didn't. Even though the atmosphere around them was easy and comfortable, she couldn't really assume that Yeagar would care so much. But... she wanted him to know. "Well, I kinda tried to put a bullet in my head. But my doctor and supposed grim reaper became an angel instead and stopped me. Had to go through some therapy to get rid of the suicidal tendencies after that..."

Adelene shrugged in attempt to seem indifferent and even resumed nibbling on her slice of pizza. The look in her eyes betrayed her though.

"Well. I'm fine now. And that's why I wanted to drop by. It just... didn't feel right if I don't let you know. Sorry for the trouble."
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Bolt

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His answer to her asking if he was okay with the toppings was Yeagar grabbing his own slice and eating it in rather quick bites, he really had no preferences when it came to pizza and just ate whatever came his way. He noticed the look in her eyes and let out a sigh. Now he wanted the cigarette he just put out, but he could wait till Addy was gone.

Yeagar listened to her story and made no noise or movement, expect eating another slice of pizza, till she finished. He simply got up from his chair and walked over next to her and looked down at her. Someone so young having such a rough time, and almost committing suicide? Something stirred in his mind and he wasn't sure how to process it. For quite possibly the first time in his life since he moved to Manta Carlos he did something unexpected and thoughtful.

Yeagar crouched down and gave Adelene a hug.

It only lasted a few seconds before he let her go before pulling his chair around to her side of the desk. He looked at the doorway to the office and walked over to it, turning his head back to Addy.

"You're an idiot, you know that? Hold on a moment, just sit here. I'm closing shop early today. Weather isn't going to get better and people can just call if they need something."

It took Yeagar a few minutes to turn off the lights in his workshop save a few for keeping it lit, turning on the Closed sign that sat outside the main door, and locking everything up. He returned to the office and took his seat, looking at her. Did she have no one she could rely on to talk with? Or did she just not like to burden them?

"Let's hear them. Your thoughts. The good, the bad. Anything you want to talk about you can tell me. Not like I have a social life so no one I could tell besides Rob."

His voice sounded different, almost fatherly. The sarcastic tone had completely disappeared and all that was left was a man trying to be a father-like figure being there for a daughter-like figure. Yeagar was....Being genuinely nice.

@Trahnael Incoming feels?
 

Trahnael

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Following Yeagar's form, Adelene caught herself looking upwards beside her, and not in front of her anymore. She tilted her head curiously, oblivious to what was to happen next.

Fortunately, the slice of pizza she was holding didn't fall. But Adelene was rigid with surprise, and wasn't quite able to grasp what just happened even as Yeagar was already pulling away to close the shop.

She stared at the doorway until he returned. And then her eyes followed his form as he sat down again.

A chuckle escaped her lips. Somehow, it sounded forced. "I don't think I have anything left to say... You wouldn't want some bull crap story from me." She attempted to laugh, but the more she did, the harder it became, and no sooner did tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. Adelene couldn't control them. Just seconds later, she was already lowering her face to hide it, as she sobbed quietly.

"S-Sorry..." she muttered between hiccups, "it really wasn't that bad... but the nightmares haven't gone away... and sometimes I'd still feel like I'm drowning in the sea, and my best friend dragging me to the bottom... The pain always comes back... I still have trouble sleeping..."

She wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks, but only managed to smear them all over. She refused to raise her head while her face was still a mess.

"I didn't mean to cry, Yeagar... Sorry. I'm not here to cry, I just... really wanted to let you know I'm alive..."
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Bolt

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....So that was it. This makes sense, he was a soldier once and had seen people develop the same traits of hiding the pain and trying to brush it off. Their own nightmares and fears following them years later. Hell Yeagar kept in contact with a few of his old squad mates who suffered from it for these reasons alone.

A smile crossed his lips and for once it stayed there longer then a nanosecond. This was good, she was letting it out. Talking about it. Did she not have anyone should could talk like this with on a more personal level? Given how she was, Yeagar guessed more that Adelene did not want to burden the people closed to her. Yeagar hunched forward in his chair and his arm moved slowly towards Adelene's face, wiping away the tears with his finger.

"Nothing to be sorry for. You were hurt by someone close to you. That is the kind of pain that is difficult to get over and move past. Just need someone close to you who is there for you. Well since it might as well be me, go ahead and let the tears flow, alright? Vent out what's bothering you. I may not look it, but I am a capable listener."

The smile never left his face, nor did the concern and genuine tone of his voice. It was weird for him to be doing this as he had no real experience doing this, it just felt right. He still wondered if she didn't have anyone to talk to, but he still believed she just didn't want to worry whoever it was. Well he could do it as he really had no reason not to. And she was here and the shop was closed so she had all the time she needed to let it all out.

@Trahnael
 

Trahnael

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Adelene nodded, but made no effort to say anything else. Sobs and hiccups were the only ones she still made. Even those, however, were sounds she strove to swallow with the last of her slice of pizza as she moved away from Yeagar's hand.

She swallowed, and smiled. "I'm okay, I'm okay," she insisted, waving a hand at him before fetching another slice from the box. "It's been a couple of months. I don't need to cry that much. I'm not a kid, you know. But... thank you. You're very kind, Yeagar. It's not very obvious at first glance though."

At this, Adelene's laugh finally sounded real, despite being soft and not very full of energy. And some kind of glimmer returned to her eyes as she finally looked at Yeagar again. "Remember when I told you you'll get along really well with a certain someone? I was talking about my brother back then. You're just like him and my father fused together."
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Bolt

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Sitting back in his chair Yeagar takes another slice of pizza and eats it in a few quick bites. He just let the silence sit there, wondering what was going on in that mind of her's. It was good she was able to do this, be honest with herself a bit. What broke his smile into a small chuckle was Addy's own soft laughter. It reminded him of when he went to the store and saw parents out with their children. The laughter he would hear. Or the times he would go to the park and start passing out treats, with the parent's blessing first.

His eyebrow raised. Her father and brother? Well he should feel flattered, but he didn't know how to feel since he did not know either person to make a guess himself. He was interested now in learning more about Adelene's past. He didn't really have one himself per say, but he lived in the now and did not really look to the past for anything.

"So they preformed the Fusion Dance and made me? Joking aside mind telling me more about them? Would like to see why you compare me to them, and learn more about you. Understand if you don't want to talk about them, since something is keeping you from them I'm going to guess. Living alone has its perks sometimes, but at the same time it really does suck."

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