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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 14:56:35 GMT -8
Despite recent events, life still went on. The world kept turning, the sun kept rising and setting. The ocean tide kept ebbing and flowing. Even a multitude of bombs hadn't stopped the world from moving, so it wasn't going to stop Olesya. There was still work to do.
Now sporting bandages on her hands in addition to her face, she returned to work. Doc tried to talk her into a candy tear, but Olesya needed to feel the pain of her actions. Her broken nose from challenging David, her bruised and bloodied hands from flying off the handle following Leon's farce announcement. She needed this in order to center herself, to grow stronger, to move on.
After spending the day on the training fields, Olesya grabbed an apple from the market on her way to the war room. She ate it in record time...the only thing she'd had all day. She still wasn't sleeping or eating properly, but that wasn't high on her priority list at the moment.
She opened the door and stepped inside to find the light already on. Was someone here? The sun was setting, most people went home at this point, or finished up what they were working on at the very least.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 15:06:10 GMT -8
David sat, at the head of the table. His forearms rested in the arms as he leaned back in the chair that was always his, eyes on the door as Olesya walked in. The place was empty- unusual for this time of day. There were no gaurds outside, and David was sporting a bruise or two across his face from their fight.
He was decked out in his Elder armor.
He watched her enter, and would wait for her to take a seat.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 15:45:39 GMT -8
The room was empty, Olesya wasn't entirely surprised. With all the added pressure, officers were taking what liberties they could to get out as soon as they could. At first just about everyone was into staying longer and working harder, but as the pressure increased, the willingness to over-work was decreasing significantly. Olesya found more often than not working late into the night by herself.
The last person she expected to see in this room was David.
He was also in his full Elder armor...something wasn't right. The hairson the back of her neck stood up.
"What are you doing here?"
She asked after a minute of stunned silence.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 16:07:54 GMT -8
David wasn't looking at her- by the time she noticed him, his eyes were on the smooth tabletop. He gestured to the seat next to his with a hand, slowly.
"Please sit, Les."
He'd wait for her to comply, staring off for several moments after. Then he would look down at his right hand and rub his fingers together.
"Tell me, as bluntly as you can Les, what it is you want out of life, and want out of me. Tell me what you think of me, of my decision to leave, and what you'd like me to do. Brutal honesty, if don't mind."
He'd fold his hands in his lap and finally turn his eyes to her, waiting.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 16:30:56 GMT -8
Dutifully, she came in and sat down next to him as he indicated. Her skin was crawling slightly with apprehension. Her 'something isn't right' feeling simply increased at the seriousness of his greeting. That and he wasn't looking her in the eyes.
Olesya had to admit, she was taken aback when he spoke again.
She took a deep breath, preparing herself to be completely honest with him.
"Out of life? I want to be happy. I want to be safe, and I want to be alive. I want Maddie to have the best opportunity she can, to have a full life. Out of you...I can't even begin to say what I want from you. I want you to be there for me, not just to support me, but...just be there. I want to share my life with you, wake up with you, and fall asleep with you every night. I want to grow old with you. As a Dragon...I want you to take your responsibility as an Elder. I want you to lead by example. I...can't keep doing this alone. You may think I'm stronger than you for that, but I'm really not. I can't eat, I can't sleep. All I do is work, and it's killing me."
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 16:46:14 GMT -8
David lightly ran his fingertips against the top of the table, listening as she went back at forth. He answered her just as honestly.
"Les, I asked for you to be honest. I will do the same without mincing words. I believe in you. I believe you are strong."
He turned his eyes to look at her. They were unreadable.
"Some people learn best by being integrated, slowly, into a position. Others learn best by being thrown to the wolves. I threw you to the wolves. You have so much to do for yourself- so much to fix. Maddie and her childhood. Your own mental condition that has been repairing. It's done more damage than I meant it to. Your frustration with me, Leon and Mathew have probably bubbled over into your interactions with others and I know thats not what I want. Or what you want."
David licked his lips and turned his eyes back to the room, slowly scanning it over, a small smile on his face.
"This is quite a place. When I took over the Dragons, they were nothing but twenty people hoping for something more. You've done a great job in my stead Les. You kept everything going. And I don't want to come back. But...I don't think I have a choice."
Eyes found her again.
"Les, I'm stripping you of your title of interim Elder, as well as all the powers of war, of policy and authority in general populace that come with it. From now on, your the Voice again."
He would reach out to take her hand.
"And remember that, no matter how im feeling or what I'm doing- I am always there for you. You just need to call and I'll come running. Now...go home and get some rest for me?"
He demonstrated that he would come when she called him before he left. When she called him for a meeting. Or when she needed help. He would wait to see if she responded negatively or not.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 17:05:47 GMT -8
Olesya listened to everything he had to say, trying to deduce how she felt about all this. There was a bit of pride in the fact that he said she was strong. Confusion to the indication that someone grew best when gradually introduced or thrown into the fire, like she was. A bit of bitterness that he was taking the power from her.
And...relief. That she no longer had to do this alone.
She kept her expression carefully neutral, but her pupils dilated slightly as he spoke. She sighed, feeling the weight of the world lift from her shoulders.
"You don't have to do this alone either, you know. Rely on me, I can help you. We can do this together."
She paused, getting up from her seat but not going anywhere just yet.
"Could you...come home with me?"
She asked softly, her eyes falling from his gaze to the floor. They were still working on repairing their relationship, and they were still separated. However, sleeping in David's old room every night made her miss him. It was another reason she didn't sleep well these days.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 17:12:12 GMT -8
David nodded at her saying he didn't have to do it alone. He knew that...but to be an Elder, was to be alone, regardless of who you had helping you. It was, as she well knew, the ultimate authority. She could offer advice and do the tasks but, as he told Kiyr the other day...he would be the first with blood on his hands for the cause, because he believed it was right. Her offer for him to come home made him blink....then blush.
"Thank you for the offer but....I should really get out and let the people see im back. Visit the food markets. Let the uniform tell the story."
He would wait for her hope to die, just a bit, before-
"But save a plate for me...perhaps I could stop by after, if...only for a little while."
A small smile as he looked at her, confusion clouding his head.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 17:16:55 GMT -8
"Uh, oh. Er, okay...forget I asked."
She mumbled, her hope crumbling. She should have known better than to ask, with their relationship on the rocks and all. Her shoulders fell slightly, and she moved toward the door.
Then he spoke again, telling her to keep a plate for him. She felt like her heart was on a string, and he was tugging on it to make sure it was still there, but not wanting to reel her in.
At his words, she simply shrugged, her gaze flicking to him for a split second before she walked out the door.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 17:25:03 GMT -8
David frowned- what had he done wrong? He meant it...perhaps he should tell her that. Olesya had the tendency to...mix up what was said and what was implied. He slid his chair out and darted for the door, hand pushing it open before his other one took her by the crook of the elbow.
"Wait- I mean it. I'll be by around eight. You understand that just up and leaving now doesn't get the message across. They wouldn't know whose leading them. Just...save some food for me. I'll be there. Promise."
He'd watch her, trying to get her back to where she was just a moment ago- heart open, honest with him. Not trying to shut him out because she was...worried.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 17:40:43 GMT -8
She let him stop her...that was what she truly wanted, wasn't it? She wanted him to want her, wanted him to want to be with her. He was still confused and trying to figure things out for himself, but her feelings hadn't changed. She hadn't been lying when she said he was the only one who made her heart beat loud and fast, the only man she loved.
Olesya paused, not turning back to look at him but not pulling her elbow from his grasp. Her heart felt like it was in a vice.
"I'll leave you a plate, then."
She said, dejection still in her voice, but her stubborn tendency taking over a bit. She was being honest with him, but her hurt forced her walls up ever so slightly.
"Do what you need to do. You know where to find me."
She'd wait until he let her go before moving again, heading for the house that had once been their home.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 17:50:00 GMT -8
David let her go after, eyebrows down as he watched her leave. Why did she feel he would say that and not mean it? He supposed...they were to talk about it soon enough. His eyes turned toward the recruits and the men at the barracks right beside where he was standing. All of them were looking at him. He stared back, feeling a cocktail of emotions in his chest...before they were replaced with his usual, distant strength. Authority. And stand-alone mentality. He was, regardless of what they thought, an Elder. And he'd make that clear.
"IM SORRY? WAS THERE AN ORDER IN THERE THAT SAID STARE AT THE ELDER!?"
They all jumped, his orders loud and strong. He started walking over there.
"Vacation is over boys! You're gonna show me what you learned, and if I'm not satisfied, I swear to god you'll be running laps for the next twelve hours around the entire territory. Lets GO. MOVE IT!"
They jumped into action as he got closer, getting back into drill order and beginning to drop into pushups.
"DOWN. UP. DOWN. UP. LETS GO LETS GO LETS GO. IF YOU AREN'T HURTING YOUR NOT TRYING!"
---------Several Hours Later-----------
7:57 pm.
David was covered in mud from fighting his men in tests. His hands smelled like the salmon he had been holding at the markets, surrounded by laughing and rather pleased people, looking at him chat about a fish he caught on patrol with a rookie name Brad. Brad was dead, now, but he didn't tell them that. No use ruining the story for them.
So at that moment, he didn't exactly feel like she would appreciate him walking into her home. But he had only gotten off a few minutes before and...didn't have time to change.
His knuckles rapped on the door, three times, and he waited for it to open.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 18:02:17 GMT -8
Maddie had elected to have a sleep-over at one of the friends' houses from school. Les had Youichi posted by on stake out to make sure the home was secure. She felt a little bad that she put Youichi on such mundane duty, but she was the only one Les trusted with her family. With her daughter.
Olesya was home, having made herself some pasta with the noodles that were sold at the market. She added butter, chicken and fresh herbs to the mix. She had a relatively large portion, surprised herself at her hunger. But then again, she hadn't been eating well before this point, so her body was starved for nutrition.
Afterward, she sat on the couch in the living room, her gaze flicking to the door every once in a while. Should she wait for him? Would he keep his word? She didn't like being the one to have to wait, she was never good at it.
The knock rapped on the door, resounding through the house. She climbed to her feet, reaching the door in a couple strides. She hesitated for a moment before opening the door, her eyes falling on a very dirty David. She gave him a once over, before stepping back.
"Come in. You can...use the shower if you want. There's still clothes in your closet."
Not that she was pressuring him to feel at home, but he was ridiculously muddy, and she didn't want all of that on her couch.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 18:11:32 GMT -8
Davids eyes came up to her then looked back down at himself.
"Yeah I...would have done so before hand but i just got off and...didn't want to be late. I would kill for a shower...thank you."
He was a little surprised to learn he still had clothes there...had she left them on purpose? Even when he made it clear they werent together and he wasnt ready for a relationship with anyone? He wasn't about to ask- some part of him even liked that she left some for him. He carefully stepped inside, the dirt luckily dry and mostly surface related, not thick and gooped up like the watery stuff. He would trail back into the bathroom and strip, the door closed. He was still...not quite comfortable with just using things without asking, but he guessed the invitation gave him permission.
Seven minutes later, he stepped out, wrapping the towel around his waist and slowly walking into the back room. He felt...weird. Like a guest who probably should ask before entering the bedroom. Yet it was still his house. His name was attached to it. Confusing...he would get dressed quickly- in jeans and a white tshirt, heading back out into the living room after.
"Hey...thanks for letting me use your shower. Was...refreshing."
He glanced over at the kitchen, wondering if there was food there, as he was starved.
"I hope you didn't wait. Food smells to good to wait on."
He'd offer a smile, trying to ease her into him being there.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 18:33:14 GMT -8
He would find that the room hadn't changed at all. The dresser was still where he left it, the bed where he left it with the same comforter. The only difference was that her clothes took up half of the closet and her gear laid out on top of the dresser. It was her room now...kind of. One of his old tshirts was tossed on the bed, appearing to have been recently worn.
She left everything where he'd left it when he abandoned the house. In a way, she was holding on to what they'd had before she'd gone and messed it all up. Would they still have been together if she'd flown off the handle? Would he have eventually left her for Kiyr?
She had rolled those thoughts over in her head so many times they'd be polished stones by now. It was best to just put them to rest. When he came out of the shower, she had taken a plate and warmed it up for him, setting it out on the kitchen table with a place setting for him.
"Thanks. I already ate...I'm sorry. I was too hungry to wait."
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