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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 18:41:35 GMT -8
David looked at the plate, moving over and grabbing the fork. He moved the food around a moment, thinking about her when she said she already ate.
"That...and you didn't know if I would actually show up, right?"
His voice was calm, eyes still on his food as he tried to ignore the ache in his shoulders and back...an ache he despised. He took a bite, giving a small moan of pleasure at the taste before taking a seat and beginning to scarf. He'd slow down a bit once he was halfway through...then take a long drink of water.
"How did you arrange things, when I left? In regards to the core?"
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 19:10:21 GMT -8
Olesya pressed her lips together, not going to agree nor disagree with his statement. Did she think he wasn't going to show up? Not exactly, but she knew he could get carried away with work, especially since there was so much to catch up on. And the hesitance about wanting to come over, wanting to stay with her...she still felt the sting of rejection.
She took a seat by his side, pouring a glass of water from the pitcher she'd left on the table with four upturned glasses, one for each seat.
"I called the meeting, as you know. Kiyr is still running agriculture and supplies. Kazuya is in charge of the army. Eury is helping with hospitality and Aryn, I've got her on a project until I can determine her talents."
She said, giving the breakdown of her small measly core. It wasn't perfect, and was obviously smaller than the core he'd created...but she'd tried.
"It's your core now."
She didn't really want to be talking tactics right now, not after such a long day.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 19:14:11 GMT -8
He nodded.
"No. It's good. I'll keep it that way."
He had a little left on his plate but ate it more slowly, trying to think of what she wanted to hear. Earlier she said she wanted him to love her, to stay with her. He didn't know if he could give her that...or even if he should, anymore. He had kissed Kiyr, and spent a lot of time with the girl...but that didn't mean he didn't love Olesya. Maybe he needed time away from both to just...think. Have them under him as troops but not spend time with them at home. He didn't know what to do...but he knew he needed to stop stringing them along. He had to make up his mind.
"And maddie? How is she?"
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 19:24:29 GMT -8
"Maddie's great...I adopted her."
She chewed the inside of her lip, glancing to the fridge where Maddie had pasted her schoolwork and drawings. She'd written her name all over them. It was better than a birthday gift to Maddie, to officially have a family. It was something she'd wanted for as long as she could remember.
"She's at a sleepover tonight, and Youichi is on guard."
That would explain why the house was so empty tonight.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 19:29:35 GMT -8
He nodded.
"I see. She's getting to that age, I guess, where she likes to have those types of things go on."
He finished off his plate, holding it a moment before he set down the fork on it and got up, walking into the kitchen to rinse it in the sink. He would take a deep breath. Why was this awkward? Was it because she expected and asked for him to be there earlier? Was it because she was unsure of what to do? Of how to act around him? He would turn and head back over to sit with her (on the couch?) and cross his legs under him.
"So...you didn't really tell me how you felt. About...me taking over. This is...welcome, I hope?"
He wanted to talk about mundane things, so she could try and start to feel at ease.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 19:38:14 GMT -8
"Yeah.."
Wow, this was awkward. It was like that 'first date' where you're not sure if you should start escorting them to the door or offer them a drink. Had they really fallen so far? Were they beyond repair?
"No...really...I'm relieved."
She took a deep breath, running her hands through her disheveled hair.
"You obviously know how much stress I've been under lately, and I don't even have the Elder status to show for it. Some people still don't take me seriously."
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 19:42:41 GMT -8
David smiled, then chuckled.
"Oh, Les...When Mathew or Leon comes around and shouts orders, people don't take me seriously either. It's...strange. But you do all the work and feel...creditless. At least now you know what I mean when I say that."
He would keep a bit of a grin on his face, trying to relax and feeling a little less pent up after his laugh. He leaned back, then winced, back racking his back from the sore and tired muscles.
"I am...sorry, though. That you felt left out and..disrespected. I don't think they meant to. I think they were just afraid."
His thoughts went back to what Kiyr said to him yesterday- about the fear of collapse and instability in their family. She was right...and he had seen that today. Their fire rekindled and the drive for more at his return. He was happy he could give them that.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 19:47:57 GMT -8
Olesya nodded, her eyebrow quirking as he winced. Was he hurt? She leaned forward to offer to rub his shoulders instinctively, but then looked down at her bandaged hands. The bruises and cuts were still raw, she wouldn't be able to do it.
"Well you know that I would follow you to hell and back. You don't have to carry the load alone. I know you might not...we might not be...but that doesn't change my loyalty for you. I'm your Voice, and I'm there to support you."
It was like when she and Kiyr had come to a professional truce. Despite their differences, they needed to be on the same side for the benefit of the territory. Same with David.
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 19:58:20 GMT -8
David blushed a little at her stumbling over whether they would be...he didn't really know what to say there. He was more confused on the matter than ever. So he skipped it entirely.
"I know. I'm thankful for the loyalty. I worry sometimes that my strength and position outweigh how people see me as an individual. How they respect me, if they do at all. But...I guess thats just me being human. Self conscious and all that."
He leaned forward and rubbed his own shoulder for a bit, seeing that her hands were in no shape for it. He would look to her face, guiding over the bruises and broken nose (which had been reset, obviously).
"I should...explain something to you. About titles and positions. The other day when we...fought...it wasn't....there was nothing for you to gain in this gang from it. The Storm Dragon title is just a name that others add power to...it doesn't contribute in the slightest to being a member of the gang. Being an Elder does. I...should have explained it at the time and am sorry you are hurting now because of it. I'm glad you're sticking out the wounds though. They build strength."
He hoped this didn't broach a...sensitive topic.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 20:04:13 GMT -8
"You have nothing to worry about. More people respect you than you think. Even when you were gone, your name resonated through the territory. In the market, in the cafe, in whispers and gossiping. You think that the people don't notice but they do."
She frowned, listening to his explanation of the title and elder statuses. In a way, he was telling her she'd fought over nothing. Over something she couldn't have anyway. In a way that irritated her, but it was also a lesson. Just like her broken nose and hands were a lesson.
"I shouldn't have thrown down such a challenge. It was stupid of me, and wrong. I'm sorry. I just...I guess I wanted to hurt you as much as I was hurting. Not that it makes it right by any means."
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 20:08:11 GMT -8
David leaned forward and would plant a hand over hers.
"Don't be sorry. Anyone technically has the right to challenge for a title like mine. Thats why I didn't just...say something about it, but fought you. Really though, we make the names, and the people believe them. The title is just...that. A title. I wouldn't mind you being an Elder, Les. I don't see anything wrong with it, nor did I. I was just...worried the others wouldn't agree with me. they tend to stick together, Leon and Mathew."
He would rub his thumb over the back of her bandaged hand.
"As for you hurting...I...am sorry. I want you to be happy Les...you know that, right?"
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 20:15:41 GMT -8
"Apparently not in this case, seeing as Leon passed his title on. Mathew sees it as a crock."
She recalled the conversation she'd had with Mathew following her outburst. He'd managed to talk her down from beating her hands into stumps, which was what she was doing when he intervened. She'd let her temper get the best of her, she'd cracked under the pressure.
She could feel his touch beneath the bandages, if only lightly. It still made her heart race. Part of her wanted to pull her hand away, to prevent being dragged back in, but the other part of her relished in his touch.
"David..."
He wanted her to be happy. Didn't he realize what that would mean?
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 20:20:56 GMT -8
David watched her eyes, his own heart beating rather hard. Still...though he knew what he wanted to do, he knew he shouldn't. He would give a small smile and look to the ground.
"I wish...I could make everything right between us with a word. I...don't know how to make my own life right, let alone someone elses'."
He brought his hand back and turned, so his feet were on the floor as he put that hand through his hair.
"I wish one of us had the Qi needed to read minds. This whole process would be so much easier."
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Post by Your Mom~ on Oct 13, 2013 20:26:52 GMT -8
Olesya's heart faltered when he took his hand from hers, turning from her. There was that vice again. making up her mind, she got up from her seat and crouched down in front of him, placing her bandaged hands on his knees.
"You don't need a mind reader, because I can tell you exactly what's on my mind. David, I love you. I never stopped, and I'm sorry that my jealousy got the best of me. I shouldn't have doubted you, I trust you with my life. I know you're conflicted and I know you're confused, and I'm just..."
She rested her forehead on her hands in his lap, trying so hard to be completely open for him.
"I'm not going anywhere. Not ever."
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Post by David B. on Oct 13, 2013 20:36:12 GMT -8
Davids eyebrows went up as she got down on her knees (haha-snirk) in front of him, placing her hands on his leg and declaring her love for him. David felt fear bubble inside, but also a warmth spread to his fingertips. He bent, and would take her arm, pulling her up and toward him to sit in his lap. He would let her curl up into him, wrapping his arms around her as he spoke.
"It's okay, Les. I forgive you. I forgave you a week after I left. I just...need to forgive myself. That's the hardest thing I've ever done but I...I love you too. I really do."
He would hold her gently, ignoring the pain in his body from it. He didn't care at this point- it was like an annoying fly. He wanted to just repair everything and take Olesya to bed, if she'd have him. Make the whole world better. Problem was...that wouldn't make his feelings any clearer. It wouldn't make her less jealous and...he needed her to trust him again.
"Since we...broke up, you have...trusted me less. I understand why. I want to earn that trust back. So your never worried when I say i'll come for dinner. Or that i'll be there when you ask me to be."
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