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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Aug 27, 2009 14:41:26 GMT -5
Sonia had to laugh when Reyes explained the phenomenon of his superb English. All right, so they were stereotyping, but he had said it with such good, long-suffering humor that it was funny nonetheless. "Don't worry, I believe you," she said, recalling the stories and complaints of the Asian friends she'd met in school. She suspected it was worse when one actually lived in Asia.
They were interrupted by the ringing of a cell phone. Sonia immediately dived for hers, fumbling through her purse and hoping against hope that she was finally going to get some good news. Even a minor lead would suffice--anything but this tiresome, infernal waiting. Where the hell was that phone?--there!
When she saw that it hadn't even been her phone that had gone off, she practically growled in frustration and tossed the phone back into her bag with more force than was strictly necessary. "I'm sorry. I thought--"
One look at Reyes' crestfallen expression was enough to cut her short. His phone was still buzzing, and some internal debate was being very clearly reflected in his features. It was sometimes disturbingly easy to forget that someone else in the world was also having a fantastically shitty day and that she wasn't the only one with reason to rage at the world.
The ringing stopped. They sat in tense silence, the peaceful illusion forcefully shattered. So much for a good day. It was ridiculous, she thought bitterly, how such a small occurrence had the ability to ruin a pleasant mood, no matter how tenuous.
Reaching across the table, Sonia laid a hand on Reyes'. "Never mind." She sounded resigned, even to her own ears. She needed something to say--something that would make them both quell the urge to fling their cell phones at the nearest unsuspecting tourist. "I'm glad I met you. I'm not exaggerating when I say you made my day."
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Post by DesperateDark on Aug 27, 2009 21:02:23 GMT -5
The ringing stopped at last, and Reyes let out a long, though silent breath. He hadn’t realized he was holding it until now, but a breath of fresh air did nothing to help him. He continued to stare at the cell phone, having no idea what to do with it. Caleb would keep calling, and he would keep having to turn him away and the guilt was killing him.
It was probably now that he realized he was scared, sure. But he was more scared for Caleb then he was for himself. What was happening to him? What was he doing? Reyes knew he was panicking all over the place, and the police was probably filing him as a missing person right now. But that wouldn’t matter by tomorrow, because tomorrow Roblin would have deleted him from every government and non-government database in existence.
"Never mind." Reyes looked up to see that Sonia had reached across the table and placed a gentle hand over his. "I'm glad I met you. I'm not exaggerating when I say you made my day."
For the first time since he realized what he must do, he felt the familiar sting behind his eyes. A deep, wavering breath as he gently covered his eyes with his free hand, bowing his head. With his other hand, he gingerly griped Sonia’s hand as an anchored; something to keep him rooted.
A few minutes passed like this before he dared to look up at Sonia again. “And thank you for making my day, Sonia.”
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Aug 28, 2009 0:59:55 GMT -5
Though their emotions were, to put it lightly, high-strung, Sonia had nevertheless not been expecting such an intense reaction to her simple gesture. Hand tightening around hers, Reyes lowered his head, shielding his eyes from view. Sonia blinked back her own tears though they still threatened to trickle down her cheeks. Biting her lower lip, she used her free hand to wipe them away, her movements careful and gentle so he would not realize she was on the verge of opening the floodgates.
They remained like that for several moments. When Reyes spoke, his voice was low and soft. “And thank you for making my day, Sonia.”
She at least choked out a "you're welcome," before she dissolved into shameless tears. The deerhound whined and nuzzled her, looking just about as miserable as she did.
In a way, crying was strangely liberating; as far as she could remember, the last time she had cried was when she was a teenager, and that had been years ago. Even in the past few hellish weeks she had not shed a tear. She had kept herself busy, had wasted no energy to break down, but now--now that the trail had gone stone-cold, so dead that even the best scenthounds hadn't the faintest hope of finding it, Sonia finally let herself cry.
"I'm sorry." She had lost count of how many times she'd apologized to Reyes today. Still sniffling, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. As mortifying as it was, she was thankful that she was not the type who cried very noisily. "I didn't--oh hell, I'm going to need a tissue."
Instead of rooting through her purse, she just grabbed the napkin on the table. Refusing to let go of Reyes' hand, she dried her eyes and blew her nose one-handed and with a rather unexpected dexterity.
The customers at the other table were probably staring. Sonia didn't care.
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Post by DesperateDark on Aug 28, 2009 11:21:57 GMT -5
Reyes didn't expect her to react to his thanks the way she did. He half expected maybe a stiff smile, maybe a comforting nod. Sonia continued to hold his hand, even through her tears. He let her cry it out; he knew how much she needed it right now. She probably hadn't cried in so long, for whatever reason that landed her in France.
Sonia seemed to calm down a bit more, apologizing to him before reaching for her napkin. She still held on to his hand, and he did so in return. Not another word from Reyes until she began to look fairly calm; he didn't want her to start crying spontaneously again, or at least not so quickly. The other customers on the far end were glancing over their shoulders at them, but Reyes ignored whatever attentions they were receiving.
"Who was it?" Reyes asked after a full five minutes pause. Talking often helped clear the mind in certain situations, or so he had heard. He dearly hoped she knew what he was asking, and also hoped that she wouldn't burst into another bout of tears either. If she did, then it was entirely possible for Reyes to break down as well, and a full grown, 6'2 tall Japanese man crying would be quite something to see for the tourists.
Impeccable timing on the waiter's part. The man came out carrying two plates, one balanced on each palm as he wove through the scatter of chairs and tables. The man barely spared a glance between them, looking just as relaxed as if there wasn't a crying woman and a near-tears man sitting in front of him. The waiter placed the two plates down, placed an extra napkin on the table and walked off.
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Sept 1, 2009 0:16:11 GMT -5
Wiping off the last of the tears, Sonia fought for self-control. With her talisman's soft encouragement, she regained most of it. She bit her lip and took a couple of deep, shuddering breaths before she trusted herself to answer. Her voice came out wavering and unsteady, but her words were, if nothing else, discernible.
"My little brother." Her breath hitched, and there was a couple seconds' pause while she took the time to calm down some more. "He's missing. My family's been searching for weeks, but..." She shook her head mutely, letting the silence speak for itself.
They were interrupted by the arrival of their lunch. Sonia mumbled a perfunctory 'merci' to the waiter, thankful that he'd thought to give her another napkin. Or perhaps he should have brought several extra; she didn't know if she was going to have a second breakdown anytime soon.
Picking up her fork, she poked at the generous heap of whipped cream on her plate. She was still hungry, but she didn't feel up to putting food in her mouth--if that made any sense at all. Which it didn't. But then again, she didn't expect anything to make sense anymore. Most things used to, but now... Now, she had no idea what to think or believe, and she lacked the energy to figure it out.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have burdened you with my problems." Silence as she stabbed again at her crêpe. "If... if you feel the need to talk, I'm here to listen."
If nothing else, she would do what little she could to help this man who had found it in his heart to be kind and understanding to a stranger.
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Post by DesperateDark on Sept 1, 2009 22:59:20 GMT -5
"My little brother." Sonia's breathing wavered for a moment, and Reyes was afraid she would start to cry again. But her reasons were understandable; this was family she was missing here and, to some degree, she had it worse then he did. "He's missing. My family's been searching for weeks, but..." She let it hang in the air, and the Japanese man was equally as silent. Yes, he justified in his mind that she had it worse then he did. She was missing a brother, while he was only missing a lover.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have burdened you with my problems. If... if you feel the need to talk, I'm here to listen." She was taking jabs at the heap of whipped cream on her plate, and he picked up his own knife and started to pick at his food. The caribou told him to eat, but despite not eating since yesterday, he was far from hungry at the moment.
"Oh no, it's fine." Reyes shook his head, putting an effort into a reassuring smile, even a faint one. And even if it sounded like a cheesy line from a sappy feel-sorry-for-me teen movie: "It's good to pour it out, I think."
Reyes considered telling Sonia about his own woes as well, and his caribou kicked him mentally in outrage for even thinking about it. Yes, because his caribou thought it was better to keep it bottled up instead of telling anybody, because every single person out there could turn on him. Every. Single. Person.
He felt as if he were about to burst already. Or cry. Or both.
"I..." a long pause as he picked at his food some more; the spinach suddenly didn't look so appealing. "I'm running."
Reyes left it hanging as well, afraid of how she'd react.
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Sept 2, 2009 15:54:22 GMT -5
The smile she gave Reyes was nearly indiscernible but present nonetheless. Despite all the ill luck she had suffered recently, bumping into this man was an unprecedented stroke of good fortune. A mere coincidence had brought them together. Now, she dreaded parting ways. She had seen plenty of kindness in the past weeks, but Reyes wasn't only kind; his empathy ran deep, and Sonia had to wonder what he had experienced that would make him so understanding. Nothing less than hell, probably.
Like she, Reyes only picked at his food rather than eating it. "I..." He hesitated for several seconds, struggling to find the right words. Sonia set her fork down, not wanting her fiddling to make her appear impatient. "I'm running," he finally said.
When it became clear he was reluctant to elaborate, Sonia spoke. "From whom?" she prompted, temporarily setting aside her own problems just as he had for her. It was the least she could do, even if she didn't think it was enough. The deerhound nuzzled her, telling her Reyes would appreciate it regardless.
They were still holding hands. She gave his a light squeeze. There was no way she was going to try for a reassuring smile; any attempt would come out as anything but.
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Post by DesperateDark on Sept 2, 2009 18:20:07 GMT -5
"From whom?" Sonia had placed her fork down, turning her full attentions to him. Her question was a good one, and the answer would be simple if life worked in such a way. The woman gave his hand a gentle squeeze, encouraging him to keep talking. For a split second, almost non-existent, a flicker of doubt or wariness rose in his mind. Reyes shoved it aside as quickly as it came along, instantly feeling horrible for thinking like that.
Maybe it was because he was becoming too afraid. His caribou instantly reasoned that he should be, or else he'd be dead long ago... Dead or worse. He willed himself not to be afraid of Sonia, and that she was no threat to him. These days, anybody could suddenly turn on him and there was no longer anybody he could go to without risks. Reyes thought wistfully back to when he was a kid or back in his wild days as a teen; no worries, no cares. Now that was living.
"Running for my family and friends, running from..." Reyes looked away from the woman in front of him, but still held her hand gingerly in his. With his free hand, he wiped away the tears before they fell. He couldn't even fake a smile from this point on; it was getting too hard. "Running from the people with the tattoos, Sonia." Another long pause as he looked back at her, his hair falling over his eyes. He made to attempt at fixing it. "The Japanese with the tattoos like no other you've seen. You know who they are?"
A pause as Reyes tried to make the word fall from his lips. These were the people who've been hunting him down like an animal. They've forced him to run from the only world he had ever known, and just when he had found some sort of refuge with Caleb, they found him again. These people were covered in tattoos, but theirs were different, distinguishable, completely unique and in patters you'd never be able to begin to imagine. Once you've seen one of their tattoos, you'll never confuse them and normal people with ink ever again.
"Yakuza."
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Sept 3, 2009 15:10:37 GMT -5
"Running for my family and friends, running from..." Reyes broke eye contact, gaze focusing somewhere off in the distance. Sonia didn't turn her head to see what he was looking at; a glassiness in his eyes told her that he wasn't actually seeing. She kept her eyes on his face, watching, waiting for him to gather the courage to continue.
She felt a sharp knife-twist of guilt when she realized her brother may have vanished for the same reasons. She'd run hypothetical scenarios in her mind ever since she'd heard of his disappearance. He could be incredibly stupid at times; if Sonia or any of the rest of the family were in danger, he would go to any lengths to keep them safe. Typically, he would completely disregard the fact that they were more than capable of taking care of themselves.
She forced those thoughts away, turning her attention back to Reyes. Wiping at his eyes, he finally spoke again. "Running from the people with the tattoos, Sonia."
The statement elicited a frown of confusion from her. She seriously doubted he was talking about some outlandish fear of tattoos, but she was unsure of what exactly it was to which he was alluding. Instead of asking, however, she simply listened. Sooner or later, he was going to tell her outright.
His voice was a hoarse whisper by now. "Yakuza."
It took a moment for Sonia to place where and in what context she had heard the word before. When she remembered, her expression darkened. Her talisman lifted its head, alert now. Why? she wanted to ask, but her talisman shook its head, willing her to stay out of it. This was not her world; if she got involved, she would be biting off far more than she could chew.
But she couldn't just leave Reyes to his problems when it was in her ability to help. She'd never forgive herself if she did. Besides, it wasn't as if the shifter conflict were so far removed that she could not offer her help.
She lowered her voice so that only he could hear. "Reyes, I have contacts." As neutrals, she and her family made certain they had a network of people who would help them in a tight spot. They had been of tremendous help in the past weeks, even if they'd failed in the end; still, there was no way she could have gotten as far as she had without their assistance. No reason they could not be of help to Reyes. "If you need help, please--please don't hesitate to ask me."
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Post by DesperateDark on Sept 3, 2009 22:46:10 GMT -5
When the word came from his mouth, she seemed vaguely confused as to whom the Yakuza actually were. There was absolutely no way he was going to explain, he wouldn’t be able to bring himself to do it. Maybe if they had wireless around here, he could show her the Wikipedia article or something on his phone. Reyes was about to reach for his phone to check and do just that, but Sonia’s expression went dark with understanding and he stopped.
"Reyes, I have contacts." Sonia had lowered her voice so it would only reach his ears, and had leaned forward ever so slightly. "If you need help, please--please don't hesitate to ask me."
Reyes smiled faintly at her offer, but shook his head in polite refusal. He knew that Sonia was trying to be of help to him, but he didn’t want to feel like he owed anybody else. And if the Yakuza ever somehow found out that the woman helped him at all, she was good as dead. By the look on her face, the world of gang warfare was beyond her. Roblin would be making him obsolete tomorrow, but then he owed her nothing because she owed him a favour from long ago. She’d done this once before anyways, and she was willing to do it again.
“The help I need is probably beyond what you can do, but thank you.” If everything would turn out the way he wanted, he’d be back in Japan living in his little house in Nikaho. It was the house with the koi pond and sakura trees and the little tea hut in the back, and there would be Caleb there with him. Of course, that’d probably never happen, but a guy can hope, right? His eyes wandered over to his phone, half wishing that Caleb would call again, and the other half dreading it.
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Sept 5, 2009 1:16:03 GMT -5
The deerhound could not deny its relief when Reyes refused the offer. Though Sonia thought her talisman ungrateful, she could nevertheless understand why it felt the way it did. She had already proven that she could not take care of her family properly; what absurd notion made her think she could take care of Reyes? It was hardly her place to be everyone's big sister when she'd already failed her duty to her own siblings.
With an inaudible sigh, she gave his hand a final squeeze before letting go. "I see." She fiddled with her whipped cream-tipped fork for a bit, then looked back up at Reyes.
"Good luck." Of all the times she's said those words, she had never meant it more. She willed it to be true with all her heart: luck, peace, and maybe even happiness. She knew little about him, but if the world were at all kind, this man would get what he deserved and more.
"Why don't we eat before our crêpes before they get soggy?" she suggested as lightheartedly as she could. "Or soggier. We did come here to eat, after all."
Without further ado, Sonia cut off a small section of crêpe with her fork, speared it, and stuck it into her mouth before the fruit fell out. She directed more focus and energy to the task of eating that was necessary, but concentrating on the light, sweet taste of the meal was the only way she could think of to distract herself. Trivialities were a blessing at times like these.
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Post by DesperateDark on Sept 6, 2009 17:10:28 GMT -5
Sonia gave his hand a gentle squeeze, wishing him luck before releasing her hold. Reyes pulled away as well, turning his attention to his plate as the woman recommended eating before their food became soggy. His crepe had become a bit damp and upon tasting it, he found it wasn’t as good as he thought it would be. Maybe his depression had something to do with it. He more or less picked at the rest of his plate, maintaining the silence and willing it to stay for as long as he was able.
Reyes saw it before he heard it. Out of his peripheral vision, he saw the screen if his cell phone glow its usual eerie blue. The ring followed soon after, and the caller ID read ‘Takki-chan’. Wouldn’t the boy ever give up? He knew first hand how clingy Caleb became, so he probably wasn’t going to give in any time soon. A deep breath before Reyes reached for the phone, holding it for a second before handing it to Sonia. Maybe she could help after all.
“If you want to help, please tell him that I’m that I’m okay and I’ll be fine.” Another pause as he tried to think out his words as quickly as possible, before it stopped ringing. His voice was shaking by the time he started up again. “Please tell him that he should always smile as if nothing happened. Tell him that I hope his heart feels relieved, please forget about me and live on.” Once again, there was a pause. Jesus, his heart hurt more then he thought possible.
“It would’ve hurt less if we didn’t meet at all, and I hope he will bury our promise of being together forever…” Reyes’ voice cracked as he said the last word, and he looked to his right again, still holding the small mobile out to Sonia. If she wished to help him, this is what she could do. He hoped that Caleb would be put somewhat at ease, knowing that he was fine.
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Sept 7, 2009 2:50:01 GMT -5
Putting all her attention on nothing more than simply eating--and perhaps enjoying the food, to some small extent--Sonia avoided Reyes' eyes. She could still tell that, having lost his appetite, he was picking at his food. Neither made any effort to renew the conversation; despite their endeavors, it seemed like there was, realistically, very little each could do to help the other.
It took several minutes of unbroken silence before Sonia's big sister instinct finally kicked in again. However, before she could tell him that he ought to eat to keep his energy up, the ringing of a phone shattered the quiet atmosphere once more.
She would have lunged for her purse again (and she nearly did) had she not recognized the ringtone as Reyes'. Judging by his wretched expression when he eyed the screen, it was the same caller as before. More tension, more silence: that's what Sonia fully expected from the call's aftermath.
So when the Japanese man held the still-buzzing phone out to her, she merely stared at it, dumbstruck. “If you want to help, please tell him that I’m that I’m okay and I’ll be fine,” he said, voice wavering. “Please tell him that he should always smile as if nothing happened. Tell him that I hope his heart feels relieved, please forget about me and live on.”
A pause as he wrestled with his next words. The phone continued to ring. How many more seconds, Sonia wondered, before it fell still and mute like before? And whoever was on the other end--what emotions were running through his heart right now? Fear, desperation... Did he have to live with the terrifying thought that someone he loved might be dea--
Without a second thought, she snatched the phone from Reyes' hands and picked it up. The moment she put it up to her ear, however, the comforting words and gentle reassurances fled her tongue. Whatever she'd been about to say was lost to her--and to the caller.
"...Hello?" she said hesitantly, almost timidly, waiting with bated breath for the response.
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Post by DesperateDark on Sept 7, 2009 19:57:47 GMT -5
Sonia only stared at the phone for the first few seconds, and he thought he might have to shove the little device into her hands. But before he could make another move, the woman had snatched the cell phone from his hand and picked up, holding her breath. She was maybe as nervous about speaking as he was of hearing how Caleb sounded. Reyes couldn’t hear anything from the other end for the first several seconds. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Caleb’s hand was shaking; his breaths catching in his throat as he dialed Reyes’ cell phone number for probably the twelfth dozenth time today. The police had told him, as far as he could comprehend in English, to keep calling Reyes. All the calls would be recorded and tracked in an effort to find him while the police did their own search. When Caleb woke up that morning, Reyes wasn’t next to him or anywhere in their suite like usual. At first he had thought that he went out to get something, but after a few hours and some calls, he had begun to feel more then a little worried. All this was yesterday, and Reyes had yet to make an appearance. The police had taken up a search, and they said they would bring out the hounds to track him the day after if they didn’t find him by then. Every single time there was a voice message instead of his lover’s voice, no calls were answered; nothing. The ringing went on and on, and Caleb had nearly bit through his bottom lip today. He balled up his first in his shirt, pulling at it and chewing on his bottom lip like he always did. He preyed for him to pick up, to be able to hear that Reyes is still alive and well. The phone rang for way too long, and he was about to give up when there was a click, and somebody picked up. “Satoshi-cha--“ …Hello? Caleb’s heart stopped beating for several seconds. It was a woman’s voice. Assumptions and thoughts took over his mind, and he nearly dropped the phone. It couldn’t be; his Reyes would never do something like that, would he? No, he wouldn’t and Caleb was pretty confident of that. So who was this woman? The other end of the line stayed silent for a while, and Caleb himself stayed silent because his throat felt like it was about as wide as a straw and filled with sandpaper. Swallowing hard, he at last spoke in a frantic tone, the tears already spilling before he said anything. “Where’s Satoshi? What’ve you done with him?” Caleb questioned in a desperate voice, all in Japanese. He wouldn’t be able to speak a word of English now; he was too stressed and he felt as if he were about to faint. He kept asking questions, trying to make some sense of his life right now and praying that Reyes’ voice would come on and tell him everything was okay. -_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Reyes cringed when he heard Caleb’s voice suddenly come through the little cell phone; his tone hysterical and unsteady. He heard snatches of the conversation, heard his name a few times too. It hurt his heart, it really did. Reyes was very tempted to snatch the phone and sooth Caleb on the other end with words, but he knew he couldn’t.
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Post by Aras|Ofelia on Sept 8, 2009 16:32:38 GMT -5
Sonia's uncertain greeting was met with silence, then a rapid string of some language that was not English--Japanese, she guessed. It didn't really matter what language the man on the other end was speaking; what mattered was that she could not understand or speak a word of it, and she suspected that the caller was in the same boat when it came to English.
Holding the phone a short distance away from her ear, she shot Reyes a confused look. He looked completely miserable, however, and Sonia couldn't bring herself to ask why he'd made her do this even when he'd evidently known what would happen. She shoved back the temptation to simply hang up, knowing the devastation she would cause both Reyes and the caller if she did so. As flustered as she was, she was not so cold-hearted to do that to a friend, or even a stranger.
Looking Reyes in the eye, she drew a deep breath and put the phone to her ear. "Hello?" Her voice was steadier, more confident this time. She held the Japanese man's gaze as she spoke. "This is..." A pause. "This is a friend of Reyes'."
She went on, not waiting for the caller to reply. Whoever it was was clearly worried sick, and Reyes obviously cared a lot for him. "He's okay; he'll be fine. He says that you should smile, always. And... and..." She nearly choked on the next words. "He says that you should forget about him and just live on."
She wanted him to know, she wanted his mind at peace, she wanted to pretend that everything was going to work out for somebody in the world.
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