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 Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:50 pm
She had been excited all day to meet back up with Adria, and had spent a good part of the day shopping for his care package, and now that it was done, Kibirev was quite proud of it, thank you very much. Of course, she had been on a budget so it wasn’t as utterly amazing as it could have been…but it was thoughtful at least. A nice, wicker tote filled with a soft fluffy towel and five different bath bombs, some bath salts and a bright purple bath poof…not that she even thought he would use the poof but there was no reason not to…and the color was so pretty.
There were several packets of hot chocolate and a mug with a very round cat on it as well, along with two boxes of the best tea she could think of, all of it good for soothing one’s nerves.
The final and in her mind the most precious of all of the items in the package was a paperback book that looked as though it had seen some love.
It was her favorite romance novel and she thought that perhaps…Adria would like to read it as much as she did…at least she hoped so.
Kibirev arrived at the meeting place at nine thirty and seemed excited. She didn’t have the promised ice cream, but she had some donuts and some bottles of water and juice waiting in another bag.
Now the only thing that was missing was…well.
Adria.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:04 pm
Adria was not as calm that night as he had been the night before; he'd gotten it into his head that he should worry--what if it was a trap?--and had to drag himself out of his house to the meeting point. On one hand, Kibirev had been so kind--and they were friends, weren't they? On the other hand, she could have been lying, in which case, he was an idiot, but...
They were friends, weren't they?
There was only one want to find out. He'd sucked it up, told Michel and Lysithea where he'd be, and he headed over to the fountain. He was still a little early but, to his surprise, she was even earlier.
...And sitting there, innocently, without looking like she was up to no good. "Hi," he greeted, raising a hand and waving as he approached. He flashed a quick smile. "I'm sorry, did I keep you waiting for long?"
He tried not to sound nervous or worried about any of it and, to be honest, seeing her sitting there with her basket was as reassuring as if he were meeting an old friend anyway.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:13 pm
Kibirev lit up like a Christmas tree when she heard his voice and stood at once, shaking his head. “No! Not at all…I just wanted to be sure that there was nothing bad around before you got here so I came pretty early, and I’ve been excited for this all day and I was really hoping you’d actually show up and…”
She drew in a breath and then bit her lip, grabbing the bag of snacks. “I brought donuts! They had chocolate glazed today and I got some of them and some cream filled…I hope you like donuts…and I brought water and juice…I thought that the milk would get warm and nobody likes warm milk but then again it’s winter and I could have just put it in the fountain…”
Kibi was nervous and talking way too quickly, she knew it but she couldn’t quite figure out how to just calm herself down.
“…I’m so glad you showed up…how are you feeling, Adria?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:20 pm
Adria seemed both surprised and pleased with her display; he glanced from the snacks to her face and couldn't help but smile. "That's really sweet, Kibirev, thank you. You put a lot of thought into that. It's really nice."
He crossed his arms over his chest, not quite sure what else he should do as he stood there and rocked on his heels. He felt bad that he hadn't brought her anything, but he had underestimated her enthusiasm for actually making a care package.
"I'm feeling better. I mean. I was worried about coming out tonight, but I tried to be careful. I've sort of just...been taking it easy."
He'd taken a long bath and then hidden in bed. When he kept having nightmares, he'd had to turn on the television. It was brainless background noise for the most part; it took him until the first rays of sunlight began to poke up over the horizon before he could finally drift to sleep. Exhausted, his body finally caved in. He'd spent the rest of the day trying to be productive but the worrying about tonight had made it hard.
But, he'd shown up--and for now, he wasn't regretting it.
"Thank you for doing this," he said again, finally moving to sit next to her. Another soft smile had blossomed onto his face. "I was kind of worried? But...I don't think I had a reason to be."
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:56 pm
Kibirev grinned broadly and put the donuts down, grabbing the care package instead. “I made this for you too, it’s some bath bombs and a really nice towel and bath salts. I figured you could relax and I put in some hot chocolate and tea and a really cute mug, and my favorite romance novel . It came out last year and it’s…I don’t know if you’ve heard of it but it’s called “The Light on Lake Litwick” and it’s just the best book ever.”
She had stars in her eyes just thinking about it.
“This is my old copy…I know it’s a little worn, but I promise, I’ve read it enough that I know what’s in it…and I don’t know…I think there’s something special about gifting an old book to a friend…it’s like giving them a piece of your heart…”
The senshi flushed and shrugged. “I know that must sound really stupid but. I’m really glad to have met you, and I’m sorry you were worried, I would never hurt you, Adria. I promise. We’re friends.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:21 pm
Adria's eyes skimmed the contents of her basket and he seemed genuinely touched by the offering. It had seemed so nice and thoughtful and--
Oh God, that was his book.
He froze, eyes on the worn cover of the book he'd self published last year. For a few seconds, he couldn't think of anything to say and then he just laughed softly, trying to force away the shock of seeing one of his books in someone else's hands.
He'd only printed fifty, it was a trial sort of thing that hadn't ended very well. He sold digital books online decently but the process to publish a physical copy was frustrating and he was too afraid of failure to have really sent out applications. He'd managed to get them into a few stores in Destiny City, and every now and then he checked back to see if they'd sold. Some of them have, and some of them hadn't.
He hadn't done any advertising; it wasn't like he had a large enough group of readers that he figured anyone would find the books, but he'd been afraid if he released too many he'd somehow be tracked down to Destiny City, that someone would find him, that his secret identity would be out. He wrote under a pseudonym, terrified of being a failure and having it attached to his name.
The Light on Lake Litwick had been under a pseudonym's pseudonym, but he'd been so proud the first time he went into a store and one was missing. And then another.
And now, he'd gotten a deal for a new book to be published. For real published.
A real book. Coming out in a few weeks. He hadn't told anyone; he'd been trying to hide his enthusiasm out of fear of revealing the name he worked so hard to hide.
Still, there was a burst of pride when she held it out, when she said it was 'the best'. It was her favorite romance novel.
Adria almost cried.
"This is really sweet," he blurted, trying to stifle the emotions. He could process it all later. "But I--I couldn't keep something so important to you. Let me--let me read it, and I'll bring it back and we can talk about it? And I'll bring you a book, too. But I," he picked up the book, he looked at the dents, the creases, the wear on the spine. "...I couldn't take a book that means so much to you. Not forever. But it means so much to me that you would want to share this with me. All of this. You have to tell me if there's ever anything I can do for you!"
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 9:28 pm
He looked so happy, and it made Kibirev’s heart utterly soar. “Oh! I’m…I’m so glad! I always thought that books were such a great way to get to know a person…I um…”
She looked suddenly sheepish, but very, very pleased. “I’m so happy right now…I didn’t expect you to get so happy from such a simple thing but…it makes me feel like I really did something right…can we hang out again soon, Adria? Tomorrow? I haven’t been so happy to be out…ever. I feel like you’re giving me…I don’t know. Purpose and being your friend literally means everything.”
Hesitating, Kibirev gently put her head onto Adria’s shoulder and relaxed, smiling brightly. “So…you wanted to hear all about the kidnapping and everything, right? Why don’t you grab yourself a donut and I’ll…tell you all that I can remember. It’s a lot…and literally…literally everything in my life changed because of it…I got kicked out of my house and lost my best friend and just…it’s a lot. But if you wanna hear it all, I’ll tell you.”
Reaching over, she took out one of the chocolate glazed confections and took a bite out of it. “I’m getting better though. And now I’ve got you so the story does have a happy ending!”
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:16 pm
He was nodding before she'd even really finished asking. "Yeah, I'd like that." Of course he wanted to hang out again soon; he'd have to find something he could do for her--something as nice and thoughtful as this had been.
He took a doughnut, mindful not to move too quickly or jostle her. He sank his teeth into one of the puffy pastries and, mouth full of dough, he nodded. He chewed and swallowed quickly. "Well, I hope this isn't the ending! Just a new, better chapter." He had been mindful of the book, setting it somewhere safe so it wouldn't get any food on it.
"But I do want to hear, if you don't mind telling." His brows were knit and he looked concerned about her; he had never been in a situation where he had lost everything, but the closest thing that he could imagine was when Sanidine had attacked him. Everything had changed then--he didn't get kicked out, but he'd wound up in the hospital. He hadn't quite lost Cambria, but she'd had Evan she had to care for, and who she spent most of her time with. He had residual fears and doubts, but he had never been kidnapped.
"What happened?" he asked, eyes on Kibirev as he took another bite of his doughnut.
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:19 pm
Kibirev was still smiling and nodded, feeling a sense of peace that had been eluding her for some time. “I don’t mind telling at all, but it’s a long story so I hope you’re comfortable!”
She certainly was, and as she started into the story of their kidnapping, and Altea and the whole new world that had opened up, for once she didn’t feel…unhappy. It was nice to be able to talk about it with someone else. Someone not involved…someone who could just…sympathize.
The story went on for the better part of an hour and by the end, Kibirev’s mouth was dry and she was feeling tired. But pleased.
And anyway…that’s how I got here and…life is starting to get back on track…I haven’t actually…done anything with this new area we got but…I think I might start…maybe you could come to help me at some point if I can bring you? I don’t know if I can but…it might be fun to try?”
She looked at him, with a trusting expression. “And I think I should head home now, I’m getting so sleepy…but I had a lot of fun tonight, I’ll see you tomorrow too, right?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:19 pm
Adria seemed enamored with the story--alarmed, at parts, but completely enthralled. The half eaten doughnut remained dangling between his fingers for the duration of her story. It wasn't that he didn't want it, just that he was so captivated by the whole thing that he didn't even think to finish it.
"Yes, please," he said, seeming startled back into awareness. He shoved the rest of the doughnut into his mouth and wiped his fingers off on his outfit. He chewed quickly and swallowed. "That's a crazy story, thank you for sharing it! I'd--I'd really like that, I think! All of it. But yes, it's--it's definitely late, I should head home too. Thank you so much for all of this."
He picked up the basket she had prepared for him and made sure he had the book safely packed away. He hesitated, reached out, and gave her a quick hug. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. But I'm really happy that it sounds like things are finally working out for you. You seem so sweet, I really wish you only the best."
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:20 pm
Kibirev smiled brightly, standing and returning the hug happily. “It’s okay. It really is. I’m better now!” She laughed softly and picked up the bag of snacks. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Adria, thank you again for a wonderful night. I…”
She shrugged and just grinned. “See you tomorrow!” The senshi skipped off and paused a few feet away, waving goodbye with a laugh and then slipping once more into the nearby mirror.
She felt light and happy. Almost as though she could take on the world. Nothing could stop her at this point in time…and she didn’t think that she would ever let anything stop her again if she had a choice in the matter.
Life was just…Good.
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