Lena Roze
Clouds darkened the sky and rain lightly pelted against the shop window. The weather had truly taken a turn towards autumn, and Halia was torn between missing the nice weather and enjoying the soothing sound of rain. She hummed softly to herself as she shelved the last of a shipment, standing on her toes to reach the very top shelf. Her coworker had brought a rolling step stool in for her, but she was still being stubborn about reaching it on her own.
As she attempted to slip the current book into place, the bell above the door jingled to announce a customer entering. Balancing precariously on the toes of one foot, she turned her head to greet the person, only to be surprised at who she saw. “Welcome in, I'll be with you in a- …..Khaz????” She planted both feet on the ground and quickly set the stack of books in her arm down before hurrying over to him.
As she attempted to slip the current book into place, the bell above the door jingled to announce a customer entering. Balancing precariously on the toes of one foot, she turned her head to greet the person, only to be surprised at who she saw. “Welcome in, I'll be with you in a- …..Khaz????” She planted both feet on the ground and quickly set the stack of books in her arm down before hurrying over to him.
elfstar89
Khaz had finally gotten himself moving after the break-up texts were sent. He hadn’t fully considered who he wanted to talk to about it first, and, before he knew it, under the growing storm, he’d found himself wandering toward the book shop Halia had said she worked at. It looked like the kind of coziness that Khaz very much wanted right now…and yet…after what had happened…kind of felt like he didn’t deserve. Not after probably breaking Mason’s heart like that. Even if it had been probably the right thing to do.
He had been so checked out that he hadn’t even texted her to see if she was at work or at her apartment, he’d just started wandering without fully conscious thought.
Peering in through the window, he spotted her, standing on her toes, putting books from what looked like a recent shipment in their proper locations. Not even stopping to consider she was likely in the middle of shift, and this might be a bad idea, he made his way to the door, which jingled as he opened it. Seeing her, the energy left his body, the numbness began to fade, and he realized his eyes were welling with tears. “Halia…did I do the right thing?” he asked, feeling his heart break all over again. What would she say? Would she comfort him? Would she chastise him?
Could he even reasonably claim to have earned comfort, when he probably deserved chastisement?
He had been so checked out that he hadn’t even texted her to see if she was at work or at her apartment, he’d just started wandering without fully conscious thought.
Peering in through the window, he spotted her, standing on her toes, putting books from what looked like a recent shipment in their proper locations. Not even stopping to consider she was likely in the middle of shift, and this might be a bad idea, he made his way to the door, which jingled as he opened it. Seeing her, the energy left his body, the numbness began to fade, and he realized his eyes were welling with tears. “Halia…did I do the right thing?” he asked, feeling his heart break all over again. What would she say? Would she comfort him? Would she chastise him?
Could he even reasonably claim to have earned comfort, when he probably deserved chastisement?
Lena Roze
Brows knitting in concern, she gently guided Khaz over to the counter and held a finger up before popping behind it. Coming back around, she had what seemed to be a small throw blanket that she quickly wrapped around him. She would apologize to Akito later for getting it wet, knowing he often wrapped himself up in it when he was in the store at ungodly hours of the morning for freight.
”Tell me what happened?” She gently squeezed his shoulder, concerned but needing far more context to be able to answer his question.
”Tell me what happened?” She gently squeezed his shoulder, concerned but needing far more context to be able to answer his question.
elfstar89
Khaz let himself be guided over to the counter and wrapped in a blanket, glad for the warmth and comfort, terrified of losing it in a minute, once he opened his big, fat mouth. His sea-green eyes rose to meet Halia’s soft and pearly gold eyes, and he couldn’t speak for a moment. It just hurt too much.
“Halia…I…I did it. I broke up with him. I couldn’t just keep stringing him along like that. But it hurts, it hurts so much, and I know he probably hurts a lot, too, but I don’t know what to do,” he babbled in mournful confusion, at a complete loss for what to do with himself right now, beyond continuing to cry his eyes out and hate himself a little bit for being the one to pull the trigger on closing the curtain on the relationship.
“Halia…I…I did it. I broke up with him. I couldn’t just keep stringing him along like that. But it hurts, it hurts so much, and I know he probably hurts a lot, too, but I don’t know what to do,” he babbled in mournful confusion, at a complete loss for what to do with himself right now, beyond continuing to cry his eyes out and hate himself a little bit for being the one to pull the trigger on closing the curtain on the relationship.
Lena Roze
The words that came out of his mouth made her stomach drop, and she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. ”Shhh, it's okay. Just breathe, alright? I've got you.” She rubbed his back as she hugged him, wishing she could protect him from all of the pain.
”I can't tell you if it was the right thing or not, but I can tell you that I'm proud of you for making the choice you thought was the right one, regardless of feelings. I know it has to hurt though…..and I'm right here for you okay?” In the back of her mind, she knew that her workplace wasn't the best for this, but she also knew Akito would be in soon to take over for her. ”Hey. I'm off in thirty minutes. Want to come over? You can stay as long as you want, too.” She had, after all, gotten a bed for the spare room if it was needed. All she knew was that right now, he definitely needed a friend, and she was more than happy to be there for him however she could.
”I can't tell you if it was the right thing or not, but I can tell you that I'm proud of you for making the choice you thought was the right one, regardless of feelings. I know it has to hurt though…..and I'm right here for you okay?” In the back of her mind, she knew that her workplace wasn't the best for this, but she also knew Akito would be in soon to take over for her. ”Hey. I'm off in thirty minutes. Want to come over? You can stay as long as you want, too.” She had, after all, gotten a bed for the spare room if it was needed. All she knew was that right now, he definitely needed a friend, and she was more than happy to be there for him however she could.
elfstar89
Khaz took a deep, ragged breath, trying to compose himself as Halia comforted him, and he tried to push away feelings that he’d screwed everything up. What he managed was to nod mutely, and force out, “Okay. I’ll take a look at the books here while you finish your shift.” He smiled weakly. “I need to pick up books on ancient Egypt for a class assignment, anyway,” he lied.
But it wasn’t the bad kind of lie, now was it? Halia would understand. This was for understanding his homeworld. Halia would know the real reason why. She was aware of the secret self he hid behind the facade of a regular Terran teenager. Sometimes the all-too-real reality that was the current mortal life of the senshi. Damn. He was feeling worse again, more emotionally fragile.
Scanning the aisles, he spotted the history section, and began making his way over, so he could identify what they had, and what might be salient, since his homeworld wasn’t actually ancient Egypt, it merely had a great deal in common with ancient Egypt, just sometimes on a very superficial level.
But it wasn’t the bad kind of lie, now was it? Halia would understand. This was for understanding his homeworld. Halia would know the real reason why. She was aware of the secret self he hid behind the facade of a regular Terran teenager. Sometimes the all-too-real reality that was the current mortal life of the senshi. Damn. He was feeling worse again, more emotionally fragile.
Scanning the aisles, he spotted the history section, and began making his way over, so he could identify what they had, and what might be salient, since his homeworld wasn’t actually ancient Egypt, it merely had a great deal in common with ancient Egypt, just sometimes on a very superficial level.
Lena Roze
Before long, a tall, thin man with pink hair and piercings entered the shop, and Halia quickly made her way over to him. After exchanging a few words of explanation, Halia came to Khaz’s side and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, my coworker is here and he's gonna clock in early. Let's get you out of here, alright?” Her tone was soft, and her brows were still knit with worry.
Taking her coat and bag from her coworker who had retrieved it from the back, Halia pulled them on before leading Khaz to a small, older car and unlocking it for them both to get in. Sliding behind the wheel and starting it up, she looked over at him. ”Do you want me to take you home? Or do you want to come over to my place to decompress and talk about things?”
Taking her coat and bag from her coworker who had retrieved it from the back, Halia pulled them on before leading Khaz to a small, older car and unlocking it for them both to get in. Sliding behind the wheel and starting it up, she looked over at him. ”Do you want me to take you home? Or do you want to come over to my place to decompress and talk about things?”
elfstar89
Khaz had selected a short stack of books on Egypt, focusing less on mythology and history, and more on daily life and overall culture by the time Halia returned to him. He nodded, and stepped up to the register to pay for his purchase while Halia retrieved her coat from her coworker. He didn’t speak as she pulled him to her car and let him in.
Finally looking up at her, he said softly, “I think I’d like to go to your place to decompress and talk for a bit, if that’s okay.” Looking down at his books, he cracked a crooked, fragile smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever talked to you about Aberdonia, have I?” he asked awkwardly. Taking a deep breath, he continued, “I know that talking is mostly going to be about the breakup, but…I need…no, I guess I need…y’know…some happier thoughts…even if I’m not sure I deserve to have them right now…” he trailed off awkwardly, hoping his friend would understand.
Finally looking up at her, he said softly, “I think I’d like to go to your place to decompress and talk for a bit, if that’s okay.” Looking down at his books, he cracked a crooked, fragile smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever talked to you about Aberdonia, have I?” he asked awkwardly. Taking a deep breath, he continued, “I know that talking is mostly going to be about the breakup, but…I need…no, I guess I need…y’know…some happier thoughts…even if I’m not sure I deserve to have them right now…” he trailed off awkwardly, hoping his friend would understand.
Lena Roze
As she drove, Halia reached over and gently squeezed her friend's shoulder. ”Whatever you need, okay? I've got you.” She glanced at him at a stop sign and gave him a small, reassuring smile.
It didn't take long to get to Halia's apartment at all. Once she parked, she led the way up and let Khaz in. ”Make yourself comfy okay? Do you want anything to eat or drink?” Tea was her particular go to for when she felt utterly emotionally rancid, but she knew that not everyone enjoyed it. ”I can always order food for us too if there's anything specific that sounds good?” As she spoke, Halia hung her coat and bag up by the door and nudged her flats off.
It didn't take long to get to Halia's apartment at all. Once she parked, she led the way up and let Khaz in. ”Make yourself comfy okay? Do you want anything to eat or drink?” Tea was her particular go to for when she felt utterly emotionally rancid, but she knew that not everyone enjoyed it. ”I can always order food for us too if there's anything specific that sounds good?” As she spoke, Halia hung her coat and bag up by the door and nudged her flats off.
elfstar89
Khaz followed her inside and settled on the couch after shedding his sweater and shoes, which were soggy. After a moment, he’d also shed his socks, which were uncomfortably damp. The last thing he wanted to do to Halia when she was being so kind to him was track mud and rainwater into her new apartment.
“Water is fine. I’m not sure I’m that hungry right now.” Besides, his mother would be expecting him for dinner, unless he made an excuse about being at a friend’s house for dinner. Which wasn’t untrue, it would just involve explaining a great number of things to his mother that he didn’t feel ready to bring up. And would almost certainly involve his mother putting her foot down on her children going out and doing superheroics unsupervised.
He waited, trying to gather his thoughts, which just wouldn’t cooperate. They wouldn’t even cooperate on the subject of Aberdonia, and he’d been working hard at figuring out how to be the senshi his asteroid needed almost since he became a senshi. Sure, he didn’t know a lot yet, but he already felt a kind of fondness for the now-desolate world. It was clearly beautiful, for all that it was a river valley civilization in the middle of a hot, inhospitable desert. But where did one start explaining something like, “I think my asteroid is like ancient Egypt, but if ancient Egypt discovered electricity and had clean energy, and developed in a very 1920s direction, without any kind of outside interference”?
“Ummm…is there any particular place you’d start describing your world to someone who’s never been?” he asked, finally. Wherever she felt he’d start, he’d go with that. He needed a bit of a push and some directionality right now.
“Water is fine. I’m not sure I’m that hungry right now.” Besides, his mother would be expecting him for dinner, unless he made an excuse about being at a friend’s house for dinner. Which wasn’t untrue, it would just involve explaining a great number of things to his mother that he didn’t feel ready to bring up. And would almost certainly involve his mother putting her foot down on her children going out and doing superheroics unsupervised.
He waited, trying to gather his thoughts, which just wouldn’t cooperate. They wouldn’t even cooperate on the subject of Aberdonia, and he’d been working hard at figuring out how to be the senshi his asteroid needed almost since he became a senshi. Sure, he didn’t know a lot yet, but he already felt a kind of fondness for the now-desolate world. It was clearly beautiful, for all that it was a river valley civilization in the middle of a hot, inhospitable desert. But where did one start explaining something like, “I think my asteroid is like ancient Egypt, but if ancient Egypt discovered electricity and had clean energy, and developed in a very 1920s direction, without any kind of outside interference”?
“Ummm…is there any particular place you’d start describing your world to someone who’s never been?” he asked, finally. Wherever she felt he’d start, he’d go with that. He needed a bit of a push and some directionality right now.
Lena Roze
Grabbing a glass of water, Halia made her way back to the couch and set it down on the coffee table for him. When he started speaking about his planet, she tilted her head curiously. This was decidedly not what she thought he would talk about, but she supposed if it would help him feel better, she would indulge him.
”For my planet, I would tell them outright it's a Necropolis, though I don't think that would help you any. I would describe the architecture, saying it's gothic and made of stone. I'd say that it's mostly underground too. The most defining, obvious features are a good place to start.” She had, admittedly, told people beforehand that her planet was a Necropolis, so they wouldn't be caught off guard, but had never actually described it to anyone outside of that.
Watching him carefully for a moment, Halia gently rested her hand on Khaz’s shoulder. ”Is that really what you want to talk about though?” When he had come into the bookstore, he had been crying and asking if he did the right thing, and that definitely had her attention far more than talking about planets.
”For my planet, I would tell them outright it's a Necropolis, though I don't think that would help you any. I would describe the architecture, saying it's gothic and made of stone. I'd say that it's mostly underground too. The most defining, obvious features are a good place to start.” She had, admittedly, told people beforehand that her planet was a Necropolis, so they wouldn't be caught off guard, but had never actually described it to anyone outside of that.
Watching him carefully for a moment, Halia gently rested her hand on Khaz’s shoulder. ”Is that really what you want to talk about though?” When he had come into the bookstore, he had been crying and asking if he did the right thing, and that definitely had her attention far more than talking about planets.
elfstar89
Khaz nodded miserably. “It makes me feel better, but it’s not.” He sighed and picked up the glass of water, leaning back as he tried to find the right words.
“So, you know how I was dating someone, but not really ready for all aspects of the relationship? Well…he texted me…and I thought he was going to bring up how I wasn’t being the best partner possible for him, and, well….”
He took a sip of the water, and took a deep breath. “I told him he was right, my head wasn’t really in the game, it wasn’t fair to make such a wonderful person wait for me to finally get up the nards to leave the closet, that I was sorry, that I hoped he could find someone who would be a better lover than I can be for him now…” Tears started to well in his eyes, and he sniffled a little. “I didn’t know what else to say, or how to have this conversation, but I didn’t want to keep doing this to him. So I told him I wanted him to be free to find someone better for him than me.”
He looked miserably at Halia. “Did I…did I do the right thing?” he asked, tears in his eyes.
“So, you know how I was dating someone, but not really ready for all aspects of the relationship? Well…he texted me…and I thought he was going to bring up how I wasn’t being the best partner possible for him, and, well….”
He took a sip of the water, and took a deep breath. “I told him he was right, my head wasn’t really in the game, it wasn’t fair to make such a wonderful person wait for me to finally get up the nards to leave the closet, that I was sorry, that I hoped he could find someone who would be a better lover than I can be for him now…” Tears started to well in his eyes, and he sniffled a little. “I didn’t know what else to say, or how to have this conversation, but I didn’t want to keep doing this to him. So I told him I wanted him to be free to find someone better for him than me.”
He looked miserably at Halia. “Did I…did I do the right thing?” he asked, tears in his eyes.
Lena Roze
Oh. Halia's heart ached as she saw how heartbroken Khaz was. ”Oh honey……” She gently pulled him into her arms, hugging him tightly. She didn't know what she could possibly do or say to make it better.
”I don't have the answer to that, no matter how much I wish I did. I have exactly zero experience in relationships, so I can only make educated guesses at best. But what I can say is that I'm proud of you for doing what you thought was the right thing.” She gently rubbed his back, wishing she could magically make it better. ”I know it couldn't have been easy, Khaz. And I think that putting someone else's feelings and well being before your own was very big of you.”
She sat there with him, holding him close as long as he needed. She wished she had more experience about this, about relationships in general, anything besides what was in the pages of her books or on TV. All she could do was offer comfort and let him talk or cry or whatever he might need.
”I don't have the answer to that, no matter how much I wish I did. I have exactly zero experience in relationships, so I can only make educated guesses at best. But what I can say is that I'm proud of you for doing what you thought was the right thing.” She gently rubbed his back, wishing she could magically make it better. ”I know it couldn't have been easy, Khaz. And I think that putting someone else's feelings and well being before your own was very big of you.”
She sat there with him, holding him close as long as he needed. She wished she had more experience about this, about relationships in general, anything besides what was in the pages of her books or on TV. All she could do was offer comfort and let him talk or cry or whatever he might need.
elfstar89
Khaz let himself be drawn into Halia’s embrace, and cried, cried harder than he had since he’d internalized that crying accomplished nothing in the grand scheme of his messed up family dynamics as regarded his father. The teen let his tears flow as he wept brokenly. He didn’t have the words to ask Halia for anything more than this, or the sheer selfishness to say that Mason was a great guy who was going to have to put up with Khaz being wishy washy about coming out of the closet, until he was good and ready to come out. Mason was a wonderful person, Khaz so desperately wanted to be the one for Mason, but asking Mason to wait for potentially five or six more years of this bullcrud…it wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.
And that was what hurt the most.
Finally, the flow of tears abated long enough to say, “I’m so sorry, Halia, and thank you, for just being here for me. Give me a few minutes to get myself together, and I can tell you about Aberdonia?” he asked with a crooked smile. “It’s not…it’s not really going to do much for me, but…thinking about what it was, what it is now, and how I fix things…I guess it kinda gives me a project, something to focus on that’s now…y’know…my sad excuse for a love life, and how I probably am an a*****e for being the one to break it off, no matter how good my reasons. So I guess it’s what I need right now.”
Taking a deep breath, and getting himself vaguely vertical again, he took a sip of his neglected water, and began. “Aberdonia doesn’t seem to have singular landscapes or monuments the way Aruna does. Most of the asteroid seems to be a desert on par with the Sahara….”
He continued, babbling about his discoveries, the Egyptian architecture designed to beat the heat even without electricity, the delicately tiled mosaics, the waterways choked with papyrus, the vast abandoned and overgrown farm fields, the 1920s style electric cars, the hieroglyphs, the strange creatures he’d seen in the art, and slowly found himself relaxing, glad to focus on something else. But even more glad to have Halia as such a good friend.
Deep down inside, he thought, Thank you for being a friend.
And that was what hurt the most.
Finally, the flow of tears abated long enough to say, “I’m so sorry, Halia, and thank you, for just being here for me. Give me a few minutes to get myself together, and I can tell you about Aberdonia?” he asked with a crooked smile. “It’s not…it’s not really going to do much for me, but…thinking about what it was, what it is now, and how I fix things…I guess it kinda gives me a project, something to focus on that’s now…y’know…my sad excuse for a love life, and how I probably am an a*****e for being the one to break it off, no matter how good my reasons. So I guess it’s what I need right now.”
Taking a deep breath, and getting himself vaguely vertical again, he took a sip of his neglected water, and began. “Aberdonia doesn’t seem to have singular landscapes or monuments the way Aruna does. Most of the asteroid seems to be a desert on par with the Sahara….”
He continued, babbling about his discoveries, the Egyptian architecture designed to beat the heat even without electricity, the delicately tiled mosaics, the waterways choked with papyrus, the vast abandoned and overgrown farm fields, the 1920s style electric cars, the hieroglyphs, the strange creatures he’d seen in the art, and slowly found himself relaxing, glad to focus on something else. But even more glad to have Halia as such a good friend.
Deep down inside, he thought, Thank you for being a friend.
