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[adamantlyardent]

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[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He hangs his head.]

[Man, I really did it this time didn't I...]

...Alright...I...

...I understand...

Wherever you are...I hope you come home soon. And...if you don't want to...I understand that too...

I can make sure your things are safe and...if you want to get any of them, I can make sure I'm somewhere...anywhere...

...else...

I'm sorry I made your life hell, Cecelia...I can't say it enough...

And...if you ever want to give me another chance? A chance I don't like deserve...?

I'll be there to do right by you...even if I have to break the world to do it...

[adamantlyardent]

[another ANOTHER delay WOW!!!! HECK! ugly crying takes up time for coherent response!!]

Is everything repaired?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah...we got the house back to its original foundations. Everything's back to the way it was.

I dismantled all of the 'smart home' crap I installed...

...It's done...

Nothing else to worry about...

[adamantlyardent]

Did the vanity break?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No.

And I personally repaired anything that was broken in your room. Anything that I personally built.

I...didn't go through any of your things though. I didn't want to accidentally touch something I shouldn't...

If you come back and something is broken, I'll fix it for you...

...Fix it with tools. Not my magic...

[He sighs.]

Don't want a repeat of the staff incident...

[adamantlyardent]

[HE'S LEARNING....................]

I see.
Very well, then.
I'll return shortly.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

What...really?

Oh ah...give me a few. I'll...I'll head down to the forge or something....

[adamantlyardent]

Didn't you just say something about not leaving people high and dry?
Something to that effect.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Well you haven't really expressed a desire to want to see me.

I thought I would give you some space...

[adamantlyardent]

Maybe you should ask me about that before just deciding on my behalf.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I...right...

What would you like me to do, Cecelia...?

[adamantlyardent]

Tend to whatever it is you had in mind tending to today, wherever it may be.
If you empathize with me so much, you know how it feels when people run from your presence.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I don't really have anything in particular I need to do today.

I sorta...cleared my schedule so I could talk to you.

I wanted to make sure nothing interrupted my apology...

[adamantlyardent]

[after a lengthy delay:]

That's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I'll be here if you want to talk in person...

[adamantlyardent]

Just be present. If being present is what you're keen on being.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah...

Yeah, I'll be here for you.

An...I'm sorry. I'm sorry again.

Maybe...if you're ever ready...we can talk a little more about...

Well...why I'm such a screw up...

[adamantlyardent]

Maybe, yes.
I'll be back soon, in any case.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Okay...

...I'm...looking forward to seeing you.

I'M NOT DONE W U

[adamantlyardent]

[gods dammit. how much can a girl weep?! how is she supposed to "eventually grow to take things with more grace," the way her older self had said? trust them, she'd said.

okay, sure...but that doesn't fix the crying thing...which is why "soon" is more like "later," because she doesn't want to come home looking how she feels.


the door clicks and gently groans open, and Cecelia steps inside, looking about and fixing on the tuft of blue she spies in the den.

she clears her throat.]

...I'm back.

I WILL NEVER ESCAPE

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin, who had fallen asleep on the couch with a magazine over his face, bolt uprights and looks over at Cecelia bleary eyed.]

[When he seems to finally come to his senses, he offers up a smile.]

Hey...welcome home.

I'm glad to see you.

[adamantlyardent]

...

[those words hit different when they're directed at her, for her. right away, her eyes well up and her face goes red, herself bristling despite the twitchy attempt at smiling.]

Y-yeah? Oh. That's-- y'know. Good.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...Did...

Did you need anything?

Any...Any help...?

[adamantlyardent]

[that squeaky cry-talk voice:] Um...! Iii, I dunno. I guess, um...

[she blinks a few times.]

Did you really mean all that?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

....Cece....

Of course I did...