A Small Reunion (SG/Mod)

[Maid Melody]

[atrb=style,height:176;width:528;border:0 black none;][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=background,http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/jaetable.png,bTable][cs=3]
[atrb=width,25][atrb=style,border:0 black none;]	[atrb=style,BORDER:0 BLACK NONE;height:250!important;width:300!important;color:#84b4b8;][scrolly:h(250),w(300),sy] When Jalicia heard what Ryan had to say, all the fight went out from her...protecting her...how was...that didn't make sense. How could disappearing for years be protecting her...and from what...but then, where had he been when Jake-. No, she couldn't blame him on Ryan...nobody could've known what would happen...it wasn't Ryan's fault for not being there. "Protect-....but....why would you have to leave to do that? Why disapppear...?"she asked in a near whisper. [/scrolly]	[atrb=style,width:195;border:0 black none;]
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[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(242),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan sighed at her question. The fact that she really might have gone all this time with no idea even... It just.... How was that even possible? Of course.. He had made a point to not let her see him in those years.. but.. Surely even if she'd been too sheltered to see at the time, she would have understood looking back later.. Wouldn't she? Oi vey. Raising a hand to his face, Ryan asked, "Jae... Did you really never realize what kind of things I was caught up in before I left...?" [/scrolly]

[Maid Melody]

[atrb=style,height:176;width:528;border:0 black none;][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=background,http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/jaetable.png,bTable][cs=3]
[atrb=width,25][atrb=style,border:0 black none;]	[atrb=style,BORDER:0 BLACK NONE;height:250!important;width:300!important;color:#84b4b8;][scrolly:h(250),w(300),sy] Jalicia looked down at the ground, thinking about the times she'd spent with Ryan when she was younger. Well...there had been that time she'd caught him smoking but...that wouldn't be enough to cause him to leave, even if Ryan's parents had been upset. After a moment, Jalicia looked back up at Ryan and shook her head,"Well...no. I remember you being mad when I caught you smoking...the day I gave you the necklace. But besides that, there was nothing really bad..."Jalicia said in a quiet, confused voice. [/scrolly]	[atrb=style,width:195;border:0 black none;]
[atrb=style,border:0 black none;][atrb=height,128][cs=3]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(242),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan deadpanned. ...How... was that even... He buried his face in his palm, giving a cross between a groan and sigh. "Jae... I was in a gang..." Making sure they were still far enough from the end of the line, he hesitated and admitted, "When I left... I was running from my parents. But.. no one would take me in.. And I.." He grimaced, looking away. "I was too ashamed to come home... so I ended up finding a much bigger gang.." A certain implication in his tone said it was much more serious work than their little small-town's mischief... [/scrolly]

[Maid Melody]

[atrb=style,height:176;width:528;border:0 black none;][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=background,http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/jaetable.png,bTable][cs=3]
[atrb=width,25][atrb=style,border:0 black none;]	[atrb=style,BORDER:0 BLACK NONE;height:250!important;width:300!important;color:#84b4b8;][scrolly:h(250),w(300),sy] Jalicia was stunned at Ryan's admission and remained silent for quite some time, looking back down at the ground as the implications sunk in. Ryan had been in a...gang...but...she never had thought that before, sure she had seen him with other friends sometimes but a gang? It made sense now...staying away to protect them...to protect her, if the gang knew of her or his family, they would use it against him. Jae shuddered at the thought, she had heard of many stories like that ending up badly, whole families murdered to fulfill a threat of some sort; it was no wonder Ryan had stayed away if things had gotten that bad. "I had...no idea..."Jalicia whispered, looking back up at Ryan and stepping towards him before hugging him,"I'm sorry...but...you quit right? I don't care what happened or what you did...I understand now...thank you." she continued before looking up at him, smiling slightly,"Just...don't leave like that again...OK?" [/scrolly]	[atrb=style,width:195;border:0 black none;]
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[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan was about to confirm her hopes when it suddenly hit him... he didn't say anything about that. Looking away and seemingly ignoring the hug, he decided he had to test her. See just how loyal she really still was.. "..And what if I didn'?" he asked in a rather dark tone. "What if I'm on leave fer a weekend?" As he'd done many times when he really was still there. After all.. "The head of the Yakuza's right hand can go most anywhere he wants without too much question, you know.." Here he both let her know just how far his career had gone and dropped the name of the rather large and prominent gang he'd been involved with. His parents had said she'd moved out toward the capital, after all, where much of their activity took place. If her claim earlier about knowing what was going on with most the town was true, the name should definitely produce some reaction.. He just had to see what. [/scrolly]

[Maid Melody]

[atrb=style,height:176;width:528;border:0 black none;][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=background,http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/jaetable.png,bTable][cs=3]
[atrb=width,25][atrb=style,border:0 black none;]	[atrb=style,BORDER:0 BLACK NONE;height:250!important;width:300!important;color:#84b4b8;][scrolly:h(250),w(300),sy] Jalicia seemed to stop for a moment as she heard the name of the gang. The Yakuza...yes she'd heard of it and just the name caused her to flinch at the sound of the name, if Ryan didn't quit then...what about Kitty? She would be put in danger...as would she as well but...Jalicia had just gotten Ryan back and wasn't about to lose him again,"I....I don't care. If you're still caught up in that gang...then...I'll be here. If ya need help ya just need to holler...I've helped refugees before ya know." she replied, hugging him a little tighter before releasing him and taking a step back, a more serious expression on her face,""But of course if you think you're going to drag that baby girl into all this mess you better have a plan to keep her safe. I wouldn't want to see that 'lil angel hurt anymore than you. So help me if they hurt her...Yakuza or no whoever hurts Kitty better hope to high heaven that I don't find them, same goes for yer parents as well. I may not be strong but there are other ways to fight besides brute force." [/scrolly]	[atrb=style,width:195;border:0 black none;]
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[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]She... really didn't care? And that shudder at the name said she did at least have some idea who they were... At the word 'refugees', he had to fight back an odd laugh. He'd.. never thought of it like that, but... in a way... Feh. He almost laughed for other reasons at her bold determination that she was somehow going to take on such a powerful group, but then-.... Ryan's expression plummeted. She.. didn't know then? Maybe she just had higher expectations of the gang than someone who'd been in it, but.. still.. It didn't seem likely she thought they were going to go to all the trouble to... Ryan drew in a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "... Jae... My parents... Eh..." He sighed again. "We.. should probably sit down.." Leading her away from the line and to the nearest bench, they did sit, and Ryan explained everything starting from how he'd been visiting home for a few years now and gotten to know Kitty and made his peace, and then that those bastards that broke into their home... How they hurt his mother and... hurt Kitty in ways no child should be.. How his father apparently tracked down and gave the bastards what they deserved. And then.. that his mother ended up mentally collapsing.. and his dad was now in prison... After a minute to let it all sink in, he went on, "I did quit, by the way..." His hands were locked together, clenched so tight his knuckles were white. "Kitty needed someone, and I wasn't going to make her give up everyone she knew... so..." He sighed. "That's it, then.. I'm just... trying to take care of her without attracting attention from... them.." More like 'him'... but.. eh. [/scrolly]

[Maid Melody]

[atrb=style,height:176;width:528;border:0 black none;][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=background,http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/jaetable.png,bTable][cs=3]
[atrb=width,25][atrb=style,border:0 black none;]	[atrb=style,BORDER:0 BLACK NONE;height:250!important;width:300!important;color:#84b4b8;][scrolly:h(250),w(300),sy] Jalicia looked rather confused when Ryan's face fell and paled slightly when Ryan said something about his parents and then suggested they sit. Paling a little further, Jalicia found her hands shaking slightly at the suggestion but simply nodded and allowed him to lead her away from the line. Sitting on the bench, Jalicia waited to hear what Ryan had to say and found herself relaxing a bit, smiling slightly when Ryan said that he had made up with his parents and had gotten to know Kitty. From there on, Jalicia's expression was a mix of emotions from delight to bitter anger, to sadness, all of which had crossed Jalicia's features within the span of the story. At the end, Jalicia was staring down at her lap, hands clasped together as a rather odd mix of anger and despair stirred in her at what had happened to Ryan's parents and to Kitty but couldn't seem to voice what was really on her mind at the moment. After a time, Ryan spoke again, saying that he had in fact quit the gang which brought Jalicia's eyes to his again for the first time in several minutes. There was so many things that Jalicia wanted to say, that she was proud of him, sorry that he had to go through that, sorry that Kitty had been hurt...but it felt like something had lodged in her throat, refusing to allow her to speak. Jalicia blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over and finally hugged/clung to Ryan, hoping to convey at least some of what she was feeling at the time. [/scrolly]	[atrb=style,width:195;border:0 black none;]
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[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan sighed, a little lost for words himself. He... had really kind of hoped for something after all that, though he couldn't have said what. It just... felt so awkward now, having poured all that out only to fade into silence... It was.. well... He didn't really know.. Sighing, he eventually just wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. It.. really sort of hit him there just how grateful he was to have found her again. She was... the only person now who both knew about his past and could still be trusted, and while he was entirely too embarrassed and feeling like a complete sap to voice this, he did hold her a little tighter. He really, really didn't want to put her in danger.. but.. She already said she didn't care, and that she already did things that could be risky. Two more souls to look after couldn't make too big a difference.. and Kitty needed someone besides just him. Finally, he loosed his hold, leaving one arm casually wrapped around her, and sighed again. ...Damn this really was getting awkward. Hugs could only convey so much thought and... He needed something dammit. At long last, something jumped to mind that made him smile weakly as a small syllable of a laugh escaped him. "Oh hey.. I quit smoking, too." He forced a smirk and tried to tease, both proud and ashamed, "Only took me ti'last year!" [/scrolly]

[Maid Melody]

[atrb=style,height:176;width:528;border:0 black none;][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=background,http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/jaetable.png,bTable][cs=3]
[atrb=width,25][atrb=style,border:0 black none;]	[atrb=style,BORDER:0 BLACK NONE;height:250!important;width:300!important;color:#84b4b8;][scrolly:h(250),w(300),sy] As Ryan held her, Jalicia tried to think of something ... anything that could possibly convey what she was feeling right now. Somehow just an 'I'm sorry' sounded too hollow ... perhaps if she told something about what happened between her and her ... ex boyfriend, why she was so willing to help rebels ... and maybe how she had tried to find him many times before. Jalicia had in fact just figured out what she was going to say to Ryan when he released her and mentioned that he had quit smoking after all. Hearing this, Jalicia smiled and laughed softly, shaking her head,"Glad 'ta hear that~,"she teased right back,"And it only took ya how long now~?" she laughed, winking at Ryan before sighing and looking a tad bit more serious. "Really though, I'm sorry ... I had no idea. Though I am glad ta hear ya quit that gang, of course I know that don't mean you're safe but that won't scare me one 'lil bit. After I moved to the city to open the salon, I kinda lost contact with your folks but I do remember we were really close ... I wish things had turned out better for them but I figure if my family had stayed there, the same thing might of happened to us eventually. The move turned out to be good after all~ ... ,"Jalicia said in a quiet voice, half joking about the move being good ... it had hurt to leave the place she had grown up in along with her friends, but it had been worth it ... ,"I dun think ya know this, but I had a boyfriend afta ya left ... I guess he kinda reminded me of you in a way. Ya know he proposed ta me one day ... ? I said yes but ... then the next day it was broken off because he left to join the rebels. Said he didn't want any ties ta me ... something like that, but 'o course I didn't say anything back then. I always kept a lookout though, turned my 'lil salon into a hideaway or a meeting place in hopes of meeting him ... or the chance of finding you again. 'O course none 'o that happened but I did find you again at least~." [/scrolly]	[atrb=style,width:195;border:0 black none;]
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[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan... really had no idea what to say to.. much of any of that, really. He uh... Wow. He may have had a few little 'yeah' 'uh-huh' type comments on some of the stuff, but the way she was rambling on he didn't want to interrupt and.... Just wow. She was engaged? He had to admit feeling deeply relieved that it had only lasted for a day. She was entirely too young for all that in his mind, particularly if this had been a while back and not recently. He.. wasn't really sure what at all to make of her throwing in she was going to marry a guy who reminded her of him, but had quickly written it off as a reason to be initially drawn to him. People liked familiar things, after all. The Yakuza had reminded him of his old gang in school at first simply by merit of being a gang. Of course, once he got settled in he found it much different, but that superficial similarity had helped him feel more comfortable until he got to know it. Surely it was something like that. Really though he... couldn't just stay quiet, right? But what could he say? The more she'd gone on, the more awkward he became, and the worse he felt for having nothing to reply with. Shit it was just-.... He laughed lightly then as he realized that was his answer. "We... have a lot to catch up on, don't we...?" Another softer laugh, and he just hugged her tight, resting his forehead on the top of her head, just happy to have her back. [/scrolly]

[Maid Melody]

[atrb=style,height:176;width:528;border:0 black none;][atrb=style,border:0 black none,bTable][atrb=background,http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/jaetable.png,bTable][cs=3]
[atrb=width,25][atrb=style,border:0 black none;]	[atrb=style,BORDER:0 BLACK NONE;height:250!important;width:300!important;color:#84b4b8;][scrolly:h(250),w(300),sy] When Ryan laughed, Jalicia felt more relieved than anything else. Well, at least he wasn't staying quiet like she had been, well ... she hadn't really been able to think of much else to say at the time thus her history in a nutshell explanation. Smiling as Ryan said they had a lot to catch up on, Jalicia laughed and nodded in agreement before getting pulled into a hug. It was good to have him back again, even if things were a lot different now. After all the years of searching and hoping, here he was holding her,"I'm glad you're back Ryan ... ,"Jalicia replied in a quiet voice before smiling and laughing,"Well we certainly have the time now since ya were so kind as to buy my ticket~. If ya'd like, we could spend the whole day talking and skip out on the rides all together~."[/scrolly]	[atrb=style,width:195;border:0 black none;]
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