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 Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 2:56 pm
Otto ran.
Clad in his well worn hoodie and a pair of track pants and nothing more, he ran from the Dorms. Ran from the buildings. He slowed down now and then to catch his breath, sobs edging with each attempt at breathing. He found himself at the beach; the sand under his bare feet more forgiving than the jagged road he'd used to get there. The ocean roared at his side as he walked along the long stretch alongside the cliffs. His sobbing trembled through his core, his sleeves pulled over his hands in constant attempts to dry his ever teary eyes.
Everything he'd worked for with his girls was in shreds. Maebe was angry, untrusting and bitter. She'd never forgive him. Never love him again. Cami had gotten hurt in the process, and now she was gone. Moving out to give him his space. He was scared to go back to the empty apartment, with all her things ripped from view.
Worser yet, he wasn't sure if he should ask her to come back. He'd only hurt her as he was now. He had no guts to beg. No faith in himself to trust his intentions. Maebe told him he was a liar.
He eventually stopped walking, slumping down into the sand, crumpled. His head was buried in his bunched up sleeves, crying into them as if no one but the sea life were around to hear.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:07 pm
Otto's assumption of no one but the sea life was only partially true; there was someone there, standing a few feet away near the cliff face...but it was one Ripley Crowell, who was more or less a Master at minding his own business. An expert at disappearing into the background and pretending to overlook the world.
He had seen Otto's grand, noisy entrance. It had startled him as much as he could be startled and show it, and he had stared for a moment or two, shifting between concern and disinterest before falling quite firmly on the latter. Then he had gone back to his business, straightening out a piece of rope...which just as exciting as it sounded. He hadn't been seen after all, and therefore was content he didn't exist in that person's world.
But the crying didn't stop.
A glance over found that the situation had only gotten worse, as the Hunter in question - whom he was fairly certain was Otto - had fallen into a crumpled, sobbing heap in the sand. Hm. He decided it was time to leave, to let Otto have his peace, but as he tried to plan his escape he realized there was no way around it. Every exit resulted in a dangerous swim, a dangerous fall, or crossing paths with someone who clearly wanted to be alone. His other option was to sit here and wait it out, but that involved a chance that he'd be spotted anyway, and then he'd have to explain why he had stayed around like a creep for hours.
Rolling his eyes and slouching a bit in distress did nothing to help his decision, but it did leave him with the general grudge of acceptance. He tried to keep his distance from the sobbing figure, giving him a wide berth - but before he could have made his clean getaway, he heard one heart wrenching, heavy sob. It stopped him in his tracks, and he looked over his shoulder, taking in the broken form of his old friend. Otto was given a long and rather blank look, but his mind spun through possibilities; the younger Hunter never broke down like this. Ever.
The thought was enough to make him back track, and to take a seat in the sand as quietly as he had tried escape it, putting himself within arm's reach.
Then he just had to wait him out, as patient as ever.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:20 pm
Crying was supposed to have helped. It was supposed to drain him senseless of emotion until he reached a dull numb. But it wouldn't stop hurting. The crying wouldn't stop, nor the wailing, because the pain was still there.
For a long time, he didn't notice Ripley.
He finally needed air from within the cushions of fabric he'd stuffed his face into. He looked up enough ti free his nose and mouth, looking up at the ocean from under his brows, his eyes red and wet with tears. The cool ocean breeze felt foreign to his hot cheeks that stung with salt. His sobbing was replaced with trembling and hysterical gasps for air.
He turned his head as he rubbed his eye, and that's when he saw a leg. He held his breath suddenly, coyly trying to look over his shoulder. There was Ripley, patiently waiting beside him. Why he was there or how long were questioned in his head, but not aloud. It hurt to hold his breath, as he was still desperate to cry. Like a damn made of paper, he would burst; no doubt.
His lip trembled and he turned away again, whimpering into his sleeves to hide his face again. "I'm sorry.." He cried, as if he'd trespassed. As if his existence was a burden on Ripley's ocean viewing session.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:32 pm
Ripley hadn't bothered to watch Otto cry. Even to him such a thing seemed wrong. He could sit beside the hysterically upset man without a second thought, but he couldn't bear to watch him. Instead he stared out into the water, allowing Otto's sobs to become the twisted background music.
When the tune of Otto's distress changed, he knew he had been spotted; and it was then he glanced down at the boy he knew, who had never seemed so small before.
"Don't be." Now that Otto noticed him, he shifted in the sand, sliding a little closer. "Would you like me to leave?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:34 pm
He hated the word Leave. He never wanted to hear it ever again.
"No!" He shrieked into his hands, desperate and alarmed. "Please don't.." He amended softer, shaking his head, his messy hair in tangles. "Please don't leave."
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:47 pm
Ripley's eyes widened with the sudden, desperate conviction in Otto's voice. He stared down at the broken young man, surprise clear on his face for a few lingering moments.
"Okay." He said as quietly as ever. "I won't." He promised, keeping his tone even and calm. He lapsed into silence for a moment, studying Otto as if he weren't sure what to do now. Except, apparently: "Need a hug?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 4:52 pm
Otto sniffed back a sob, looking up at Ripley after his offer. His hands still curled within his sleeves, he gave a stiff nod. Uncertainly, he reached out; his elbows bent closer to his own body as if he didn't actually trust in the offer at all. He needed a hug. He needed comfort. He needed and wanted to be consoled as if he hadn't been the one to single handedly ruin the hearts of two beautiful souls. He wanted the pain to be smothered away.
He didn't know why it was okay that it was Ripley offering. Maybe because the man radiated neutrality, or because he was a familiar face completely outside of his problems.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:13 pm
That nod was all he needed. He reached out, pressing his gloved hand against Otto's shoulder as if he were fragile. When he pulled the younger man against his chest for a hug though, it was a lot less cautious. A little awkward perhaps, considering they were both sitting, but he made it work. He shifted the way he sat in an attempt to make it easier, but it was the best he could do; his only other option was to pull Otto onto his lap, but as far as he was concerned, that was so far off the table it was in another room entirely. He simply held Otto tightly against his chest, one arm around the back of his shoulders, the other curled to rest against the back of his head, ready to pat his hair if that became necessary.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:24 pm
Otto started to cry again. He had the comfort of someone else to hold him, instead of holding himself, and somehow that made him want to cry even more. Shame didn't seem to play a part, and if it had it would have only fuelled his pain. He clung tightly to Ripley as if he'd slip away into the ethers if he let up. His eight slumped against him miserably. The white haired man was used as a living body pillow to vent his sadness onto; one that held him back and patted his hair. As if everything would be okay again, as if being held and consoled would heal all the nasty burns raking through his heart.
He'd tell Ripley what happened. After. Right now, he didn't want to be wrong or right or judged for his wrong doing. He just wanted to be held.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:56 pm
Otto's sobbing returned in full force, and all Ripley could do was wait it out. He didn't make any noise, he didn't try to console the young man. Instead he simply held him, pet his blond hair, and waited out the worst of it. While he waited, his mind wandered, making a mental grocery list and pondering where he should go on his next off-island leave.
He felt Otto begin to calm down long before he actually heard it, and soon the sobs subsided. It would be a long time before they ceased entirely, of that he was sure, but at least he was no longer crying as though the world was ending around him.
"If I promise I'll come back, will you let me get you some water?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 5:59 pm
Otto nodded, and pulled away. His cheeks were red, burned by tears. His eyes bloodshot, and the blue in them brightened only by the colour contrast. He sniffed, wishing he had a tissue to blow his nose, and looked at his sleeve, wondering if Ripley would mind if Otto used it as a Kleenex while he was still looking.
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:17 pm
He didn't move until Otto detached himself, and even as he did, he saw the look that was being given to the sleeve.
"...I'll get you some kleenex too." He knew better than to hope that Otto would wait it out, but he found himself trying anyway. "I'll be right back. I promise." He made a hasty exit, and a hasty trip to the main building to get what he needed. Knowing Otto's sleeves only had a short life left, he hurried his way back and unceremoniously dropped a bottle of water - and a small wrapper of kleenex - at Otto's feet before reclaiming a seat beside him.
"So?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:25 pm
He sniffled the whole time, so tempted to use his sleeve. However, he liked this hoodie. Tear stains were one thing. He didn't want a snotty sleeve left for Ripley when he returned.
Thankfully his care package came. Otto hastily used the tissues provided, noisily blowing his nose to relieve the pressure in his sinuses from all of the crying he'd done. It felt wonderful. He gave Ripley a weary look when he asked that single word as a question. He blew his nose again, discarding the tissue into his hoodie pocket.
"I told Maebe.." He said, taking a long chug of water.
"I dunno what happened, but everythin' went to s**t real fast. Everything." His voice trembled. "We fought, and then didn't see each other. Then Cami made us get together to talk. Then... I don't even know... but... but then.." He could feel the pain pulse inside again, stabbing with each heart beat.
"W-we were just talkin'..." He sobbed out, holding another tissue to his nose. "Now Cami's leavin' and Maebe thinks I'm a rotten liar a-and I dunno what to do anymore.."
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:02 pm
He tried to put the pieces together as best as he could, but it didn't take long for him to connect the dots back to the last time Otto had come to him upset. Which had...honestly been the last time he had seen the younger man, now that he thought about it.
This was turning into a habit he didn't want in the first place.
"You weren't kidding." He hummed, trying to figure out how they went from 'talking' to 'Otto sobbing alone on the beach'. It must have hit the fan and exploded. "Why are you here, then?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2015 8:10 pm
"Cause I needed to be alone.." He murmured miserably. "Actually... I said I needed time alone, and that was what set Cami off. But... b-but I just..." He rubbed his eyes, feeling the suffocating urge to cry coming back, even though he was physically and mentally exhausted of it.
"I just wanted to figure stuff out, and it all went to s**t. Maebe lost it on me. She went ********'.... psycho and hit me cause of Cami cryin and sayin' she'd move out. And I know I shoulda made her stay but I was so mad and scared, cause I dunno if I should let'her stay with all the s**t I done wrong. I'm just so tired and upset and ********... lost!"
He kicked his foot forward at the sand, hurting his foot more than the beach.
"I don't wanna be in my place right now. I don't wanna be there."
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