MARCH UPDATE

POSTED ON May 11, 2022 1:51:18 GMT

with a huff, avery lifts the large grey tub full of dirty dishes and moves to the next table. with the back of an old rag he wipes away the that sweat beads his forehead, but can do nothing for his damp hair. avery curses under his breath and pushes the container deeper into his armpit, feeling exhaustion creep in.

"excuse me," he says in a near whisper, automatic and monotone, as he moves past a leaving family. he places the tub on the soft leather of the booth, but stops and turns towards the leaving family. a pang of... grief swells inside of his chest, but he pushes it back down with the shadow of a sigh.

noticing a rag had dropped, he bends down to pick it up and continue on his way, when a familiar face presents itself in-front of him.

avery's breath hitches and he stops mid swallow.

"james?"

JAMES BAKER

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POSTED ON May 11, 2022 2:54:11 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","bakerboy"]

[attr="class","top"]

"yes?"[break][break]

nothing suspicious about a random person knowing his name. maybe they saw his name on the bill? wait, he just got here and his food hasn't even arrived yet, so that couldn't be it.[break][break]

tearing his gaze away from the book he's reading, he peers up from his seat to find a familiar face. it takes him a few seconds, but how could he forget?[break][break]

instinctively, he tenses up.[break][break]

"uh, sorry, you have the wrong person."

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

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[newclass=".bakerboy .ooc a"]font:bold 15px 'Poppins';[/newclass]

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POSTED ON May 11, 2022 3:28:08 GMT

"yeah, maybe. sorry." he gathers up the tub and brings it to the back. avery moves to lose himself in his work but... he couldn't push the other man's expression from his mind.

so, instead, he heads outside and packs a carton. avery indulges on nicotine for far too long, letting it settle his nerves.

a considerable amount of time later, he spots the other man as he's leaving.

"james," he calls out, moving to catch up, "James i know it's you. can we talk?"

JAMES BAKER

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POSTED ON May 11, 2022 3:53:48 GMT

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it's difficult to go back to reading after that. even as the man leaves, there is no doubt that the man is no other than someone who used to torment him every single day.[break][break]

so why would james ever give him the time of day?[break][break]

"shit."[break][break]

he whispers under his breath, realizing very quickly that he won't be able to outrun him.[break][break]

"look, i don't want any trouble, man. i'm just doing my own thing."

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

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POSTED ON May 11, 2022 21:55:25 GMT

avery understood james's reaction, expected it even, but it was still hard to chew. his tongue slides over the exterior of his teeth, feeling the nicotine still fresh.

"james" he starts, hesitating. his eyes flick to the other man, to a passing headlight, and to a passing couple, before landing back at their origin point. "i'm... sorry. that year was rough for me, and that's not an excuse or anything, but—" he rubs the back of his neck nervously, once more avoiding eye contact.

"i'm sorry, alright?"
JAMES BAKER

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POSTED ON May 12, 2022 3:24:28 GMT

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james is almost always non-confrontational except with close friends whom he'd feel comfortable expressing his feelings to. @aver is definitely not one of them.[break][break]

james is, however, a forgiving person. call it a blessing, a flaw, whatever. but when the apology comes, he stops in his tracks, sighing as he turns to look at an old face.[break][break]

"fine."[break][break]

his face twists into one of sternness.[break][break]

"what are you sorry for, avery?"

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

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POSTED ON May 12, 2022 4:16:39 GMT

he was going to make him say it?

avery bites back the sigh, turning to give the man his due respect.

"for tormenting you for an entire year. for putting my issues onto you in the worst way."

did he wants specifics?
JAMES BAKER

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POSTED ON May 12, 2022 6:34:04 GMT

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the small part of him that may want to be petty and say 'okay, thanks!' only to turn and leave is quickly squashed.[break][break]

"i forgive you."[break][break]

softly, james smiles before peering at the top of avery's head.[break][break]

"it helps that you're now shorter than me."

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

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POSTED ON May 13, 2022 19:58:24 GMT

he's glad he didn't. he'd have felt like tom hanks in the movie Castaway. he wouldn't have easily shaken that.

"you're not," he says calmly, "my posture is just shit."
JAMES BAKER

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POSTED ON May 14, 2022 13:24:43 GMT

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"okay."[break][break]

right. like either of them would believe that.[break][break]

he chuckles before turning back to look at the restaurant.[break][break]

"how long have you been working at the krusty krabby?"

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

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POSTED ON May 17, 2022 1:40:40 GMT

his question rises a sigh out of avery, who reached into his stained (from his work) pants and packs a carton of cigarettes.

"want one?"

regardless if he did or not...

"a little over a month. shit name, right?" of course he looks back to make sure his boss isn't listening.
JAMES BAKER

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POSTED ON May 17, 2022 2:45:21 GMT

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james politely declines the offer with a shake of his head. he doesn't smoke; never has and likely never will unless seriously peer pressured.[break][break]

"i actually think it's quite charming! gives the place some personality, you know?"[break][break]

the krusty krabby definitely sounds like a place people would love to eat at. yummy.[break][break]

"what did you do before then?"

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

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POSTED ON May 18, 2022 5:47:04 GMT

he shrugs and lights himself one, leaning on the tobacco to settle his anxious nerves. when he looks back, face slightly dirty and with a thin sheen of sweat, he meets james's eyes.

and then remembers why he used to bully him.

avery suppresses a shuddering sigh and pointedly does his best to avoid the question. "just traveled here and there - nothing special. lived off dad's money, mostly." the lie comes easily; it's rehearsed and practiced, at least the physical cues are.

"what've you been up too?"
JAMES BAKER

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POSTED ON May 18, 2022 7:15:51 GMT

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it must've been nice to live off his dad's money. james couldn't relate — most of his life has been spent running around trying his best to make money to help his family.[break][break]

it may be a lie, but avery's truth as far as james knows.[break][break]

"working and studying, mostly! i'm mostly in ever grande but sometimes i run food in other cities."[break][break]

james gestures ahead at some random cafe.[break][break]

"you wanna grab coffee or something? actually sit down and catch up?"

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

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