Post by rhettadelson on Feb 4, 2021 22:38:26 GMT -6
It had been a few weeks since Rhys finally appeared, but it was merely on Twitter where he made himself public. This didn’t go over well with his brother, Rhett, who had no idea what happened to Rhys. Rhys’ disappearance caused a domino effect that greatly changed Rhett’s life. Rhett abandoned his post from the Marines and was soon dishonorably discharged, bringing shame on their military family name.
Not only that, but it put a strain on Rhett’s relationship with their parents, with them basically disowning him for his outbursts. But could you blame him? He believed the machine that he and his brother joined was the reason Rhys was reported MIA, possibly even dead, the only thing being recovered were his dog tags.
Rhys tried to convince Rhett to meet up and talk but the younger Adelson was not ready. After weeks of talking, Rhys finally convinced Qiyara to meet him but Rhett was still hesitant. He told Qiyara to go ahead and he would meet her there. She wanted to go together but she decided to go on ahead.
She followed the instructions which led her to some back alley and as she passed a door, it swung open and she was grabbed. She tried to fight the person off but they had pulled her into the building and shut the door behind them before finally turning on the light.
Rhys Adelson: "Kehlani! It’s me, Rhys! Relax!"
He let out a light laugh as he let go of her as she calmed down.
Kehlani. . . that was a name she hadn’t heard in some time. One that sometimes she even forgot was her own if it weren’t for the few people in her life that still called her that. That person felt like a foreigner, someone who had lived a previous life and yet the name instantly brought back the memories of what being that girl felt like.
From a poor family, living in a home that didn’t even have a hard wood floor, working to sell fabric until some man had decided she was beautiful enough to invest in, to make his prize if you will. It was hard for her to remember those times, hard for her to look at the woman she had become and not instantly regret the woman she had been.
Qiyara Singh: “You know not to call me that now.”
She stated plainly, trying her best to calm herself from the onslaught. Where she was from, being grabbed in such a way usually meant some type of altercation. There was a time when her sister had been attacked in such a way, but she was lucky to have learned to defend herself, one of the few things her eldest brother had taught her before his untimely passing.
Qiyara Singh: “You could have just announced your presence you know. Aversion and secrecy often leads to a darker plot.”
There was a whim of uncertainty in her voice, but not enough of one to really delay her relief at actually seeing him in person. Before she offered him a quick hug.
Qiyara Singh: “Luckily I know you.”
She measured with a smile before releasing that same hug and taking a step back, checking him over if you will to ensure he was actually alright, aside from material things, she simply meant overall and it appeared that he was.
Rhys Adelson: “That you do!”
Rhys let out a laugh before furrowing his brow.
Rhys Adelson: “So, where’s my little brother? Still being a stubborn punk, I see?”
She smiled. Shaking her head.
Qiyara Singh: “I’m not going to be put in the middle of you two, but he told me to come ahead, I’m not sure what he’s thinking truly, he’s not ready to tell and I’m not forcing him.”
She paused.
Qiyara Singh: “but he will come around you soon.”
Rhys paused and thought it over for a moment, trying to figure out why Rhett would have her come alone.
Rhys Adelson: “Of course I don’t want you to get in the middle of anything but I mean, you’re involved in all of this whether you like it or not, Lani.”
He pushed again and slapped his hand on his forehead.
Rhys Adelson: “I mean Qiyara. Sorry, I’m really not used to that.”
She couldn’t help but offer a small semblance of a smile.
Qiyara Singh: “I didn’t say I wasn’t, but I’m not getting in between the two of you is what I mean. I know how you Adelson men are.”
A small raise of her brow was given then before she playfully punched him in the shoulder.
Qiyara Singh: “you will get it right eventually.”(edited)
Rhys Adelson: “I know we will. But Rhett needs to...”
Suddenly they were interrupted.
Rhett Adelson: “Rhett needs to what, Rhys? Please explain it to me because if you think that I should be jumping for joy that you’re suddenly back, untouched and safe and with no explanation? Then you’re sorely mistaken. You clearly lied. You clearly have been missing on purpose this ENTIRE time. What the fuck?”
Rhys turned to Rhett and raised his hands slightly in the air to try and calm his younger, frustrated brother down.
Rhys Adelson: “Hey little brother. How’d you get in here anyway? You know what, never mind! It’s been a few years, let’s hug it out.”
Rhys walked up to Rhett with open arms but Rhett walked past him and stood next to Qiyara and held her hand.
Rhett Adelson: “Sorry, I’m not in the mood for a hug unless it’s from Yara.”
Qiyara couldn’t help but stay silent for those few moments, she didn’t say how late Rhett would be and the sudden surprise was enough for the both of them to be taken back truly.
Rhett wasn’t himself lately, but she didn’t mean that in that he had changed he just let the anger that he always told her about build up inside and explode. She knew what that was like though and she was quite the opposite. Very zen and peaceful even under these circumstances but that didn’t mean she didn’t understand her boyfriend’s duress.
Qiyara Singh: “Rhetty.”
She began to say but instantly stopped when she laced her fingers around his shoulders which was only made possible by the inclined shoes she was wearing. Lightly she laid her head on his shoulders.
Qiyara Singh: “Give him a chance to explain before you explode”
She said softly now reaching down to grip his hand again this time tightly.
Rhett looked at Qiyara and scoffed at that notion.
Rhett Adelson: “Why? Why does he get a chance to explain? What would he say that would make any of this better? Huh!? What the fuck can he do? Nothing. There’s nothing!”
Rhett looked back at Rhys and glared at him.
Rhett Adelson: “Mom and dad didn’t seem surprised that you were back, Rhys. So tell me... did they know this whole time? We’re they in on it too? And they kept it from me the entire time? WHAT THE FUCK!?”
There was a long pause in the room before Rhys walked up to Rhett and stared at him with a seriously look on his face.
Rhys Adelson: “I did what a soldier had to do. And as for dad? He told you what you needed to know at the time so my mission was not compromised. If you want to throw a tantrum over it then go ahead but you know what this life style is about. You grew up in it. So accept it and quit being a bit-...”
Before Rhys could finish, BAM! He was knocked back, almost falling to the ground as Rhett caught him with a right hook. Rhys grabbed his jaw and rubbed it before letting out a light laugh.
Rhys Adelson: “I’ll let you have that one. But try it again and you’ll be on the floor, I don’t care if you’re my baby brother or not.”
Qiyara’s breath was caught as she saw the punch go forward, she let her nostrils flare for the moment, hardly one to get upset, but even she was at her boiling point with this situation. Letting go of Rhett’s hand she crossed her arms in front of her.
Qiyara Singh: “I’m glad to see we’re handling this diplomatically”
And yes there was almost an eye roll, but she stopped herself.
Qiyara Singh: “if you two are going to insist on fighting and name calling im going to walk on out the door and let you have it. I don’t tend to physically harm my loved ones”
Her look wasn’t cold, but there was still a resolute meaning behind it. She was serious.
Rhett was still heated and he ended up shrugging his shoulders at what she said.
Rhett Adelson: “That’s fine by me. If you want to leave, then let’s leave. I have nothing left to say here.”
Rhett went to turn before he paused and took a pair of dog tags off from around his neck.
Rhett Adelson: “Forgot about this though.”
He threw the dog tags at Rhys’ feet and scoffed.
Rhett Adelson: “That’s all they found of you, Rhys. But it’s clear you just gave them to dad to give to me to hold onto.”
Rhett’s eyes started to water up as the anger began to subside, he was full of emotion.
Rhett Adelson: “Those were all I had when I thought my brother was some hostage somewhere or worse... dead! Fuck this. I’m not ready!”
Before Rhys could reply, Rhett was gone. Rhys looked over at Qiyara with a look of guilt and shock.
Rhys Adelson: “I... I don’t know what to say...”
Rhys bent down and grabbed his old tags and he rubbed his fingers over them nervously. It’s been a long time since Rhys had felt any sort of emotion like this but here he was, overwhelmed with guilt. He had no clue the pain he had put his brother through. Rhys looked at Yara with sad eyes, a look she had never seen from him, because until now he had always been upbeat and confident, sometimes overly so.
Rhys Adelson: “I didn’t think he would be like this... I thought he’d be happy that I was back but... I was wrong. I really fucked this one up, didn’t I?”
He put the tags back around his neck before he shoved his hands into his pockets and looked down at the ground, feeling too ashamed to even look up at Qiyara.
Yara stood there trying to absorb everything rather quickly this wasn’t something she was used to dealing with. Rhett always came first and of course he did, she loved him and cared for him like no one else, but she also knew that she owed Rhys her life. She was grateful to him but all she could do was sigh.
Qiyara Singh: “I tried to explain it to you, but you made it my fault, remember?”
She didn’t say it with blame or malice though, she didn’t exude that energy, she never did. As she bent down to make sure his eyes met hers.
Qiyara Singh: “but you know better than anyone what it is like to see a ghost, you’ve had to do it yourself in your line of work, Rhett doesn’t know that like I do. We never talked about it because neither of us knew what happened to you. If there had been more information. . . More . . . I don’t know.”
She paused now looking down herself almost weighing the guilt herself. If he hadn’t saved her she would’ve never met Rhett, never have become Qiyara Singh, would be married to one of the worlds most dangerous criminals, or worse . . . Dead.
The thought kept her up at night a lot of the time, but thankfully she’d found solace in the safety of one man’s arms (and a couple of dogs of course but we are not being so technical here).
Qiyara Singh: “your work is important, but I truly believe he wasn’t given the chance to know anything. I’ve never met your parents, never seen them reach out to him, even on his birthday where he pretends to not be bothered. You were gone and he had to go and create a new family, with Donnie and Jay, with me.”
Her words were sentimental which was unusually rare but her voice thankfully didn’t break.
Qiyara Singh: “you have a good heart Rhys and he does as well, he is hurt but I know he is also deeply relieved beneath all that anger. He loves you, he’s missed you, but you also have to remember that he mourned you. Every day you were gone, he kept those around his neck.”
She moved her fingers to lift the dog tags she herself had on, the ones that belonged to Rhett that he had given her as a Christmas gift.
Qiyara Singh: “before you say I have no idea what they mean, I have a set of my own that I hold dearly, and take it from someone who has lost a brother that she will actually never get to see again, it would bring up along of questions if he walked through the door again.”
She stared at him then before lifting herself up and letting out a deeper breath.
Qiyara Singh: “I said I wasn’t going to be in the middle and yet here I am”
She laughed.
Qiyara Singh: “Take care of yourself, we will see you soon, Doom.”
Rhys looked up and blinked. Hearing that name... Doom... Come from her? For some reason, it didn’t sit right with him.
Rhys Adelson: “Qiyara...”
He paused before he shook his head.
Rhys Adelson: “You know what? You’re both right. I fucked up and I’m fucked up. I’m glad you two have your own family now though. Maybe it’s better off that way.”
He takes a step back in a darker area of the room.
Rhys Adelson: “Maybe I’m better off sticking to the shadows and making sure nobody comes after you. Yeah... I’ll give you space.”
And before she could reply, Rhys was gone as well, leaving Qiyara alone.
Not only that, but it put a strain on Rhett’s relationship with their parents, with them basically disowning him for his outbursts. But could you blame him? He believed the machine that he and his brother joined was the reason Rhys was reported MIA, possibly even dead, the only thing being recovered were his dog tags.
Rhys tried to convince Rhett to meet up and talk but the younger Adelson was not ready. After weeks of talking, Rhys finally convinced Qiyara to meet him but Rhett was still hesitant. He told Qiyara to go ahead and he would meet her there. She wanted to go together but she decided to go on ahead.
She followed the instructions which led her to some back alley and as she passed a door, it swung open and she was grabbed. She tried to fight the person off but they had pulled her into the building and shut the door behind them before finally turning on the light.
Rhys Adelson: "Kehlani! It’s me, Rhys! Relax!"
He let out a light laugh as he let go of her as she calmed down.
Kehlani. . . that was a name she hadn’t heard in some time. One that sometimes she even forgot was her own if it weren’t for the few people in her life that still called her that. That person felt like a foreigner, someone who had lived a previous life and yet the name instantly brought back the memories of what being that girl felt like.
From a poor family, living in a home that didn’t even have a hard wood floor, working to sell fabric until some man had decided she was beautiful enough to invest in, to make his prize if you will. It was hard for her to remember those times, hard for her to look at the woman she had become and not instantly regret the woman she had been.
Qiyara Singh: “You know not to call me that now.”
She stated plainly, trying her best to calm herself from the onslaught. Where she was from, being grabbed in such a way usually meant some type of altercation. There was a time when her sister had been attacked in such a way, but she was lucky to have learned to defend herself, one of the few things her eldest brother had taught her before his untimely passing.
Qiyara Singh: “You could have just announced your presence you know. Aversion and secrecy often leads to a darker plot.”
There was a whim of uncertainty in her voice, but not enough of one to really delay her relief at actually seeing him in person. Before she offered him a quick hug.
Qiyara Singh: “Luckily I know you.”
She measured with a smile before releasing that same hug and taking a step back, checking him over if you will to ensure he was actually alright, aside from material things, she simply meant overall and it appeared that he was.
Rhys Adelson: “That you do!”
Rhys let out a laugh before furrowing his brow.
Rhys Adelson: “So, where’s my little brother? Still being a stubborn punk, I see?”
She smiled. Shaking her head.
Qiyara Singh: “I’m not going to be put in the middle of you two, but he told me to come ahead, I’m not sure what he’s thinking truly, he’s not ready to tell and I’m not forcing him.”
She paused.
Qiyara Singh: “but he will come around you soon.”
Rhys paused and thought it over for a moment, trying to figure out why Rhett would have her come alone.
Rhys Adelson: “Of course I don’t want you to get in the middle of anything but I mean, you’re involved in all of this whether you like it or not, Lani.”
He pushed again and slapped his hand on his forehead.
Rhys Adelson: “I mean Qiyara. Sorry, I’m really not used to that.”
She couldn’t help but offer a small semblance of a smile.
Qiyara Singh: “I didn’t say I wasn’t, but I’m not getting in between the two of you is what I mean. I know how you Adelson men are.”
A small raise of her brow was given then before she playfully punched him in the shoulder.
Qiyara Singh: “you will get it right eventually.”(edited)
Rhys Adelson: “I know we will. But Rhett needs to...”
Suddenly they were interrupted.
Rhett Adelson: “Rhett needs to what, Rhys? Please explain it to me because if you think that I should be jumping for joy that you’re suddenly back, untouched and safe and with no explanation? Then you’re sorely mistaken. You clearly lied. You clearly have been missing on purpose this ENTIRE time. What the fuck?”
Rhys turned to Rhett and raised his hands slightly in the air to try and calm his younger, frustrated brother down.
Rhys Adelson: “Hey little brother. How’d you get in here anyway? You know what, never mind! It’s been a few years, let’s hug it out.”
Rhys walked up to Rhett with open arms but Rhett walked past him and stood next to Qiyara and held her hand.
Rhett Adelson: “Sorry, I’m not in the mood for a hug unless it’s from Yara.”
Qiyara couldn’t help but stay silent for those few moments, she didn’t say how late Rhett would be and the sudden surprise was enough for the both of them to be taken back truly.
Rhett wasn’t himself lately, but she didn’t mean that in that he had changed he just let the anger that he always told her about build up inside and explode. She knew what that was like though and she was quite the opposite. Very zen and peaceful even under these circumstances but that didn’t mean she didn’t understand her boyfriend’s duress.
Qiyara Singh: “Rhetty.”
She began to say but instantly stopped when she laced her fingers around his shoulders which was only made possible by the inclined shoes she was wearing. Lightly she laid her head on his shoulders.
Qiyara Singh: “Give him a chance to explain before you explode”
She said softly now reaching down to grip his hand again this time tightly.
Rhett looked at Qiyara and scoffed at that notion.
Rhett Adelson: “Why? Why does he get a chance to explain? What would he say that would make any of this better? Huh!? What the fuck can he do? Nothing. There’s nothing!”
Rhett looked back at Rhys and glared at him.
Rhett Adelson: “Mom and dad didn’t seem surprised that you were back, Rhys. So tell me... did they know this whole time? We’re they in on it too? And they kept it from me the entire time? WHAT THE FUCK!?”
There was a long pause in the room before Rhys walked up to Rhett and stared at him with a seriously look on his face.
Rhys Adelson: “I did what a soldier had to do. And as for dad? He told you what you needed to know at the time so my mission was not compromised. If you want to throw a tantrum over it then go ahead but you know what this life style is about. You grew up in it. So accept it and quit being a bit-...”
Before Rhys could finish, BAM! He was knocked back, almost falling to the ground as Rhett caught him with a right hook. Rhys grabbed his jaw and rubbed it before letting out a light laugh.
Rhys Adelson: “I’ll let you have that one. But try it again and you’ll be on the floor, I don’t care if you’re my baby brother or not.”
Qiyara’s breath was caught as she saw the punch go forward, she let her nostrils flare for the moment, hardly one to get upset, but even she was at her boiling point with this situation. Letting go of Rhett’s hand she crossed her arms in front of her.
Qiyara Singh: “I’m glad to see we’re handling this diplomatically”
And yes there was almost an eye roll, but she stopped herself.
Qiyara Singh: “if you two are going to insist on fighting and name calling im going to walk on out the door and let you have it. I don’t tend to physically harm my loved ones”
Her look wasn’t cold, but there was still a resolute meaning behind it. She was serious.
Rhett was still heated and he ended up shrugging his shoulders at what she said.
Rhett Adelson: “That’s fine by me. If you want to leave, then let’s leave. I have nothing left to say here.”
Rhett went to turn before he paused and took a pair of dog tags off from around his neck.
Rhett Adelson: “Forgot about this though.”
He threw the dog tags at Rhys’ feet and scoffed.
Rhett Adelson: “That’s all they found of you, Rhys. But it’s clear you just gave them to dad to give to me to hold onto.”
Rhett’s eyes started to water up as the anger began to subside, he was full of emotion.
Rhett Adelson: “Those were all I had when I thought my brother was some hostage somewhere or worse... dead! Fuck this. I’m not ready!”
Before Rhys could reply, Rhett was gone. Rhys looked over at Qiyara with a look of guilt and shock.
Rhys Adelson: “I... I don’t know what to say...”
Rhys bent down and grabbed his old tags and he rubbed his fingers over them nervously. It’s been a long time since Rhys had felt any sort of emotion like this but here he was, overwhelmed with guilt. He had no clue the pain he had put his brother through. Rhys looked at Yara with sad eyes, a look she had never seen from him, because until now he had always been upbeat and confident, sometimes overly so.
Rhys Adelson: “I didn’t think he would be like this... I thought he’d be happy that I was back but... I was wrong. I really fucked this one up, didn’t I?”
He put the tags back around his neck before he shoved his hands into his pockets and looked down at the ground, feeling too ashamed to even look up at Qiyara.
Yara stood there trying to absorb everything rather quickly this wasn’t something she was used to dealing with. Rhett always came first and of course he did, she loved him and cared for him like no one else, but she also knew that she owed Rhys her life. She was grateful to him but all she could do was sigh.
Qiyara Singh: “I tried to explain it to you, but you made it my fault, remember?”
She didn’t say it with blame or malice though, she didn’t exude that energy, she never did. As she bent down to make sure his eyes met hers.
Qiyara Singh: “but you know better than anyone what it is like to see a ghost, you’ve had to do it yourself in your line of work, Rhett doesn’t know that like I do. We never talked about it because neither of us knew what happened to you. If there had been more information. . . More . . . I don’t know.”
She paused now looking down herself almost weighing the guilt herself. If he hadn’t saved her she would’ve never met Rhett, never have become Qiyara Singh, would be married to one of the worlds most dangerous criminals, or worse . . . Dead.
The thought kept her up at night a lot of the time, but thankfully she’d found solace in the safety of one man’s arms (and a couple of dogs of course but we are not being so technical here).
Qiyara Singh: “your work is important, but I truly believe he wasn’t given the chance to know anything. I’ve never met your parents, never seen them reach out to him, even on his birthday where he pretends to not be bothered. You were gone and he had to go and create a new family, with Donnie and Jay, with me.”
Her words were sentimental which was unusually rare but her voice thankfully didn’t break.
Qiyara Singh: “you have a good heart Rhys and he does as well, he is hurt but I know he is also deeply relieved beneath all that anger. He loves you, he’s missed you, but you also have to remember that he mourned you. Every day you were gone, he kept those around his neck.”
She moved her fingers to lift the dog tags she herself had on, the ones that belonged to Rhett that he had given her as a Christmas gift.
Qiyara Singh: “before you say I have no idea what they mean, I have a set of my own that I hold dearly, and take it from someone who has lost a brother that she will actually never get to see again, it would bring up along of questions if he walked through the door again.”
She stared at him then before lifting herself up and letting out a deeper breath.
Qiyara Singh: “I said I wasn’t going to be in the middle and yet here I am”
She laughed.
Qiyara Singh: “Take care of yourself, we will see you soon, Doom.”
Rhys looked up and blinked. Hearing that name... Doom... Come from her? For some reason, it didn’t sit right with him.
Rhys Adelson: “Qiyara...”
He paused before he shook his head.
Rhys Adelson: “You know what? You’re both right. I fucked up and I’m fucked up. I’m glad you two have your own family now though. Maybe it’s better off that way.”
He takes a step back in a darker area of the room.
Rhys Adelson: “Maybe I’m better off sticking to the shadows and making sure nobody comes after you. Yeah... I’ll give you space.”
And before she could reply, Rhys was gone as well, leaving Qiyara alone.