Chloe

@chloeandersonx

#;; musings #ft nate

ender-yilmaz1

WHERE: @chloeandersonx WITH: Gold Dust Diner

Though they were making strides, Ender knew that ATF could always be doing more to build their case, and so he hadn’t stopped conducting interviews even in the wake of Theo Knox’s arrest. There was always more angles to consider, more information to collect, and more faces to put to names he’d read about in countless files. In particular, Chloe Anderson stood out to him. Despite her brother’s disappearance and the likelihood of it being tied to the MC, she remained close to them, but Ender had to wonder just how deep that loyalty ran, or her personal loss was enough to get her to flip– or, at the very least, offer up useful information. Stepping through the doors of the diner, he decided to see for himself. He spotted her at the counter almost immediately and made his way over, “Hi, are you Chloe? I’m Special Agent Yılmaz, ATF. I was wondering if you and I could chat for a moment?” The lunch rush hour was over and the diner was mostly empty, save a few stragglers, and so he didn’t feel quite so bad asking her to step away. “Won’t take long, just wanted to pick your brain a little.”

"Yeah, yeah. You're the boss, I got you. We'll see about that diet, but I bet you a free dinner you're going to be back here tomorrow." Jax was an old man now and had been coming to the diner for almost as long as it had been running, especially since her parents had bought the establishment at the very least. He always talked about some kind of diet, or trying to be a different man and start cooking at home (the latter was usually because he had some kind of new crush).

As soon as he left, Chloe clocked the newcomer, arching her brow at him. "And here I thought you forgot all about me." It was somewhat of a tease, only because she heard some new people going around and talking to people. They always were, they always tried to get some kind of information out of them - one way or another. "Do I need to call you special agent Yilmaz, or have you got something that's a little easier on my tongue?" With a slight head nod, she nodded him towards the booth, while she picked up two coke bottled and followed him.

"What do you wanna know? My relationship with them? My role?" Chloe sat in front of him, pushing one of the bottles towards him. "I'm an open book, go ahead."

#;; ender yilmaz

colemonroe

Noting Chloe’s grin, he let out a strained sigh, head tipping to the side in defeat as he fired back with a lopsided grin of his own. It was almost comical really, how sugar gone missing had him floundering about the way it did. “Nah, not quite,” he answered, carding a hand through his hair. The amount of sugar he was used to was probably unhealthy, but if it fueled him enough to get the job done day in and day out, it was a risk worth taking in his eyes. Catching the box as Chloe tossed it at him, he clutched it against his chest, another warm grinning forming, “You’re a lifesaver,” he chuckled, peering down at the box. “Kinda tempted to, not gonna lie,” to lock it up, that was, not snort it up his nose. Peering over at her bags, naturally he was curious about what all she was stocking up, particularly if those bags held anything sweet for him to tear into. He’d always had an insatiable sweet tooth, if his affinity for sugar hadn’t made that obvious. “What all ya got in there?” He asked, purely just being a nosy little shit.

"And you're a fucking child." She joked, but there was tenderness in her voice. Chloe liked how in the middle of all chaos, or whatever touch situation Cole was going through, he managed to keep his quirks. Those little things that could be taken so easily away. Especially with everything that happened in his life. She didn't know everything, she understood that she was never going to know everything that happened or was happening to him, but it was those little things. Even the things that stayed with him from his teen years. From when she met him. "I'd say lock it up because I'd hate to have to come here to patch someone u because you punched them in the face for getting your last bit of sugar." She was joking, but she could also could see it. Some of the guys got into fights for less.

Chloe let out a chuckle as she noted his hovering, digging into her bag and getting out a packet of sweets and some chocolate. "You looking for these? Because somehow I doubt hummus and carrot sticks are going to make your eyes shine that much." She laughed. "You know that fall is already here? Where did the summer go? I feel like I haven't done anything at all. Tell me that at least you and T took a weekend away. I want to be jealous, but the good kind."

#;; cole monroe

taliah-tezel

"Please, it's been a pleasure honestly. You've got a good heart, Chlo." She smiled. No, it didn't take a saint to give their free time up to help the community, but many wouldn't, not Chloe though, Taliah had known for a long time now that she had a kind and helpful heart. "Gosh, don't tell me that, you'll regret it when I do start calling." Teasing, she fell into a soft hum, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, he can. I do entertain it though, I know his choice of topics is pretty stale but I just think... He doesn't have any family, his wife has passed away, and they never had any children. So he's just alone, you know? He's not interested in joining any clubs where he can meet people, I guess he just likes his own company, but it must be lonely." A sad frown etched onto her features, thinking about how she would hate to be in her own company 24/7. "Free food should never be denied," she rang the bell again, unsure if the couple heard it the first time. "That will depend on how much of a good impression you make," teasing, just as the door opens to be greeted warmly and ushered in by Mrs. Daley. "Hope you don't mind, I have help with me today, this is Chloe..." Introducing her, she waits until they're in the kitchen before placing the box down. "Just checking in, I've brought you some essentials, and..." Digging in the box, she pulls out a big tray of chocolate. "Your favourites, if I recall correctly."

Chloe snorted. "I think you can ask anyone and they'll tell you all the same. If you call - I will answer." It was as simple as that. Chloe had always been that way and then ever since Jasper went missing? That became something she held onto even more. Because you never knew why people could call, you never knew if it would be the last time you;d hear their voice. It wasn't something that she wanted to miss. Yes, maybe it was a trauma response of some sort, but she wasn't keen on trying to kick that habit. "There's a few like that here in Tonopah. And you're right, maybe they're okay... But I feel they still want something even if it's once a week." Because even if he had said before, he didn't want to see her, the way his eyes were shining told her something different. The fact that Taliah was also doing her bit, made Chloe like her even more. It was always the little things.

Once the door was opened, Chloe smiled warmly, extended her hand. "Hi, nice to meet you." She let Taliah go in first and followed her soon after, putting the boxes in the designated place. "What a nice home you have here!" Yet, probably too soon, Chloe's eyes darted to the cat and her attention was done for. "OH hey you." She bent down, stroking the cat. "You're so cute!"

#;; taliah tezel

As he listened to Chloe he laughed, only shaking his head lightly, "You think way too fuckin' much." Nate didn't think he was even hitting that Casanova mark, by all accounts he'd say he was staying in his own lane - at least this month he had been. So he had that going for him, especially if his sister decided to call him a slut again. "But yeah, whenever is fine with me." her popping by unannounced, though if she actually did it wouldn't be on him if he was actually out at the time she did.

"Sure," he nodded faintly, "Will probably see him over the weekend anyway, so.." he didn't mind spending time with Kurtis, if anything Nate thought it was nice and actually, it had become a pattern over the years to the point it was something he was used to doing naturally. Listening there was more a delayed reaction as he registered Chloe's words, glancing towards her to catch her eyeline, "Wait, you had a date? Getting a second?" he asked as he quirked a teasing brow.

With Chloe asking if he had gotten any pictures from his short time away he nodded, "Yeah some," he begins as he moves his hand just to reach his phone from his pocket, unlocking the device he pulls up his photos and scrolls up a little so Chloe could start at the beginning before he handed his phone to her, "You'll like the one of the random cat in there." he mentioned as he reached over for one of the many snacks she had brought through, along with the cat, there were pictures of the Canyon and ones of himself and Maeve.

"I don't see you trying to do anything, so I'd think less... So in a way... That's on you." With that, Chloe stuck out her tongue at him. Did she really think too much? She always had that tendency, but the nice thing with Nate was the fact that she never felt the need to filter anything. It was nice, just to let her mind wonder and then not be afraid to look a bit too much of a weirdo. "I'll surprise you." Because in any case, she was used to spending a lot of her time with him during the week.

Once she was settled on the couch, with her slippers kicked off, she offered him a shrug. "It was a second, but I don't think it's going to go any further than that." Her words were followed by a heavy sigh. "He was nice and all. A gentleman opened doors for me, seemed interested to know about me and all that... I just... I don't know there wasn't that click? Or maybe that excitement? Didn't want to lead him on or waste his time." Maybe it was something that was wrong with her. Always needing that little bit of toxicity to keep things interesting. Maybe she was putting herself in a corner, when actually, she did want someone in her life. She didn't want to grow old and just be by herself. Not that it was wrong, not that she didn't think she'd be completely alone. But didn't everyone want someone? "So.. Yeah... No success with lil Chlo, once again."

Taking Nate's phone, she put all her attention into the pictures, swiping to see what they'd been up to. "Oh, that looks so pretty!" She commented, pointing at the scenery on the screen. "Meave looks so pretty here, too. And you look... At peace. That's nice." Once she finished, she handed him back the phone and rested her head on the back of her couch. "You guys going to do more trips like that?"

taliah-tezel

Location: Webster Village Tag: @chloeandersonx

"Okay just one more stop and that's us done!" Eyeing her handwritten list of names, she smiled to herself. By now, welfare checks and care packages had already been done and distributed, but in her own time, there was a small list of vulnerable adults she wanted to check back in with. "You really didn't have to do this with me but it's been nice to have company. If you weren't here I'd still be stuck in Mr. Dowens talking about uneven sidewalks." Taliah hopped out the car and headed to the trunk, collecting the last little care package she'd made especially for Mr. And Mrs. Daley. "You're going to love this couple, they are absolutely gorgeous and so kind. Mrs. Daley will try to feed you everything to hand and honestly, it's just better to say yes." She laughs, knocking on the door. "Oh and they have 2 gorgeous cats. One of them doesn't have any front legs but he gets around and loves a snuggle. I saved the best for last, just don't try and put him in your purse when we leave."

When Taliah invited her to join and told her of the idea, Chloe absolutely loved it. Loved the idea, loved the fact that Taliah was thinking about it, and maybe there was even part of her that was beating herself for not thinking of that before. "I think this had be a magical day, really. Thank you for taking me on." Chloe had made notes on some names who she invited to come to the diner if they were struggling. Just to let the other employees know who they were in the times that she wasn't there. "Ah, don't worry. You can call me anytime for this kind of stuff. Besides, Mr. Dowen, as sweet as he is, can really take up a lot of energy. So I get you." She grinned, getting out of the car, and helping T with anything she couldn't get to herself. "Is it bad to say I've never said no to a meal?" She laughed. "Damn, you know me already. You sure I can't steal one? Just for a day? Half a day?" Chloe puoted at her friend.

#;; taliah tezel

"Thought it'd be fun," he smirked - clearly being as serious as Chloe was with the whole wanting her to suffer comment. "Pretty much," convenient, "Gives you a reason to come over next week though, hm?" he grinned in her direction, apparently acting as if that was his plan all along. "Nah, ugliest one I could find - just for you." he winked in her direction before his attention dropped back down towards Snow, choosing to still cradle the feline like he was a baby all while the cat actually let him.

Following after Chloe he started to intentionally tickle Snow's belly just to try and entice a reaction out of him, "You think?" he chuckled lightly as he glanced towards his friend, "So recreating Twister is gonna be his thing?" he joked, yet it was clearly sparked by her storm chaser comment, "Wait, did you watch it without me?" he instantly asked, obviously talking about the movie now.

Letting Snow jump down Nate finally sat down beside Chloe, his right arm coming up to rest along the back of the couch behind her, "Fuckin' hot, but it was good - nice to get away from all the shit." which it had been, the change of scenery was a welcomed one and it only made him want to do it again.

"You sure you want me to just pop in unannounced?" Chloe grinned, eyeing her cat. It was cute how Snow, a cat who really played by his own rules, had taken a liking to Nate, letting him do things to him only a few could. A traitor, really. "With your newfound freedom and single life, I could walk in on one of your many romantic dates and then just... What if I ruin the Casanova vibe?" She was joking, of course. She'd either check in with him or, even if that were the case, wouldn't make it hard for him. Besides, if it was a girl she didn't know, she could pretend she was someone close to him, in any case.

Chloe's head nodded as they spoke about her dad. "Unfortunately. So if you ever see him - just... I don't know, prepare a poster to support him. It would mean a lot to him coming from you, you know that." Because even before Jasper's disappearance, her father had taken in Nate as a second son. Sometimes, Chloe hoped that it wasn't too overbearing for Nate. "Uhm.. I was bored on Sunday evening... I'm sorry. Plus, it was a date, you can't blame me. But I'll go see it again with you?" She looked at him angelically, batting her eyelashes in a heartfelt apology. Kind of.

"Got any pictures?" Because she always loved to see new places. "Tell me you at least took one to commemorate a memory with Maeve. OR a picture of her."

colemonroe

WHERE: Sons of Silence Clubhouse WITH: @chloeandersonx

“Goddamnit,” Cole cursed underneath his breath as he searched through the cupboards at the clubhouse. He wasn’t searching for a miracle or a million dollars– he just wanted some sugar to go in his coffee. He’d always dumped a pound of it into any cup he poured for himself and so not being able to find the sugar now? It was a fucking crisis, and it showed in the way he went from cabinet to cabinet, searching them backwards and forwards only to come up empty. Muttering yet another curse, he stepped out from the clubhouse’s kitchen and into the main room, “Chloe– ya seen the sugar?” He called from across the room, hoping that she had some sort of idea as to where the fucking container had gone. Why was it so hard for people just to put shit back where it belonged? Swallowing his annoyance, he resumed his search, knowing that in a clubhouse full of bikers, the sugar could be literally anywhere. “Is someone fuckin’ holdin’ it hostage at this point?” He wondered aloud, but he was curious to see if Chloe had any insight here.

As usual, Chloe was stocking up the fridge and the cupboards of the clubhouse. Cookies, chips, beer, coke - all that lot. Starvation wasn't something she wanted the guys to go through, hence it became one of her weekly things on her list. "What are yo-..." She'd heard Cole from the other room, seemingly looking for something or just him being him. It could have been either thing, but as he entered, she grinned. "Not enough of a sugar spike?" She went into one of her bags and picked up a box which had loads of sugar packets in. Something she ordered for the diner but thought it would be good to bring over here, too. "Here." She said, throwing him the box. "Why don't you put it in your room and lock it? You can have a secret stash, and when you're really low you can snort it, just so it would reach your bloodstream faster." She was kidding, of course.

#;; cole monroe

with: @chloeandersonx where: chloe's home

"You should let me cook for you next week," he suggests as he stepped through the door, making sure to pull Chloe into a hug, lightly pressing a kiss to her cheek before taking a step away, "I've got..." he started to touch his pockets with the palm of his hands, searching for the magnet he thought he had brought with him, "Something for you at home.." he grinned as he chuckled, rolling his eyes briefly as he figured he'd just give it to her another time, and as he was about to continue he suddenly got distracted by Snow - Chloe's cat that had nudged his head against Nate's ankle, which only prompted Nate to bend down to pick him up. "You okay then?" he pulled his attention away from the feline and towards Chloe, making it obvious that he was talking to her and not her cat. This time, anyway. "Kurtis said you had fun on Saturday.." there was a small hint of sarcasm within his tone, especially because he was clearly talking about the day the sandstorm had hit.

Her brow arched in question, but Chloe quickly returned the hug. "You planning on poisoning me? Surely I haven't done anything bad in the past few weeks. Why are you wanting me to suffer?" Though it was said in a serious tone, there was a smile on her lips which betrayed her. "Convenient." That whatever it was he wanted to give her wasn't actually on him. "If it's another magnet, I hope it's at least pretty." Was it a habit for him? Either way, there were a few of his already hanging on her fridge from the trips Nate had taken over the years.

While Snow was up to his usual semantics, Chloe gathered some snacks and drinks for the both of them, before moving them to the living room. "You know, dad. He sees himself as a veteran of those sorts of things. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if he would start being the storm chaser as his late life crisis. No fancy cars, but something life threatening." Once Chloe was sat, she patted the place next to her on the couch, indicating for Nate to sit down next to her.

"How was your trip then?"

blakesara

Blake would deny it thoroughly if asked but Chloe’s sudden appearance in her office had her jumping in her seat. It wasn’t often the Blake was startled but she was exhausted. In the corner of her office sat her still packed bags from Paris. She had only been home, she looked at her watch, five course and hadn’t even made it to her actual house yet, had taken a cab straight from the airport to the law firm when she’d returned to Tonopah. Apart from the initial incident she hadn’t had much time to deal with the aftermath of the festival, her plane had left in the middle of the night on what should have been the third day.

Blake shook her head, “Are any of us ever okay in this town?” She snorted before leaning back in her chair, pulling her newest styrofoam cup of coffee towards her, “Seriously though I’m fine and I promise I have not been avoiding you, I was in Paris.” She had gotten to watch her daughter compete and medal in the Equestrian events, plus she had also stayed long enough to watch the USWNT go for gold. She had been on the last Olympic gold winning team when they’d played in London. It had been an amazing trip and had kept her thoughts away from the shit show that was her hometown recently. Now it seemed she was using the distraction of home and work to keep her from worrying about Peyton exploring Paris with her mother’s side of the family and hoping and praying said mother didn’t decide to show up unexpectedly. “How are you though? Feels like it’s been forever since we really got to sit down and talk.”

"No, but we ignore that." She joked, yet Blake was right. Even though Tonopah was a relatively small place, the events that had happened could be compared to at least some quarter in LA. Full of crime and weird things happening. At least serial killers weren't a big thing yet. She had read before that there was some weird clown thing in England before and she really didn't wish for something like that to happen here, too.

"Paris? Now I'm jealous. I'd ask if you brought me some amazing pastries, but then I'm not sure if they'd have survived the transfer." Grinning, she took a seat, which was free. Blake was right, they really hadn't seen each other for what felt far too long. But seeing her face? Always brought a sort of calmness in her heart. "Did you guys bring medals, though? If you did, let me take a picture and I'll put it up in the wall of fame at the diner." New concept, but she was rolling with it now.

"I'm fine. I survived the storm because dad kind of knows how to roll with it and seems to always be ready for stuff like that. Nothing was hit, either. So really, I just checked after to make sure everyone was fine. And then my life? Peaches." She grinned.

#;; blake scott

@blakesara

"Knock, knock." Chloe said out loud as she sat down next to her friend. Ever since the storm hit, she'd been worried about her friends, especially the ones she didn't manage to reach out to in the last few days.

"You doing okay?" A stupid question, really, but then again, at least it wasn't a bomb this time. These kinds of event couldn't be controlled no matter how much one wished for them. Sure, maybe the warning could have come a little bit faster, but humans weren't gods. There was so much predictability that could be done. "Are you just avoiding me, or are you really okay?" She asked again, putting her hand over her friend's shoulder.

#;; blake scott

aiden-macnally

"No? To think I was gonna ask if your name was Quentin." he quipped lightly; it's to her Tarantino mention. He knew her name was Chloe. He nodded soon after, however, biting down on his food. Aiden took in that she was a surgeon and yet didn't think it was his place to ask what happened there. It wasn't his business, simple as that. Both his brows rose at hearing the diner was open 24/7, it was something he probably did know somewhere and yet, right now he was treating it like brand new information. "Guess Tonopah still don't sleep." wild to him, considering the town was small he couldn't see it warranted a place never closing. "You sure? Thanks." he smiled, appreciating the free pie. "What you doing then, for the summer? Got any plans?" he thought to finally return her question, having no problem engaging in a little small talk.

"Ah, shit. Blew my cover." She laughed, moving to fill herself a cup of water. "This is ketchup, by the way. Don't lock me up because you think I'm covered in blood." She was talking about a couple of stains on her apron, all for the lightness of the mood. "Maybe some sleep, I surely get every other day, it's fine." Even before taking over the control of the diner, being a med student and a surgeon, her internal clock was used to the coffee flowing in her bloodstream and restless hours. Working at the diner was actually easier and not at the same time. It was just different. "Working? Maybe going to the lake for a swim since the weather is so good? Movies, picnics and nice warm late evenings. Pretty basic stuff. Didn't think about any vacation plants. And you?"

#;; aidan macnally

with: @chloeandersonx where: drive-in theatre

The movie currently playing - Bad Boys: Ride or Die - was over an hour into it's duration and Nate had fallen asleep within the first thirty minutes, it was more of a frequent occurrence on their movie nights. However, last Friday he hadn't, so Nate at least had that going for him. It meant he was getting better to some degree, considering when they first started going again this year, he always dropped off. Though it was only ever with Chloe he did, what with him feeling comfortable enough around her to do so.

When he finally stirred he took a subtle glance in Chloe's direction as his eyes adjusted, as he now looked towards the screen up and on display outside of the truck. There's a moment in which he tries to follow along with what he had missed - what was happening, and when he found himself narrowly back on track he reached for his Pepsi bottle laying beside him. He chose to stay quiet as he drank some more of his soft drink; waiting for that moment to ask Chloe what he had missed.

Chloe wasn't sure if she was actually paying attention to the movie or not. The night before, she worked at the diner as one of her girls asked for a night of due to family reasons, so she had to pull an all nighter and then work throughout the day. Before meeting Nate, she really only had enough time to shower and get out through the door. So now, as she lay her head on the shoulder, she could feel her eyelids fluttering shut every now and again, unless there was some big noise that shook her up.

After another big noise, she finally decided that she should at least start paying attention and grabbed the popcorn - something to occupy herself. "What's actually going on?" she asked, tilting her head up only to see that Nate himself was barely awake. That only made her laugh and pat his chest with her arm. "At this rate, we're going to have to see it again." Because probably he was going to ask her what had happened so far.

flissxsloane

Brow had risen with interest as soon as it was clear that the other knew the man in question, eyebrows only rising higher with each added detail. "Oh my god, no way." Jaw dropped for a moment, eyes widening at the new information before head was tossed back in laughter. Giggles subsided after a moment, attention back to the phone in front of her before she firmly swiped left, though the phone is put down moments later to focus on Chloe instead. "How salacious, he almost doesn't look like he's got it in him. But no, I barely see kids in my future at the best of times let alone being someone's baby mama on the side. Especially someone who's channelling Henry VIII with his want of a son."

"I don't know really." Shoulder rolled into a light shrug, not dismissive but honest when she couldn't quite pin point what had driven her to the apps. The notion of love, sure, maybe, but this time it felt as though it had just been boredom. Or a need for just something going on in her life. Moving to an entirely new town had only scratched some of her restless itch. she was still waiting for something to truly hold her attention. "Boredom maybe? Or just seeing what's out there, trying to make new friends?"

Expression brightened at the notion of introductions, whether they be for something romantic or otherwise. "I'll never say no to meeting new people." The extrovert in her had always thrived in social situations, there'd always been something exhilarating about meeting someone for the first time and getting to know them. "But if you're actually looking to set me up then I'm open to nice ladies as well as good guys. Or just anyone really. I'd offer to return the favour but I haven't quite got the connections for it, yet."

Chloe nodded. Sam really was capable of those things, though since everyone who lived here for a while already knew him, he really tried to go around the new people. Or rather, get through to them. "I think that's how he tries to get them." By not actually looking the part. "But you better stay on the safe side then. Especially if, as you say, you don't want any kids. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd poke holes in condoms." She laughed, but also shook her body at the simple idea of it all.

"I feel you. How long have you been here?" In Tonopah, if she really was trying to make new friends. The place was pretty friendly, at least that's what Chloe thought, being surrounded by the best people all her life.

Clapping her hands together, she moved to sit opposite Fliss. "Good. There's some great people here and also different personalities. You've got Ian, with a heart of Gold, Will who is just an absolute teddy bear, Nate who is just pretty to look at.. There are others too and each with their own charm, I swear. But they're all nice." Was she pimping her best friends? Yes? Did she know Fliss too well? Not at all, but then she couldn't be horrible, not from what she already knew of the woman. Plus, she was really pretty.

#;; fliss sloane

He nodded along as she spoke, "Think I got about fours hours sleep last night, tonight's looking promising and so that means tomorrow is not gonna be your day." His tone would imply he was joking, though he was far from it. Nate never went easy on Chloe, nor did she on him, and that's what just made it fun to somebody with a competitive personality. Fair be it frustrating too, but it only added fuel to that fire.

Once he pulled up outside of hers, he put the handbrake on and finally turned to look at Chloe fully. "You can get me a bagel after you lose." He then grinned at her - with all pretense of appearing cute.

She just rolled her eyes, knowing full well she was going to be the one who won. That wasn't even a question. "Dream on, Shrek." Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for the evening. I'll want a glazed donut tomorrow." She booped his nose and got out of the car.

-end-

ianmonts

“Okay, okay, maybe toxic isn’t good but – but it’s easy.” Simple, fleeting, temporary. In Ian’s very fucked up opinion, it was much better see the cliff ahead of time and prepare for the dive rather than wander aimlessly and fall. It was why he hadn’t pursued anything seriously in some time; anything that had even the remote possibility of getting his feelings involved. “Yeah, yeah I know that I’m, like, super irresistible and what not,” he replied with a wave of his hand, deflecting with humor as usual. “But I’m positive I have, like, at least one enemy out there. Sometimes I don’t put my cart back all the way after I go grocery shopping, that has to piss someone off.” Admittedly, though, he usually went back on his own self-imposed rebellion, anyway, barely backing out of his parking spot before doing his due-diligence

He felt his skin crawl when she traced the marks on his hand, her lips pressing to each scar one by one, not used to the type of intimate care and support his friend was providing. And yet, in that moment, he challenged himself not to flinch, not to pull away, instead allowing someone – a person who’d become one of his nearest, dearest friends – to tend to him, to the vulnerability that he was putting on full display even against every fiber of his being telling him to stop.

And then there was the guilt, suddenly upset at himself for upsetting her. Feeling like he put her in an awkward position to comfort him, to have to deal with his baggage that was far more unpleasant than necessary -- and excessive, unbelievable, even. It sucked, because on the one hand he knew that Chloe didn't think about him this way. He knew she cared, that she wanted to hear about his past out of friendship and not obligation, but it was difficult for him to just allow that to be true. His own mind had to get it the way, as it always did, but that being said even through all the noise...it was nice. Being able to open up again.

And so he returned the hug, hesitantly at first, but then his arms tightened around her and he found himself burying his head in the crook of her shoulders, tears welling up in his eyes. "It's -- it's not nothing." He murmured, voice still steady. Ian had gotten good at mastering that over the years. "It's everything." It was difficult for him to process her words, but he tried to, anyway, and even if he was a bit too shell shocked in that moment to respond to it all, it did mean a lot to him.

"I -- um, thank you. For saying that." Ian replied softly, attempting to hold her gaze despite his unease. It was nothing she did -- if anything, Chloe said all the right things and then some. This was just an unsettling topic for him, something he hoped would eventually not be so hard. "I want to be ready for that. To find someone. I just -- I think...I might need to work on some things first."