Chatzy Para: Anything But Goodbye
♫ Man, it's been a long night. Just sitting here, trying not to look back. Still looking at the road we never drove on and wondering if the one I chose was the right one ♫
Characters: Piper Meluleni & Patrick Farley (NPC)
Description: Patrick has finalized his decision on leaving The Valleys to re-enlist in the army to do what he feels he was meant to do. Meanwhile, Piper supports her best friends decision, but is finding it hard to let go with all the past memories flooding through her mind. On Patrick's way out, these two have one last talk and though they try to stall for as long as possible, time passes by quicker than they need, but does it have to be goodbye?
Setting: Outside of the Valley House ( Season Rome)
TW: I don't think there is one, but if you have a soft spot for departures like this... prepare for feels?
Piper: She felt so selfish for feeling this way, but the moment Patrick had mentioned he was considering re-enlisting she couldn't help but shy away from the topic. Of course, she supported him either way. Piper made it clear that she wanted him to do what he felt was right, but now it was happening. And tonight, he was leaving. Leaning against the stone pillar, Piper crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at the car that sat outside of the Valley house, just wishing it'd break down or stall out. But even then, she knew it wouldn't stop him-- she couldn't do anything to stop him. Sighing heavily, the brunette ran her fingers through her hair and stepped towards the car and sat on it's hood. "I hate you... I'm never driving you again," she kicked the bumper, pouting as she waited for her best friend to appear.
Patrick: A heavy weight had fallen over Patrick's shoulders after the past few days. He had kept the news to himself -- aside from Piper and today, the day he was due out, he dropped the bomb on Carter and it all came crumbling down. As soon as the words uttered from his mouth and her expression shattered, Patrick wished he could have taken it all back. Hours later, he was feeling a little more at peace, but heart still heavy knowing he was leaving not only Carter, but Piper -- again. With his bags all in tow, Patrick walked out the front doors of the house with a weighted sigh, as first landing on Piper just as she kicked the car, the sweet pout set on her lips causing him to chuckle. "Come on now, don't take it out on the car -- it's not it's fault," he smiled impishly in attempt to keep the mood light as he headed off the porch and to the drive to load up his luggage.
Piper: "It's still helping you leave," she frowned, letting the pout sit oin her lips. She really didnt want him to go, she didn't want to risk losing him again. She didn't want to risk losing him for good this time. That was one of the reasons why she stayed rooted to her spot, letting him take care of the luggage because she knew if she helped, he'd leave sooner than later. Piper was quiet for a moment, letting her expression fall as she heard the luggage lift and sit in the car. "I'm coming to visit you, first thing that I can," she told him, peering over her shoulder to look at her friend, "I have money to do that now, you know. Letters take too long to get to each other. I'd rather tell you how my day was in person." A smile cracked now, hoping that was a possible thing. "I-I mean we could do that right?" She raised a brow, standing up and trailing behind him. "See each other?" Piper looked at PATRICK with hopeful eyes, trying not to let any tears fill.
Patrick: Holding his bottom lip between his teeth, Patrick tried not to let what Piper said sway his thoughts, he knew he had to go, he had no choice now even if he did want to change his mind-- the papers were signed. He loaded up the car in silence as he let Piper continue talking, finishing up just in time as she stood and he closed the back door. Sighing softly, he turned to face her, looking down at her. "Of course we'll see each other. I wouldn't expect anything less from you now," he said with the faintest of smiles as he stepped toward his friend and placed his hands on either sides of her arms and gently rubbing them in comfort. "I still intend on writing though -- every chance I get. Writing, calling -- all of it," he promised her as he let his hands gently squeeze her arms once more before pulling her into his chest, fully engulfing her in a hug. "You don't need to worry about me," he mumbled as he rested his chin atop her head. "I'll be just fine," Patrick said despite the fact knowing she would still worry for him like he would worry for her. He knew she had been having a rough couple months after the engagement was called off, and he hated to leave after that but he /had/ to. There was just no way around it.
Piper: The brunette let a sigh fall from her lips and willed the tension in her shoulders to loosen once she felt his touch. She smiled a bit more now, giving a sure nod in response. She wouldn't dare miss a single letter or phone call- she'd walk out of an interview just to pick up. But even then, it wasn't the same... And she knew where he would be. Piper was silent again as she listened to Patrick's words, her eyes falling to the ground as tears threatened to come before burrying her face into his chest. She didn't want him to know she was crying but by now the tears were falling and wetting the fabric of his shirt. Sniffling, she lifted her head, figuring it was useless to hide and wanting to see his face for as long as possible before her left. "I'm scared," she admitted, but gave a hopeful smile. "You're so strong and smart-- I know you'll make it, but I just-" Piper stopped herself from bringing him up, biting down on her lips. Sighing again, Piper looked to Patrick trying to smile again. "I just want you to come back, is all... I dont want to be without you anymore."
Patrick: Closing his eyes as the two molded together, Patrick made sure to hold Piper as close as he possibly could, knowing he wouldn't be able to much longer after this. He couldn't help but let his mind wander, taking him back to six years ago when they had this very same talk, both of them much younger, much more naive but still at the same time much more scared. "Piper, nothing is going to happy to me," he said with the slightest of sad chuckles as he swayed the both of them slowly, her frame so much small than his own. "This ain't my first rodeo, I'll go wherever I'm told -- kick some ass, and come home. You know that," he said knowingly as he brought one hand up, letting it stroke the back of Piper's head as he pulled his face back just enough to look at her. "This is an oddly familiar conversation, isn't it?" Patrick asked, his tone light as a small grin stretched upon his lips. This was now more of a bittersweet moment, leaving Piper once again, but leaving for what he was destined to do from the start.
Piper: It was a battle, this moment, Piper was trying so hard to stay as positive as possible but the only thoughts that filled her mind were thoughts of worry and fear. No matter how Patrick tried to assure her, she couldn't keep herself from predicting the worse because the worse had happened once before. Still, the brunette bit her tongue. For the sake of both of them, she nodded as if she believed him, trusted his word like always. Her eyes shifted away however, knowing he'd be able to call her bluff. "Yeah," she sniffled again, reaching up to wipe the tears that slid down her soft cheeks. Piper relaxed into his touch, leaning into it and bringing her hand to rest over his and shutting her eyes. She wanted to remember this, linger in it for as long as she could because she wasn't sure she'd get it back again. It wasn't until the sound of his voice did she open her tired, sad eyes again. Somehow he was able to get her to smile again, it was small but genuine. Shaking her head, she chuckled before pulling her lips between her teeth, biting down for a moment. "Mhmm-... Yeah," her voice trailed away as the memory played at the back of her mind. "It's like deja vu," she joked lightly, letting her fingers slip away from over his, wrapping her arms around herself. If she didn't start separating- she wouldn't have been able to let him go. "Only this time, I know for sure that you're coming back to me," she said, wanting to make the words law.
Patrick: When Patrick decided intially he was going to reenlist, he was yet again, selfish. Not thinking of what his loved ones would think of this, what this would mean for everyone he left behind. All he thought about was ahead, what he knew he had to do. He had already spent hours on the phone with his sisters, comforting them. He spent hours contemplating what Carter and what Piper would say, and then of course then hours comforting them as well. He never considered the lasting effect of his actions even after having done this once before. Once Piper lifted her face and their eyes finally made contact again, Patrick couldn't help the small smile that grew even wider. "That's right, I'll be coming back to you and your family and hell -- I'll bring my family too and we can throw a big party and get drunk off our asses, how does that sound?" Patrick suggested, laughing even at the thought of their two crazy families mashing together for one big throw down. The short lived laugh faded as he sighed, leaning down further to press his forehead against Piper's without even realizing how close this made the both of them. He wanted to be close while he could. Soon enough the only thing he'd have to hold on to of the girl he'd always treasure would be letters and an occasional call and that simply wasn't enough. Those things couldn't do Piper's presence any justice at all and slowly as he realized that, he felt his chest tighten. The longer he stayed here the more he didn't want to leave. "Piper --- " Patrick sighed as he let his hand find her where it rested on his back, wrapping it in his own with them both at their sides. "Can I -- Can I do something crazy?" he asked, his tone hesitant as he brought his other hand up to brush back the dark stray strands of hair the whipped around Piper's face with the wind. "Just for -- for old time's sake," assuring the girl, but mainly himself that what he was about to do wasn't something they would regret later. Before Piper gave much of an answer, Patrick leaned in further while allowing his eyes to close, just as he felt the warmth of Piper's lips against his -- just that rare touch causing him to smile. Once she didn't immediately pull away, Patrick let his hand rest on her cheek as he brought her face in closer for the kiss, the one thing he needed before he had to go.
Piper: Patrick's words had her smiling even more now as she dropped the gaze, letting the giggles bubble past her soft pink lips. Though time only continued to tick away, lessening what they had left together and it faded the laughter to quiet sounds. The aching in her chest grew against her will, but nevertheless, Piper kept smiling. The Meluleni's and the Farley's, all in one party? That was just a catastrophe waiting to happen, but in some odd way, she knew it was going to be a good catastrophe she was already anticipating. "That sounds like trouble," the words laced with laughter, "I'd say we could have a gathering at the restaurant but I'm not entirely sure that it would survive a party with that many of us there," she scrunched her nose up, shaking her head again and releasing another small laugh. It was quiet for a moment then... And she let it be, taking her lower lip between her teeth as she lifted her chin so she was able to find his eyes again. Piper remained wordless, taking advantage of the time left to study the peppered green color in his eyes and the way they seemed to change between his moods and throughout the change of weather and attire. Patrick's hazel hues was something the dark haired beauty admired and it was certainly going to be something she'd miss seeing every day. When he moved closer, Piper didn't shy away- In fact, the brunette seemed to have melted into his touch, leaning just slightly forward as her arms snaked around him to rest at his back and gently shutting her eyes. At the sound of her name, the girl didn't dare open them, shaking her head as she felt the goodbyes coming, but she was surprised- met with words that left her a bit confused. Knitting her brows together, Piper pulled away ever so slightly to look at him, their hands now intertwined at each side. A part of her was clever enough to know what was to come next- the other half denied it, knowing it was far too dangerous to do with the way things have written out between them and others the past months. And that part of her would have stopped him short, but Patrick had beat her to it and she felt him just as close as her heart missed him to be. For the second time since they reunited, Patrick had kissed her and this time around... she didn't pull away. A small but happy smile was pressed against Patrick's lips as Piper leaned into the kiss, bringing a hand up to let her fingertips brush along his jawline and traced a way to the back of his neck. She held onto him and locked into his kiss that she accepted and made theirs. If it were possible she would have stayed just like that, but like all good things, it had to end. And when it did, she stubbornly kept her eyes shut- more than anything, she wanted to ask him to stay, but she remained quiet, knowing better than to keep him from what she knew he wanted. "Don't say goodbye," her voice soft on the words though her heart broke a little more with each one, "anything but that, Patrick-- I don't want this to be goodbye." Piper opened her eyes again, letting her hands rest against his chest as she pulled away enough to see his full expression and she watched his eyes carefully awaiting his response.
