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Valhalla. Ciara was currently cleaning a glass out for whoever needed it next, while Rei was on the other side facing Ciara, waiting for something he could do during this shift."
"You doing okay, Rei? Actually fuck that, I can see that you're not." Ciara shakes her head, judging that she's probably having to provide support for the tired blonde bartender.
Rei doesn't respond, clearly deep in thought or something similar. His hair was a mess which was more than a usual event for him.
"I might not be the right person for it, but do you want to talk about whatever's bothering you? Because I can see with these tired green eyes that you're a fuckin' mess."
"...Fine." Rei's voice angry halfway through by mistake due to emotions, but calmer afterwards as to not offend Ciara.
Ciara smiles, flashing a slight thumbs up. "That's the spirit, Rei-man. And if you need somethin' to drink at all, I'm right here."
"Thanks."
Ciara leans down onto the counter to face Rei, puzzled by his current mood. Maybe he's feeling homesick? "So, what's got you into this state? Troubles with Vicky? Kieran botherin' you?"
"N-No, it's just..." Rei sighs, trying not to look down as to actually talk to Ciara. "You remember when I first came here, right?"
"Yeah, when you met Chief and everyone, then us. What about it?"
Rei tries to recollect his thoughts for a few seconds, as a way to properly explain his feelings. "Just... At the time I thought I had no chance to survive or anything. Only being able to be in Valhalla for a short time before getting kicked out for whatever reason, and then inevitably dying in some Neon District street."
He thinks back to it all, being saved by Dana in a way, and trying to blend in with Ciara and everyone, especially Victoria's relatable personality.
"But after all this time, I'm still here. And I somehow have you, Victoria, Jill and everyone else here. A place to stay, a place to work and call home, and so on."
Ciara nods, understanding Rei's point, acting from past experiences. "Yeah, so you're just reminiscing and getting emotional?"
"Pretty much, I'm just really thankful to have all of you around, especially you, Ciara." Rei flashes a slight smile after the statement, trying to show that he really meant what he said.
"Me? Pfftt." Ciara's cat ears twitch slightly at the response, chuckling slightly.
But Rei's face darkens a bit, most likely from self disappointment. "I can relate to both you and Victoria a lot, more than I'm willing to explain."
Ciara yawns, rubbing her face. "Can't guarantee I'd ever be able to help you if it ever came to that, but I appreciate it."
"Thank you... Just..." But when Rei starts to let more compliments out, he hangs his head and starts shaking.
"You okay, dude?"
It was clear Rei was crying, clearly a bundle of emotions. Generosity? Sadness? Ciara couldn't tell and mentally groaned. "(Fuck, what would Jill do in this situation? Or the others?)"
She didn't think a drink would help in something serious like this, especially not a Beer.
But... maybe a hug?
As long as it was her that was initiating it, it was mostly fine. Depending on the person of course.
"(Fuck it.)"
With that decision, Ciara decides to briskly come over to Rei's side of the counter, dropping down slightly as he grips his knees in an attempt to mentally ground himself, unaware of Ciara's advancement.
And with a swift motion, Ciara pulls Rei into a hug from where he was sitting, not too tight but it had meaning.
And as Rei registered the hug, he looked to his side only to see Ciara hugging with a warm embrace, somewhat uneasy about the action.
"C-Ciara?"
"Shush, it's going to be okay, alright? You're welcome, by the way."
Rei had no response, clinging to Ciara too as he uncontrollably let out more emotion, tears dropping out of his eyes and onto Ciara's uniform, while she meanwhile hoped this hug would at least help to some degree.
"Thank you... thank you..." Those words of gratitude repeated for a short time, out of scattered emotions rather than making sense which he was unable to do in this state.
Ciara's ears meanwhile dropped a bit, sighing as she tried to rub one of his shoulders in an attempt for comfort alongside the hug. "(He better not fuckin' squeeze me to death like last time...)"
And after some time, Rei eventually calmed down considerably to where Ciara felt like the hug had outlived it's use, breaking away and standing upright to face him.
"..."
"You doing better now?"
"I'm sorry for breaking down, it's just..."
"Don't worry about it dude, I get you." Ciara voiced, adjusting her outfit slightly which became done thanks to the combined hug. "But like I said in the past, if you really need someone to lean on, then your best bet is someone like Victoria or Dillon, 'kay?"
Rei looked away upon remembering that fact, feeling bad for letting this happen all of a sudden. "I know you're not the best in these situations, I just can't help it sometimes, I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize so much." Ciara stated as reassurance, moving to her original position of behind the counter, sighing and she shook herself slightly, feeling mentally drained from the recent incident, as did Rei.
"But what I want to say is don't take what you have for granted, because you might suddenly lose it one day, y'know? That's why you've gotta treasure the present and not worry about the future."
"Yeah. Again, thank you for everything. You're honestly one of the better people I've met in the past year." Rei had to smile a bit to himself, due to how forward Ciara was being. It was really appreciated.
"Heh, thanks." Ciara took her focus off Rei to look at the nearby holo-clock, realizing how much time passed during Rei's breakdown, wanting to lighten the mood. "Enough sappy talk though, want a drink?"
"Sure, the usual."
And like that, Ciara proceeded to prepare a Sugar Rush, having a hope that Rei's emotions would improve from it.
Rei meanwhile would be even more thankful for having someone so honest like Ciara around, eternally grateful for all her help.
It meant something. He'd never be alone for the time being.