Man Up, Old Man - Riley tags Cobalt

[Riley Adams]

“Boss, you haven’t had breakfast or lunch today. You sure you won’t pass out on us?” Rina asked patted Riley’s back as he pulled out the weeds around a particularly pretty flower display near the entrance of the retirement home. “I kind of need this month’s pay. You know, for rent and my kids. Tough times...” Rina held back her chuckles. Riley laughed in response before patting the soil down. He stood up and stretched his arms up.

“I’m ready for my break anyway.” He grinned at Rina who raised an eyebrow. “Wow, who made you boss, thinking you can be ready for breaks?” Riley bumped Rina’s shoulders as he walked to their truck of supplies with Rina trailing behind. “You going into town again?” She asked, throwing the spade she was holding to the back of the truck. Riley nodded before depositing his gloves and grabbing his wallet from his duffel bag.

“Get me some fries and shake from that new place Robun’s or something.” Riley nodded at Rina’s request before hopping into his own truck and driving away with a wave.

Once he arrived in town, Riley made a beeline for the nearest fast food restaurant he saw and ordered a cheesy bacon burger with fries and a large cup of soda. And as he waited, he looked around the place only to catch a glimpse of a somewhat familiar figure. It was a bit hard to really make out his face but as the figure came closer, Riley realised that it was Cobalt Weaver, the guy he’d more or less hit it off with during poker night.

But he held back from going over lest Cobalt didn’t actually feel they hit it off. What if the man thought it should have just been a one time thing? What if Cobalt didn’t even remember him? That would be awkward. “There you go sir, enjoy your meal.” The cashier pushed the tray towards him and Riley picked it up and went to take a seat. And after quite a long while of contemplating, Riley decided it was stupid of him to feel so uncomfortable just saying hi to another person.

He held a hand up and waved at Cobalt with a shaky smile. “Hey!”

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt didn’t actually like fast food joints. Not really, anyways. But even he had times when all he wanted to do was get out of the office, as rare as that was. Leila had told him more or less to get out of her hair for a few hours, expressed her concern over his not knowing of this certain restaurant and vehemently shooed him out of the office. So there he was at a fast food joint, leafing through a book and chewing on a French fry. He had to admit it was a little nice; the restaurant was clean, the employees were relatively prompt and the seats weren’t that annoying plasticy stuff like McDonald’s seats. That, and he was fairly sure McDonald’s food wasn’t actually made of food. Cobalt suspected plastic. Leila thought he was crazy, but he knew the score.

Even though he suspected the food here was better, he’d only ordered a chocolate milkshake and French fries. Mostly because he was rather fond of both of those things and not really in the mood for anything more substantial. And thus supplied with a twelve year old’s lunch, he flipped idly through a comic book he’d pilfered from Leila’s desk when she wasn’t looking. He still didn’t really understand the appeal; granted, the art was very well-done and the coloring was very pretty, but it’s not as though there was a whole lot of substance here. Also, the premise was utterly ludicrous. There was no way a man dressed up like Robin Hood could afford to simultaneously be mayor of the city and a vigilante who fought hardened criminals with a bow and arrow. Also, Cobalt didn’t see how nobody had figured out the man’s secret identity yet. It wasn’t as though he was wearing a whole lot over his face. And he had really distinctive facial hair.

Still pondering this, Cobalt started in surprise when he realized that someone was standing near him. A very tall someone. “Riley.” Cobalt blinked in surprise, recognizing the man from that horrendous “poker” night. The other man had been very nice and one of the few people he’d felt comfortable talking to. “Hey, how are you doing?” He looked at the open chairs around him, “You wanna sit down? I’m not really expecting anyone, so the seats are open.” Cobalt took a sip of his milkshake, “So how have you been keeping?”

[Riley Adams]

He breathed a sigh of relief when Cobalt said his name. It was pathetic how hugely relieved he was that Cobalt remembered him. "Hey, I'm fine thanks. Yourself?" Riley lost all his awkwardness once Cobalt actually offered him a seat. "Oh, thanks." He smiled at the man before sitting down with his tray of food.

Popping some fries into his mouth, Cobalt's question had to wait as he finished chewing. Just because he had gotten rid of his inhibitions a little didn't mean he was going to let the other man see what was in his mouth. "Um, I've been better." He chuckled lightly. "I'm supposed to be finishing this project at an old folk's home near here in a week and we're about only half way done." He rambled.

Realising he was divulging in information that was probably not relevant to Cobalt's life, Riley laughed nervously. "You didn't need to know that. Um...how's Leila?" He perked up slightly, knowing that was common ground between the two, hence a safe topic to discuss despite Riley not knowing Leila all too well.

[Cobalt Weaver]

“I’m doing well,” Cobalt responded lightly, “A little stressed, but…” He shrugged vaguely. “I’m getting by.” He listened to Riley talk about his project and then his embarrassed self-admonishment. Cobalt grinned slightly, “No, that’s fine. What’s the project supposed to be? I mean, I know what a landscape artist does obviously, but I’d like to know what you’re doing…right now. Oh, whatever, you know what I mean.” Cobalt gestured dismissively, mildly exasperated. He was tired, he felt like he’d earned the right to be a little inarticulate. Riley would understand.

Cobalt sighed at the mention of his intern. “Leila is… Leila. Still undermining my authority, still questioning my judgment and talking back.” He chuckled, “Should have hired an intern with less of a mouth.” He gave Riley an amused look, “But what can you do? At least she’s a good worker.” He shook his head. “She’s the one who told me to get out of her sight for a while. I guess I was annoying her or something.” He gestured at the restaurant as a whole, “So here I am. Good thing the milkshakes are good.” He uncapped his milkshake, stuck some French fries in the drink, then popped them in his mouth. Tasty.

“Have you ever been in here before?” Cobalt asked, gesturing at the restaurant, “I hadn’t. It’s not too bad.”

[Riley Adams]

Riley got distracted by Cobalt's fries and shake act that he forgot to answer the man's question. He didn't know anyone besides himself did that. Especially someone who seemed so straightlaced as Cobalt Weaver. It was highly amusing and Riley took to him even more. He scrambled to get the right footing in the conversation and went straight back to Cobalt's original question.

"Ah, my project. The old folks home." Riley unwrapped his burger and smiled at it. It looked very good. "If I did my job properly, it should be a formation of a phoenix. I know, corny...but I kind of thought it was symbolically hopeful...sort of." He chuckled lightly before taking a bite out of his burger. It wasn't too bad. He'd tasted better but right then he was hungry so he couldn't really care less.

Cobalt's description of Leila cracked Riley up before he reigned it in. He didn't know the blonde ball of sunshine too well but from his encounter with her, it's quite hard not to like her. "Leila's a force to be reckoned with, I'm quite sure." He commented with a small smile. "No," Riley then replied Cobalt's question about having been here before. "I was hungry, this was the first restaurant I saw and I just went in." He gave a small chuckled.

"I see you have a comic with you...I never pegged you for a comic fan. Or rather...graphic novel."

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt listened to Riley’s talk about his project with interest. “No, I think that’s really interesting. I appreciate the hopeful aspect. So… I mean, I can understand if you don’t want to talk shop on your lunch break, but how exactly are you going about doing that? I’ve never been over to that side, so I don’t really know what the place looks like, but it seems like a pretty complicated project. But you know,” He shrugged amiably, “What do I know about landscaping?” He sipped his milkshake briefly. He was always interested in others’ professions; he liked learning about different jobs and landscaping was something he’d never been able to talk about with someone before. So Cobalt was a perpetual student; it was one of this more surprising traits.

Cobalt shared a laugh with Riley; he appreciated how fond Riley was of Leila despite her obvious bossy streak that led to the monstrosity that was poker night. He and Leila had had Words after that night, but as far as he was concerned, the damage was done and she was no longer in trouble for that. “That she is,” Cobalt responded, grinning wryly, “Which comes in handy when you’re actually on the job, but when you find yourself having a full-on debate about something like eating habits or whether or not I drink too much coffee, I appreciate it a little less. Because heaven forbid I’m ever right.” He laughed quietly, but caught himself. As nice as Riley was, Cobalt severely doubted he as all that interested in Cobalt’s work or his interactions with Leila. “Anyways, you didn’t need to know that either, so I guess we’re even.”

Cobalt blinked in confusion at Riley’s comment on comic books. Then he followed Riley’s gaze to the comic book on the table. “Oh! No, no,” Cobalt chuckled, “That’s not mine. It’s Leila’s. I stole it when she kicked me out of the office, don’t tell her.” He added in a mock-whisper, smirking. “I decided to see why she liked them so much.” Cobalt shrugged, “Truth be told, they’re a little ridiculous. I cannot find it in myself to believe that this man has not been killed or arrested already. And his secret identity is ludicrous.” Cobalt sighed, “On the whole, I still haven’t found the appeal, but I think I may just be too old.” He tapped his finger to his head, indicating that the “old” he was talking about was mentally, not in actual years, since Riley was a few years older than him anyways. He turned back to the book briefly, “Have you ever read these? I have to admit, I didn’t even get into them when I was a kid.”

[Riley Adams]

Riley couldn't help but smile when Cobalt understood the concept. Cheesy as it was, Riley was a romantic. He appreciated looking at the brighter things in life than concentrate on the sad parts. "No, it's okay. I really don't mind talking. That much." He chuckled at his own lame attempt at a joke. "Well, to be honest there's not much to talk about it. It's kind of like designing a building and doing a coloring by numbers painting. That's basically the easiest way for me to explain landscaping. That's how I learnt it anyway.

"And then I just let my co-workers deal with filling the spaces." He smiled. True, that explanation was simplifying his job but in reality, it was a much harder work to transfer what you saw on paper on to actual land. But after ten years of doing it, he was finding it pretty easy to handle. It helped that he was surrounded by especially competent people who knew how to do the job and do it exceptionally well.

Smiling at Cobalt's frustration over Leila, Riley couldn't help but notice the begrudging gratitude and affection Cobalt harboured for his officemate. Much like a father was to his daughter. It was endearing and Riley was forced to repress his thoughts of his own father. They weren't pleasant thoughts and Riley always felt a bit depressed if he ever allowed himself to continue the thoughts. He was brought back to the present by the other man's laugh. He responded with his own and shook his head. "I suppose so,"

"Me? No. I kind of grew up without books to be honest." It wasn't so much an embarrassment to admit it but he did feel he would be judged. Cobalt was a lawyer, he was tons smarter than Riley was to be sure. But Riley wasn't going to assume that Cobalt was a snob. Well, he did hope Cobalt wasn't. He seemed like a really nice guy. And they were getting along so well.

His burger was long gone yet Riley didn't feel like leaving. "You're not pressed for time are you?"

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt listened to Riley’s description of his job. Interesting. It seemed rather involved and probably infinitely more complicated than Riley was actually letting on. Cobalt debated asking Riley more about it, but he figured it would start getting confusing soon. One of the nice things about his general lack of sleep was that it left his nights open for doing one of his favorite things: useless research. He could read about it later. “That sounds really interesting. And you like your job well enough, yeah? And that’s the important part.” Cobalt nodded decisively. It was certainly true on his end. Cobalt loved his job. It kept him relatively sane (oddly enough), it gave him definable and usually reachable goals, and made him pretty happy. And he was lucky; some people didn’t like their jobs at all. That would be terrible.

Cobalt had many foibles. Many, many foibles. But snobbery was, curiously, not one of them. His life hadn’t been easy, so he could kind of tell when someone else had a trying life as well. Cobalt didn’t press, but it was sad to think that someone a well-meaning and kind as Riley may not have had a very nice life. “I understand.” Cobalt replied, “As much as it pains me to admit it, if I hadn’t gone to Hammel, I probably wouldn’t have grown up around books either.” He gave Riley and ironic look, “That’s one of the best arguments for Hammel, unfortunately, is that gives the students an excellent education. And it’s true.” Cobalt shrugged, “I’m sure you remember, since you went there too. The schooling was great. Everything else…” He gestured vaguely, grinning wryly, “Eh, you know.”

Cobalt glanced at his wristwatch, “Nah. It’s not as though our office is ever brimming with activity. Usually Josh comes down for lunch, but he’s… not feeling well.” Cobalt looked down at his almost-eaten food, his expression darkening. Catching himself, he gestured at the table, “So that’s why I’m eating by myself. So I appreciate the company.”

[Riley Adams]

"I love my job," Riley enthused with a huge grin on his face. Let it be known that although Riley was well aware that he could have been in another quite different occupation, choosing landscaping was the easiest decision he ever made in his life. Sure, he could have been a doctor, a vet, an engineer or an architect but he chose landscaping simply because he enjoyed it and there was no added pressure on him and there could be no ulterior motives to cloud his initial passion. No politics were involved and the money was steady. He didn't have anyone to compete with and his employees had no reason to stab him in the back. It was the perfect job. And yes, he loved it.

Cobalt's admission to having something to thank Hammel for, despite his obvious distaste towards the institution, had Riley nodding in understanding. He himself had seen Hammel as a saving grace. He had a relatively okay time in all his four years of stay there but he did understand that some of Hammel's students had been there involuntarily. And much like any other high school, Hammel had occupants who raised enough hell to make the other students have an aversion to their stay there. Riley didn't know exactly what had made Cobalt hate the school so much but he did understand.

Riley offered a genuinely sympathetic smile in reply to Cobalt's wry grin. He was by no means an advocate for Hammel, having left it completely behind after graduating, but he did have good memories there that he couldn't just forget. "At least it didn't damage you all too much. At least as far as I can see." And he genuinely meant it, as he always did when he saw the good in others.

"Josh isn't feeling well?" Riley piped in even before Cobalt finished his sentence, giving away whatever stray feelings he was still harboring for the other man. "I mean...um, a cold?" He asked, not noticing the other man's shadows suddenly creeping up around him. "Me too. I always eat lunch by myself. So Josh? He's not like...on bed rest or whatever is he? I could bring him some pie. I've been baking like crazy for the holidays so it's not like I can eat all the pies myself. I should bring some over, don't you think?"

[Cobalt Weaver]

Cobalt grinned at Riley’s affirmation about his job. “Well, that’s the important part, yeah?” He held up his milkshake in a salute. He rather liked Riley’s company—he was enjoying the company of many people he’d met these past few months. Which was unusual; the last time he’d been to Pilot Ridge, he hadn’t liked anyone except for a few (read: one) people and the feelings had been mutual. Now, however, he had met people like Riley and Josh whom he genuinely liked and even odder, these people liked him back. It was unusual, but Cobalt was rather enjoying it. Hopefully, he wouldn’t muck it up too much.

He just wished he were better versed in social graces.

Cobalt chuckled at Riley’s assessment of Hammel and his own character. “Eh. Thanks. Here’s hoping, right?” He rolled his eyes lightly, “Well, most everyone else turned out well, so…” He grinned, nodding towards Riley to indicate that he meant him. The older man would have been a nice person to know when Cobalt was going to school at eleven, but if he was going to be perfectly honest with himself, Cobalt wasn’t altogether a very enjoyable person to be around during those years. So maybe it was for the best.

Cobalt’s eyebrows shot up at Riley’s sudden question. Cobalt still didn’t ask, because he really didn’t want to pry, but he wondered how much Riley knew about Josh and Sean. Either way, it really wasn’t his business. And he didn’t want to make it his business. “Uh. No, he’s pretty seriously ill. Yeah, like bed rest ill.” He had to crack a smile at Riley’s offer of pie, “I dunno. He’s… uh. He’s staying over at Sean’s I believe. You’ll have to talk to him.” Cobalt’s smile disappeared as he mentioned the telepath. Just because they’d gotten an agreement worked out didn’t mean that he felt any different about the other man. Shadows rolled underneath his fingers. He had to change the subject or his mood would be completely ruined, and he didn’t really want to upset Riley. It may require explanations he didn’t feel like giving right now.

“So. I didn’t know you baked.” Cobalt said the first thing that came to mind. Because that was always a good idea. Having committed to that line of thought, he went with it. “I mean, I can make food if I have to, but I was never very good at baked goods, which is a shame because I like them. Luckily, Elaine makes delicious food, so I intend to use that as much as possible.” He stopped, realizing that Riley may not even know Elaine. “Uh, Elaine Tonaya. She’s my oldest friend. I met her when I was in school. She’s a wonderful person.”

[Riley Adams]

Riley shrugged and grinned at Cobalt's reference to him turning out well because of Hammel. "I have my moments." He chuckled. Although Hammel had little to do with how he grew up. Most of it was from his mother who raised him with a stern but loving hand. She was patient and didn't tolerate insolence. She protected him from his father and practically raised him and Janice alone. His adolescence wasn't too bad but after graduating Hammel was when Riley really grew as a man.

As predicted, Cobalt looked surprised at the enthusiasm behind his question but fortunately the other man didn't question it. Riley did purse his lips when it was revealed that Sean was hosting the ailing Josh. So they were friends. At least. But could they be more? What was it to Riley, he didn't know but it was there and there wasn't an easy way for him to shut it off. He decided he might as well visit his friend and give him his pie. This way he'd be killing two bird with one stone anyway. Now all he needed was Sean's address.

But it didn't seem like he could get it off Cobalt because the moment the telepath's name was mentioned, it was like the shadows were scrambling to conceal their controller. Riley noticed this but felt it was already a touchy subject since Riley wouldn't be subjective about anything due to his little man crush on Josh so he kept quiet about it more out of force than out of politeness. He didn't want to ask too many questions and he was pretty sure Cobalt wasn't going to answer any of them besides possibly a vague "It's a long story," so Riley clammed up.

The subject change made Riley smile. "I do. I cook and bake. It relieves tension, for sure." The dark haired landscaper scratched the back of his neck as he grinned. The grin widened when Elaine's name popped up. "She doesn't happen to own Mama's Garden does she?" At Cobalt's affirmation, Riley chuckled. "Small world. I went over there a few weeks ago to get some supplies. She's an amazing florist." Riley had nothing but nice things to say about the blonde effervascent woman. "You have a way with the ladies, Cobalt." Riley teased lightly, meaning nothing by it and obviously not knowing Cobalt's preferences.

"I am randomly reminded of the annual winter bash next month." Riley had seen the fliers everywhere. He wasn't going but if Cobalt was, why not? At least he'd have company. That is, if Cobalt didn't already have a date. Then Riley wouldn't have any need to go. These functions always went the same anyway. Arrive, drink faces off and pass out. Mixed in with drunken hook ups and intoxicated trash talk, it just didn't seem to be Riley's cup of tea. That is unless he had someone sober to be around with. Maybe Cobalt could be that guy! Maybe.

[Cobalt Weaver]

“Ah, well, baking usually makes me moderately stressed out. And on fire.” Cobalt winced at the memory, “I swear, I’m completely competent in a plethora of other skills, but I can’t bake.” He shrugged. At Riley’s question, Cobalt looked surprised, “Yeah, Mama’s Garden, that’s the one.” He laughed at Riley’s explanation, “No way. Well, I guess that makes sense. She really is a great florist. Really kind person too. Which…” He snorted, “Makes sense, considering she put up with me as a teenager.” Cobalt gave Riley a good-humored look, “I definitely wouldn’t wish that on anyone.” He took a sip of his milkshake. Then promptly inhaled the rest up his nose at Riley’s teasing. Cobalt coughed, covering his face in a napkin until he’d regained some kind of composure. “I have to say,” He coughed, wiping his mouth, “That you are the first person to have ever said that to me, teasing or no. Ow.” He gave Riley a grin to show he wasn’t actually offended. Just a smidge uncomfortable. “But—uh. No. Thanks… I think. But no.” This conversation was heading nowhere good fast.

“Fortunately, you wouldn’t really have to have a way, with Elaine.” Cobalt explained, not really stopping to think about how this was gonna sound, “She’s one of those people who can tell who you really are, no matter how other people look at you. Which is a godsend when you’re sixteen, I have to say. I mean, a lot of that has to do with her powers, but still. She’s an awfully understanding person.” Like a proud brother, Cobalt could go on a while about Elaine, but he stopped there, deciding that Riley was probably not that interested in his friend’s positive traits.

Cobalt blinked. “That is… a very random remembrance.” Cobalt replied, “Are you going? I wasn’t gonna, but Elaine wanted to and she didn’t feel comfortable going by herself. Which is silly since she seems to know half the town anyways, and she’ll make friends with the rest in the first five minutes upon arrival. So, I am being dragged along.” He shrugged lightly, not really all that put out by it. If he had to go on a “date” with anyone, he’d rather it be Elaine. “If you go, we’ll probably meet up with you there. I think she doesn’t actually believe I’ve made friends here yet.” Which was fair, because Cobalt himself couldn’t really believe he’d made friends here.

[Riley Adams]

Riley laughed at Cobalt's self-admonishment, not out of spite of course. Cobalt obviously didn't think he was worth any of the friends he had. Riley sort of understood, seeing that the only one he felt loved him truly was his sister and that was because she was biologically programmed to. Riley blinked when Cobalt started to cough. "Oh my God, Cobalt are you alright?" Riley didn't know what to do exactly but Cobalt replied and added a grin, almost as an afterthought.

He then started to speak of Elaine in such a light that Riley was quite convinced that he and Elaine were linked some way intimate. Were they a couple then? He was already sure Cobalt was straight since it didn't take long for Riley to get comfortable with him. Cobalt praising Elaine like this just confirmed his thoughts. So Cobalt was already in a relationship and with such an amazing person too! He figured if you talked about a person highly enough, you had to have some form of love for the other person. He just didn't realise that Cobalt was talking about her like a big brother would a little sister.

"I know it is." Riley laughed when Cobalt affirmed that his annual bash remark was completely random. He smiled understandingly when Cobalt spoke of going to it with Elaine. Obviously. "Oh yeah, I dunno if I'm going or not. I don't really make much of an effort to attend these things. But I'd love to meet up with Elaine again." He nodded with a smile. Riley jumped ever so slightly in his chair when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He slipped it out and saw the blue pulsating light on the screen. He had a message. "Um, scuse me for a bit." He grinned sheepishly at Cobalt. He wasn't a big fan of people using their phone in the presence of company so he was always embarrassed whenever his phone rang when they were talking. But Riley was just on a lunch break and just because he was the boss, didn't mean he could skip work altogether. It just wasn't what he did.

The message was from Rina asking where he was. Wow, it had been an hour. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and smiled apologetically at Cobalt. "I hate to cut this short but I have to go back to work. I promised my co-worker I'd get her some shake and fries from somewhere so I better get going. It's so good to see you again." Riley stood up as Cobalt did and before he could think any further of it, Riley closed the space between them and bent down a little to hug Cobalt. He stepped back and gave the other man a smile.

"Send my regards to Elaine. Tell her thank you again for being such a help the other day." He held up a hand as a wave before walking off to get Rina her things.