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[center][h1][color=goldenrod][b]Gears[/b][/color][/h1][/center]
[center][img] https://i.imgur.com/HWP0qbL.gif[/img][/center]
Interactions: Wendel [@FunnyGuy], Arya [@Potter], Menzai [@samreaper], Val & Scratch [@Apex Sunburn], Phia [@princess]

The bar had quieted just enough for Gears to catch her breath between the clatter of plates and the ever-changing chaos. Her hands moved on instinct now. Wendel’s breakfast came first, and as she slid it across the counter, she gave him a little smile that danced somewhere between teasing and fond.

[color=goldenrod]“Breland Breakfast, comin’ in hot.”[/color]

She let the plate land with a satisfying clink, then leaned in just a touch and added, quieter, and through a wink Wendel’s way as she spoke. [color=goldenrod]“And for the record… still too much coin for one mead. You keep tippin’ me like that, I’m gonna have to start sleeping like you folk, all so I can start having dreams about you, honey.”[/color]

Her gaze drifted, just briefly, catching the girl with the stars in her skin as she spoke up. Arya, bless her, barely got the words out, but she looked like she was trying. Gears softened at the effort.

[color=goldenrod]“Of course, sweetheart. You just sit tight and I’ll whip somethin’ nice up just for you.”[/color]

She started wiping down the bar again, then paused when Menzai spoke up behind her.

[color=ee82ed]“Another mule tea. With honey this time.”[/color]

She smiled to herself, already reaching for the kettle. [color=goldenrod]“Well now, listen to you, Mr. Sophisticated. Tea with a sweet tooth. Comin’ right up.”[/color]

She was halfway through assembling the tray when she heard a voice.

[color=E579FF]“Old ghosts?”[/color]

It was Val. Little thing always managed to cut right to the center of things with no warning. Gears paused in the middle of prepping a lemon wedge and gave her a soft look.

Scratch explained it before Gears could. Memories. That’s all they were. Just... old gears turnin' slow in her head, and not much else.

But then Val was leaning in again, eyes all wide and sincere.

[color=E579FF]“Come find us if anything’s wrong, okay?”[/color]

That one hit. Somewhere deep in her core.

Gears reached across the bar, her fingers brushing Val’s with the faintest touch.

[color=goldenrod]“You’re a sweetheart, y’know that? I will. Promise.”[/color]

She turned her attention to Scratch, who had that look he got when he was about to start listing every loose bolt on the ship. Sure enough, he started squinting at her ocular receptors like she was a piece of broken cargo.

She rolled her optics.

[color=goldenrod]“You know you’re not the only man alive who can flirt and do diagnostics in the same breath, but you might be the best in the world at what you do?”[/color] she muttered as he leaned in.

But then he got serious. Really serious. Started talking about sockets and subsystems like he wasn’t also teasing her about her “curvature” a few minutes ago. Val looked concerned as well. Too concerned.

Gears held up a hand.

[color=goldenrod]“I’m not seein’ the world in double, darlin’. Just got one eye maybe a hair slower than the other. I promise, I’m not gonna mistake a spoon for a battleaxe just yet.”[/color]

She winked, then added, [color=goldenrod]“But I’ll swing by for a checkup later if it makes you feel better. Even warforged gotta get tune-ups now and again.”[/color]

Then came Arya’s gentle voice again. Asking about Bastion. That scarf. That sadness.

Gears didn’t say anything at first. She just stepped over and placed a hand on the big guy’s arm. Not heavy. Just enough to be felt.

[color=goldenrod]“You need anything, big guy, you just say the word. Or don’t. I got you.”[/color]

The kettle whistled behind her, and she turned to finish Menzai’s tea. But right as she reached for the honey, she felt a small hand wrap around her wrist.

Phia.

And before she could blink, the girl was pressing something into her palm. Small. Cool. Smooth.

A marble.

[color=F97FCA]“This is for you. In case I do not return.”[/color]

The words were simple. Honest. Utterly ridiculous. And yet...

Gears looked down at the little sphere in her hand like it was the rarest gem in the world.

[color=F97FCA]“I want you to keep it and remember... we are friends now.”[/color]

She didn’t move. Just stood there. Marble clutched in her fingers. Watching this strange, wild, wonderful jungle elf trot off toward the head like it was some quest of a lifetime.

When Phia disappeared around the corner, Gears slowly opened her hand and stared at the marble nestled in her palm.

Then she bent down, opened the small drawer beneath the bar, and carefully, reverently tucked it inside.

Not with the other trinkets. Not in the tip jar. But in the drawer where she kept the things that mattered. She closed it with care.

[color=goldenrod]“All right, sugar,”[/color] she murmured to herself. [color=goldenrod]“I’ll remember.”[/color]

And then, with the weight of that moment still clinging to her like steam on metal, she turned back to her work. Time to make Arya’s food. Time to pour Menzai’s tea.

Time to keep movin’.

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