[se] don't you ever let me go
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
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#1
Sohalia
"Jude, come on!" Soh called with a giggle.

She stood outside his door, having woken early from excitement, and waited as long as she could before going to wake her best friend. Today was the day that they got their earrings made, and then they could go to Frey and see about having them made into communication devices! She'd managed to find a gem worker in Stormbreak who had cut their rubies into a few beautiful, matching stones. These were tucked away safely in the purse clipped to her belt.

It was a beautiful morning, all blue skies and sunshine, and Soh bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited outside Jude's door. There was tea waiting in the kitchen, if he wanted some to start his day (Soh had already had her cup), and she had plans to get breakfast in the city once they'd finished their earrings. For now, though, she was too excited to sit still.
Jude Quinn
Singer

Age: 19 | Height: 5’10 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Torchline
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#2

Jude had woken similarly early, but clearly Sohalia has beat him to the punch by a few precious minutes as he is still running around grabbing clothes and tossing rejected options onto his made bed. He's not a total disaster. Pulling the door open swiftly, shirt half-tugged on as he tries and fails to do two things at once (at least not gracefully), Jude's curly head pops through the neckline and he blinks away the disorientation to grin like a madman at his best friend.

"I'm ready! I'm so excited, I can't believe how fast they got the rubies polished." Maybe it was a normal turnaround, but Jude doesn't pretend to know that much about gems and their handling. Leaving his door open so Winnie can come in and out as she pleases, Jude grabs Soh by the hand and drags her into the kitchen so he can impatiently fill his teacup to quiet the early-morning rumbling of his stomach for a few more minutes.
Jude
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
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#3
Sohalia
Soh laughed as Jude tugged open the door, blushing slightly as she noticed that he was still tugging on a shirt but too excited to be truly embarrassed. "I know!" she squealed. "It seems like it was just yesterday that I dropped them off, and now..." She dug around in her purse, pulling out the rubies and holding them up to the light. She'd been unable to stop staring at them since she'd arrived. "They're perfect," she decided, tucking them away again.

She followed Jude happily into the kitchen, where she leaned on the counter, her head cupped in her hands, as she watched her best friend drink his cup of tea. "Don't drink too fast," she teased, though she didn't really mean it. Every minute they spent at home was another minute they'd be waiting for their earrings, and she just couldn't wait!
Jude Quinn
Singer

Age: 19 | Height: 5’10 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Torchline
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#4

Her blush makes his own cheeks heat empathetically, but neither of them has ever dared to mention it to the other much less think on it too hard themselves. Jude pulls the hem of his shirt down and scutters to the kitchen to avoid the sudden flutter in his stomach, only pausing to ooh appreciatively over the rubies as Sohalia produces them from the depths of her pockets. "Wow, they're so much more vibrant now!" He'd been rather underwhelmed when they had unearthed the cluster, but clearly he should be eating his words now.

Taking one more big gulp to spite her, Jude pulls it away from his lips to stick his tongue out at her playfully. The more time they spend together the more his shell of anxiety seems to fall away, letting his true personality shine through. "Don't pretend like you're not barely managing to wait!" Laughing, he drinks the last bit down. If he's still thirsty by the time they make it to the diner he can just order something there. Rinsing his cup diligently and setting it on the drying rack, Jude runs to the front door to put on his shoes before snagging at both the door handle and Sohalia's hand. "WE'RELEAVINGDADBYELOVEYOU!" he shouts backwards into the house, hearing Harper's laugh and muffled returned sentiment from the man's bedroom. Grinning, Jude swings the door open and sweeps Sohalia out by their connected hands, letting it shut behind them as they go gallumphing out into the sunlight. "What shape of earrings are you thinking?" he asks over his shoulder, having been unable to think about anything else for the past few days.
Jude
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
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#5
Sohalia
WE'RELEAVINGDADBYELOVEYOU! rang in Soh's ears and she laughed along with Harper at her best friend's enthusiasm. She called her own goodbye over her shoulder as they rushed out into the street, the sun shining brightly down on them. She'd chosen bright colors today in a sleeveless yellow blouse with a scooped neckline that bared her collarbone - rather daring for Soh, who tended to dress more modestly - and a deep blue skirt that twirled around her ankles as she trotted to catch up with Jude.

Twining her fingers through Jude's, Soh practically skipped along beside him as they made their way down the street. "Well, originally I was thinking just simple studs, but then I thought I might want something dangly," she mused, fishing for her notebook with her free hand. It was hard to flip to the right page when she was reluctant to let go of Jude, so she used their joined hands to hold the journal steady as she flipped through it. "Here," she said, showing him the sketch she'd made to show to jeweler. It was a simple design, a teardrop-shaped ruby dangling from a gold stud, but Soh liked its simplicity. "What do you think?"
Jude Quinn
Singer

Age: 19 | Height: 5’10 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 3 - Strg: 12 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 7 - Int:
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#6

Having been caught up in their exit, Jude only now takes a moment to appreciate her outfit - which is rather different from her normal wardrobe - and he's grateful for the sting of sun in his unadjusted eyes for making it hard to stare. Harder at least, because he's definitely still staring a little. And perhaps feeling a little unattractive in his own simple muscle shirt and denim shorts. It's not like he has anything but lean muscle to show off, but he likes the way the breeze slips in through the shorn off sides to cool off his back and ribs.

Laughing quietly as she uses their joined hands to open her sketchbook overtop, Jude falls into pace with her stride so they don't jostle it and then leans over to examine her drawings, making appropriate 'oooooh' noises. "I like it! Best of both worlds, and you wear your hair up a lot so it'll make people take notice of your face when you move." Blushing slightly, he soldiers on to finish his thought bravely, eyes rooted to the drawing for confidence. "N-Not that you need help doing that, you're very pretty as is." His game is in the negatives, but at least he has plenty of cheerleading spirit for Sohalia to lean back on.

"I was thinking just studs, but having them make black hoops too so I can get double piercings in each lobe to make a pair with the rubies!" It's a perfect distraction at least, and he truly wants her input on the idea.
Jude
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
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#7
Sohalia
Soh didn't really notice Jude's stare, so involved was she in fishing out her notebook without having to let go of his hand. She'd never been particularly comfortable with physical touch - and she still wasn't, for the most part - but for some reason, with Jude, things were different. She loved the feeling of having his hand in hers, of wrapping her arms around his waist, even of squishing their heads together to share a look at something interesting. It had gotten so that she reached for him without thinking about it, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

But they were talking about earrings, and Soh smiled up at her best friend as he praised her work before immediately glancing away, blushing. "Thanks," she said shyly, peeking up at him from beneath her lashes. Something giddy fluttered in her stomach - did he really think she was pretty? - and she leaned closer to bump her shoulder against his affectionately.

His idea intrigued her, and she nodded, shrugging off the sudden bubble of nervousness that had appeared in her chest. "That would be perfect," she agreed, bouncing a little with excitement as they walked. "Oh, look, I think we're almost there!" And then it was her turn to dart ahead, pulling him along with an infectious giggle until they were able to slip into the shop.

By this point in their relationship, it was typical for Soh to take the lead on social interactions, and so she marched them up to the counter to wait for the jeweler, who looked to be not entirely enthused to have such bright young people in their shop at this time of the morning. Still, they greeted their potential customers with a smile - especially when Soh produced the rubies from her purse. "We're looking to have some earrings made," she told the jeweler, who promptly looked them over, taking in their still-joined hands, and winked at Soh.

"You've come to the right place," they said. "We'll take care of you and your boyfriend."
Jude Quinn
Singer

Age: 19 | Height: 5’10 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Torchline
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#8

She is not the only one who has hangups about physical contact, but from the moment they'd met and immediately held each other, it was like those things didn't matter anymore. Harper had often compared them to puppies who couldn't care less about squirming over each other for food and cuddles. Not exactly the most flattering comparison for a young man, but Jude couldn't deny the accuracy.

The bump of her shoulder against his is the only thing that keeps him from melting into goo there on the sand in embarrassment. It's only worth it because she seems just as pink-cheeked and pleased. So long as it makes her feel pretty, he's willing to stumble over his thick tongue. "'Course," he mumbles, smiling slightly.

The moment is gone in the span of a breath, her eager agreement and sudden excitement whisking him away on her heels as they jog grinning and bouncing towards the building. Habitually hanging at her shoulder as she takes the reigns - and he loves her more for it every time, the way she never teases or grows exasperated with his nervousness - Jude's shoulders relax when the worker's dour expression lightens. Only for his cheeks to turn hot immediately at the presumptuous title. He is too quiet for sputtering and denials, but his fingers to restlessly tighten around Sohalia's.

"T-Thank you," he blurts out selfishly before Sohalia can correct the man, keeping his eyes on the worker instead of looking for her reaction. "We'd like plain round studs and a pair of dangles. She has drawings." He turns his gaze to her then, gesturing subtly for her to place her notebook on the counter.
Jude
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
Played by: RayoDeSoleil Offline
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Posts: 1,056 | Total: 2,063
MP: 3230
#9
Sohalia
Sohalia was not, shall we say, aware of the fact that, from an outsider's perspective, she and Jude probably did look like a couple, what with their constant hand-holding, arms around each other, whispered inside jokes, and general mutual adoration. Dating anyone had never really been in the forefront of her mind, and although she longed for a fairy tale romance like in the books she'd read, she'd never really related such beautiful stories with her own life. So it was that when the jeweler mistook them as a couple (did he, really, or was Soh just slow on the uptake?) that Jude managed to beat her to a response.

And his response was decidedly not what she was expecting.

She glanced at him in surprise, not because she was upset, but because she had anticipated a swift correction, perhaps a bit of an adorably bumbling denial. She quickly returned her gaze to the counter, though, because Jude was studiously ignoring her gaze and because her cheeks were suddenly flaming. For perhaps the first time, she realized how much she adored his dark curls, his warm brown eyes, the way he always made her smile and the ease with which they interacted.

She knew she loved him. She'd just never thought about how.

Realizing that she'd been frozen in place for a heartbeat too long, she swallowed, her throat dry, and released Jude's hand to fumble in her bag for her journal. She flipped to the right page and presented it to the jeweler, who looked it over, a faint smile on his face that could have been a result of her clear, concise drawing - or it could have been that he realized the mild panic he'd induced and was amused by the result.

"Right, that's simple enough," said the jeweler, eyes crinkling with mirth. "Wait here. I'll get the settings."

And even though Soh wasn't sure what it meant, she didn't want Jude to think she was upset with him, so she leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder as they waited.
Jude Quinn
Singer

Age: 19 | Height: 5’10 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Torchline
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#10

Sohalia is not the only one having a bit of a crisis-realization. Jude has always found his best friend to be a beautiful young woman, but it was more of an objective fact in his opinion than something derived from emotion. At least so he had thought. Because he's realizing he doesn't mind being mistaken for her boyfriend, even if it makes his stomach feel nearly sick with the amount of butterflies suddenly fighting for space inside it.

The removal of her hand feels like a death sentence, and Jude stands frozen and trying to keep a neutral expression that doesn't betray his true emotions as the worker looks over Sohalia's notebook with a keen eye before disappearing to get their settings. It isn't until Sohalia lets her head fall upon his shoulder that he can breathe again, though it's a stuttering thing filled with relief. His fingers find hers at their hips, hooking just their forefingers together. He has no idea what to say to explain himself - if any explanation would even suffice - so he lapses into silence until the jeweler returns with their settings.

"So here are the studs and hoops, and here are the dangles. How do they look?" Clearly confident in the quality, he nonetheless slides them over for Jude and Sohalia to inspect. Jude does so first, picking up his pair and giving them a quick once-over. Given how simple his are, he has no issue setting them back on the table, satisfied. "H-How long to put the rubies in?" His voice wavers slightly, but considering he normally doesn't speak at all when Sohalia can take the lead for him, it's a win in his book. "About thirty minutes. Easy peasy." Jude looks to Sohalia, lifting a brow. "Should we get breakfast then?" A mere murmur, though he doesn't truly care if the jeweler overhears.
Jude
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
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#11
Sohalia
When Jude hooked his finger around hers, Soh relaxed against him almost in spite of herself, her heart stuttering in a way that she didn't entirely understand, butterflies filling her stomach in a way that she'd never experienced. Things had always been easy between she and Jude. They were best friends, after all. Did his silence mean that he wanted them to be a couple? Did she? Wouldn't that change things? Or could they be both, friends and (gulp) lovers?

What did it mean for such a small touch to spark and fizz in her mind, distracting her almost to the point of missing what the jeweler had to say? She blushed a bright red as Jude had to take the lead, lifting her head from his shoulder and squeezing her forefinger against his in adoration for the way his voice wavered.

The settings for her earrings were exactly as she had envisioned (she thought - she wasn't really paying that close of attention), and she nodded her approval to the jeweler. "S-sure," Soh stammered, trying and failing to sound calm and collected. Gods above, get a grip! She swallowed down her sudden nerves as they left the shop - and their rubies - behind. "The usual place?" she asked, and was pleased to find that her voice sounded more normal now that they were out in the fresh air and she felt she could breathe properly again.
Jude Quinn
Singer

Age: 19 | Height: 5’10 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Torchline
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#12

As expected for an anxious young man, Jude is plagued by similar thoughts after his rather instinctual response. Having never even so much as had a crush before Sohalia, and only having developed one on her concurrently with their friendship, Jude has no guide to follow on how this is all supposed to go down. The notion that this could change - or worse, ruin - everything is foremost in his mind, and it keeps him silent until he is forced to respond to the jeweler.

Realizing his mistake belatedly as the two of them leave the shop and are now left alone, Jude is now the one grateful for Sohalia's sudden reclamation of her cool because he is surely losing his own. "Y-y-y-eah," he stutters horribly, and swallows hard to try and banish it. Taking the lead with their fingers still attached, he guides them into the flow of bodies to begin the short trek to their normal breakfast spot. At least there they won't receive strange glances or assumptions since they were always hip-and-hip when eating there anyway. He can't find any words until they've arrived, their normal waitress brightening the moment she sees them and directing them to a booth immediately.

"The usual for you two?" she asks with a warm smile, not even bothering to take her notepad out. Jude smiles gratefully, expression a touch too relieved. "Yes please. Thank you Mona."
Jude
Sohalia Lumaris
the Luminary
Cartographer

Age: 20 | Height: 5'6" | Race: Attuned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Stormbreak
Level: 4 - Strg: 17 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 18 - Luck: 21 - Int:
TARAK - Mythical - Griffin (Fire Breath)
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#13
Sohalia
"Thanks, Mona," echoed Soh as their waitress bustled away, perhaps a little too lost in thought to offer her usual bright and cheery greeting. As Jude was realizing, there was no guide to follow, no step-by-step instructions for how to navigate what had become a somewhat delicate situation, and Soh was suddenly terrified to do anything, lest she do the wrong thing. Should she bring up what happened in the jeweler's shop? Or would it be better to just ignore it and act like nothing had happened?

If they just went on as things were, would things be different now? Or, if they weren't, did she want them to be? The concept of love growing from friendship was foreign to the young woman, whose only experience with romance was what she'd read in books. She didn't yet realize that love could sneak up on you, or that love built on a strong foundation was arguably better than being swept off one's feet by so-called love at first sight.

But hadn't their story begun similarly? She had never been touched the way that she'd let Jude hold her the day they'd met - gods, within an hour of meeting! - so what was that, if not a sort of love at first sight? Friendship at first sight?

Gods, but she was confused.

Trying to reclaim a modicum of control over the situation, Soh offered what she hoped was a charming sweet smile. "So," she said in a voice a little higher than normal. "We decided on Frey, right? To ask for the communication devices?"
Jude Quinn
Singer

Age: 19 | Height: 5’10 | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Torchline
Level: 3 - Strg: 12 - Dext: 18 - Endr: 20 - Luck: 7 - Int:
Played by: Brit Offline
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#14

Jude is similarly unaware that this kind of love is one that can muddle the waters, but have the strongest foundations if they have the courage to pursue it. Sohalia seems to share the sentiment as she doesn’t let the tension descend fully upon them, and Jude’s chest warms with that familiar affection that he is now a little daunted to realize might be more than simple admiration of her spirit.

Still, he won’t let her tread these shaky roads alone, and though Jude has never been the brave one between them he would follow her anywhere. Even into precarious conversations.

“Yeah, Nature Frey. I was thinking we could visit the shrine here in Torchline right after we get the earrings made? That way we don’t have to wait for your next visit.” Surely there are Old God shrines in Stormbreak, but Jude privately thinks it’s rather lacking in the nature department, so perhaps Torchline is better anyway. They receive their food quickly - Jude’s his standard fare of egg whites, sausage, and a side of maple syrup for his eggs because he is a heathen - and Jude smiles sweetly at Mona. “Thanks Mo’. You’re the best.” Only to blush slightly as she winks and waves over her shoulder to go take care of another table. She has always been charming but given his recent revelation, any amount of insinuation feels like scrubbing his insides with steel wool.
Jude


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