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+---- Thread: [SE] if we never made a sound (/showthread.php?tid=10186)
if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 09-30-2024
Sohalia sat at a tucked-away table in a restaurant that she'd once frequented with Jude, drumming her fingers on the wood and glancing nervously at the door every few seconds. Tarak perched upon her shoulder, precariously balanced as he preened his sapphire feathers, far less concerned than his bonded about their imminent meeting with Tal. Soh, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves. Despite the courier's letter, which had assured her that he wasn't angry, she couldn't shake the fear that she'd disappointed him so badly that he'd want nothing to do with her ever again. After all, he'd heard that she was alive from Koa, and that reunion had been less than ideal.
Every time the little bell over the doorway jangled a greeting, the girl sat up a little straighter in her chair, only to slump back in mingled relief and disappointment when it wasn't Tal. Under any other circumstances, she'd be bouncing in her seat, excited to see her oldest and, perhaps, dearest friend, to catch up and share the goings-on in her life while hearing about what was new in his. And maybe, if she was lucky, she'd have the opportunity to experience that easy friendship again. Not that she could blame anyone but herself if Tal had written her off. After all, the past few seasons of silence were no one's fault but her own.
Of course, she hadn't asked to be kidnapped, or to be sickened by the Void flora, which had had a much greater effect on her health than she'd anticipated. But Soh was nothing if not self-deprecating, and she was sure that her friends would hate her as much as she hated herself, once they learned the truth about how weak and useless she had proven to be.
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-01-2024
A burly white dragon shouldered her way through the door first, having shamelessly used her wings to get ahead of her human once she realized who they were going to meet. She didn't understand where Soh had gone or why, and the only thing that mattered to Boreal was that the young woman with the good scritchy fingers and the pocket full of treats was here now.
Dodging legs - or sometimes just shoving right past them - she eeled her way straight to Sohalia's table and caroled a happy, rumbling greeting to Tarak. Her broad muzzle snorfled Soh's legs and hip to reassure herself that the Luminary was unharmed first. Then she promptly planted her chin on the young woman's lap, heaving a contented sigh as she refolded her wings and settled in for horn scratches.
Tal was only a minute or so behind her, having hurried from the skyport as soon as the Peregrine was properly anchored. He could feel his companion's joy through their bond and so he didn't enter the restaurant in panic or disarray. He did have a complicated look of warring hope and worry on his face as he peered around the restaurant until he spotted his dragon and his dear friend. His feet moved while his eyes drank in the sight of Soh, weaving around a handful of other patrons who were leaving, and somehow he made it over to her table without tripping. "Hey..." He got one word out and then swallowed, unsure how to even begin as he squeezed and worried at his hands in front of him. "Um. Can I hug you?"
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-01-2024
The first of her friends to appear was Boreal, which probably shouldn't have come as a shock to the Luminary, who had always greeted the dragon with scratches and a treat of jerky or some other such thing from her pocket. This time was no different, and the girl smiled in spite of her nerves, dropping one hand to the dragon's horns to offer the obligatory scritches while fishing for treats with the other hand. And, as per usual, she managed to find something to offer Tal's companion - this time, a bit of dried fish that Tarak had been particularly fond of lately.
Tal wasn't far behind, and no sooner had the fish disappeared from Soh's palm than the courier materialized before her. Things were strange indeed when her oldest friend felt the need to ask if he could hug her, and without directly answering, Soh threw her arms around Tal's neck in greeting, burying her face in his shoulder and bursting into tears. [say]"Oh, Tal,"[/say] she sobbed, blissfully ignorant, for the moment, of the strange looks that they were receiving from other patrons of the restaurant. [say]"I don't - I can't - I'm so sorry!"[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-02-2024
Boreal rumbled contentedly as the scritches that she had been too long without were finally applied. Her rough pink tongue darted out to lick up the fishy treat the moment it appeared in range, however, and her scaly tail swept the floor in approval, nearly taking down a waiter passing by. The man managed to avoid the hazard, hurrying past with a grumble that Boreal ignored in favor of making sure that Soh knew how much she had been missed.
At least until her human arrived, which was far too soon for the dragon's preference. It meant the lap she'd been resting her head on disappeared as Soh rose to hug the courier, but Boreal sat back quietly, content to let the friends make their greetings without interruption.
And Tal might not know the full story, but he'd gotten enough of a fragment of it from Koa that he wrapped his arms around his friend and held on tight as soon as she made her permission unmistakably obvious. "Hey, hey, s'okay," he tried to reassure her without letting go. The other customers might as well have not been there for all the attention he gave them, instead awkwardly rubbing Soh's back while trying not to loosen his grip. His own voice was a little wobbly and he found himself sniffling a little as the relief of it all crashed through him.
She was here and alive and real, and all the months and seasons of searching were finally over.
"Y'got nothin' to... y'know." Which, hail, probably didn't stop her from feeling bad about things so he trailed off and shook his head, trying to find better words. "Gods, Soh, I'm just glad you're okay. You an' Tarak. ...You are okay, right?" He was torn between letting go to get a better look at her and keeping up the hug for as long as humanly possible so the Family couldn't kidnap her again. Koa had said she seemed fine but... well, some things he just needed to hear for himself.
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-02-2024
Soh didn't even notice the awkwardness with which the courier rubbed her back, the way his voice wobbled a little bit in relief as he reassured her. She fell, for a moment, into a void of self-loathing, guilt, and shame, blind and deaf to the world around her, thinking only of how badly she had fucked up. But as Tal spoke to her, she slowly came out of the mist, all of the negativity replaced instead with relief, and gratefulness, and love - for where Tal could have been furious and judgmental, he was anything but, greeting her only with concern for her well-being.
So the Luminary pulled herself together, loosening her grip on the courier enough that she could wipe the tears from her cheeks. [say]"'M okay,"[/say] she murmured, sniffling as she spoke. [say]"Or, at least, I think I'm okay. Koa asked me if I was infected, y'know, by the Void stuff, and I don't think I am, but I guess I'm not sure that I would know if I was...?"[/say] Realizing she was rambling, she hastily finished, [say]"But I'm here, and I'm alive, and that's a start, I guess?"[/say]
She took a deep breath, mentally pulling at the myriad emotions that had overtaken her, reeling them in and shoving them back into the box she kept in the back of her mind. There would be plenty of time to feel all the things after she explained her absence. She owed Tal that, surely, for having searched for her so long and so diligently. [say]"Here, come sit,"[/say] she said, pulling him from the aisle of the restaurant to take a seat at the table. [say]"Can I get you anything? Their tea is delicious, and their scones are to die for,"[/say] she told her friend, signaling for the waiter that Boreal had nearly tripped to come take their order.
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-03-2024
The courier's grip didn't even begin to loosen until he felt Soh's hands pull back. Reluctantly he let his own hands slide far enough apart that he was just holding her elbows, maintaining their contact while his friend talked. At the mention of infection he nodded, biting his lip, but he didn't look surprised. He and Koa had wondered about that, too, after all. But... "Bein' alive is moren' a start. It's th'most important thing," he stated firmly. His certainty shifted within moments, however, as he went back to what she'd just revealed. "So, uh... if y'want t'know about bein' Void-touched... I can check?" he offered, a little hesitant because what if she was? What would they do then? ...But not knowing was maybe even worse. "My Goggles can see Void infection now, 'cept for Family."
He let her pull him down into the waiting chairs, oblivious to the vaguely relieved looks of the strangers around them - and maybe a few disappointed ones - that the drama was over for the moment. Boreal promptly resumed her place snugged up tight against Soh's chair with her broad head resting on one of the Luminary's thighs. "Scones'd be great," Tal admitted ruefully, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze before he finally took a moment to glance at the menu.
An order for tea and snacks was quickly put in and once they were alone again - as alone as they could be in public, at least - he reached up to tap the Goggles hanging around his neck in silent question, searching her expression for what she wanted.
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-04-2024
Tal didn't look particularly surprised at Soh's mention of infection, and she couldn't blame him; after all, with the rise of the Family and the Void, that would have been the first place her mind went had their roles been reversed. And while she didn't really think she was infected, she couldn't really be sure, could she? Except - apparently, with Tal's help, she could. Her brows raised as he told her of his Goggles' power, drawing her gaze to the item in question hanging around his neck.
Her first instinct, as she pulled him to the table, was to agree; after all, surely it would be better to know than wonder. But then fear set in. What would she do if his Goggles revealed infection? How would she even begin to move forward with such a weight on her shoulders? How would she begin to heal? And how long would it be before she wouldn't want to?
Snacks and tea delivered, Soh carefully removed a scone from the tray and took a bite, buying herself a moment to think. Then she said, [say]"It would be better to know, right?"[/say] And though she was terrified of the result, she nodded. [say]"Tell me."[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-04-2024
He really didn't want Soh to be infected. She wasn't the only one feeling nervous and a little ambivalent about his ability to answer the question for them both, because if the answer was 'yes' that was a whole other can of memory snow they'd have to unpack. He was a little relieved when she didn't answer right away, in fact, though he was distracted enough that he barely glanced at the menu before giving the waiter his order.
For once he sat quietly, unconsciously wringing his hands together under the table until the snacks and drinks arrived. Boreal caught the mood from them both and began a quiet rumbling croon in the bass notes of her deep chest, the sound oddly soothing as the chatter of the other tea house patrons around them returned to a normal level.
Tal had just started to reach for a scone of his own when she made her decision. He swallowed hard and then nodded, reaching slowly for his Goggles and hesitating a moment before pulling them up over his eyes. He was biting his lip hard enough to bruise it, and his eyes were squeezed shut behind the smoked glass. The small purple charm swung malevolently from the strap, its dark glow largely hidden in the natural light from the windows.
He took a deep breath and finally opened his eyes, forcing himself to look at Sohalia through the lenses--
And then peered more closely, brow furrowed in concentration, before he leaned back and heaved a big sigh of relief. "You're okay," he informed her, a verbal reassurance as much for himself as for his friend. Speaking it aloud made it real and his lips twitched towards a smile that was almost giddy. "Whatever else happened t'you, you're not infected by 'em!"
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Void Charm | A small charm attached to the See-Right Goggles that allow the wearer to see void-infected characters within 10ft. **Cannot identify members of the Family
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-05-2024
Soh scratched at Boreal's horns absently, the pressure of the dragon's head on her leg a calming presence that was desperately needed as she awaited Tal's verdict. It seemed to take forever for the courier to raise the Goggles to his eyes, and then an eternity for him to look her over. And when he finally leaned back and sighed, for a moment, she thought that it might be a sound of disappointment or sadness, that she must be infected, and her heart leapt into her throat -
But then he said she was okay, and for the first time since seeing Koa, the girl could breathe again.
[say]"Oh, thank the gods!"[/say] she exclaimed fervently, slumping in her chair with relief. Tarak climbed down from his perch on her shoulder, purring faintly and looking rather pleased, as though to indicate that he had known all along that she was fine, and these silly humans had been worried about nothing. With an air of disinterest, the little griffin began to investigate his bonded's scone before deciding that it wasn't particularly appealing. He waited, chirruping softly, for a bit of the dried fish from Soh's pocket which, of course, meant that Boreal was offered another helping as well.
[say]"I was so afraid,"[/say] she admitted, toying with her cup of tea without actually drinking any of it. [say]"The Family - they kidnapped me so that they could take over, and then I got lost in the Wilds and the Void flora made me horribly ill for months - so I thought I might be. It's such a relief to know that I'm not - you know - one of them. Thank you."[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-05-2024
Tal nodded emphatically, though he knew that as strongly as he felt, it couldn't be anywhere near as much relief as Soh must be feeling in that moment. Boreal, like Tarak, had never had a doubt in her scaly head that Sohalia was any different from the friend she hadn't seen in far too long, but she was gracious enough to let the Luminary distract her with fish treats rather than rub Tal's nose in it.
The courier finally relaxed enough to snag a scone of his own and take a big bite, letting his friend talk with whatever she was ready to share. Most of it he'd heard secondhand from Koa, but he still listened to Soh's own words, and he swallowed his bite with a bob of his head. "Hey, you're welcome. I feel a lot better too, knowin'. But hearin' that... I think... I think if y'had been infected, th'Void plants wouldn't've made y'sick? Somethin' Vox said when th' Feverlands an' Greatwood got fucked... about friends o' th'Family bein' able to walk through 'em safely..." He shook his head, scowling slightly at the memory of that horrible voice in his head. He took another bite of his scone, chewing fiercely before he looked to her with an attempt to lighten his expression. "But hey, worst case, we woulda gone t'th'hot springs in Halo. They did a quest t'make 'em so they could heal Void infection!"
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-06-2024
With the companions suitably distracted, it was easy enough to focus on their own snacks and drinks, and Soh took a sip of the tea she'd been swirling absently with a spoon. It was just as good as she remembered, and with the weight of potential infection lifted from her shoulders, she permitted herself a small sigh of appreciation. So, too, was the next bite of her scone all the sweeter - there was something about the relief that Tal had provided her that made it feel like she'd never tasted anything quite so fine.
The news of Halo's hot springs had the girl raising her brows. [say]"Did they?"[/say] she murmured, guilt panging in her chest. She might have done something like that in Stormbreak, had she not been so unceremoniously deposed from her position as Heart. [say]"I'm so glad that we have ways to recover now."[/say] She'd yet to hear the news that there were ways to fight the Void, but being able to heal from its effects was welcome indeed.
She paused, gathering her thoughts, then said, [say]"Thank you so much for looking for me all this time. I know you have a million other things to worry about aside from me, but it means a lot to me that you cared enough to try. I'm just so sorry that you had to. I've made such a mess of things,"[/say] she added, sighing with frustration as she thought of Stormbreak and Koa and all of it. [say]"I wish I could go back. Do things differently."[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-08-2024
Tal had never met a scone he disliked, and these were no exception. Soh had been right about how delicious they were, and now that he knew she wasn't infected he could relax and actually enjoy them. It was a relief to be able to pass along the good news about having healing options, too, though his friend's reaction was more subdued than he'd expected. His brow wrinkled in fresh concern, but before he could figure out how to phrase his question the right way all those thoughts were swept aside by the unexpected gratitude.
He ducked his head, the tips of his ears and the back of his neck heating up with pleasure as his efforts were recognized, but before he could bask for more than a few seconds his friend's trauma had resurfaced and he was looking up quickly with a sharp shake of his head. "You didn't make the mess," he protested fiercely. "None of it was your fault! It was th'Family that kidnapped you! Just one o' them that sent Remi an' Ronin - two whole-ass demigods - runnin' with their tails atween their legs!" He poked his tea spoon towards her from across the table to emphasize his point, breaking at least four rules of teahouse etiquette in the process. "There was nothin' y'could've done once they set their sights on Stormbreak. I blame them, not you!" He scowled, angry as a fluffed-up puppy that had been denied naptime, but he took a big breath - more of a huff, really - and jammed his spoon down into a fresh scone. "Can't change th'past anyways, but what d'you want to do now, goin' forward?"
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-11-2024
Tal's reaction to her gratitude was not unexpected, and an affectionate (if small) smile appeared on the girl's face as the courier ducked his head. He'd always been terrible at accepting any kind of compliment, and it was nice to see that some things, at least, were the same. As the pair enjoyed their scones, Tarak watched with keen eyes, perhaps considering whether it might be worth stealing a piece of scone after all. As he contemplated the possibility, he preened himself, carefully plucking at an errant feather or two on one wing.
As Tal vehemently defended her, Soh flushed and turned her attention to the little griffin. Reaching out a hand, she absently stroked his head, scratching a spot that he particularly liked as the creature began to purr. [say]"I suppose you're right,"[/say] she murmured half-heartedly. And he was: who was she to think she could stand against the Family, when even Caido's demigods had failed to do so? It made her feel a little better, and she peered at Tal from beneath her lashes. [say]"I hadn't thought about it like that."[/say]
As Tal helped himself to another scone and asked her the Big Question, Soh took a sip of her tea, buying herself time to think. In truth, she wasn't really sure what she wanted to do. Everything was such a mess, and she didn't even know where to start repairing what she'd broken in her personal life. And then there was Stormbreak to consider. [say]"I don't know,"[/say] she said after she'd swallowed her mouthful of tea. [say]"I feel like I'm supposed to want to go back to Stormbreak, find a way to get rid of the Family and take back the city. But... I'm just... I'm just me. I'm not a demigod, or a warrior, or anything that could stand against them. And, honestly? I'm just... I'm so tired. I feel like I was making a mess of things even before the Family got me. Maybe I should just..."[/say] She trailed off, at a loss for words. Maybe she should just fade away, leave the world-saving to someone who could actually do it.
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-11-2024
For once, Boreal wasn't begging for a bite of people food. She had, however, curled herself in a bulky comma around Sohalia's chair, with her blunt chin resting on the young woman's feet as if to ensure that Soh couldn't disappear on her again any time soon.
Tal couldn't keep hugging her without things being weird, but he was keeping an eye on her from across the table, and nodded emphatically when she accepted his version of events. "I'm definitely right. An' it's definitely not your fault!"
The scone took the brunt of his vehemence and began disappearing down his gullet so Soh had plenty of time to think. He attacked the delicious baked good like it was the Family who had kidnapped her, reducing it to crumbs and taking fierce satisfaction in every bite. It wasn't until it was gone and he had taken a calming swallow of tea that she spoke again, and he looked at her with his head cocked to the side as he listened. "Well, no one can get rid o' th'Family just yet, so if anyone expects you t'do it when you've been lost an' sick all this time, they can eat an entire bag o' big, purple dicks," he stated firmly. "Y'helped Stormbreak grow past it's bullshit Abandoned issues, an' that's already a lot! Maybe it's time t'focus on you for a bit? Get back t'your roots. Travel an' see what's changed an' update th'maps." He was gesturing with his spoon again, but this time it was with encouragement - even if it earned him a dirty look from the passing waiter. "Start lookin' for what makes y'happy. An' don't let anyone try t'force y'back into somethin' that was crushin' you even afore Starfall fucked us all over."