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+---- Thread: [SE] i wanna be your last first kiss (/showthread.php?tid=12665)
i wanna be your last first kiss - Sohalia - 03-25-2026
While the day wasn’t as beautiful and clear as Soh might have wished, at least it wasn’t raining. The sky might have been blanketed with a thick layer of grey clouds, but thus far, she had managed to remain dry. Still, she carried her rain jacket over one arm as she walked through New Haven towards Zavien’s home, just in case that decided to change.
Anani floated along overhead as though carried along by a gentle breeze. Soh glanced up at the little cloud wyrm, who blended in quite well with the sky on this particular day, then turned down the street where Zavien lived. His house looked cheerful, even in the midst of all the grey, and she smiled without realizing it as she approached the front door.
Her skyship had been early, and she was hoping to catch her boyfriend by surprise. They had plans today - or rather, she had plans: very fun plans that she had yet to share with Zavien, but that she rather thought he’d enjoy. Of course, they could sit in silence (and had done so beneath the stars quite recently) and she would enjoy herself - but today, she had something else in mind.
So she stepped up eagerly to the front door, lifted her hand, and knocked.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Zavien - 03-25-2026
He looked up from where he was holding his plank on the living room floor, surprised to hear the rap of knuckles at his door. His eyes landed on Sol with quiet question, but the dragon was already trotting excitedly towards the entrance, obviously pleased with whoever it was. Soh wasn't supposed to be here for another two hours, and he hadn't anticipated any other visitors today after helping them relocate a burrow of a quickly growing family of blink hares. It wasn't that he minded the interruption to the last portions of his workout, but he was understandably confused as he rose from his tight form on the floor.
Zavien wasn't really in a state he'd think most people would want to find him - shirtless and smelling like dirt-caked sweat - but he wasn't one to leave anyone waiting at his door. What if it was an emergency? So he gave Sol a dismissive shrug and opened the door as he was, a light flush to his cheeks from the exertion only brightening as he saw it was his girlfriend standing outside his house.
Laughter warmed the slight chill in the air as he took in the lovely surprise. [say]"You're early!"[/say] he exclaimed, the smile on his face suggesting that was an improvement to their plans if anything. Although he very much wanted to embrace her to finish closing the rest of the distance she had to travel to make it into his arms, he huffed a breath of easy disappointment for the delay, spreading her arms with an apologetic grin. [say]"Sorry, I thought I'd still have time to shower."[/say] He stepped out of the door's path, giving her space to enter as he considered how fast he could rinse off the smell.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Sohalia - 03-25-2026
A bright smile leapt to Soh's lips as the door opened to reveal Zavien - a sweaty, shirtless Zavien, which naturally drew Soh's gaze appreciatively over the hard lines of his torso before she snapped her eyes back to his face sheepishly. [say]"The skyship made better time than expected,"[/say] she explained, ignoring the dirt and sweat to step forward and wrap her arms around his neck. [say]"I figured I'd rather go ahead and come over instead of wandering aimlessly for a few hours. I hope I didn't interrupt."[/say]
She released him and stepped inside, pausing to give Sol a scratch and a treat. Anani floated in after her, chiming a pleased greeting to both man and dragon. [say]"You have time,"[/say] she assured him. [say]"I don't mind waiting. Unless you want company?"[/say] she asked with a teasing wink. [say]"Although, on second thought - I do have a date planned, if you're up for it, so maybe I should just wait."[/say]
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Zavien - 03-25-2026
Zavien leaned into the hug, pushing aside worries of giving her any of his stink. She didn't seem to mind, so he wrapped his arms tight around her, still getting used to the natural easiness that came with their new relationship. He grew to anticipate each date more and more, dreading the moments they'd eventually have to part.
[Say]"You're never an interruption."[/say] He smiled as he released her, making way for her to enter the house. Sol greeted her at the door, always eager to see the Attuned (and the treats she brought). He trilled a greeting to Anani as he trotted happily to find a spot for them to enjoy munching while their bonded flirted.
Gathering his shirt from where he'd tossed it on the floor, Zavien laughed at Soh's offer. [say]"I mean, I guess it depends on what kind of date you've been planning,"[/say] he teased back, knowing full well that they'd agreed to let things progress however they would, but also unable to ignore how much he enjoyed thinking of Soh in the shower with him.
Worried he might think too much on it if he didn't stop now, Zavien gave her a quick smile. [Say]"Just give me a few minutes."[/say] Then he stepped through the door into his room and the bathroom beyond, ready to speed through a quick shower so she wouldn't be waiting long, coincidentally leaving the doors cracked before he could think better of it.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Serendipity - 03-25-2026
Overhead the sky begins to moan and rumble, a cacophony of voices that seems to echo right through your bones. The choir of screams grows loud and unruly, rising to a fever pitch without end...
And then nothing. Gone in the purring of a distant storm, vanished as if the thunder existed only in your mind. The silence it leaves is almost worse.
You have encountered one of the Scream Rain SE serendipities! You may use this to complete requirement 1. of the seasonal event. Please note: this serendipity CANNOT be used for levelling purposes.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Sohalia - 03-25-2026
Zavien's arms wrapped tightly around her, and Soh nestled closer, marveling in the ease of the contact. For a moment, everything seemed to quiet in her mind, as though his closeness could chase away the shadows that sometimes plagued her. At least this time her worries weren't related to her relationship - or at least not about the state of it, anyway.
But that could wait until later. With the companions happily munching on their treats, Soh grinned back at her boyfriend. [say]"The kind that involves clothing being on our bodies,"[/say] she revealed. Not that it would take very much convincing for her to change her mind. She allowed her gaze to sweep across Zavien's exposed torso once more, this time not in the least bit sheepish about it. Suddenly that shower sounded really nice. There was heat in her eyes as she shooed him away playfully. [say]"Go on. I'll be right here."[/say]
With Zavien gone to the bedroom, Soh sat on the couch, pulling out her journal and lounging comfortably against the plush cushions. She started working on the sketch she'd started on the skyship: a rough outline of the mural that would one day find its way onto Zavien's wall. She was so engrossed in her work that the sudden moaning rumble of the sky made her jump, smearing charcoal across the page. Cursing beneath her breath, Soh glanced out the window, unnerved by the cacophony of voices that echoed through the house. Suddenly she felt very alone and very vulnerable. As the voices grew louder, wilder screams punctuating the silence of the house, Soh jumped to her feet.
And then it was over, the scream rain fading into nothing more than the patter of droplets on the windows, leaving Soh to stand, heart racing (and not in the fun way) and alone, in the middle of the room.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Zavien - 03-25-2026
His laughter was warm and playful, no trace of the quiet disappointment as he shrugged his shoulders. [say]"Suit yourself."[/say] He winked, taking himself and his stink into the shower where he could wash away some of the heat Soh was stoking in his veins with those eyes. The doors might have been cracked, but he had the sinking suspicion she didn't plan to join him, and Zavien didn't hesitate before hopping in and swiping soapy water through his hair and across his skin, moving faster than usually might have been considered safe in a slick environment.
Managing to make it out safely, Zavien was dressed and toweling off his hair when the sound of screams started in the distance. His hand froze with the towel draped over his head as he grimaced, hating how the sound brought up memories he'd prefer to forget. It never lasted long, but it didn't change how the screaming rain made the season feel more haunted than it usually did, appearing sporadically throughout like ghosts popping up from the past just to ruin a good thing.
Once the spell of trauma and anxiety broke, Zavien forced his spine to loosen before he stepped in to check on Soh and the progress for her date. What he found stopped him dead in his tracks, worry furrowing into his brow as he saw her standing alone with panic splashed across her face, stiff with fear.
He was there in an instant, not even remembering crossing the room before he was in front of her, looking intensely into her eyes. His hands braced gently on her arms, fighting the urge to crush her against him in case she needed space. In a soft, soothing voice, he broke the echoing silence of the rain. [say]"Hey. You okay?"[/say]
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Sohalia - 03-25-2026
Suddenly, Zavien was there, his hands bracing her arms as he searched her face. [say]"I - yeah, I'm fine -"[/say] she said, though she still shivered, even with Zavien so near. She didn't like the scream rain. Normally it was an annoyance more than anything, but this time... something about the rising, wailing cacophony of voices made her think of Stormbreak. [say]"I'm sorry,"[/say] she said, pressing closer to rest her cheek against his chest, tucking herself beneath his chin. [say]"Something about that one made me think about what it would have sounded like if we didn't get everyone out of Stormbreak before it fell."[/say]
Sometimes it still haunted her, what might have happened if they'd failed. She didn't offer more; if anyone could understand that particular nightmare, it was Zavien. She'd never appreciated that quite so much as this moment.
The rain fell harder on the windowpanes, though they were blessedly left alone by the screams. Soh peered out the window as Zavien held her, lamenting the fact that her plans had been outdoor ones. She really missed the sun. Finally, calmed by Zavien's arms around her, Soh pulled away just enough to look up at him. [say]"Well, unfortunately, the rain kind of ruins my plan for the day, unless you want to go play mini golf in the rain?"[/say] Her tone was light, even if she was still a little on edge. What she really wanted now was to curl up on the couch and be held for a little while, but she didn't want such a request to bore Zavien. Instead, she made a face. [say]"I should have probably made a backup plan,"[/say] she joked.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Zavien - 03-25-2026
As she tucked into his chest, Zavien took a deep breath and let it go, trying to calm the panic that gripped him. [say]"Don't be,"[/say] he whispered, shaking his head as he folded her into his arms. There was no reason for her to apologize when they'd lived through horrors worse than these screams. They might just be sounds in the distance, but they had a way of creeping into the dark parts of his heart, twisting thoughts and memories until they became fuel for nightmares.
It didn't surprise him to hear of the images they conjured in her mind. He squeezed her a little tighter, pressing his face into her curls where water dripped from his still-damp hair. His voice was quiet at the vulnerable admission, having barely been able to speak about the loss with people. [say]"I thought the same thing when I first heard them."[/say] He hadn't told anyone, didn't think they'd understand when everything about Stormbreak's fall had 'worked out,' but it could have easily ended in ruin, with so many people dead... Sometimes, it even felt like the screams were that of the city itself.
They stayed like that for a time, two kindred souls mourning what they'd lost as the world they'd been thrust into screamed and fell apart around them. He still missed their home, still wasn't sure what he was supposed to do without it. Soh was a warm light in that uncertainty, a beacon in the dark, and even though he still hadn't figured it out, he knew he wanted her to be a part of it.
When she finally pulled away, he slowly released her enough to look down into her silver eyes. The date had been long forgotten, the farthest thing from his mind when he'd seen her; so when she brought up mini golf, Zavien couldn't help the laughter that bubbled forth. He shook his head, rubbing a soothing hand down her arm as he gave her a stupid smile. [say]"I'll play mini golf with you in any weather."[/say] Placing a kiss on her forehead to clear any disappointment, he added, [say]"But if you want to save it for a sunnier day, we could play something here? I bet there's a pack of cards hiding somewhere."[/say] They could cozy up on the couch or a pile of blankets on the floor to block out the chill of the rain until it ultimately passed or they forgot it existed.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Sohalia - 03-25-2026
Zavien's quiet admission had her holding him tighter. It felt strange to be grateful that someone understood when she wouldn't wish the feeling on anyone, and yet... there was a quiet understanding between the two of them, who had borne so much responsibility on their shoulders, that she valued now. Anyone else might have had empty words of encouragement to offer, but Zavien? He just got it.
They stayed like that for a while, until Soh brought up their date, sparking a laugh from Zavien. She smiled ruefully, but it turned more genuine as he kissed her forehead - a sweet gesture that made her heart melt a little more. If she wasn't careful, it was going to turn into a puddle at their feet. While she regretted that her plans for the day had been derailed, she certainly wasn't going to stay upset. They could do anything, and she would still be happy. [say]"That sounds great,"[/say] she agreed. [say]"Although... I admittedly do not know many card games, so you'll probably have to teach me."[/say] There were a few she was familiar with - strip poker being one, although she hadn't been very good at it when she'd played with Colt - but she was willing to figure out whatever games Zavien might come up with.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Zavien - 03-25-2026
Her agreement brought a brighter smile to his face, especially as he thought of some of the games he'd played as a kid. Chuckling, the smile turned a little crooked. [say]"Would you believe me if I told you I know how to play a card game called 'golf'?"[/say] Maybe her original plans could be reimagined within the comforts of his home.
Leaning closer, he lowered his voice like he was sharing a fun secret just for her. [say]"I might even have some popcorn we can try not to burn."[/say]
When he straightened, Zavien looked a little stupid with the smile he wore, releasing one hand so he could guide her towards the couch with the other. [say]"Come on. Let's make the most of this."[/say] He got the feeling that Soh could make anything enjoyable, even if they just sat and talked about the weather for the rest of the afternoon - which might turn out more depressing than not. Luckily, they had a card game to look forward to, and if the popcorn didn't work, he'd hidden a small stash of (mostly chocolate) snacks since the last time Soh had been here.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Sohalia - 03-25-2026
Brightening further at Zavien's question, Soh laughed, delighted. [say]"Really?"[/say] she said. [say]"That's perfect."[/say] Maybe her plans wouldn't be quite so easily dashed. She still wanted to play mini golf one day - but for now, this card game of his would do. As for the popcorn, her grin widened. [say]"Perfect. I think we can manage a little popcorn, between the two of us."[/say]
Guided to the couch by one hand, Soh followed along with a happy smile, her momentary lapse into darker thoughts quickly fading from memory. It was enough to just be here with Zavien, basking in the warm glow of their budding romance. [say]"How do you feel about couch pillows on the floor?"[/say] It seemed like a reasonable way to create a little fortress of sorts where they could hide away from the world for a while, but she didn't want to just start throwing pillows around without Zavien's agreement. For all she knew, he was attached to some or all of them, or wanted to keep things relatively tidy, or any number of other things that would prevent her from creating the pillow fort she was imagining.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Zavien - 03-25-2026
He nodded with a chuckle to confirm the game's name, finding the coincidence equally as funny. Echoing her sentiments, he let the plans fall into place. [say]"Perfect."[/say] It may not have been the fun date she'd originally had in mind, but Zavien was determined to make it a good time.
Guiding her to the couch - and apparent work in progress - he glanced at the pillows with a raised eyebrow and a crooked smile. [say]"Like you're a genius."[/say] Perhaps there should be a question about why they found themselves frequently strewn out horizontal on piles of blankets, but Zavien surely wasn't going to complain as he happily threw the first pillow onto the floor. [say]"You can grab the ones from the bedroom if you need more."[/say] Then he released his hold on her, content to let Soh figure out the arrangements as he said, [say]"I'll start on the popcorn."[/say] Although he fully expected to need Soh's assistance. Still, he tried to look somewhat confident in his abilities as he moved to the kitchen and where he'd stored the bag of popcorn.
RE: i wanna be your last first kiss - Sohalia - 03-25-2026
Like you're a genius. Soh giggled. This was going to be fun - perhaps even more so than the original date she had planned. While she was sure they'd enjoy mini golf, there was something even more special about staying in, especially in this weather. With one pillow already on the floor, Soh began to pull them all off and arrange them just so. [say]"Let me know if you need me,"[/say] she called as Zavien made his way to the kitchen. Then she was back to designing the perfect place to cuddle up and play.
The largest pillows formed the base, upon which they could comfortably sit. With smaller pillows, she built up the edges, leaning some against the couch in an effort to make a seat back of sorts. Could they have simply sat on the couch? Sure. But this would be far more fun.
Deciding that she would grab the pillows from the bedroom, Soh made her way over to the door and slipped in. For a moment, she gazed at the bed where she'd so happily woken in Zavien's arms. Memories - so many in such a short time - assaulted her, and she smiled to herself before striding easily across the room and gathering an armful of pillows. Then it was back to building. Once she was satisfied with the pillow placement, she crossed to the kitchen, coming up behind Zavien to wrap her arms leisurely around his middle. [say]"Where do you keep your blankets?"[/say] she asked, tilting her head to peer around his shoulder and check on the popcorn progress. [say]"Or do you want me to pull the ones off the bed?"[/say]