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+---- Thread: [SE] if we never made a sound (/showthread.php?tid=10186)
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-11-2024
The warmth of Boreal's head resting on her foot cheered Soh; between the dragon and the courier, the girl was starting to feel a bit more at peace with all that had transpired. After all, if Tal was right about no one being able to get rid of the Family yet - and she had no reason to think he was wrong - then there truly was nothing that could have been done to prevent her from being taken. Perhaps she could have avoided the aftermath had she gone somewhere civilized, like Torchline - but in her haste to escape and her fear of being caught again, she'd thought the Wilds would be the better option at the time. After all, if there were no people around, there was no one to kidnap her.
And Tal was right, too, that there was nothing she could do now to change the past. Perhaps it was time to look forward, to see what new adventures lay ahead. And perhaps it was time to focus on herself, to return to her roots. Perhaps it was okay not to know what her ultimate goal would be.
[say]"I suppose if I'm going to go exploring again, it's a good thing I know a someone with a skyboat,"[/say] she teased after a long pause, offering a smile in Tal's direction. Then, more seriously, [say]"No doubt you've more than enough to deal with without me adding to it, but seriously - if you're ever available for me to charter a ride to update my maps from the air, that might be safer than the ground, depending on where I go."[/say] She took another sip of tea. [say]"If Halo's safe against the Void, what about the other regions? And the Wilds? Is everywhere in the Wilds corrupted?"[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-11-2024
At least Tal had enough basic courtesy pounded into him by his sisters that he sipped his tea rather than slurping it, though he came perilously close to gulping it down now that it had had time to cool during their conversation. It definitely tasted better with Sohalia's smile to go with it, the Luminary revealing the resilience that her anxieties sometimes tried to bury.
"You're not addin' anythin'," he assured his friend, his words punctuated with an emphatic snort from the dragon at her feet. "In fact, I'd be downright insulted if y'hired anyone else!" He grinned to show that he was teasing, reaching for the pot to pour them both more tea. "Torchline's th'safest from th'Void. Uh... th'Grounds isn't too bad? Their Inner Quarter is shielded like Torchline is, at least. Halo an' King's End don't... actually have any Void-proof barriers up though," Tal admitted with a faint grimace. "But th'only places that are currently proper fucked are th'Greatwood an' Feverlands, I think. Noah an' Flora an' Sah helped me fight this big nasty fucker in th'Oerwoud, an' it's a lot less fucky there now," he informed Sohalia proudly, straightening a little in his seat. "Just th'usual amount o' Void stuff these days, not like in th'Greatwood." Which was still, frustratingly, purple to the proverbial gills.
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-12-2024
Soh's lips quirked up again in response to Tal's teasing, relieved to find that she felt more like herself than she had in a long time. Oh, there was still regret and bitterness and shame, but for the moment, at least, the girl was able to shove all of that deep, deep down into the recesses of her mind. Those were feelings she could unpack and examine later, perhaps. Or perhaps it would be better just to let them go.
Unfortunately, they were more likely to fester in the back of her mind, since she wasn't particularly good at addressing her more negative emotions, but that was neither here nor there.
[say]"You would be fighting a Void creature,"[/say] Soh said, her tone somewhere between reproachful and admiring. She was proud, of course, to call such a selfless person her friend - but she worried, after her own experience with the Void, that he might one day bite off more than he could chew. All of them might. [say]"Just be careful. I know it goes without saying, but the Void... it can really hurt you."[/say] She had firsthand experience, after all, and it had almost killed her.
[say]"I'm glad you were able to help the Oerwoud, though. It's one of my favorite places,"[/say] she mused, placing another scone on her plate. It was unfortunate to hear that the Greatwood was still, in Tal's words, 'proper fucked.' The Feverlands had always been unpleasant, and Soh wasn't inclined to go there on a good day, much less now that it was so infected. For now... [say]"I think I'll stick to populated areas for now. Seems safer than going off alone again."[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-12-2024
A drink of tea and another bite of scone gave Tal a chance to think about whether he should say anything at all... but Soh was one of his dearest friends, even if he hadn't seen her in a year. The thought of lying to her, even by omission, just didn't site right with the courier and he grimaced, nose wrinkling in embarrassment. "Uh, so... actually? I didn't... exactly go there to fight th'Void," he admitted, voice low so he wouldn't be overheard. "I asked those guys t'come with me an' help me look for another missin' friend o' mine... but we'd barely got there when th'damn purple jungle attacked us." True, they could have run away and they didn't. Not even Flora, who had gotten hit really hard early on.
But he nodded easy agreement to her decision to stay to the civilized regions. "Might be for th'best," he admitted. "Though, lots o'folks are vacationing in th'Climb these days." He did his best to slide the information casually into the conversation, but the way he waggled his brows wasn't exactly subtle. "Frey's Breath is pretty popular. There're some fancy lilies there that are s'posed t'be good for your health. Fightin' off infections an' stuff," he added. Delicately. Like a boot to the head.
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-13-2024
[say]"Even if you didn't go looking for it, you still stayed,"[/say] she pointed out, that familiar shame flaring in her heart at her own failure to fight back. Even if she had failed miserably, wouldn't it have been better to try? Or was it okay to know when to run, when to live to fight another day? [say]"You still fought, and you still won. That's still admirable."[/say] A pause, then: [say]"Who else is missing? Anyone I know? I can keep an eye out."[/say] It was the least she could do, after Tal had spent a year searching for her.
The news that folks were traveling to the Climb piqued her interest, and she tilted her head to one side. It must not be as infected as the rest of Caido, if people were flocking there. She herself hadn't spent much time there, so it might not be a bad place to visit, to map. [say]"Lilies?"[/say] she murmured thoughtfully. Fortunately, although Soh sometimes missed reading between the lines, Tal was about as subtle as the sunrise. If these lilies could help against Void infections... well, maybe she should spend some time looking for some. Just in case. [say]"Maybe a visit to the Climb is in order, then."[/say]
Taking a bite of her scone, Soh considered all that she had learned, basked in the warmth of Tal's forgiveness. [say]"Enough doom and gloom,"[/say] she said suddenly, eager to hear of any news she might have missed while she was... away. [say]"How have you been? Other than searching for lost friends and fighting Void monsters, I mean."[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-13-2024
"Believe me, if th'others had run, I would've, too," he assured his friend fervently. Then he scowled looking down at his scone with a stubborn jut to his jaw. "But Sah was there so... y'know. Very leastwise, I couldn't run b'fore he did," he finished at a mumble. Even if he didn't go looking for trouble, his pride was still just as likely to find it for him.
But he still cleared his throat uncomfortably and reached for his tea, hiding his faint flush at her praise behind a swallow of the hot liquid and having to fight not to react to the light scalding he gave himself on accident. "Um. I don't think y'ever met Petunia?" he said cautiously around the fresh burn. "She lives in th'Oerwoud, after I helped 'er move there from Halo." Not the most sociable type, but Tal could understand that better than most!
At her question about the flowers Tal nodded vigorously and sat back looking relieved when she seemed to get the very clever hints he was dropping - just in case anyone was eavesdropping on them. And seeing Soh relax and actually enjoy their snack warmed the cockles of his icy little heart enough that he was willing to go with the change of subject. "I've been... well, mostly okay," he admitted ruefully. "My partner Alys an' I had kind of a rough year, with me bein' gone most of it on deliveries an' searches, but she's started travelin' with me again an' it's been really good. Boreal's made some new friends," he added, glancing under the table with a grin for his dragon. "An' I've done some questin' for th'gods. Oh! I met Mort 'imself! He was th'one that told me y'were still alive!" And the sparkle in the courier's eyes spoke of awe and maybe a little adoration as he gestured with his spoon again, heedless of the glare from the passing waiter.
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-14-2024
Petunia. Another missing soul, lost to the world in the wake of the Family and the Void and gods knew what else. If the Oerwoud was safer now, after Tal and the others' efforts, then perhaps she would make a stop there and see what she could find. Of course, if the courier had looked and failed, then she was unlikely to find anything he hadn't. [say]"What does she look like? In case I come across her?"[/say] Maybe she would and maybe she wouldn't, but it couldn't hurt to keep an eye out.
But the conversation moved on, and Soh was glad for the change of subject. She smiled at the mention of Tal's partner, Alys, who she thought she had seen on a few occasions, when people from across Caido had come together for one reason or other. She didn't know the woman well at all, but as long as she made Tal happy, that was all that mattered. [say]"I'm glad you have someone to look out for you,"[/say] she said, and despite the pang of loneliness in her own heart, she meant it. [say]"I'm sure she's wonderful."[/say] To have gotten past Tal's sometimes gruff exterior to melt the heart beneath, Alys would have had to be.
Soh reached for Boreal again to scratch her horns at the mention of new friends, grinning down at the dragon. [say]"Somehow that doesn't surprise me,"[/say] she murmured. Tal's companion had always been the friendlier of the two, and there was something about the creature that had always warmed Soh's heart.
[say]"Oh, wow!"[/say] she gasped, in awe at the mention of Mort. [say]"That must have been incredible."[/say] Sometimes she wished she could meet Mort, could ask why those she loved all seemed to be taken away from her. Her parents, her guardian... gone to Mort's realm, somewhere she could not follow. [say]"What was he like?"[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-14-2024
He finally took a proper sip of his tea, tilting his head to the side as he pulled up the last memory of his friend and what she'd looked like then. "Well, she's tall, an' a little lighter brown than me," he said slowly, offering his arm as an example. "An' she's got th'longest, greenest fronds you'll ever see." Hard to miss really, except that she blended right into the Oerwoud, often overshadowed by its more colorful inhabitants.
Alys always seemed to soften the courier's rough edges, and talk of his partner seemed to calm him down enough to actually appreciate the tea and scones he had been eating without giving the proper attention to. He beamed at Sohalia's kind words, nodding emphatic agreement to her judgment on how wonderful his partner was. "She is!" he averred with his whole heart.
As much as Boreal liked Alys, she was even more interested in the scratches that were currently available, and she leaned into Soh's fingers with a happy rumble that had Tal grinning. He could feel her contentment through their bond and would have basked in it a little longer if he hadn't had something even more incredible to report. His friend's reaction was everything he could have hoped for and he nodded, leaning forward to share in the wonder of the experience. "He's so... so kind," he tried to describe, a little frustrated when the words didn't seem to do the god justice but not having better ones. "And his smile is so bright. And he just... I could feel how much he cared." He continued to struggle against a language that lacked the right words to describe the light and the smile and the patience of the caretaker of the afterlife for an entire world.
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-15-2024
Sohalia mentally catalogued Tal's description of Petunia, wondering briefly at his wording - fronds? - and nodded at her friend, as though to say that she understood. She would keep an eye out on her travels, particularly if she ended up in the Oerwoud or the surrounding areas.
Sohalia smiled at the softness she could see in the courier as he spoke briefly of his partner. She might have fallen for Jude and for Koa, but she wasn't sure she'd ever felt abut someone the way that Tal seemed to feel about Alys. She wanted to ask more, but then the conversation turned to Mort, and somehow it seemed sacrilegious not to hear more about the god. Perhaps she could ask more about Alys another time.
Tal's description of Mort had Soh's full attention, and the girl forgot even about her scone and tea as she listened attentively. Her fingers stilled on Boreal's horns (sorry, Boreal), distracted by the conversation. [say]"He sounds wonderful,"[/say] Soh sighed, propping her head on her free hand. [say]"I'm so jealous! Did you go to him for a quest, or...? If you don't mind my asking, that is? I hope it wasn't just about me,"[/say] she added, making a face. How embarrassing would it be if she'd caused Tal to waste a visit with Mort, of all beings, just because she'd been gone?
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-15-2024
Fronds,, Soh. You heard him right. Not that Tal seemed to think there was anything strange about it; if anything, he was utterly earnest about his missing friend. He had numerous flaws, but he wasn't speciesist, at least!
He could have lingered over talking about Alys for an hour or more, so it was probably for the best that he mentioned Mort and drew Sohalia's interest in the encounter. He was swiftly lost in the memories of that first day on the beach, when he had approached the sailors' shrine and been transported in spirit if not in body to the peaceful forest where Mort had seemed most at ease.
Boreal heaved a tragic sigh when the fingers stilled, shifting her head on Soh's thigh to peer up from under the edge of the table with big, pleading eyes. Tal ignored her and gave his friend a shake of his head, looking a touch rueful. He reached up to flick the wishbone earring in one ear as he lowered his voice. "Ycan ask," he assured her. "An' yeah, I did. I mean, I figured I could get two birds with one stone, y'know? Ask about you an' get a useful somethin' t'help stay alive an' keep lookin' for you." He pushed his teacup back and forth between his fingers as he looked down into the dark liquid, smiling crookedly. "What about you? Got anyone y'want t'pray to now that y'can? Or anythin' y'want t'ask for?" Protection, some kind of armor... or a weapon, to give any kidnappers second thoughts about grabbing her again?
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-15-2024
Hey, no judgment here. Fronds are good - great, even! They just weren’t something that Sohalia had seen before.
At Boreal’s dramatic sigh, Soh giggled and returned to her scratching, murmuring an apology. Fortunately for them both, Tarak was content upon the edge of the table, where he had stretched out in a shaft of sunlight, sunning himself quite happily. After all, it had been some time since anyone but him had received Soh’s affection, and he was content, for the moment, to share.
Soh flushed at the thought that she had been important enough to Tal for him to go to Mort for her - even if he did get to kill two birds with one stone. She wanted to say that he shouldn’t have, but honestly, she was glad to know that someone cared, flattered by the reception from all of her friends.
Except for Koa. He hadn’t been nearly as welcoming.
Pushing that thought out of her mind, she refocused on the conversation at hand, only to blush again, embarrassed. [say]”I actually… went to Frey, a long time ago. With Jude. Nature Frey,”[/say] she added quickly, realizing that she might wish to specify. [say]”It seems so silly now. We wanted a pair of earrings so we could talk over long distances, since I was in Stormbreak and he was in Torchline… but then…”[/say] Then they’d gotten together, and broken up, and now she didn’t even know where he was. [say]”It seems silly to ask for another quest when I already have one I never finished. I don’t know if I even want to, now.”[/say]
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-16-2024
The scritches resumed and morale improved, Boreal rumbling happily as her eyes closed in bliss. She might have nudged Tal into paying similar attention to Tarak, but not every companion was as comfortable as she was with snuggling up to humans other than her bonded. So long as Tarak was tolerant of it, she was more than happy to borrow the affections of Sohalia after going so long without.
Tal polished off the last scone and sipped his tea with a little more evidence of civilized behavior as he listened eagerly to Soh's tale. Before his brows could even start to rise she had shot down the misassumption he had started to make and he gave her a rueful grin. It was a short-lived one, however, barely a twitch as Frey's name suffused the conversation, especially when the reminder of her rocky relationship with Jude was brought up. The courier nodded sympathetically and then hesitated a moment before offering:
"I don't think it's silly at all. I mean, it's what I'm doin'." He shrugged, a little uncomfortable with his own failure but now mostly just resigned to it. "I, uh... I had a quest for Frey, too. 'Cept... they didn't like what I was askin', so they gave me an impossible task." He grimaced faintly, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "I felt like hail for failin' 'em, an' I just... haven't been able t'face 'em since. But th'other gods, they still answer an' help me out!" He managed a small smile, trying to be reassuring. "Ludo helped me finish my Dagger, an' Mort made me this earring. An' I'm currently questin' for Safrin, t'finish my Vest!"
He cleared his throat again, uncertain whether or not it was his business but... hail, it couldn't hurt to ask, right? "What all did y'have left t'do for it? Can you... I dunno... finish it without him?"
RE: if we never made a sound - Sohalia - 10-16-2024
If there was one thing that she could rely on, it was that Tal would always manage to find some way to make her feel better. He'd been there for her through the darkest times of her life: when she was attacked in Stormbreak, when she'd lost her best friend, and now, when she'd been abducted and cast into the wilderness to be almost killed by the Void. No matter what the question, it seemed that he always had an answer for her. She loved him for it.
[say]"I didn't think of asking the other gods,"[/say] she admitted. [say]"It seemed... I don't know. Like asking too much, or something."[/say] But if they would answer others... well, maybe they would answer her, too. Not, of course, that she knew what to ask for. Maybe something to hide her, or protect her, or some other such thing. Maybe Tal would have an idea. [say]"But if I could ask... it might be nice to have, I dunno, a cloak or something that would make me invisible, or hide me somehow from the Family."[/say]
As for her existing quest... [say]"I'm supposed to catch a whisper fish, but I can't go back to the Greatwood,"[/say] she said, sighing heavily. [say]"There's more, but without doing that... well, I think I'm stuck for now."[/say] That's if she even wanted to finish it. She wasn't sure she cared anymore. After all, who would she give the second earring to, now that Jude hated her?
RE: if we never made a sound - Talyson - 10-16-2024
There was no question about being there for Soh. She'd stuck with him when he'd been a lot angrier and grouchier at the world, when others had turned him away or written him off. She'd believed in him, trusted him, and gave him the confidence he'd needed to keep moving forward when his own life had been at a pretty low point. The least he could do was return the favor, especially when he just plain enjoyed his friend's company.
Plus, Boreal pretty much loved her, so he was stuck with her no matter what.
"I used t'think that way too," he admitted, a little sheepish as he continued to push his teacup around. "But... they don't really seem t'mind? I think Safrin likes th'attention, an' Ludo doesn't seem t'care either way, long as y'keep it entertained." He gave a small shrug that turned to a vigorous nod at her ideas. "Those both sound good! An' like things any o' th'gods could make." Some items seemed better suited to one god or another, but invisibility cloaks could be used for secrecy or tricks - and really, what more needed to be said?
Listening to the requirements for the current quest, however, had his dark brows beetling together over his pale eyes and he scowled intently down at his teacup. "Hmm. Well. What exactly did they say about th'fish? D'you have t'be th'one t'catch it? Or does it matter, as long as y'have one when y'go back t'Frey?"