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+---- Thread: [o] everything that we should be (/showthread.php?tid=11708)
RE: everything that we should be - Sohalia - 07-24-2025
Soh giggled at the mental image of a glittery Ludo; for all that she knew little of the deity, she couldn't imagine it covered in sparkles. Still, she rather thought she might know just the person Maea was talking about. [say]"Oh, do you know Nova Marin, too?"[/say] Nova was the only person that Soh knew who seemed to be allergic to plain colors; she always had something cute and fun on her outfits, and there always seemed to be something sparkly around wherever she was. Soh really admired that about her.
Testing out a swath of linen by tugging on the ends, Soh bit her lip as she considered. [say]"This will be enchanted,"[/say] she said. [say]"I'm on a quest for Frey. I want something breathable, I think, in case I do decide to wear it all the time. Light so that it's not a pain in Longheat and can be easily layered over in Deepfrost."[/say] Velvet, as pretty as it was, seemed heavier than Soh had in mind, although silk had promise. She wandered over to that section, her eye caught by a particularly pretty silk that looked like a silver waterfall where it spilled off the bolt.
RE: everything that we should be - Maea - 07-26-2025
[say]"I do, yes,"[/say] Maea smiled, happy but not surprised to hear her young friend being mentioned by name. The girl was a hurricane and knew how to get around, not to mention unmistakable in her self-expression, as evidenced here. [say]"Can't say it's the worst approach, to be honest. It wouldn't do to be boring at a masquerade."[/say] Not when Ludo was the one hosting the event.
With her fabric sorted out, and thread and fastenings added to the bag, she came around the shelves to see what Sohalia had found for herself. The silvery cloth complemented the woman's complexion very well, and the ancient nodded slowly to herself. [say]"It suits you,"[/say] she encouraged her, running a finger across the roll of fabric. [say]"You could always choose a different color for the lining, and make it reversible. Gives you options as far as styling goes."[/say] Something she appreciated a lot about the robe Sah had made for her; there was no point in armor uf it wasn't worn, after all.
[say]"Did you intend to make your costume right away?"[/say] she asked, once they'd made their purchase. Plucking with the swatches of cloth, she felt the inspiration like an ache in her hands, wishing she could get started on the project soonest. There was still the mask to acquire... but she thought she had an idea for that part.
RE: everything that we should be - Sohalia - 07-27-2025
Nova was unforgettable, and Soh smiled in spite of herself as she thought of her effervescent friend. It seemed that she was truly beginning to make a name for herself amongst the people of Caido, and Soh couldn't be happier. As for the masquerade, Soh wondered what it would be like, with everyone dressed as Ludo. Wouldn't it get horribly confusing, trying to figure out who was who? Or perhaps that was half the fun.
In any case, talk shifted to her vest, and the Luminary fingered the silver bolt of silk as she considered. She hadn't thought of making it double-sided, and her eyes lit at the notions. [say]"Maybe like... a deep blue..."[/say] And then she was off, digging for the perfect shade of midnight to complement metallic fabric she'd already selected.
Once she'd made her selections and gotten all the bits and bobs to accompany her fabric, Soh turned back to Maea. [say]"No time like the present,"[/say] she said. [say]"I have an apartment not too far from here, if you wanted somewhere quiet to work on yours."[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Maea - 08-01-2025
Lingering by the counter with a knowing smile as Sohalia flitted off to find more cloth, for a few peaceful minutes she could simply absorb the air around her. A scent of dust and dye was suppressed by strategically placed containers of potpourri, countered by the lemonbalm scouring soap used to keep the floors spotless. It was a pleasant store. Orderly, clean and the assistant had been polite as well as helpful in her recommendations over yardage and sewing thread and things Maea hadn't even considered.
It was almost with regret that she joined Sohalia and made to leave. Pale brows shot up beneath the harsh line of her bangs, surprised at the offer. [say]"That's very kind of you to offer, Sohalia,"[/say] she replied with warmth in her voice. [say]"If you're sure it's not imposing on you, then I would be happy to accept. But don't hesitate to let me know if you would like your space back - I'd hate to overstay."[/say] They weren't that familiar, and to the intensely private ancient this was borderline scandalous... but a quiet part at the back of her mind had to wonder if it wasn't easier for the Luminary to host guests, than to sit with the silence and sorrowthat remained - like so much shattered glass - where a vibrant bond should be.
RE: everything that we should be - Sohalia - 08-01-2025
[say]"Oh, it's no trouble at all,"[/say] Sohalia hurried to assure her friend. [say]"It's not far. I used to run a shop here, you know."[/say] She led the way out of the shop and turned left. The streets were full of people, most of whom were happy and smiling, glad to be returned to their home. A gentle breeze plucked at Soh's hair, and she tucked an errant strand behind her ear before continuing to ramble on. [say]"A cartography studio. The shop's a bit of a mess now, after everything, but there's plenty of space to work in my apartment."[/say]
They turned down a side street or two, and it wasn't long at all before Soh produced a key and let herself into one of the shops. There was a sign outside, but it was so faded that it no longer seemed to say anything at all, and the interior was covered in a layer of dust. A few maps hung crookedly on the walls, but it still seemed deserted. In truth, Soh simply hadn't had the heart to put it back together after Tarak's death, so she'd done very little with the shop and the bare minimum with the apartment upstairs.
She led the way through the dusty seaters and up a hidden staircase, emerging into a bright, open space that was clean, if not well-appointed. The furniture was old, and the decor sparse - but it worked for Soh, at least for now. [say]"Sorry, it's a little..."[/say] Soh trailed off, glancing sheepishly at Maea. [say]"I haven't been up to fixing everything up. But there's plenty of space at the counter and the table, I think."[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Maea - 08-03-2025
[say]"I had no idea,"[/say] Maea admitted. Curiosity burned until they reached the shop and stepped inside. If not for the sewing projects they had on hand, she could easily have lost herself in exploring the neglected items on display. The scent of dust and parchment was as familiar as her brother's laughter or the shape of Liam's fingers laced through hers; it was a place to idle away time in, pouring over maps and sea charts and ticking off locations she had once visited. [say]"Oh, it's lovely. Cartography, huh... I'm no good at drawing, myself, alas, you must be really good to make a living off it."[/say]
Chatting idly as she followed up the stairs and stepped into the apartment, Maea paused for a moment on the threshold to taking the layout of the rooms. Shii's dim light put a blue edge on careworn furniture as the wisp explored, highlighting the few decorative elements and the lack of clutter. Clean, tidy, nothing fancy - [say]"I think it's nice,"[/say] Maea replied, earnest as ever. [say]"Overly done up spaces make me nervous. How people can get anything done in palace when touching a surface alone makes it dirty I'll never know - "[/say] Shaking her head, she took off her shoes and claimed the table for herself, setting her bag aside on a drawn out chair.
[say]"Alright, soooo –"[/say]
Digging up the pattern she'd purchased, Maea began to unfurl it and squinted at instructions, measurements, a helpful little guide to modifying the base garment by simple means, and eventually rolled out the biggest piece of cloth across the table. [say]"The most important part is the base, right?"[/say] she said, looking to Sohalia for her assessment. [say]"If I get that done today, I can add details as I wish until the day of... how's that sound? Is it overambitious?"[/say] By no means a tailor, nor versed in more than patching and mending as far as clothes construction went, it felt very doable to attach four panels with a straight stitch and add sleeves. She would make it a robe, abuse it until it looked tattered and worn, then patch on strips of cloth in all manner of lengths and colors - maybe even add shiny items too - and that should look very much like Ludo, indeed. [say]"Do you have a pair of scissors? And possibly a measuring tape..."[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Sohalia - 08-04-2025
[say]"I used to be better,"[/say] Soh admitted as she looked around the dusty shop. [say]"After I became Stormbreak's Heart, I didn't have as much time for my cartography, so I'm out of practice. But I used to do annotated maps - a lot of people bought them as decoration, since I included drawings and information about the flora and fauna of a place."[/say] She paused, her hand on the stairwell. [say]"Maybe one day I'll get back to it."[/say]
Then she led the way upstairs, where Maea claimed the table and left the counter for Sohalia. [say]"I'm not much of a seamstress,"[/say] she admitted with a small, self-deprecating laugh. [say]"But that sounds about right. The base does seem like the most important part to get right."[/say] She pulled out her own cuts of fabric, stacking them neatly to one side of the counter. Then she pulled out her own pattern and began to look at it in earnest. [say]"Honestly, I'll just be content if mine doesn't fit wonky."[/say]
With her supplies organized, Soh was ready to begin - and so too, it seemed, was Maea. Crossing the kitchen to a drawer that held a variety of junk and miscellaneous items, the Luminary pulled out a few pairs of scissors, offering the sharper pair to Maea. Digging around at the back produced a measuring tape that was perhaps a little worn - some of the numbers were beginning to wear off - but was still serviceable. [say]"I have plenty of hard rulers and things for my maps downstairs,"[/say] she offered. [say]"But I think this is the only flexible measuring tape I have."[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Maea - 08-05-2025
[say]"Do let me know if you do, I'd love a map over the Greatwood to hang on my wall,"[/say] Maea smiled. [say]"Charting it might be a bit of a headache, of course... with all the waterways and islands."[/say] Still, it would be both useful and pretty, and if crafted by a friend its value would be beyond counting.
Accepting scissors and tape measure, Maea proclaimed herself willing to share. Rolling up her sleeves, she got to work, and soon a focused silence fell over the apartment, interspersed with soft humms and the rustle of paper, the occasional hissing as needles pricked a finger instead of cloth. The nerve-wracking part of cutting into the fabric required a few steadying breaths; a point of no return. Just to be safe Maea measured everything again. And a third time. Then with a crisp crunch the first cut was made - and that was it, no returning from there, all she could do was follow through.
A moment of triumph later, she held up the pieces of the robe, and realized with a sinking feeling just how much was left to do before those flimsy pieces of silk looked anything like that image in her mind. At least she could sit down for the rest; fumbling with needle and thread, she sank onto a chair to start sewing.
[say]"So far, so good... how are you doing?"[/say] she asked, looking up to check on Sohalia's progress.
RE: everything that we should be - Sohalia - 08-15-2025
[say]”I’ve actually spent a fair bit of time in the Greatwood,”[/say] Soh replied, finding it easier to talk than to work in silence. [say]”When I first left the Hollowed Grounds. I went to the Greatwood first and stayed a while. I had a complete set of maps at one point. I might still have a copy downstairs; I can look when we’re done.”[/say] She spread her fabric out on the floor, measuring carefully and marking the places she needed to cut. Then she passed the measuring tape back to Maea.
Once she’d laid out all her pieces (hoping and praying that she’d done it correctly), she took a deep breath and began to cut. It was time consuming and tedious to get all the pieces cut out and pinned together, but when she’d completed that step, the gown she’d been envisioning was sort of starting to come together. Next she just had to stitch it all into place.
[say]”I think it’s going okay!”[/say] Soh said, stretching her neck and carefully sitting her pinned-together garment aside. She walked into the kitchen to fetch some water, bringing Maea a glass in the process. [say]”Now I just have to actually sew it. I think it might take a while, but maybe it’ll be okay when it’s done. I guess, if Ludo dresses in rags, it doesn’t have to be perfect, right?”[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Maea - 08-16-2025
[say]"Ah, true, I believe you mentioned that at some point. I did too, in a way, though I certainly wasn't productive in the duration."[/say] Not the kind where she had maps to show for her stay; in Maea's case all that came of it was a big hole in her memories and worried friends left behind. [say]"I'd love to see what you have, it's really nice of you to offer."[/say]
Accepting the water with a nod of thanks, Maea took a sip and eyed what Sohalia had pinned together thus far. [say]"Nah. I'll be content if it holds together for an evening,"[/say] she admitted with a laugh. [say]"Bonus points if it looks decent - and turns out the way I'm picturing."[/say] Finally setting needle to cloth, the actual sewing was simple enough, straight forward to the point of boredom and leaving plenty of opportunities to talk. [say]"What did you like best about the Greatwood? What made you leave, in the end?"[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Sohalia - 08-19-2025
Sewing began, and Soh dragged her garment over to sit near Maea as both women got to work. It was tedious, and slow - the perfect combination for them to chat while they sewed. [say]"I loved the forest,"[/say] Soh said thoughtfully. [say]"There was something about it that felt... magical, I suppose? I'd been so sheltered before, and I'd never traveled, so in the end, I just wasn't ready to settle down yet. I guess that, however lovely it was, it just didn't really feel like home?"[/say]
She stitched a line, then poked herself in the thumb; hissing a breath, she checked to make sure she wasn't about to bleed all over her dress, then continued. [say]"I traveled a lot before I went to Stormbreak, and then it just felt... right. Like that was where I always wanted to come back to, you know?"[/say] Soh removed a few pins, tugging lightly at her line of stitches to make sure it would hold. [say]"What about you? What is it about the Greatwood that drew you to it?"[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Maea - 08-19-2025
Awkward stitches gradually evened out as she fell into a rhythm of pricking the fabtic, weaving the needle, then pulling the thread. With everything pinned up already no more thinking was required, and Maea was a bit surprised at how nice it actually was to sew. She'd hated the chore as a youth, when it was one of the few tasks she could do around the house, but it seemed that time had tempered her dislike into a sort of nostalgia.
[say]"Mmh, I get that. I went there at first because it was outside the Grounds - I'd have gone anywhere to get away - but I didn't really return until this year. Being Ascended and all..."[/say] It wasn't like she'd been welcome in the forest, and so she had not really thought about it. [say]"This time... I went because Flora didn't let me move to Torchline. I got stubborn and decided I wouldn't go back at all unless I found a rose - we made a deal that she'd get me a place to stay if I found one - but the more time I spent in the forest, the less it seemed to matter that I couldn't leave."[/say]
Pausing to reach for the glass, she took a sip of water but lingered with the rib pressed against the bottom lip. Thinking back on those sun-bright days with a warm fondness that colored her cheeks pink. [say]"Possibly meeting Liam may have had something to do with that. Though we were really just friends to start with, he was so calm... it made my hectic striving seem rather pointless."[/say]
RE: everything that we should be - Sohalia - 08-19-2025
Soh stitched and sewed, lamenting the lack of a sewing machine even as she was glad for the chance to converse with a friend as they worked. It was painstaking, but the company certainly made the time pass all the more quickly. While the Luminary was certain that she would not be taking up sewing as a hobby, it was certainly something that she could do in a pinch to mend clothes or other such simple tasks. For the complex garments, she'd leave things to Nova and other, more talented seamstresses.
Maea's story had Soh smiling, the expression a little wistful. Would she ever find someone who tilted her whole world on its head like that? [say]"It sounds like a very special relationship,"[/say] she commented softly, silver gaze flicking up to glance at Maea. [say]"Is it true, that friendship makes a good basis for love?"[/say] Her own experience with falling in love with her best friend had ended disastrously, so she was rather wary of the concept, but it seemed to have worked out for Maea thus far.
RE: everything that we should be - Maea - 08-19-2025
The ancient's return smile was a touch sheepish, the silly kind of happy that couldn't be contained even with the best attempt. She did count herself lucky, to experience that kind of storybook romance, fully aware that reality often turned out messier by far.
[say]"It is,"[/say] she admitted, and resumed her sewing. [say]"And so far that seems to be the case. At least it feels more solid than my first relationship. That one was all angst and lust and felt very passionate... but it also ended after a season or two."[/say]
Like comparing a storm-tossed sea with a sun-warm lake, the men were just as different - making it easy to compare and easy to see why one suited her better than the other. [say]"I do think I wouldn't have been able to appreciate Liam if I hadn't learned from that first disaster though. I guess it depends on the friendship, and what you're looking for?"[/say]
It was a question, not so subtly wrapped up and delivered with a glance across the table that invited to share, if Sohalia wanted to unburden herself of whatever caused that wistful expression. She wouldn't pry if she preferred to remain quiet however; given what she was already going through after Tarak's passing, heartbreak wasn't necessarily the best topic.