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+---- Thread: meet me in the afterglow (/showthread.php?tid=12615)
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Sohalia - 03-12-2026
Unlike the rest of them, Anani was utterly calm. As Sol swarmed his bonded, the little cloud wyrm watched with an unreadable expression, content to lounge in the sun. Oh, she knew that something had occurred; that much was clear from the tumultuous feelings from Sohalia. But perhaps Anani was wiser than the other three combined, for she simply had faith in the knowledge that it would all work out, one way or another. So rather than be angry with Zavien for causing such a tempest within her bonded, she gently accepted the offered treat and munched it quietly in her sunbeam, waiting for Soh to gather her courage and appear.
When Soh first entered the room, she didn’t realize that Zavien was having such trouble with breakfast. She was too wrapped up in her thoughts, in avoiding his gaze, in prolonging the inevitable conversation that was to come. When he didn’t speak to her, though, and she peered up from beneath her lashes, she saw him struggling and a small, wry smile crossed her face. Why did he have to be so unbearably charming, even when he wasn’t trying? There was just something so endearing about him trying so hard.
Standing from where she’d been scratching Anani under the chin, and leaving the cloud wyrm to her own devices in the warm sunlight, Soh made her way into the kitchen, hoping that she made enough noise that she wouldn’t startle Zavien into burning himself. The image that he made was almost comical: bent low over the pan, trying to pick out what she assumed were egg shells. It had happened to her enough that it was recognizable in someone else.
Leaning on the counter next to the stove, she tilted her head to watch his attempts for a moment more. Then, voice soft and kind, she asked, [say]”Need some help?”[/say] Before Zavien could answer, she reached out to gently guide his hands out of the way and then daintily picked out the few bits of shell she could see. She bustled about the kitchen easily, tossing the little egg shells pieces in the trash as though this were just another day and there was absolutely nothing wrong. She could picture it, this life that they might have led, and for a moment, her heart squeezed so hard it hurt.
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Zavien - 03-12-2026
His eyes finally turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. What he saw nearly had him falling into the pan. His mouth threatened to fall open when he found Soh in his shirt. Of course she was in his shirt. He'd been the one to give it to her. But he hadn't expected her to look like that, or for it to clutch so tightly at a place in his chest that he almost gasped. Tousled blonde hair fell over her shoulders, his shirt - his shirt - hanging seductively over her body so that it hinted dangerously at what lay beneath.
He had to wet his mouth before swallowing, blinking to reorient himself to the heat almost pressing into his skin. Even as he looked back to the shells, he couldn't dispel the sight she'd seared into him, his fingers fumbling through the egg and continuing to fail at securing them. Until delicate fingers easily pluck them from the pan without so much as a moment of struggle.
Zavien gaped a moment before laughter broke free. He straightened, running an embarrassed hand through his hair. [say]"As much as I'd like to impress you with my cooking skills, it might not be edible without your help."[/say] His playful grin turned sheepish as his eyes darted to the pathetic pile of ingredients. [say]"I hadn't really been expecting guests, so there's not much to work with,"[/say] he apologized, reaching for the bread so he could put it in the toaster, one of the few kitchen skills he felt fairly confident in.
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Sohalia - 03-12-2026
Soh noticed his stare. How could she not, when he was gaping at her like a fish out of water, some emotion she couldn’t quite read in his eyes? She flushed, cheeks pink in the morning sunlight streaming through the windows, and looked away, both pleased to be the source of such a reaction and devastated that she wouldn’t be able to keep it. Plucking the bits of shell from the pan, she made herself walk away, if only so that she didn’t toss the whole pan in the sink and throw her arms around Zavien, to hold on and never let him go.
His laughter was a balm to her fragile soul, and she looked over her shoulder to find him glancing towards a small pile of ingredients. A small smile appeared on her face as she looked it all over. [say]”Oh, this will be fine,”[/say] she assured him. She could handle some basic cooking and baking, but she was certainly no master chef. Nor was she picky, accustomed to eating far worse fare when she was traveling for days or weeks on end. It was not abnormal for her breakfast to include a few pieces of jerky and a slice of stale bread, so the eggs and toast would be a welcome enough meal.
[say]”I’ll take the eggs,”[/say] she said, squeezing past hint to get back to the pan. [say]”Hope you don’t mind scrambled, though. It’s about all I know how to do with them.”[/say] She began to stir the eggs, ensuring none of them burned. Some of the edges were a bit overcooked from where they’d sat so long as the shell pieces were picked out, but it wouldn’t bother Soh a bit, and she simply wouldn’t point it out to Zavien. He seemed tense enough without the added burden of culinary criticism that she was in no way qualified to give anyway.
[say]”I’m just pleased you still want to impress me,”[/say] she continued conversationally. [say]”Do you know, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone try to cook me breakfast before?”[/say]
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Zavien - 03-12-2026
He didn't know why he'd ever thought Soh would judge or criticize the limited choices. She'd never given him cause to suspect she was picky or difficult, but hearing her reassurance paired beautifully with that smile just solidified it. Zavien relaxed, his breaths coming easier, not having noticed how tense he was. He'd already screwed up so much, could a sad breakfast have made it that much worse?
Having already gawked quite openly at her, he was doing his best to find a balance between looking at her and looking anywhere but her. It made maneuvering around the small kitchen difficult, and when she slipped past him to claim the eggs, he froze, his other senses over aware of how she brushed past his bare chest. He was stunned by how everything about him wanted to lean into her, tingling where the echo of her presence still sang across his skin, immediately regretting not putting a shirt on.
His response was almost choked, strained as it tried to sound light. [say]"Scrambled is perfect."[/say]
Zavien turned to stare intently at the toaster where he inserted the bread. He seemed very determined not to let them burn despite the timer meant to prevent that. Only her voice filtered through the concentration, his head turning to look at her with surprise. [say]"Really?"[/say] For a second, he hesitated to ask, but figuring it couldn't do any harm, he probed gently. [say]"Like family or friends or... ?"[/say] Lovers?
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Sohalia - 03-12-2026
She was hyper aware of every move Zavien made, from the way his breath hitched as she squeezed by to the way he tried to avoid looking at her for more than a few seconds at a time. She understood. This was new and complicated, and he was entitled to feel the way he felt about it. That didn’t make it any easier to bear.
Soh took a breath. [say]”Well, my parents must have cooked me breakfast, I suppose, but they passed when I was very young, so I don’t really remember. Then my guardian taught me to cook as soon as they reasonably could, so…”[/say] Soh shrugged. Hers was not a particularly happy childhood, but she’d long since found peace with that. [say]”But other than that… no friends. Or exes,”[/say] she added, cutting her gaze towards him. [say]”I guess what I’m trying to say is… this is nice. Being… taken care of, I mean.”[/say]
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Zavien - 03-12-2026
The discomfort was forgotten, understanding and sympathy taking its place as he watched her talk. He didn't cut in or interrupt, letting her share what was on her mind without the disrespect of his interjection. And yet she said it all with a calm nonchalance that made his heart ache. Time had obviously dulled whatever emotions might have once been there, but there was something else, a sadness that he couldn't place, one that went deeper than missed breakfasts.
His lips tightened just enough to show his dislike, hoping she didn't think someone making her a meal was the epitome of 'care.' [say]"I'm sorry you haven't felt that more. Everyone deserves to be cared for."[/say] Whether it was a friend, family, lover, or loved one of another kind, it broke his heart to think Soh hadn't experienced that. How had she learned to give what she'd received so little of?
Zavien propped his elbows on the counter, tilting his head as he shared a truth of his own. [say]"My mom used to cook me breakfast when she got home from work."[/say] A knowing, secret smile spirited across his face, followed by a breath of laughter. [say]"She was the worst cook."[/say] Probably one of the many reasons for his own culinary skills.
His smile softened like the faint rays of dying sunlight, his voice following suit as he asked gently,[say]"How old were you? When you lost your parents?"[/say]
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Sohalia - 03-12-2026
Maybe she’d made it sound worse than it was; really, she had found peace with a childhood marred by loss, and was working to get past everything that had happened thereafter. It was just… she knew there were people who cared about her, but there weren’t that many who she knew would care for her. And that was a distinction that was important, in her mind.
The eggs were finished quickly, and Soh removed the pan from the heat to let them cool. She peered at Zavien as he shared a memory of his own, her lips twitching with mirth at the thought of a young Zavien and his mother. Leaning her hip against the counter, she turned to face him more fully, feeling encouraged by this change of pace. [say]”That sounds lovely,”[/say] she admitted wistfully. Bad cook or no, it was hard not to envy someone their fond memories of their parents, particularly when she had so few.
[say]”I was five,”[/say] she said softly, looking away. [say]”A friend of the family took me in, but they died when I was seventeen. That’s when I left the Grounds.”[/say] And ended up, eventually, in Stormbreak, where she’d been met with even more heartbreak. Maybe she was just cursed. It certainly seemed like everything she touched turned to ash eventually. The thought was bitter, and she dismissed it as quickly as it came.
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Zavien - 03-12-2026
The few memories that remained of his mom were ones he'd clung desperately to, but with age came the unfortunate understanding of childhood, and many of those memories were rimmed with darkness. Every morning she could, his mom had cooked what little food they had, often burning it or turning it into unrecognizable mush. She'd done it all with a convincing smile, but when he looked back, the fading features of her face were lined with worry and exhaustion, the occasional bruise peeking out from beneath her hair.
Although he did his best to focus on the smile she'd warn and the warm laughter she'd sang, Zavien could only manage an agreeing quirk of his lips, the illusion of it all having dulled with time. His head nodded in resolute understanding for Soh's loss, offering a simple explanation in three words. [say]"I was ten."[/say] Only five years older than her, left with no family to take him in. He'd been raised by the Silk Houses after that. Sighing, he pushed off the counter. [say]"Caido has a nasty habit of robbing people of parental figures."[/say]
Seeing that she'd finished the eggs, Zavien looked to the toaster, only to realize there was a tendril of smoke rising from it, his mind finally registering the slow intrusion of smoke. Jolting, he grasped at the lever. [say]"Shoot! The toast!"[/say] He wiggled and fidgeted with the mechanism until the blackened bread jumped free of the machine. His hands reached for them without thought, pulling them from the heat with a seething breath of annoyed pain. They were flicked unceremoniously onto a plate where he glared disappointedly at the charred pieces. [say]"It must have gotten stuck..."[/say] And unless Soh was willing to eat overdone toast, they were down one more breakfast item.
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Sohalia - 03-12-2026
I was ten. The words were like a physical blow. Understanding blossomed across Soh’s face, years of grief remembered that were only mirrored by Zavien’s own experiences. [say]”I’m sorry,”[/say] she said, and she meant it. Reaching out, she brushed Zavien’s arm with her fingertips, wanting desperately to offer more comfort, but forcing herself to withdraw. She wouldn’t force him to accept her affection, not when everything was still so tangled and fraught.
The toast interrupted the moment, and Soh gasped as Zavien tried valiantly to rescue it. His hiss of pain caught her attention more than the charred bread, and she had to stop herself from grabbing his hand, just to make sure he hadn’t burned himself too badly. Only when she was sure that he was relatively unscathed did she look back at the toast.
Soh did her best to smother a laugh and failed. [say]”I’m sorry -“[/say] she managed between giggles. [say]”It’s just - you have to admit this is kind of funny.”[/say] They’d tried to get breakfast to avoid the topic of what to do next, and the universe seemed to be telling them to get it over with. [say]”I don’t know if we’re meant to have breakfast today.”[/say] Shaking her head, she tugged the plate of bread towards herself. [say]”Maybe we can salvage it?”[/say] she wondered aloud. [say]”Sometimes, if you scrape off the burned parts, the rest isn’t too bad…”[/say] But just looking at this particular batch of toast, Soh knew that that wasn’t going to save it.
Instead, she looked over at the eggs. [say]”Well, eggs it is. And look, we still have some jerky, which is basically just cold bacon, and eggs and bacon is basically a whole meal, so…”[/say]
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Zavien - 03-13-2026
Her touch was gentle and kind. His smile was warm and sympathetic. They'd both known loss. It wasn't something he liked to wallow in, but this didn't feel like wallowing. It was a quiet solidarity, an understanding that too many people could relate to.
Then toast was flying, and Soh's giggle was stealing the majority of his attention. He should be frustrated or embarrassed at having ruined more of their breakfast, especially considering how few of them she'd had. But the unsuccessful attempt at hiding how funny she found it pulled an unbidden smile from his lips. It was crooked and a little more distracted by her than the sorry excuse for toast.
Shaking his head at the odd fluttering in his stomach, Zavien finally broke, laughter tumbling forth. [say]"Maybe not."[/say] It seemed only fitting with how the morning had been progressing, but he hoped it might be a sign that things could only go up from here.
The toast would not be as lucky. When he lifted it with two fingers to inspect, he had to squint to find anywhere that wasn't black, dropping it back onto the plate with a huff of annoyed laughter. [say]"I don't think there will be anything left if you do that."[/say] His eyes turned to the pan of eggs that were looking like their last saving grace, thankful Soh had protected them from his cursed abilities. His head nodded, a lingering smile hanging there. [say]"Eggs and jerky will have to work, and there's still some cheese. Maybe we can..."[/say] But his voice trailed off as he looked to the cheese, wondering if it'd looked that green when he'd pulled it out of the fridge.
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
They really were quite similar, in more ways than Soh had realized. Maybe that was what made it so easy to fall into a rhythm with Zavien, to talk to him and share what might have been uncomfortable with anyone else. Maybe that was why she had fallen so eagerly into his bed, why she hadn’t hesitated the way good sense might have suggested she should. He was just so understanding, and genuine, and kind-hearted - he gave and gave of himself, expecting nothing in return. Soh thought back to a recent conversation with Flora, in which her friend had told her she was just so good. She thought maybe she understood what Flora had meant now, only not in relation to herself. If anyone was good, she thought, it was Zavien.
Soon they were both smiling and laughing, and for a brief moment, it was easy to forget the tumultuous conversation of this morning in favor of leaning into the here and now. The toast was, unfortunately, unsalvageable, but at least there were eggs and jerky and -
[say]”Oh.”[/say] Soh looked at the cheese on the counter. It had a faint greenish hue that made her nervous. [say]”You know what, I actually prefer my eggs without,”[/say] she said diplomatically, making a mental note to take Zavien shopping for groceries later. If there was a later.
Turning to the nearby cupboards, she opened one or two until she found plates, then scooped a healthy serving of eggs onto each of the two she’d taken down. Hoping that Zavien would take the hint and find them silverware, Soh then added some jerky onto each plate. Anani stirred from her spot in the sun, stretching luxuriously before floating quietly over to land on Soh’s shoulders. Laughing, Soh snuck the little cloud wyrm a bite of jerky, then looked around to share some with Sol, if he wanted.
[say]”So, are you an eat-at-the-table or eat-on-the-couch kind of person?”[/say] Soh asked, turning to Zavien with a raised brow. [say]”Because it doesn’t matter to me, so long as you’re comfortable.”[/say]
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Zavien - 03-13-2026
Grimacing at her polite decline, Zavien breathed an airy laugh. [say]"Smart choice."[/say] He gathered the forks as she moved for the plates, once again becoming aware of every inch between them as if he was measuring how quickly he could cross the distance. A single thought occupied his brain, casual and as natural as the breeze, I'll need to get more options for next time.
Zavien blinked. Next time. He wanted there to be a next time. Gods, he wanted desperately for there to be a next time, for Soh to be wearing his shirt giggling in his kitchen, for there to be intimate sex and more intimate showers, for them to wake up curled in each other's arms after the best night of sleep. He wanted to do it a million times over.
The realization knocked his focus, his next breath straining against the tightness in his ribs. He set the silverware next to the plates and grabbed them two cups for water while she doted on the companions. That light laugh only made it harder for him to take a sip, the water doing nothing to ease the ache.
Sol practically materialized next to Soh, tail wagging expectantly as he gave a small chirp, inhaling as many pieces as she was willing to offer. Zavien took that as his moment to intervene, a smile plastered to his lips as he admitted, [say]"I usually just scarf it down in the kitchen."[/say] But that didn't seem appropriate for someone he was trying to impress, so he gathered their breakfast and gestured towards the table. [say]"Let's sit at the table."[/say]
As he walked forward, his gaze flicked to the couch where their clothes were still strewn about, unable to push aside the memories before they flashed by. The heat they'd shared, the pleasure, the tenderness. A warmth threatened to spread towards his face, his eyes focusing intently on the seat he pulled out for Soh until he could smile at her without his blush betraying him, indicating that she should sit first.
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Sohalia - 03-13-2026
While Soh fed the companions strips of jerky (probably a few too many, but who was counting?), Zavien gathered silverware and drinks. Soh watched him from beneath her lashes as he moved easily around the kitchen, admiring the way the morning light highlighted the lines of the body she’d grown so intimately familiar with overnight. She understood his hesitation, she did - but she hated it all the same, hated that a failed past relationship could be the one thing preventing a future one to take root. She wasn’t oblivious to the fact that things with Zavien might not work out even without Koa’s ghost to shadow them, but she still wanted the chance to try, wanted it so badly now that she could practically taste it.
Swallowing down her racing thoughts, she laughed lightly at Zavien’s admission. [say]”We’re going to have to change that,”[/say] she teased, then blushed - because of course she had no right to change anything at all, and certainly might not have the opportunity to do so, if this morning was any indication. She had to wonder what had changed between last night and today; what had made Zavien make his move, when he was clearly so conflicted about having done so now?
Making her way to the table, she set down the plates and took the seat Zavien pulled out for her. [say]”Thank you,”[/say] she said, watching as he sat in his own chair. She had the absurd urge to kick her feet up into his lap, just for the tiniest bit of contact, but resisted. That was just her touch-starved brain at work, and she wouldn’t make him uncomfortable just to satisfy her own random desires.
She waited for Zavien to pick up a fork before grabbing her own, then stabbed a bit of egg with a bit more force than was entirely necessary. Her fork scraped against the plate with a squeal. [say]”Sorry,”[/say] she winced. Then she took a bite. The eggs were passable, at least, though she might have added some cheese, or maybe some peppers, had those things been available - not that she blamed Zavien. He hadn’t expected a houseguest, and she certainly wasn’t one to complain about a little breakfast. [say]”So…”[/say] she started, fully intending to bring up the conversation they were intent on avoiding. At the last moment, though, she chickened out. [say]”… you do know you need to keep more food for yourself, right?”[/say] Her voice turned teasing. [say]”How are you going to keep all those muscles without eating properly?”[/say]
RE: meet me in the afterglow - Zavien - 03-13-2026
Her comment didn't strike him as strange - he probably did need to stop eating in the kitchen - but the 'we' rang heavier in the air. It was obviously a slip based on the blush splattering her cheeks. The implication of doing anything together wasn't something he shrank from. Even if he couldn't have what they'd shared yesterday, it didn't alter how he felt about Soh as a friend, and he harbored the naive hope that they would continue to be in each other's lives regardless of how things worked out. Even more absurd was the hope that everything would shift, that he could somehow make yesterday into something more, that they could move forward without being held back. The thoughts distracted him as he approached the table, his words muttered to no one in particular. [say]"I don't mind change."[/say]
Redirecting his focus, Zavien let Soh take her seat before claiming his own next to her. She was within reach but the distance felt too far and he fought the inexplicable urge to be closer again. The distraction of her fork was welcome, his own already placing eggs into his mouth - noting that they were much better than he could have made. He smiled sideways at her, obviously uncaring for the apology she offered. It wasn't necessary and he didn't really like how often he heard her say the word. But before he could chastise her, Soh seemed to be gathering the courage to broach the topic hanging over their heads. He waited, bracing until she appeared to change her mind.
Swallowing, he shrugged his shoulders at her question. [say]"I don't spend much time here, so I usually eat while I'm out."[/say] Amongst the community, Zavien's assistance often earned him a kind meal, or enough goodwill to purchase one at the local shops. He rarely went hungry, and he hadn't thought it to be much of a problem before this morning, when he had someone else to care about. His eyes flickered up to the person of interest, clearing his throat as he added, [say]"But I could put in more of an effort for when people are over."[/say] 'People' obviously being her from the casual follow-up question. [say]"What foods do you like?"[/say]