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+---- Thread: [SE] oh, the tragedy (/showthread.php?tid=10790)
oh, the tragedy - Sohalia - 03-03-2025
After her meeting with Noe, Sohalia had fled the Kuali’i Isles and made her way back to the city of Haulani. She hadn’t been paying very close attention to where she went, and somehow she’d gotten turned around and ended up in Rae’s Fingers - the very part of the city she’d always tried to avoid. It was dark and dank in the tunnels, and though, with her shift, she didn’t worry about the tide coming in, she did worry about the kind of unsavory characters she might meet down here.
Thoroughly turned around and still upset from Noe’s venomous words, Sohalia sat on a bench carved from the rock of the tunnel, eyes red-rimmed and downcast. She’d meant to go to the market when she’d returned from the isles to pick up some blackberries and blueberries so that she could bake some cobblers, but now that she was here, she couldn’t quite bring herself to move again. Maybe she’d leave in a few minutes, when she stopped feeling quite so miserable.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sah - 03-03-2025
Sah felt...empty. Far too much had happened in such a short time span that he was mentally and emotionally exhausted. Seren's death was the most recent nail in the coffin and the Wild Thunder wasn't sure how much more he could handle before he snapped under the weight.
The funeral had been good, and it had been reassuring to see so many individuals come to celebrate her life and mourn her loss. His friend had deserved no less. Now the hybrid found himself seeking a quiet place to pull himself together before beginning the trek home. He couldn't delay it long, needing to return to Luka and Soleil's sides as soon as possible. Yet, he could take a moment. Just one, to pull himself together.
Sah turned a corner and paused when he spotted a familiar face. One who's eyes were as red as his. [say]"Sohalia?"[/say] His brow furrowed in concern even as exhaustion pressed his shoulders down.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sohalia - 03-03-2025
A familiar voice pulled Soh from her misery, and she looked up with swollen eyes to find Sah striding towards her. She sat up a little straighter, wiping quickly at her eyes and feigning a smile. [say]”Oh, Sah, hey,”[/say] she said in a voice that wobbled faintly, as though she were close to tears. Honestly, why couldn’t she just pull herself together?
She looked more closely at her friend, and her forced smile faded. His own eyes were red-rimmed, and he just seemed off. She’d never known Sah to be anything other than gentle, kind, and collected, but just now he seemed… tired, exhausted in a way that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. [say]”Are you okay?”[/say] Soh asked, her voice laced with concern. [say]”Here, come sit for a minute.”[/say]
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sah - 03-10-2025
Sohalia's concern over him, despite how clear it was that she was having a rough day, had Sah sending a gentle pulse of warmth through the Attuned bond. [say]"Thanks."[/say] Drawing closer, the hybrid sat down beside his friend, grateful for her support. Letting out a long sigh he responded to her question. [say]"To be honest, I'm really not."[/say]
Mustering up a tired smile he tried to reassure her, [say]"I will be. Just... not yet."[/say] It was hard to imagine himself being 'okay' at all in the foreseeable future. But Sah knew that he had to keep that frame of mind. If he didn't believe it, there was no chance that he could convince is kids of it. They needed to believe that things would improve, to have that hope. If not, how could they possibly heal and move forward? Sah wouldn't allow himself to falter. He had to stay strong so that he could guide his family through this dark time.
However, he wasn't the only one suffering today. The Wild Thunder tilted his head as he took in Sohalia's appearance up close, [say]"Are you okay?"[/say]
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sohalia - 03-12-2025
Understanding washed over Soh’s features as Sah sat beside her and sighed. It was a feeling that she knew all too well. In an attempt to comfort Sah, she leaned slightly until her head was on his shoulder, offering silent support. When he shifted the question back to her, though, she shrugged. [say]”I will be.”[/say] In the wake of her run in with Noe, she was questioning everything she thought she knew about herself and her reign, but she also knew that it would pass. Whatever was to come for Stormbreak would come, and regardless of how one citizen felt about her personally, she would be there for the city in whatever capacity she could.
But today it felt like that would never happen. And that even if she offered, Stormbreak would deny her.
[say]”Do you think things will ever go back to the way they were?”[/say] Soh asked after a few moments of silence, her voice wistful and pained. She couldn’t imagine staying in Torchline forever, hiding from the Family. But nor could she imagine giving up.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sah - 03-20-2025
Sah was surprised at the touch but tilted his head to rest his temple against Sohalia. Affection, gratitude, and understanding swirled in the bond as she echoed his words. A fraction of the tension in his shoulders bled away at the reassurance and the shared sentiment was grounding.
The Wild Thunder hated the pain in Sohalia's voice, easily recalling when she'd shown up at his door after the fight with the yet. Sah wrapped an arm around Sohalia's shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze, [say]"No. But we'll survive this and find a new normal."[/say] They didn't have a choice. Either they gave up and lost everything, or they pushed through and adapted to whatever the outcome might be. And gods, Sah hoped that outcome was victory.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sohalia - 03-21-2025
A small, childish part of her longed to hear Sah promise that everything would be okay, that it would all go back to the way it was and that they would all live happily ever after. But the part of her that had grown from an optimist into a realist with age knew that his words were true. Nothing would ever be the same again, that much was certain, and all they could do was try to grow to keep up.
Soh sighed, grateful for Sah's solid presence at her side. He was comforting, even if he wasn't saying what she wanted to hear. She could only hope that the new normal they found would somehow resemble that which they had left behind. She wasn't sure how much more disaster she could handle.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sah - 03-23-2025
Sah let them fall into a companionable silence for a bit, knowing that the weight of emotions took time to process. Sohalia's presence was soothing, grounding in the turbulence of the recent weeks. He hoped that he was able to grant her the same reprieve. Something in him ached that she was struggling again. Sah hated to see the people he cared about in pain and the world seemed to keep throwing things at the young Attuned beside him.
After a few long moments of melancholy, he tapped Sohalia's arm, [say]"Come on. We should get something to eat. I saw a merchant selling berry tarts and nothing makes a rough day better like sugar."[/say] Wallowing was good, but he wouldn't let either of them fall into the swirling abyss.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sohalia - 03-24-2025
There was a certain comfort in knowing that they suffered together, and while Soh would have preferred that neither of them be facing their respective struggles, she appreciated being able to rely on Sah to sit in silence with her while they battled their demons. After a few long moments, the hybrid seemed to stir, tapping Soh’s arm and inviting her to get food. [say]”Sweets solve everything,”[/say] Soh said, offering a small, brave smile. With that, she stood, dusted herself off, and followed Sah towards the merchant.
It would have been easier, she thought, to sit and continue to wallow, but it also wouldn’t be particularly helpful. Perhaps that was the point of life: to continue pressing on even when things were hard. It was a lesson that Soh needed to learn, but she wished that it wasn’t such a difficult one.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sah - 03-24-2025
Sah returned Sohalia's smile, a small burst of pride filling the bond as she rallied. [say]"That they do."[/say] When the Attuned was ready, he led them back towards the main part of the city, towards where the venders were. Spotting a familiar merchant, Sah gestured for Sohalia to follow him.
The scruffy young man running the cart waved them over as they got closer, "Come get your tarts! Hand-held and fresh! Blackberry, blueberry, mixed berry, and the all-berry." The words had an odd inflection to them, wheezed out as they were. Sah scanned the display tarts before selecting a blackberry one for himself. It may have been purple, but it was certainly the 'good' kind.
When Sohalia had made her own selection, Sah raised his tart in toast, a soft smile on his lips, [say]"Cheers."[/say]
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sohalia - 03-26-2025
Sah's pride brought a small smile to Soh's face. She'd always thrived on the praise of those she respected, and since Sah was now amongst that number, it was a particularly effective way to lift her mood. The pair made their way through the city, and before long found themselves in front of a merchant Soh had never seen before. He was a scruffy young man with a variety of tarts available, and Soh scanned the display before deciding on a blueberry one.
Once they'd paid, they turned away, and Soh lifted her tart to tap Sah's with a giggle before taking a bite. [say]"Oh, this is good!"[/say] she mumbled around a mouthful. She looked to Sah with clear delight. [say]"How's yours?"[/say]
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sah - 03-26-2025
Sah took a bite of his tart and let out a happy hum. There was some kind of citrus mixed in with the blackberry. Lemon if he had to guess. It brightened up the treat nicely. Taking another bite instead of responding verbally, the hybrid nodded. [say]It's delicious![/say] The merchant let out a satisfied huff. "You're gods-dam right they're good. Now move along."
Stifling a laugh as they were shooed away, the Wild Thunder nodded towards a bench where he and Sohalia could sit. His tart didn't survive the trip, long since consumed by then. Leaning back against the wood, Sah tilted his head. [say]"Feeling a little better?"[/say] He was. The dark clouds were still there but they felt more manageable at the moment.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sohalia - 03-27-2025
They were shooed away from the stall unceremoniously, and Soh obediently followed Sah over to a bench. Unlike the hybrid, she still had a few bites of her tart left as she took a seat, and she savored each one as she continued to eat.
[say]”I think so,”[/say] she said with a smile. Her worries weren’t entirely gone, of course, but they seemed a bit more distant just now, a manageable level of concern that hadn’t entirely taken over. [say]”How about you?”[/say] It wouldn’t be fair for her to be the only one whose spirits had improved, and she hoped that she’d granted Sah the same relief that he’d given her.
RE: oh, the tragedy - Sah - 03-27-2025
Sah smiled softly, relieved to hear that Sohalia's mood had improved. [say]"I am."[/say] His smile turned mischievous and he playfully, but gently, nudged her shoulder with his own, [say]"Thanks for cheering me up."[/say] The Wild Thunder was grateful to have run into the Luminary. Despite not sharing a single word about his problems or venting, he felt lighter. He knew he'd be able to return home now and put on a brave face for the twins.
The two fell into easy conversation, catching up on the little things that they'd missed. The small bright points within these darker days. It was a solid reminder that Caido wasn't beaten yet, not while it's people still had life in them.
-[FIN]