i think i'm okay

// welcome to paradise //

It’s a battle of wills, it seems, and Sunjata quickly realizes he’s going to need to find a way out sooner rather than later. So the mention of food – and the simultaneous growl from Koa’s stomach has a huff of a laugh leaving the Flood’s throat, nodding his agreement to eating a whole ramphire. Sunjata’s done it once – in shift, of course, and he’d promptly died in a food coma after for what felt like ages.

But that’s beside the point. The point is he’s trying to get the fuck out of this.

The mention of Halo threatens to make his easy smile tight, but he trains it back into something of calm, peering out over the city of New Haven before he huffs a soft sigh. “Don’t think I’ll make it to Halo this hungry.” It’s quite a flight, at the end of the day. “Let’s snag something here and go from there. One of my favorite restaurants just moved in.” Gesturing for Koa to follow him, Sunjata guides him down the path to the busier town – where people have started moving in.

Receiving nods and greetings, Sunjata returns them with ease, until they’ve stopped at a particular little set up. One of delicious fried foods and plenty of sides to choose from. “Take your pick, I’m gonna go see if I can help with anything in the back.” He nods to Koa before stepping behind the counter, the owner quite pleased to see Sunjata’s help. And he vanishes into the back, and after a few moments of chatting, his voice draws silent and a steady beat of wings sounds loudly from outside on the back side of the village.

the flood

// where me and you can always hide //

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

Fine, fine. No Halo yet. Koa acquiesces with a nod and a smile, staying close on Jata's heels as he leads them toward the restaurant. The smells of it are intoxicating, all fried and spiced and aromatic; by the time they're seated with a pair of menus, Koa's attention is utterly captivated by the prospect of being fed. He barely hears Sunjata over the rumble of his stomach, only registering that the other has gotten up when it's too late.

Well, shit.

Cursing under his breath, Koa shoves off from the table, striding quickly and despite loud protests toward the back of the shop where the Flood has disappeared. Of course he doesn't find him there; Jata's too fast and wily for that, and as Koa bursts out the back door he is in time to catch the vanishing speck that is the winged demigod. Again he curses, louder this time, before stomping back into the restaurant. The Despite Koa doing his utmost to stick to Sunjata like a burr, the Flood still managed to shake him.

Time to get an adult.

[fin]

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent