[SE] find a way to lay it amongst the roots

It had been a while since Zavien had seen the Mathair, and he forgot how huge it was. Its trunk towered high above them, blocking some of the rain that drizzled from the sky. A few larger droplets fell onto his gray jacket, the smell of damp earth and fresh water coating his nose. Sol chased Anani through the trees, chirping and offering playful grumbles in whatever game he'd come up with while their companions approached the massive tree goddess. 

From the moment they'd met at the skyport, Zavien hadn't let go of Soh's hand, finding relief just to feel her close again. He had trusted her to stay safe, and he knew there was little reason to worry, but something dark and unsettled had twinged in his heart while she'd been gone, this uneasy feeling that something had happened. It wasn't until he'd laid eyes on her again - held her in his arms - that he believed it had been nothing but a feeling, a bit of anxiety that had gotten out of hand. 

Stepping over a large root, he furrowed his brows in concentration. "I was thinking more on our talk about magical items." His free hand adjusted the bag containing the offering they'd purchased in the village. "Do you think something connected to life force would work? Like being able to feel a heartbeat or see a soft glow to know about danger or pain?" Some way to know when she was in danger so he could find a way to get to her.

Zavien

Sohalia

I wanna be your last first love

Soh was not, perhaps, as uneasy as Zavien to be separated, but she was just as relieved when they came back together. It felt like time spent apart was too long, the journey to return to one another too far. One of these days, she supposed the would have to figure out where they were going to settle, when living apart became too much - but for now, she was just happy to be reunited.

They walked through the Greatwood hand in hand, Zavien carrying a bag purchased in the village to offer to Mathair. She’d been to the forest many times, but with the way the trees shifted and changed, nothing much stayed familiar for long. Still, they came upon Mathair without much trouble at all, and stood beneath her branches as the companions placed nearby. Fat droplets of rain pitter-pattered on the ground around them, and Soh wrinkled her nose as one landed on its tip.

She stepped over a root, refusing to let go of Zavien’s hand for even a moment. ”I think that would work,” she said, smiling at her boyfriend. ”I like the idea of feeling a heartbeat - although it’d be important to remember that heart rates can change for all kinds of reasons. I wouldn’t want you to panic just because I go for a run or something.” Still, something about feeling a heartbeat would have to be reassuring, an ever-present reminder that she was alive and well.

Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide

Zavien guided them around a tree into the opening at the base of the Mathair as he listened to Soh. He glanced to the side, smiling as he joked, "Then I guess I'll just have to run with you." Although not his preferred form of exercise, it was always helpful for endurance and sparring. 

But it didn't make sense for him to be with her in every heart racing moment that wasn't danger, and it was a major flaw in the design if he was watching for anything other than her heart stopping. "That's a good point though." Nodding his head, he came to a stop at the bottom of the tree. He looked up into the branches before turning to face Soh, an easy smile on his lips.

"I'd love to constantly feel your heartbeat, but should it also have something more specific? Something that can show emotion too?" Fear, anger, sadness, anger, happiness. It would be nice to know how her feelings fluctuated throughout the day, to know if she'd need comforting before they saw each other again, to know when he might need to find her.

Zavien

Sohalia

I wanna be your last first love

Soh laughed, a light, carefree sound. ”You can run with me any time,” she assured him with a smile. While there were certainly other forms of exercise she preferred, she had found running to be helpful for endurance. It was one of the few forms of exercise she engaged in regularly - all the more reason that her heart rate shouldn’t be the primary factor when considering if she was in danger.

They stopped at the base of the tree, and Soh looked up, gazing thoughtfully into the branches. A drop of water splattered on her forehead. Reaching up with her free hand to wipe it away, she glanced sidelong at Zavien. ”Would you want to know my emotions all the time?” she asked, genuinely curious. ”That wouldn’t get… I don’t know, annoying?” While she could certainly understand the appeal, she wasn’t sure he wanted to see every minute fluctuation in her mood - though being able to know when she was afraid would accomplish the goal.

Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide

Her question brought a soft warmth to his cheeks. "Soh, if I could know how you were feeling every second of every day, I would, if only so I could make sure you were more often happy than not." He smiled at her, pulling the bag from his arm so he could prepare the offering they'd brought. It was a collection of small lights they could set around the base of the trunk, ones that would glow softly without burning, illuminating and worshiping the goddess in the dark of the forest. 

He crouched to begin pulling them out when the request finally sank in. Realizing suddenly that she may not want him to know that much all the time, that she may want her emotions to be something more private, he backtracked. "But if that's not something you're comfortable with..." She'd offered to stay with him, but it was something else to peek into her mind like that. He lowered his head a moment, picking out what exactly he needed to know that she was safe when he wasn't there. "Perhaps just something for danger would work? Like an alarm bell?"

Zavien

Sohalia

I wanna be your last first love

A faint pink tinge crept into Soh's cheeks as she smiled sweetly back at Zavien. It wasn't that she was bothered by him knowing how she was feeling - it wasn't like she wouldn't just tell him if he asked, anyway - but she didn't want to burden him with every emotion that ran through her head throughout the day. As he started to backtrack, she quickly jumped in to stop him. "It's not that," she assured him. "I just don't want to bother you with things that aren't important. Like if I get irritated because someone didn't put enough sugar in my coffee order." Wrinkling her nose playfully, she shook her head, crouching to join him in pulling out lights. "I want to share everything with you," she reminded him softly, nudging his shoulder with hers. "But I don't want that to be too much."

Setting out a few of the smaller lights, Soh hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe we're overthinking it," she said with a small laugh. "I mean, an alarm bell is all well and good, but will I have to set it off somehow? Or if I'm actually in danger, would it alert you automatically?" She tilted her head to one side. "Sorry, I don't mean to make it so difficult, I just... I want whatever we do to be right." She wanted it to help, to be something they could rely on, not something they would have to question the efficacy of.

Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide

Grinning playfully, Zavien peeked at Soh. "Oh no. Not the sugar." He laughed lightly at her shoulder bump, shrugged his shoulders as he admitted sheepishly, "It might be a little much," If it was something subtle, it was possible the stronger emotions would flare brighter, sifting through passing bouts of annoyance or inconvenience. 

He set aside the thought for now, finally releasing Soh's hand so he could begin setting out the lights, continuing to consider their other options as he did so. "I'd assume automatic?" he mused. It wouldn't be helpful if she couldn't reach it or - gods forbid - she was already dead. 

When she apologized, he immediately looked from where he was placing another light among the roots, his eyebrows raising in surprise. "No. I appreciate you humoring me." He knew his fears were heavy, that the only reason they were even considering it was because of how scared he was of losing someone again, of not knowing when she needed help, of being unable to get to her in time; and he didn't want that to keep her from living. 

He slowly set another light against the trunk of the Mathair, watching as it glowed against the bark. "All I want is to know you're alive and safe." However they achieved that, he would be happy.

Zavien

Sohalia

I wanna be your last first love

Soh reached to place another light, pausing briefly as he looked to her in surprise. She glanced over, head tilted, golden hair cascading over a shoulder. "Honestly? It's peace of mind for me, too." Her gaze softened. "Don't think you're the only one afraid to lose me. It goes the other way around, too." Maybe not as deeply-seated a fear, but there nonetheless: a nervousness that sometimes had her tossing and turning at night, or worrying too much during the daylight hours. She could usually talk herself out of getting too worked up, but... "And knowing that you would know if something was wrong... it's reassuring, for when we're apart."

She returned to placing lights, pausing only to toss her hair over her shoulder. She really should have tied it back, but too late now. "So, we like the heartbeat idea, but we need a little something for clarity," she summarized, tucking a few more lights among the roots. "Maybe we were onto something with the emotion thing, but maybe just for strong emotions. Or like, specifically fear?" After all, if a situation was truly life or death, she would imagine that fear would be high on her list of feelings.

Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide

His smile warmed, turning tender with affection as she reciprocated the feelings. He wasn't sure how he'd gotten so lucky to have such a beautiful woman caring for his safety, but he wasn't going to complain. And if the item made her more comfortable too, Zavien was even happier with the arrangement. "It would give me a lot of peace of mind." To know if something was wrong.

Setting aside another small light, he nodded his head to agree with her assessment of their decisions and the specifications of the item. He gave her a smile as he said, "I think that would work." Zavien placed the last of his offering and stepped back, pursing his lips as he considered what it would take to obtain that kind of item. "But this might be too complex for the Gilded Market. I could go to Safrin."

Zavien

Sohalia

I wanna be your last first love

The lights they were placing around the Mathair's trunk glowed softly in the dim, grey light, giving the place some much needed cheer. Soh moved to adjust a few lights idly, then stood to place a couple on some of the larger roots, tucking them into crevices where their glow would be more easily seen. Tilting her head to one side, she regarded her work with a satisfied smile, then turned to get more lights.

"We could go to Safrin," she said, raising a brow. They were in this together; it only seemed appropriate that she accompany him, that she do what she could to assist with whatever Safrin required of them. She cocked her head to one side. "Unless you prefer to go alone." Perhaps he would; Soh wouldn't want to push in on Zavien's relationship with Safrin. "I have a friend in the Gilded Market," she commented. "I wonder if she could do the heartbeat part, and then Safrin could help with the emotion piece?"

Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide

Feeling slightly chastised for suggesting he do anything that benefitted both of them alone, Zavien let out a small laugh, as soft and warm as sunlight dappling the forest floor. "We," he corrected. It wouldn't bother him to bring Soh to Safrin. There wasn't anything about his relationship with the goddess that he wasn't willing to share with her, and it would certainly be better for them as a couple to complete the quest together. 

His eyes widened at her suggestion, pleased to think that they could get part of it done beforehand. "That's a good idea. At least we'd have something to start with." Although he had difficulty picturing what exactly it would be. Tilting his head, he stepped up and wrapped his arms around Soh's back as if he was inspecting their work from her shoulder. An adoring smile played across his lips as he asked, "What would you want your heartbeat to be in?" Did she have a preference on how closely he held her when she was gone? Hanging close to his heart on a necklace? Looped around his finger as a ring?

Zavien

Sohalia

I wanna be your last first love

Soh regarded their work with pleasure. Their immediate area was now bathed in a soft, warm glow that dispelled some of the lingering chill of the rain, even if only in her mind. It felt less spooky now, at least. She hoped that the Mathair would approve.

Zavien stepped up to wrap his arms around her from behind, and Soh leaned into him gladly, layering her hands atop his. She tilted her head, craning her neck to place a kiss on his cheek. "Hmm," she said, thinking. She rather liked the idea of a necklace of some kind, so that her heartbeat could keep time with his, beating against his chest where he would always feel her in the spot where she belonged. But she also knew that he might have preferences of his own. A ring might be more pragmatic: less likely than a chain to be broken, easier to protect during sparring.

Twisting in his arms, Soh turned to face him, looping her arms loosely around his neck. "I like the idea of a necklace," she admitted. "Something that could stay close to your heart. But a ring would work, too. Do you have any preference? You'll be the one wearing it."

Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide

For a moment, he actually admired their work and the speckling of soft light that ran along the base of the tree. It wasn't anything fancy or deeply meaningful, but the intention was there, the desire to spotlight the Mathair and her role through the changing seasons. With Soh wrapped in his arms, he would have been content to stare at the tree all day, listening to her thoughts or just the steady beat of her heart. 

Zavien relaxed his hold when she twisted in his arms, letting them drop to clasp around her low back as hers looped around his neck. He preferred this view over any tree, feeling like they could step into a dance at any moment. His eyes took in her beauty, a peaceful smile curling onto his lips. "I like the idea of always having your heart close to mine." Still thinking about dancing, Zavien began a slow, nearly imperceptible rocking of their bodies as he tilted his head. "Would you want a necklace for yours too? Or something different?"

Zavien

Sohalia

I wanna be your last first love

With Zavien's arms wrapped around her waist, and hers around his neck, time seemed to stand still for Soh. She gazed adoringly up at him, a matching smile playing at the corners of her mouth as he looked down at her, seeming to drink her in. She was struck by the sudden urge to kiss him, and so she leaned up on tiptoe to press a soft kiss to his lips, barely avoiding interrupting his question.

When she was flat-footed again, swaying slightly with Zavien's motion, she tilted her head to one side. While a ring from him one day might be something to consider (butterflies fluttered in her stomach at the thought), for this particular end goal, a necklace would be her preferred accessory. "A necklace," she confirmed with a smile. "So our hearts will always be together." Corny? Maybe. But terribly romantic, all the same.

Thinking over the logistics, Soh said, ”I can go find Nova when we leave the Greatwood - oh! I’ve just remembered - I think you guys have met. I mentioned you and she said something about wanting some of Sol’s scales? Do dragons shed?” Her face was a comical mixture of confusion and bemusement, brow creased with something like concern. ”Because Nova’s great, but I will fight her if I need to protect Sol.”

Till you're lying here beside me with arms and eyes open wide