we could stay in this moment for the rest of our lives

I would rather
share one lifetime with you

"Well worth it," Zavien agreed, finding it hard to believe that he could be mad at Soh's promise when it gave them so much in return. 

Kissing her cheek, he absorbed the information, trying not to feel guilt for draining the bright young woman, hoping she didn't find it too taxing or inconvenient. He'd have to make sure she knew how much they appreciated her efforts; but for now, he basked in the sweet hope to come, his smile beaming as he looked at her. "I look forward to giving you my heart in a new way."

Zavien leaned a bit closer, pretending to be dejected by the turn of events while being anything but. "I was going to get a burger before my evil plans were thwarted by those meddling kids." Catching sight of his tan jeans (they'd been blue before), he laughed. "Hopefully they don't mind mud." As for Soh, he offered a dirt covered hand as if he were a knight asking for a lady's favor, peering affectionately into her eyes as he asked, "Would you care to join me?"

than face all the ages
of this world alone.

Zavien

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again

Soh's own heart melted a little at the thought of Zavien giving his to her, her expression softening into a look of pure devotion. Gods, she was so lucky to have him, so blessed to call him hers. She reached out a hand to dust away some of the dirt that had ended up on his cheek, and smiled when she only managed to smear it worse, brushing her thumb over the spot anyway if only to be touching him.

The thought of food was, frankly, not particularly appealing to Soh - but she brightened at the idea of fries, which had really been one of the only things she could stomach lately. "I would love that," she agreed easily, accepting the dirt covered hand with a giggle. "Is this the part where you try and convince me that lunch is, in fact, the best meal of the day?" A teasing smile flashed across her face, even as she knew that whatever meals she shared with Zavien would immediately be the highlight of her days. "Because I'll have you know that you have your work cut out for you. I had scones for breakfast."

We could stay in this moment
For the rest of our lives

Sohalia

I would rather
share one lifetime with you

He echoed her smile, taking her hand in his as they made their lunch plans. "Of course it is," he crowed, already plotting how he was going to prove the midday meal's superiority. His eyes shone, certain that she was going to like what he had in mind. "Scones are good, but burgers easily take the win." Particularly with bacon.

A chirp sounded from above as Sol returned from his mission with the squirrels, his chest puffed with smoke billowing from his nose. Zavien laughed, moving to rise from the dirt, pulling Soh up with him. "Come on. Sol says he deserves a warrior's lunch after all the work he did." He flashed her a smile, ignoring the feel of dirt rubbing against his skin as he moved confidently to guide them down the street, small flakes falling behind him.

than face all the ages
of this world alone.

Zavien

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again

Still giggling, Soh shook her head in false dismay. In truth, she was rather looking forward to seeing if Zavien could prove his argument, though she wasn’t convinced that he’d win her over to team lunch. While she might cede breakfast, there was still dessert to consider, and in Soh’s opinion, sweets would always reign supreme.

A chime sounded as Anani followed Sol back to the two humans. Laughing at the sight of Sol with smoke billowing from his nose, Soh rose with Zavien, bouncing in place as she gained her feet. ”Sol absolutely deserves a warrior’s lunch,” she agreed, winking at the dragon. ”After defending the children so valiantly.” Following her boyfriend down the street with the companions soaring overhead, Soh shifted her hand to intertwine her fingers with his. She didn’t mind the dirt. They could always wash it off later. In the meantime, though, she was content to stroll hand-in-hand with him to wherever they were headed for lunch.

We could stay in this moment
For the rest of our lives

Sohalia

I would rather
share one lifetime with you

"Right right. It was barely a fight. I never stood a chance." Zavien grinned down at his companion who trotted proudly at his side, tail waving like a golden banner of victory behind him. There was more than a little bit of confidence wafting down the bond in spite of the obvious theatrics of it all. Honestly, he wasn't sure who enjoyed their games more: the kids or Sol. 

Walking hand in hand with Soh, he guided them to an old-school diner just down the street. It had a white and red awning that covered the outdoor seating from the light drizzle (and occasionally screaming downpour), people milling about with wide smiles and bright laughter. There were burgers and fries and milkshakes and all the delicious foods someone could want. When they stepped inside, a small bell sounded above the door to announce their arrival. A few locals waved to Zavien, including a couple Breakers he recognized. Waving back, he led Soh to the counter and the menu behind the register. He didn't need to read it, but he paused so she could, smiling down as he asked, "What are you in the mood for?"

than face all the ages
of this world alone.

Zavien

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again

Snorting a laugh, Soh nonetheless managed to school her expression into something serious as she said, ”Against a dragon, a cloud wyrm, a tide jaguar, and a gaggle of children? Nope, not a chance.” Nudging his shoulder with hers as they walked, she smiled up at him, wrinkling her nose playfully. Anani floated happily overhead, chiming her agreement as they made their way through the dreary weather and towards an adorable little diner with a red and white awning, plenty of outdoor seating, and plenty of people who seemed to know Zavien. Soh spotted a few that she herself knew from her time in Stormbreak, but given that she had moved to Torchline after the fall, she didn’t expect to be greeted quite as warmly as her boyfriend - though their linked hands garnered more than one smile.

She studied the menu for a few moments. The thought of a whole burger made her stomach turn (strange, given that she normally wasn’t averse to them), but a fresh order of fries sounded divine. ”Do fries and a chocolate milkshake count as lunch?” she asked Zavien hopefully. ”Or is a burger a requirement?”

We could stay in this moment
For the rest of our lives

Sohalia

I would rather
share one lifetime with you

"Maybe next time," he pondered, a humorous smile quirking at the serious expression he pretended to wear. In all honesty, he'd let them win every time. His prize was the laughter and joy on their faces. 

Staring up at the menu, Zavien let Soh figure out what she wanted - although when her choice came, he would be lying if he said it didn't surprise him. No burger? Just fries and a milkshake? They had chicken tender options and some random sandwiches and few other meal items, but all she wanted were fries and a milkshake? 

He raised an eyebrow at her, wondering if perhaps she'd eaten before meeting with him. Still, it didn't matter, and Zavien lifted his shoulders with a light laugh. "I wouldn't dare tell a woman what to eat." Overhearing his words, the woman behind the counter gave them an amused smile. "Smart man," she said, writing out Soh's order before taking Zavien's - a bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries and a chocolate peanut butter milkshake. The woman reported that she'd bring their food out when it was done and offered them another smile. 

Waving at a few more people, Zavien guided them outside to the seating, finding a table tucked off to the side. When they sat, it was easy to notice how much energy there was around the place. Other than people laughing and eating in the overcast sunlight, shoppers passed by on the street while kids raced each other up and down. A few birds huddled under the awning, pecking at whatever scraps fell beneath the customers' feet. A cat lounged in the dry corner, generally ignoring everyone while a dog yapped and chased after the kids. It was alive in a way that it rarely was around breakfast or dinner, people enjoying their day, socializing and basking in their community.

than face all the ages
of this world alone.

Zavien

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again

At Zavien's raised eyebrow, Soh shrugged helplessly. "I'm not that hungry," she explained, just as baffled as he was, but adding a teasing: "Maybe it was those breakfast scones." That had to be it... right? Still, he didn't try to convince her to get more (which earned him the approval of the woman behind the counter), and she smiled sheepishly as he guided her out the door.

The outside seating was lively despite the overcast weather. Where Soh was used to cafes at breakfast, or even brunch, when a certain calm pervaded, this place was nothing if not energetic. Outside of the seating area, shoppers passed by, kids ran through the streets, and animals lounged about in various states of excitement. Taking her seat, Soh allowed her gaze to roam over their surroundings, taking it all in. "I like this," she said after a moment, gesturing vaguely towards everything. "You know, in Torchline, everybody kind of does their own thing. This feels more like a community." Or maybe she was just too sequestered away in Wildering House to see the same there.

We could stay in this moment
For the rest of our lives

Sohalia

I would rather
share one lifetime with you

Although unconvinced that a few breakfast scones were enough to eliminate an appetite for burgers, Zavien didn't argue with her. As long as she was happy and eating, he didn't really care. 

Seated at their table, he watched Soh take it all in, watched as she appreciated the life milling around them. He smiled, letting his eyes wander back to the people. "Me too. Enders have proven they're similar to Breakers in that way." It was one reason he was never really worried about the immigrants, knowing they would welcome them with open arms, ready to absorb them into the community. 

But that wasn't what Zavien wanted her to notice, and his smile turned brighter as he said, "But this" he indicated to the street and the tables around them "is why I like lunch." Shrugging his shoulders, he watched Sol chase off a bird for a piece of fallen bacon. "Dinner is private and cozy." There was room for soft feelings and quiet moments, rich foods and richer alcohol. Sometimes, there were even bad decisions to mix in. "Breakfast is sleepy and full of opportunity." Coffee alone buzzed with potential energy, awakening the people to start their day off right. "But lunch - lunch is when you see people come alive. They take a break from their days to laugh and enjoy food together, to come together and feed their community." It was when the sun shone down on them all, when they could bask in the glory of the day no matter where it had taken them, knowing there was still so much left to achieve. It was about living.

than face all the ages
of this world alone.

Zavien

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again

Maybe this was why she didn't feel like she really fit in Torchline. The region was known for its seedier underbelly, after all, and so it made sense that people there would be more selfish, more out for themselves. But Soh had always been altruistic, giving, nurturing - maybe she'd thrive in an environment surrounded by people more like her.

Ah well, a thought for another thread day.

Soh considered as Zavien explained why he liked lunch, and she had to admit that he had a point. She hadn't thought about this particular meal in terms of what it felt like - or maybe she'd just never had someone to share it with that would bring her alive the same way the surroundings were. Maybe she'd been too busy, or too lonely, or too in her own head to really look around and appreciate what was right in front of her.

Her gaze slid to Zavien. "I never thought of it that way." Thinking back, she continued, "I always saw it as an interruption." When she'd get into the flow of cartography, or ruling, or anything else she was wrapped up in, she didn't want to stop until she'd finished her task. But she was learning that taking a break wasn't a weakness; it was a necessity. "But... this is lovely."

We could stay in this moment
For the rest of our lives

Sohalia

I would rather
share one lifetime with you

Perhaps some people thought of it as an interruption, but to Zavien it was a chance to recharge. Whether that was his physical battery or his social battery, it was a break in the work that gave him an opportunity to catch up with people. It was the moment he asked after kids or family members, asked about aspirations or areas where people were struggling. Lunch was the perfect time to relish in everything life had to offer. 

Smiling at Soh, he leaned against the table, tapping his foot lightly against hers. "Does that mean I've convinced you?" There was a teasing light in his eyes, daring her to find a better argument, to prove that lunch wasn't the superior meal. And as the food arrived, it only seemed to strengthen his stance, the milkshakes piled high with whipped cream and the burger loaded with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and all the delicious toppings that had his mouth watering.

than face all the ages
of this world alone.

Zavien

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again

Soh narrowed her eyes, playfully contemplating the arguments for and against lunch as the superior meal. While this was nice, she could certainly have made an argument against it - and she might have tried, just to be contrary, if the food hadn't been brought out at just that moment. Her fries were fresh and crisp, and the milkshake was loaded with whipped cream, and her stomach growled softly at the sight of it all. Even Zavien's burger was starting to look good, though she wasn't sure she could stomach something quite that hearty at just this moment in time.

"Okay, how about this?" she started, swiping a fry from her plate and taking a bite. Delicious. "Lunchtime may be the best time of day to eat, but the actual best food is up for debate." Pausing, she considered the milkshake in front of her. The thought of chocolate mingling with the salt from the fries was mouth-watering. "Although, if we're counting this as lunch, I might could be persuaded."

We could stay in this moment
For the rest of our lives

Sohalia

I would rather
share one lifetime with you

A smug grin spread across his face, knowing that he was close to a full victory when she tried to compromise. His head shook, reaching for the ketchup to squirt some across his burger and the plate for his fries, listening to her try and reason why she might still be partially right in her wrong opinion. "I think you can eat anything for lunch. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert. It doesn't matter once you hit midday."

Zavien took a bite of his burger, glad he'd gotten the bacon and cheese added. It was alive with so many delicious flavors, some of them trying to dribble down into his stubble as he reached for a napkin. Swallowing, he took a sip of his milkshake to wash it down before playfully adding, "What other meal would it be acceptable to eat just fries and a shake? Or a steak? Or a pile of scones? Or ice cream? No one cares what you eat for lunch. It's just lunch." His shoulders shrugged, another teasing smile on his lips as he waited for her to admit defeat.

than face all the ages
of this world alone.

Zavien

I wanna break every clock
The hands of time could never move again

Soh’s lips twitched as she tried and failed to keep from smiling. Plucking another fry from her plate, she nibbled on it as Zavien continued to argue his point. In truth, Soh wasn’t sure she had a strong enough opinion on the matter to hold her ground, but it was fun to see her boyfriend this passionate about mealtimes. ”Okay,” she said, laughing as she held up her hands in defeat. ”You win. Lunch is superior.” Softening, she held up a finger. ”As long as I get to spend it with you.”

With her caveat in place, she reached for her shake and took a long sip. Just as she’d anticipated, the sweetness of the chocolate complimented the salt from the fries, and she closed her eyes for a moment to savor the flavors. Would it be super weird for her to just dunk her fries in the shake? Who needed ketchup when there was chocolate around?

We could stay in this moment
For the rest of our lives

Sohalia