[SE] it's so quiet in the world tonight

Sohalia

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger And it's so quiet in the world tonight

It had been about a week since Soh had felt the beginnings of flutterings from within, so faint that at first she'd thought she'd imagined it. And yet, the insistent butterfly that was her daughter continued to flicker, first over here, and then over there, until she could no longer pretend that she didn't feel it. She found herself waiting with bated breath to feel it again, and again, and again, until she was certain that it was real.

Then it only remained to share the feeling with Zavien. She'd kept it to herself, selfishly wanting to see the look of wonder on his face the first time he felt their daughter kick, hoping to keep it a surprise so that she could watch his unbridled joy. That, she felt, would be almost as good as feeling it herself.

LongNight had fallen; there was only darkness outside their windows, broken in the distance by the many bonfires lighting up the beach. There were periodic fireworks lighting the night sky from the parties raging far below, but this high in Haulani, the noise was a distant hum. It was peaceful and quiet here in their little house - something that Soh was grateful for, if only so she didn't have to listen to the incessant festivities that had so entranced her last year.

But everything was different now. She was different now. And here in their home with her boyfriend and their unborn daughter was the only place she wanted to be.

It was hard to tell the time with the all-day, all-night darkness that consumed the world, but she thought it was midafternoon when she rose from a short nap, stretching as she sat up in bed. She wore an overlarge, long-sleeved shirt that hung to mid-thigh, her legs bare as she swung them over the edge of the bed and stood, wobbling slightly with sleep. It was the baby that had woken her, her insistent kicks pulling the Luminary from slumber, and she rested a hand on the place where she could feel the movement as she padded from their bedroom to find Zavien.

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreamin' So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

Your soul
is the light that sees my dark,
and loves me all the same.

Zavien had expected to feel more of a shift when LongNight began, to have his internalized terror take physical form in the darkness around him, for the night to reach out and steal his happiness in whatever way it could, for this joy to be snuffed out along with the rest of the lights. 

He was relieved when it didn't. 

LongNight started without much in terms of fanfare. The Feast of Bells passed, and everyone dispersed quietly to their homes where they tucked in for the next week of darkness - or began their string of revelry. 

Not in the mood for revelry of any kind, Zavien worked through a diligent shiftwork within their home, alternating between checking the entry points and ensuring Soh's health. He'd mapped out the path to the clinic in the dark, prepping a go-bag for any extenuating circumstances, including lights in case the streetlights failed along the way. 

He was a soldier on patrol, verifying latches and various resources at regular intervals as he considered possible scenarios of what could go wrong. His mind was ever attentive to the threats, occasionally flickering to the too-recent image of a vacant face frozen in terror. Alone, he might have stood guard continuously through the week, refusing to sleep for fear of what comes in the night: monsters and nightmares. But with Soh, he'd managed to find some semblance of peace when she was wrapped in his arms, like a bundle of pure light that pushed out the darkness, reminding him that his fears were not reality - that she wasn't Lena. 

Still, his worries were strong and the night dense, and he sometimes found himself stuck in a loop of terror that woke him no matter how close he held Soh. Palms slick with sweat, he'd have to peel himself off her as silently as he could, slipping from the bed in hopes she didn't notice his departure or the racing of his heart against hers. 

This morning(?) had been one of those instances, and Zavien had found himself perched in the kitchen with a hefty cup of ice. He paused to place it along his neck, letting out a sigh to release some of the tension before pouring tea over the cold cubes. Despite the chill of Deepfrost, the ice was a welcome reprieve from the sticky feeling against his skin, and he'd been forced to consider the need to leave to replenish his supply before the week was out. 

Once he'd downed the first glass and done his daily checks of locks and defenses, he spent some time sharpening his weapons (again). It was only once his arsenal shone like moonlight that he rose for a refill, considering if he should find some food just as Soh stepped out of the bedroom. 

His eyes immediately snapped to her, cup poised to scoop ice from the freezer as he looked her over. Zavien didn't move again until he was certain it wasn't panic on her face, dismissing the dark thoughts that had awoken him hours prior. The messy tousle of his hair, the oil stain across his rumpled t-shirt, and the pale shadows in his eyes weren't as easy to dismiss, but he covered them with a smile. "How are you feeling?" he asked, grabbing a second glass to prepare her a drink.

Zavien

Sohalia

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger And it's so quiet in the world tonight

While Soh had tried to convince Zavien to relax when she could, she knew that it was difficult for him to sit idly during LongNight. If it made him feel better to check the doors and shutters a hundred times, who was she to tell him otherwise? Perhaps, as time went on, he would grow less anxious about the week-long darkness. For his sake, she hoped he would. A certain diligence was to be expected, but the obsessive lock-checking and pacing couldn't be good for his health.

Of course, he wasn't nearly as bad as she'd expected. He did manage to settle with her fairly often, wrapping her tightly in his arms as though he could protect her from the night's potential terrors only when she was there. He even managed some sleep. Sometimes she joined him; others, she lay close, watching as the worry lines in his brow smoothed in slumber.

As she stepped out of the bedroom, Zavien froze where he stood by the refrigerator, looking her over as though expecting her to be in a state of panic. A moment passed; he relaxed, and she crossed the room leisurely to wrap her arms around him - a difficult task given that her bump was now solidly between them. There was nothing better than proximity to make them both feel more at ease, and if she had to live glued to his hip for the week, she would gladly do it if it would help.

Smiling at him, and hoping to chase away some of the darkness shadowing his eyes, Soh leaned her hip against the nearby counter, watching as he poured her a drink. "I'm good," she told him. Then, tilting her head as she took in his tousled hair and messy appearance, she cautiously added, "How are you?"

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreamin' So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

Your soul
is the light that sees my dark,
and loves me all the same.

Scooping the ice, he set the cup aside as she wrapped her arms around him. It was the kind of greeting he always appreciated from her, a physical reminder of her safety beyond the beating pendant on his chest. He folded her into his grasp, enveloping their daughter safely between them where nothing could possibly get to her. 

When Soh pulled away, Zavien could feel the warmth of where she'd been, the gently easing of his tensions, the calming of reality of her. As he turned to prepare their drinks, he ran a hand through his hair in response to her returned question. His first instinct was to dismiss the idea that he might be anything other than fine, but he didn't want to lie to Soh. He didn't want to have to pretend.

The smile came easier with her there, reassuringly warm when he glanced her way. "Rough night, but I'm okay." He wouldn't burden her with the details of it, with what images had plagued him or how long it had taken for the ice to cool his panic. It felt like enough to be honest without needing to worry her further. 

Ice cracked as he filled the glasses with water. "Are you hungry? I was thinking about making some soup." And by 'making some soup,' he meant pouring a can into a pot and heating it up.

Zavien

A shape moves along the edge of the treeline, half-hidden by shadow and heat shimmer. A Sear Cat slips into view, its sleek body low to the ground as it prowls, muscles rolling beneath scorched fur with every deliberate step.

It does not rush. Instead, it stalks the area with patient precision, pausing to sniff at the air or rake a claw lightly through the sand. Its eyes never stop moving, sharp and alert, as though cataloguing every sound and motion nearby.

After a time, it circles wider, never fully leaving sight, its presence lingering like a threat unspoken. Whether it closes the distance or fades back into cover is left unresolved, its slow prowl continuing just beyond easy reach.

---

Sear Cat Areas Found: Torchline — Uncommon Cousins of the Cat Sith, Sear Cats appear to be large, generally fluffy house cats. However, they are blessed with the ability of limited-speech and precognition and, as such, they are a highly sought after companion - but good luck with that, or getting straight answers. They are cats, after all. They are found most often on ships due to their ability to predict oncoming storms. Challenge Rating: Moderate | Mythical HP: 394 | To Hit: +55 | Dmg: 15 Movement: Walk 40 ft.; Climb 30 ft.; Leap 20 ft. SPECIAL SKILLS Storm Augury: reliably forewarns squalls, gales, and sudden shifts in wind and tide; Chooser, Not Chosen: resists coercion; bonds only with those it deems worthy; Omen Tail: tail-flick patterns and ear angles convey specific warnings once learned by the crew

TRAITS Limited Speech: can manage short, clear phrases and names; Precognitive Whiskers: subtle tells warn of shifting fate and oncoming storms; Sea Legs: sure-footed on rigging, rails, and wet deck planks; Night Eyes: sees cleanly in dim cabins and moonlit seas; Aloof Cunning: offers help on its own terms and only when it pleases ACTIONS Weather Ward: curls up in a specific location and emits a low, thrumming purr that seems to subtly calm seas or steady winds for a short time; Storm Yowl: a rising, eerie call that alerts a ship to imminent rough weather; Rigging Vanish: disappears into ropes and spars, reappearing in a better vantage moments later; Pawed Point: taps or stares fixedly at a chart, line, or horizon feature to indicate danger or opportunity

Sohalia

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger And it's so quiet in the world tonight

In Soh's opinion, one hallmark of a good relationship was that the couple didn't have to pretend around one another. It was okay, after all, to not be okay, and the only way that she could think of to fix her boyfriend's not-okayness was if she knew about it to begin with. So she deeply appreciated that rather than brushing off her question, he answered with honesty. A rough night, she could work with. Pretending to be fine would have been harder.

While Zavien might not be entirely alright, plagued by nightmares as he was, he was also warm and reassuringly calm at this particular moment, so Soh simply nodded, her touch ghosting across his body as she released him from the hug. "Some soup would be lovely," she said with a smile.

A sudden, silent warning from Anani had Soh's gaze flicking to the nearby window, where a large, fluffy house cat paraded by, but it was gone before she could even register its appearance. Instead of drawing attention to the creature - and presumably setting Zavien even more on edge - Soh settled into a chair at the kitchen table, resting a hand on her belly as she made herself comfortable. Their daughter, seemingly happy with this arrangement, kicked a few times; Soh stroked the spot where she'd felt the flutter gently.

"Hey," she said to Zavien. "Before you start the soup - come here."

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreamin' So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

Your soul
is the light that sees my dark,
and loves me all the same.

Releasing Soh to find her seat at the table, Zavien set her glass of water next to her and moved to grab a pot. "Is ningo noodle good?" They also had tomato basil and a ramphire stew, but he figured ningo noodle might be best if she had any lingering nausea. He was more than willing to eat whatever she was in the mood for.

His eyes darted up as Sol and Anani reacted to something out the window. It was too dark for him to see from his angle, and he paused his preparations to tilt his head, ready to grab his sword and shutter the window; but Sol settled his head back against the floor like a lazy dog, obviously having deemed it harmless. 

Trusting his companion's instincts more than his own right now, Zavien took a deep breath and turned back to the pot. His hand was poised on the stove when Soh called for him. She didn't sound panicked, but he immediately verified, eyes searching her as he approached, easily closing the distance. "What is it? Are you okay?"

Zavien

Sohalia

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger And it's so quiet in the world tonight

”Ningo noodle sounds great.” Even if her nausea had largely faded, there was something inherently soothing about ningo noodle soup. She could already feel the warmth that it would bring, and she smiled as Zavien started to bustle around the kitchen, pausing only briefly as the cat passed by their window. Thankfully, neither companion seemed to go on the alert, and with no worries being shared between humans or companions, Zavien seemed to take the brief interruption in stride.

Their daughter kicked again at the sound of his voice drawing nearer, and Soh nodded, practically vibrating with excitement. ”I’m perfect.” When he got close enough, Soh reached out to grab his hand. ”I just want to show you something.” And with that, she tugged his hand to rest on her belly, over the exact spot where their daughter had been wriggling but a moment before.

For a second or two, nothing happened. ”Say something,” she suggested. And as Zavien spoke - whether to say something or ask for clarification - the sound of his voice enticed their daughter to kick out against his hand. Zavien would feel the faintest flutter beneath his palm as Soh beamed at him. ”She likes your voice,” she informed him sweetly. And then she fell silent, letting Zavien soak up the feeling of his daughter’s movement for the first time.

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreamin' So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

Your soul
is the light that sees my dark,
and loves me all the same.

Relieved to hear it wasn't anything bad, he let her take his hand. His eyes raised as she placed it against the gentle curve of her stomach, curiosity sparking as she told him to 'Say something.' He felt a little silly, leaning slightly over her as he smiled. "Like what?" he asked. 

Like a flutter of wings or the feel of a breath on skin, something moved beneath his hand, a silent greeting that brushed playfully against his skin. 

Zavien gasped, his heart melting into a warmth that spread quickly and immediately through him. He felt weak and invigorated at the same time, like he'd been plunged into a sea of affection too hot for his body to comprehend. He didn't even know when he'd dropped to his knees or when both hands had framed her pregnant belly, but he didn't care. He was so captivated by the life beneath his fingertips that the rest of the world fell away. 

An indulgent smile poured across his lips. He swore he could feel moisture in his eyes as he brushed a thumb gently over the fabric. "Hi, little one," he whispered, leaning forward to place a soft kiss against the thin barrier that keep them apart. "We can't wait to meet you."

Zavien