every careless word

Koa

Don't you just wanna wake up dark as a lake
Smelling like a bonfire, lost in a haze?

It doesn't matter whether or not Soh deserves his heart. What matters is that, for better or worse, a piece belongs to her.

And right now that piece is breaking, over and over again.

It should be Jude here. That's what Koa thinks as he watches Soh twist in on herself, helpless to help her as his own pain and pride pound within his ears. Soft, sweet, generous Jude - he could give Soh what she needs, could put aside his sense of betrayal and wrap her in his arms. Promise that it's okay now, that she's safe and that he's here and that they'll figure this out, somehow, together. It should have been Jude from the start, because clearly Koa cannot cut it. He's never been able to be what she needs, to protect her, to make her stay---

"The Gods know." He's still so flat, so matter-of-fact, a mask of strained calm to drown out the roar. "You could ask them. Or- I guess, what do you think about the Family, now? And the Void?" Everest had said the void corrupted creatures wouldn't hurt him. Maybe if Sohalia had been infected, she'd have escaped her ordeal more unscathed.

Fingers unclench on the chair back, then tighten again. Unable to look directly at her, Koa's eyes instead sweep across the handful of patrons, his glare tightening at any who dare so much as glance their way. "What will you do now?"

If you're drunk on life, babe, I think it's great
But while in this world I think I'll take my whiskey neat