KOA
Sounds like she loves you. Onyx smoke sparkles in Koa's chest, the familiar plume of grief and gratitude and love and rage clawing in his throat. It's not as rough as it once was, less cloying and choking, more a stirring of the constant coat of soot. Like the inside of a chimney or the carpet in a smoker's home, Koa's grief is always there: clinging to the edges of his awareness, occasionally caught in a rush of air. He no longer thinks about it daily, but that doesn't mean it's gone.
Though based on what Jude is now saying, his grieving process may wind up being far different from Koa's. "That's fucked up." Pulling away far enough to look down at Jude, Koa fixes the younger man with an incredulous look. "He just left you? No warning? And moved your shit?" Having not had the highest opinion of Harper to begin with, Koa can feel his estimation of the Stalwart sinking by degrees. Shaking his head in an attempt to regain composure, the Dragoon tightens his grip on Jude, subconsciously protective. "I'm sorry, I know he's your dad and all but he's also your dad." Even in the depths of his grief, Kimo had never flat out abandoned his children.
Maybe this is a sign, Koa. Be nicer to your dad.
A cat and an involuntary apartment. Koa feels his heart clenching, aching for this abandoned child. And so he speaks before really thinking, which is his specialty, after all. "Come stay with me, Jude." He's still looking down at the waif tucked to his side, even as the realization of what he's offered begins to hit. He charges on decisively before he can change his mind, swallowing the lump of uncertainty that bubbles in his throat. "With us, I mean. Noe's always wanted a cat, and since I started spending more time at the Nest she's been wanting company. So it'd make me feel better to know someone was looking after her." They could look after each other, and Koa after them. "We have plenty of room, and you need a change of pace. And it doesn't have to be forever," he adds, cracking a reassuring smile. "Just until you're ready to be on your own. What do you say?"
Though based on what Jude is now saying, his grieving process may wind up being far different from Koa's. "That's fucked up." Pulling away far enough to look down at Jude, Koa fixes the younger man with an incredulous look. "He just left you? No warning? And moved your shit?" Having not had the highest opinion of Harper to begin with, Koa can feel his estimation of the Stalwart sinking by degrees. Shaking his head in an attempt to regain composure, the Dragoon tightens his grip on Jude, subconsciously protective. "I'm sorry, I know he's your dad and all but he's also your dad." Even in the depths of his grief, Kimo had never flat out abandoned his children.
Maybe this is a sign, Koa. Be nicer to your dad.
A cat and an involuntary apartment. Koa feels his heart clenching, aching for this abandoned child. And so he speaks before really thinking, which is his specialty, after all. "Come stay with me, Jude." He's still looking down at the waif tucked to his side, even as the realization of what he's offered begins to hit. He charges on decisively before he can change his mind, swallowing the lump of uncertainty that bubbles in his throat. "With us, I mean. Noe's always wanted a cat, and since I started spending more time at the Nest she's been wanting company. So it'd make me feel better to know someone was looking after her." They could look after each other, and Koa after them. "We have plenty of room, and you need a change of pace. And it doesn't have to be forever," he adds, cracking a reassuring smile. "Just until you're ready to be on your own. What do you say?"
Let me go, I don't wanna be your hero
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
Code stolen from Queen Sky
