idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on his sword
"With your aim? It'd've be lucky if you hit anything other than the wall!" Koa retorts teasingly, pulling the sheet off his head to reveal a massive, shit-eating grin. Before his sister can test that theory the young man is striding forward, pulling her into a crushing hug against his very much corporeal chest.
Peering over Noe's shoulder, Koa raises a brow at the accoutrements she's set within the hall. "Are we actually decorating this year?" the soldier wonders, mildly bemused. Releasing his grip on the girl, he kneels down to inspect her bounty, taking a wreath between his hands. "We haven't really decorated since... y'know." Since mom died doesn't need to be said aloud - she knows it as well as he. Leafchange had been Mahina's favorite season, dedicated as it was to her patron god; she'd always made sure they decked the house in honor of Ludo, directing the other Carpenter denizens to fulfil her exacting vision of holiday cheer.
It was one of many things that had fallen to the wayside after the war. At first it hadn't felt right to do without her, and then as the years rolled by the family had simply not addressed it, as was the case with so many things. Now as Koa's fingers roam across the gilded leaves on the wreath, he feels the familiar pang of loss bloom deep in his chest.
But it's duller than it has been, tempered by the warmth of the autumnal colors, and when he finally rises moments later the young Dragoon is smiling, his eyes soft as they meet his sister's. "She'd like these," he tells her, still holding the wreath. "Alright, Sparkplug - tell me your vision and I'll execute it. Maybe we can get the place done before Dad comes home."
Peering over Noe's shoulder, Koa raises a brow at the accoutrements she's set within the hall. "Are we actually decorating this year?" the soldier wonders, mildly bemused. Releasing his grip on the girl, he kneels down to inspect her bounty, taking a wreath between his hands. "We haven't really decorated since... y'know." Since mom died doesn't need to be said aloud - she knows it as well as he. Leafchange had been Mahina's favorite season, dedicated as it was to her patron god; she'd always made sure they decked the house in honor of Ludo, directing the other Carpenter denizens to fulfil her exacting vision of holiday cheer.
It was one of many things that had fallen to the wayside after the war. At first it hadn't felt right to do without her, and then as the years rolled by the family had simply not addressed it, as was the case with so many things. Now as Koa's fingers roam across the gilded leaves on the wreath, he feels the familiar pang of loss bloom deep in his chest.
But it's duller than it has been, tempered by the warmth of the autumnal colors, and when he finally rises moments later the young Dragoon is smiling, his eyes soft as they meet his sister's. "She'd like these," he tells her, still holding the wreath. "Alright, Sparkplug - tell me your vision and I'll execute it. Maybe we can get the place done before Dad comes home."
koa
