Loathe the way they light candles in Rome,
But love the sweet air of the votives
But love the sweet air of the votives
Ok, fuck propriety.
"NOPE!" Koa's half-risen when his sister slams into him, a starburst of pain as she hits his bruised shoulder sending them him briefly back in his chair. But it doesn't last long; within a breath he's fully risen, his arms wrapping around the girl and hauling her into the air. Relief courses through him like a swell of the ocean, reinforcing the flimsy dam he's constructed against his terror and dismay. He doesn't let her pull back from him, at least not away - he needs a second to compose himself, and to relish in the fact that she's okay. "Holy fuck I missed you," the Dragoon whispers, pressing his lips upon her crown and blinking away tears.
When she does draw back he's careful to make sure she's still within arms grasp. Copper eyes graze over her face, a thorough inspection beset with anxiety, as well as self-reproach. Had she been infected the last time he saw her? How had he missed it, all this time? A flutter of movement past her ear has Koa starting, body suddenly bowstring taut. Vox? Dahlia? His hand drops to his waist, instinctive-
-and then he realizes what he's seeing, and feels remarkably dumb. Really failing the whole don't-act-like-you're-scared-shitless thing, dude.
"Hello, who's this?" Wincing as his voice initially trembles, Koa extends a hand to the snake. Does Noe have a companion? How had he possibly missed that? Guilt claws harshly in Koa's throat as he forces a smile onto his face. Gods fucking damnit, he's messed up so many things. He can only hope it isn't too late to set at least sone of it right.
Noe's question has his lips twitching, teeth worrying the side of his mouth. How the hell is he supposed to do this? "Something sort of like that," he tells her, unable to meet her eyes. "I... need to talk to you about that, actually. Here, sit down. I'll open your beer." He's already grabbed the moist bottle, desperate to distract from his thundering heart. Nope, this is not going well.
"NOPE!" Koa's half-risen when his sister slams into him, a starburst of pain as she hits his bruised shoulder sending them him briefly back in his chair. But it doesn't last long; within a breath he's fully risen, his arms wrapping around the girl and hauling her into the air. Relief courses through him like a swell of the ocean, reinforcing the flimsy dam he's constructed against his terror and dismay. He doesn't let her pull back from him, at least not away - he needs a second to compose himself, and to relish in the fact that she's okay. "Holy fuck I missed you," the Dragoon whispers, pressing his lips upon her crown and blinking away tears.
When she does draw back he's careful to make sure she's still within arms grasp. Copper eyes graze over her face, a thorough inspection beset with anxiety, as well as self-reproach. Had she been infected the last time he saw her? How had he missed it, all this time? A flutter of movement past her ear has Koa starting, body suddenly bowstring taut. Vox? Dahlia? His hand drops to his waist, instinctive-
-and then he realizes what he's seeing, and feels remarkably dumb. Really failing the whole don't-act-like-you're-scared-shitless thing, dude.
"Hello, who's this?" Wincing as his voice initially trembles, Koa extends a hand to the snake. Does Noe have a companion? How had he possibly missed that? Guilt claws harshly in Koa's throat as he forces a smile onto his face. Gods fucking damnit, he's messed up so many things. He can only hope it isn't too late to set at least sone of it right.
Noe's question has his lips twitching, teeth worrying the side of his mouth. How the hell is he supposed to do this? "Something sort of like that," he tells her, unable to meet her eyes. "I... need to talk to you about that, actually. Here, sit down. I'll open your beer." He's already grabbed the moist bottle, desperate to distract from his thundering heart. Nope, this is not going well.
Hurt and grieve but don't suffer alone;
Engage with the pain as a motive
Engage with the pain as a motive
