SOHALIA
But you're untouchable, burning brighter than the sun
If nothing else, Zavien was a good listener, giving Soh the opportunities to voice her worries without interrupting. And, better yet, when she was done, he didn't immediately jump into trying to cheer her, or pushing her in any specific direction. If she'd had this conversation with Koa, she'd have expected a pep talk. But with Zavien, it was... quiet. Thoughtful. Accepting of all that she'd been through and all that she'd endured in seasons past.
You deserve to be happy, he told her. But what did happiness even look like, these days? It felt like a high she was forever chasing, but never destined to catch.
More than anything, Sohalia was lonely. And if she'd learned anything during her tenure as Heart, it was that leadership was isolating. At least back then, she'd had Tarak to lean on, even when she'd messed everything up with her friendship with Jude and her mess of a love life. Now, she didn't even have that. She had Flora, but the Doubletake was in Torchline, where she belonged... and maybe Soh had started to wonder if that wasn't where she belonged, too. Somewhere to be free of the weight and expectations that seemed to settle upon her any time she was in Stormbreak. Somewhere that she could simply be... her.
Whoever that was, these days.
The silence stretched for a moment too long before Soh shifted in her seat. "It's not just that," she admitted softly. "It's that everything that happened to Stormbreak... it's my fault. I wasn't strong enough to stand up to the Family. I was the reason they were able to come into power here. Everything that happened here... it's all on my head.
"Do you know why I became Stormbreak's Heart?" she asked then, tilting her head to one side as she regarded the man she'd come to see as a friend. "It was because there was no one else who wanted to step up. I thought, if no one else wanted the job, then maybe I could step up and do something good." She paused, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. "But now it's not just me. There are other options. Better options." A single tear tracked down her cheek, and she swiped it impatiently away. "And Stormbreak... deserves better than me."
You deserve to be happy, he told her. But what did happiness even look like, these days? It felt like a high she was forever chasing, but never destined to catch.
More than anything, Sohalia was lonely. And if she'd learned anything during her tenure as Heart, it was that leadership was isolating. At least back then, she'd had Tarak to lean on, even when she'd messed everything up with her friendship with Jude and her mess of a love life. Now, she didn't even have that. She had Flora, but the Doubletake was in Torchline, where she belonged... and maybe Soh had started to wonder if that wasn't where she belonged, too. Somewhere to be free of the weight and expectations that seemed to settle upon her any time she was in Stormbreak. Somewhere that she could simply be... her.
Whoever that was, these days.
The silence stretched for a moment too long before Soh shifted in her seat. "It's not just that," she admitted softly. "It's that everything that happened to Stormbreak... it's my fault. I wasn't strong enough to stand up to the Family. I was the reason they were able to come into power here. Everything that happened here... it's all on my head.
"Do you know why I became Stormbreak's Heart?" she asked then, tilting her head to one side as she regarded the man she'd come to see as a friend. "It was because there was no one else who wanted to step up. I thought, if no one else wanted the job, then maybe I could step up and do something good." She paused, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. "But now it's not just me. There are other options. Better options." A single tear tracked down her cheek, and she swiped it impatiently away. "And Stormbreak... deserves better than me."
And now that you're close I feel like coming undone
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
