Theea
Yla
to love life, to love it —
I light up when Damien actually laughs, the sound rumbling out of him as we drop the couch by the firepit. I can’t help but laugh too when he declares, “There. It is defeated.” I throw my arms up in mock triumph. “Nice try, couch!” I cheer, punctuating it with a kick to the side of the ruined thing. (And no, I definitely don’t hurt my foot doing it—shut up.) When I look up again, my eyes glimmer with mirth as they meet Damien’s, catching that rare lightness in his dark stare. It’s casual, fleeting, but gods it feels like treasure.
Calypso steps out, and I bounce right up to her, grabbing her hand in mine with a big grin. “Thank you. Seriously. And I’ll bring something homemade to the Hanged Man, promise.” I gesture to the house beyond. “I saw you put up my things too—"—the carvings, that hagstone too big for windchimes, the handful of items I could carry with me on the road——it’s perfect. Just feels strange knowing I can… collect what I want now.”
When my uncles arrive, I grin wide at them too. “I love the spots you picked,” I tell them earnestly, glancing at the house again. “I want to add more—not just from Mom, but from everywhere. Fill this place with pieces of everywhere I’ve been.” I look at Ronin and then Remi and say, "Maybe I can show you a few places we lived over the years."
My gaze lifts to the rafters where the windchimes sing in the breeze, and all the sharp edges in me soften. For so long, making those chimes was the only thread I had to Vai, the only way I could feel close. I glance at Flora, my voice warm and certain. “Let’s make a couple together for the Sugar Tide. No need to wait for one to break.”
When Damien raises his glass, I chuckle. When Ronin talks about a party, I beam. When Remi promises help, my chest feels too full. I lift my mug high, grinning at all of them. “To you you all.” The words come out simple, but they hold everything.
I pause before I drink, catching sight of the couch slumped by the firepit, the pile of palm fronds in the sand. My brows bounce, mischief curling in my grin. “Housewarming party. I’m thinkiiiinnngg..." I twist back to the others, brows up, and a little smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. "...bonfire party?”
Quest success! The house is livable, and she can take it from here.
Thank you guys for being apart of it! <3
Calypso steps out, and I bounce right up to her, grabbing her hand in mine with a big grin. “Thank you. Seriously. And I’ll bring something homemade to the Hanged Man, promise.” I gesture to the house beyond. “I saw you put up my things too—"—the carvings, that hagstone too big for windchimes, the handful of items I could carry with me on the road——it’s perfect. Just feels strange knowing I can… collect what I want now.”
When my uncles arrive, I grin wide at them too. “I love the spots you picked,” I tell them earnestly, glancing at the house again. “I want to add more—not just from Mom, but from everywhere. Fill this place with pieces of everywhere I’ve been.” I look at Ronin and then Remi and say, "Maybe I can show you a few places we lived over the years."
My gaze lifts to the rafters where the windchimes sing in the breeze, and all the sharp edges in me soften. For so long, making those chimes was the only thread I had to Vai, the only way I could feel close. I glance at Flora, my voice warm and certain. “Let’s make a couple together for the Sugar Tide. No need to wait for one to break.”
When Damien raises his glass, I chuckle. When Ronin talks about a party, I beam. When Remi promises help, my chest feels too full. I lift my mug high, grinning at all of them. “To you you all.” The words come out simple, but they hold everything.
I pause before I drink, catching sight of the couch slumped by the firepit, the pile of palm fronds in the sand. My brows bounce, mischief curling in my grin. “Housewarming party. I’m thinkiiiinnngg..." I twist back to the others, brows up, and a little smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. "...bonfire party?”
Quest success! The house is livable, and she can take it from here.
Thank you guys for being apart of it! <3
— even when you have no stomach for it
