Sohalia
This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Indeed, sitting and talking by lantern light as night fell wouldn't be terribly hard for the two of them - assuming, of course, that they managed not to attract any trouble. The vest caught the light of the setting sun prettily, burnishing it in a way that made it almost gold, and Soh ran a hand lovingly over the garment. "I'm super happy with how it came out. It's reversible," she said proudly, grinning at Flora before flopping back onto her elbows to peer up at the waterfall again.
But she didn't watch the falls for long, because at her question, Flora was withdrawing - not from Soh, precisely, but from the world. Curling in upon herself like a flower deprived of sunlight for too long, cursed by the shadows plaguing it to remain withered, the Doubletake spoke with a quiet that had Soh turning to face her fully, eyes intent upon her friend's too-careful face - a face that crumpled, in the end, with tears that started so slowly that they might have been imagined, it not for the brittleness in Flora's voice that betrayed them as real.
And then Soh sat up to wrap her arm around Flora's shoulders, leaning her cheek against the crown of the queen's golden head, heart aching because she understood. She knew how hard it was to love two people, to choose one over the other - for whatever the reason. Just like she knew how hard it was to let them both go, in the end.
Gods, she hoped that wasn't the tragic ending that Flora was headed for.
And yet... for all that Flora had made her choice, it was killing her. Soh could see it, even as she clung to her best friend's trembling frame, squeezing Flora tightly to her side. It was killing her, because she'd wanted it to be Jack, and that it wasn't... well. Maybe Flora didn't have to lose them both to be living a tragedy.
"I'm so sorry, Flora," Soh murmured. "I wish..." But she trailed off. What was there to wish that her friend hadn't dreamt up a thousand times over? Soh sighed. "I'm just sorry."
But she didn't watch the falls for long, because at her question, Flora was withdrawing - not from Soh, precisely, but from the world. Curling in upon herself like a flower deprived of sunlight for too long, cursed by the shadows plaguing it to remain withered, the Doubletake spoke with a quiet that had Soh turning to face her fully, eyes intent upon her friend's too-careful face - a face that crumpled, in the end, with tears that started so slowly that they might have been imagined, it not for the brittleness in Flora's voice that betrayed them as real.
And then Soh sat up to wrap her arm around Flora's shoulders, leaning her cheek against the crown of the queen's golden head, heart aching because she understood. She knew how hard it was to love two people, to choose one over the other - for whatever the reason. Just like she knew how hard it was to let them both go, in the end.
Gods, she hoped that wasn't the tragic ending that Flora was headed for.
And yet... for all that Flora had made her choice, it was killing her. Soh could see it, even as she clung to her best friend's trembling frame, squeezing Flora tightly to her side. It was killing her, because she'd wanted it to be Jack, and that it wasn't... well. Maybe Flora didn't have to lose them both to be living a tragedy.
"I'm so sorry, Flora," Soh murmured. "I wish..." But she trailed off. What was there to wish that her friend hadn't dreamt up a thousand times over? Soh sighed. "I'm just sorry."
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
