KOA
Koa's nose wrinkles at the reminder that their family is heading to the Grounds: not where he would have chosen, but watcha gonna do? Old people are stubborn, and there isn't time to call a family meeting, to sit down and hash out the logistics of whence they ought to flee. Soon their once deep-rooted family will be scattered like dandelion seeds, searching for new patches of soil in which they might grow. At least the older generation has chosen the same plot.
It's a pity that the same can't be said for their kids.
Koa shrugs at Kai's question as to where he'll go, grateful for his cousin's stream of consciousness chatter that prevents him from having to answer right away. It takes his brain a second to latch onto 'Come to the house,' when it does Koa pauses, a confused expression on his face as he turns to look at Kai, because isn't the whole problem that their childhood homes are about to collapse into the sea? Then realization dons and his warm eyes widen, a pang of something - disbelief? hurt? utter befuddlement? - flashing across his face. He'd spent so much time trying not to think about the fact that his cousin and his ex were dating, and then more time thinking way too hard about it, and while he's finally just about come to terms with the whole thing, the reminder still stings like a mosquito bite.
"Yeah, uh, no, it'd definitely be weird, man." He shakes his head and laughs good naturedly, though there's the shadow of a lie beneath the sound. "'Sides, I haven't really thought about where I'm going. Figured I'll deal with that once everyone is safe." Reaching up to pat the hand Kai's put on his shoulder, Koa squeezes gently but firmly, hoping his expression and the gesture communicate well enough that no, he's not mad, it's just kind of a lot.
A whiff of smoke catches his attention and Koa turns his head toward the source, grateful as fuck for any distraction from the awkward bombshell they really do need to diffuse. "You smell that?" he asks, nodding toward the courtyard. There's no sign of fire among the plants, but in a corner tucked away he can see a pot of something dark and well-tended, and while most of the time Koa would much rather leave weird plants to their own devices, it offers him an easy out. "Seems like someone left this guy behind." Stooping down, he picks the little pot up, holding it between them for Kai to also see. "These are usually used in offerings, I think?" He has a vague memory of this being true, likely from Mateo trying to drill it into his brain.
It's a pity that the same can't be said for their kids.
Koa shrugs at Kai's question as to where he'll go, grateful for his cousin's stream of consciousness chatter that prevents him from having to answer right away. It takes his brain a second to latch onto 'Come to the house,' when it does Koa pauses, a confused expression on his face as he turns to look at Kai, because isn't the whole problem that their childhood homes are about to collapse into the sea? Then realization dons and his warm eyes widen, a pang of something - disbelief? hurt? utter befuddlement? - flashing across his face. He'd spent so much time trying not to think about the fact that his cousin and his ex were dating, and then more time thinking way too hard about it, and while he's finally just about come to terms with the whole thing, the reminder still stings like a mosquito bite.
"Yeah, uh, no, it'd definitely be weird, man." He shakes his head and laughs good naturedly, though there's the shadow of a lie beneath the sound. "'Sides, I haven't really thought about where I'm going. Figured I'll deal with that once everyone is safe." Reaching up to pat the hand Kai's put on his shoulder, Koa squeezes gently but firmly, hoping his expression and the gesture communicate well enough that no, he's not mad, it's just kind of a lot.
A whiff of smoke catches his attention and Koa turns his head toward the source, grateful as fuck for any distraction from the awkward bombshell they really do need to diffuse. "You smell that?" he asks, nodding toward the courtyard. There's no sign of fire among the plants, but in a corner tucked away he can see a pot of something dark and well-tended, and while most of the time Koa would much rather leave weird plants to their own devices, it offers him an easy out. "Seems like someone left this guy behind." Stooping down, he picks the little pot up, holding it between them for Kai to also see. "These are usually used in offerings, I think?" He has a vague memory of this being true, likely from Mateo trying to drill it into his brain.
Let me go, I don't wanna be your hero
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
I don't wanna be a big man
Just wanna fight with everyone else
Code stolen from Queen Sky
