Moved by a sudden impulse

Sohalia

Say my name
And every color illuminates

The goodness of people was something that, unlike Zavien, Soh had often had reason to doubt. Somehow she still believed that most people were inherently decent, but she knew all too well that sometimes good people did bad things - herself included. That, however, was a debate for another day. Instead, Soh smiled and nodded, then returned to her survey of Zavien's space.

It was easy to fall into the old habits of an artist - for that was, first and foremost, what Sohalia had been, back even before she'd been a cartographer. "Sol can certainly be a subject, don't worry," she laughed, but then she was back to her musings. Strolling idly to each of the windows, she peered out until she found just the view she was looking for: rolling, verdant hills stretching as far as the eye could see. "See, look - out this window, but if I could just see it at sunrise..."

As for where it should go, Soh turned and was surprised to find Zavien closer; laughing lightly as she nearly ran into him, she was suddenly stricken by how good he looked in the light from the window. It was that perfect indirect light she was always chasing in the back of her mind, lighting up the man's physique without being too harsh. Her fingers itched for her journal and a pencil; she had the strangest desire just then to draw him. Then, realizing she was staring, she blushed and looked away.

Get it together, Soh, she told herself. This was Zavien. He was just a friend, and even if he wasn't, he certainly had never given her a reason to think that he could see her as more. This was just her bad habit of falling for any guy who was nice to her rearing its ugly head. There was nothing here but friendship.

But, sneaking one last appreciative look, Soh had to admit that friendship had its perks.

Clearing her throat, she circled back through the space, considering. "Here. This is the perfect spot," she declared. It was on the opposite side of the house from the window where she'd stopped, so it wouldn't be immediately obvious where her muse had come from. The wall was large enough to support a substantial painting, but not so large that the canvas would be lost in miles of plaster. Feeling smug, she turned to toss a smile towards Zavien. "So next time I visit, I'm bringing it, and we can put it up."

We are shining
And we will never be afraid again