All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
Soh felt the shift in Zavien in the way he stilled, no longer seeming even to breathe. Once more she wondered if she was doing the right thing, bringing this up now, hating how it felt to pick at something that had caused him pain, like pulling the scab off a half-healed wound. But she had to know how he felt, had to reassure him that it changed nothing. That she could love them both.
The thought made her swallow hard, her grip tightening incrementally as she tucked herself tighter against Zavien’s side. She hadn’t let herself even think the words, as if doing so would somehow curse their budding relationship. Did she love him? Already?
But that was a consideration for another time, when Zavien wasn’t preparing to tell her his perspective of all that had transpired between he and Flora and Kaisel. His voice, when he spoke, was heavy, as though this was a burden he’d carried alone for far too long. Soh stayed still and silent, holding him, offering what scant comfort she could in the only way she knew how.
His story, for the most part, lined up with what Flora had already told her - although she rather felt as though her friend had left out a few key details. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Had Flora intentionally told a story that would benefit her, or had she just not thought the details important enough to share? She had a hard time believing that the Doubletake would have twisted things to suit herself, especially when she’d been so adamant that she was in the right, but…
When Zavien called Kaisel hot-headed, Soh snorted derisively. ”That’s one word,” she couldn’t help but mutter to herself, a touch of bitter hurt still lingering in her mind. But otherwise, she listened, absorbing Zavien’s words. It was hard to listen to - not because the story surprised her, but because she could hear in his voice how affected by it he was, how it bothered him even still. She kept her hold on him, even going so far as to twine one leg around his, as though by getting even closer to him, she could shield him from the idiocy to which he’d been subjected.
When he was done, she didn’t have to think; she spoke immediately to assuage any doubts he may have. ”You won’t come between me and Flora,” she assured him. No man ever had before, and even a significant disagreement with her best friend hadn’t been enough to tear them apart. But then Soh shifted, pulling away enough to free her arms, reaching to cup Zavien’s face in her hands. Her thumbs stroked his cheekbones, and her silver gaze met his squarely. She wanted him to hear the next part. ”But she won’t come between us either.”
Soh paused, as though letting that sink in, before she continued. ”Thank you,” she said quietly. ”For telling me. I’m glad to have your perspective on what happened.” A small frown creased her brow. ”Flora is my best friend. She and I have been through a lot together, and I’ve never - not once - had to question if she had my back or if she wanted me to be happy. Despite everything that happened, she’s been nothing but supportive of you and me. But… that doesn’t mean I always agree with her methods. She’s done things I wanted to strangle her for. And this? I don’t agree with how this was handled, even though I think I understand a little why she acted the way she did. Regardless of her methods, she would do anything for her region and anything for the people she loves. So if she felt like you were threatening either - and I get that you weren’t, but I’m just saying - I can at least understand why she said what she did.
“As for what happened with Kaisel…” she scoffed, voice flat and tone openly disdainful. ”He’s an idiot. I would have done the exact same thing as you, and that’s what I told Flora. I don’t understand why Kaisel reacted the way that he did, or why he would bring Lena into it, or why he would threaten to twist your words just to hurt someone you loved - when you didn’t even do anything.” Soh was growing heated now, remembering her fight with Flora and the way Kaisel had acted towards her recently. ”I don’t understand how refusing to lie to your best friend could be anything but honorable. They just - they don’t see it that way, and I don’t get that.”
She might have said more, could have ranted on, but stopped herself. That wasn’t the point. Softening, calming, she said, ”I don’t expect you to move to Torchline and be around them. I just wanted you to know it was an option. I don’t need you guys to all be best friends. I just need you and Flora to know that I care about you both, and that that’s not going to change.”
The thought made her swallow hard, her grip tightening incrementally as she tucked herself tighter against Zavien’s side. She hadn’t let herself even think the words, as if doing so would somehow curse their budding relationship. Did she love him? Already?
But that was a consideration for another time, when Zavien wasn’t preparing to tell her his perspective of all that had transpired between he and Flora and Kaisel. His voice, when he spoke, was heavy, as though this was a burden he’d carried alone for far too long. Soh stayed still and silent, holding him, offering what scant comfort she could in the only way she knew how.
His story, for the most part, lined up with what Flora had already told her - although she rather felt as though her friend had left out a few key details. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Had Flora intentionally told a story that would benefit her, or had she just not thought the details important enough to share? She had a hard time believing that the Doubletake would have twisted things to suit herself, especially when she’d been so adamant that she was in the right, but…
When Zavien called Kaisel hot-headed, Soh snorted derisively. ”That’s one word,” she couldn’t help but mutter to herself, a touch of bitter hurt still lingering in her mind. But otherwise, she listened, absorbing Zavien’s words. It was hard to listen to - not because the story surprised her, but because she could hear in his voice how affected by it he was, how it bothered him even still. She kept her hold on him, even going so far as to twine one leg around his, as though by getting even closer to him, she could shield him from the idiocy to which he’d been subjected.
When he was done, she didn’t have to think; she spoke immediately to assuage any doubts he may have. ”You won’t come between me and Flora,” she assured him. No man ever had before, and even a significant disagreement with her best friend hadn’t been enough to tear them apart. But then Soh shifted, pulling away enough to free her arms, reaching to cup Zavien’s face in her hands. Her thumbs stroked his cheekbones, and her silver gaze met his squarely. She wanted him to hear the next part. ”But she won’t come between us either.”
Soh paused, as though letting that sink in, before she continued. ”Thank you,” she said quietly. ”For telling me. I’m glad to have your perspective on what happened.” A small frown creased her brow. ”Flora is my best friend. She and I have been through a lot together, and I’ve never - not once - had to question if she had my back or if she wanted me to be happy. Despite everything that happened, she’s been nothing but supportive of you and me. But… that doesn’t mean I always agree with her methods. She’s done things I wanted to strangle her for. And this? I don’t agree with how this was handled, even though I think I understand a little why she acted the way she did. Regardless of her methods, she would do anything for her region and anything for the people she loves. So if she felt like you were threatening either - and I get that you weren’t, but I’m just saying - I can at least understand why she said what she did.
“As for what happened with Kaisel…” she scoffed, voice flat and tone openly disdainful. ”He’s an idiot. I would have done the exact same thing as you, and that’s what I told Flora. I don’t understand why Kaisel reacted the way that he did, or why he would bring Lena into it, or why he would threaten to twist your words just to hurt someone you loved - when you didn’t even do anything.” Soh was growing heated now, remembering her fight with Flora and the way Kaisel had acted towards her recently. ”I don’t understand how refusing to lie to your best friend could be anything but honorable. They just - they don’t see it that way, and I don’t get that.”
She might have said more, could have ranted on, but stopped herself. That wasn’t the point. Softening, calming, she said, ”I don’t expect you to move to Torchline and be around them. I just wanted you to know it was an option. I don’t need you guys to all be best friends. I just need you and Flora to know that I care about you both, and that that’s not going to change.”
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
