you're welcome for the emotional whiplash

With all of King’s End to choose from, Soh had no doubt that they would find somewhere for her to stay. Already she was considering what she’d seen of the region, the types of architecture, and what she might be able to afford. But they could dig more into her housing search another day.

For now, Zavien asked about her shifts, and Soh smiled at what all he remembered. ”I also have a StarKnight Swordfish and a Zhenniao.” Of all her shifts, the latter was the one she reached for the least, poisonous as it was. While she was sure it might be useful in certain situations, she much preferred her other shifts.

”The Pegasus is my favorite,” she volunteered. ”It feels the most natural to me.” Why that was, she couldn’t say, but it was the truth. Other shifts sometimes went against her nature: her tide jaguar shift, for example, was far more predatory than she tended to be, and sometimes those instincts clashed with her sensibilities. But as a Pegasus, she could simply be, without thinking too hard or feeling at odds with herself.

Sohalia

Looking down at her, Zavien tried to picture the different animals living beneath her beautiful skin. Some fit, like the owl and the pegasus, but he found it harder to picture her as a swordfish. Tilting his head, he thought of the last one, eyes narrowing. "I don't think I've seen a Zhenniao before. It's a bird, right?"

He smiled to hear her offer which was her favorite, amused to think it was the one that would scare him the most. Even after riding a dragon and a griffin during the rodeos (that would probably be a touchy subject now), Zavien was less than eager to wind up high up in the sky with nothing to catch him. He'd just fall and fall and fall until death found him. Still, he knew others enjoyed the thrill - the freedom of flight, and he shook his head when he playfully asked, "Because of the wings?"

Zavien

”Yeah, they’re a pretty common bird in the Oerwoud,” she said, tracing a swirling pattern on Zavien’s chest as she talked. ”They mostly eat poisonous vipers, and they absorb that poison for themselves, so I don’t use that shift often.” In truth, she wasn’t sure why she had been blessed with that particular one, but the gods were nothing if not enigmatic. ”I don’t know if it’s just because I loved to visit the Oerwoud when I first left the Grounds, or…” She shrugged. ”Sometimes I wonder why I got the shifts I have.”

But the Pegasus was her favorite for a reason, and she hummed in agreement to Zavien’s question. ”Partly. I think part of it is that it feels peaceful to me. Like, when I’m an owl or a jaguar, there are all these instincts that go along with that, so it always feels like I’m hunting something. But as a Pegasus, I just feel free.” She grinned up at him. ”But the wings definitely don’t hurt.”

Sohalia

A poisonous shift certainly didn't sound like the kind of thing he'd expect for Soh. Something soft and nurturing seemed more her type, but he had to assume the gods gave her those shifts for a reason. He couldn't speak on why she had the shifts she did. Who was he to argue with their choices? 

Although slightly distracted by the swirling of her fingers along his shirt, Zavien considered what she said. "Mm. I haven't spent much time in the Oerwoud, but you mentioned that cliff before. You sound really familiar with the area. What did you like about it?" Other than the abundance of bright plants, he didn't know much about the region. After all, few people lived there, and he imagined people would prefer the adjacent region of Torchline for any vacation plans.

"Sounds incredible," he said blissfully. "Maybe if I had the wings, I'd like flying too. I wouldn't be as nervous about falling." Zavien laughed, peeking over his shoulder to where his dragon snuggled with Anani, having offered her a small chew toy in place of the bone he gnawed at. "I think I'd make a pretty good dragon. Huh Sol?" The golden companion perked his head, offering a proud chirp and agree flap of his wings.

Zavien

The Oerwoud was undoubtedly beautiful, but it wasn’t appearance alone that had drawn her to the region. It was wild, untamed, free in a way that she hadn’t been used to when she’d left home. She was beginning to realize that having freedom, seeking it out, had been a recurring theme throughout her life. ”The Oerwoud makes me feel like anything is possible,” she said. ”There are plants and animals there that don’t even feel real. It’s bright, and colorful, and so undeniably alive - after growing up in the Grounds, being so sheltered for most of my life, it just felt kind of magical.” She laughed. ”That probably sounds silly, when so much of Caido is magic in one way or another.”

Even her own abilities were a certain kind of magic, one that she would never take for granted. ”It’s definitely makes a difference to have your own wings,” she agreed. ”I used to be scared of skyships, even though I had my owl shift. Something about not being in control of the ship just really freaked me out, when I’d spent so long learning to trust myself flying. I was terrified they were going to fall out of the sky.” Amusement colored her tone as she reminisced to those early days, when she’d first ventured out into the world. ”I traded Tal swim lessons for a ride on the Peregrine, so I could figure out that it wasn’t so bad. It’s basically how we became friends.”

At Zavien’s laugh, Soh joined him in peering towards their companions, who snuggled happily in the corner. Anani gnawed on a small chew toy, perfectly content, though she huffed a snort at the thought of Zavien as a dragon when cloud wyrms were clearly superior. Grinning, Soh nodded. ”Oh, you’d be an excellent dragon,” she said seriously, though her eyes twinkled with mirth. ”Protective, brave, strong…” As she listed off the attributes that felt most dragon-like, she grinned playfully at him. ”I bet between me and the companions, we’d have you flying in no time.”

Sohalia

His head shook. "It doesn't sound silly. I'm sure in comparison to the Grounds's limited color palette and stark plant life, the Oerwoud was everything you'd dreamed of." He laughed, imagining the blatant difference between the two lands. Other than Hak Etme, the Grounds probably held the title for blandest region. It didn't make it any less, but it would be quite a shock to go from that to the overgrown forest. Picturing a young Soh running through the woods, blonde hair whipping wild around her grinning face, he said blissfully, "And after just leaving the only place you'd ever known... it's no wonder it felt like freedom. It was." He smiled at her, a proud, joyful thing that celebrated her accomplishment and the happiness she'd found. 

On the topic of skyships, Zavien recalled her mentioning the old fear. At least she'd slowly acclimated herself to the transportation. Meanwhile, he gave a sheepish grin, a slight blush starting at his ears. "I just don't look down." He knew it wasn't the best method, that he should probably get over his fear to make traveling easier, but when he looked down... the ground was just so far. It made him a little nauseous just thinking about it. 

As for his imaginary dragon shift, more laughter fell from his lips, bright with the kind of joy that came with something that he'd never have to find out. "I have no doubts." They'd probably be great teachers. Soh was patient and constantly reassuring, so he figured it wouldn't be long until he was airborne under her instruction. Sol on the other hand, would probably just push at his backside and fly circles around him, shouting 'encouragements' that sound like barking chirps. 

His smile turned mischievous, his mouth moving closer to Soh's neck as he teasingly asked, "But what if I was a mean dragon who liked eating pretty women?" He nipped at her playfully, teeth grazing her skin in mock threat.

Zavien

Thinking of that younger, more innocent version of herself was like seeing someone else entirely. She’d grown so much since then, met so many challenges, faced so many fears. She was still evolving, of course, but she’d come so far from the shy, naive girl who’d left the Grounds all those years ago, having lost everything and everyone she held dear. ”You’re not wrong,” she agreed with a smile. ”It was, and I’ll always love it for that reason.”

As for skyships, Soh shook her head. ”Not looking down is a perfectly reasonable way to get through a flight.” Especially for someone with a fear of heights. Looking down could be paralyzing, allowing panic to take hold. But looking outward, towards the horizon or some other thing in the distance, could help. Zavien had nothing to be ashamed of.

As Zavien turned playful, breath ghosting over the sensitive skin of her neck, Soh shivered with delight. She turned her head slightly, giving him easier access to nip gently at her, teeth grazing skin in a way that sent sparks flying. No doubt he would feel her heartbeat quicken, would hear the slight breathlessness with which she turned to look at him and say, ”Then I’d say you’re welcome to me any time,” her silver gaze flickering with something like a challenge and an invitation all in one.

Sohalia

It was nice to hear how Soh had found her freedom, how she'd come to love a region that hadn't been her home. He'd never loved any place but Stormbreak, and it made him wonder if that was something possible for him. King's End was slowly growing on him, but it was hard to imagine it would ever compare to where he'd grown up, the place he'd fought to protect, the people who had made it a home. Maybe with Soh, he'd find that feeling again. 

The validation was sweet, but he knew it wasn't always possible to keep his gaze up. He recalled a particular instance with more fondness now, grinning as he said, "Except when you're looking for missing women and you have to be looking down." It had been one of his first outings with Tal too, searching for Soh over the infected Greatwood. Who knew then that he was searching for his future girlfriend?

The same girlfriend that shivered beneath his touch, heart racing as his teeth snagged her gently. He hadn't meant to spark anything, hadn't thought about how his teasing 'what ifs' of an imaginary shift would spike the temperature between them. But as she looked at him with those eyes and her words opened the door to something more, Zavien was suddenly glad he had stumbling into this moment. 

His hands turned attentive, aware of how she lay across him, strategizing how he might maneuver her appropriately. Darting his gaze to her mouth and back to her eyes, Zavien licked his lips. "You know, I've never..." He didn't finish the sentence, his mouth left partially open as his eyes darkened along with the flush creeping up his neck. He wondered if letting him fumble through oral sex was something Soh would enjoy, or if she'd rather they stick to what they know works.

Zavien

"Oh, well, I suppose that would make not looking down more difficult," she mused. Then, catching sight of his grin, she tilted her head. "I take it this isn't a hypothetical?" It shouldn't surprise her, given that he was a Dragoon; of course he'd have been called into search and rescue missions at some point during his career. And what better way to search than from above?

But her curiosity quickly shifted as Zavien's teeth grazed her neck. While she wouldn't have anticipated his question to spark such immediate desire - and maybe it wouldn't have, on its own - she certainly wasn't going to complain. Her hand stilled its idle tracing upon his chest, her lips parting as Zavien's gaze darkened. Her own cheeks were tinged pink as she shook her head. "Neither have I." At least, she'd never been on the receiving end.

Her hand skimmed lower, over Zavien's abdomen until she could slip beneath his shirt, reveling in the feel of bare skin. Her lips quirked up at the corners. She might not be able to give him her first time of much, but this, she could offer gladly. "... would you want to?"

Sohalia

"Nope." He grinned, another low chuckle forming as he gave her a light pinch on the arm. "I was actually helping Tal look for you." They'd spent a few days flying overhead, searching for signs of her with nothing to show for it until, "Coincidentally, I found you randomly a few weeks later." Just a crazy meeting that had caught him by surprise. If he hadn't found her, would she still be wandering in the woods, too scared to reach out? Would she be curled up in his arms now?

He hated the thought of that, especially when the mood heated, her hand slipping beneath his shirt to stoke fire in his blood. "Yes," he whispered, a thrill charging in his veins when he said it aloud, at this small thing he could give her, this first they could share together. Zavien wasn't sure if he'd be any good at it. For all he knew, Soh could end up uncomfortable and he'd wind up ruining the mood, so he didn't want to jump too fast without checking, his fingers trailing down her skin with more caressing attention than before. "And you? Is that something you'd want right now?" Would it be a good distraction? Or did she still need the quiet reassurance of her feelings after the fight with her friends? He didn't want to push something on her if it was going to make her feel worse in this moment. There was always later.

Zavien

"Oh!" she said, blinking with surprise. She'd known that people were looking for her, that Zavien had eventually found her, but she didn't like to remember that time in her life, when she'd let so many people down. Still, it was hard to let the mood shift into the negative now, when everything had turned out so well. A little sheepish, she shook her head. "I'm glad you found me. Even if the circumstances could have been better."

But if things hadn't gone exactly the way they had, would they be curled up together on Zavien's couch right now, sparks flying between them and love in their hearts? Hadn't all the good that they'd found together come after all the bad that had shaped them and pushed them to where they were today?

A thrill shot up Soh's spine as Zavien said yes, her breath catching in her throat as she considered what that meant. Maybe he wouldn't like it. Maybe it would ruin the mood. But they wouldn't know unless they tried, and the low, simmering heat that he'd inadvertently stoked was pressing at the back of her mind, urging her onward.

His fingers trailed along her skin, goosebumps rising in their wake. Was this something she wanted right now? After coming here so upset, after having her deepest fears rear their heads... was now the right time for something so new, so vulnerable? But she thought back to how he'd handled it all, how he'd calmed her down, soothed her worries, reassured her and held her and loved her through it. And her smile only widened as she leaned towards him. "Yes."

Sohalia

He hummed his agreement, similarly wishing they might have met under better circumstances. If she hadn't been on the rear-end of a traumatic kidnapping, would they have ended up together before he started things with Lena? But what about Koa? His feelings for Soh had still been strong then, but Zavien and him had only just started to become friends. There were a million what ifs of how things might have progressed if they had met in another way, in another time. 

And yet, they were here, passion growing between them with every second. Their whispered confirmations only heated the air further, providing a new outlet for the raised emotions from the last hour, opening the door to direct the energy somewhere else, an adventure where he hoped she'd find love and comfort and a release that was centered around making her feel good. 

Having thought through the angles and strategies like a soldier approaching an unfamiliar battlefield, Zavien nodded his head. "This might be done best on the bed," he muttered as he shifted them to stand. There was still a light flush across his cheeks when he lifted Soh from the couch, cradling her close to his chest like something precious and fragile despite the dangerous heat radiating between them. He walked them briskly to the room where he placed Soh carefully on the bed, laying her out so that her legs were off the side, precisely where he stood. 

Zavien leaned over her without thought, hands bracing above and below her hips as he placed a sweet kiss on her lips, fingers trailing to the top of her pants.

Zavien

Unable to hide her grin at Zavien's mention of the bed, she couldn't help but giggle, given that their sexual adventures thus far had taken place everywhere but the bed. "No pillow nest this time?" she asked, all innocence. But she didn't argue when he lifted her from the couch, cradling her close, instead electing to wrap her arms around his neck and nuzzle closer - at least until he deposited her on the edge of the bed, laying her back so that her legs hung off the side.

Nervous anticipation fluttered in her stomach as Zavien leaned over her, kissing her sweetly, but she banished her worries with hardly a thought. They'd shared so much, knew each other so intimately, that this shouldn't be a scary experience. If anything, it was something new, something that could belong to just them, and that was something to cherish.

As Zavien's fingers trailed along her hips to the top of her pants, she nipped playfully at his lower lip, silently urging him onward - not to rush him, but to encourage him to know that she was all in.

Sohalia

Her giggle was musical, a spell that cast away some of his own nerves to break a smile onto his face, even managing a huff of low laughter. "Not this time." There was the unspoken 'Maybe next time' but he didn't dare assume this would go well enough for a 'next time' until they saw how things went. 

Arranging Soh on the bed, Zavien grinned into the playful tug on his lip, rewarding it with an equally playful tug on her pants. He kissed her deeper as he slid them off along with the underwear beneath, his fingers grazing the soft skin he exposed before tossing the clothing off to the side. 

Finally breaking the kiss, he looked longingly down at her, hands settling onto her hips as he gave a breathy whisper. "I'm going to try a few things, so tell me if I need to adjust." It was obvious he was nervous, from the slight shift of his eyes to the cadence of his words, but there was also excitement, and Zavien didn't let the nerves stop him. He pushed through, brushing his lips against hers in a brief farewell before lowering his attentions. 

His hands slid down Soh's legs to her thighs, guiding them gently open as he knelt in front of her, devoted to her and the task at hand. He took a breath, preparing himself as he leaned forward towards her, wetting his lips as he debated how to approach things. But after a moment of getting nowhere, Zavien settled on the simplest plan of attack. It wasn't sexy or slow or skilled. He simply ran his tongue along her core, running it from bottom to top in a testing motion, getting a lay of the land like any good soldier.

Zavien