good and bad end up in the song

That Kaisel and Sohalia were close enough to be talking about Jude had Noe raising her brows, something incredulous in her gaze. If she were in Sohalia's shoes, she'd certainly be doing her best to bury that particular fiasco, but it seemed like -

Wait, what did Kaisel say?

"I'm sorry, wait," Noe heard herself say, her voice pitching higher with disbelief. "Did you say Jude wants to be her friend?" Hurt flashed across her face, however briefly, before she shut it down, feeling a knife twist in her gut even as she shoved the betrayal away. Jude was supposed to be her best friend, and yet he'd disappeared after sending her a letter as a goodbye, just to go running back to Sohalia? What?!

And worse, Jude was questing to remove feelings? Feelings that Noe hadn't even known he still had? Maybe... maybe she'd been wrong. Maybe he was her best friend, but maybe she wasn't his, not by a long shot.

Friends didn't treat each other this way.

"You know what?" she muttered, shaking her head. "They deserve each other. More power to them." It was hard to see facts past all of the fury that had risen in her like bile, easier to hate than to forgive. A tiny, near-forgotten part of her reminded her that Vox would never have treated her this way, and a surge of confused self-loathing rose to join her anger.

Was feeling so weak but baby I'm strong
Little did I know I'm a champion

Noe

Everybody sour like a lemon tree

He's blissfully unaware of what he's just done by opening his mouth. That is, until he sees the streak of it pucker up Noe's expression in the worst way. She always started to look like that whenever near crying as kids, either from injury or when starting to lose or get left behind. It's not so blatant now, but the ripple of it is familiar enough that Kaisel perks up from his more languid sprawl. "Er—" he starts, trying to think back to just what he'd said and which part set a thorn into her.

He knew of Jude, but not the extent of how tangled the man had become in the lives of Koa and Noe or Soh. Fortunately, Noe saves him from having to back track or figure out how to creep forward around the crack he'd just made, waving the name and the man behind it away with a bitter response instead that was only marginally more soothing. Chuckling nervously as he agrees with a "yeah, totally," he rubs absently at the back of his head. This motion fluffs the hair up back there in an absurd fashion that gives him a near bird-like quality.

Deciding the best course would be to divert away from gossip before he ruffles any more of her feathers, he instead reaches across the table for her hand. Upon taking it, he'll squeeze gently, bouncing it once or twice small and faint against the table in the cradle of his. A mild, grounding motion that he scarcely does intentionally, just on the autopilot of pulling her back to the bright and nice day ahead of them. "Enough about other people," some of whom he scarcely cares about. "What have you been up to my sousin." Sister cousin, for the curious. "You look a lot better than you have in years." Not being infected will do that to a person, among other things, like not having the opressive weight of the Family taking over their home.

Kaisel

I'm just smiling down upon my enemies

Kaisel's touch on her hand snapped her gaze to his, unaware that it had wandered to something in the distance that she couldn't quite see. The motion was grounding, and Noe took a deep breath before smiling at her cousin. "I feel better," she admitted quietly. There weren't many who knew how horrible the months after her infection had been: how she'd been plagued by nightmares that she could never quite remember when she awoke, but knew that they featured far too much purple and far too many eyes; how she'd taken to sleeping with her head under the covers because if she couldn't see them, they couldn't see her; how she'd drifted here and there, not really settling in any one place in particular, because even home didn't feel safe anymore. It had been a lot.

And now, she was finally beginning to feel like herself again. She might not have it all figured out, but she had a direction again, a purpose. "I've decided where I'm going to settle," she announced, flashing a bright smile at Kaisel. "And you're going to think I've lost my mind, but hear me out." She paused for dramatic effect. "I met this woman who's trying to tame Hak Etme. I'm going to go be her engineer for building it up." Looking like the cat who got into the cream, Noe sat back and smirked, smug and satisfied with the direction she'd chosen.

Was feeling so weak but baby I'm strong
Little did I know I'm a champion

Noe

Everybody sour like a lemon tree

Kaisel might know more than most what she's gone through. Not from experience, just proximity and family, but even he can't fathom the true extent. Koa might know the most, and Kaisel has long wondered if it's played a role in Koa's more withdrawn nature of late. The Family might be gone, but their effects have lingered, tight and toxic against his family. He's still sure that's why Stormbreak fell too. Some kind, parting gifts.

Offering her a small smile to hear it, though his happiness should not be measured by the shape of his mouth alone, Kaisel nods in genuine glee. "Had me scared there for a while," he confesses, and it only seems worth doing so now, to her, now that she's bested it. That she has even more on this front, surprises him, and he appropriately leans in to attentively listen. Settke is indeed a mild shock, because all the while she's been here, and he expected it to stay that way. "Let me guess, that cue place in Ahi Coast, with the yellow neighbor house?" They walked by it sometimes. She doesn't leave him hanging though, and as she advises him to hear her out, he promptly seals his mouth shut and fucking keeps it that way. He's had one too many surprises 300-style kick him off a ledge, so he means to do nothing more than hang on and listen to this one. He's glad for it to, because the desert sounds fucking awful. Does she know how much sand is there? A LOT.

He can see the pattern of satisfaction streaking across her features, and that's what he decides to focus on most of all. "That is awesome, Noe," he says after a smile and the pause to digest it all and form a reply that isn't incredulous and taken aback. "That sounds...hard," he admits, a touch of a frown coming in as he considers the vast nothingness out there. "But, really worthy of what you can do. I hope you build some cool shit. And definitely get travel spots up and going so I can come visit!"

Kaisel

I'm just smiling down upon my enemies

That cute place on Ahi Coast might have been hers, in another life, where she settled somewhere simple and safe that made sense. But Noe had never been one to take the easiest path, and this was no exception; she was determined that it was time to strike out on her own, to make her own name, to stop hiding and start living, and maybe this was the way to do that.

Besides, she could always come back if she failed miserably. Not that she was planning to, but, you know... it was nice to have a backup plan.

Kaisel said surprisingly little, given that he usually struggled to keep his mouth shut, but when he spoke it was seemingly with genuine happiness for her. "It's definitely going to be a challenge," she said with a laugh. "But after Stormbreak fell and everyone scattered, my business kind of fell apart. I need something new to keep me busy, and what better to do that than a new adventure?" As for Kai visiting, Noe scrunched her nose playfully in response. "Obviously, the first order of business is tourist spots," she grinned, despite the fact that it most certainly was not. Then, softening, she added, "But I'll come back and visit a ton, too. Gotta make sure you're treating your fiancee right, you know."

Was feeling so weak but baby I'm strong
Little did I know I'm a champion

Noe

Everybody sour like a lemon tree

If Kaisel had been Koa sitting across from her, the response surely would have differed. It's easy to imagine Koa would not have struggled with the keeping quiet to listen part, but likely the being happy for her would have proven the greater challenge. Not because Koa doesn't care any less, but his care comes out differently, and one could argue, it is a deserved manner for an older brother to react with the protective nature he so carries for his sister, and Kaisel in turn. However, the baby of the family (loath as he is to use that term ever), Kaisel is a strong proponent for getting into any adventure possible, and the deadlier the better usually for excitement. He's confident Noe is smart and capable, and he'll make a point to check in on her, maybe more so because of where she'll be than he does when she's secured away somewhere safe.

He also, completely understands the desire to branch out and take root somewhere new, to creep up to a problem and conquer it with her own talents. Sometimes, blazing the trail is the only way to leave your mark on the world. "Y'know, if you get a statue before me, for building things, I'mma be real pissed." Despite his words, his tone is lighthearted and his expression bright as he holds her in the gleam of his copper gaze.

Leaning into the joke, because that's always easier than sobering and telling her to be careful, Kaisel laughs a little. "Well, once you make a place that's sand-free, I'll be there in a blink. If that's your first tourist attraction, I get some credit for the idea." Fair terms, he thinks. Unfortunately, they can't both hide in humor for long, because as the giggling peters out, it leaves nothing but the long sigh of understanding and the inevitable part. Kai's hand tightens against hers.

She tries for one last shot though, and Kaisel scoffs, flinging her hand away in mock disgust now. "Puh-leeeze. I think you meant make sure I'm treating my parents right, my—fiance, is never at risk of anything less than the utmost I can provide." He inhales, cheeks puffing up briefly, the crawl of anxiety a dull roar in his ears. "You better," he huffs out, loosing his breath audibly. "Visit, I mean. And do good there. And be safe. I love you, Noe." He smiles, the motion a little sad on the corners. "You're gonna do great, I know it."

The conversation shifts as a server makes their way over at last, and knowing this little cafe well, they order quickly, and the food arrives before they can get into anything too deep again. Nothing more than a nice Torchline date with his sousin.

[FIN]

Kaisel

I'm just smiling down upon my enemies