|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
 howthpost sixteen"Oh, aren't you precious," the Ice woman cooed as Jasla sniffed in her direction. "I do think it would be safer if you stayed down here with me. Let your parents be alone for a while." She gave Howth a look he couldn't entirely read, but he found himself embarrassed by it anyway.
"Here you go." She waited until the wheel stopped before pulling back what passed for a safety bar on the nearest pod.
After a moment of hesitation and a glance at Xaawo, Howth slid in first, his drink now cool in his hands.
The Zenan smiled. "Have fun."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
 xaawopost sixteenShe stayed quiet as they were strapped in and their car slowly rose into the sky. The evening was beautiful, a sight she could never have imagined growing up back on Chiume, and while she wanted to savor it, it also made her a little sad. When Xaawo felt tears p***k her eyes, she shook off her homesickness and turned to Howth.
"I bet the view from Belrea's sky wheel looks nothing like this."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
howthpost seventeen"You'd be right."
He didn't face her, but Howth could see Xaawo's joy blurred in his periphery and he allowed himself a wider smile than he would have on the ground. "Belrea has its own sort of beauty, but this is..." It was new and unexpected and he never would have seen it on his own.
"You were right to want to ride."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
xaawopost seventeen"I know. You should listen to me more often."
She didn't stop looking at him once the sting of her tears had passed, finding herself examining Howth's smile instead. It was such a rare, unguarded expression that she had a sudden desire to burn it into her memory, so she would never forget that she had put it there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
howthpost eighteenAs the sky wheel reached its peak and began its arc back toward the ground, the magic loosened its hold and Howth's smile began to dim.
The feeling of insignificance that had filled him at the sight of the empty landscape around them, untouched by earthling interference, had been freeing. Coming back down meant responsibility and decorum. He shouldn't have let himself go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
xaawopost eighteenShe looked away as his features lost their wonder, already missing that carefree flicker. Xaawo understood the mantle of duty, just as all of her sisters did, but she'd never had trouble leaving it behind when she needed a break. If she could figure out a way to reliably lift his self-inflicted burdens every once in a while so that Howth could have one too, she would gladly do so.
Before she could overthink things, Xaawo reached out and placed her hand over his free one. She didn't pat it reassuringly or immediately let go to point at some far off sight, she left it there for a count of ten, a weight that was impossible to ignore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:56 pm
howthpost nineteenWith the abrupt departure of his whimsical delight, a chill crept back in for the first time since Xaawo's game of darts, but the cold didn't hold him for long. At first when he felt pressure against the back of his hand, Howth thought something might have crawled out of his hot chocolate, but when he looked down to see Xaawo's mittened hand closed over his, a prickle of heat rose in his cheeks.
He swallowed hard and turned to look at her, but Xaawo was already facing forward once more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:57 pm
xaawopost nineteenShe nodded at the ride operator as their car returned to where they had begun, something familiar sparking high in her stomach like the thrill before a fall.
Maybe it was time to put a name to this feeling instead of pushing it aside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:57 pm
howthpost twentyHad he been on the side of the car with the door, Howth would have tried hopping out before the safety bar had even been raised, running from his discomfort before it could be addressed. But he was forced to sit mostly still until they had been released, fidgeting and fretting until Xaawo had climbed out before him.
As soon as he was on his feet, Howth hurried over to the ride operator and reclaimed his poscuta, busying himself with securing her sling against his chest.
"Thank you," he said, his tone clipped and professional.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 3:57 pm
xaawopost twenty"Yes, thank you very much. That was a beautiful view." Xaawo's voice was warm enough for the both of them, an embellished apology for her traveling companion's abrupt shift in mood. "Now, there was a nice gentleman who took our bags before... would you know where he is?"
"Oh, Sinann? He'll be over there." The woman pointed at a squat building in the distance, the only permanent one in the area. The small town they had passed through to get here must have been nestled high enough in the hills that it couldn't be seen from down here.
"Thanks to you once again. I trust his rooms will be just as pleasing as this carnival." Xaawo didn't turn around as she led the way, her head full and heart surprisingly light.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
