[ khara was always ostentatious ever since they first met, and maybe that's what had drawn koko to her in the first place. the sea is bright when it wants to be, but khara was always radiant in her silk dresses; things that koko could never have dreamed of wearing, much less owning. even in the deepest darkest depths, koko can still see her and hear her, and she supposes maybe it was just that easy how she'd found khara again. she had pulled herself up onto the ship, dripping onto the floorboards and holding the small offering in her hands. she didn't know who exactly it was for back then, only that she had followed her song, much like she did when she was only eleven. she remembered the tightness of khara's grip around her hand, the juxtaposition with her softer tone that contained more of the qalli lilt then, and it's just as tight now, fifteen years and what feels like eight lifetimes later.
but that's the funny thing about time; it's a nebulous and fickle thing, much like the ocean herself. it's difficult to tell in its depths, the sea preserves and erodes what she will and time is of no consequence when all that matters is the flow of her currents. on land it's much easier, and koko sees the passage of it now. she feels it in the calluses on khara's palms from a lifetime of wielding the handles of her blades; sees it in the way khara has grown, from a young girl to the beautiful woman she is now, her longer dark hair framing the smoother angles of her face. she hears it in the weariness that seeps into her voice on the rare occasions they are alone, voices hushed as they talk about everything and nothing until the candle burns out.
it doesn't take being with khara for those fifteen years for koko to know that she'd been through much during that time. perhaps a little too much, if the way her expression shifts is any indication. koko goes along with it as she usually does, giving the menu a cursory glance. ]
That's some high praise coming from you. [ khara always had very specific tastes; she likes what she likes. but that doesn't stop koko from teasing her about it. ] I still remember when you'd wanted to eat nothing but bacon bread and onion soup. You insisted everything else in Hydaelyn was inadequate.
[ she puts in her order when the waiter comes by, a hearty stew that goes easier on the seafood, just in case they end up sharing. koko rests her elbows on the table, chin in her palm as she considers the weather outside and khara's question. ]
... I suppose I'd wanted to find you, [ she says, turning her smile back towards her. ] But once I left, I discovered that was only part of the reason. The sea will always be my home, but it can only take me so far.
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but that's the funny thing about time; it's a nebulous and fickle thing, much like the ocean herself. it's difficult to tell in its depths, the sea preserves and erodes what she will and time is of no consequence when all that matters is the flow of her currents. on land it's much easier, and koko sees the passage of it now. she feels it in the calluses on khara's palms from a lifetime of wielding the handles of her blades; sees it in the way khara has grown, from a young girl to the beautiful woman she is now, her longer dark hair framing the smoother angles of her face. she hears it in the weariness that seeps into her voice on the rare occasions they are alone, voices hushed as they talk about everything and nothing until the candle burns out.
it doesn't take being with khara for those fifteen years for koko to know that she'd been through much during that time. perhaps a little too much, if the way her expression shifts is any indication. koko goes along with it as she usually does, giving the menu a cursory glance. ]
That's some high praise coming from you. [ khara always had very specific tastes; she likes what she likes. but that doesn't stop koko from teasing her about it. ] I still remember when you'd wanted to eat nothing but bacon bread and onion soup. You insisted everything else in Hydaelyn was inadequate.
[ she puts in her order when the waiter comes by, a hearty stew that goes easier on the seafood, just in case they end up sharing. koko rests her elbows on the table, chin in her palm as she considers the weather outside and khara's question. ]
... I suppose I'd wanted to find you, [ she says, turning her smile back towards her. ] But once I left, I discovered that was only part of the reason. The sea will always be my home, but it can only take me so far.