black fat gnc reader x sevika, ambessa, shoola (regular timeline)
sevika
now that she’s a government worker (derogatory) her days start early.
you on the other hand, only owning a small shop, are your own boss, setting a later time in the day for your work.
when sevika’s taking a shower, sometimes you make your way into the kitchen and fix up a hearty breakfast for the both of you and lunch for her.
this is definitely not your preferred wake up time, yawn after yawn making your jaw ache, eyes still puffy from sleep.
you grumble to yourself, pouring a cup of coffee for sevika, adding her preferred provisions.
sensing her before you feel her arms wrap around you, peppered kisses then grace the side of your neck while appreciative comments come your way. the scent of her soap, lotion, and sprayed fragrance, fill the air, those warm and spiced notes bringing you further from fatigue.
“pouting when you could’ve stayed in bed,” she murmurs, nuzzling into you. she groans as her hands roam over your thick, pudgy figure. “honestly, you getting up with me helps. or i’d be right there with you.”
another yawn plus an exaggerated grunt floats from your throat. “eat your food so you can go and come back.”
sevika’s smile is felt on your nape, that slight attitude following your awakening a factor she so dearly adores. “i can help you finish up.”
you sink into her hold, gently asking her to back up so you can get the rest of the plates ready. pointing out she’s going to be late when she offers to clean everything after, you laugh at her easy dismissal of the fact, watching her take the plates to the table.
ambessa
she gets done with training and you’re still knocked out on the large bed, your bare body tucked under the blankets, dark brown skin peeking from the mahogany sheets.
a smile is on her face—you’re exactly where she would expect you to be. bless the night before and bless her aftercare.
the sun is just above the horizon at this time, her training with her troops having started at dawn.
unwrapping the fabric around her forearms and hands, her steps are heavy and slow when approaching you, her judgment of your deep sleep taking place.
she calls out to you.
instinctively, you curl into the space next to you that’s supposed to hold your partner’s thick, toned body. the absence brings a frustrated huff from you, hands circling the empty space half-asleep.
ambessa says your name again with a lilt, now by the bedside and looking down at your squirming body, the movement causing the covers to shift and expose more of your curvy, bare figure. she kneels down to get a better look at you. “breakfast will be ready soon.”
the moment her hand is placed on your hip, you fidget in your sleep, dreams tucked away to welcome reality. you place your hand on hers and bring your sight to focus on her, sleep coating you thickly.
“you are like a log when you sleep,” ambessa muses, her thumb kneading your love handle. “i don’t know whether to adore it or be worried.”
you cover your mouth as you yawn, your reply starting in the middle of the action and making your voice throaty, “i’m not a heavy sleeper. i woke up as soon as you started twitching. usually means your coming out of it.”
ambessa grips the underside of your thigh, silent adoration for the notice of her unconscious habit sent through the tightened hold.
shoola
her eyes don’t even open before her lips find your skin, left arm clutching you tighter in the bed. she smiles at your low moan, slotting your hips right into hers.
responding immediately, you push back into her, the natural alarm that is your girlfriend bringing you from another wonderful slumber in her arms.
“almost time for work,” she mumbles into your ear before placing a kiss behind it. pressing suggestively into your backside, shoola melts into the plushness, chuckling after garnering a groan; not at her voice, but at the reminder there is indeed another day with her away.
embedded into a career of artistry, your work doesn’t bring you from your home often, a welcome encasement in the space letting you stay while sustaining a career.
shoola gives a kiss to your cheek. “exactly.” another peck comes. “i’ll bring back those little pastries you like.”
“or you can stay,” you offer, voice smooth and heavy with sleep. “use a personal day. or don’t. ditch.”
breathing in your scent, shoola smiles against your left shoulder blade. easily moved by your words, she perks up a bit. “right…if it’s an emergency, they know how to get to me. after all, time with you is far more valuable.” her heart thumps as she embraces you from the back. “very.”
you think for a minute. “pastries do sound good though. especially the ones you brought last time.”
“plain or berry?”
you answer while you stretch the sleep out of your joints, “mmm…both were so good.” a smile grows on your lips when shoola’s nose skims your shoulder. “i want those and i want something salty—something with spice.”
shoola thinks for a moment, mind gathering the closest places for what you’re craving. “desmin’s cafe. we could be there in less than an hour.”
despite the bed not being left for another thirty minutes, you two make it to the cafe, nestled into a booth and indulging on a savory breakfast.
“you’re doing what? with who?” khane lays on shoola’s bed, toying with a puzzle mechanism in his hands, brown eyes lit up with interest at his aunt’s words. “how many times have i tried to bring you down for the same thing?” he smiles to himself, seeing as his speculations are coming true.
shoola’s towel is over her chest, stare on the mirror in her bathroom. slowly, she rubs moisturizer into her rich brown skin, the sweet fragrance mixing with the dissipating steam following her shower taken just a few minutes ago. the scar on the right side of her face as well as the base of her neck holds her focus, hands running over the sites of old injury with a light massage, a special salve applied.
she thinks, maybe i shouldn’t. regret arises with the idea, knowing she is expected by sevika. concerning gatherings outside her home, she has only carved herself out of the supposed safety of her abode to attend council meetings and the only most necessary of invitations that are fundraisers and attendance to university—both having dwindled significantly since the incident. in lieu of these thoughts, her inner voice speaks up again: this is necessary; not in an obligatory manner at all.
shoola rolls her shoulder back once, stretching out her body with the motion. the words from khane, having registered moments ago, beam in her mind like a message that needs a reply, the lotion rubbed into the last of her unmoisturized skin as she conjures her reply.
“a night out…with a friend.” shoola leaves the bathroom, the softness of her slippers caressing her feet while she pads to her closet a few feet down. she rolls her eyes at the scoff that emits from khane in response, her hands still rubbing together just to feel the sensation of her skin with the lotion on.
khane sits up on the bed, interest in the puzzle departing to get into the thick of it. “and which friend have you suddenly decided to accept an invitation from after” –he feigns a count on his fingers despite being out of shoola’s view– “centuries?”
shoola’s airy laugh floats through the contents of her room, her fingers brushing over the garment she's examining. by the tone of his voice she can only fake a wrong answer to who he’s alluding to, her thoughts shifting to the individual easily. “can’t i just…go out? if i was all tucked in for the night you’d be on another rant about that.”
“this isn’t a rant. i asked a question—that you are unsuccessfully dodging by the way.” khane juts his lips a bit as he smooths his thumb over the metal device in his left palm. “how you feelin’?”
looking over a white off-shoulder top, shoola nods to the choice before answering, “i’m feeling the best i can. i…sevika is…nice to be around. different. i need that.” the last words are a bit quieter than the rest.
“yeah? even if she gets on your ass about the council?”
shoola sets aside the top and begins to search for a bottom. “well she’s right every time with every point. her agitation and anger aren’t misplaced; that is the least she could do.”
khane hums. “so you like being told off i guess.”
a flowy pair of black pants catch shoola’s interest, her hand reaching to take the garment from its place before her left hand smooths over the length of the fabric. her thoughts put together the full outfit in her head before khane’s pointed statement loops through as well. “i think you should point your gaze to your own matters with rekia.” she finds her undergarment next with ease, slipping on the soft fabric, thumbs tracing the waistband.
“you don’t have to tell me.” khane grunts softly as he stands up from the bed, joints popping softly. “maybe i should invite ‘em. so we can spy on y’all. then i’m going to tell mama and pa—hell the whole family’s gonna hear about it.”
“i doubt my personal life is of any interest the way you’re making it sound,” is shoola’s reply, her words clearly spoken with a smile. “and it might be ironic to say considering the fact that zaunites track my every move when i’m down there–”
“they do–”
“but i don’t need anyone else…watching. and i truly doubt sevika favors that idea.”
khane tightens up at that thought, pocketing his handheld puzzle. though he expected that was who shoola is going with, her vague attitude has finally dropped, meaning she is warming up to the fact as well. his sly smile is hidden as he actually considers taking rekia to the same bar and doing a little lounging, a dash of drinking, and a smidge of specified people-watching.
exiting her closet, shoola comes out in her outfit, her chosen shoes held by her right index and middle finger tucked into the heels, free hand smoothing over her torso and sides. she walks over to her vanity and takes a seat on the plush seating. “that shut your mouth right up—does sevika scare you?”
“uh, is a fork found in a kitchen?” khane wanders the expanse of the bedroom, nearing shoola in his slow trek. “but it’s still one of her best qualities. sevika’s like zaun in that way—based on face value they’re a bit…y’know. then you dig a little and you have a soft, vulnerable individual.”
shoola applies a base of black eye shadow, laughing lightly in the middle of the careful swipes. “have you told them that?”
“when i’m in the mood to get told off, yeah. but you can definitely slide that comment in there and get off scot-free. since y’all havin’ breakfast and everything together now.”
blinking a couple of times, shoola angles her head from side to side, studying her efforts so far then giving a humored sigh and closing her eyes for a moment. “is this you just being ten feet deep in my business or a case of wiloh’s loose lips.”
a feigned moment of thought with a light hum comes from khane before he says brightly, “good fortune from both.”
next on the applicator is the golden hue, shoola’s response withheld for a minute as she focuses on applying eye shadow. during some point in her makeup application, her right hand develops a light tremor, her brush set down immediately as she tucks her hand under her vanity, squeezing it repeatedly to calm the trigger. “...good fortune for who exactly?”
khane finds himself near the pitcher of water, pouring a fresh cup and then bringing it to shoola, setting it on the corner of the gold-accented vanity. “me, myself, and i. i’m a big fan of whatever you two got goin’ on.”
shoola can’t help the tired laugh that comes from her before she murmurs a ‘thank you’ to him, left hand reaching to pick up the cup and take a couple of soothing swigs. “i think you’re bored and you need more hobbies.” as she sets the cup back down, her right hand is relieved from the tremors, and she picks up the applicator to continue putting on her eyeshadow.
“is that a nice way of tellin’ me to kick rocks?”
“not at all, but your foot is fitting nicely into the shoe.” she finishes off adorning her face, then places her faceplate on, standing up from the chair as she massages her lips together, making sure her lipstick is spreading evenly. even as she stands, she is in the view of the vanity’s mirror, taking a long look at herself, angling her face to study the entirety of it while she shifts her body to see how it all comes together.
khane looks at the clock and starts to gather his own things while he speaks up, “you look cute. get out of that mirror’s face and get to enjoyin’ your night.” he opens her bedroom door, slipping through the space before lingering for a second. “give sevika a hug and a kiss for me. love you, stay safe.”
certain thoughts already neatly tucked away, the playful words make shoola turn away from the mirror, the shutting of her door making her reply begin with a stammer before she calls out her own farewell.
-
sevika waits in front of the elevator, sights in a deep concentration to study the mechanism before them. they shift their stance, taking in a breath as they keep the overbearing thoughts to a minimum. their brown skin is tight with nerves, the heat surging through being a different sensation from what has been felt in the past few weeks. to pinpoint a main feeling would be a failure, the whirlwind of emotions letting sevika hover in a limbo.
the next descent of the elevator, sevika takes a subconscious step forward, their eyes darting from each person leaving the mechanism. they keep walking until the familiar frame of shoola comes into view, their gazes setting on one another, simultaneous hesitance in both of their next movements. sevika does their usual once-over, a bit of a repetition in the action as they admire the look shoola put together, the jewelry remaining focused on golden accents with matte black adornments mixed into them. they tilt their head, a faint smile on their face.
immersed in the sweet spice of sevika’s fragrance, shoola takes a moment to realize how close she is to them, the hairs on her skin perking up at the proximity while the blood rushes to her face. “overdressed, didn't i?” she adjusts the positioning of her top, making sure it is sitting right.
a soft hum comes from sevika as they shake their head, lips downturning a bit. “i don’t remember making a dress code for tonight. and you look good.” they motion their head toward the space behind them. “ready?”
“i am.” shoola catches their gaze and her chest constricts, her posture straightening as she watches them quickly look her up and down before turning and leading the way away from the elevator. she is graced with the sight of her acquaintance’s back, the fabric of the vest they’re wearing wrapping the expanse of their wide body just right; an unashamed dekko is given to sevika’s ass, the fitted material accentuating the curves. her stare raises as her face warms, sights landing on the nape of their neck, a visible growth coming to the undercut. the thought to touch and caress is quickly shooed away while she clears her throat, tugging at the neckline of her top again, her claws grazing her chest. she looks away to her surroundings, trying to gather herself with another aspect to focus on.
“you feelin’ alright tonight?” sevika slows and looks to their side, watching shoola abandon her position just behind them, the back of their hands brushing against one another. neither pull away immediately, the bit of comfort offered by the unintentional.
“mhm.” shoola nods. “how about you? i didn’t keep you waiting too long, i hope.”
“not at all.” sevika hears the incoming commotion before their body bumps shoola’s, right hand finding the small of her back while they let the group pass, their broad build pressed against her curvy, thick frame for a moment before they guide both of their bodies to the side of the street. they look back at who just trudged through uncaringly, bottling the holler to concentrate on the path to the bar. “you know how close i am to posting up rules for how to walk with other people on the same damn route?”
shoola is hushed, the firm touch of sevika’s hand building a desire she knows she has no business indulging in. when they look at her, she nods a couple of times, forcing a chuckle. “they were a bit close, yes. um…that happens a lot?” obviously, she thinks to herself.
bringing their hand back to their side, sevika notices the other’s rigidity, the presumed discomfort letting them know they need to think of particular actions before doing it. they return to their normal posture and start back on the path. “yeah, often.”
the rest of the short trek is enveloped by silence, more of a distance in between the two as they walk through the lively streets. an even livelier building is where sevika is headed, a nervous prickle bringing a light heat to their skin as they approach, hoping the environment serves to ease both theirs and shoola’s turmoil. they walk up to the door and open it, the muffled music no longer stifled, the clear notes ringing through the air. looking back at shoola, they tilt their head toward the inside once seeing her just stand there.
“waiting for an invite? or are you scared?” sevika has a ghost of a smile when they are given a pointed look, their gray sights set on shoola’s golden-gray eyes.
she steps forward. “i don’t think i’m afraid of much.” another step and she enters the tavern fully, the air a stark difference from outside. shoola ignores the stares and scans the room’s interior, taking in the decor with a light smile before finding sevika’s gaze.
“i can tell.” sevika’s left arm points to the bar and then a small booth in the corner. “your choice.”
even through the loud instruments, the deep, smooth tone of sevika’s voice reaches shoola, their slight lean to make sure they are heard making the councilor cycle through her thoughts a couple time before being able to respond. seeing as her mind structures a more intimate outcome with choosing the booth, shoola points to the bar, the claws adorning her fingers tonight carrying a fully black presentation with golden tips. “can you tell khane is scared of you?”
sevika’s visage lights up at that, a laugh quick to follow. “he told you that?” they follow her to the bar and watch her sit on one of the stools before moving theirs a bit closer. “and you’re just putting his business out like that? damn.” they meet the bartender’s gaze and wave him over.
“funny you say that considering he would be sat right next to us if i didn’t pry him off of his plans to follow tonight.” shoola examines the bottles lining the wall behind the bartenders. ultimately, she is unfamiliar with the zaun-produced liquor, mentally handing over her choices to sevika. when the individual behind the bar comes to take their order, she looks at sevika just when they look at her.
quick to read what shoola’s gaze conveys, sevika orders two shots of the same thing, chilled, small cups put in front of the two before a light brown spirit is poured into both. as she thanks the bartender, shoola slips in a request for a regular beverage on the side to accompany the shot, then she adjusts her position on the stool, thick thighs rubbing against each other while her ass shifts back slightly.
“i didn’t expect this bar to be the one you’d plan to go to,” shoola says, nodding her head and smiling at the bartender when he returns with a regular sweet drink. her gaze drops to sevika’s fingers tracing the bottom edge of their shot glass, a couple seconds of her stare bringing stray thoughts; quickly, she looks to her own cup and ensues aimless touching of the glass as well.
“yeah? well i think what you had in mind is a bit more rough around the edges then this place.” sevika grabs their glass and raises it toward shoola. “to good health.”
shoola does the same. “and…to new friends.”
the edges of the cups kiss, shoola’s prompt finally processing when sevika’s lips meet their glass to take the shot, a small smile stretches across as they murmur, “to new friends.” they down the shot with a slight wince, tuning into her immediately as the burn in their throat is dismissed. shoola eyes narrow a bit as she swallows the shot, her opposing hand already taking a hold of the requested cup of juice and eagerly taking a small sip to wash away the bitter evidence.
a glimmer within their gray eyes, sevika chuckles at her drinking procedure, attention brought to shoola’s hand resting on her lap, the golden tips of the matte black claws scintillating when she moves a bit. “also…thought you’d like live music rather than some old, beat up jukebox.”
looking at the space around her, shoola notices the small area to the side where individuals and couples are dancing to the jazz, gesturing toward them with a slight angling of her head. “do you think i’d like dancing too?”
sevika takes the chance to give shoola a feigned once-over, lips jutting to the side a bit. “hmm. i can see you out there, yeah.” a scenario of shoola out on the floor dancing conjures in their mind as soon as the words leave them, their new companion’s presence and movements planted alongside their own, following the beats perfectly, bodies nearly touching while their hands are occupied in caressing one another’s. a quick blur applied to their loose imagination, sevika taps their shot glass while bringing their eyes they look at shoola’s empty one. by now the shot has settled into their system, another layer of warmth blanketing their skin. “should we have another?”
shoola takes her gaze from the band, still moving her shoulder to the music while she gives an affirmed hum, a soft clink emitting as her claws push the shot glass forward. “i usually like a simple wine, but this is good. i didn’t expect the aftertaste to be so sweet.”
sevika is about to go into the details of who makes the particular brew, leaning forward as the forearm of their prosthetic rests on the bar counter, a soft whirring projecting from the motion. their eyes flit to the entrance of the bar before the door opens, a few individuals trickling in, making sevika look back to shoola before focusing on the group trudging through again.
the advances sevika has made for the betterment of their community has unfortunately struck a chord in particular types of people who once thrived under what zaun was when silco and vander were at the forefront of taking care of everything. since sevika has seen the fault in both efforts and took it upon theirself to break the complacency of the position, flushing out the infrastructures that are truly rotting zaun from the core, it could only be expected that there would be such attitudes in response.
but in this moment, sevika is already agitated, having hoped for a night that took both shoola’s and their mind off the pressures of duties and working.
“i’ll be back,” sevika tells shoola, holding her gaze for a few seconds as they get up from the stool.
“oh. are you okay?” she tracks their movement, and looks to where they are heading, now noticing the presence of a few new attendees to the bar. concern arising in an instant, she continues, “who are they?”
sevika gets the bartender’s attention. “jamie, anything she wants on my tab.” their eyes say the rest of their order while their head motions to the guests that just entered.
“you got it,” jamie chirps, the task of looking after shoola already having been imprinted as soon as she arrived with sevika. his dark green eye tracks sevika’s movement before settling back on the first time guest.
a lingering look given to the lead of the group, kel, sevika walks past until they reach the door, opening it and waiting for him to follow them outside. never left alone in their efforts to protect what is being rebuilt, several guests that were already in the bar get up to back sevika, watching the gang follow them out as they accompany the group. the door closes behind them all and the band resumes playing, maintaining the light atmosphere that was once albeit a bit more tense with thoughts of what is occurring just outside.
shoola keeps her eyes on the door, brows furrowed while her chest constricts with worry. she knows well that sevika is more than capable of taking care of theirself in that manner of defense, yet there is a weird feeling in her stomach that urges her to make sure that factor remains; but she doubts her lessons in self-defense are a match for individuals that have been fighting for most of their lives.
“...you a drink?” the end of the inquiry reaches shoola, making her turn to the person standing near sevika’s seat. silver eyes set atop dark sclera’s stare burn into shoola, a polite smile on her face when she faces the stranger fully.
“i’m sorry, what was that?” shoola looks the individual up and down, her analysis transparent.
the stranger does the same, tilting her head toward the empty shot glass. she repeats, her accent thick, “i asked if i could get you a drink, councilor shoola.”
“oh, you don’t have to call me that,” shoola laughs airily. “and you can get me a drink if i can offer you one back…?” she leaves space to ask for her name without asking.
“may,” she finishes. humming with satisfaction, may calls jamie over, his look between the two telling, but he keeps quiet, seeing no harm in the friendly interaction. ordering for shoola, may slides a few bronze cogs over the counter, turning back to her when they finish speaking to him.
“whatever she wants,” shoola tells jamie.
as he retreats to start making the drinks, may dips back into conversation with shoola, silver eyes running up the length of her body. “i didn’t take you as a patron of zaun’s businesses.”
shoola hums. “you just haven’t seen me around. but i’ve been back and forth for decades—i have some family that lives here. and…friends.”
“friends?” may takes a seat where sevika was sitting. “and one of them is supposed to be sevika, i’m assuming.”
jamie sets down the drinks in front of the two, lingering nearby as he hears his companion’s name. he takes out a rag and cleans the counter with no need to do so, the handmade decor lining his right eyepatch glinting with his movements. gaze darting to the door, he expects sevika to be returning soon, the next confrontation one he will be having a frontrow to.
shoola thanks him before indulging in the pale blue cocktail, a leveled amount of spirit and additional beverages mixed together bringing a satisfied expression to her face. hearing the pointed words from may, she takes the straw and swirls the drink. “one of them is sevika, actually. are you here to tell me something about my choices? you sound disappointed,” is the light reply, her shaved brows raised.
may takes a sip of her own drink, shrugging. “you seem like you’d keep better company around. not a drug dealing, child labor enabler.”
her fingers letting go of her straw, shoola stares may right in her eyes. “do you think piltover is above any of that? that i am a saint who has never seen or had a hand in other’s suffering?” she leans in slightly. “you think i don’t know? i can take a group of piltover citizens and a group of zaunites, tell them to hold out their hands and see that not a single one is clean; i could do it again and see the innocents. they are melded in these societies. there are some who sustain that role and continue to dirty their hands.” she motions to the door behind her where kel and his gang are being handled just outside of it. “and there are some who will choose to scrub them clean no matter the stains that remain. efforts and a change of mind—i see that and i do not care who i call my companion.”
the door of the bar opens; sevika wants nothing more than to sit and enjoy the rest of their night, a bruise forming on the right side of their ribs while anger shudders through their flesh—preferred company and a drink is a highlight in the near future. then they espy shoola’s engaged body language and their seat occupied, their gaze hardening as they start a slow march back to her. they know who is sitting next to her but can’t bring theirself to care much past recognition, mind in a slight daze.
shoola’s skin prickles and she hears the familiar thud of sevika’s boots, her body straightening as she brightens before glancing to her side and craning her head slightly to hold their gaze. but that was only with the expectation that they were already looking at her. instead, sevika has a hard glare on may, a slight quiver to their gaze as they remain speechless, breaths heavy and prominent through their nose.
may is mid-sip of her drink, her side-eye becoming a dead-on returning stare. larger swigs of her drinks are taken before she gets up from the seat to stand, the energy she’s getting from sevika enough of a prompt for her to leave and return to the back of the bar.
sevika watches her retreat, then looks at her seat before setting her stare on shoola, the concern in her eyes a layer of balm to their demeanor. they sit back down in a languorous manner, wincing slightly. they push may’s empty glass aside with their knuckles, the glass taken by jamie and replaced with a fresh cup of liquor for them, more than a shot poured into the short, sturdy glass.
shoola stays quiet, focusing on her cocktail and taking a long and hefty sip. when her lips detach from the straw, she motions vaguely. “that…happens often?”
a drink taken from their cup, sevika keeps her friend’s eyes within their sight, the burn a welcome distraction from their body pulsing with pain. they discard that inquiry as the topic of their conversation, placing humor to divert the obvious answer, “i leave for a couple of minutes and that’s who you replace me with?”
“no, i…i thought she was friendly. emphasis on thought.” shoola’s study of sevika’s state is constant, her position on her chair shifting to come toward them slightly. “and i don’t think i have any candidates to replace you.”
sevika’s emotions triumph over the spirits in their system, a welcome burning heat set to their face and body. they give a slow nod. “...good.”
pen waving back and forth with quickness between her middle and index fingers, sevika looks over the paperwork on her desk, blueprints scattered over the cool, dark surface. the work is overwhelming; but considering what it’s for, her complaints stay to herself, statements of dismay usually expressed to khane who is missing for the time being, handling a matter sevika sent him to handle almost an hour ago. her gaze kept on what is in front of her, she reaches with her left hand to grab her cup of water, eyes dragging from the document to stare blankly at the glass of water as she drinks a couple of swigs before setting it down at a considerable distance from the papers.
when the door to her office creaks open and the familiar soft click of shoola’s heels sound, sevika stops shaking the pen, setting the object down as she looks up, retreating from her slightly hunched over position. she looks at the folder in shoola’s arm and sighs, holding her hand out, expecting a new addition of documents.
“a sigh and a look of disappointment is all i get?” shoola’s hand slips into the awaiting one, the immediate gentle grasp making the small smile on her lips grow. she sits on the edge of the desk, just beside sevika’s chair. “also, i don’t think you’d want to touch anything dealing with piltover affairs.”
sevika’s left thumb brushes over shoola’s knuckles, setting her hand down while her own settles on the other’s left thigh, squeezing lightly before a subconscious massage of the plush, thick limb ensues. “depends.”
shoola lifts her shaved brow, claw adornments finding a place under sevika’s chin. “on what?” she suddenly grips her jaw. “shouldn’t you be up by now?”
blinking, sevika’s entire body resets, a bit of a struggle to open her eyes again, before they shoot open, vi’s concerned face the only thing in view. isha reaches out and rubs sevika’s cheek. she grunts as she sits up, palming isha’s head and ruffling her hair as she steps out of her groggy state. “i’m up.”
“haven’t seen you look so relaxed when sleeping in a while.” vi straightens up and moves a bit, letting sevika have more space as she rises from her bed. “almost didn’t want to wake you but you were on my ass about making sure you got up for that meeting so.”
“mornin’ sevika.”
looking past vi, sevika looks at ekko sitting at jinx’s bedside, his hand holding hers. she gives him a small smile and nod, getting up from her bed and angling her body slightly from side to side, stretching out her tired muscles. “how’s everyone? you guys already eat breakfast?”
“ate before i came here,” is ekko’s answer.
“isha did,” vi starts, crossing her arms, “i’m not feelin’ like it yet.”
sevika grabs some fresh clothing from the closet to the left of her bed, her steps careful as isha stays by her, holding up something for her to look at. she yawns, taking the item and squinting as she studies the metal piece, eyeing it from different angles before lowering it and holding it over isha’s stump. “yeah, i made this for you. i’m almost done.”
isha hums as she grins, plucking the mechanism from sevika’s hand before running over to ekko, showing him the piece as well.
meeting vi’s gaze, sevika asks, “any plans for today?” she walks around the partition sectioning off her portion of the room from the rest.
vi nods. “like yesterday. heading out to help rebuild.” she motions to her right arm. “almost took my shoulder out doing some heavy liftin’.”
“showin’ off for gert?” sevika walks over to ekko and pats his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly while she looks over jinx.
head bowing to hide the blood rushing to her cheeks, vi retorts while looking back up, “i don’t have to show off.”
sevika waves her off as she walks off toward the door, bare feet settling into some sandals before she grabs the key off the wall then exits the room, walking a few steps across the hall to enter the bathroom. she sets her clothing down on the countertop near the sink, right hand quick to tug off her tank top, the garment set into a bin to the side. after she does the same to her boxers, the shower is turned on with a few squeaky turns of the knobs, her hand waving through the emission of cool water, following the temperature until it warms perfectly.
she stands under the water rigid for a moment, eyes closed while her head is lolled back a bit. typically, sevika would wake up from haphazard nightmares or eerie, empty dreams, images of the past and ill-fated scenarios of what could be clouding her mind even past awakening. but today, she sits with something far from the norm.
however she has no time to entertain a simple dream, fixated on what good she can do for her community and for her people. in fact, a well-composed partial facade of a thought is that the relationship between herself, the kids, and zaun are the only ones she needs. take care of the family and take care of zaun–this is the framing of her life and happily so. rebuttals from her own mind never fails to push the reasoning that you can never have too much happiness and that is when sevika finds an outlying topic to bring to mind, mumbling to herself to bring a physical diversion.
nearly twenty minutes under the warm water and sevika is rinsing off the soap that lingers on her body, hand combing through her short hair as one of the final acts of her cleanse, a deep sigh leaving her as she thinks about leaving the shower’s warm embrace. then aspects of piltover pepper into her mind and she locks back into reality, turning off the water before climbing out of the shower and grabbing her towel hung nearby, patting herself dry while the steam settles.
the rest of her morning routine slightly rushed through, sevika exits the bathroom and locks it behind her, walking back into her place across the hall and doing a once-over of the room as she enters. her socks now fitted onto her feet, sevika slides them into the boots awaiting her just at the threshold of the space, grunting lightly as she kneels and buckles them tight. looking up, sevika catches ekko’s and vi’s sight on her, a furrow in her brow forming in an instant.
“what?” sevika stands, boots thudding across the floor as she grabs her prosthetic and attaches it to her stump, soft chirring emitting from the mechanism as it calibrates. she doesn’t get a response from ekko or vi and decides to let the silence remain rather than push either to do so. once her arm fully sets in, she uses her left hand to push up the sleeve on her right forearm, the soft midnight fabric folding into the crevice of her elbow.
sevika’s next route sends her around her portion of the space and then some, a plan to settle into her office after the meeting and get some work done pre-planned in her head.
“so shoola’s like…your friend now, right?” is vi’s inquiry just as sevika finishes gathering her things to take to the meeting.
cloak fitted around her left shoulder, sevika raises a brow at her sudden inquiry, keeping her expression leveled. “i’d say we’re getting to know each other. why?”
ekko pipes up, “hearing about the two of you from every end of zaun. people love their speculations.” he places jinx’s hand near her still body and stands up from the stool.
“yeah?” sevika brightens with feigned interest, heading toward the door. “and i would love to hear every single one, but i have better things to give my attention.” she waves at them all before opening the door. “you need me, i’ll come. stay safe.”
-
sevika lets out a heavy sigh, listening to councilor dievan delve into another tangent, his grating voice prattling on about nothing important despite his own belief. along with the fact sevika ate nothing for breakfast, it seems like the council woke up and left sense in the bed, using the audience before them to speak of themselves and presumably show off their fine lives.
mumbling to herself, sevika rolls her eyes, tapping impatiently on the table. dievan quiets, gaze dragging to her, earning her pointed glare in return. he frowns, mouth opening again with words prepared.
“are the concerns of piltover a bore for you, sevika?” councilor dievan asks.
“councilor.” sevika sits up straighter.
“yes?”
“no. this is the council room and i am a counterpart of yours. councilor comes before my name before it comes out of your mouth.” her glare moves from him to the rest of the councilors apart from shoola, making sure the point reaches them all. “and as for the matters you speak of, yes—they are a bore. this isn’t a party, fundraiser, or anything close to a social event; it’s work. so work.”
shoola bites the sides of her tongue lightly to keep from showing her humor, looking down at her steaming cup of tea then raising it to take a small sip. though her reaction is hidden, she still finds sevika facing her last, former agitated expression dismissed as the two hold a silent conversation with their gaze, a subtle glance to the other then back to shoola with a small shake of her head, making the clawed councilor let out a verbal chuckle, the action rippling through the dark and warm liquid in her cup.
if it was not clear in the first meeting, the chair of zaun isn’t a blank slate to simply take what is given to them, sitting quietly while the regard of their state is fed the leftovers of whatever matters discussed. sevika is the voice of her people—so she will speak and act as such. these little comments can’t work on her, because nothing can possibly discourage her from the position and what she is able to do with it.
despite the murmurs of rebuttals at sevika’s comment, the following discussion in the council meeting centers on the true meaning for the gathering. as much as she wants to listen without a care, sevika is settled deep in the conversation, keeping an ear out for any particular way an idea connects to zaun, ready to interject with the fact that the state can’t be forgotten in these ideas and proclamations.
-
by the time the meeting ends, sevika’s hunger has changed her demeanor entirely, her choice to stay for the rest of the day and work in her office quickly disposed of. she is walking out of the door of the council room, thinking of which vendor she is going to get some food from, mind miles away before a light touch to her bicep brings her back. and for the moment, the hunger is muted while the jewelry scrapes the fabric of her long sleeve as it departs.
“i have something for you,” shoola says to her.
sevika easily switches the trajectory of her steps to follow shoola, eyes roaming her backside before catching up to her. “sleep better?”
shoola looks at her and thinks: better? did i look that off the last time we saw one another? maybe i really should have stayed in. clearing her throat lightly, she says out loud, “did you?”
expecting the redirection, sevika smiles faintly, peering over at her as well just as the images from her dream recompose, the heat of a bashful nature rising on her brown skin. she returns her gaze to the path ahead with quickness, feigned nonchalance clouding her light shrug. “better than i have.”
the truthfulness in the reply makes shoola feel a bit of guilt for harboring her own sentiments, so she discloses, “me too—a bit more grace was given this time around.” she focuses her eyes down the corridor. “i hope i’m not taking you from anything too important.”
“unless you’re plannin’ to put an entire buffet in front of me, you kinda are. skipped out on breakfast and that meeting took the last bit of energy out of me,” sevika confesses. yet the question in the air is if she is feeling that way, why choose to follow shoola down to who-knows-where? sevika shoves the thought aside.
shoola nods her head toward the direction they are both already heading. “well then i’m happy i read you well enough during the meeting.”
sevika side-eyes her but doesn't say anything. read me, she thinks. not sure how she feels about the unknown analysis, sevika continues her trek with a bit of caution. yet she can’t help herself as they approach a door to the left of them. “mhm. and how often do you do this ‘read’ of yours?’
touching the door’s handle, shoola pauses. “i…misspoke,” comes the lie in a voice shying away from the topic. she opens the door and motions for sevika to enter as she holds it open, following after she passes through, sight doing a quick study of her broad backside.
a server comes up to the both of them with a small smile. “hello councilors. will it just be the two of you?”
shoola nods. “we’ll be sitting on the patio, wiloh. thank you.”
sevika is still looking around the interior of the dining quarters, shoola’s movements toward the balcony inviting her own. the low thud of her boots follow the heels clicking, observation abandoned to track the slight sway of shoola’s hips as she leads the way through the room. sevika then looks at wiloh, who is walking beside the two, their stare on her light and knowing.
sitting down at a shaded table, shoola adjusts herself a bit while watching sevika, their seating arrangement face-to-face across the small square table. under the surface, her ankles are crossed comfortably while sevika’s feet rest on either side, her thick thighs spread as she leans back in her chair. the first part of wiloh’s words are muffled, shoola’s gaze taking interest in her counterpart’s fingers resting on the table, middle digit smoothing over the mineral in a slow circular motion. it’s when sevika speaks that shoola sinks back into the real world for a moment.
“i’ll have a coffee. and water,” sevika orders, eyes flitting to shoola when she hears her inhale sharply all of the sudden. she nods her head in thanks as wiloh places a small menu in front of her before she tilts her head at shoola, a brow lifting in question.
shoola takes her view from sevika and sets it on wiloh. “the usual for me please. thank you.” she takes the menu from them before they leave to prepare the order. reading over the menu for a moment, she only reads the first option for the course, waning concentration leading her to dart her sights back to sevika then to the view the patio offers part from her.
“figured it out?”
blinking, shoola glances at her. “hm?” the wind blows against the menu in her hands and she brings her attention back to it rather than sevika. “i…um—yes. and you?”
“is this the usual layout of these things? just a few options?” sevika sets down her menu, gaze tracing the golden accents framing her acquaintance’s body.
shoola gives an affirmed hum. “the chef likes to experiment with new items everyday.”
wiloh is on their way back as sevika’s response starts, “experimenting is for science and tech. i don’t want that anywhere near what i’m eatin’.” she thanks them as they take off the beverages from the cart and set them on the table in front of the respective individual.
shoola chuckles softly as she thanks wiloh as well. “i assure you it's a delight. don’t worry.”
“all set to order your main course?” wiloh asks, rosy eyes looking between the two. “or…do you both need a little more time.”
“how big are the servings?” sevika questions, grabbing the saucer full of the thick, heavy cream, holding it over her cup of hot and steaming cup of coffee and pouring in an amount that suffices before setting down the metal object.
wiloh states easily with practiced smoothness, “our more savory platters have a decent serving. i recommend those if you have a larger appetite.”
sevika nods, having figured as much. while she scoops a couple spoonfuls of sugar into her coffee she puts in her main order. she listens as shoola places her own, watching the swirling contents of the coffee as she circles the spoon slowly, light clinking noises emitting. she nods at wiloh when they announce their impending return with the food, following her entrance back into the main dining quarters.
“so i’m guessin’ the new chairs of the council were a couple of people just plucked off the street?” sevika raises her left index finger, a soft whirring projecting from the motion. “apart from yours truly.”
adding the necessary provisions to her tea, shoola smiles softly before giving her answer. “don’t you know how powerful money is? piltover’s houses are put into place to ensure their own upstanding with wealth, power, whatever comes to mind.” the dark tea now a light brown, shoola gently taps the silver spoon on the edge of the ceramic cup, the excess liquid falling from it. the sip she takes is simultaneous with sevika’s, their eyes locking.
sevika’s stomach welcomes the deposit, still grumbling when it realizes the lack of true sustenance. but she herself still revels in the taste, another slow sip taken as she mulls over shoola’s words. “that’s not why you're here, right?”
“do i have that look? do i speak the way they do?” shoola sets her cup down, a shaven brow quirked.
“...no, you don’t,” a softened voice is offered in sevika’s reply, an apologetic essence in the words. “so where did they find you exactly?”
shoola uncrosses her ankles and relaxes her legs, letting them space out under the table. her shoes graze sevika’s, nestling comfortably on the inside of the other’s wider stance. “fashion and architecture are a speciality of my house. nearly centuries of prominence have kept the name afloat within the community.” she leans onto the table, her forearms resting on the surface. “my mother was offered the seat at the council some years ago, but she had no desire in such a thing. she prompted me instead, my spouts of interest in the particular line of work her evidence for doing so.”
“interest, huh.” sevika’s lips downturn as she nods and takes another sip of her coffee. “but it almost sounds like it’s…fallen from the pedestal.”
shoola’s right hand absentmindedly touches her faceplate, gaze diverting. for a moment, her mind blurs while her claws gingerly stroke the golden surface, feet fidgeting against the ground and the soles of sevika’s boots as she tries to settle back into reality. a touch she is unfamiliar with is gently placed atop her left hand laid on the table, sevika’s thumb almost ghostlike over the surface of smooth skin.
“we don’t have a meeting tomorrow, yeah?” sevika watches shoola closely, reeling her back in, trying to reach out to her senses the best she can.
“i…no. i-i don’t think so,” she murmurs, her fingers slowly dragging down the side of her face to focus on her counterpart. “why do you ask?”
sevika feels shoola’s rapid pulse from her light grasp on her hand. “you probably want to stay in your house, i know. maybe a loud ass bar and some company would do you some good. your choice—i’m only suggesting.”
shoola holds back a response, imagining being in her house alone for a day and is slightly repelled at the thought of sitting with her own thoughts for so many hours. she nods once before the tenseness in her body dissipates. “i think it would.”
busy with life but luv my pups shoo and sev. i gotta keep feeding myself and y'all <3
sevika continues on their pre-planned routes to survey the sites of construction, the involvement to actually volunteer their own labor to the efforts is put into action at one of the last locations. their cloak is set aside nearby, hard hat settled on their short hair. they are tossing an absentminded look over their shoulder where they know shoola should be, expecting to see her sit where they purposely set their cape to signify the act. yet sevika finds theirself turning to watch shoola take off her own coat, setting it down beside theirs.
fidgeting with her clothing, shoola meets sevika’s gray sights, their slightly arched brow earning a tilt of her head. already knowing what the silent inquiry is centered around, shoola says, “i’m capable. don’t look at me like that.” a bit of a humored cadence makes the statement lighter as she takes off her claws and sets them on top of her coat.
a small smile comes to sevika’s dark lips as she chuckles, eyes tracking the removal of the jewelry. “didn’t say you weren’t.” they cycle through their thoughts. “you know…you don’t need to prove anything–”
“i’m not.” shoola shoots a look sevika’s way, a ghost of a smile set on her plump limps while her gaze carries the weighted emotion. she grabs her hard hat and puts it on, biting down the discomfort as she fastens it to her head.
sevika grabs the extra pair of gloves sat beside the tools and hands the thick, dark blue garments to shoola. their hands meet upon the transaction, gazes locked as shoola’s soft fingers brushes the back of sevika’s. they blink simultaneously and the lingering touch comes to an end, heads turning in opposite directions as the speed of their hearts quicken.
both shoola and sevika already having studied the intricacies of khane’s blueprints, their melding into the work being done is nearly seamless. shoola introduces herself to the crew, the greeting directed more toward the zaunites than the members of the team she assembled and sent down to aid the infrastructure rebuild. of course she earns hardened gazes and dismissive mutters from some, the atmosphere tightening a bit with the presence of not only a topsider, but a member of the council.
catching a look of one of the more loose-lipped workers from zaun, qaiden, sevika gives him a warning gaze, darkened gray eyes speaking firmly to the other’s mahogany ones: shut the fuck up. his mouth closes immediately, refocusing on his work. in the corner of their sights, sevika notices shoola’s stare on them, making them turn their head to give her their attention.
“you don’t have to do that,” she mutters, as she looks back down to finish unscrewing the pipe and setting the worn, metal material aside.
sevika does the same, frowning at the state of the pipe in her hands before setting it in the pile with the others. “let qaiden talk and that mouth runs and starts sayin’ unnecessary shit. i’m not in the mood–and i know most of the volunteers aren’t either.” they look back at shoola in front of them. “plus i think i gave you your dose of talkin’ mess.”
“defending a council member won’t look good for you,” shoola’s voice is light, amused expression hidden as her head bows to concentrate on her efforts.
a whirring emits as sevika’s prosthetic tugs at another loosened pipe, discarding it with half a mind as they stare at shoola’s figure. then they shrug, when they fully take in her words. “don’t have a look anyways–just trying to help my people.”
sneaking a glance at the other, shoola can’t help but to continue building admiration for her acquaintance. relativity–it was present in the predecessor panel of council members, care and concern an attribute true to some and a facade for others; but that relativity partially existed–and is surely present in this era–as a puppet in some way, moments of these sentiments’ display feigned. and this is for their own citizens. the thoughts and efforts for zaun were heavily evident, consequences for such lack of humanization rightfully implemented to the seats of useless power.
then there is sevika. by now shoola was sure that if a singular seat of decision-making and societal caretaking was positioned over both societies, sevika would guide both communities into a bright future. there is a particular humility to the individual despite the general attitude put forward. and this attribute is a necessary aspect set aside by others to make sure there is enough space for their vanity.
a tangent thought creeps into shoola’s mind that makes her dark brown skin flutter, heat following the reaction in a sliver of a second. let’s focus, her mind utters, forcing the reroute of scenarios to relate to her current efforts.
-
muscles worn and a job done, sevika looks over the new pipe system installed, walking the length of the work site and giving appreciative commentary to everyone involved in the rebuild. they garner the same essence of replies, a small smile on their face as they take in each statement with nonchalance. every volunteer present is given thanks, a reminder that this is a job well done, but the entirety is far from finished.
among the sea of chatter, a beaming velvety voice, makes sevika’s ears perk up, attention to the conversation they somehow found their way in becoming a soft murmur in the back of their mind as they side-eye the space beside them, the glint of shoola’s faceplate coming into view. they tune in more to her words to a fellow zaunite, introductory greetings and meaningful compliments offered by the topsider. sevika makes eye contact with the individuals before them, giving a smidge of their attention back to the discussion before watching shoola move on to another member of the community, taeri, a small smile on her face as she shakes their hand firmly. when eye contact between the two councilmembers ensues, neither backs down immediately, the moment held firmly within their grasps.
“sevika,” veniss calls out to them, readying to follow sevika’s line of sight, but those simmering gray eyes are immediately set back on him.
“i’m listenin’.” sevika rolls back their shoulders, straightening up to adjust their demeanor. they see the look on veniss’ face as well as jenysis and umei. “i said i’m listenin’.”
veniss continues, “topside business confidential or you can tell us what’s goin’ on up there?” he crosses his arms, backside resting against the wall behind him as his dark blue eyes shine with a knowing aura.
“if i ever say somethin’ is confidential, you have my permission to slap some sense into me.” sevika forces their stare on the three individuals in front of them while their peripheral watches shoola move on to another person to speak to. “and it’s just what you would expect–topsiders focusing on nothin’ but themselves. wastin’ breath for shit they already have. only smarts they have is for their own wellbeing.”
umei’s face scrunches up, its hand waving to dismiss the expected statement. “stop, that’s just gonna ruin my whole mood.” it tries to be subtle with its head jerk toward shoola behind it. “what about other things with the council?”
“what?” sevika’s brows furrow with feigned confusion.
jenysis pipes up: “i like her. she was on the last council?”
“you gotta talk so damn loud?” sevika whispers sharply, eyes widening pointedly. “and don’t ask me questions you already know the answer to.”
shoola looks up from their examination of belin in front of her, the individual’s soft-spoken words, cut through by the very loud question from one of the people in front of sevika. she warms, knowing she’s the topic of discussion, gaze returning to belin; he is one of the youngest of the group, a bit skinnier than the others with short, choppy, platinum hair nearly covering his brown eyes.
“i think…” shoola tunes back into her own conversation. “a shared education between zaun and piltover can be done. i would not position one academy over the other. they both have their unique qualities.”
belin nods, taking in her opinion with thoughtfulness. “do you teach?”
“i’ve gone to the academy in piltover as a guest many times,” is shoola’s answer, smiling from the memories.
“now that things are…changing. you can maybe do a lesson at the academy here. i just registered and classes start soon,” belin is hopeful with his request, gaze nearly shimmering.
her sights falling to the ground, shoola thinks about the requests she had put in when khane was still taking classes. the denial was expected on her end, bringing khane to start his own requests which were met with the same fate. “maybe i can. we will look into it.”
in the next few minutes, the crew begins to disperse, sevika and shoola tailing the departing group with final farewells. they are quiet as they return to their belongings nearby, slipping their respective garments back on, looking anywhere but at one another. shoola pockets her claws, intertwining her fingers before letting them hang in front of her body.
“building rapport with your constituents?” sevika has a small smile on their face, looking over at shoola as they make their way back to where they left khane.
“that and more. beyond knowing them as a councilor, within these conversations i am just a person just as they are. i don’t simply want a good relationship with zaun, but the individuals that make up the community.” shoola meets sevika’s gaze, the unknown tenseness in her face softening as she does. “if it is possible.”
thinking of their own trials and tribulations, sevika emits a humored huff through their nose, their steps slow and relaxed along the street. “it is, definitely. it’s just…some won’t just brush over years and years of bullshit for a handshake and minutes of face-to-face. then there’s those who will take what they can get, seeing no reason to settle in the past while the present and future move on.” sevika shrugs. “i can see the reasoning for both.”
“that’s because you are both,” shoola responds more to herself than anything. quickly, she adds, “in a good way.”
sevika holds back a response, prying their eyes away from shoola while their brown skin prickles with heat. their friends’ inquiry light up in their head, making their demeanor lean toward timidity, denial battling their thoughts. taking in a breath, sevika prepares theirself to say something, lips parting slightly; but only a soft exhale comes, shoulders dropping as they swallow their words again.
vehicles pass them on the streets, the whirring of the mechanics filling the atmosphere alongside chatter from the people littered along the path. in a few minutes, the familiar surroundings of where khane stopped to join the crew approaches, the tools now in the process of getting packed up. khane talks eagerly to the group, their fatigue shown more than his, a firm pat from him given to the others’ shoulder.
shoola calls out to him, immediately taking his attention off of his counterparts and toward his aunt. he smiles and gives farewells to the crew before jogging toward sevika and her. “where’d you guys go? ain’t complaining but y’know–tell me.”
“you’re doing your work and we’re doing ours,” sevika replies, looking at him then shoola, eyes setting comfortably on the latter. “all good here?”
khane gives a two-fingered salute. “perfect, if i might say.” he rubs his hands together as he smiles his toothy smile. “seeing my designs come to life did somethin’ to me. damn near teared up.”
“and he did,” rekia comments as they pass by, looking khane up and down with her amber eyes. “multiple times.” her body turns and her trek continues as she walks backwards. “you comin’?”
if he had a tail, it would be sweeping side to side with excitement, he steps already following rekia. he looks back at shoola and sevika as he nears rekia. “qaiden invited us for drinks. he was with you guys today, right? see y'all there or what?”
sevika remembers the invite but considering qaiden and his attributes, they don’t know if that’s something they want to deal with tonight. “i’m good. and…” they look at shoola. “meeting tomorrow morning, yeah?”
“yes, actually. we do.” shoola unconsciously revels under the stare, nodding as she responds. “you know the schedule?”
“unfortunately.”
khane looks between the two, quirking a brow as he studies them for a moment. “okay…well i’ll see you guys tomorrow then. wish me good luck!”
“for what.”
“good luck, khane. don’t overdo it.” shoola finds his embrace, patting the middle of his back lightly before letting go and looking to rekia. “stay safe. both of you.”
khane raises his arms again and prompts sevika silently, sliding closer with an anticipating expression. when all he receives is a gentle pat on the side of his arm, his arms drop and he accepts what is given, settling with the action as a smaller hug.
rekia waves to both shoola and sevika, their prosthetic right hand giving the farewell while khane joins her. she smacks his ass lightly, her words a low murmur as she speaks to him, arm curling around his waist slowly. the two wander off toward the location of the get-together, their discussion joining the surrounding noise.
thinking this is where her and sevika will part, shoola starts walking toward the elevator to return to piltover. she stops in an instant as sevika’s steps continue in unison with hers. “oh, you don’t have to…”
“oh, i do. don’t know your range of awareness environment-wise, but there’s got to be at least a dozen people hoping i leave you alone to wander around here. i don’t need to come into tomorrow’s meeting and you’re not there, last location marked in zaun.” sevika’s right arm extends theatrically. “you get where i’m goin’.”
shoola hums before she chuckles. “unfortunately.”
-
the elevator is letting off its last passengers as sevika and shoola arrive, their presence earning a multitude of stares, the attitude behind them varying as always.
“is your…place nearby?” shoola asks, looking away from the crowd dispersing while she waits patiently for the signal for new passengers to get on.
sevika tilts their head in the direction. “about a couple minutes that way.” they raise their brows. “why?”
“no reason,” shoola says quickly. “i’m just speaking without thoughts behind it,” she mumbles, embarrassed by her failure at small talk. “um…” she sees people start to enter the elevator, motioning to it. “see you tomorrow, sevika.”
sevika studies her character, a faint smile on their lips. “i’ll see you then.” they watch shoola start walking toward the elevator, an instinctive step taken as she does, but they stop theirself, clearing their throat and simply tracking their acquaintance's movement with the small crowd entering the space of the lift.
