soraya ashouri.

someone: where are you from? 

australian hades kid: down undah

 someone: oh, australia? 

australian hades kid: oh, yeah, there, too. 

- joe, 2021

“ is this a serious question? to be honest, i haven’t completely decided. it might be something along the lines of a loving and special connection or a marriage certificate. i’ve never been in an actual relationship, though, so let’s work toward that first. ”

“ yes, i have been there plenty of times. it would be rude to never visit when i have such easy access. i used to go with scarlett every other month or so, but now i am not sure the next time i will be back over there. ”

“ i don’t think it would be boring to meet a fictional character, considering the fact that one of us would have to transcend some type of alternate universe to reach the other. that would have to be exciting to some degree...

however, if there is someone out there who can somehow make that happen and wants me to be bored the whole time, for some reason — i would never want to meet shuri from black panther. she’s just so intelligent, gorgeous and hilarious that i would be bored to tears. please don’t do that to me. ”

“ the biggest difference about greece is the lack of dangerous spiders compared to back home. the transition from high school to college is usually rather startling, so it’s hard to determine how much of that could be attributed to eonia itself. i would say that i have received more . . . propositions now than i did in australia, but again — that could be typical college hookup culture more than anything. ”

watch where you’re going, zelda! was a common refrain all throughout her childhood ; a sentiment that has long gone unheeded. it’s not even that her head is up in the CLOUDS or anything like that, only that on her daily run ( a habit picked up in middle school in an effort to work out some of the excess energy that courses through her ) zelda tends to get IN A ZONE. the fact the app on her phone is telling her that the zombies are catching up with volume blaring loud in her earbuds probably doesn’t help.

that’s how it comes to pass that when she rounds a corner at decent speed, the corner is turned and body all but SLAMS into another. it really shouldn’t be a surprise but zelda swears under her breath and bounces back a few steps while snatching an earbud out of her ear and pausing the sound of someone rattling off about how the zombies are RIGHT BEHIND HER, RUN! while trying to catch her breath. “FUCK, sorry,” she breathes, “i was trying to outrun the zombies.”

due to a lot of last-minute rescheduling, the majority of soraya’s day had been consumed by back-to-back classes and club meetings. needless to say, her bed was calling her name as she was in dire need of a social recharge, so getting run into in the middle of the pathway was not on her agenda. “ sorry, ” she automatically responds, stumbling backwards.

setting: the evening of teddy’s birthday, at polaris

-

he’s lying in bed when an incoming videochat request comes in, the caller ID reading Soraya Ashouri. never his favorite form of communication, a groan surfaces and stops as soon as he swipes his thumb to answer, greeting soraya with a small smile.  “ admittedly, i was sleeping for most of it,  ”  there’s a slight sheepishness in his voice, but the freeform schedule of spring break means his nocturnal circadian rhythm is in full swing — thanks, hecate.  “  but, uh, sure. yeah. i’ll come, but only because you guys are gonna shame me for, like, a WEEK otherwise. just give me two minutes.  ”  the call ends unceremoniously as rostam bounds down the stairs and outside to his shoes, shadow traveling into the midst of carnival as soon as the laces are double knotted. his sudden materialization sends a girl stumbling back into her boyfriend and shrieking, and rostam rushes out a flurry of sorrysorrysorry’s as he tries to place soraya within the throngs of people near the stage, coming up short when none of the recognizable faces belong to her.

AN EASY LAUGH ESCAPES HIM, shaking his head at the thought. “ for you ?? it’s free of charge. call it the friends and family discount !! ” levi teases her, reaching down to take her hand, practically dragging her towards the attraction. “ it’s a plan, then !! ” he sets a pace that’s easy for her to keep up with, finding soraya to be one of the few people always able to keep up with his antics. maybe that’s why he’s grown so attached to her.

teddy: i didn't know it was that ride, to be honest, but...yeah. it was bad timing and just, it's rough to not have her in my life but i guess after tonight i should get used to it.

teddy: gods, you're the best.

teddy: i feel so fucking stupid, being sad isn't exactly in my wheelhouse so i just...i don't even know how i feel right now. embarrassed? betrayed? idk dude.

soraya: i'm sorry :/ it's going to take some time, but hey, they always say there are other fish in the sea right?

soraya: uno reverse, buddy ❤️

soraya: it stinks, but it's okay to feel sad or not know what you're feeling right now. no need to put on a happy front to make other people feel comfortable.

teddy: idk why i thought we could still be friends, i just...she means a lot to me. or meant. i guess that's the problem right there.

teddy: thanks...i'll make it up to you.

teddy: basically i got the answer as to why she broke up with me, am i really THAT unbearable?

soraya: i don't think it's such a wild idea to still care about her, but i just don't think the tunnel of love would have ever helped with that. maybe you two do still need some space.

soraya: friends do not keep score, remember?

“ i can certainly try, but no promises. ” eloise admitted, letting out a small laugh as she continued to move the car around, trying to look for a worthy opponent. “ wait, seriously, over a stupid carnival game? ”

teddy: ....you did, which was a stupid fucking idea.

teddy: yeah, i didn't mean to do that, sorry if it ruined your night.

teddy: i'll be fine, i always am, you don't have to worry about me.

soraya: i can't disagree, but don't beat yourself up over it.

soraya: you didn't ruin anything. your wellbeing is more important than anything we were going to do later

[ 15 minutes later ]

soraya: hey i heard that you left. i also heard about the mini-storm.

eyes on the steering wheel as she tried to see how to get the bumper car moving, eloise then turned to the other. “mediocre at best is what my mom always says honestly and anyone that has had the chance to drive with me ever, why?”

             “I MEAN, THAT’S the whole friendship code of honor, keeps our friendship alive and thriving.” he says as if it was common knowledge, confident nod of his head as if to punctuate the point, tossing the rest of his sugary treat in the trash they passed, “i don’t even know what that means…so i’m gonna go with no.” teddy admitted with a smile, slinging an arm around her as he squeezes her, “don’t worry, i’m like all state, you’re in good hands.” he joked as he shot her a wink and then let her go as they were next in line to board the ride.