november's child

[ TXT ] Yessss!! I am weak, and basically can’t resist you. 😘

[ TXT ] I’m hoping that you will paint me a vase or something when we go there with the kids.

[ TXT ] Lol. Your stuff is amazing though, so that more than makes up for it.

[ TXT ] Hmmm I see. I say try singing instead of just going through the motions next time. That way you’ll be prepared for your serenading debut.

[ TXT ] So many questions!! You can find out about your future in general, or if there’s any major changes to come! Orrrrr there’s your health, LOVE LIFE and career to divine.

[ TXT ] IANN MADE ME DO IT!! 😂😂😂 

[ TXT ] Okay, I kid.

[ TXT ] BUT seriously haven’t I called you honey before? That’s Strange. You’re sweet and golden, so it’s fitting. Don’t you like it? 

[ TXT ] What about sweetheart, baby, babe, angel-face, angel, beautiful, gorgeous, doll-face, lover and sugar? 

[TXT] Is this you telling me to bring you flowers more often? ;)

[TXT] But in that cool Bennett way that you guys do everything? I swear you’re all suave as hell.

[TXT] Okay Trueeee. Weed > Wine personally but not like that’s a shock

[TXT] Seems unnecessary to cut into my comfy rumination time for something that’s never gunna happennn

[TXT] What about my LOVE LIFE? Why did you put it in caps? Maybe you should ask Gwen about your own LOVE LIFE

[TXT] I hardly ever ask her about myself. Basically never. It’s a rule I have.

[TXT] Iann made you…?!?!?!?

Sofia felt a vague recognition of something that involved the three of them and a dare -- in a conceptual sense. When she couldn’t place it, she wrote it off completely. 

[TXT] Wait are you serious? 

Sofia typed the question with rapidly moving thumbs while simultaneously plotting where she might stab her other favorite person depending upon the answer. 

[TXT] You have and I like it. I didn’t say I didn’t like it. ;) I asked who gave you permission.

[TXT] I like ‘honey’ best in overall but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at any of those from you.. let’s be honest.

After speaking with Teddy about her problem with the golden ley, Faye had spent a week pouring through every book she had on the subject. The closest she came to an answer was in a book entitled:Seven Stones to Stand or Fall.

It was a book about ley magic. Particularly those lines around places like Stonehenge or the Nazca formations, or pools of power and activity. Places like Soapberry. The book also talked about the use and misuse of the magic. How to draw from the ley, how to recharge your magic, and how to avoid taking too much. Throw in a cautionary tale - or seven, hence the vague title - and Faye found herself more ill at ease than before. 

Faye knew she needed to talk to another witch about what was happening. Ephram was out of the question at the moment, but not for much longer. She would have to talk to him sooner rather than later. As her symptoms increased -the gold leaking through more frequently, and her magic become more and more unstable - Faye had suspicions of where this road was going to lead, and Ephram needed to know, as it might affect him too.

And she wanted to make sure he was alright at the same time. 

But that would come later. First, she had to be absolutely sure. 

So when she knocked on Sofia’s office door, it was with a small amount of anxiety, and a boat load of fear. 

“Oww,” Sam whined, in a way he only did to be dramatic towards Sofia or his sisters. The two cousins fell into step together, not missing a beat despite the time apart. They always had a way of just picking up where ever they left off. 

Sam let Sofia lead them through the woods, stopping to examine the arrangement of sticks and rocks that she’d found. “Hm.” He hummed in thought but didn’t attempt a guess–as far as other woodland species went, Sam was never quite sure what they got up to. 

He chuckled a little as they moved on, shaking his head at Sofia’s words. “You were right,” he conceded finally. “We were both very stubborn, and scared. But now it just feels right, like it was always meant to happen.” Sam looked over at her curiously. “What about you? Any new developments?”

“Missed you,” Sofia mumbled toward the ground as they walked. She didn’t like to be clingy — she knew she had the propensity for it with some people, and she and Sam had always spent a good chunk of their free time together for as long as Sofia had been ‘back’ until recently — but there was something to be said for breathing room when someone started a new and important relationship like her cousin had.

When it seemed like Sam was less interested in the curious arrangement than she, Sofia simply made a mental note of some things she wanted to research before deciding to trek onward. She was enjoying the briskness of the spring morning. The sun was coming out, the fog burning off. “Did I tell you about the cats that kind of adopted me?” she asked, unsure if she had mentioned Gem & Nye to Sam, or only to her sisters. “They’ve been hanging around my garden mostly. I’m ninety-nine percent sure they’re twins.”

“I was right…because it is right.” She said cheekily after listening to him explain. He didn’t need to. Sofia understood matters of the heart well. Often too well, putting herself in varying forms of agony. “You guys are really cute. Treat Dani right — though I have no doubts about their ability to kick your moody ass when you need it.” Sofia chuckled and touched Sam’s bicep affectionately when she passed him for a few paces.

Spa-time with Sofia at Antoinette’s was great.  They talked about everything and nothing, as he and Sofia were wont to do.  They treaded the surface of deeper things, hardly getting deeper though.  Perhaps because Sofia deflected, or Iann didn’t dig.  They were really good at their friendship.

Regardless  they got out feeling refreshed, entering the rainy late morning to go shop-hunting.  “Three places,” Iann told Sofia, pulling his jacket collar up, and his baseball cap a little lower.  “The realtor found us three places to look at…” he grinned and elbowed her arm.  “And one of them happens to be almost opposite Meadowsweet.”

“With it drizzling like this for the last couple days I feel all the more justified in indulging like that,” Sofia commented as they made their way out of the serene, pastel environment out into the bustling real world. She reached for her aviator shades from her purse. “Seems like a good start. The number three can be lucky,” she referred to the Chinese tradition. “Oooh. -- That might just be too good to pass up.” Sofia looped her arm through Iann’s, getting chummy for a few paces. “That’s a good area too. I forget where you said you were partial to..?” She pulled away to retrieve her keys and then started toward her Audi.

“You’re being ridiculous now..” Sofia’s voice dipped as Iann discounted himself. “Well, at least about your ability to pontificate,” her tone warmed as she continued to tease him. “The rest has been undoubtedly proven.”

When he turned the heat back on her, the potion mistress couldn’t deny her oneness with nature giving her the opportunity for an advantage if she so desired. “Hmm you’re right, though you obviously aren’t in need.” There was a breath of amusement and then agreement. The thought hadn’t had time to cross her mind but now that her friend pointed out this little commonality she had to laugh.  

“Okay but I really do—“ she admitted without thinking about it too hard. Sofia’s best sexual experiences had been with vampires, an observation that the brunette wouldn’t be able to write off as coincidence. “For a second I thought me and this hot doctor were going to have a thing a few weeks ago. My god — you should have seen the way she looked at me. I thought it was going somewhere. But nope.” Sofia was still mixing up time and order of events. This was something that had been going on for the last month or so in the vaguest of ways.

“Have you let him bite you..drink from you?” Sofia asked before remembering that Tuah could not get drunk off of Iann’s blood in the same way that she had enjoyed Juliet feeling the effects after drinking the blood of someone born with magic in their veins.   Still, she wanted to know. And she probably wouldn’t brag about the extra-headiness of her favorite thing.

“I don’t doubt it,” the woman replied for the sentiment. She didn’t think she would love him right off the bat but there was no reason to believe she wouldn’t warm to Iann’s new boo eventually. For now. Sofia’s propensity guardedness didn’t always need a warning sign. Though, if it had one it would be the kind with the colored sections which detailed many different varieties of cautioning at once. Some for her own sake, and some for Iann’s.  “Oh, I’ll try.” What she meant was she would try not to. The words were so dry in delivery her intent was quite clear. “I couldn’t love anyone the way I love you.” She made the words sound blase because for most people saying such a thing was simple and relatively weightless. Sometimes Sofia liked to pretend she could live like that. In fact, Sofia’s great affection and care, her passion for and with Iann was an undisputable truth. Iann was the proof of something Sofia had never considered previously possible – much like Iann’s and budding commitment and seriousness about another man. Even if it were all made up in her mind, she could be in love with him for the realization alone.

 “Whirlwinds? Yup. I’m very familiar. But to whirlwind you?? — He’s gotta be a force.” Sofia smiled, liking the version of Tuah Iann was building for her more and more.

“Text me her info whenever you find it.” Sofia swallowed a small lump in her throat at the news of the verdict. “This is big,” she said with reverence, just needing to acknowledge that out loud. She was proud of Iann in a way that filled her up again - though not with that same bounce as before. Sofia had told Iann Mal Ojo would never be the same without his late wife and attempted to advise him in this direction but never took her opinion as anything more than just that. Even now, Sofia felt nothing near the realm of vindication. “I think so too..” the witched nodded to herself. “I think of her often.” Her sentence ran on, mind filling with memories of the blonde in question and an overwhelming sense of how much she missed her.

“You’re so kinky!  Do you like it? When vampires do that?” Iann demanded, but he was laughing all over the place now, which was an indication that he was both shy and amused at the same time at Sofia’s questions about vampire bites.  And intrigued.  “Sof, I’m going to need help with that.  Some sort of potion or healing thing or something for my blood, hm?  Something that’ll help my weak weak human blood.”

It made Iann angry that women hadn’t fallen madly in love with Sofia Floros.  It didn’t make sense that he stumbled into love when he wasn’t even looking; and someone as incredible as Sofia, who Iann would love in a second if the world was a different world, who actually wanted to love and be loved…ugh.  If Iann could, he’d orchestrate all sorts of schemes to get Sofia an incredible woman to love.  He couldn’t, of course.  But he wished he had that power.

[ TXT ] Yes! I may or may not have swapped places with Gina when I saw your name on the list. You’re stuck with me 😉

[ TXT ] I concur.

[ TXT ] Far too long, I shouldn’t be missing you this much. Let’s make that not happen again. 

[ TXT ] As if you had to ask. And you say that you don’t have anything nice enough to bring.

[ TXT ] 😂😂😂 I’m so done with you. Sleeping in the shower. Please don’t drown. 

[ TXT ] No. Stay as you are honey. 

[ TXT ] ALSO You know someone that can tell you the future and that’s what you want to ask?!?

[TXT] Omg. Did you really ?! I love you!

[TXT] I can agree to that. 

[TXT] Wine wise I don’t have anything nice enough to offer you. Okay?!

[TXT]  It’s not exactly sleeping. I just don’t see the point in being present with a capital P. You know? 

[TXT] WeLL What do you suggest I ask?

Dani greeted Sofia with a hug in return and a light laugh on their breath. “Hey, no shame in that. I can’t even tell you the number of times I’ve done the same. It just never seems to end, does it?” They knew well by now that they were expected to make themselves at home. The Savins and the Floroses had always been close, and frequent visits meant that they were familiar and accustomed to one another’s personal spaces. Dani didn’t have too much on their person to drop down, but they did remove the guitar from their back before unsanctimonious crashing on the nearest cushioned surface. 

“Oh– yeah, thanks.” An awkwardness could be gleaned through their tone, but why they were shy to accept the compliment was abruptly revealed. A finger swirled one of the forested strands around itself idly. “Well, I didn’t, actually. It was a prank, facilitated by your charming cousin on the remembrance of an opportunity I never should have suggested. It really isn’t too bad though, is it? I’m just not sure green’s really my color.” 

“Mm, no. I haven’t eaten either. You’re absolutely fine.” Dani glanced back at the witch with a grin. “So how’ve you been, hunger and professional stress aside?”

Able to sense their hesitation, Sofia softly reiterated her compliments. Her expression twisted up, nose crinkling quite a bit when she learned of the mastermind behind Dani’s freshly altered locks. “No, it’s really good. Joke’s on him — but really. You’re not planning to let it end there are you? — Of course Sam would choose green. He can be so literal,” the witch teased as she found a lazy seat, slouching at the kitchen table across from her lovely company.

“Shoot, I didn’t even offer you a drink yet. I’m slacking. What can I get you?” Sofia popped back up with Dani’s questions in mind. “Work is always work — and I’m actually going to scale back a bit. Only teach one or two sections instead of six in the Fall .” For whatever reason Sofia didn’t feel comfortable telling Dani the full details of why this was her plan. Largely because said details had not been fully settled yet. Also because  she hadn’t told Sam (or any of the rest of the coven) about her impending venture with Iann just yet. “Most of my attention is on my garden when I’m not in class or grading. With the start of the good weather I’ve been working on some new strains and perfecting some of the ones I made notations for when I was a kid and forgot about. Any more pot plants back there and soon I’ll need a license... technically. Though my babies already cloaked for when the kids come over…” Sofia would be needing at least one license regardless. She chuckled a bit and handed Dani their requested beverage.

Soon enough the food was at the door and Sofia padded out of sight to retrieve it. When she came back and started to unpack the various take out containers the brunette wore a slightly mischievous, arguably smug grin. “So0o0 tell me about youuu?” she prompted with feigned innocence in her tone and the kind of sing-song voice that was nothing if not leading. “Did you an’ Sam find someone able to add more hours to the day yet?” She breathed a laugh and turned to grab the plates and flatware. 

“What can I say?  If I had any organizational skills or ability to pontificate, I’d’ve made a great demonologist,” Iann said and although he sounded breezy about it there was still a tenseness under his words.  And Sofia knew it, better than most.  She after all had experienced first-hand how Iann and demons tended to tango.  Iann would never forget that traumatic experience; but in a way, it brought him and Sofia closer together, didn’t it?  Not that he was going to be ‘thankful’ to a fucking demon, though, and certainly not Uvallas who’d nearly destroyed his life ten years prior.

No; the unbreakable bond that him and Sofia forged after that awful experience in Sofia’s beloved forest was done between the two of them.  They worked for it, and that was why they deserved it.  

“And don’t you talk - I know you have all sorts of plant-related seduction techniques,” he teased Sofia, just for the fun of it.  Actually it would be interesting to see how Sofia got her flirt-on.  Iann imagined it would be a blend of subtle but intense. And maybe just a little playful, depending on the person.  Sofia had an eclectic sense of humor - part of why they got along so well.

“Guess we both have a thing for vampires, huh?” Iann chuckled, referring to Juliet as well.  Who had disliked him (which of course only had made Iann more intrigued by her). 

Sofia’s stamp of approval; the idea made Iann rather excited.  “You’ll love him,” he rushed to say.  “Just don’t make him fall in love with you, okay Prof? Because I already am and I don’t want to have to fight him for that status.”   How long had it been?  Iann’s mind rolled and he let out a long ‘ahhhhhhh’ when he gave it some thought.  “Not…that…long?  You know how whirlwinds work?” Iann said with a rather self-conscious laugh, a rarity for someone as brazen as Iann generally was.  Not concerning love, though. But then, whirlwind love seemed right for the Gemini man.  

“Ms Realtor is great, but I can’t remember her name.  I still have her card somewhere,” Iann said.  As for Mal Ojo, he’d discussed it with Tuah and his mind was now settled on a decision.  “I’m going to sell it - so the realtor should be happy.  With all the modifications I made on the building - awesome mods, I might add - I should be getting a pretty good price for it.”  Iann took in a breath, and then let it out slowly.  “The end of an era, for me.  But I think it’s for the best.  I think it would help her…to rest, hm?  It was always her place as much as mine,” Iann said, of course referring to his late wife with a soft fondness.

“You’re being ridiculous now..” Sofia’s voice dipped as Iann discounted himself. “Well, at least about your ability to pontificate,” her tone warmed as she continued to tease him. “The rest has been undoubtedly proven.”

When he turned the heat back on her, the potion mistress couldn’t deny her oneness with nature giving her the opportunity for an advantage if she so desired. “Hmm you’re right, though you obviously aren’t in need.” There was a breath of amusement and then agreement. The thought hadn’t had time to cross her mind but now that her friend pointed out this little commonality she had to laugh.  

“Okay but I really do—“ she admitted without thinking about it too hard. Sofia’s best sexual experiences had been with vampires, an observation that the brunette wouldn’t be able to write off as coincidence. “For a second I thought me and this hot doctor were going to have a thing a few weeks ago. My god — you should have seen the way she looked at me. I thought it was going somewhere. But nope.” Sofia was still mixing up time and order of events. This was something that had been going on for the last month or so in the vaguest of ways.

“Have you let him bite you..drink from you?” Sofia asked before remembering that Tuah could not get drunk off of Iann’s blood in the same way that she had enjoyed Juliet feeling the effects after drinking the blood of someone born with magic in their veins.   Still, she wanted to know. And she probably wouldn’t brag about the extra-headiness of her favorite thing.

“I don’t doubt it,” the woman replied for the sentiment. She didn’t think she would love him right off the bat but there was no reason to believe she wouldn’t warm to Iann’s new boo eventually. For now. Sofia’s propensity guardedness didn’t always need a warning sign. Though, if it had one it would be the kind with the colored sections which detailed many different varieties of cautioning at once. Some for her own sake, and some for Iann’s.  “Oh, I’ll try.” What she meant was she would try not to. The words were so dry in delivery her intent was quite clear. “I couldn’t love anyone the way I love you.” She made the words sound blase because for most people saying such a thing was simple and relatively weightless. Sometimes Sofia liked to pretend she could live like that. In fact, Sofia’s great affection and care, her passion for and with Iann was an undisputable truth. Iann was the proof of something Sofia had never considered previously possible -- much like Iann’s and budding commitment and seriousness about another man. Even if it were all made up in her mind, she could be in love with him for the realization alone.

 “Whirlwinds? Yup. I’m very familiar. But to whirlwind you?? — He’s gotta be a force.” Sofia smiled, liking the version of Tuah Iann was building for her more and more.

[ TXT ] As you should darling. 

[ TXT ] You ask too many questions, just let the wish granting magic happen. 

[ TXT ] There’s my rebel 😉

[ TXT ] Yup, I already have them set aside. I could never forget Ashley’s love for them. She passed it on. I’ll have to check for your lemon ones. Either they aren’t on the menu or they haven’t put them on display yet. 

Today is certainly Sofia’s lucky day, the lemon lavender chess cookies were indeed on the menu and had just been taken out of the oven. Nessa checked in with her cousin for a moment before returning her attention to the phone. A ridiculous grin graced her features as she read ‘my Perfect Purple Haired Wish Granting Angel’. 

[ TXT ] I ask myself the same question!! I think it’s because we not only treat ourselves but work it off with all the activities that we get into. The perfect balance obviously. 

[ TXT ] Me too, I always have a good time when we’re together. Great, and I’ll bring the wine. 

[ TXT ] Can’t stop won’t stop 😘😘😘 What about in the shower? Do you do solos there?

[ TXT ] Your face more than makes up for that. Jerk away! Wait that doesn’t look right. OR sound right. Lol. PRETEND YOU NEVER SAW THAT!!!

[ TXT ] ‘Yet’ as in I can’t see the future, but not as in I expect you to hurt me.  

[TXT] I suppose I could do that 

[TXT] Speaking of activities. Are you doing the Sprouts field trip next week? Pottery painting day at Fire Me Up, I think. 

[TXT] We are well-balanced in a lot of ways when you think about it. 

[TXT] Can’t wait, babe. It has been a good while since we were out and about together.  Wine would be great. I don’t have anything nice enough to share left in the house. Do you want to smoke? There I’m never short. xP

[TXT] Honestly just not conscious enough to sing in the shower. That’s extra sleep/reflection time.

The implication of the shower question had mostly passed Sofia by until she read Nessa’s next message. She laughed at her phone until she had to put it down again to do some minor policing between siblings. 

[TXT]  Yeah. LOL. That was not right in any way. 

Sam’s smile grew wider when Sofia hugged him tightly, squeezing her back like he hadn’t seen her in months, which was a little how it felt. “I hope so,” he laughed, since they both knew the woods so well by now. Still, it wasn’t the actual act of getting lost that was appeal to him, it was the time spent in the woods with his cousin. 

“I knew all the rumors about you being a bitch teacher weren’t true,” he teased with a nudge of his elbow. They started along the path together, though Sam knew they wouldn’t venture out on their own, using their hearts and instincts and the forest itself as their compass. 

He smiled warmly at her jest, knowing it was true. “I know, I know. We’re together pretty much all the time now.” Almost every moment that they weren’t at work, and sometimes during work too, Sam and Dani spent with each other. “It’s pretty great. So, you gonna let me have it? The I told you so?”

Sofia elbowed Sam back, but not gently as he had done to her. She was out for pain and payback. “Hey! Shut up.” She laughed a little too gleefully. In her heart of hearts Sofia knew she had gotten what she wanted in her return to SBSU. Her reputation was overall, what she felt she deserved - she was respected now. People thought of her for what she had to offer instead of her previously stunted spellbinding abilities.

The ground, still damp from the morning’s fog seemed to only compact further into the soles of their boots with each step deeper into the woods. Sofia felt sturdy and fresh — excited to be sharing such a lovely morning like this with someone she loved so. “No,” Sofia shrugged, her attention splitting suddenly. She twisted around from where her back was now to Sam to give her answer. The brunette knelt down to examine some rocks and tree limbs obviously arranged by a faerie for…something important. “New spring and mercury is in retrograde soon,” she sighed. “I wonder what they’re up to.” She stood and crossed her arms, letting Sam take a look before they were ready to move on.