“Kark.” Cole muttered, standing from the couch and moving back in the bedroom.
“Cole? What’s happening.” Sofila was on her feet, following with a look of concern.
“I’ve got to go. I have a contact who just got back to me, they’re in the area and might be able to provide some intel on the compound back home. It’ll have to be one to one, could you let Corvo know when you get there?” He pulled on his boots, pausing for a moment but before he could ask, she was nodding.
“Yeah of course.”
He smiled ever so slightly, and within a few minutes was gone, leaving her with a brief kiss to the lips and leaving the flat.
Corvo was there quite a bit early, a coffee steaming on the booth’s table in front of him and perusing the menu while waiting. Though the menu was more a disguise, his crimson eyes watching those passing by with intrigue. Watching how they carried themselves, what passed between hands, the expressions of deals being made and how postively they went.
He spotted Sofila incoming easily, the purple hair and green skin far from inconspicious. Not that a Chiss didn’t stand out either.
<@216702440140046336>
Sofila had been doing better. The nightmares decreased. Her training increased. She was always home and exhausted but the change was noticeable.
It wasn’t entirely gone, but it was so much better than before.
She was working hard. And she wanted to. She was tired of the shame, hiding, and the constant fights her and Cole used to get into.
Kark, even their relationship was getting better. They were cuddling again.
“Hiya Corvo, before I forget, Cole had to uh-” Kark. Kriff. Her brows furrowed as she tried to remember. “It was about the compound, I remember that- OH! Some new information or something?” Sofila chuckled weakly as she cleared her throat. So much for working on repeating back what people said.
“Would… you still be okay to have me?” Sofila asked and gestured to the chair, unsure if Corvo would be fine if it was just two of them.
Corvo blinked, letting her work it out and smiling ever so slightly despite the disappointment. Still, Sofila was a nice woman and there was no harm in it. And more information meant they were closer to regaining the compound or… well. Freeing it from that scum, at least.
“Of course.” He gestured to the seat, laying the menu back down on the table. “It’d be a shame for you to come all the way here to just have to leave again.”
“Awesome!” Sofila grinned as she sat down and grabbed the menu.
“Now, I know some of the things on the menu sounds reaaaaaally weird but as I said to other people, don’t knock it till you try it.” The Mirialan kept her smile.
A Lasat waitress walked up to the table.
“Hiya, My name is Landi, Can I get ya started with some drinks?” She smiled as she waited for them.
Sofila nodded, “Can I get white chocolate mocha, add strawberry, and extra strawberry?” The Lasat nodded.
“Uh-huh, and whata ‘bout ya?” She glanced to the Chiss.
“I’ll take omelet.” Corvo answered the waitress, smiling and waiting for her to confirm and leave before relaxing back into the seat a little.
“How have you been? You seem a little chirpier than when we last met up.”
Landi nodded while scribbling on the small notepad-
“Oh, food too uh, I’ll have that… thing where the sandwich and meat and-”
“Fruits?” Landi added with a smirk. Sofila chuckled as she scratched her cheek.
“Yea.”
Landi nodded, “Okie-dokie, will give chef ya orda and will be back with drinks later.” Once she was away, she nodded at Corvo. Right. He hasn’t been around since her training Marcik.
“Well. Um.” She paused, wondering if she should tell him? He was practically like a better second father to Cole.
“Long story short, had a mission several months ago and an echo of a… nasty sith imbedded in me. Making me downright nasty too. But, no worries. Marick, he’s uh-” She paused for a moment, wondering if he knows or even heard of Marick. If Cole learned so much from Corvo, it would not surprise her if Corvo already knew who was what for Arcona.
“Honestly, I won’t be surprised if you know or heard of Marick, anyways, just been training extra hard lately and keeping the echo weak, so to speak. It’s… been working out.” Sofila smiled.
“It was Wyndell we were more familiar with but I recognise the name.” Corvo had answered, supplying that information while considering the rest.
An echo of a sith? What kind of kark was going on around here- Well. No. Cole had mentioned those missions. They were a lot in comparison to old times. He nodded, ever so slightly, “Right. I’m glad you’re doing better at least. Is it… cureable?”
Oh! Wyndell! She had only met him once, at the Halloween and he was dress in cardboard if she remembered right. Sofila shrugged softly, unsure. “Marick suggested two people to try to get it out but I was not okay with a seven year old being part of it. So, we will just work on weaking it while others do research. I … don’t do good with research.” Sofila winced.
“I rather read other books! Such as lore, fantasies, fiction. Not…” Sofila trailed off as Landi returned with drinks for them both and left their table again. She gently picked up the mug and took a sip as she exhaled softly.
“You know, I was never a fan of caf until Cole came into my life. Something happened so I started to drink black caf to try to stay awake and he suggested adding cream or sugar…” Sofila tried to remember if that was when they were developing feelings or avoiding each other. Maybe it was both?
Kark. The entire first half of the relationship felt like they were avoiding each other. No strings. Then the second half? Her being angry. She owes Cole so much.
Corvo nodded. Sofila was easy to talk in that she often managed most of the conversation by herself. He smiled slightly at the coffee comment.
“I can’t say I’ve read for fun much. Rarely with caf, though I indulge more than Cole or Trevor ever did.” His coffee was still dark, but notably paler than the straight black coffee Sofila would have always seen in Cole’s cup when he had it. “Though it’s easier without it, I’ve found. Less headaches.”
Sofila’s jaw tightened at the name. Trevor.
Redirect. Redirect. She reminded herself. Her anger was to be hers and not induced or flamed by Scimitar.
She did not hestiate. “Why was Trevor so harsh on him?” Sofila whispered as her pink hues looked up to meet with Corvo’s crimson hues. “Cole… he… he gets upset when I’m mad after finding out what Trevor said or did to him and he was just a child so I just…. I decided it was best not to say anything.”
Corvo blinked. He was quiet for a long few moments before sighing. This made sense. Outsiders so rarely got close enough to see what was going on, the only who had…
He frowned, maintaining eye contact, “Trevor did what he thought was necessary to keep the- him alive. I understand what some of those measures look like from the outside and I would agree that some things he did was too far though I’m.. not exactly sure what you mean by harsh on Cole specifically.”
That was a lie, partially. He watched her carefully, cautiously. Pain of grief settling into his stomach.
“You both sounded like a broken record.” Sofila pointed out. Then she leaned back in her seat.
“Outside or not, Corvo, he was a kid. He should play kid games. Or read kid books. I get having to fight and survive, I learned too but…” Sofila exhaled sharply. Was it because she learned later was why Cole was so good? Even then… it was just-
She could feel her anger rising as her eyelids closed. She’ll never forget how much he broke by a few words she had said to him. And it wasn’t even ‘I love you’. After a moment, Sofila bitterly shook her head. She wasn’t going to tell Corvo that part. She swallowed down a lump that was forming in her throat.
“I’m sorry for that… sudden question.”
“It’s.. fine. It’s not the first time someone’s asked similar questions.” Corvo waved a hand.
“There were times I disagreed with his methods. Many, times. I did my best to soften those occassions where I could, though Cole didn’t…” Corvo tapped a finger on the desk, shaking his head, “Cole wanted to be like his father. It was easier when he was younger but there was a point where I didn’t want to push him away with my suggestions. He’s a spitting image of Trevor… it’s strange sometimes, like a window into the past.”
Corvo shook his head, “It was survival. We were at war and there was no bar that wouldn’t be stooped below to gain an advantage.”
Sofila stared at her mug. She can see the paleness and the slight ting of the pink from the strawberry they added in it.
He wanted to be like his father. Sofila was struggling to try to think logically. Every child would want to be just like their parent when they grow up. Kriff, she wanted to be like Buir. Still does. Yet, somehow along the way, she feels that Cole had lost his identity. He didn’t know what his hobbies could be if he stopped working. Swimming, he enjoyed it but not to the extent to be happy to live by the beach like Sofila would. He tried climbing. They haven’t done it again since.
“Cole is better looking,” Sofila muttered in regards to Trevor and Cole looking alike.
Maybe it wasn’t matter of identity but how he wasn’t exposed to that kind of thing growing up. Kriff. How did Zuza even manage to stay on the compound? If Sof and her were alike in many ways and not in others… how could Zuza stand living there? Especially with Trevor. Kark. Their relationship must’ve been more serious and deep than she thought. She brought the mug to her lips and the food was brought out.
“Thank you,” Sofila grinned at the waitress.
“Anything else ya want?” Sofila shook her head and once the Chiss mentioned he didn’t want anything, Landi left the table.
“Was…. Zuza and Cole very close?”
Corvo had gievn a short laugh at her comment on appearance. “Do you even know what he looks like?” It was less a serious question and more plain amusement. It was unlikely she had, and a strange comment to make. Amusingly so.
The mirth quickly left his expression at the mention of Zuza. He bit the inside of his cheek for a moment, releasing it. A lot of very loaded questions today evidently. It made sense, considering Cole wasn’t here. This conversation wouldn’t be one he’d want to be anywhere near, Corvo knew that much.
“They were.” He answered shortly, “Why? I’m surprised he even mentioned her to you.”
“He… avoids the topic. And many others. I would not be upset if he still loves her even. First serious loves leaves an imprint that can never go away.” Sofila sighed as she started to pick on her food a bit.
“I know so much about him. And at the same time, I don’t.” Sofila admitted as she cut into the food with a fork and took a bite. She swallowed.
“I also know Zuza, personally.”
“What.”
Corvo’s gaze seemed to narrow. He’d been about to cut into the omlette but was frozen mid action, taking a moment or two before slowly lowering the cutlery.
“Zuza Lottson?”
Sofila’s brows furrowed for a moment at his sudden reaction. “I-” She froze, her eyes widen in realization.
Kriff.
Zuza killed Graham. She thought Cole would’ve told Corvo that he has seen and met with Zuza a few times by now. And there’s the fact she was the Shadow Lady now.
Kark. She karked up.
She winced and looked away. Which would tell Corvo everything.
Corvo wasn’t sure what to do. Sofila knew Zuza.
“Does Cole know?”
If she hadn’t told him… His mind swam, different trains of thought all coalescing. He didn’t hate her like Trevor had. He hadn’t been angry at her like Cole had been. But if she was around… She shouldn’t be. They’d let her in, saved her karking life how many times from situations she put herself into and then killed Graham.
Even if he didn’t necessarily want her dead, he didn’t want her anywhere around.
Sofila swallowed down the bile of her throat. Kriff. She didn’t want to be in this predicament. Her mind was trying to think of different things to say to soften the blow somehow.
And nothing came to mind.
“Yes.” She exhaled softly. “She’s also my boss and on Selen.” Soflia hands lowered to place on her lap.
Her appetite was gone. She feared she damaged Corvo and Cole’s relationship. If she could go back and fix what she said, she would’ve.
“Corvo, I-I-I’m sorry. I t-thought Cole would’ve told you…”
“Told.. me?” Corvo frowned. So.. he knew. Cole-
What the kark was going on? He leaned back into the seat.
Why wouldn’t Cole have told him?
“What a small galaxy it is sometimes…” He commented softly, “I assume you know what she did. I’m..” Corvo let out a breath.
“I don’t think I understand.”
Sofila winced. Maybe she should shut up. He looked pained. She wanted nothing more than to comfort him. Kark. Wait. Does he even know about Graham’s child?
No no. This wasn’t her place. She already kriffed up bad.
“I…” Sofila didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure what he meant by not understanding. Could he mean Zuza being her boss or..?
“W-what don’t you understand…?” Sofila would try to clear the air the best she could.
Please hurry, Cole. She mentally thought to herself, hoping the meeting he was going to earlier would be here at Port Ol'Val and he could swing by.
“You know what happened, right? With Cole’s older brother, Graham? It.. was Zuza’s last test. She ran off in the middle of it and…” Corvo sighed, hoping Sofila knew. He didn’t really want to discuss it in detail what happened that day.
Everything had only gotten worse for them since it.
“I know.” Sofila’s voice was soft. Maybe it was the shock of knowing Cole didn’t hurt Zuza or that he was part of the same Clan as Zuza. And not….
She wouldn’t even know how she would feel about that. She can’t even imagine it. She cleared her throat.
“That’s… That’s something I think only you and Cole can talk about-” Sofila stopped when Landi came by.
“Uh, is the food okay? If someth-a wrong I can just-”
“Oh no! It’s good as always, we just got into a very serious conversation. I’m so sorry, "Sofila quickly interjected. Landi gave an understanding nod.
"Right-o, just flag me down when yall need me, kay?” With that she went back to the counter as Sofila looked back over to Corvo. She learned from Cole that sometimes, being quiet was best for some people. So, she does her best to stay silent.
Corvo took a bite of the omelette, using it as a way to make some use of the quiet as he mulled it all over. His reaction was overt, unwarranted really in how much it was. He just.. hadn’t heard her name in so long. In a galaxy so large, it seemed the Force itself was at work or some kark at this point.
“They were friends from.. quite young. Fleetingly but… I suppose it’s not that suprising he forgave her.” He spoke softly, trying to be reasonable. Trying to not be hurt by not being told this all-karking-ready because he knew how Cole was. How they were both struggling with all of this.
The years hadn’t been kind to either of them.
Sofila took a small bite of her meal, feeling very cautious to move forward. Kark. She was not looking forward to telling Cole what she accidently said… and suggesting he tells Corvo about Graham’s kid. Soon.
Sofila’s brows furrowed. She wasn’t sure if Cole entirely forgave her or- Yes. This was a talk that the two of them needed to have and she can only hope they would do it. She tried to change the topic.
“What was Cole like..? As a kid I mean.”
Corvo appreciated the shfit in topic. It was a lot easier than speaking of Zuza and Graham. He let another moment pass, considering before answering her.
“He was quiet. Shy, quite serious even from a young age.”
Sofila chuckled softly.
“He still is.” She pointed out. “He’s still a massive puzzle for me to figure out. I have better luck getting a loth cat behave than prying something out of Cole. Though….” She considered it for a moment with a slight head tilt. “Things are better. He’s been smiling more. Talking to me more. In private, of course… but..” She sighed softly.
“I guess I wish I can see him smile in public too.” Her jaw tightened at the memory of her asking if she was a weakness.
“That’d be something to see.” Corvo commented, sadness audible in his voice despite the neutral expression he maintained.
“It has happened, but.. not for a long time. He always took.. certain lessons perhaps a bit too far. Not for poor reasoning, and kark he had experiences far too young that enforced them, but it’s good to hear he’s smiling more in private again. I doubt he did for a long time after… what happened at the compound.”
Sofila gave him a smile.
“How about this then, we can figure out a day for you to come over for dinner, once a week and Cole just has to crack a smile sometime!” Of course there was another intention behind it too. To repair the bond she just possibly damage between the two of them.
And Corvo needed to smile as well dammit.
Corvo chuckled, “You don’t have to convince me to come over for dinner. Though we should probably talk one on one first, I have a feeling there’s.. a lot we need to talk about. I doubt what we discussed is the only thing he’s not mentioned and I…”
He hesistated, “I want to know he’s okay.”
“Of course! That should happen first before the daily dinners, I hope.” Sofila grinned. It would be good for someone else to help Cole open up a bit more. To feel more safe. Even though they both were similar, it could be a starting point.
A healing point.
“And yea.. there’s more but not my place…” Sofila admitted and wanted to give Corvo confirmation that he wasn’t imaging things that there may have been more. She was a bit hurt hearing that he wanted to know if Cole’s okay.
At one point, she understood. But if Cole wasn’t okay… then that just… She cleared her throat to distract herself from it. Redirect.
“Will you still stay here? After we clean out the compound I mean.”
“I assumed there would be. He seems.. well. But I’ve missed a lot of time.” Corvo explained gently, letting her redirect a few moments later.
He nodded slowly, “It… As much as I’d like to return to my home, I’d rather not become one of the ghosts that are there now. There’ll be things to do, but as long as Arcona will permit me I’d like to stay.”
“That does make sense and of course! I’ll fight for you!” Sofila grinned, “Would love to have someone else besides us watching our ki- eeeeee-” Sofila winced.
Why did she had to blurt the quiet part out loud? She cleared her throat, her cheeks tinting to a faint muddy-brownish color. She exhaled sharply. Her elbow on the table as she was partly hiding her face with her hand. Okay. Breathe.
“Firstly, we have a looooooot to sort through. She said very calmly as she was trying to keep her fast beating heart down. She was just happy that someone from Cole’s past was around. That wasn’t Trevor.
Corvo blinked a few times. Cole was interested in kids? Since when. Graham had always seemed more paternal, he’d interact with the kids on the compound but Cole had always avoided them. The surprise was visible on his face.
“I.. Would be happy to. When the time comes, though- Well.”
No that was inappropriate to ask of her. If she was sure about a conversation about that. It either undermined her intelligence or doubted Cole.
“There is a lot to sort through, yes. Mopping up the last remnants of danger following, notably.”
“Yes.”
And other things. Sofila thought to herself but it was best to keep to herself. She lowered her hand when she felt her cheeks had returned to it’s normal green color.
“I will… make sure Cole contacts you and that you two get some alone time together. There’s going to be some changes, my job I mean, so I might be busy the next several days anyways. That should free up Cole’s schedule and our apartment for you guys to hang out for a bit.”
Corvo nodded, “I appreciate that. This is lovely but… we have a lot to discuss. Or.. well. He does. I’ve not had as much change as he has.”
Change that Cole experienced alone. Kark he should have just come to Arcona but he hadn’t wanted to go alone. But if he’d have just gone he…. It weighed heavily on him, that decision. It always had but knowing what he did now it was so much worse. All his doubts about staying behind, they were true.
If only he’d had the Force as his father had. Maybe he’d have karking known.
Sofila couldn’t finish her food. How could she? He was hurting.
Then her hand slightly flinched. Did she use the Force by accident? Kark. Some control she was learning.
“I have to go to the office,” she got up from the chair as Corvo followed. With a smile, she took a step forward and hugged Corvo tightly.
“I’m glad you’re here with us.”