[ the feeling of alia's mind against his own reminds him of home - the knowing of those like him, the familiar pull of magic that tells you who your people are. she reminds him of tatiana in a way, all starry eyed and worldly, but she'd been naive. a girl locked away for safety with no real view of the outside world save for the ones she created for herself.

his heart answers in kind, a warm thumping of recognition, like a deep sigh after a held breath the thread of his magic twining around hers. i've known you for a long time, it says - the old magic in her rousing the magic in him. ]

There are only six in my land like me. Never know who they are, who you'll meet. There's a land fabled to hold all of the old magic, but no one knows if it's just stories.

[ something about her energy makes him relax, his muscles going slack, a familiarity neither of them have earned but has been there from the start. the thumb against his bottom lip, tender and sweet, makes a grin pull across his face. and just as she's done sucking the drink from her finger he reaches for her hand, tender, before he brings it to his lips, kissing the very same finger. not quite a blood bond, but his magic flares around them both.

without asking, without question, he shifts on their shared pool chair, his head going to her lap, his chest across her thighs, an arm loosely around her waist. wanting to feel the magic in her - stay as two oscillating stars lost in an endless sea of sky. ]

I think you found me, actually. Who knew asking for a drink could be so eye-opening? Is your brother here? Is he alive?