With Braze vouching for mac and cheese, Zaiya was willing to try it out. She normally ate a vegetarian diet but was willing to try new things. She could bake and make lots of different types of soups, but anything else? No, not really.
As
Braze
continued to explain how bonds and connections worked with him, more concern and worry grew over Zaiya's expression, her patterns dampening into a pale yellow hue edged with a golden glow. The way Braze described it sounded terrible. To not be able to get any sleep or filter out other's emotions. That was so bewildering. Perhaps it was because, for Lovalla, the initial social connection that provided a sense of reassurance and comfort only extended to immediate kin, like Zaiya's parents. A far more intimate, lifelong bond would be created with her mate, and that's how the symbiotic bond became so codependent after several years. A pair of Lovalla mated for several years could very well die if separated from their partner for too long.
But to feel
everyone's emotions all the time? No, that wouldn't be the sort of connection that would draw you closer to a person, but perhaps make someone want to sever it.
Such a terrifying thing to consider.
However, the sudden flush and flustered stammer from Braze caught Zaiya's attention.
Was he embarrassed? Should I have not asked? All of a sudden, whatever Braze was broadcasting suddenly slammed shut. Now Zaiya was starting to feel as if she should have kept her questions to herself, a slight abashed flush pinkening her mottled spots over her cheeks. It only grew worse when
Loomi
appeared confused, nervous about what to say, her antennae drooping over her lovely face.
"Oh, okay. Sorry... I shouldn't have asked. I was just curious how it all worked..." Zaiya swallowed hard, fiddling with her fingers. Iridescent blue eyes swept over towards Loomi, whose antennae drooped down over her face.
"Umm... a mate for my kind is your lifelong partner." Of course, there was more to that, but she didn't want to embarrass herself and make Braze or Loomi feel bad.
"We only bond in the way you described once. It just takes a long time and constant interactions to sync to the point that it manifests..." She explained, her expression a little awkward as she attempted to steer the conversation towards emphasizing the uniqueness of their bond.
"So, you are very lucky you managed to find each other and then bond like that." Zaiya genuinely meant her words, her patterns shimmering in hues of amber as she contemplated, highlighted by vibrant citrine and teal notes of joyful curiosity, etched with just the faintest swatches of light green in envy. That feeling only lasted a second; the hue melted into content turquoise ripples.
"So should we try to start meditating again?" maybe going back to the meditation would be best?
"Maybe try to reach out to Loomi? Or should I try with someone else?"