#˗ˏˋ ✦ elijah gutierrez ⟶ featuring. naida

[driftwccds]

closed  starter  for  NAIDA  (  @latunche  )  that rooftop mixer thing

˗ˏˋ ✦                  ⟶ “  what  exactly  are  we  glaring  at  ?  “  it  doesn’t  take  long  bumbling  around  the  rooftop  for  elijah  to  sniff  out  naida,  and  he  drapes  himself  on  a  nearby  chair ;  his  posture  relaxed  and  loose  as  he  rests  his  arms  over  the  curved  back.  he  fixates  his  eyes  on  the  horizon,  squinting  towards  the  sun  slowly  setting  behind  the  calm  water  in  the  distance.  an  attempt  is  made  to  mimic  naida’s  expression…  or  at  least  his  artistic  interpretation  of  what  he  thinks  her  expression  is  :  brows  furrowed,  with  an exaggerated  scowl  that  really  looks  more  like  a  pout  when  he  does  it  (  he  is  not  even  a  quarter  as  intimidating  ).  “  if  you’re  trying  to  scare  away  the  sun,  i  think  it’s  working.  see  ?  “  his  hand  comes  up  to  point  at  the  sunset,  “  there  he  goes.  you  can  relax  a  little  bit.  “ 

[driftwccds]

˗ˏˋ ✦                  ⟶ she's  a  bit  of  a  mood-killer,  but  elijah  tries  not  to  let  that  effect  him.  naida's  words  ──  though  pointed  at  him  like  little  daggers  ──  clearly  aren't  aimed  at  him,  or  even  at  the  sunset  that  he's  convinced  she  IS  glaring  at.  that  suspicion  is  the  main  reason  he  doesn't  just  get  up  and  walk  away. it's probably  why  he  approached  naida  in  the  first  place.  elijah  makes  himself  comfortable,  resting  his  chin  against  his  forearms  and  watching  her  with  a  shy  mix  of  concern  and  curiosity.

"  how  old  are  you  again  ?  because  you  sound  like  a  middle-aged  man  in  the  depths  of  a  life  crisis.  next  time  i  see  you,  are  you  going  to  have  a  shiny  new  sports  car  and  sugar  baby  to  match  ?  "  he's  trying  to  lighten  the  mood,  uncomfortable  sitting  with  her  intense  thoughts.  to  elijah,  a  day  is  a  day.  like  any  human,  he  goes  through  phases  of  uncertainty,  but  for  the  most  part,  he's  comfortable  with  where  he  is  and  what  he's  accomplishing.

naida's  obsession  with  the  setting  sun  feels  abnormal.

elijah  leans  forward  a  bit  in  the  chair,  scraping  the  legs  off  the  cement  as  he  gets  closer.  "  you  know  that  sitting  here  and  staring  at  it  isn't  going  to  like,  change  that,  right  ?  "  he  throws  his  hands  up  in  preemptive  surrender,  "  don't  shoot  the  messenger  here,  nai,  but  you're  not  doing  yourself  any  favours  by  glaring  ──  sorry,  looking  ──  all doom and gloom  into  the  sunset.  "

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤnaida almost senses elijah’s presence before he speaks, a soft sigh falls from her in an attempt to ready herself for her.., companion’s, carefree ramblings. “ i wasn’t glaring at the sunset. this is a glare. “ she scoffs, turning to elijah; fixing him with a hardened look. her face now relaxing back to her original shrewd expression. “ i was trying to think; don’t worry i know that’s a concept you’re unfamiliar with . ” it seemed as though thinking was the only thing naida found herself doing these past few weeks, tension headaches from the self-induced stress had done little to quell the whispers in her head; her mother’s voice telling her how much time she’d been wasting, the voice melding into a clock.. ticking away . “ i can’t relax ! why don’t you get it !? “ she huffs another sigh, louder this time as though she can’t help but advertise her frustration . a small part of her feels.. shame, churning in her gut, turning to anger. anger now being directed at elijah, at her friend . she tries to soften her tone, but her attempts fall flat; her own ears barely noticing any change “ it’s not that easy . every time the sun sets that's just another lost hour, another day gone . “ her arms come up, wrapping around her midriff, her outburst momentarily forgotten as she casts her gaze to the sun once more, melancholy clinging to her skin; watching as it sinks below the horizon . tick tock.