fuzz in our fingers

I couldn't utter my love when it counted
Ah, but I'm singing like a bird 'bout it now

Koa huffs a derisive snort at his sister's attestation, fairly confident that their father does not, in fact, miss him. Koa rubs a calloused finger against a groove in the table, not looking up as a mirthless half-smile pulls against his lips. "That's true," the young man agrees, though not without some venom. Perhaps if their father spent less time moping and whining about his arthritis, his age, he would be able to keep up with their sister. Perhaps if he hadn't fallen apart when Mahina died, leaving Koa to pick up the pieces, to step in as the head of the house...

It's not a particularly charitable (or accurate) judgment to pass, but then again, objectivity is rarely found where family is concerned.

But this is far too heavy a topic for his last day at the beach, and besides, the young man has worked rather hard to protect his sister from his innermost discontent. So it is that he heaves a dramatic sigh, shoving out against the table and rising to his feet. "C'mon," the boy says to Noe, copper eyes already brightening as some matching coins clink onto the table. "The last skyship's in a couple hours, so we're wasting daylight here. You wanna swim or shop?" He doesn't let any preference slip into his voice, wanting her to choose, more than happy to go along with whatever his sister suggests.

Koa

And I couldn't whisper when you needed it shouted
Ah, but I'm singing like a bird 'bout it now

totally sniped from odd ilu