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“Hey. Miss me?”
Aloy turns her back, astonished to see the beauty before her.
It was her…At least, it looked like it might be her. Seyka was still the same. However, her hair was cropped in a pixie style, prim and proper. Two years had passed, ever since they had last met in Burning Shores.
Aloy ran as fast as she could, instinctively recognizing the beautiful brown eyes imprinted in her memory. She hugs Seyka as tightly as possible, and she doesn't want to let her go. It is the longest hug Aloy has ever given, and she doesn't want this moment to end.
Seyka places her hand on Aloy's shoulder, assuring her surreal presence.
"You don't know how much I miss you. How are things in Fleet's End?" Aloy contains herself, fighting for every inch not to reveal her vulnerability. As much as she misses Seyka, Aloy will not let Seyka see this. She slowly lets her grip off Seyka, showing restraint as she tries to smile.
"Great, but never the same without you." Seyka notices the subtlety of her smile, and she looks at Aloy longingly, the adventures they had in Burning Shores replayed like a motion picture on repeat. Aloy tightens her jaw as her eyes meet Seyka's lovely face. "Yeah, it isn't…By the way, I love how you did with your hair." Seyka runs her fingers through her fringe. "Yes, the weather is scorching hot. And it's a perfect time for a haircut—a new start, new beginnings… You know?"
Aloy scratches her head, trying to make sense of what Seyka said. "Yeah, a haircut is a good way to start anew. New hair, new me."
"I wish you were there for my haircut." Seyka smiled, her words reflecting yearning. "Wanna go somewhere?"
"Where to?" Aloy wondered, her mind grasping the question's ambiguity.
"Wherever the mood strikes."
As the sun strikes on a lazy Friday afternoon, Aloy and Seyka instinctively pick the choice of strolling along the market of Fleet's End.
Shopping is Seyka's speciality—at least when it comes to the overall scheme of cooking. It is the most time she has ever spent when it comes to getting quality ingredients. As someone used to eating alone and preparing kitchen delights for her sister, Seyka finds satisfaction in doing that.
"I'm looking for some mutton. Care to find it for me?"
"Sure," Aloy replied and turned to her task. She remembered how Rost was selective when picking meat cuts for a meal. Aloy instinctively placed her fingers on the meat as she meticulously examined it with sharp, discerning eyes. She lightly presses the lamb's carcass, looking at it for texture and firmness. With a smile, Aloy nods at the butcher and points at the mutton, signifying her choice.
"You got an eye for the good stuff," Seyka noted, and Aloy took the wrapped mutton from the counter with ease. She passes the shards to the butcher and signals him to keep the change.
"Yeah. I guess." Aloy said, trying her utmost effort to prevent sounding boastful. "It's something I've learnt during my shopping trips with Rost."
Seyka tosses a bundle of string beans into Aloy's basket. "All we need is some beancurd, and we're good to go."
"Yeah," Aloy smiles. Aloy and Seyka continued their dinner shopping as they navigated the market.
Their laughter resonated through the market, and they were lost in their world as they discussed their ideal dishes. It was an opportunity to reconnect after they were apart.
"Hey, if you get the halibut and I get the goose, together we can create the perfect dinner experience," Seyka teases. "It will be a perfect blend of the sky and the sea."
"Sounds like a great idea," Aloy smiled. "I can't wait to see what this dinner brings.
The hour passed, and Aloy and Seyka reached Seyka's hut. Seyka set the ingredients aligned in military precision in the kitchen, and Aloy chopped the stringed beans rhythmically as the knife sliced through the pods.
Seyka readies the stove, placing Aloy's choice of mutton cut into the seasoned pot. At that particular moment, she exhibited the highest level of concentration she had reached. Her vigilant eye watched over the braise as she adjusted the stove's heat to ensure the purity of the dish. To her delight, the meat yielded effortlessly as she touched it with a fork. With the delicacy complete, Aloy and Seyka spice up their kitchen routine by trading turns to prepare their favourite dishes.
"Been a while since we had done this. The greens look vibrant, and it's just…" Seyka took a huge whiff of the dishes' fragrant aroma and gave a chef's kiss, a sign of approval that Aloy and Seyka had succeeded in cooking their dishes.
"Thank you," Aloy wipes the sweat off the brow with her towel, and while she does, Seyka admires all the work they put in. The beautifully cooked fish was surrounded by mutton stew, goose and sauteed green beans—it was a testament to not only their hard work but also a reflection of their relationship and the love they had for each other.
Seyka places the mutton down on the dining table. She's faster than usual in setting the dishes, and she is eager to start dinner with her beloved. It's been two years since they had sat together for a lovely dinner like this.
"How does it look?" Seyka asks.
Aloy smiles as she sets the halibut on the table. "Pretty amazing. I wish I could have the table to myself."
"Wouldn't have done it without you."
"I am famished." Seyka readies herself as she sits next to Aloy. "Let's dig in."
Aloy and Seyka had a good laugh over dinner as they marvelled at the delightful dishes that they prepared together. The evening was filled with camaraderie and joy, a sentiment shared by their longing for each other.
Amid their conversation, Seyka subtly chuckled as she noticed a stray grain of rice perched on Aloy's lips.
"Aloy, you got a…"
The words are more challenging to hear since Aloy is busy chewing the last piece of drumstick she has her eyes on. Unsure what she heard, she stopped and looked at Seyka.
"Uh… what?" Aloy is confused, implying that Seyka should repeat and finish her sentence.
However, Seyka taps her lips, showing Aloy exactly where to wipe her mouth. Aloy grasps the subtle cue, but in a moment of playful spontaneity, she leans in and kisses Seyka on the lip. It was their second kiss and Aloy's way of sharing her laughter without revealing the food mishap.
"All clear," Aloy teases, with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. The grain of rice on Aloy's lips is gone.
"Wow." Seyka blushes with a laugh, and she places the chopsticks on the table. "That was real smooth."