ineffable

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Sofie's grasp on Ed's hand tightened imperceptibly. Maybe she was wrong to do this. She just knew what her father would've said (or rather done) and she bit her lip, a nervous tick. Her mom had always been open towards Sofie finding some love in the future at least, and some days they would crouch in the closet together (so as not to wake Father up) and giggle as Sofie recalled her embarrassing childhood crush stories. Those were simpler times and Sofie remembered the feeling of warmth that that love had given her. It was time for her to take a risk, she thought. Sofie had traveled all the way here and to complete her journey fully would mean that she had to have participated in some new experiences. In fact, she was already feeling proud of herself, for taking such a huge step. Self-confidence had never ever cropped up as easily as it did now. She smiled.
"Let's do this."
And with that she leaned slightly over the console and kissed Ed on the cheek, settling back down after she had done so. Her hands rose to cup her flaming red cheeks and she sighed.
In this moment Sofie didn't allow herself to think of anything else, of anyone else. She was purely, selfishly just thinking about her. And it felt good.

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@Thinslayer

Thank you for your reply! It helped a lot, and again I'm sorry for not understanding better.

I'll give it a quick read as well! Thank you for linking it, it genuinely seems to be a very informative piece.

An additional question: Could you give me more information on Terran, Crescent, Confederates etc.

My reply will come by soon, It's just the next few days for me will be very busy in terms of new assignments getting handed to me and everything :)

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Self insertion?

And I think it was interesting how you did all that, the explanation of his religion helped as well but what I believe Ed is is some sort of knight to the rescue eque guy. You know the ones, it just seems like he thinks of himself in a superior way at points, forever trying to protect and encourage the delicate damsel in distress.

Granted, Ed is a very in depth character but I just haven’t gotten a grasp on who he really is yet. He’s a gentleman like guy right so why did he think those thoughts first? I honestly don’t know if I’m taking everything out of proportion right now but I’d love to get to know the character better is all I’m saying.

Again just like to be sure that it’s definitely not me criticizing you or your writing ;)

EDIT: Actually just reread your thing again and it makes more sense than it did the first time, sorry for the fuss...I think watching too many episode of The Office fried my brain for a moment there

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@Thinslayer

WOOOHOOOO!

That ending just...100%

Anyways, I'll try to respond soon because now I'm genuinely excited. They seem like very cool characters and I think that by starting and developing a relationship between the two earlier we may get some pretty good character development.

On another note: Ed seems to have a holier than thou attitude, I don't know but it feels like he's just...off. He's analyzing every single thing that everyone does and has a weird, kind of unexplainable attitude towards Sofie. I can't quite put my finger on it, maybe he's just acting like a gentleman type of character but I'm just confused. It's of no offense to you, Thins, I hope you know that because I think you're an amazing writer but I'd like to get to know Ed a bit better in the OOC?

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@Thinslayer

Waiting for that highly romantic side of Ed to come out!

Just finished a DnD thing so feeling pretty pumped up actually.

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@Thinslayer

I tried to keep as much as Sofie as possible in the reply I just posted but I defied a few of Sofie's rules to make sure she accepted his hand. I was trying to justify some part of it but in the end I think her choice was a good one. Plus, the change in her character, in what she'd usually do is something new I'd like to explore :)

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"What do you say we explore the possibility of us? May we date, Sofie?"

Sofie flinched. It was a bad reaction, she knew and her cheeks heated up in response to her own actions but she wasn't used to this. People in her career, the ones who pursued romance anyways always had a hidden agenda up their sleeve. Relationships were just a way to mutually benefit from each other, they weren't suited for love, warmth and care. She'd never seen such a thing demonstrated in the people she was usually around with and for a lack of a better word, she would describe the whole experience as uncomfortable. However, for once she felt light and free. She could afford to be in love, to actually like someone could she? She could let down her defenses?

-'-

"YOU STUPID GIRL!" Hands grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and slammed her against the wall. Her head crashed against it and she felt a throbbing make it's way into her skull. Blood streamed down from her closed fists, results of her nails embedding themselves in her soft palms.
"You listen to me okay, Sofie?" Father knelt down in her front of her, his face livid and full of anger.
"Yes." Sofie answered, cracked lips brushing each other as she opened her mouth.
"You never cry in the face of death. It makes you weak." Father gestured at the picture of mother, one where she sat smiling, Sofie held tightly in her arms.
"But...it was mother. I loved her." She knew she shouldn't have said it but Sofie was too tired now, too upset, too angry to deal with any of the consequences she'd have to face.
SLAM!
Sofie tried hard to catch her breath as she went sliding down to the floor, blood from her fingers streaking her cheeks as she tried to rub her head.
"Love has no place in this world, in our paths we've chosen. You, child, you have to learn this...DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" His foot stomped down on her bare feet and she screamed.
"ANSWER ME!"
"Yes." She managed as she struggled to get up. She couldn't remain on the floor, no, it would only make him angrier.
"Good."
His mouth spread into a smile and as he turned to go his hands brushed aside the picture of her mother, causing it to land face down on the ground with the glass shattered and scattered in small glittering pieces around them. A tear dripped down her cheek.

-'-

"Ed, I..."
What was she going to say? She didn't know anything of love and he didn't know anything about her. Would he be so accepting knowing what she'd done in the past? How many people were broken and bloodied because of her? And as for her herself...was she willing to let another person in? Her mother had always told her that love was real, that it was out there somewhere so was this finally her chance? The questions plagued her as she struggled for an answer. Maybe she could try it out. Her mom would've liked that. If she was still here.
"You don't know me. And...I've...I just..." The words struggled to find themselves out of her mouth. How could she admit to him who she had used to be? Who she maybe still was? She longed for love yes, but what would his reaction be?

Finally, Sofie closed her eyes and grabbed his hand, softly.
"I'm not the person you think I am."

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@Thinslayer

Sorry, this whole thing is definitely taking me longer than it should. I just got assigned a major work project and am a bit stressed about it. Just a warning but I'm so so sorry once again.

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@Thinslayer

Thank you for explaining to me the dating "etiquette" in the Crescent to me. It kind of changes my choice as to what Sofie will say a bit. Hopefully, I'll have a response to you by tomorrow but it's sadly not guaranteed. Been working quite hard to get a few free moments but they don't come easily :)

P.S: Thanks to you Not Another Song About Love is now stuck in my head and as good as it is (the original version) it's gonna start to kill me someday ;)

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@Thinslayer

Ah no, don't change anything! I was just surprised he did that. I'm thinking it through and while I want to do something as a writer I feel like I should do something as Sofie