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+---- Thread: these lines of lightning (/showthread.php?tid=11586)
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RE: these lines of lightning - Flora - 07-05-2025
Flora swallows hard, the movement visible in the graceful line of her throat. [say]"It’s probably for the best anyway,"[/say] she says, voice low but clear, like the truth has finally resigned itself to being spoken. [say]"I don’t want Kai to be some rebound. He’s...he’s too good for that. We’re too good of friends for that. And gods, maybe sleeping with him was a mistake—not because it wasn’t perfect, because it was—but because now I don’t know how I’m supposed to just go back to being his friend again. Not when I know how good it felt to be something more."[/say]
She sets her glass aside with a faint clink, the condensation leaving a faint circle on the dark wood of the table. A sigh follows as she leans, folding into the space between them and resting her head gently against Sohalia’s shoulder. The warmth there is comforting in a way few things are these days—familiar, safe, solid. [say]"I probably just need to take a break from all of it,"[/say] she murmurs, her voice muffled slightly by the fabric of Soh’s shirt. [say]"From trying to be with anyone. Just give myself time to figure out what I even want. But it’s so fucking lonely, Soh."[/say] Her fingers curl slightly against her thigh, as though trying to hold something in place. [say]"Like I’m hosting this whole damn life and there’s no one left on the guest list."[/say]
A pause, then, and her voice curls tighter, threaded with quiet frustration and something that aches like shame. [say]"And I don't even think I can take the bar back. From the triplets, I mean. Caly’s part of that now, and if I tried, it’d just look like I was trying to take something from her. Like I’m jealous, or petty, or trying to get between them. Even if I’m not."[/say] She huffs a hollow laugh, though it doesn’t carry much humour. [say]"So now I’m single, heartbroken, and out of the only job I like."[/say] She closes her eyes, letting her head rest heavier against Sohalia now. [say]"Gods, this sucks."[/say]
RE: these lines of lightning - Sohalia - 07-06-2025
With Soh's (admittedly limited) experience, she rather thought that it was too late for Flora to go back to the way things were. Love, in all its trappings, was messy above all else, and now that the Doubletake had felt what things with Kai could be, it meant that there had been an invisible line crossed that couldn't be taken back. She wished that she could tell Flora that it would all work out, that everything would be okay - but gods if she wasn't trying to work through her own romantic tangle literal years later.
Instead, Soh leaned her cheek against the top of the queen's head, breathing in the salt and lilac that was uniquely Flora. [say]"I know,"[/say] she murmured, because she did. And things were lonely, when one tried to take a step back and focus on themselves. Even with friends - even with the best of friends - it was so godsdamned lonely that Soh had often wanted to scream into the abyss.
Maybe she and Flora were just cursed, doomed forever to be single. But if that were the case, at least they’d be together. [say]”When we’re both old spinsters, we’ll still have each other,”[/say] she said teasingly. Of course, she doubted very much that Flora would stay single for the rest of her life. The queen was gorgeous, and brilliant, and fierce. She’d find someone one day. Soh, on the other hand…
Shaking off that train of thought, Soh hummed sympathetically against Flora’s hair. [say]”Do you think you could share the bar, or would that just be… awkward?”[/say]
RE: these lines of lightning - Flora - 07-06-2025
Affectionately rolling her eyes, Flora huffs quietly against her friend's arm. [say]"I take that means Koa hasn't figured out you're literally miles out of his league and he should be so lucky that you're even still talking to him?"[/say] Undoubtedly, the Luminary would already have said something if Koa had made that realization, but Flora wouldn't ever miss an opportunity to remind her bestie just what an honest-to-gods catch she really was.
For a moment Flora imagines what it might be like to swan into the Hanged Man, checking off supply lists with Nova and going through various orders with Caly, getting Vesper to move things around with her shadows. As simply as it seems, her nose immediately wrinkles as she shakes her head softly. [say]"Hella awkward I think. I mean, not only is there now the Caly and Kai of it all, but those are Jack's kids."[/say] Sitting up if only to peer at her friend, an unhappy streak of crimson streaks across the bridge of Flora's nose as Jack's final words float back to her, before she hears them echoing through the little scene she'd tried to imagine.
[say]"And my current plan is basically to try and avoid him for the foreseeable future, so..."[/say] Pausing, Flora feels an ache building low in her belly, that, when it rises, is sharp behind her ribs. [say]"I think maybe I lost my bar."[/say]
RE: these lines of lightning - Sohalia - 07-08-2025
Soh huffed a soft laugh against Flora's hair. She and Koa had yet to determine exactly what they were - and while Soh wasn't sure that she was all that her best friend thought she was, she was starting to wonder how long she would have to wait for either a yes or a no. At least if she knew which way he was leaning, she could start to either make plans or find some closure with the decision. But this moment was decidedly not about her and Koa, and she focused instead on Flora's predicament. Which, unfortunately for the Doubletake, Soh had no easy answers to.
[say]"Right... I kind of... forgot about that part,"[/say] she admitted, scrunching her nose as she considers that Jack was a father. It certainly complicated matters beyond just the whole Kaisel thing. When Flora spoke next, it was with an ache that hurt Soh's soul to hear, and the Luminary squeezed Flora's hand. [say]"I wish I could give you a hug right now,"[/say] she murmured to her friend. [say]"But I don't want to hurt you."[/say]
RE: these lines of lightning - Flora - 07-09-2025
Flora’s laugh comes quiet and hollow, the kind that curls at the corners of her mouth without ever reaching her eyes. [say]"That’s honestly the worst part,"[/say] she murmurs, her gaze dropping. [say]"Not the scars, not the lingering pain—"[/say] Her voice softens to the edge of a sigh. [say]"Is that no one can even hug me right now when that's what I want the most."[/say]
She doesn’t look at Sohalia when she says it, fingers tightening just a little where their hands are joined. [say]"When Jack came by—"[/say] The name tastes like sae salt and regret. [say]"—for our final-final breakup or whatever we’re calling it now...he couldn’t even hug me goodbye."[/say] Flora’s throat bobs with the swallow she tries to keep small. [say]"And honestly, that almost felt worse than having to watch him leave again."[/say]
Her smile is brittle but sincere as she lifts her eyes again. [say]"Ugh, I hate everything right now."[/say]
RE: these lines of lightning - Sohalia - 07-10-2025
[say]"Oh, Flora..."[/say] Soh kissed the top of her friend's head, inching herself just slightly closer while trying not to jostle the Doubletake too much. Flora's laugh was brittle and hollow, the kind of thing that made Soh's chest ache. All she wanted was to wrap Flora up, shut the world out, and protect her dearest friend from everything that sought to hurt her - but she couldn't do even a little bit of that, no matter how much she might wish she could.
But even if life was hard, and everything sucked, at least Flora was still here, still alive. That had to count for something right? Resolve hardened Soh's quicksilver gaze as she stared at her water cup where it say untouched on the table. [say]"I'm so sorry,"[/say] she murmured softly against Flora's hair. [say]"But you know what? We're going to get through this. You're going to get through this. You are strong and you are brilliant and you are unbreakable, Flora Kaito-Taliesin. You can fall apart for a little bit if you want to, and I'll help you pick up all the pieces and put them back together. But whenever you're ready, you will face the world again."[/say]
RE: these lines of lightning - Flora - 07-11-2025
Flora sighs, the sound slipping out like seafoam over stone, gentle and tired. She leans into Sohalia's side as much as her wounded and battered body allows, curls brushing her friend’s shoulder, her weight a soft admission of how much she needs this—how much she’s been needing something solid to lean against. [say]"I know you're right,"[/say] she murmurs, voice low and threadbare. [say]"I just...wish it didn’t have to be this hard all the time. Like, just once, can something not come with pain?"[/say]
She doesn't say that she feels more breakable now than she has in seasons. Doesn’t say that sometimes it feels like she’s just sea glass, worn down and smoothed out so prettily by the waves—until you remember that she used to be sharp. Instead, she melts more fully into Sohalia’s quiet comfort, cheek finding her friend’s shoulder. [say]"Thanks for coming,"[/say] she whispers, sincere in the way few things have been lately. [say]"For being here. Even when I’m all stabbed and sad and gross."[/say] A smile tugs at her mouth—small, but real this time. [say]"You’re the best, Soh."[/say]
~FIN