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The best people in life are free - Flora - 02-20-2026
The room is precisely as Flora has made it, with the air salted and green all at once, as though the Arclight Ocean has decided to kiss the edges of the Greatwood without either territory surrendering an inch. Waves roll in soft, rhythmic sighs beyond a line of towering trees whose trunks rise broad and ancient from moss-thick earth, their leaves whispering overhead in a wind that smells faintly of brine and sap. Between forest and sea, a gentle stream threads its way across smooth stones, clear enough to catch the light and fracture it into trembling silver across the picnic laid out at its bend—linen spread immaculate, fruit piled in lacquered bowls with chocolate to dip them in, a chilled bottle sweating quietly beside four waiting glasses.
Flora stands near the stream in a silk robe the colour of seafoam caught at dusk, blonde curls pinned up in a deliberately messy tangle of blonde. Her golden rings flash idly as she reaches into a bowl and plucks out another cotton candy grape, pressing it between her teeth with a decadent crunch. [say]"Oh my gods,"[/say] she murmurs around it, closing her eyes briefly as she chews. [say]"So good."[/say]
She swallows, licking a hint of sugar from her thumb before glancing over her shoulder at the soft click of the door. One of the House staff steps inside, careful not to disturb the illusion of tide and timber, voice low and professional as she announces that their massages will begin in thirty minutes.
Flora pivots slowly, robe swaying around her calves as the sound of waves continues their patient applause behind her. [say]"Perfect,"[/say] she hums as her aqua eyes flick toward the others—Melita, Sohalia, Colt—each wrapped in their own version of softness and steam, the whole room scented faintly of citrus oil and forest loam. Flora reaches for another grape, holds it up like a jewel between ringed fingers. [say]"Alright,"[/say] she says, grin curling mischievous and sharp all at once. [say]"Confessions, complaints, or catastrophes. We've got thirty minutes before we’re horizontal and too blissed out to form coherent thoughts, sooo..."[/say] With all those C's in mind, Flora turns a bright grin towards Colt.
[say]"I think Colt should go first."[/say]
RE: The best people in life are free - Colt - 02-20-2026
Pampering is a rarity for the rancher. She considers a hot shower at the end of a long day the same as a live-in masseuse, and liquor has ever been the lubrication for her tired body and worn out mind. The soft embrace of the robe at least is nothing new, and she sits on the edge of her plush seat with legs drawn up to her chest, the silken fabric gray and shimmering, draped around her like a storm she’s wrestled into comfort.
Her skin gleams, hydrated from the lemon lotion she’d applied, and accentuated with the soft lighting of the room, all of it making her look like she’s stepped out from the sea that surrounds them. If she’s going to do a spa day, she’s going to do it right, and like everything she approaches, there’s no half measures to be had. Something dark is curing beneath her eyes, an anti-wrinkle something or other that she’d shrugged and readily taken, and gods know she needs it the most out of this group. Her hair wig is done up in a messy bun, leaving her shoulders bare for expert hands later, and the cool kiss of the robe for now.
Mid-popping another cube of cheese in her mouth, she stills as her name is laid out for the group, caught like a deer in the farmer’s field. She chews slowly, using that as an excuse to delay while her gaze washes from woman to woman, landing back where it began, settling on the supreme spa hostess, Flora. [say]”Confessions, complaints, or catastrophes, huh?”[/say] she drawls, grin sharpening into her cheek.The hand still clutching her other claimed cheese curls shut, and she drapes it over a knee as she leans in.
In the effort of sinking into spa day fully, and the girtlhood that innately comes with it given the assembled group, she lets a grin carve up her expression. [say]”Alright then,”[/say] she huffs, her breath fluttering into her hair. [say]”I’ve got a complaint about men.”[/say] Which seems to be a common start to a woman’s story. [say]”They’re impossibly stupid, and completely, emotionally stunted. The only thing they’re good for is looking at, and even that’s unreliable.”[/say]
RE: The best people in life are free - Melita - 02-21-2026
Likely no one would be surprised to discover Melita had never once ventured into a spa. Pampering for the Honeybee usually included someone being bullied, harassed, or annoyed for the sake of her own amusement; the mere notions of a massage didn’t really cross the demigod’s mind. So the invitation had taken her some amount of time to mull over, but nonetheless, accepted amidst the House of Midnight.
Sunjata had only recently told her of its capabilities, and so she whistled upon entering the threshold altered, changed, for their benefit. Waves upon trees, like an alternate version of forests lowering themselves to meet the sea, no rush of salt to damage their roots. The scent reminded her briefly of one specific Halovian, but she let that drift on the sounds of the wind, smile contorting as she beheld the picnic, nearly forgoing greetings as she spied the arrangement. [say]“This is really nice,”[/say] she nudged Flora with an elbow, before heading straight to the indulgences. She didn’t look half as neat or polished as the others; hair pinned up and out of the way, but robe carelessly strapped on and half-tied; emblems of Ludo in all sorts of images embedded and patterned on it (some of the mask pouring coffee, playing with cats, or munching on taffy). Snagging one of the fruits, she’d made to guzzle down a drink too, but then the mischief began to unfurl, and she was seated, looking as if she couldn’t quite the notion of being poised.
The name of the game resounded, and she grinned, popping some dragonfruit into her mouth as Colt began the rotation. The complaint about men earned an arch of the Honeybee’s brow, and quick look to Flora in turn, before her gaze snapped directly back to Colt and the rancorous edges. Given her recent foray and proclivity for one of the impossibly stupid and emotionally stunted creatures, she snorted. [say]“Do name drop the specific ones though,”[/say] she winked, presuming there were one or more that had gotten the rancher into such a fluster. She might have wholeheartedly agreed with the sentiment regardless – but it’d be nice to know which idiots to avoid based on current experiences.
Then, realizing it was her turn, she blinked, trying to figure out where to parse. Coming on the back of Colt’s speech was going to look relatively foolish, but she shrugged and knocked back a sip of her mimosa, taking a big breath. [say]“Mmmk, confession then. I did recently go on a date. He was quite reliably good to look at.”[/say] Amongst other things. Would do it again.
RE: The best people in life are free - Sohalia - 02-24-2026
The room was perfection. Flora had really outdone herself when she'd imagined this place, all loam and sea salt and citrus. Sohalia lounged with her friends, sitting daintily on a blanket in the bend of the stream, clad in a light pink robe that was so soft and silky that she was half convinced this was all a dream. She'd piled her hair messily atop her head, leaving her shoulders bare for their future massages, and her skin gleamed with some kind of citrus-y lotion that had even softened her scars to some degree.
Flora, unsurprisingly, was quick to play the part of hostess, putting Colt on the spot almost immediately. At the rancher's complaint, Soh added a muttered, [say]"Amen."[/say] Men were stupid and stunted, almost enough so to make her swear off of them entirely.
Almost, but not quite.
In any case, she offered nothing aside from a look of utter agreement, picking up a glass of champagne to sip on idly. Melita needled Colt, inviting her to share more information. Soh herself had to admit to some curiosity. Her experiences with men had been utter failures, to say the least, so having a clue for who to watch out for would certainly be welcome to perhaps avoid some of the mistakes she'd made in the past - or new ones altogether.
And then Melita was sharing that she'd been on a date recently, and the utter romantic in Sohalia couldn't help but perk up at the news. [say]"Ooooo,"[/say] she said, leaning in towards Mel as though ready to hear some juicy secret shared. [say]"Who? Where? Details, Mel!"[/say]
RE: The best people in life are free - Flora - 02-24-2026
Flora’s grin blooms slow and wicked when Melita nudges her, shoulder to shoulder in a conspiratorial bump that nearly sends her swaying toward the stream, and she steadies herself with a hand braced lightly on the picnic blanket as though the illusion of tide and timber might actually sweep her off her feet.
She turns that beam toward Colt and Sohalia, gaze flicking between storm-grey silk and blush-pink softness, and there’s something quietly delighted in the way she takes them in, as if the universe has momentarily misplaced its usual categories. A rancher, a trickster demigod, a romantic, and a queen walk into a spa, she thinks, and the punchline is apparently emotional damage and excellent cheese.
Colt’s complaint earns a low, humming agreement from Flora, the sound vibrating in her throat as she reaches for her glass. [say]"Mm,"[/say] she echoes at Sohalia’s amen, lifting her brows in solemn solidarity. She tips her chin toward Colt, smile sharpening. [say]"But yes, if we’re drafting a public advisory notice, I’d like names."[/say]
The request hangs there only briefly before Melita detonates something far more interesting. Flora’s head snaps toward her with such theatrical speed that one curl escapes its pin and brushes her cheek. [say]"You did not,"[/say] she gasps, delight unfiltered and immediate, before pivoting fully, tucking one leg beneath her as she leans in, robe slipping just enough to reveal a flash of gold at her collarbone. [say]"Tell us everything."[/say]
Her eyes flick to Sohalia in shared, gleeful interrogation, and she gestures between them with two fingers as though convening an emergency council. [say]"We’ve had a complaint and a confession,"[/say]she declares lightly. [say]"Which means one of us owes a catastrophe."[/say] There’s a beat where she pauses to see if Soh will volunteer, gaze softening briefly before she inhales and clears her throat instead, lifting her glass in mock formality. [say]"Fine. I’ll go."[/say]
She swirls the mimosa once, watching the bubbles climb like they’re attempting escape. [say]"At the rodeo,"[/say] she begins, tone airy in a way that is absolutely not accidental, [say]"my ex-boyfriend spilled an entire drink all over me."[/say] She pauses only long enough to pop another grape into her mouth, chewing through the sweetness before continuing. [say]"While his new girlfriend—presumably—and his daughter watched and laughed."[/say] Her brows rise higher. [say]"Oh,"[/say] she adds, almost as an afterthought, [say]"and his daughter also happens to be my boyfriend’s ex, so, that's fun."[/say]
She widens her eyes dramatically at the snarl of it, as if even she can’t quite believe the geometry of her own life, then lifts her glass and downs the rest of the mimosa in one smooth tilt. The citrus bites bright and sharp as she lowers it with a crisp, satisfied exhale.
RE: The best people in life are free - Colt - 02-26-2026
The portions of her scraped raw in the Hollowed Grounds had since lacquered over with salt and soot, the efforts of several layers of dried tears and a few things burned, literally or otherwise. She can show off the wound now in some fashion or another to the girls. It doesn't bleed as it once did, but the area is still tight and stiff, and she feels its reminder some days fiercer than others. Today, she stretches it out purposefully, trying to keep the sting from setting in that coddling it might otherwise risk.
[say]"If I run down the list of every man's name I know, I'll be talking all night,"[/say] she complains playfully, shrugging as if it's obvious they should all be avoided. Hawthorn might be the only one free of her scorn. Though there is one name in particular that she means, and they're clearly shrewd enough to pick up on that. [say]"If you're going to avoid anyone, though."[/say] Her gaze does not keep any of them now, but bores into a corner on the wall where wood and ocean join, distant for the moment it takes to unearth the name from where she's buried it. For a beat, she doesn't want to say it. Not because she can't, which had been the case for a time, but because part of her doesn't want to tarnish him. It's one thing to manage it when she's beside herself, or to lay it out for her confidant, and it's quite another to say it composed and to a room of women she doesn't know very well.
She recognizes she has faults too, a cold reality that seeps in thicker some times than others. It doesn't feel good to dwell on those, so it's easier to bury the truth and tilt the story against him, or it had been until now. Anger doesn't leave room for honesty, and there's no balance with bitterness, but this is neither. She isn't sure what it is, and she's acutely aware of how damn resistant the skin is being today when she tries to extend it. [say]"Vesper's the one."[/say] All the prior charm has left her tone, leaving it flat and soft, as stretched out as her gaze. It cost her something to push through the reluctance and name him, and that catches her by surprise. She blinks, focus clearing back in a sudden rush that leaves her pressing on a crooked smile suddenly, pretending it's nothing more than another tease for the room and not something wearing on her.
Popping the rest of the cheese into her mouth all at once, like a gag everyone would understand, she's immediately grateful for Mel taking the spotlight. The Honeybee does earn a simper and a wink at her continuation of Colt's commentary about reliable looks, but beyond that, Colt uses the distraction to her benefit for the time being. Sweeping off her plush perch in a fluid motion of liquid steel, Colt pours herself a glass and promptly downs it while everyone gushes over the date potential with the demigod. It tastes wrong with the mash of cheese still in her throat, and it's effort to swallow it all, but she's going for effect more than flavor for the moment.
Pouring another, she turns back into the fold as if nothing had ever been amiss, and settles into her hip against the cushion edge, slowly sipping this time. Attention sharpens with her gaze on Flora at mention of the rodeo. [say]"See, emotionally stunted,"[/say] Colt scoffs at the childish display from her ex. [say]"You should have told me, I could have accidentally sent a stampede his way."[/say] As for the mess of who all is who, Colt can connect enough dots to see it's a mess and she'll leave that part of it well enough alone. [say]"By the way, how'd it feel bucking your man off?"[/say] She smirks instead, focus swinging to Sohalia with an expectant eyebrow raise.
RE: The best people in life are free - Melita - 03-01-2026
Turned out spa day really let out all the tea, and Melita found herself grinning, quite impressed and compelled by the arrangement of gossip and antics parsing through the gallery of forest and sea. It wasn’t beyond her notice though to find Sohalia didn’t offer her own semblances – something to pry open later.
Public notice of stupid men being Vesper amongst them earned a snort into her drink and a direct arch of her brow at Colt. She’d known the demigod as a sibling of Nova (ugh), irritant of Iskra (to be fair, easily done), and fellow bomber of pirates, but perhaps hadn’t thought he’d be a romantic intrigue to the rancher. Instead of digging in too deep though, because Melita was not big on being a conveyer of feelings, especially as the other woman’s tone went flat, she nodded and winked at Colt instead. [say]“Noted.” [/say]
Then, of course, she’d brought the attention upon herself. She might’ve hoped it would pass and sail on by for the next story Flora had to unfold, and she paused, glancing back and forth between the group, ignoring the way her cheeks instantly flushed. [say]“Oh, well, you know when you’re friends with someone for a long time and then you get feelings for them and then, yeah, so,” [/say]as she babbled nonstop, going baseline and surface level rather than all the things and notions stirred against her ribcage, one hand up in the air for punctuation and emphasis as she narrated poorly. [say]“You guys probably don’t know him. Iskra. He lives in Halo.”[/say] Swallowing down another sip of the mimosa because it made her feel a bit braver, unaware her smile grew as she continued. [say]“We went to the Peepholes!”[/say] Though she wouldn’t be telling them everything they did there. [say]“Probably Celestine next.”[/say]
Her head swung back as Flora started out on the catastrophe end though – eyes widening as reality sank in. She’d been far too busy well, flirting, to have witnessed the event, but she gasped for accentuation as her brain began to connect the dots. [say]“Wait, hold up. Jack?? And you didn’t just wind up and hit him? And what new girlfriend?”[/say] How did he keep getting people? Why? Then the Honeybee blinked, reeling from the other comments, but fully invested in the dramatics. [say]“Which daughter was with Kai?”[/say]
RE: The best people in life are free - Sohalia - 03-01-2026
They all waited with bated breath to hear Colt's man named, and when the man who'd drawn her ire was revealed, Soh tilted her head to the side, considering the rancher. She didn't know Vesper well, but she certainly wasn't going to try to get to know him now. Not when he'd put that far-off look in Colt's eyes. Even if the woman smiled crookedly, Soh had to wonder what had happened that had left her in such a state. After all, if she'd been truly wronged, surely she would want to complain about it - or maybe it had hurt so badly that the wound had yet to scab over. Either way, Soh understood, and rather than pressing Colt for more information, she hummed a comforting sound and said, [say]"He's officially on my avoid list."[/say]
Then it was Melita's turn. The demigod's story had something souring in Soh's throat, though she refused to sully her friend's good time with her own closeted skeletons. Yes, she wanted to say. I know exactly how that feels. Hadn't that been what had happened with her and Jude? And look how that had turned out. In any case, she forced an excited grin, dismissing thoughts of her ex as though they had no bearing on her at all. [say]"Ooooo, how fun!"[/say] she squealed. [say]"And another date coming up! Oh my gods, that's so exciting!"[/say] She would leave the poking and prying for more to Flora - or perhaps the queen would let Mel, who seemed perhaps a little flustered, off easy.
Fortunately, Flora took the spotlight next. [say]"Oh, my gods, you didn't tell me that was how you ended up half naked!"[/say] Soh accused, though there was no real hurt in it. [say]"What an ass."[/say] Her feelings about Jack were clear on her pretty face: disgust and outrage, with no room for anything resembling understanding. [say]"Please tell me we're planning some petty revenge."[/say]
But speaking of the rodeo... Colt turned the attention to Soh, whose face promptly turned pink under their scrutiny. [say]"Oh! It was... kind of incredibly satisfying, actually. I really thought he'd last longer,"[/say] she added, sipping idly at her drink. [say]"But I dunno that I'd call him my man, exactly. It's been... complicated."[/say] Which was, naturally, the understatement of the year.
RE: The best people in life are free - Flora - 03-04-2026
Flora’s nose wrinkles the moment Colt finally says the name, the reaction arriving fast and theatrical as she leans back like someone’s just waved something sour beneath it. [say]"Vesper?"[/say] she repeats, incredulous, one brow arching toward her hairline. [say]"Jack’s son?"[/say] Which would have made Flora Colt's MiL if things had worked out for everyone.
The Doubletake makes a soft, dismissive tsk under her breath, the sound sharp enough to carry over the murmur of waves rolling against the towering trees behind them. [say]"Well,"[/say] she adds with a small, knowing shake of her head, reaching for another grape and tossing it into her mouth, [say]"I can’t say I’m surprised. Like father, like son. You really dodged a bullet, I can promise you that."[/say] The words aren’t especially vicious, but there’s an unmistakable note of dry disdain threaded through them as she chews, gaze flicking briefly toward Colt before softening again, as though the judgment is aimed squarely elsewhere.
Melita’s confession pulls her attention back almost instantly, however, and Flora’s expression brightens as the Honeybee stumbles through the explanation. The queen bites lightly at the inside of her cheek as Mel talks about long friendships turning into something more, a flicker of recognition crossing her face before she pushes it down neatly, not wanting to usurp the spotlight. [say]"Iskra?"[/say] she echoes, delighted. [say]"I've met him, actually."[/say] Her finger lifts slightly as if to mark the memory. [say]"At a market in Halo, ages ago."[/say] She winks at Melita across the picnic blanket, grin bright and approving. [say]"He seemed super fun."[/say]
The conversation inevitably swings back to her catastrophe, and Flora exhales a long sigh that lifts her shoulders before dropping them again, glancing toward Mel with an apologetic little shrug for having not immediately retaliated. [say]"I honestly thought ignoring him would do the trick,"[/say] she admits, tone airy but edged with resignation. Her gaze flicks sideways toward Sohalia, a crooked smile tugging at her mouth. [say]"And then, well, I thought using it as an excuse to take my top off would make it seem like he'd done me a favour, or whatever."[/say]
She pauses, tilting her head thoughtfully before reaching for the mimosa bottle and pouring herself another glass. [say]"Judging by what an absolute asshole he was when I saw him after, I guess it worked."[/say]
Melita’s question about the mysterious girlfriend draws another quick glance back in her direction, and Flora wrinkles her nose faintly as she lifts the glass. [say]"Some redhead I’d never seen before,"[/say] she says with an indifferent little wave of her hand. [say]"No idea who she was."[/say] But she knew Jack well enough to know he didn't sit that cozily with just anyone.
Then she snorts softly, rolling her eyes as the rest of the tangled story spills out. [say]"Kai went on a single date with his daughter Caly."[/say] Flora lifts a single finger for emphasis. [say]"After she friendzoned him, he told her he was going to date me, and that pissed her off enough to have her and her siblings burning down the Hanged Man and following Jack to King's End."[/say] She takes a sip of her drink, shaking her head slowly as though even now the whole situation refuses to arrange itself into anything sensible.
The attention shifting to Sohalia draws her gaze across the little circle again, the corner of Flora’s mouth curving into a knowing smile as her best friend describes bucking Koa off. Rather than teasing, she simply nods once, pouring another splash into her glass as though the motion gives her something casual to do with her hands. [say]"Well,"[/say] she says lightly, lifting the mimosa, [say]"if he fumbles you again, that’s the loss of a lifetime."[/say] Her eyes flick toward Sohalia with quiet certainty. [say]"You deserve so much more than someone who can't see what they have, especially when it's right in front of them."[/say]
RE: The best people in life are free - Colt - 03-05-2026
It’s a mixed bag of reactions. Not out loud—in voice, everyone’s in agreement, no further proof needed by any of them. It’s more sway than she expected, and reminds her that she’d not given Thalassa the same power, which causes Colt’s lips to scrunch to the side for a moment in consideration of what that says about her. Given where she’s ended up, she should have listened to the Ancient’s first warning, same as these girls are doing.
The quiet parts thought. The things they don’t say, those vary. It seems some know him in varying degrees, and others very little. Flora, in particular, draws lines that Colt never meant to give shape to. [say]”No, I wouldn’t say that.”[/say] She falters, trying to take back what she’s already given. He’s got plenty of similarities to his father, and Colt doesn’t even know the half of it, and even though she still doesn’t dislike Jack either, the comparison suggests something undesirable there and she hates the clash of it on him.
[say]”He’s…he’s better. Just—”[/say] she sighs, because what warning did she try to give them? Would it be better to warn them of her, and all her selfishness, just to cut her down to size if she can’t push him back up. [say]”Maybe don’t kiss him, is all.”[/say] Don’t fall for him, she means, not unless you wanna break.
She downs her second drink too quickly again, ducking behind the burn as they pull a name out of Mel. Colt, actually, does not know what it’s like to have a friend become more. She has always rushed in or rushed out, as if it might save her time, and yet here she is with nothing to show for it but empty hands looking for something to do, always. [say]”He did a good job fighting that giant toad with me in the swamp,”[/say] Colt offers up of Iskra amid glancing back at the table, considering if she could stealthily get a third glass without calling too much attention to her thirst.
Willing herself to stay put and instead rotating the glass idly in her hand, Colt huffs out a laugh. [say]”Bet he wanted to see your top off,”[/say] Colt reasons, then shrugs, [say]”I mean, who doesn’t?”[/say] Frowning though, Colt wonders, [say]”What’d he do afterwards?”[/say]
Her brows climb now, surprise choking out, [say]”they burned it down?”[/say] Over that she nearly tacks on, though her tone does a fine enough job of it. To think, she’d felt bad for them, and it was all just a ruse? A lie then, when she’d asked Vesper that day on the docks, or at the very least a very specific truth. It hollows her a touch, to recognize a memory is more rusted than she realized, wondering how many other times it’d been the same for other things said.
Yeah, she needs that drink now.
Bumping off her cushion with an aggressive stride, Colt openly swipes up the champagne and pours generously. [say]”Should’ve trampled him too,”[/say] Colt says dryly of Soh’s bucking adventures. [say]”Is it supposed to be that complicated?”[/say] she has to beg to wonder of the group, as much on behalf of Soh as other inquiring minds.
RE: The best people in life are free - Melita - 03-05-2026
Proud of herself for letting things go, at least on a light tether, her heart warmed a little more to hear that Iskra had gotten himself out there – not so tightly clustered and coiled and hidden away in Halo. Maybe on reflex Melita had tried to secret him off in those icy walls too; he’d always easily done so for himself, figuring he’d want it to continue. She granted a large smile at the course correcting, satisfied at his trying.
When no one else pried though, she was relieved, content to revel in the other strands and strains of gossip. Vesper being better than Jack (not a very high bar, let’s be real), Flora trying to ignore Jack, tops off for distractions, new girlfriends…her eyes narrowed slightly, trying to piece together the arrangements not unlike some conspiracy theory board, her mind a bunch of little red lines going back and forth on a precarious web. Taking another long sip and absorbing the elements, she fixated on Flora’s additions first. [say]“You saw him after?”[/say] as an echo to Colt’s addition. She grimaced in the facet of ‘gurl why’, nose wrinkling in distaste for the entire situation. As for who the redhead could be, the Honeybee had been too distracted watching Iskra dunk churros into his drink and using it as a straw, and cheering on her uncle, to have noticed. [say]“I’ll keep an eye out,”[/say] for nosiness purposes.
But then there was Caly…and a single date. She had to half-wonder if no one seemed capable of dating outside the Jack bloodline in some of these tighter-knit groups. Her gaze widened at the semblance of how the bar had burned down though. Good gods. [say]“We really need to work on some revenge tactics. All of this is bullshit.”[/say] But then again, no one would ever say Melita was the bigger person.
Sohalia’s drama wasn’t something she was readily aware of, but she also didn’t tread on Koa’s ongoing sagas most of the time either – much more apt to bully him. She did grin at the ‘last longer’ comment, chuckling from behind her mimosa glass, but ceased when it seemed this was more serious in nature. Head tilting at the Luminary, and growing bolder due to the alcohol, she put it bluntly, simply. [say]“Does he give you a good reason to keep trying?”[/say] It sounded as though it was a one-way street.
RE: The best people in life are free - Sohalia - 03-09-2026
Colt's wounds must not have healed over fully after all, if she was so quick to defend Vesper from their scrutiny, and from Flora's disdain, in particular. Soh watched the rancher surreptitiously, stealing a grape from a nearby tray to pop into her mouth as she did so. But before she could think of anything to add or anything to say to diffuse Colt's tension, talk turned back to Melita and her date. While Soh didn't know Iskra in the slightest, it seemed that the other women had at least met him and, more importantly, had good opinions of him.
Then it was back to Flora and Jack, and Soh's face scrunched up in a passable imitation of Flora's earlier disdain for Vesper. Gods, the men in that family - and, honestly, in most of Caido - were such a disaster. But seeing as she knew most of Flora's story, she sat in relative silence, allowing the other women their moments of shock and intrigue. It all landed as it should, in Soh's opinion, with levels of outrage that told her that this party was well-chosen. [say]"It was absurd,"[/say] she said flatly. And, for once, she found herself agreeing with Melita's suggestion of revenge. [say]"And they absolutely deserve to pay for it, one day."[/say]
And then it's back to her. All three women suggest, in their own ways, that this relationship might not be worth the fight - and that was when Soh took a deep breath, sharing a momentary look with Flora before admitting, [say]"No."[/say] It applied equally to both Colt's and Mel's questions, but she went on to add, [say]"It shouldn't be so complicated, and I don't... think there's a good enough reason to stay anymore."[/say] Toying with her champagne glass, she looked down into the bubbly amber liquid. [say]"I guess that's my confession. I don't think I want to keep trying."[/say]
RE: The best people in life are free - Flora - 03-10-2026
Flora’s brows lift slightly when Colt pushes back, the queen pausing mid-grape as the rancher insists Vesper isn’t quite the same as his father. For a moment she only watches her, the small hesitation in Colt’s voice and the way she reaches for another drink not exactly subtle. Flora doesn’t argue, doesn’t press the point, though something in her gaze softens as if she’s recognizing the shape of the thing underneath it. She gives a quiet little shake of her head instead, a sad sort of understanding settling into her expression. [say]"Don’t worry,"[/say] she says gently, her tone lighter than the look in her eyes. [say]"I've definitely already learned that lesson."[/say] It isn’t dismissive, and it isn’t triumphant either. If anything, it carries the weight of someone who spent far too long defending a man she probably shouldn’t have, and who felt compelled to do so every now and again, even still.
She pops another grape into her mouth, crunching it thoughtfully before huffing a small laugh under her breath at Colt’s remark about seeing her topless. [say]"Well,"[/say] she says, flicking a glance toward the rancher with an amused tilt of her head, [say]"I was wearing pasties at least, but thank you."[/say]
Her gaze drifts toward Melita as the Honeybee circles back to the aftermath with Jack, and Flora exhales through her nose, leaning back slightly on one hand while the illusion of tide continues its patient rhythm behind her. [say]"I actually asked him to meet me,"[/say] she explains, voice breezy in the way that usually means the story underneath it isn’t. [say]"My plan was to tell him to knock it off or he could consider himself actually banned from Torchline."[/say] She lifts her glass slightly as if toasting the intention, unable to elaborate on the much more interesting parts of that particular conversation. [say]"But before I even got to that part, he was like...more petty and full of himself than I think I've ever seen him."[/say] The queen reaches for the bottle again, pouring herself another mimosa that leans far more toward champagne than citrus, the bubbles snapping quietly in the glass.
[say]"And honestly?"[/say] she continues, glancing between them. [say]"The worst part is that Caly and I used to get along really well. That’s why I gave her the bar in the first place."[/say] She takes a sip, bitterness edging the words despite the casual tone. [say]"But now she acts like I stole her soulmate and forced her whole family to leave the island, when it was one date and Jack’s idea to move to King's End in the first place."[/say] Her nose wrinkles faintly, another swallow of champagne chasing the irritation away before it can settle too deeply.
The conversation shifts again when Sohalia finally answers Colt and Melita’s questions, and Flora falls quiet immediately, the humour slipping out of her expression as she turns toward her friend. The admission lands softly but heavily all the same. Without saying anything, Flora reaches out and rubs a hand slowly across Sohalia’s back, the gesture warm and grounding. With her other hand she quietly swipes Soh’s flute, refilling it with fresh champagne before setting it back within reach.
RE: The best people in life are free - Colt - 03-11-2026
Much preferring to hang onto the drama of everyone else’s lives rather than her own, Colt settles as no further questions are lobbed her way, and Vesper is quietly swept under a rug. Lumpy, perhaps, but out of sight enough they can all pretend it’s not there. That, and three glasses nearly back to back have helped her find something she considers more level.
Although she does not disagree on the point of revenge on principal, she does not eagerly join the torches and pitchforks just yet, merely broods over her latest glass and mouthful of cheese. Fairly certain that everyone in this room doesn’t need the obvious stated aloud, that the family under discussion is not an easy one to take vengeance on. It’s more than that which cautions her though, and she might dwell on it more if the spark Melita threw caught any real heat, but it seems like little more than a jeer, and then the conversation had moved on, and Colt joins its current.
Though it ends up swirling back around in its own way. [say]”Mm, that family’s thick as thieves when it comes to one another,”[/say] Colt murmurs as Flora details some of what went down between her meeting with Jack, and the break between her and Caly. [say]”Nova and I used to get on alright, but ever since Vesper left, she’s more or less iced me out.”[/say] Colt shrugs, not nearly as bothered by the change as Flora seemed to be with hers. [say]”She did help me moved cattle, but barely spoke to me, and I’m fairly certain she gave me nightmares as a dreambird.”[/say] Colt had already been sleeping poorly, so hard to say, but when everyone else woke up refreshed and smiling about their night’s sleep, well it’s not hard to connect those dots. Certainly not as bad as a bar in ashes, but proof of how tightly wound they are around one another. [say]”Could be Jack they were defending as much as hurt over Caly and her…breakup?”[/say] Is that what it’s called still, after one date? She supposes so, although she’s just been calling whatever Vesper did as leaving.
She hurries on from that line of thinking, sipping at her drink without choking it down in one gulp this time. Soh’s response is one Colt understands too well, and she nods dully along with the explanation. [say]”Stayin’ is always easier than leavin’,”[/say] she murmurs, and while Soh may not have been married to Koa or pushed to tiptoe around herself, Colt expects the feeling is much the same when you’re caught up in someone. It's so easy from the outside to look in and see the signs plain, where all the bad is so evident. She looks back on herself sometimes and wonders how she’d been so blind, so passive. [say]”The good times feel like sunshine, so you end up just waitin’ for the bad weather times to break. Don’t even realize you’re getting rained on more than not until you’re near drownin’”[/say]
Her lips purse into a line of thought, and her eyes hold Soh steady with understanding and approval. [say]”A good confession,”[/say] she smiles, knowing that’s where it starts—the strength to walk away comes from admitting it to yourself. Might take more than one try, because sure seems the sun tries its damndest to shine when you really start going under, trying to draw out the give and take longer.