Practical magic

lay your soul onto mine

Flora reciprocates Hadama's final brief hug with a warmth that mirrors his own, her expression a mixture of gratitude and playful defiance. As they separate, she takes a moment to relish the freedom of her cured state, then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she gracefully lets herself fall backward into the water with a soft splash.

Submerged in the soothing warmth of Frey's Breath, she props herself against the smooth stones, her head breaking the surface as she sighs contentedly. Water beads on her forehead, and she pushes back her damp curls with a carefree hand. Looking up at Hadama, she can't help but chuckle at his serious demeanor despite everything she's just put him through, even as she ponders his question about her fathers.

"You know, before Ronin got infected, Dahlia made it pretty clear that if either of them messed with her plans, she’d take it out on my brother or I." Her tone turns wry, almost bitterly humorous as she considers the irony. "So, staying out of it wasn’t really an option, anyway. It seems like the Family had it out for me whether I played nice or not."

Flora shrugs, a ripple disturbing the water around her. "As for what my dads know... well, let’s just say the less they know about the specifics, the better. Ronin doesn't need any more reasons to go gray and Remi?" She rolls her eyes affectionately. "He'd probably just try and lock me up forever."

She tilts her head, considering Hadama with a more serious expression. "But when we go to Safrin with the vial and we get a quest for Torchline...I mean, maybe we just say we can't talk about where the vial came from in case Vox is listening."

Looking down at his soaking wet co-ruler smiling so brightly up at him, he was caught by a fresh wave of intense relief. He did not fall back into the water with the same abandon that she did, but he lowered himself with slow care until the water was just below his chin, letting the healing heat soak into muscles that had been wound tighter than steel springs a mere few minutes prior.

'Mmh. They do not realize that they are pushing too hard. That in finding the breaking points of certain hearts, they leave them with nothing left to lose. I do not think they are used to dealing with us. Or beings like us." Like some of the outlanders who had come from so far away, in all their colorful, baffling varieties. Mortals and planet-bound creatures, of light and air and earth and water. But it had worked, seemingly, to keep the Bastion and the White Knight from the fray for a time. Understandably so.

"...I will not mention it to them, then," he agreed thoughtfully. But he did tilt his head in warning. " But if they find out and ask why I did not come to them, I will be honest." AKA be ready to deal with parental fallout, because he was not going to lie to Vi's demigod if they got caught.

But then Flora was being serious and he focused on her words, nodding once in agreement. "She will understand. I cannot keep their messenger from my thoughts, but my heart is open to Safrin. If she wishes to know its origin, she will find it there." He slipped beneath the water and rose again, tilting his head back to let the water sluice back. "I have a... mmh. Spa day planned with Sunjata and Deimos later. But after that, shall we go to Aumakua?"

lay your soul onto mine

Flora nods, her agreement easy and accompanied by a quiet sigh as she leans back, letting her curls fan across the surface of the water like golden threads spun carelessly by the steam. "I mean, let's face it," she hums softly, gaze drifting upward toward the cavern ceiling, eyes tracing invisible patterns among the rising vapor. "I was already murdered for cleansing the regions, and I've had a target on my back thanks to Dahlia's threat against Ronin. I was always going to be a risk—might as well make it worthwhile."

She shrugs languidly at his warning, accepting Hadama's terms with a quiet flicker of amusement at the corner of her lips. "Fair enough," she concedes lightly, the glint in her eyes playful despite the seriousness beneath. "Besides, if either of them ask, I'm pretty good at dealing with the fallout."

But the easy grace of her demeanor falters when he mentions his upcoming 'spa day' with Sunjata and Deimos, her expression softening as her body sinks a little deeper into the hot water, the warmth doing little to soothe the chill of worry prickling down her spine. "Just..." Her voice trails off into a sigh, fingers nervously toying with the surface of the water as though drawing invisible symbols of protection. "Put the vial Spice gave you somewhere safe before you go? You know, just in case." She flashes a small smile, though her eyes remain serious, bright with concern. "But for the record, I fully expect to see you relaxed and in one piece after your little get-together."

Finally he could let the water support his weight, warming him through and allowing his thoughts to float in the steam. Allowing his eyes to drift shut and rest, no longer needing to remain on Flora in case she vanished from his sight and beyond his reach, a creature of Dahlia's making. Her quiet admission of courage and determination drew an answering hum from the mermanta, a deep rumble of approval for her intentions, if not the act itself.

And once she was aware of what friendly fire might come her way should he find himself in position to discuss the current events with her fathers he turned his attention to a less certain future, for all that it would supposedly contain stone massages and male bonding moments. Emerald eyes softened and he inclined his head in agreement. "I will put it with my other spices," he agreed. "If I am late in returning, and you need to borrow any ingredients for... dinner."

But he was not late. Though that would be a story for another time.

~Fin