you know, you'll always know me

i could be the reason you can't sleep at night

Flora laughs wetly, the sound muffled by Sohalia's shoulder, but it’s a laugh all the same. Her curls bounce when Soh tugs at one, the levity doing its job just enough to keep her from completely unraveling. "I mean, if the boat’s gonna match the hair, it better be flashy," she sniffles, wiping at her face with the sleeve of her shirt. "Maybe gold trim. Big obnoxious name painted on the side. Something that makes every smuggl—" Her voice stutters, catches. "Makes everyone stare."

She doesn’t finish the thought. Instead, she turns a little in Sohalia’s arms, her aqua eyes rimmed red but steady now as they find her best friend’s. "You don’t have to do that," she says quietly, but there’s no push behind it. No real protest. "You’ve already given up so much. You left your own life behind, and now you’re out here sorting rocks and delivering stupid letters for me." Her lips twitch into a crooked smile. "But honestly, I don't know how it would work on a sailboat, especially if you're bringing Ace over." Raising her brows, her lashes still dewy with tears, the queen tilts her head. "Is that still going on?"

Soh relaxed into Flora's laugh, even if it was a weak one. It was something, at least, something that wasn't doom and gloom and anger and hurt. "Gold trim, definitely," she agreed, skipping over Flora's stutter. "Ooooo, maybe paint it like royal blue? I know purple is technically the color of royalty, but I've always liked blue better. And blue and gold goes so nicely. And it's basically your hair and eyes, so..." She was rambling, and she knew she was rambling, but it had to be better than allowing Flora to drown in her own thoughts.

Thoughts which were apparently turning to Soh and her love life. The Luminary winced. "No, it is not," she said. Gods, but this was complicated - and certainly not the time to delve into her growing feelings for Koa. "I ran into him recently, when I went out dancing. And it's, y'know, there's chemistry, but he's not..." Not a certain Dragoon, that was for sure. Soh gestured helplessly. "Maybe I just want a little romance, and Ace is not that."

i could be the reason you can't sleep at night

Flora groans into Sohalia’s shoulder, muffled and theatrical, before leaning back just enough to fix her with a look equal parts pity and mischief. "Soh, babe. You cannot complain about lack of romance and then say you went dancing with the literal god of casual hookups." Her brows lift, incredulous and amused. "That’s like wandering into a candy shop and being surprised there’s no nutrition."

She sniffs again, wiping the last of her tears away with the heel of her hand before tugging lightly at the hem of Sohalia’s dress. "You deserve the real thing, though. Not just chemistry or... dislocated shoulder blades from sex on the rainbow road." Cackling, she nudges her friend's shoulder.

"And for the record?" Flora continues, clearing her throat and lifting her chin like a queen regaining her poise. "Royal blue and gold it is. I’ll make it so shiny you’ll be able to see it from space. I'll name it something obnoxious and perfect. The Iridescent Regret, or maybe just S.S. Bad Decisions."

Letting her laughter melt into something softer, Flora swallows against the lump in her throat. "Will you help me come and pack my stuff? I won't bring everything..I assume one day I'll be able to go back into the city, but..y'know, the essentials?"

"No, I know," Soh protested weakly, laughing a little at the absurdity of it all. "But that's the problem, I guess. I'm just not built for casual hookups, apparently, because as fun as it was, I just..." Soh shrugged. She wanted something else. Something more. She winced at Flora's teasing, waving a hand in the air as though to dismiss the memory of sex on the Rainbow Road. "Gods, don't remind me," she giggled, relieved to find that Flora was laughing again. "Is it better in an actual bed? It would have to be, right?"

As for the rest, and the reality that sank in, Soh swallowed hard and nodded. "Of course I will. And I can keep an eye on the house while you're away," she offered. "And I'll come visit you so much I'll basically be living on your sailboat with you, and it'll be like you never left at all." It was a lie, of course - there was nothing that Soh could say or do to ease the ache of having to leave one's home. The gods knew she understood that pain more than most. But it was something to offer, something that she could do, and she'd make good on that promise or die trying.

fin