am i right side up or upside down

Sighing softly because of how ridiculously romantic it all was, Soh paused for a moment before squealing again. "Oh my gods, I just can't believe it. It's just... I didn't know what to think of Kai at first, but now... it's like, you guys are just perfect," she gushed. "It's so fun to watch, seriously. I'm so happy for both of you." It really seemed like they had it all, like theirs was a relationship to aspire to. But where jealousy might have blossomed, all Soh could manage to find was a genuine joy. Seeing Flora so happy, being reminded that such happiness could exist in the world, even after everything that they'd been through... it gave Soh hope.

Soh was already thinking of about a million new questions, fingers itching for a journal to jot down some notes and ideas in, when Flora softened. Soh blinked, surprise lighting her features for the briefest moment before affection replaced it. "Of course I do," she said warmly. "I know I haven't been the most fun to be around lately, but this is your wedding. Or, well, the public one, I guess. I wouldn't miss a single moment of it. Besides," she added airily, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I can take care of everything, so that all you have to do is relax and enjoy." Which was, obviously, no less than Flora deserved.

When memories fade we've got each other
When time and confusion collide

Sohalia

Flora

Flora laughs, the sound light and relieved, and nods along with an almost helpless fondness. "I know exactly what you mean,”" she says, eyes bright. "Every single day it still surprises me how much we just...fit." Her shoulders lift in a small, happy shrug. "But even a year ago it wouldn't have crossed my mind." But now here she was, married.

When Soh agrees without hesitation, the excitement Flora's been barely containing ripples through her again, and she shakes her head quickly, curls flicking water. "And—no, fun has nothing to do with it," Flora adds, more earnest now. "I just didn’t want to pile anything else onto your plate when you’ve already been carrying so much." She exhales then, pleased and reassured, her grin returning in full. "But," she continues, eyes lighting up again, "before we do any of that..."

Flora tilts her head, nose wrinkling apologetically as she reaches out to nudge Soh’s floatie. "Are you still up for a little spa day with Mel and Colt? I kind of let last season slip right past me, but I really still want to plan one, if you’re still in."

I hope you're sweating the bigger stuff,
finding some peace in an honest love
Hope you stop when you've had enough & throw the towel in

Code stolen from Queen Sky

With everything seemingly settled, Soh hopped back up onto her floatie. She couldn't wait to begin planning and preparing, doing anything and everything that Flora might need in preparation for her big day. While there was certainly something to be said for getting secretly married by Safrin, she wanted to be sure that the public affair was special, too. After all, Flora deserved every bit of perfection that Soh could muster.

Dangling a hand off the floatie, she traced circles on the water's surface, admiring the way the ripples flickered in the sun. "Honestly? Everything that's happened with Stormbreak sucks, don't get me wrong - and there's still plenty to do getting everyone settled - but it's almost like... well, I'm not carrying as much anymore. There's just nothing left to pile on my shoulders, you know?" Despite how much it hurt, she had to admit that it was strangely liberating, too.

As for a spa day, Soh's face lit. "Definitely! Just let me know when and where. I bet we could all use a spa day, and it'll be so fun!"

When memories fade we've got each other
When time and confusion collide

Sohalia

Flora

Flora hauls herself back onto her tumsea with an easy, practiced shift, water sloshing as the floatie steadies beneath her. The sunlight feels gentler now, less like something pressing down and more like something warming, and the fact that they’re both half-naked in the pool suddenly feels exactly right instead of like the opening act of a disaster.

She glances over at Soh and nods, slow and understanding. "I get that," she says quietly. Her lips twitch, thoughtful. "Does any part of you feel...relieved at all?" The word is offered carefully, and she’s quick to lift a hand in clarification. "Not about the city falling of course, just...y'know, not having leadership be a thing you're worried about any more?"

Her mouth curves again, brighter now as the mood lifts. "Perf," Flora declares, satisfaction ringing through the single syllable. "I was thinking maybe right after Colt’s rodeo in King’s End." One brow lifts as she looks at Soh, eyes sparkling. "You going?" And then the idea hits her fully formed, delight snapping sharp and bright through her expression. "Oh my gods," she gasps, sitting up straighter on the floatie. "You could totally be one of the bucking animals as a pegasus!!" Her grin turns feral with excitement.

I hope you're sweating the bigger stuff,
finding some peace in an honest love
Hope you stop when you've had enough & throw the towel in

Code stolen from Queen Sky

Somehow, Flora always managed to cut through all the bullshit to see exactly what Soh was really feeling, no matter how hard the Luminary tried to hide it. Sometimes her best friend even recognized that which Soh had yet to accept about herself. So when Flora asked if she was relieved, her immediate instinct was to deny it. What kind of person was glad when their life - and everything they held dear - literally fell apart before their eyes?

And yet... "Yeah," Soh whispered after a moment, looking away as tears pricked behind her eyes. "And I feel like a horrible person for even thinking that, but... it's just... there's no one relying on me anymore. No responsibility. You know I'd been feeling... run down, I guess, before all this happened. So a part of me is... excited, even," she admitted, spitting out the word with disgust. "Not because of Stormbreak falling - I'd never wish for that - but because my options are suddenly wide open."

As terrible as it felt to admit it, Soh had to admit that she did feel better after voicing her deepest, darkest feelings, and she was able to turn her attention to an upcoming spa day after shoving her guilt and shame aside. "I think so," she said of the rodeo. Then, at Flora's suggestion, she laughed. "Maybe I will. Do you think Koa would sign up to ride? He'd totally deserve me bucking him off."

When memories fade we've got each other
When time and confusion collide

Sohalia

Flora

Flora shakes her head immediately, a firm, instinctive no, curls swaying as she leans forward and hooks her fingers into the edge of Soh’s tumsea, tugging it closer until their floaties bump together and the water sloshes around their hips. "That makes total sense," she says, voice gentle but unwavering. She keeps her hold on the floatie, anchoring them there, eyes steady on Soh’s face. "You stepped up when Stormbreak needed you. And then it was one thing after another, and another, and another." Her lips press together briefly, thoughtful. "And obviously you would’ve kept rising if they’d needed you to. You always do."

A quiet exhale leaves her. "But this?" Her mouth twitches, because of course the truth is complicated. "This is awful, and it’s tragic, and it never should’ve happened...but it also means you’re free. And you get to be free without guilt." She lifts one shoulder in a small shrug. "You got everyone out, you did everything right, and you couldn't have changed it." he reaches out then, giving Soh’s leg a gentle squeeze beneath the water, grounding and affectionate. "You’re allowed to be happy about a silver lining that came with something terrible. Feeling that doesn’t make you a bad person."

The shift when Soh mentions Koa is immediate, leaving Flora snickering, the sound sharp and delighted, her smile stretching wide and mischievous as she leans back against her tumsea. "Oh, I would personally pay for everyone’s entrance fees just to see that," she says, eyes gleaming. She shakes her head, already picturing it. "Gods, that would be so good. I wonder if I could go invisible and just...sign him up."

I hope you're sweating the bigger stuff,
finding some peace in an honest love
Hope you stop when you've had enough & throw the towel in

Code stolen from Queen Sky

The water rippled around the tumseas, splishing and splashing against the sides of the floaties as the two women floated alongside one another. Sprawled out on the floatie, Soh looked skyward, gaze caught in the clear blue above, following the silhouette of one lone cloud as it scuttled by. She was so lost in her own words, so unaware of Flora's firm insistence, that the sudden movement of her floatie startled her, and she yelped as she struggled to stay upright on her tumsea that was suddenly quite close to the Doubletake's.

And when she finally locked her gaze with Flora's the truth that she found there loosened something tight and inexplicable in her chest, something that she hadn't even realized that she'd been holding quite so tightly until just this moment. Tears filled her eyes, but this time, it wasn't grief or even guilt that summoned them; it was relief because finally, finally, it was time to let go of the burden that she'd carried for seasons upon seasons. Finally, she'd found freedom, and even if she wasn't sure what to do with it, finding it was something worth celebrating.

The moment passed as swiftly as it had come, Soh dashing away the few tears that had escaped as she changed the subject. "Please," she giggled, the thought of Koa being forced into the rodeo something that brought her no small amount of joy (even if she felt a tiny bit bad about it). "Bet we could talk Colt into rigging the draw, even."

When memories fade we've got each other
When time and confusion collide

Sohalia

Flora

Flora doesn’t rush in when the tears come, she just watches the way they gather, the way they catch the sun before slipping free, and she doesn’t reach to wipe them away or fill the air with something comforting and unnecessary. Some tears don’t want fixing. They just want permission. So she gives it; steady, present, her tumsea pressed lightly against Soh’s, letting the moment breathe until it finishes unfolding on its own.

When Soh giggles, the shift is clean and bright, and Flora’s mouth curves immediately in answer, eyes flashing with renewed mischief. "Say less," she murmurs, widening her eyes theatrically as if a sacred pact has just been formed before glancing toward the bar tucked along the edge of the pool, one brow lifting. "Come on," she says, already turning her floatie with a lazy paddle of her hand. "Let’s get a drink."

As if they’ve been waiting for the cue, the spirits stir. The water nudges gently at their tumseas, guiding them across the glittering blue without a single kick required. Glass clinks in anticipation on the counter ahead, condensation beading in the heat. Flora stretches out along her floatie as they glide, utterly content, sun warm on her skin, best friend at her side, and the future wide and open for them both.

~FIN

I hope you're sweating the bigger stuff,
finding some peace in an honest love
Hope you stop when you've had enough & throw the towel in

Code stolen from Queen Sky