love without reason

When no one is around, my dear
You'll find me on my tallest tiptoes

Flowerbirth dawned bright and chilly as LongNight faded from the world, leaving Soh to breathe a sigh of relief. She welcomed the sun - and its associated warmth and joy - with open arms, pleased to be able to relax into the new season and the impending birth of her daughter.

Nearly ready to pop, the Luminary had taken to nesting activities at home rather than venturing out into the world. Things she'd for so long taken for granted had gotten much harder: she waddled rather than walked, she couldn't bend over to put on her own shoes, and there were parts of her body she hadn't known existed that were sore beyond reason. All normal, according to the doctors of Torchline, but no less unpleasant. It would be worth it, though; Soh couldn't wait to meet her daughter, and she was convinced that it would be any day now.

Though the second half of her pregnancy had been far better than the first, she was still beyond ready to give birth. There was a certain impatience about her as she tucked sheets into the bassinet or hung art on the walls of the nursery. She paced back and forth through the house in a way one might have called prowling if she weren't quite so rotund, hoping that the extra movement would convince her daughter to make her appearance. It hadn't worked yet, but Soh kept trying anyway - at least until she got so winded that she had to sit down.

This was one such moment. She'd taken a seat on the porch of the house, deciding to take a break from her incessant movement as she waited for Flora to arrive. A mug of hot tea was cupped in her hands, and she sipped it idly as her silver gaze flickered across the sea. She was dressed in a cozy, oversized sweater that did little to hide her excessively large baby bump, and she'd left her hair loose around her shoulders. Anani had curled up at her side, and Soh reached down to stroke along her scales out of habit. She hadn't seen Flora in entirely too long, and she was looking forward to spending the afternoon with her best friend. It would be a far cry from their usual spa days, but she hoped that it would prove relaxing for them both all the same.

Spinning in my highest heels, love
Shining just for you

Sohalia

flora

Flora makes her way toward Soh’s new house in an oversized sweatshirt and leggings, one arm wrapped around the side of a lightweight kiddie pool that catches every stray breath of wind like an extremely inconvenient sail. A canvas bag hangs from her opposite shoulder, made heavier by the bottles of fountain water tucked inside, leaving her without so much as a finger free when she spots Soh waiting on the porch.

Her eyebrows bounce instead, aqua eyes brightening at the sight of her best friend and the frankly astonishing amount of baby currently preceding her. "Heeey!" she calls, champagne-bright affection bubbling through the word as she adjusts her grip on the pool and continues up the porch steps. "Definitely don’t get up," Flora adds the moment she reaches the top, lowering the pool carefully before slipping the bag from her shoulder. Once her hands are free, she leans down to wrap Soh in a warm, careful hug, mindful of the swell of her stomach between them even as she squeezes her bestie with all the enthusiasm the position allows.

Straightening, Flora sets the bag beside the pool and begins pulling out the bottles she’s brought. "Isla mentioned that soaking your feet in healing water might feel nice," she explains, already looking pleased with herself for having assembled what is essentially a portable pregnancy spa. Then her smile widens into something far more girlish and conspiratorial. "I also brought some fuzzy bath bombs to try and make bubbles."

I hold my breath just a little bit longer
halfway out the door but it won't close

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!