you hate the crash, but you love the rush
Flora nods slowly, but there’s a stubborn set to her jaw as she regards Jack, the hurt in her aqua eyes sharpening to something clearer, something firmer. Because sure, the other day she had been dramatic, emotional, needy—exactly like he said—but this? This was different, and she had every right to ask.
"Jack," she starts carefully, trying to keep her voice steady despite the hitch that tightens her throat. "I’m not—this isn’t just me spiralling because of some insecurity." Flora exhales sharply, fingers tightening around her empty glass as she holds his gaze, willing him to see the difference, to understand the line drawn between yesterday's dramatics and tonight's genuine concern. "You slept with Safrin in exchange for one of the most powerful items any of us have seen so far, and apparently she's willing to keep trading with you like that going forward. Like, I'm sorry, but that seems exactly like the kind of thing we should clarify. Like you said, you're no Prince Charming, so forgive me for wanting to confirm that you're not going to resent the fuck out of me for picking me instead of cosmic sex in exchange for powerful items."
But it’s the second part of his statement that truly rankles, that sinks beneath her skin and twists uncomfortably—because it feels far too much like Jack's expectation is that she fix all her insecurities and issues on her own. That she either accepts the captain exactly as he is or leave, all while he just gets to shrug off every bad habit he has while expecting her to fix her own.
"And for the record," she continues, voice steadier now, even if her fingers tighten nervously around the edge of the desk, "it isn't fair that you keep saying you're bad for me like it absolves you from having to actually do anything about it." Her gaze flashes sharply before she forces herself to take a breath. "While telling me I need to stop being so needy and insecure because you knew exactly what I was like when you decided to do this, too."
"Jack," she starts carefully, trying to keep her voice steady despite the hitch that tightens her throat. "I’m not—this isn’t just me spiralling because of some insecurity." Flora exhales sharply, fingers tightening around her empty glass as she holds his gaze, willing him to see the difference, to understand the line drawn between yesterday's dramatics and tonight's genuine concern. "You slept with Safrin in exchange for one of the most powerful items any of us have seen so far, and apparently she's willing to keep trading with you like that going forward. Like, I'm sorry, but that seems exactly like the kind of thing we should clarify. Like you said, you're no Prince Charming, so forgive me for wanting to confirm that you're not going to resent the fuck out of me for picking me instead of cosmic sex in exchange for powerful items."
But it’s the second part of his statement that truly rankles, that sinks beneath her skin and twists uncomfortably—because it feels far too much like Jack's expectation is that she fix all her insecurities and issues on her own. That she either accepts the captain exactly as he is or leave, all while he just gets to shrug off every bad habit he has while expecting her to fix her own.
"And for the record," she continues, voice steadier now, even if her fingers tighten nervously around the edge of the desk, "it isn't fair that you keep saying you're bad for me like it absolves you from having to actually do anything about it." Her gaze flashes sharply before she forces herself to take a breath. "While telling me I need to stop being so needy and insecure because you knew exactly what I was like when you decided to do this, too."
