your touch brought forth an incandescent glow, tarnished but so grand
Whatever storm had passed between them on the docks weeks ago—however Maea had chosen to frame it in her mind—Flora wasn’t about to rehash it now. If the Ancient wanted to exchange one of Vi’s Roses to fulfill an obligation Flora hadn’t actually demanded, well... she wouldn’t argue. It wasn't in her nature to look gift-horses in the mouth.
Instead, the queen’s smile remains, poised and effortless.
"Well, thank you," she says simply, one hand brushing along the edge of the crate with something just shy of reverence. Her gaze lifts to meet Maea’s, steady but without friction. "This...is going to have a big impact." Not just on the relationship between ancient and queen, either. It’s the timing. The opportunity. A spark of control when Flora had been surrounded by chaos and gods she could have hugged Maea for that.
A beat passes before she adds, almost as an afterthought—but one laced with quiet sincerity, "And if you ever do decide to move to Torchline, let me know. I’ll still make good on my end and find you a place. No strings attached."
Instead, the queen’s smile remains, poised and effortless.
"Well, thank you," she says simply, one hand brushing along the edge of the crate with something just shy of reverence. Her gaze lifts to meet Maea’s, steady but without friction. "This...is going to have a big impact." Not just on the relationship between ancient and queen, either. It’s the timing. The opportunity. A spark of control when Flora had been surrounded by chaos and gods she could have hugged Maea for that.
A beat passes before she adds, almost as an afterthought—but one laced with quiet sincerity, "And if you ever do decide to move to Torchline, let me know. I’ll still make good on my end and find you a place. No strings attached."
