turn the world upside down

And it's peaceful in the deep
Because either way you cannot breathe

Of the two meetings Sohalia was scheduled to have in Torchline, this was the one that she was looking forward to the least. Let’s remember, shall we, that the last time she and Flora had spoken about Jack, it was a conversation in which the Doubletake was lamenting the fact that Jack seemed determined to do whatever the fuck he wanted without regard for Flora’s feelings on the matter. As a result, Soh was already inclined to view the man with a certain level of distaste (even if, she thought, Flora might have been overreacting).

But now, as she approached Rae’s Fingers at the appointed time, she felt a mixture of emotions. Wariness, for one, since her opinion of Jack was mixed at best; concern, because Flora had gone off to enact her plan seemingly without any backup, and even if Soh didn’t know what that plan was, exactly, she could take a wild guess what it had to do with; and anxiety, because she didn’t know what to expect from the recipient of this letter.

At least it was unopened. She hadn’t been stupid enough to try and read the letters intended for others, no matter how curious she’d been to know what they said. Would it have made any difference? Would she have tried to stop Flora if she’d known what the Doubletake was planning?

Well, she’d never know now.

She approached Jack with a frown on her face, already reaching in her pocket to withdraw the letter from Flora. She held it out to the man wordlessly. When he opened it, he would read the following:

—-

Heeeeeeeeeeyyy...

You told me you wanted to be a tool in the road, something that the Family couldn’t avoid. And I know you didn't mean like this, but...well, we all have our strengths, right? I guess I wasn't actually ready to stop fighting and after all this bullshit with Hadama and Sunjata and Deimos...I just...I had to try something.

So I went to Dahlia and I struck a deal: A vial of her blood, in exchange for being purple for a bit.

Okay, so—deep breath. I know. You’re probably pissed. No, scratch that. You’re definitely pissed, but try not to hate me too much about it.

If you're reading this, then I'm probably infected now. But I have Hadama working on it already. I should be back to my old self soon so long as things go to plan.

I don’t know if you’ll want to see me like this. If you’d rather avoid the hell out of me until this is over—I’d get it. (Or, well I probably won't while I'm infected, but afterward I will).

I love you.

Always,
Flora


P.s. I hope I'm not crazier than normal while infected, but if I am, sorrrryyyyyyyyyy.

No need to pray
No need to speak

Sohalia

the Luminary