never be so kind you forget to be clever
Flora snorts into her tea at the mental image of Ronin in a suit, a little of the weight around her shoulders lifting at the sound. But it’s short-lived, chased away by the ache that returns when he mentions Jack. Her head shakes before the question even finishes. "He didn’t exactly give me a chance to explain," she says quietly. "He gave me about three minutes before he spat at my feet and left."
She sips again, more to stall than anything else, before flashing Ronin a crooked smile. "Honestly? Life was way easier when my heart wasn’t in the right place." Then, with mock accusation: "I blame you. And Dad. And Remi. And Mom. And Sunjata. Honestly, this whole damn family is the worst influence. Should’ve let me stay shallow and manipulative. I’d be a lot less stressed."
At his next question, her expression sobers again. "Being cured was never part of the deal," she says simply. "She said I could take the blood. That I could use it so long as I didn't benefit. Nothing about what came after." Her gaze lifts to him again, sharper this time, but not unkind. "Why did you follow her rules for so long if you didn't expect her to hold up her end?"
When he brings up Mateo, Flora stiffens, just slightly, her fingers tightening around the ceramic. "You don’t have to worry about me," she says, her tone carefully measured. "I’ve already got a target on my back, whether I’m in the city or not. And Mateo…" She trails off, her lips twitching into something softer. "I mean, we have both channel you or dad if something happens, and you can bring us both back if it comes to it." She glances sideways at him. "So maybe you and Remi should get back in the fight. Or at least ask Mateo what his thoughts are. Maybe he'll be perfectly happy staying in the city."
She sips again, more to stall than anything else, before flashing Ronin a crooked smile. "Honestly? Life was way easier when my heart wasn’t in the right place." Then, with mock accusation: "I blame you. And Dad. And Remi. And Mom. And Sunjata. Honestly, this whole damn family is the worst influence. Should’ve let me stay shallow and manipulative. I’d be a lot less stressed."
At his next question, her expression sobers again. "Being cured was never part of the deal," she says simply. "She said I could take the blood. That I could use it so long as I didn't benefit. Nothing about what came after." Her gaze lifts to him again, sharper this time, but not unkind. "Why did you follow her rules for so long if you didn't expect her to hold up her end?"
When he brings up Mateo, Flora stiffens, just slightly, her fingers tightening around the ceramic. "You don’t have to worry about me," she says, her tone carefully measured. "I’ve already got a target on my back, whether I’m in the city or not. And Mateo…" She trails off, her lips twitching into something softer. "I mean, we have both channel you or dad if something happens, and you can bring us both back if it comes to it." She glances sideways at him. "So maybe you and Remi should get back in the fight. Or at least ask Mateo what his thoughts are. Maybe he'll be perfectly happy staying in the city."
