candlewax & polaroids on the hardwood floor
Flora’s laugh rings soft and bright against the morning hush, and she brushes a loose curl from her face as she leans forward on the counter. "Laxatives? Please. I'm not twelve," she teases, offering him a conspiratorial wink. Spice, perched on the windowsill, exhales a gentle puff of cool air that ruffles Kaisel’s hair and keeps the kitchen from feeling too stuffy.
She steps down onto the floor, stretching one arm high overhead before rolling her shoulders back. The sunrise slants through the curtains, gilding her curls and casting their reflections on the tiled floor. "All right, soldier," she says, her tone slipping into playful drill-sergeant mode, "we start with a lap around the dock, then sprints up the beach."
Her aqua eyes gleam, determined and warm all at once. "And yes," she adds, popping a hand on her hip as if she’s announcing her own promotion, "pancakes at the finish line—fluffy, with extra berries and mounds of whipped cream, but only if you can keep up." With that, she touches her fingers to her temple in a mock salute.
Flora brushes past Kaisel, giving his hip a playful nudge as she strides toward the front door. She throws it open wide to the bright morning air, the sea sparkling ahead. "Come on, slowpoke!" she calls back, one hand on the doorframe, the other gesturing impatiently.
She steps down onto the floor, stretching one arm high overhead before rolling her shoulders back. The sunrise slants through the curtains, gilding her curls and casting their reflections on the tiled floor. "All right, soldier," she says, her tone slipping into playful drill-sergeant mode, "we start with a lap around the dock, then sprints up the beach."
Her aqua eyes gleam, determined and warm all at once. "And yes," she adds, popping a hand on her hip as if she’s announcing her own promotion, "pancakes at the finish line—fluffy, with extra berries and mounds of whipped cream, but only if you can keep up." With that, she touches her fingers to her temple in a mock salute.
Flora brushes past Kaisel, giving his hip a playful nudge as she strides toward the front door. She throws it open wide to the bright morning air, the sea sparkling ahead. "Come on, slowpoke!" she calls back, one hand on the doorframe, the other gesturing impatiently.
