flora
The sharp whistle cuts through her haze like the clean snap of a ribbon, and Flora’s head turns instinctively toward the sound. Even invisible, her body shifts with the grace of someone used to being watched—though right now, there’s no one to see her. Only the darkening horizon, the lap of tide against hulls, the quiet hush of the Sugar Tide behind her. But then she sees him.
Jack on the dock, familiar and frustrating, flicking something to one of his crew with the careless precision that only makes her pulse tick faster. She moves without sound, slipping across the dock like a trick of the wind, trailing that bright, chaotic pulse of too many thoughts behind her—victory, vengeance, fear, the weight of blood in glass jars and the nearness of Pierce across the sands.
Flora stops just close enough to Jack that she can smell the faint bite of peppermint bark. For a moment, she says nothing—not aloud, anyway. But her mind hums, fizzing like champagne in full sun, golden and effervescent and grateful in a way that feels almost reckless. Thanks...for...y'know. The word floats between them, not spoken but sparkling, trailing its sugar-sharp warmth through the air like a sparkler held too long.
Jack on the dock, familiar and frustrating, flicking something to one of his crew with the careless precision that only makes her pulse tick faster. She moves without sound, slipping across the dock like a trick of the wind, trailing that bright, chaotic pulse of too many thoughts behind her—victory, vengeance, fear, the weight of blood in glass jars and the nearness of Pierce across the sands.
Flora stops just close enough to Jack that she can smell the faint bite of peppermint bark. For a moment, she says nothing—not aloud, anyway. But her mind hums, fizzing like champagne in full sun, golden and effervescent and grateful in a way that feels almost reckless. Thanks...for...y'know. The word floats between them, not spoken but sparkling, trailing its sugar-sharp warmth through the air like a sparkler held too long.
Bad, bad boy, shiny toy with a price
You know that I bought it
You know that I bought it
