Theea
yla
I step just inside the Hanged Man and hesitate.
It’s not that I didn’t know what to expect. I’d seen the glitter from down the road, like the sky cracked open and poured a party into the bar. But standing in the doorway, trying not to get in anyone’s way, I have to swallow the sudden weight in my chest. There’s music, and laughter, and light catching off every moving body. It smells like sugar and spice and maybe a little bit of sea-wet leather. My dress catches on a gust from the open door behind me—flowing light blue, soft and loose around my legs in uneven folds. I reach back, press it down absently.
I made more of an effort this time. My thick hair’s twisted into a bun, too many waves escaping around my neck and ears, but that’s fine—it feels like me. Glitter freckles fan across my cheekbones in a careful scatter, catching light that doesn’t quite reach my nerves.
The bag in my hand has butterflies on it. It’s pretty. Inside is a box of chocolate chip cookies I baked this morning, still a little soft at the center. I take a breath, find Calypso across the room, and steel myself. She’s the only one of the triplets I’ve spoken to.
Walking to the bar is like stepping through a constellation parade. There are people everywhere. Beautiful ones. Loud ones. Legends. A wine spider on the bar stumbling across the floor (and it makes my chest ache with missing Soot). I make it to Calypso, offering the bag with both hands and a shy smile.
“Happy birthday!” I chirp, looking from her to her siblings but not quite lingering on either one, but I grin at them all “These are for all of you. I baked them. Just—something sweet to share.”
And then I see those cupcakes from Kaisel . The kind that belong in a royal banquet, not next to my humble batch of homemade cookies. I blink, biting back a laugh and trying not to fold in on myself.
“...And maybe a strong drink?” I add with a sheepish glance at whoever’s behind the bar. “Something that won’t argue with me you kn…” Wait a fucking second. Jack . ”Captain! Remember me? You gave me a ride here.”
It’s not that I didn’t know what to expect. I’d seen the glitter from down the road, like the sky cracked open and poured a party into the bar. But standing in the doorway, trying not to get in anyone’s way, I have to swallow the sudden weight in my chest. There’s music, and laughter, and light catching off every moving body. It smells like sugar and spice and maybe a little bit of sea-wet leather. My dress catches on a gust from the open door behind me—flowing light blue, soft and loose around my legs in uneven folds. I reach back, press it down absently.
I made more of an effort this time. My thick hair’s twisted into a bun, too many waves escaping around my neck and ears, but that’s fine—it feels like me. Glitter freckles fan across my cheekbones in a careful scatter, catching light that doesn’t quite reach my nerves.
The bag in my hand has butterflies on it. It’s pretty. Inside is a box of chocolate chip cookies I baked this morning, still a little soft at the center. I take a breath, find Calypso across the room, and steel myself. She’s the only one of the triplets I’ve spoken to.
Walking to the bar is like stepping through a constellation parade. There are people everywhere. Beautiful ones. Loud ones. Legends. A wine spider on the bar stumbling across the floor (and it makes my chest ache with missing Soot). I make it to Calypso, offering the bag with both hands and a shy smile.
“Happy birthday!” I chirp, looking from her to her siblings but not quite lingering on either one, but I grin at them all “These are for all of you. I baked them. Just—something sweet to share.”
And then I see those cupcakes from Kaisel . The kind that belong in a royal banquet, not next to my humble batch of homemade cookies. I blink, biting back a laugh and trying not to fold in on myself.
“...And maybe a strong drink?” I add with a sheepish glance at whoever’s behind the bar. “Something that won’t argue with me you kn…” Wait a fucking second. Jack . ”Captain! Remember me? You gave me a ride here.”
Know I'm gonna get there somehow, take it all in and breathe out
I got everything I need now, think I'm done looking down,
got my head in the clouds
I got everything I need now, think I'm done looking down,
got my head in the clouds
