Theea
yla
“Happy birthday again,” I call to Calypso with a grin. “Hope the sugar rush lasts longer than the party.” It’s an easy little joke—gentle, just enough to feel like I belong in the space without pushing too hard.
Then Jack speaks to me and—he remembers. My face lights up before I can stop it. “You do remember,” I say, a little thrilled. “How’s Lazarus?” There’s real affection in my voice. He's been fun to work with.
Then Colt slides up beside me, and I half-turn to offer her a smile to introduce myself—just in time to catch her say dear ol’ dad. I blink. Glance at Jack. Then at the glitter twins.
...Huh.
“Oh,” I say, mostly to myself, the dots connecting in a little mental sparkle trail. “Did not see that coming.”
Without thinking, I grab the drink Jack made me and take a big, unprepared gulp.
Mistake.
The whiskey sour hits like a sunflare—citrus first, then a burn that drop-kicks my lungs. I blink hard, breathe through it, and try to look like my organs aren't rearranging. There’s a moment where my expression goes completely blank while my soul resets.
Then I nod once, like I approve of whatever just exploded in my chest.
“...Yeah, alright.” A smaller sip this time. Still burns. Still feels weirdly great. I'm starting to get the appeal.
I glance at Colt, then up at Jack again, deadpan: “So... triplet dad. Should’ve figured from the cheekbones.” I raise my glass. “Not a bad legacy.” A beat. “Let me know if I’m crowding the drama. I can slip out with the wine spider. We’ll make our own party.”
Then Jack speaks to me and—he remembers. My face lights up before I can stop it. “You do remember,” I say, a little thrilled. “How’s Lazarus?” There’s real affection in my voice. He's been fun to work with.
Then Colt slides up beside me, and I half-turn to offer her a smile to introduce myself—just in time to catch her say dear ol’ dad. I blink. Glance at Jack. Then at the glitter twins.
...Huh.
“Oh,” I say, mostly to myself, the dots connecting in a little mental sparkle trail. “Did not see that coming.”
Without thinking, I grab the drink Jack made me and take a big, unprepared gulp.
Mistake.
The whiskey sour hits like a sunflare—citrus first, then a burn that drop-kicks my lungs. I blink hard, breathe through it, and try to look like my organs aren't rearranging. There’s a moment where my expression goes completely blank while my soul resets.
Then I nod once, like I approve of whatever just exploded in my chest.
“...Yeah, alright.” A smaller sip this time. Still burns. Still feels weirdly great. I'm starting to get the appeal.
I glance at Colt, then up at Jack again, deadpan: “So... triplet dad. Should’ve figured from the cheekbones.” I raise my glass. “Not a bad legacy.” A beat. “Let me know if I’m crowding the drama. I can slip out with the wine spider. We’ll make our own party.”
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
