Enzo
He’s there to catch her when she folds into him, melting and wilting like the fragrant blooms strung artfully across her skin. Despite the way she presses her face into his chest he can hear her clear as a ringing bell, and the laughter that rumble-shakes through his ribs will be just as all-encompassing with where he keeps her cradled. “It does actually, but Mort only grants it after you complete your first season trial. No perks for temporary visitors like you.”
It’s a good thing she’s processing out loud, because Enzo has to chew back the rather spiteful words that spawn at the idea of this Caly person icing out Flora after winning every conceivable hand out from under his twin. Not that he tempers his response much further by time she pulls away. “Exactly, doll. The power she thinks she has to ice you out with is power you gave her. And Kaisel is clearly just a matter of poor taste on his behalf - and there’s no curing bad taste, you know that.” He eyes her with blatant mhmmm that sounds a lot like Jack, remember?
Her words ramble and fluster like seafoam, and Enzo can only smile so softly his dimples never appear, lifting a hand to gently cup her cheek. “You’re not ‘supposed’ to do anything. I doubt anyone is telling you to pretend it didn’t happen. You’re the one doing that, ‘cuz you’re scared to show any flaws - and ‘cuz you don’t know who you are now either, so you think pretending you’re the old Flora is the only good answer.” He slips his hand from her cheek to curl her hair back behind her ear - and tugs it for good measure in the same way she had just done to his curls. “Which is why you just have to confidently own it. Like Sunjata and pops and their scars, or you and mom about me. You take the parts you’re willing to air out and you make ‘em loud and shameless - like moving house.”
Both hands rise to cup just behind her jaw to lift her face up toward him, sea glass eyes brightly set in a sure, calm expression. “That’s where you’re gonna start. By Judge Enzo’s dead decree.” All he has time to plant is this one seed, and his hope alongside it; that after another year when he gets to see her again that it will have turned into something good. “Make a new home for me to come back to. Build it from the ground up, proper Estate style - no more sharing walls with strangers. Then, make it a place that’ll be for more than just us to gather, because we’ve grown past wanting more than just each other around.” Enzo dips to kiss right between her brows, then the tip of her nose, and then he shakes her face around again for good measure to make sure all the nonsense dust in her head doesn’t get a chance to settle back into the crevices he’s meant to fill. His heart aches; Enzo hasn’t had the chance to learn to want anyone else but her around, but he’s so proud of her for getting there first that he’s willing to let it die sourly in the space around his heart. “The Court is cool I guess, but it’s not your style dollface. I mean where do you even rule from? You haven’t even made yourself a throne! Flora! You made a boat before a throne!!! UGGGHH!!” He tilts his head back to gurgle-tell his disappointment before he has to lock back in. There’s still more cobwebs to dispel from his sister’s brain. “It’s fine, I’m fine. I’m not disappointed or confused.” He is, but the show must go on. “SO! Make a big plaza or admin building right in front of our new house, and - I dunno - put a pool with instant portals in every region so nobody has to wait on a skyboat to get drunk in a jacuzzi. I’m not the idea guy, I’m just the ‘here’s your homework’ guy.” Enzo grins and releases her for just long enough to grab both of her hands, clasp them as one between his own, and press them tenderly to Flora’s sternum. “Make it yours. Make it ours. Anything you can dream up. But if you want some inspiration, or a secondary challenge…” Enzo squeezes her hands gently before pulling away, leaving her clasped hands to rest against her own heart, painfully solitary. “Try to make it something that’s meant to fight the loneliness.” Until I can come home to you.
It’s a good thing she’s processing out loud, because Enzo has to chew back the rather spiteful words that spawn at the idea of this Caly person icing out Flora after winning every conceivable hand out from under his twin. Not that he tempers his response much further by time she pulls away. “Exactly, doll. The power she thinks she has to ice you out with is power you gave her. And Kaisel is clearly just a matter of poor taste on his behalf - and there’s no curing bad taste, you know that.” He eyes her with blatant mhmmm that sounds a lot like Jack, remember?
Her words ramble and fluster like seafoam, and Enzo can only smile so softly his dimples never appear, lifting a hand to gently cup her cheek. “You’re not ‘supposed’ to do anything. I doubt anyone is telling you to pretend it didn’t happen. You’re the one doing that, ‘cuz you’re scared to show any flaws - and ‘cuz you don’t know who you are now either, so you think pretending you’re the old Flora is the only good answer.” He slips his hand from her cheek to curl her hair back behind her ear - and tugs it for good measure in the same way she had just done to his curls. “Which is why you just have to confidently own it. Like Sunjata and pops and their scars, or you and mom about me. You take the parts you’re willing to air out and you make ‘em loud and shameless - like moving house.”
Both hands rise to cup just behind her jaw to lift her face up toward him, sea glass eyes brightly set in a sure, calm expression. “That’s where you’re gonna start. By Judge Enzo’s dead decree.” All he has time to plant is this one seed, and his hope alongside it; that after another year when he gets to see her again that it will have turned into something good. “Make a new home for me to come back to. Build it from the ground up, proper Estate style - no more sharing walls with strangers. Then, make it a place that’ll be for more than just us to gather, because we’ve grown past wanting more than just each other around.” Enzo dips to kiss right between her brows, then the tip of her nose, and then he shakes her face around again for good measure to make sure all the nonsense dust in her head doesn’t get a chance to settle back into the crevices he’s meant to fill. His heart aches; Enzo hasn’t had the chance to learn to want anyone else but her around, but he’s so proud of her for getting there first that he’s willing to let it die sourly in the space around his heart. “The Court is cool I guess, but it’s not your style dollface. I mean where do you even rule from? You haven’t even made yourself a throne! Flora! You made a boat before a throne!!! UGGGHH!!” He tilts his head back to gurgle-tell his disappointment before he has to lock back in. There’s still more cobwebs to dispel from his sister’s brain. “It’s fine, I’m fine. I’m not disappointed or confused.” He is, but the show must go on. “SO! Make a big plaza or admin building right in front of our new house, and - I dunno - put a pool with instant portals in every region so nobody has to wait on a skyboat to get drunk in a jacuzzi. I’m not the idea guy, I’m just the ‘here’s your homework’ guy.” Enzo grins and releases her for just long enough to grab both of her hands, clasp them as one between his own, and press them tenderly to Flora’s sternum. “Make it yours. Make it ours. Anything you can dream up. But if you want some inspiration, or a secondary challenge…” Enzo squeezes her hands gently before pulling away, leaving her clasped hands to rest against her own heart, painfully solitary. “Try to make it something that’s meant to fight the loneliness.” Until I can come home to you.
whether death or distance comes between
there comes a time when everybody leaves
there comes a time when everybody leaves
