you hate the crash, but you love the rush
Flora lets out a quiet hum, eyes half-lidded as her cheek rests against her folded arms. "I mean, being Accepted kind of comes with the perk of not being curse-compatible," she says, voice warm and wry. "But trust me—my parents have been cursed enough times between them for me to know exactly what not to say in a shrine. I learned early not to sass gods without a backup plan."
Her lashes flutter as she straightens again, water lapping gently at her shoulders, and she wrinkles her nose with theatrical distaste at the mention of war and the void. "Ugh. That’s the least fun Torchline itinerary I’ve ever heard." She pauses, then flashes him a bright, sly grin. "And if your only problem with an immediate visit is transport—well." She spreads her arms, water rippling outward in gentle waves. "I have a Skyship now. The Sugar Tide. She’s fast, sleek, and absolutely capable of rescuing you from Halo in the name of hot weather and refreshing drinks."
As he retreats from the edge, Flora swipes a hand through the empty air in his direction with a dramatic huff. But it’s his offer that draws her back in again, curiosity and delight sparking across her expression like stars finding new constellations. "I’d love to," she says, sincerity anchoring the mischief in her tone. "But only if you promise to get in the hotspring with me after. Dealbreaker otherwise." Her brows lift as she tilts her head, curls falling forward in a cascade of gold. "And let’s be honest," she adds with a flick of her fingers toward his lanky frame, "you’re tall enough that swimming probably won’t even be required. But I’ll teach you anyway if you like."
Her lashes flutter as she straightens again, water lapping gently at her shoulders, and she wrinkles her nose with theatrical distaste at the mention of war and the void. "Ugh. That’s the least fun Torchline itinerary I’ve ever heard." She pauses, then flashes him a bright, sly grin. "And if your only problem with an immediate visit is transport—well." She spreads her arms, water rippling outward in gentle waves. "I have a Skyship now. The Sugar Tide. She’s fast, sleek, and absolutely capable of rescuing you from Halo in the name of hot weather and refreshing drinks."
As he retreats from the edge, Flora swipes a hand through the empty air in his direction with a dramatic huff. But it’s his offer that draws her back in again, curiosity and delight sparking across her expression like stars finding new constellations. "I’d love to," she says, sincerity anchoring the mischief in her tone. "But only if you promise to get in the hotspring with me after. Dealbreaker otherwise." Her brows lift as she tilts her head, curls falling forward in a cascade of gold. "And let’s be honest," she adds with a flick of her fingers toward his lanky frame, "you’re tall enough that swimming probably won’t even be required. But I’ll teach you anyway if you like."
