flora
Flora’s head tips in an easy nod, curls slipping forward over her shoulder. "It's not as strong as it was at first," she says, the words carrying a shrug of hope, "and I’m betting they’ll fade out entirely over time." She leans back again, letting the breeze toy with the loose knit of her sweater, and when Niki’s little tilt toward mischief lands, her smile deepens in a way that doesn’t just answer him but adores him for trying.
"As for Kaisel—" she flicks her fingers like she’s brushing crumbs from the table, voice light and dismissive in that way people get when they’re lying on purpose "—it’s nothing."
"There’s really nothing to sailing into the Cordillera," she goes on, straightening and snagging another sip from her drink as if to punctuate the point. "A day or so in the air, a few dragons to fight off, nothing dramatic." Her eyes tick upward toward the palm canopy where Spice’s pale coils are just visible through the fronds. "Spice usually handles most of it," she adds, grin tugging at her mouth as the little dragon gives the faintest flick of her tail, like she knows she’s being volunteered.
And even though Flora knows Niki won’t come, there’s something impossibly endearing about him even entertaining the thought. It warms her in the same quiet, steady way the sunlight does through the shade, settling somewhere deep and certain. "And I know I've said it about a dozen times already, but I do super appreciate you coming down to help with my house. It really means a lot."
"As for Kaisel—" she flicks her fingers like she’s brushing crumbs from the table, voice light and dismissive in that way people get when they’re lying on purpose "—it’s nothing."
"There’s really nothing to sailing into the Cordillera," she goes on, straightening and snagging another sip from her drink as if to punctuate the point. "A day or so in the air, a few dragons to fight off, nothing dramatic." Her eyes tick upward toward the palm canopy where Spice’s pale coils are just visible through the fronds. "Spice usually handles most of it," she adds, grin tugging at her mouth as the little dragon gives the faintest flick of her tail, like she knows she’s being volunteered.
And even though Flora knows Niki won’t come, there’s something impossibly endearing about him even entertaining the thought. It warms her in the same quiet, steady way the sunlight does through the shade, settling somewhere deep and certain. "And I know I've said it about a dozen times already, but I do super appreciate you coming down to help with my house. It really means a lot."
I hold my breath just a little bit longer
halfway out the door but it won't close
halfway out the door but it won't close
