karma's a relaxing thought, aren't you envious that for you it's not?
The skylight gleams overhead by the time Flora gathers everyone back together, its stained glass a wash of colour that dapples across the bare floors like jewels spilled from the sky. She knows the air up there must have been thick with tension, but her three dads pulled it off all the same, and she lets herself grin up at their handiwork before turning back to the others streaming in with their shopping spoils.
She claps her hands, bracelets jingling. "Ooooh, I can't wait to see what you all bought!" Her aqua eyes dance, bright with mischief, as she produces a little bundle from the pocket of her sarong. "But before you go and put everything away, these are for you."
One by one, she steps forward to press a key to her front door into each hand.
Mateo’s is wrought iron, delicate and curling like ivy. One of the leaves slides aside with a sly click to reveal a hidden compartment. "For…recreational storage," Flora says sweetly, her lashes batting.
Sohalia’s glitters with a stained glass heart at the top, map lines etched into the length of the key. "For your books and your maps and your heart that just keeps getting bigger."
Danta and Asta’s come as a pair, carved from pale bone and flecked with inlaid rubies. When held together, the two interlock neatly, clicking as if they’d always been meant to fit. "Because you’re trouble on your own, and utterly perfect together."
Niki’s is polished steel, simple and precise, with a discreet lever on the side. Flick it, and a small screwdriver slips out like a hidden blade. "Practical,”" Flora tells him, her smile softening. "And sharp. Like you."
She keeps the bundle close as she turns to the skylight crew, wrinkling her nose at them with unabashed affection. "Sorry, Dads. No keys for you. If you want in, you’ve gotta knock."
Her laughter spills over as she waves them all off toward the hallways. "Go—make your rooms yours. I want this house to sing with you in it!"
Almost done, go put your things in your rooms!
She claps her hands, bracelets jingling. "Ooooh, I can't wait to see what you all bought!" Her aqua eyes dance, bright with mischief, as she produces a little bundle from the pocket of her sarong. "But before you go and put everything away, these are for you."
One by one, she steps forward to press a key to her front door into each hand.
Mateo’s is wrought iron, delicate and curling like ivy. One of the leaves slides aside with a sly click to reveal a hidden compartment. "For…recreational storage," Flora says sweetly, her lashes batting.
Sohalia’s glitters with a stained glass heart at the top, map lines etched into the length of the key. "For your books and your maps and your heart that just keeps getting bigger."
Danta and Asta’s come as a pair, carved from pale bone and flecked with inlaid rubies. When held together, the two interlock neatly, clicking as if they’d always been meant to fit. "Because you’re trouble on your own, and utterly perfect together."
Niki’s is polished steel, simple and precise, with a discreet lever on the side. Flick it, and a small screwdriver slips out like a hidden blade. "Practical,”" Flora tells him, her smile softening. "And sharp. Like you."
She keeps the bundle close as she turns to the skylight crew, wrinkling her nose at them with unabashed affection. "Sorry, Dads. No keys for you. If you want in, you’ve gotta knock."
Her laughter spills over as she waves them all off toward the hallways. "Go—make your rooms yours. I want this house to sing with you in it!"
Almost done, go put your things in your rooms!
