flowers bloom in the rain
The isle breathes under our feet, sand sighing away from one edge while another ribbon of shore sidles closer. I roll my shoulders, feel every place that’s gone soft since aging, and huff a laugh at myself.
”I definitely need the practice,” I admit, wry. ”And to harden up the spots that got… softer with growing.” My mouth quirks. ”Maybe we run together sometime? If you don’t mind me intruding once in a while.”
Her joke about Remi makes me wrinkle my nose, a little giggle slipping out despite myself. ”Okay, if he’s into it, maybe I shouldn’t, you know, enable,” I say, amused and faintly horrified. ”But he does sound like a great sparring partner. I owe Ronin a visit too. I really want to get to know them both better.” I glance back at Flora, warm. ”You should meet Ashe sometime. I think you two would have fun throwing knives until the neighbors complain.”
The islands knit and unknit around us, the palm whispering as it leans with the drift. I sweep hair back from my face and watch the water glint through the gaps. ”I was just… wandering Torchline, mostly. Getting lost on purpose. If I stay busy out here, I have to pay attention—less room for the bullshit to creep in.” My jaw tightens as the old reel tries to play—collapsing mountains, the bite of unforgiving cold in my fingers—and I swallow it with a lopsided smile. ”Everyone’s dealing with something, right?” I say lightly, eyes on the horizon.
Then I brighten, the thought catching like sun on steel. ”A lift on the Sugartide would be amazing. I’ve been dying to see her anyway.”
”I definitely need the practice,” I admit, wry. ”And to harden up the spots that got… softer with growing.” My mouth quirks. ”Maybe we run together sometime? If you don’t mind me intruding once in a while.”
Her joke about Remi makes me wrinkle my nose, a little giggle slipping out despite myself. ”Okay, if he’s into it, maybe I shouldn’t, you know, enable,” I say, amused and faintly horrified. ”But he does sound like a great sparring partner. I owe Ronin a visit too. I really want to get to know them both better.” I glance back at Flora, warm. ”You should meet Ashe sometime. I think you two would have fun throwing knives until the neighbors complain.”
The islands knit and unknit around us, the palm whispering as it leans with the drift. I sweep hair back from my face and watch the water glint through the gaps. ”I was just… wandering Torchline, mostly. Getting lost on purpose. If I stay busy out here, I have to pay attention—less room for the bullshit to creep in.” My jaw tightens as the old reel tries to play—collapsing mountains, the bite of unforgiving cold in my fingers—and I swallow it with a lopsided smile. ”Everyone’s dealing with something, right?” I say lightly, eyes on the horizon.
Then I brighten, the thought catching like sun on steel. ”A lift on the Sugartide would be amazing. I’ve been dying to see her anyway.”
Theea
growing up is a pain
