& if you never bleed you're never gonna grow
Flora nods without hesitation, curls spilling forward as she tips her head toward her cousin. "I’m usually out first thing in the morning before the sun gets too bossy, but with Deepfrost creeping in we can run anytime. Sand’ll be a pain in the ass at first—literally—but once you get used to it, there’s nothing better. If you ever have to race someone across the beach, you’ll leave them gasping in your dust and it's the best feeling." Her grin is wicked and bright, all teeth and sunlight.
"Up to you if you want to stab my dad or not," she teases, aqua eyes gleaming. The joke fades softer at the mention of Ashe, her smile gentling into something warm. "Didn’t get to meet her at my parents’ anniversary, but I heard she was there. Next time you see her, tell her I’d absolutely love to. Knives, neighbours complaining—sounds perfect."
Theea’s next words earn a dry huff of laughter, Flora’s expression flashing sympathetic and crooked all at once. "Same, babes," she says, tone light but edged with shared truth. "If you ever need a swim or a drink just to bitch about it, I’m always game." She bumps her shoulder lightly against her cousin’s before nodding back toward the way she’d come, the hint of salt-sweet breeze carrying from the direction of the sea.
"Absolutely," she says with bright finality, and with that she turns, curls and gold glinting as she leads the way through the foliage toward the waiting Sugartide.
~FIN
"Up to you if you want to stab my dad or not," she teases, aqua eyes gleaming. The joke fades softer at the mention of Ashe, her smile gentling into something warm. "Didn’t get to meet her at my parents’ anniversary, but I heard she was there. Next time you see her, tell her I’d absolutely love to. Knives, neighbours complaining—sounds perfect."
Theea’s next words earn a dry huff of laughter, Flora’s expression flashing sympathetic and crooked all at once. "Same, babes," she says, tone light but edged with shared truth. "If you ever need a swim or a drink just to bitch about it, I’m always game." She bumps her shoulder lightly against her cousin’s before nodding back toward the way she’d come, the hint of salt-sweet breeze carrying from the direction of the sea.
"Absolutely," she says with bright finality, and with that she turns, curls and gold glinting as she leads the way through the foliage toward the waiting Sugartide.
~FIN
