flora
At first, Flora laughs, sharp and unbothered, as if he’s joking. Still grinning, though it fades as quickly as it comes, her brows lifting with something closer to genuine surprise. “"You can’t be serious." There’s no cruelty in it, no sharpness to wound, just disbelief that’s too honest to dress in silk.
Her unsolicited critique might have come with a ribbon and a bow, but the way he continues to soften doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Flora doesn’t sigh—barely—but the slight twitch of her mouth betrays the effort it takes to swallow down a less diplomatic opinion. Instead, she just shrugs, gold bangles catching the light as she lifts her hands. "Guess you'll figure it out, huh?" she hums breezily, despite his response not quite sitting well with her.
Still, she doesn’t dwell on it. Her smirk returns easily, the weight of their positions replaced with something lighter, more familiar. "Name the time and place, Commander," she says, stepping forward just enough to knock her shoulder gently against his just to rub it in. "And this time I even promise not to drag you into helping me pull a fast one on a much stronger enemy. Cross my heart." Her fingers cross over her heart in an exaggerated motion, the gold rings clicking faintly together.
But when she straightens again, her expression shifts—less glitter, more grit. "Torchline’s got muscle to spare," she adds, voice more grounded now. "If Stormbreak needs help while it’s rebuilding, we’ve got soldiers who can swing more than a sword. Just say the word and I'll send the lot of them up to you."
Her unsolicited critique might have come with a ribbon and a bow, but the way he continues to soften doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Flora doesn’t sigh—barely—but the slight twitch of her mouth betrays the effort it takes to swallow down a less diplomatic opinion. Instead, she just shrugs, gold bangles catching the light as she lifts her hands. "Guess you'll figure it out, huh?" she hums breezily, despite his response not quite sitting well with her.
Still, she doesn’t dwell on it. Her smirk returns easily, the weight of their positions replaced with something lighter, more familiar. "Name the time and place, Commander," she says, stepping forward just enough to knock her shoulder gently against his just to rub it in. "And this time I even promise not to drag you into helping me pull a fast one on a much stronger enemy. Cross my heart." Her fingers cross over her heart in an exaggerated motion, the gold rings clicking faintly together.
But when she straightens again, her expression shifts—less glitter, more grit. "Torchline’s got muscle to spare," she adds, voice more grounded now. "If Stormbreak needs help while it’s rebuilding, we’ve got soldiers who can swing more than a sword. Just say the word and I'll send the lot of them up to you."
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
