flora
The sound of Mateo laughing—really laughing, head tipped back and shoulders loose and unguarded—draws a brightness out of Flora that she doesn’t even attempt to hide. The past few weeks have left salt in places Mateo likely won't ever be able to get clean again, and hearing that kind of joy spill out of him feels like watching a window thrown open after a storm. She beams at him outright, and while her cheeks don’t dimple the way his do, there’s a sharp glitter in her eyes that more than compensates.
When he mentions sailing to King’s End, she flaps a hand dismissively in his direction, bracelets chiming. "You can take the Sugartide if you want," she offers easily. "Or just borrow my compass if that’s easier." Her mouth curves at the thought, sun catching along the edge of her hat as she shifts to face him more fully. "Either way," she adds, pointing a finger at him in mock severity, "I expect a full report." Her grin widens, feline and anticipatory. "Every blink. Every panicked inhale. I want to know exactly how long it takes for one of them to realize what you’re actually saying." She leans forward slightly, lowering her voice as if conspiring with him against the world. [asy]"There’s going to be at least ten seconds of silence. I guarantee it."
When he mentions sailing to King’s End, she flaps a hand dismissively in his direction, bracelets chiming. "You can take the Sugartide if you want," she offers easily. "Or just borrow my compass if that’s easier." Her mouth curves at the thought, sun catching along the edge of her hat as she shifts to face him more fully. "Either way," she adds, pointing a finger at him in mock severity, "I expect a full report." Her grin widens, feline and anticipatory. "Every blink. Every panicked inhale. I want to know exactly how long it takes for one of them to realize what you’re actually saying." She leans forward slightly, lowering her voice as if conspiring with him against the world. [asy]"There’s going to be at least ten seconds of silence. I guarantee it."
The rumors are terrible and cruel
But honey, most of them are true
But honey, most of them are true
