ISLA
"It comes from years of being a medical professional," Isla responds with a playful scrunch of her nose. Nevermind that a great deal of those years were spent as a field medic in an active battlefield; it was likely much easier (and necessary) to get everything off one's chest when the likelihood of death was so high. "But I appreciate the compliment."
Her eyes flick back to the stroller instinctively as it bumps over an uneven bit of the path, as if to check whether the twins have taken offence; Carlo is busy trying to grab for the star bell now, it seems, intent on shoving it into his mouth. "You and Ronin have always come as a pair," she says with an easy smile. "Like these two. It's just even more obvious now than before. I doubt Ronin could last long enough in a fight to do that damage without your help."
Scoffing at his faux-injury theatrics, Isla turns her gaze skyward for a moment to enjoy the pale sunshine on her face, even if it's not nearly as warm as it could be in other seasons. "It seems short-sighted to you," she says gently. "Remember, Flora has been her own person for years now. She's forged her own relationship with Safrin through Torchline, through channelling, through her own ambitions... it isn't as though she chose this only having heard what you both went through."
It's the kindest way of saying they might be the ones who have been short-sighted, and she will never blame them for their caution or their reaction. But it doesn't mean either is wrong. "Well there you go," she says. "You can babysit Fern for an evening when I turn out to be right."
Her eyes flick back to the stroller instinctively as it bumps over an uneven bit of the path, as if to check whether the twins have taken offence; Carlo is busy trying to grab for the star bell now, it seems, intent on shoving it into his mouth. "You and Ronin have always come as a pair," she says with an easy smile. "Like these two. It's just even more obvious now than before. I doubt Ronin could last long enough in a fight to do that damage without your help."
Scoffing at his faux-injury theatrics, Isla turns her gaze skyward for a moment to enjoy the pale sunshine on her face, even if it's not nearly as warm as it could be in other seasons. "It seems short-sighted to you," she says gently. "Remember, Flora has been her own person for years now. She's forged her own relationship with Safrin through Torchline, through channelling, through her own ambitions... it isn't as though she chose this only having heard what you both went through."
It's the kindest way of saying they might be the ones who have been short-sighted, and she will never blame them for their caution or their reaction. But it doesn't mean either is wrong. "Well there you go," she says. "You can babysit Fern for an evening when I turn out to be right."
apres moi le deluge
after me comes the flood
after me comes the flood
