with each love i cut loose i was never the same
Flora has no idea there’s anything strange or difficult sitting beneath Soh’s happiness when it comes to Zavien, no clue that he carries any lingering doubt toward her or that whatever misgivings once existed between them have not, apparently, faded into the past where she’d casually assumed they belonged. So when Soh gushes, Flora receives it the way she always would have, bright-eyed and willing, because this is her best friend and of course she wants every glittering detail, every ridiculous smile, every swoony little confession that can be tucked into the space between wine and massages and white couches that may or may not be protected by magic.
And honestly, seeing Soh this happy makes it easy. Whatever Flora might privately think about timing or logistics or the way life seems to enjoy hurling lit torches into piles of dry straw and calling it romance, Soh’s joy is real enough to rearrange the room around it, and when the tears start sparkling in her silver eyes, Flora’s own expression goes helplessly soft and radiant in answer. She beams as Soh explains about the quest and the parchment, nodding along with her wine forgotten nearby, caught somewhere between awe and delight. "Well, I mean," she says with a laugh, "if anyone was going to tell you, why not have it be a goddess?"
When Soh says she’s absolutely, one hundred percent good with this, Flora nods at once, and the small knot she hadn’t even realized had formed beneath her ribs loosens so quickly it almost leaves her breathless. It isn’t doubt that disappears so much as caution, that careful little pause she’d held in reserve just in case Soh’s excitement had been tangled with fear or obligation or anything that needed defending before celebrating. But no, Soh is glowing with it, certain in a way Flora can feel rather than merely hear.
She scooches closer along the couch, careful not to crowd too much and absolutely failing not to be drawn in by Soh’s happiness like it’s sunlight off the water, her hands clasping around one of Soh’s again with delighted urgency. "I’m so happy for you," she says, the words bursting out of her with too much feeling to make them polished, and then she tips her head back and laughs, bright and open and utterly unable to contain herself.
Turning properly back toward Soh, Flora’s grin sharpens into something eager and girlish. "Okay, so?? How are you feeling? Any weird cravings yet?"
And honestly, seeing Soh this happy makes it easy. Whatever Flora might privately think about timing or logistics or the way life seems to enjoy hurling lit torches into piles of dry straw and calling it romance, Soh’s joy is real enough to rearrange the room around it, and when the tears start sparkling in her silver eyes, Flora’s own expression goes helplessly soft and radiant in answer. She beams as Soh explains about the quest and the parchment, nodding along with her wine forgotten nearby, caught somewhere between awe and delight. "Well, I mean," she says with a laugh, "if anyone was going to tell you, why not have it be a goddess?"
When Soh says she’s absolutely, one hundred percent good with this, Flora nods at once, and the small knot she hadn’t even realized had formed beneath her ribs loosens so quickly it almost leaves her breathless. It isn’t doubt that disappears so much as caution, that careful little pause she’d held in reserve just in case Soh’s excitement had been tangled with fear or obligation or anything that needed defending before celebrating. But no, Soh is glowing with it, certain in a way Flora can feel rather than merely hear.
She scooches closer along the couch, careful not to crowd too much and absolutely failing not to be drawn in by Soh’s happiness like it’s sunlight off the water, her hands clasping around one of Soh’s again with delighted urgency. "I’m so happy for you," she says, the words bursting out of her with too much feeling to make them polished, and then she tips her head back and laughs, bright and open and utterly unable to contain herself.
Turning properly back toward Soh, Flora’s grin sharpens into something eager and girlish. "Okay, so?? How are you feeling? Any weird cravings yet?"
