spring breaks loose

There's someone inside me
That softly kills everyone around

Liam rarely left the Greatwood these days, and after another fruitless venture beyond the forest, he was relieved to find himself back home. He wasn't exactly sure when it had become such a place of comfort, when the grey stone of Stormbreak had become a thing of the past - something to wax nostalgic about, but not something to dream of returning to. He wasn't sure what the change was, exactly, only that it existed, and that despite all the odds, the Greatwood had become his home. It was strange to see it so active once more, as though no one had ever left, and though Liam knew that the visitors would all return home once they'd found what they searched for - what he searched for - he hoped that, perhaps, these desperate times would put the Greatwood back on the map.

Today, Liam had decided to pursue a different route for hunting Vi's Roses in the Undercroft. Deep beneath the roots of an ancient oak, the underground library was a treasure trove of information, though much of it had been lost to nature over time. But it was warm and dry and comfortable, and as Liam delved deeper into the roots, he found himself thinking that Maea might like it here.

Every once in a while, Liam would pull a tome from a shelf or jot notes about some knowledge written in bark or algae. Once he'd collected a fair amount, he made his way to a small table containing a lantern and some sheets of paper. Perhaps some ancient knowledge would reveal where they could search next. Sitting down, he opened the first of his stack and began to skim the pages within.

They don't know they're dead to me cause
Intent never makes a sound

Liam

mistaking cardiac arrest for butterflies

Flora sighs dramatically, arms crossed loosely over her chest as she leans against one of the shelves, frustration pulling at the corners of her lips. "What do you mean they're all checked out?" she asks, brows furrowing as she tilts her head imploringly at the librarian, voice edged with exasperation.

The librarian—a petite Fae who manages to look simultaneously sympathetic and entirely unconcerned—merely shrugs. "Everyone wants Vi's Roses," she replies simply, clearly unmoved by the queen's increasingly desperate puppy-dog eyes. "Any book we had about cultivating or growing them was the first to go. You're lucky there's anything left here at all."

Groaning softly under her breath, Flora slumps slightly, throwing her head back with another exaggerated sigh before reluctantly straightening. "Okay, fine," she mutters, forcing a smile that’s bright, if entirely unconvincing.

Pushing herself upright, Flora begins aimlessly wandering through the library, fingers idly tracing the spines of tomes that remain, lips pursed into an annoyed pout. Eventually, she drifts toward a small table occupied by a man she vaguely recognizes, and her aqua eyes flick briefly to the collection of books stacked around him. Curiosity sharpens in her expression, and she hesitates only a moment before stepping forward, flashing the man a hopeful, charming smile.

"Hey...it's Liam, right?"

There's someone inside me
That softly kills everyone around

Hey… it’s Liam, right?

Liam looked up to find a familiar-looking blonde, and it took him only a moment to place her. This was Flora, who he’d met briefly years ago - before her ascent to queendom, if he remembered correctly. Back then, he’d not given her more than a passing thought. These days, though, he knew who she was well enough to. He also knew the task that she’d set Maea to, and though he wasn’t entirely clear on the reasoning, he wasn’t, shall we say, a fan of Flora’s at the present time.

Still, he wouldn’t do Maea any favors by being rude, so he offered a friendly half-smile. ”Flora, Queen of Torchline,” he greeted her, nodding respectfully. ”It’s been a long time. I’m flattered you remember me.” Marking his place in the book that lay open before him, he gestured to a nearby chair. ”Is there anything I can help you with?”

They don't know they're dead to me cause
Intent never makes a sound

Liam

mistaking cardiac arrest for butterflies

"Only if you’ve got a secret stash of flower books hidden under this table," Flora says with a huff, sliding gracefully into the offered seat. She folds one leg over the other, rings glittering faintly as she rests her arms on the edge of the table, chin tipping toward her shoulder with a wry smile. "Because unless you’re hiding something brilliant, I’m fresh out of leads on these stupid roses."

It’s easier to play at being light-hearted, to fall into charm and banter, than to sit with the simmering frustration of her fruitless research. The exhaustion in her bones is something she tries not to let show, but her braid is looser than usual and the neckline of her dress is faintly rumpled—just enough to suggest that she’s been up too late, thinking too hard.

Her aqua gaze scans the books Liam’s pulled, curiosity undeniable despite herself. "You’re looking too, I assume?" she asks, though the evidence is right there in front of her. "Also," she adds after a beat, tone only lightly teasing, "you can drop the whole 'Queen of Torchline' thing. Makes me sound way more competent than I feel today."

There's someone inside me
That softly kills everyone around

Liam grimaced. ”These are all the books I could find on flora in the Greatwood, but I’m afraid they’re rather picked over at the moment,” he said, gesturing to the stack around him. ”You’re welcome to any of them, but they haven’t proven very useful thus far.” He’d hoped that they would have some information on the roses’ preferred light levels, or soil types, or something that would be helpful. So far, he’d only managed to figure out that they were incredibly rare - which, of course, he’d already known.

Flipping the page idly, Liam sighed. ”Trying to. As you can see, it’s not going well.” He flipped the book shut with a snap that was louder than he meant to, and looked up to find the librarian glaring daggers at him. He raised a hand apologetically, then gentle set the tome aside.

Glancing at Flora, he took in the loose braid and the rumpled clothing, and sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. ”If you insist. Seems rude, though. I don’t know you well enough to drop the formalities.”

They don't know they're dead to me cause
Intent never makes a sound

Liam

mistaking cardiac arrest for butterflies

"Well, if they're already picked over, then I guess I can't blame you for not keeping a stash under the table," Flora sighs dramatically, settling deeper into the seat with a defeated sort of elegance. Her fingers drum lightly on the wood, rings tapping out a gentle rhythm as her gaze drifts to the pile of books. "At this point, I’d take gardening notes from a five-year-old if it mentioned the word rose."

At his comment about formality, Flora hums low in her throat as she raises a brow. "Seems more rude to call someone by a name they're asking you not to, if you ask me" the queen counters with a chuckle. Then again rude seemed perhaps to be the flavour of the day with how Liam's folded arms made him look all the more closed off. "Er, well. Sorry to have interrupted. I'll leave you to it." Gripping the edge of the table, Flora begins to slide herself out of her chair.

There's someone inside me
That softly kills everyone around

Flora began to rise from her chair and Liam winced, loosening his posture and leaning forward in his chair. "No, sorry - I didn't mean to be rude. I've been looking for these flowers for a while. I'm just... frustrated. Doesn't mean I should take it out on you." Trying on a more genuine smile, he picked up the book in front of him and offered it to her. "Do you want to take this one and help me look? The index in the back has something about roses, although I doubt it'll be the right kind."

A part of him hoped that she'd decline his offer, if only because he held a grudge about her treatment of Maea (which he admittedly only knew one side of). But mostly, he hoped she'd stay, if only so he could make up for his abysmal behavior. Besides, if she didn't want to be a queen at the moment, she might appreciate the distraction.

They don't know they're dead to me cause
Intent never makes a sound

Liam

mistaking cardiac arrest for butterflies

Flora pauses mid-rise, caught between standing and staying as Liam’s words soften the tension she hadn’t quite realized she was holding. Her fingers linger on the edge of the table for a breath longer, nails tapping once against the wood before she eases back down into her seat. "Well, if you insist," she murmurs, the corners of her mouth tugging upward in something gentler—less polished, more real. Her gaze flicks to the book he offers, and after a beat, she reaches out to take it.

She flips to the page in question, scanning the entry with a furrow between her brows. "You ever actually seen one of the real ones? Vi’s roses?" Flora glances up again, her voice quieter now, curious despite herself. "Everyone talks about them like they’re myths, and yet apparently when the Blight took over everything, they were everywhere." Flora hadn't been alive for that despite the fact that she looked like she should have been, though she'd heard about it often enough from her parents.

There's someone inside me
That softly kills everyone around

Thankfully, Liam didn't seem to have upset Flora too badly, for she slowly took her seat again and reached out for the book he handed over as a peace offering. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but she seemed... tired. Maybe they all were - tired of fighting a losing battle, tired of putting forth their best effort only to have their work reversed. And Flora, he thought, must be even more exhausted than the rest of them. She carried the burden of an entire region on her shoulders, after all.

He may not understand what problem she had with Maea, but that didn't necessarily mean that Flora was a bad person. Just, perhaps, a little misguided.

"Actually, yeah," Liam said, wincing at the memory. "When I first moved here, years ago - there was one that blossomed right outside my house. I left it alone, didn't see any reason to pick it. In retrospect, that was a stupid decision." He sighed. "It's gone now. Like it was never there to begin with."

They don't know they're dead to me cause
Intent never makes a sound

Liam

mistaking cardiac arrest for butterflies

Flora's fingers pause as they trace the lines of text, her expression shifting subtly—a flicker of envy, perhaps, or regret—before settling back into a more neutral curiosity. "You couldn't have known," she murmurs gently, her voice carrying a hint of wistfulness. "And I mean, all things being equal...leaving it alone probably was the right thing to do. My nonna used to make all sorts of healing potions so if she'd stumbled upon it she could have used it to help others, rather than having it wilt on your shelf waiting for the day it might be needed."

She flips another page, more out of habit than need, her eyes not really on the words. "Makes you wonder what else is out there, hiding in plain sight or just beyond reach." The queen shifts in her seat, leaning back with a thoughtful look, the book resting in her lap. "If you did find one now, what would you do with it?" Was he the march right into Starfall, type? Or did he know someone who was infected?

There's someone inside me
That softly kills everyone around

Flora's words were not accusatory, and there was no judgment in her voice as she told him what he'd already tried to tell himself with limited success. Yes, it was true that he couldn't have known - and it was also true that it would have just sat on a shelf somewhere in his little cottage. But he couldn't help but wonder if it would have survived all this time, and if it could have been useful in the fight against the Family.

Liam flipped to the index of a new book and started searching for roses. When he came up empty, he flipped to the table of contents just to skim through and make sure he wasn't missing anything. At Flora's question, he paused. If he found a rose, he'd give it to Maea, no questions asked and no strings attached. But if he told Flora that, then all of his friend's efforts would look weak. "I'd give it to someone who could make a difference," he said after a moment. Not because he wasn't the march right into Starfall type, but because he knew his limits, and at the moment, he wasn't strong enough for such a feat by a long shot. "You?"

They don't know they're dead to me cause
Intent never makes a sound

Liam

mistaking cardiac arrest for butterflies

Flora nods, a flicker of respect crossing her features as she listens to Liam's thoughtful answer. "That's wise," she says, her voice tinged with genuine appreciation. "Knowing your limits is just as important as pushing them, especially in times like these." Her fingers tap lightly against the book's cover, punctuating her point.

Leaning forward slightly, her expression turns conspiratorial, eyes narrowing with a hint of mischief. "As for me," she begins, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret, "if I got my hands on another one, I do have a plan. It's a bit risky, relies a lot on being sneaky and clever, but if it works..." She trails off, a sly grin spreading across her lips.

"It could give Torchline a real breathing space, a break from the Family's constant threats." Her enthusiasm is palpable, her posture animated as she outlines her intentions without giving away too much detail just in case someone was listening.

"That's the goal, anyway." Her eyes sparkle with determination, her vision for their future clear and hopeful. "I'm a bit sick of waiting for the demigods to do something, especially given their recent track records."

There's someone inside me
That softly kills everyone around

Flora spoke of a plan, a sly, mischievous look on her face, and Liam was immediately wary. That was the kind of look that could get one in trouble with a quickness, were one to get wrapped up in the aforementioned plans. Still, the queen was excited, enthusiastic about whatever plot she was creating, and the soldier found himself leaning in slightly, interested in spite of himself.

"I assume there's absolutely nothing dangerous about this plan, is there?" he asked drily, raising a brow at the woman sitting across from him. Gods, but she was young, and yet she had the weight of the world on her shoulders - a world, it seemed, that she was determined to save, and damn the consequences. "I don't suppose an old soldier can convince you to be careful?"

They don't know they're dead to me cause
Intent never makes a sound

Liam

mistaking cardiac arrest for butterflies

Flora lets out a dramatic gasp, clutching her pearls—well, her gold chains—as if deeply offended. "Dangerous? Liam, how dare you suggest that I, a beloved queen and role model for Torchline’s impressionable youth, would ever engage in anything remotely reckless."

But her grin gives her away, bright and unrepentant.

With a flick of her wrist, she leans back in her chair, one leg crossing over the other. "Look, if I waited for things to be safe, I’d still be stuck behind the bar pretending to be interested in trade tariffs while the Family turned people into ash." Her voice softens just a touch, her aqua eyes catching on his. "You know how it is. Sometimes you’ve got to move when you see an opening." She watches him for a moment, something gentler slipping into her expression. "I know you’re trying to look out for me. And… that means a lot, really." Her voice dips in sincerity, a rare vulnerability peeking through before she masks it again with a smirk. "But I make a terrible damsel. And I’ve got a nasty habit of ignoring good advice."

She leans forward again, playful now, conspiratorial once more. "But if it helps, I am being smart," she tilts her head, letting a lock of blonde hair fall over her shoulder, "I think, anyway." There’s more she wants to say. More she can’t say. But for now, she just rests her chin on her hand, watching him like she’s daring him to call her out again. "Besides," she adds with a wink, "if I get into trouble, I know this incredibly responsible old soldier who could probably bail me out."