i want my life to look like sunflowers and leather

Flora

Flora tugged her cloak tighter around her shoulders, the gold threads catching the pale DeepFrost light filtering through the snow-dusted canopy of the Greatwood. Her boots crunched against the frosted ground as she forged her path. Flora knew these woods better than most, but even she wasn’t immune to the forest’s quirks. The moving paths, the murmuring trees—it was all part of the charm, usually. Today, though, it was testing her patience.

She’d meant to head toward Sidhe Village. Simple enough in theory, except that the winding trails seemed to conspire against her, nudging her gently, but persistently, in entirely the wrong direction. When the looming trunk of the Mathair appeared before her for the second time, its mighty roots snaking out like petrified veins across the ground, Flora let out an exasperated laugh. "Oh, come on," she muttered, planting her hands on her hips as she surveyed the tree. The Mathair stood silent, her bark gleaming faintly where the snow hadn’t yet dusted her. Flora tilted her head, aqua eyes narrowing. "I saved you, you know. The least you could do is point me in the right direction."

The Mathair, naturally, did not reply. Her vast presence seemed to hum in quiet amusement, or so Flora imagined. With a dramatic sigh, the queen turned and tried again, determined to find her way. But when the ancient tree’s massive roots stretched before her for the third time, she threw her hands in the air, her breath clouding in the chilly air. "Alright, fine," she said, turning back toward the Mathair with a resigned grin. "I get it. You’ve missed me."

Stepping closer, Flora let her fingers tickle over the ancient bark. "Look," she said, brushing a stray curl from her face, "I just came to try and find that boy I met before. He might be a ghost, but.." Shrugging, Flora just grinned. "..if you won't let me leave, maybe you could bring him here?"

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

NIKI

Niki is beginning to feel as though he ought to stop leaving his house. He doesn't know what has gotten into the woods lately, but every time he so much as sets foot on the trail to get to the Sidhe Village, he ends up finding himself walking in circles. (Which, by the way, is hard enough for anyone, let alone when you've got a bum leg, probably the flu, and a rapidly shrinking degree of patience). He doesn't expect to see the Mathair, granted, as he's spilled out from a trail, bundled in a coat and scarf and gloves, leaning heavily on his cane as he takes in the enormous mother tree.

It's about when he hears a slightly familiar voice chirping from around the other side of the massive trunk. In the ultimate what a co-inky-dink move, Niki peers around the bark to spot Flora just about in view, the boy hobbling forward and tilting his head. "Hello? It was Flora, was it not?" he calls out - rasps, rather, since if he tries to raise his voice too much he seems to collapse into a fit of coughing. And it's true that Niki does somehow look more gaunt since they last met. He'll put it down to too many all-nighters, getting exceedingly lost in the woods, and probably catching a cold.

No big deal, okay?

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Flora

Flora’s grin spread as a familiar voice, rasping but unmistakable, called out from around the Mathair’s massive trunk. She gave the bark beneath her fingertips a gentle tickle in thanks, her expression softening with amused gratitude. "Thanks, babes," she murmured under her breath, casting a quick glance up at the towering tree before turning toward Niki’s voice.

Her grin faltered as the boy hobbled into view, leaning heavily on his cane and bundled in more layers than the frostbitten woods demanded. With gaunt cheeks, hollowed eyes, and a voice that sounded like it might crack under its own weight, though Flora hardly knew Niki, still her body instantly tensed with concern.

"Was and still is," she called back brightly, stepping quickly toward him. Though her smile reappeared, there was an edge of something softer in her eyes as she scanned him over, nose wrinkling slightly. "You okay?" Which was of course Flora for you look like shit.

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

NIKI

Missing - perhaps for the best - the way that Flora seems to speak to (and thank) the Mathair, Niki rounds the rest of the huge tree trunk and falls to a halt, not complaining one bit as the Doubletake takes it upon herself to be the one to close the rest of the distance between them. "I can struggle with names at times," he tells her with a mix of apology and amusement, pleased to have recognised her in the first place in truth. "What brings you back into the Greatwood so soon?" He'd seen her briefly at the Festival of Lights, it's true, but given that it's the place where she'd been murdered, she's the last person he expects to see wandering about by herself.

As for whether he's okay, of course Niki gives little more than a stoic nod; he'll live, he hopes thinks, and he is feeling a fraction better now that he's stopped actively moving so much. "Deepfrost," he says with a shrug. "The cold has always been unkind to me. I will manage." Or he won't. Either way, he's not about to make it Flora's problem if he can help it, the boy glancing up at the colossal, snow heavy boughs overhead. "She is magnificent, is she not?" he says of the Mathair.

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Flora

"Really? You seem like the sort of guy with a really good memory." You know, possibly on account of being autistic a ghost. As for why she'd come back? Though Flora's smile doesn't falter, it does grow a touch more sly as she casually shrugs her shoulders. "I have this...item that I need reworked? But I wanted it to be super bespoke, and given how few people venture up here, I thought there was no better place, y'know?" Which was code for I need this item completely changed so its original owner won't recognize it anymore.

Tilting her head to the side, Flora's skepticism is like a tangible weight that has her curls spilling over one shoulder. "You should totally come back with me to Torchline! It's like..totally bearable right now for you Northern folk." Things back home felt chilly to her, but with temperatures ranging from 0-10 degrees, no doubt someone like Niki would feel like he'd been put in a slow cooker.

"mm?" Blinking, Flora turns, glancing at the Mathair and then grinning. "As a tree, yeah. As a goddess?" Whistling under her breath, the queen's eyes widen for emphasis as she gives her head a slight shake. "Terrifying. Super badass, but absolutely terrifying."

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

NIKI

"It is not the memory so much as the pronunciation," Niki apologises, though he does cock his head a little at the compliment(?) given their grand total of about thirty minutes in each other's presence. Luckily, he's very much distracted by mention of the item she needs to rework, the boy's expression lighting up with a curiosity that seems to lessen the shadows beneath his eyes a fraction. "What sort of item is it, if you do not mind my asking? I may know someone who can help you. I work with metal myself - mostly jewellery and trinkets - but if it is carpentry or a blacksmith you need, I could point you in the right direction."

Unable not to laugh at her next point - a decision that sends him into a brief coughing fit behind a gloved hand, Niki shakes his head. "Apologies - it is just you are not the first person lately to try and persuade me to go to Torchline. I am not a good traveller, I am afraid." Especially not now that he's gotten himself sick. "Thank you for the offer, though. I will just make sure that I stay warm." Easier said than done of course - look at where they are, after all.

He shouldn't be surprised that she knows the Mathair, not just as a tree but as the Leafchange goddess herself, but Niki's eyes nonetheless widen as he turns towards the snow laden branches overhead. "You had the opportunity to meet with her?" he asks, quiet awe in her voice. "You are quite the adventurer, Flora."

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Flora

Flora’s grin widened at his curiosity, the glimmer of amusement in her eyes softening into something almost conspiratorial. "Right now it's a necklace," she said, her voice dipping lower, though the playful lilt remained. "Made of mageglass. Beautiful piece, but a little too... recognizable for my taste. I was hoping to, you know, give it a bit of a glow-up. Make it unique." Which, of course, was code for make it untraceable to its original owner. While maybe she shouldn't have been so forthcoming with Niki, something about him made the queen feel like he was trustworthy. Then again, maybe she was just conflating his physical weaknesses with kindness.

As he coughed, Flora’s expression shifted briefly, her concern clear even through her teasing smirk. "Sounds like you're pretty popular," she quipped, shaking her head with mock exasperation. "I’m just saying, you wouldn’t have to travel the old-fashioned way. I’ve got this compass—it’s kind of like teleportation. Instant Torchline, no boats, no cold, no drama. You’d love it." She tilted her head, curls spilling over her shoulder as she grinned at him. "And if you’re worried about Torchline being too overwhelming, we’ve got quiet spots too. I know all the best ones." Her tone softened at the end, her smile holding a hint of sincerity beneath the usual sass.

When Niki mentioned the Mathair, Flora’s expression turned thoughtful, her fingers brushing idly at the bark beside her as if to draw strength from the ancient tree. "I did meet her," she admitted, her voice quieter now, almost reverent. "Not exactly a tea party, though. She was... dying, or as close to it as a goddess gets. The Void had her in its grip, and, well..." She shrugged, a small, self-deprecating smile tugging at her lips. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. She’s the badass, not me."

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

NIKI

"Mageglass," Niki repeats, his brow furrowing, before recognition hits and he nods, not attempting to hide his interest. "A... a glow-up, did you say?" he echoes, the phrase sounding a little clumsy in his accent, but he understands what she's getting at. "Would you still want it to look like a necklace? I have made rings, bracelets, earrings... many different types of jewellery, in truth. I could show you some of my work, if you wanted to see?"

Blinking as if just realising how quickly the offer has slipped out, Niki raises his hand in polite apology. "That is, only if you would like to," he adds. It seems he isn't the only one guilty of getting ahead of himself, though, the boy left gaping at Flora for her almost too generous free trip to Torchline. "I... well, I mean. I would have nowhere to stay," he protests, though it is much more difficult to say no to the Doubletake with her kindness and sincerity and easy amusement than it had been to deny sharp-tongued Vesper.

The Mathair is almost a relief in her distraction, and while Niki doesn't reach out to touch the bark, he does smile up at the branches arcing overhead. "Ah, you were there to help her overcome the void? I suppose I should not have been surprised," he says. "What was she like? Terror aside, I mean."

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Flora

Flora tilts her head thoughtfully, her fingers brushing idly at the bark of the Mathair as she considers Niki's question. "I’m not sure yet," she admits, lips twitching into a frown. "I’ve already made him a ring, and I doubt a necklace would really suit him. He doesn’t have his ears pierced, but he could...though this stone is pretty big for that." Her aqua eyes flicker back to Niki; a broach he could wear on his KingMaker jacket could be cool, but then all the time spent wandering around the Ark or through town, he'd be short of it. Maybe a...bracelet? "Er...do you have any ideas?" Though there's a playful lilt to her voice, it’s clear she's going to take him up on his offer.

When he mentions not having anywhere to stay in Torchline, Flora waves off the concern with an airy laugh. "Don’t be ridiculous," she says, her tone as light as the breeze whispering through the trees, though significantly warmer. "You can stay with me. My brother’s old room is just sitting there." And no, it wasn't that she'd forgotten Mateo, only that she knew of her brother's penchant for sleeping on La Verbena or in the beds of those he found to be as interesting as he was.

Flora’s gaze drifts to the gnarled bark of the Mathair as her fingers trace its ridges. "She wasn’t just a tree," Flora murmurs, her voice laced with awe. "Isn't," she quickly corrects. "When I saw her, she took on a form that was human and something far beyond it. She was small but like...radiating power, The forest seemed alive around her. She was fierce and untamed—even cleansed—and she made it clear she was still dangerous. When she looked at me, it was like she saw everything, her smile raw and primal, a reminder that this was her forest, and we were only visitors." Blinking, the queen turns back to the necromancy, shrugging. "I mean if you grew up here you'd have heard the stories just like I did, but seeing her in person..." Her ringed fingers tap the bark appreciably. "..it was wild."

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

NIKI

Listening intently to the information Flora has to give, Niki furrows his brow slightly and nods; from his expression alone the Doubletake will be able to tell that he has plenty of ideas; they need only to find a home. "How big is the stone?" he asks, shifting on his feet and wincing a little, as if just realising how stiff his limbs are growing standing here in the middle of the freezing cold forest. "Depending on that would determine what I could try to make."

Oh, but then apparently he's not only visiting Torchline in the blink of an eye, he's staying with someone he's only met once before, and for less than an hour at that. "That is very kind of you," he says with the air of someone deeply uncomfortable who is running out of ways to say no. "I will keep the offer in mind. Hopefully I will feel better in a few days anyway."

Stepping away from the Mathair - not only to help keep the feeling in his legs but also because he suddenly doesn't want to find himself obnoxiously close to the goddess based on what Flora has to say about her. "Mm, there are still plenty of stories about her. The Fae enjoy telling them around campfires when it gets dark." AKA, the Mathair is a spooky story to tell at night. "I suppose it is not a bad thing, though, to have something so fierce and wild as the patron of the forest."

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Flora

"It's this big." Pulling out the chunk of mageglass Flora holds it up between her fingers. The stone catches the faint light filtering through the trees, casting subtle prismatic reflections across her tan skin. It’s about the size of a thumbnail, its edges smooth but irregular, the colour shifting slightly as she tilts it in her hand. "Jack's...a rugged kind of guy? So whatever we did, it couldn't be too fancy. Maybe like...a bracelet made out of thick leather cord or something?" Though she hadn't seen any of Niki's previous creations, Flora could already guess that the sort of thing she was describing was well below what he was capable of making.

"Mmmk but babe, Deepfrost is just getting going." She points out with a frown, though the concern in her tone is light enough not to press too hard. "And seriously, the room’s just sitting there. Just promise you'll think about it, okay?" Wrinkling her nose affectionately, she grins. "When you're all chilly here gathering wood for a fire by yourself, just remember you could be with me in Torchline, sipping cocktails in my bar and having your meals served to you by my staff."

Turning her attention back to the Mathair as Niki steps away, Flora hums softly in agreement. "No, not a bad thing at all," she murmurs, her fingers brushing the bark one last time before she lets her hand fall. "I probably owe you an apology. I did sort of ask her to bring you here, since she wasn't letting me out of her sight. Can I walk you back? She'll probably let us now that we've sung her praises long enough."

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

NIKI

Tilting his head to the side as if to better see how the mageglass catches the light, Niki steps closer to Flora as well as away from the Mathair to inspect the stone further. "I do not have much experience with leatherwork, but I could probably make something like that," he says slowly, the decision coming after a few heavy beats of logic; considering this will (presumably) be a gift rather than some experiment he can sink his teeth into, he'd never offer something he wasn't confident he could deliver.

Wrinkling his nose ever so slightly in agreement, he can't help but acknowledge that Flora is right, and whilst, to his credit, he's survived this many Deepfrosts, there's no telling how things might pan out if he doesn't recover from this bout of illness. (And if the Greatwood continues to get him lost whenever he sets foot outside his house). "I promise I will think about it," he says, inclining his head towards her. "Though I do not really drink, so I am afraid those cocktails may be lost on me."

As the Doubletake finally steps away from the Mathair, Niki is once again reminded of the getting lost element of his day as Flora apologises, of all things. "Hm...? You... were looking for me?" he asks slowly; suddenly the very friendly invite to Torchline is beginning to feel like a staged kidnapping, and he glances towards the forest path. "I think I can probably manage alone. Thank you, though."

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Flora

Flora tilts her head, the mageglass glinting in her fingers as her aqua eyes flick back to Niki. "I mean, I’d love your help—if it’s not too much trouble, of course," she says with a soft smile, before extending out the stone for him to take. "And hey, I can do way more than just booze if that's what you want. Virgin piña coladas, hot chocolate in a sugar-rimmed mug, water from the Cordillera's upside down waterfall—whatever you want, babe, just say the word." The grin she flashes him is bright, though there’s a hint of something more sincere beneath the playful edge.

When Niki questions her motives, Flora blinks before laughing lightly, her curls bouncing with the movement. "You gave me your card, remember? Said to come find you if I needed anything?" Her grin turns a touch sheepish as she combs her fingers through her curls. "Though, uh, sorry about the Mathair’s...help. I really was on my way to try and find you before she brought you to me instead." She gestures vaguely at the ancient tree behind them, her aqua eyes flicking toward its towering branches.

Noticing the way Niki glances toward the forest path, Flora hesitates for a moment, her grin faltering slightly. "Oh..okay." She shrugs, though the movement is less carefree than usual. "I just figured since you’re not feeling great, it might be nice to have some company. But hey, no hard feelings if not." Her smile returns, though it’s a little smaller now as she brushes a stray curl from her face.

Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me
Misery, Like the war of words I shouted in my sleep

Code stolen from Queen Sky

NIKI

Practically with one foot on the forest path by the time Flora clarifies her motives - and reminds him that he's the one who had given her his business card - Niki falls to a halt and lets out a soft, apologetic laugh which luckily doesn't send him into another coughing fit. "No, it is alright," he says, gesturing for her to come and join him on the trail. "It has been a long few days, and I am clearly not feeling myself. I had forgotten all about that." Perhaps his memory isn't as good as he'd thought it was.

"At least the Mathair brought me to you quite quickly," he adds. "The woods have led me on quite the detour lately, sometimes lasting for hours." Nodding to the snowy trail ahead, he furrows his brow. "I was going to the village, but if I gently suggest that we go back to my home, I may be able to work on the mageglass for you today?" Gently suggest because perhaps the Greatwood will take pity on them if he does that.

"I do not want you to have to be here longer than necessary, especially if Torchline is as warm and welcoming as you say," he adds.

stay your pretty eyes on course
keep the memories of who i was before

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!