Rai (is hard to please) > Recent Status Updates

“Or maybe he’d behaved a certain way because it had been expected.”

👀☕️

“Refusing to allow things between them to get physical had unlocked what felt like . . . trust between them.”

“You’re never on the boat, hauling crab pots, and feel like you’re being watched by an audience?”
“Never.”
“You’re a filthy liar.”

“Maybe her mission here wasn’t to be the supportive friend, but to prove to Fox that he could be one. That his presence and personality were enough without any of the physical trappings.”

“How dare his teachers and full-grown adults sexualize him at such a young age?”

THIS. T H I S.

“She couldn’t shake the feeling that it was important for him to know that nothing needed to happen between them for this time together to be worthwhile.”

“You’re enough when you’re not touching me.”

“Fox crossed to the kitchen sink and washed his hands.”

This. This is the female gaze.

“Hannah was like a leaf blower aimed right at his undisturbed pile of possibilities, and damn, the hope felt kind of good.”

“I hate that I like you.”
“I like that I hate you.”

10 cents says the shanties are going on the soundtrack

“Oh, fire dancer”—Alōs smiled down at her—“don’t you know by now? You are the adventure.”

“I’m always look for you, fire dancer,” he said. (…) “And when I sleep, that’s when I search the hardest and where, most nights, I find you.”

“Her father was trusting her to go, to burn as bright as she needed, as hot as he knew she could, because in the end, she would always find her way—home.”

“Death is better than goodbyes,” said Bree, pouting on Niya’s other side.
Niya turned to her with raised brows. “And how’s that?”
“At least when the Fade takes you,” explained Bree, “you have no choice but to go.”

“It is the strongest of souls who are brave enough to bare emotions.”

“It took just as much brutality to slay monsters as it did to be one.”

“You make me many things, fire dancer. Happy is merely one.”

“No,” said Alōs, his gaze consuming her, “even when you’re gone, fire dancer, I will never be free of you.”

“Alōs was Niya’s ultimate foolishness. She had given him another chance to stand in the center of her life. And he’d proved worthy by choosing instead to stand at her side.”

“Alōs realized then just how much he had been wrung dry by life’s disappointments, for a part of him was not surprised. A numb acceptance.”

“I am not a prize won by simple favors.”

“And I like women, Red.”
Niya blinked over to the quartermaster. “So?” she said. “I like women too.”

IT HAPPENED. IT FINALLY HAPPENED. I CAN CHECK THIS OFF MY BUCKET LIST.

I was willing to assume that portal token was off the table (even tho Niya would only have to ask Achak for one)… but y’all mean to tell me they had one on the ship this whole time

“How do you know it’s a he?”
Niya shrugged. “He feels lazy.”
Alōs gave her a dry glance. “Nice.”

“Why are you so pessimistic?” Niya frowned.
“I’m a realist.”
“A real pessimist.”

“He knew the false promises brought by peaceful dreams.”

“I am what I am because of what I know this world to be. You were merely my first lesson.”

“Niya had remained a statue of contained power, a lost god staring him in the eye, silently promising her own retribution greater than any pain he might have laid upon her that day.
It was enough to take anyone’s breath away.
Bring a lesser monster than he to his knees in a plea for forgiveness.”

“Every sand fall feels like a lifetime.”
“Then be glad of that. The alternative makes moments meaningless.”

“In trouble again already, Red?” asked Saffi with an amused grin.
“Would it be a good day if I wasn’t?”

“Rare beauty brought war more than peace, for man was a greedy creature, seeking to master land they felt they deserved despite it already belonging to another.”

“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”

Saved me from wasting my breath.

“What did you call a monster who was capable of love?
The same name as you, whispered a voice in the back of her mind.”

“I’m not sure if I should be flattered at your confidence or appalled at your willingness to put me in harm’s way.”
“And here I thought you were always the harm in anyone’s way.”