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[poison_lipstick]

Many months ago, Saffron had taken an unopened bottle of Cristal, one of the last few left, and set it aside in a safe place to be used for her and Warrick's New Year's Eve celebration. But by the time that particular day rolled around her boyfriend was long gone, and so the champagne remained hidden away

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[thewordofweb]

By the time I make it out of my small hut, I'm ready for a quiet sunset cruise in a t-shirt and PT shorts with fishing gear at my side. I might even bring back a fish for Trisha so she can tear it apart and see what makes it tick. I don't really expect to see someone at the dock, though I'm not entirely surprised. I built this dock for myself, but it's a small island, yet. "Troubles?" I ask when I get in speaking range of Helen.

[poison_lipstick]

David's sharp gaze turned on Web as he approached, but the bird apparently didn't deem him a threat; he stayed where he was. Saffron glanced his way to make sure she wasn't about to have to call him off, then looked up at Web with a tired smile that was little more than a quirk of her lips.

Instead of answering his question, she held out the bottle towards him. "This is our last bottle of champagne," she informed him. "Top shelf stuff. Want some?"

[thewordofweb]

"I'm not sure I should be imbibing before going out on the boat, but I'm also not sure I should say no to you," I admit and set my gear down as I slowly take a seat some feet away from her, watching her curiously. "Came to watch the waves come in?" I ask tentatively, as if prodding the real answer.

[poison_lipstick]

"Of course you shouldn't, it's good champagne," Saffron replied, then let out a humorless laugh. "We can toast to the island, for continuing to successfully screw with us by taking folks away."

The knot in her chest tightened, and her fingers clenched tighter around the bottle as she took a slow breath. When she looked over at Web, it was with a forced smile. "What are you doing way over there? I ain't gonna bite you," she said. "Not gonna try and seduce you either."

[thewordofweb]

"I'm not very good with comforting people," I say and still feel more than slightly awkward as I take another two steps forward. "Maybe it's partially why I loved Joe so much. It's not like I ever had to be reassuring and calm and normal with him. He just wanted me to be myself."

[poison_lipstick]

"I don't need you to comfort me," Saffron replied, and patted the spot next to her. "Just to keep me company, and have a drink with me." She didn't want to wallow in her pain; didn't want to hear platitudes or words of comfort that didn't mean a gorram thing since they couldn't bring Cuthbert or Lloyd or anyone else she'd lost back. She just wanted to forget, at least for a little while.

[thewordofweb]

I take a seat beside her because if I'm not being expected to do anything but keep her company, I can definitely make do of that. I glance over at her after a second, not sure that I really want to talk about this place, but knowing it's always inevitable. "When did you find out they were gone?"

[poison_lipstick]

"This morning," she said, and looked over at David. "Went outside and he was on my front porch." The hawk ruffled his wings a little, as if he knew she was talking about him. "He was Cuthbert's, but looks like he's mine now. He hasn't let me out of his sight all day."

[thewordofweb]

"What's his name?" I wonder aloud as I look over the bird and feel slightly unnerved by the massive sprawl it shows off. "Or species," I add because I haven't exactly spent much time in aviaries. I could tell you what a pigeon looks like, but beyond that, I'm fairly helpless when it comes down to it.