* EVER / MORE .

from the space beside sora it’s impossible not to notice their body language . bowie knows well that sometimes are you okay ? is the last straw before crumbling , so she doesn’t ask that ( even if she’s wondering ) . when sora moves to clutch the edge of the seat , bowie instinctively lets a hand go on top of theirs , squeezing gently . a protective mechanism from someone who doesn’t willingly show concern for others at the drop of a hat . once skin touches skin bowie’s lips purse — ‘  i hope that’s okay ,  ’ she finally blurts out . not being used to being needed makes her feel a bit of surprise when sora asks her to stay close ... it’s not a job she takes lightly , so she’s shoulder to shoulder the entire walk off the boat and onto the safety of land . 

if the abernathy is paling , the darkness offers a good hiding spot . about to open their mouth to make a is the boyfriend joining us comment , kimo decides to zip the lip for now . it had been a minute since they and daphne had been alone together and ruining it doesn’t seem like it would be in either of their favor . peace keeping until thoughts bubble forward without the brain’s consent . that’s more kimo’s style . eyebrows raise at the sight of the crow bar — that was another good reason to be on best behavior . kimo wonders how well daphne knows the island so far ... well enough to dispose of a body ? the idea of violence at the hand of a pretty blonde makes kimo want to chuckle , but they don’t want to answer to the questions that would follow so they are keeping cool . ‘  i’m offended you even have to ask , daph . of course i’m coming .  ’ a hand outstretches toward the lighthouse . being the caboose feels like a good way of having daphne’s back . if there’s one thing daphne can count on , it’s kimo having her back . ‘  after you .  ’

no one had asked kimo this question . not yet , at least . without a prepared statement , kimo is left vulnerable and seen in all of the ways that only their ohana is usually granted access to . it would be a lie to say that arriving in st. cordelia was skate shop related only . there are people from centralia who had certainly become family ... sora ahlstrom included . ‘  uh —  ’ kimo considers doing the opposite of truth - telling . well , not lying exactly ... but — maybe being back home had a good effect on kimo because before they could make their mind up entirely , they are tentatively telling the truth . ‘  i went home to celebrate my grandma . i don’t really talk about it . on the anniversary of her passing my family gets together — i’ve missed it before , but it didn’t sit right , y’know ? i only planned to stay a couple weeks , but then a month went by ...  ’ a shrug of shoulders precedes him . ‘  i always planned on coming back ... wasn’t planning on —  ’ a feeling of presence from behind makes kimo realize they are not alone . others were hopeful for sora’s attention , at least long enough to have their orders full - filled . so kimo side steps , hands in pockets , voice dropping a bit lower . ‘  i thought you — i thought centralia — would still be there when i got back .  ’ 

sora’s comments are enough to tell banks that they are not the person banks was asked to meet up with . even if sora’s words hadn’t given them away , their body language would . it draws a small smile to banks’ face . for some reason the thought comes to mind : you are the company you keep . banks has a slight inkling that if sora is the company kept , it would likely make them better . maybe that is just the idea of being at the docks late at night without having a package of god - knows - what - substance to get rid of . it sounds like the perfect balance between where banks is and where banks is going . it’s almost enough for banks to introduce himself as gerald . almost . ‘  i’m banks ,  ’ they reveal , eyes looking over the edge . ‘  you a big fan of water ? — or are you apart of a safety - mission — trying to see if you can stand here without anyone coming and tossing you over ?  ’ 

eyes fall to the object in hand already trying to find a work - around ... an  are - you - sure ? doesn’t seem strong enough , though ... and even if it was , solara seems like the type to know what  is  or  isn’t  in her bag . the idea of trying to cop a lie , especially now that he’s seeing her from up close , is intimidating even for kimo . the pink - haired skater nods their head and purses lips in contemplation ... but there isn’t much time for contemplation because solara is already calling kimo out . eyebrows raise and fall quickly , eyes searching the ground as if in search of the dignity that has been lost in such a short amount of time . ‘  that wasn’t it ,  ’ kimo mumbles before looking up and trying to save face . ‘  hi —  ’ a lick of lips and a shrug of shoulders . ‘  i only bite when asked .  ’ a smile now , revealing the truth behind cheekiness . ‘  or  when hungry ,  ’ he finishes , scratching the back of his head for lack of smoothness in figuring out what to say or do next . 

being attached at narcissa’s hip would be easy , gemma thinks ( and she doesn’t think that about most people ) . growing up there were friends that stole from gemma’s closet or parents , ones who befriended gemma due to social circles . this is how teenagers mimic bureaucracy . always the odd one out anyway , gemma was too concerned with literature , volleyball , and track to care . now , leaving all of those memories and the entire town behind , it felt good to be able to hold on to some people , like narcissa . slouching in the seat , head resting backwards , gemma exasperates . ‘  will you please let me go through your closet first ? it will make me feel better getting rid of so much stuff if you do it , too ,  ’ they insist cheekily . 

spontaneous . precious . adjectives lake could use for the idea . internally lake is patting themselves on the back . externally lake just smiles in gratitude and excitement that starts to reach their eyes . ‘  not too busy for drinks and paints i hope ,  ’ lake says , pulling scout by the hand toward the bottle on the table in front of their couch . ‘  there’s more where that came from , so take your pick . it can be like a sip and paint , bubble and brush , whatever you want to call it  .  ’

‘ i’m on my way out ,  ’ is the easy answer . and while it’s on the tip of his tongue to ask wren about her move , if she’s going to be a familiar face in st. cordelia or not , he knows his people are waiting . in different circumstances wren could join his people ; she would likely fit in well , but the way she and samson had fit for a while in centralia would keep that from happening . ‘  — came to make sure you’re okay ... and to say goodbye ,  ’ samson admits , shoving hands into pant pockets . for someone who shows up to say goodbye , he sure doesn’t say it ... at least not right away . maybe it’s the fact that everything just burnt to a crisp in front of them that made almosts feel a little fragile . centralia almost made it . so did samson and wren . almost . almost . almost . ‘  why haven’t you left yet , wren whitewater ? ’

looking up from their bar burger , chi is peripherally viewing the dollar as luna slides it . they could  more  than side - eye it considering luna’s large reaction and their whole we - know - each - other - because - i’m - a - regular - but - don’t - really - know - each - other kind of way . in the back of chi’s mind , she’s trying to picture the amount of cash sitting in their back pocket to see if they could potentially make up for the asshole’s tip ( or lack thereof ) . ‘  fucking tourists ,  ’ chi scoffs lowly but loud enough for luna to be affirmed by . ‘  how is it that they can afford getting here , but can’t afford a tip on their fucking meal ?  ’

‘  not really banking on there being a next time , ’ the not - so - early bird admits sheepishly , but something about charlie’s expression suggests a quiet need for hope . considering there was a whole day to come , chi decides to try and offer it in some form of kindness , whatever kind they could muster up . ‘  i love coffee , i love cake ... what’s not to like ? ’

‘  hyperbole un - welcomed . note taken ,  ’ vienna says evenly . levi can get as irritated as he would like . vienna has learned it the hard way that other people’s moodiness is a reflection of themselves and not them . it used to keep them up at night . emotional boundaries is now what lets them sleep sound . that and pure exhaustion . horrible with names , but great with faces , vienna is confident in sharing centralia with levi and for that reason she feels solace in his presence . they both share a loss even if they don’t say it out loud . until he does . we all knew it was doomed . ‘  did we ?  ’ they ask . it sounds almost like sarcasm , but it’s not . ‘  i think the shared delusion of hope really had most of us thinking we could at least stay there until we died ... you know , if we wanted .  ’ a shrug of shoulders . the chuckle didn’t seem like something levi was capable of so vienna makes it a mission to see if there could be another before their interaction’s end . eyes look back to the tube like she doesn’t already know it’s there , habit , and dead pans — ‘  no , absolutely not . i don’t like to get in - between the universe and fate .  ’

vienna had only ever remained cool , calm , and collected in other people’s crisis . in their own , she’s more of an avoidant , but having to face this head on has proved panic stems from their chest . the emergency phone call is a frantic one ... and even though they had ensured that the fire department was on the way , vienna has trouble believing there would be a pep in their step for a small animal . maybe it’s just because she comes from a town that was practically burnt to crisp . in her eyes it’s understandable that they would prioritize fires , but even still , they had to try . it is why when the fire truck eventually rolls up , they find a blonde flat on their stomach , face pressed to the grate , arms reaching desperately beneath the surface . 

the barista’s closeness makes samson’s eyebrows raise the way they did before getting in trouble in elementary . they look away in preparation for the reprimanding , but what comes is as soft as the packaging . samson can’t tell if sora is making a joke that sets them on the same side  or  if hurt feelings came from the flutter on the floor . either way , samson feels it necessary to mention , ‘  i’m going to pick those up .  ’

the contradictory sentiment does not make samson’s feel any better ... not that it was sabrina’s job to do , but , ‘  you know , it would be nice if you could have an encouraging word sometime , sab ...  ’ samson says sarcastically , though , okay maybe it is partially true . a shake of the head proceeds samson now . ‘  you’re really going to regret that when i’m the flower dude at someone’s wedding and it’s not yours .  ’ 

while samson no longer gets reprimanded by a parent , they have that faint confidence that telling circe the truth of their soul , and the shitty decisions made thereafter , would be enough to get a similar talking to . they appreciate that , the familial love they share but have yet to explain into words . nothing a few indulgences couldn’t get them talking about . and based on how the flower arrangement is going , samson is feeling pretty ready to indulge . ‘  things have been on fire —  ’ samson responds with a childish grump to him , his way of saying it’s not the same or it doesn’t count ... because what hardship would ever compare ? they refuse to think the lesser evils non - consequential by happenstance . ‘  why did we come here ?  ’ samson asks circe like they had some choice , like the two of them had spear - headed the campaign . ‘  there has to be equally beautiful places we could have just ... afforded . probably . — right ?  ’ samson is avoiding . circe helps . grumping about artisanal coffee is perfectly up his alley . ‘  i was thinking the same thing ,  ’ they say with a shake of their head and throwing back the last sip of coffee down his throat ironically . ‘  i’ll drink it , but i won’t like it .  ’