finch's december writing prompts
Rose and Cherry were the only ones to see the interior of the ship in the year they were grounded. The others knew Rose had it gutted and rebuilt, and Freesia had been audience to many of Cherry’s excited ramblings, but she didn’t really understand tech well enough to know half of what Cherry was saying. So when they all finally saw the ship, it was an experience.
“Holy fucking shit” is Dahlia’s first reaction, once they’d all had their palms programmed into Cherry’s security system. Before, the ship showed its expense, but it was much more ‘party bus’ than ‘livable space’. What Rose did to the ship was almost excessive. Everything that could be automated was, though there were also manual backups to everything as well. Cherry’s security system would make governments weep in envy. Comfort and practicality imbued every decision of the ship’s new interior.
The gang knew without having to ask that it would be a while before they returned home again.
Despite the abundance of mourners, the funeral is tiny, private. Brook, Tier, Cass and Razz, a few of Raye’s other coworkers she was close enough to consider friends. Rose doesn’t let any of the other Reapers come; none of them met Raye. It’s short, quiet, and they return to Tier’s hotel room after. Brook only has a little alcohol; she’s too young to drink much, but Tier doesn’t want to leave her out. Rose is technically too young, as well, but she’s better at holding her liquor than her little sister.
Freesia finds her at Raye’s grave the next day. “Thought I’d find you here.”
“The ship’ll be done in a couple days,” she says, voice flat. “Tell Calla and Dahlia we’re leaving right after the holiday.”
“They’ll appreciate it.” Freesia’s quiet a beat. “Are you sure…?”
“I’m not staying in my mother’s reach,” Rose bites out. “I’m leaving, and I’m not waiting longer than I have to.” She turns away and stalks off, never facing Freesia. She doesn’t need her old friend seeing the emotions she can’t quite stifle.
Cherry hadn’t been happy to host the Hares on the ship. It was a lot of work to add new people, even just as short-term guests, and she doesn’t like having strangers around. Several days pass before she’s willing to leave her office or room without Freesia dragging her there. She only ventures into the kitchen because she wants tea and the cameras show no one’s gone in or out in a while, but draws up short when she sees one of the Hares there. She awkwardly resumes movement, going to the kettle to make tea, obviously uncomfortable. The girl looks up at her and recognizes her, asks about the cameras she’s noticed—and the absence of one in the kitchen.
Cherry explains, quietly mentions how she’d built the security system. She’s used to receiving blank stares or general ‘that’s nice’, but the girl’s eyes sparked with interest.
Tea forgotten, Cherry pours over all of her specs with the girl, excited when she offers solutions to some of Cherry’s minor oversights, and within moments, Cherry has a new best friend.
The cold makes her ache. They make the effort, now, to come back every year for Rosh Hashanah, even if that means Rose and Max have to celebrate their birthdays grounded instead of among the stars like they’d prefer. It works for the Hares, too, able to meet up and exchange stories. It’s a good time to catch Lily, before the semester takes off for the year, and it’s usually warm enough that Rose’s injuries don’t give her any issues.
An unseasonably cold day drives her to find shelter in a coffee shop, waiting impatiently for Jenna. Cane leans against the table, right leg stretched out as she tries to rub the ache away. Her left arm isn’t faring much better, but the hot drink in her hands—not coffee, Jenna’d kill her—at least helps a little on that front. Eyes sweep the cafe, catching on an unfortunately familiar face. Anger is still the first emotion to bubble up, but pity and painful understanding comes with this time, after Tierney’s story.
Rose hauls herself to her feet. Cane in one hand, drink in the other, she makes her way to the other captain’s table. “Hey. Mind if I join you?”
The gang is silent, waiting for Rose to finish in the hold before heading off again. Lav brings Freesia and Daisy tea; it had been hard to get the baby to leave Max, but Freesia could see he needed this. Once Max comes up, Daisy will probably be latched to him for several days; for now, they have to process how close they’d gotten to losing someone who had very quickly become a dear friend.
“We got the right one,” Freesia murmurs after entirely too long, but there’s a note to her voice as if trying to convince herself of that.
“You really think Poppy’d’a touched him if she wasn’t a hundred percent sure?” Daisy says. “How many times has Poppy touched you?”
Freesia chews on her lip.
Daisy shakes her head. “I trust Poppy’s judgement,” she says softly, staring into her tea. “She… I trust her.”
Freesia and Lav exchange a glance, and Freesia tugs Daisy into her lap. “Okay,” she says softly. “Okay, queridita.”
