[attr="class","postbox"]
[attr="class","imgavatar"]
They think little of the contact
BARNABY FINCH imparts, crossing their ankles neatly as his hands settle on their shins. Almost like it’s an everyday gesture. Casual, like sprawling on their couch at him. They wave a hand in the air, flapping at the wrist as they open their mouth to conjure
some sort of aggrieved point to make about their current restrictions.[break][break]
But before they can continue any sort of conversation, the grind of gears and levels pull a platform down to their level. Curious, Fern relinquishes their spot on the cot, and they shuffle closer to what they can see. Their fingers close around the bars as they pull their face close to the gap. [break][break]
It’s not a pretty sight, naturally. [break][break]
While
jayden cross and
BARNABY FINCH might not give much reaction to the grotesque and gory display, Fern is expressive behind their mask. Throughout the ward, they can hear the gasps and shocked reactions of others kept behind the gates. But Fern’s stomach doesn’t drop, nor do they crumble in dismay or fear.[break][break]
Instead, their nose wrinkles up behind the shroud, lip curling as their eyes give away the distaste they find in the way the creature steps over the mess it made and leaves it behind.[break][break]
Now that is the pot calling the kettle black, their mind murmurs, though Fern has never left a mess behind that is quite so….
visceral.[break][break]
Their eyes follow the
fezandipiti with vested interest. It is a lovely creature–with long, feathered wings and a regal posture. But clearly also capable of great cruelty in its sense of allure. Fern makes a mental note to watch it just as keenly.[break][break]
Just because they have rolled with the situation does
not mean that they are presently fond of being told what to do.[break][break]
Or that this is their
forever home.[break][break]
Something that Jayden
immediately picks up on as soon as they are allotted their share of mochi. Like the other admins, Fern shoves the treat in their mouth, but they do not immediately swallow the overly-sweetened rice cake. The cloying peach flavor sits heavy in their mouth, resentful gaze sliding away from their partner and toward the retreating Megalopolan guards.[break][break]
They have the distinct urge to cause another problem just to see if the bird will react the same. Chewed mochi on their tongue, their cheeks puff with the intent to spit it on the ground.[break][break]
And then Jayden meets their eye and reluctantly, they relent and swallow the food down.[break][break]
But not without a baleful scowl.[break][break]
One that persists when they are shuffled out to work.
“Yeah, sounds good,” they agree to
BARNABY FINCH’s terms, though Fern doesn’t very much
feel like keeping a low profile. They sigh, fishing some of the sharp little shards into a pile that they plop down next to.[break][break]
Their blue eyes slide over the other occupants of the ward, and they’re fairly certain they recognized the familiar gaits and mannerisms of their fellow Rockets as they use the front hem of their kitakami as a polisher. Eventually they hone in on another pair sitting not far off and a lightbulb goes off.[break][break]
“Ah!” Because they cannot do anything normally, and they are honestly unsure of how camaraderie will be regarded by their beaky overlord, Fern tosses one of the tinier shards over toward
Zev Harcourt much like one would throw a pebble at their darling’s window in the middle of the night.[break][break]
“Psst psst!” They look at him, wild-eyed though their sharper grin isn’t visible past the mask on their face.
“That you, Harcourt? I thought I heard you bellowing like a ursaring with a splinter not long ago!” Fern takes a quick glance over their shoulder, eyes naturally gravitating toward
jayden cross as he bumps into someone, then toward the guards.[break][break]
“What cell are you in?” If they can make a mental layout of who goes where, that’ll only benefit them, right?
4IB9n8VO