knives. [break][break]

he finds himself drawn to them, inexplicably.

[break][break] it's not like he can help it. ever since as long as he could remember, he found himself drawn to them. first, he was drawn them out of fear. next, out of necessity. this time, out of curiosity.

[break][break] he holds a fingertip against the sharp edge of the knife, pressing it feather-light against his skin. sharp enough to hurt, to injure, to bleed. if he pressed any harder, he would cut skin. he could do it too. it would be so easy.

[break][break] "finally, we have another contendor!"

[break][break] jayden looks up, buzzed from the whisky sour that sits only a few feet away from him. he finds his eyes drawn to - not the blond hair or the pretty face - but instead the crumpled flower crown belonging to one such skyler dross . it reminds him of the gossifleur gifted to him by Chu-e Choi , many many months ago.

[break][break] another pang in his chest. he clutches his black shirt, the space where his heart should be.

[break][break] he swallows. the knife twirls in his palm, gliding easily into his grip.

[break][break] "are you my competition?"

[attr="class","tag"] NOTES [break][break]
skyler dross // you can go first!

[attr="class","jaybirdsq"]

she grins at him and approaches, her confident swagger reminding a buzzed Jayden of CIAN MAHER . he blinks, stumbling back slightly at the pressure on his chest.

[break][break] it is not so much that he is pushed back by the force of it, but rather caught offguard by the action.

[break][break] 'don't... leave?' her words trail after in his thoughts, long after she has disappeared. her poke poke leaves a dull thudding in his chest. true to form, jayden does not leave. it does not even occur to him that he should.

[break][break] she returns, moments later, alcohol in hand. a bottle is pressed into jayden's hands, and it is only momentarily that he realizes the torn label is that of bacardi rum. "sure," he agrees, placing the bottle on the counter next to his whisky sour.

[break][break] glancing at her, he inclines his head. "ladies first."

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"] NOTES [break][break]
skyler dross // you can go first!

[attr="class","jaybirdsq"]

the bird that takes to the woman's shoulder gives him a beady-eyed gaze, nearly soul-less as it stares at jayden. the boy isn't pertubed, though. it wouldn't be the first time that he was on the unfortunate end of a bird's sharp beak.

[break][break] the thought of his brother does, however, send a shiver down his spine.

[break][break] it's only her voice that breaks him out of his train of thought, causing a flicker of surprise - then confusion to light up his violet gaze.

[break][break] cute? it's not something that jayden is used to hearing, and not for the first time that evening is he reminded of CIAN MAHER . briefly, he wonders if the two are related in some uncanny way.

[break][break] before he can respond, however, she makes the first move. her knife sails through the air and —

[break][break] well. it doesn't kill anyone.

[break][break] it does however catch the hat of an unsuspecting patron who squeals and then glares at skyler dross . "who do you think you are?! you could've killed me!" she shouts, in the same moment that jayden turns and says:

[break][break] "nice hit."

[break][break] the sharp blade dances over his own fingers as he gives his own toss, splitting into three as it soars. his murkrow floats just above, using TAILWIND to aid the ascent.

[attr="class","tag"] NOTES [break][break]
skyler dross // jayden's murkrow uses tailwind (1/3) !

[break][break]

1NS_brDW

[attr="class","jaybirdsq"]

the trio of blades split and splinter in the board. POP, POP, POP. a perfect hit.

[break][break] "Not just cute, then. Good."

[break][break] jayden's gaze shifts to the other, blinking. there it is again. there is a question burning on the tip of his tongue — cute — what did that word mean?

[break][break] instead, he says, "do you like knives too?"

[break][break] he doubted it. at least, considering her faulty throw from earlier... though, maybe that was a fluke.

[break][break] another squeal as the woman's knife spins into a nearby glass, splintering the material in two. 'not a fluke, then.'

[break][break] at least her pokemon seems to have a better sense of aim, the bullet seed driving into the balloon successfully. jayden's gaze turns to the collection of knives that were chosen and instead of picking the one from before, he chooses a heavier knife. it's hilt feels smooth in his grip, and his thumb runs gently over the wooden edge.

[break][break] cocking his arm back, he readies his aim. beside him, his zorark's eyes glow purple with the power of NIGHT GAZE and a shadowy aura swirls around the knife once before disappearing. this time, when jayden flicks his wrist, the dagger disappears briefly out of the line of sight before reappearing... hopefully in it's target.

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"] NOTES [break][break]
skyler dross // jayden's zorark uses NIGHT GAZE for some flavortext. tailwind still in effect (2/3)!

[break][break]

1Xhmn6_B

[attr="class","jaybirdsq"]

the dagger sinks into the bull's eye of the wooden board with no problem at all, and there is a spark of satisfaction that comes with it. though he may not always admit it, jayden's love for knives is no secret and he's glad to know that his aim has not suffered, even from the months that he's been out of commission.

[break][break] he's glad to know that skyler dross shares his appreciation as well.

[break][break] "yes," he nods, taking her words as an agreement. there is a little bit of happiness in his voice as well — always glad to meet another enthusiast. "they are indeed very versatile."

[break][break] he blinks. "they can be used to manipulate locks, as well."

[break][break] cute guy. the words make jayden flush lightly - or maybe it's just the alcohol. he nods, letting the other step back and take their aim.

[break][break] though a little wobbly, her knife does score the board. a balloon pops.

[break][break] grabbing two knives this time, jayden makes his throw. a scream echoes somewhere, but the boy is unflinching in his stance. his inkay, however, sees a problem with this. rings of hypnosis float through the air towards their competitor.

[attr="class","tag"] NOTES [break][break]
skyler dross // jayden's inkay uses HYPNOSIS

[break][break]

y3fdHMxe

[attr="class","jaybirdsq"]

" i - " jayden blinks, halfway through picking up another set of knives. the woman didn't seem like the type to care about knives — in fact, she had made it that much clear in the several minutes that they'd gotten to know each other. however, the gleam in her eyes is different now and jayden finds the voice dying in his throat as he stares into her starlit, cerulean gaze.

[break][break] "i can," he says.

[break][break] she tilts towards him, either sleepiness or practiced nonchalance — jayden isn't sure which, and he isn't close enough to her to know. his fingers grab around the hilt three smaller, silver knives.

[break][break] he watches curiously - more curiously, this time, now that he knows of her new interest - as she takes a stumbling step forward and throws. this time - though wobbly - the knife seeks purchase in the wood board, though it's not quite in the middle. the bullet seed that follows is far more accurate.

[break][break] jayden eyes the board careful and then, once more, flings his arm forward. the three knives flare out. behind him, his phantump releases a WILL O WISP to light up the daggers as they fly through the air.

[break][break] the boy turns to the blond. "can i have your number?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"] NOTES [break][break]
skyler dross // jayden's phantump uses WILL O WISP

[break][break]

gem62Ef4

[attr="class","jaybirdsq"]

with a nod, jayden dictates his number to her. he would have preferred to input the information himself, as it would be more effecient, but it seemed like she had it handled. plus, with the drinks that he'd ingested earlier that evening — well, who knew if he would be good for it.

[break][break] "working?" he asks, with a slight head tilt. he walks over ot the table where he'd set down his whisky sour earlier and takes a sip. even though he had not missed the board yet, there was something comforting about the drink as it burned down his throat.

[break][break] "okay," he says, putting down the drink. his murkrow floats down from where she's been hiding in the scaffolding and she flaps her wings, as jayden scratches her under the chin. "i have a good video for you. i can send it to you later." there were probably many other ways he could've gone about "teaching" her... this seemed the most efficient. "i'm not... a good texter, but if you text me i will try my best to respond quickly."

[break][break] his eyes flit upwards to watch as she takes her aim, and then winces when it lands disastrously.

[break][break] neither the dagger nor the rocks land into the board. fortunately, it is not in some poor old woman's hat. unfortunately...

[break][break] there's a loud shatter somewhere as something breaks. a fierce glare from the barkeep which jayden does his best to ignore. he walks up to the line, feeling delightfully buzzed, and instead turns to his weavile. "would you, vila?"

[break][break] though scowling, the weavile obliges. using ice shard, she hands over three frozen knife-sharp objects in jayden's hands. they are cold to the touch.

[break][break] glancing at the board, he tosses all three — one right after the other.

[attr="class","tag"] NOTES [break][break]
skyler dross // jayden's weavile uses ICE SHARD.

[break][break]

xvlFxhJW

[attr="class","jaybirdsq"]