[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

when was the last time that jayden had been to petalburg woods? he can't remember. with the meteor fast approaching, it seems as if all the days had seemingly blurred together — buried between paperwork for his admin duties, preparations for the meteor, and wyndon's supplies being shipping to-and-fro for things like mint frost's project, or general civilian activity.

[break][break] he hardly had the time to breathe.

[break][break] but people like fern delaney were always somehow able to remind him.

[break][break] though, in that particular case, jayden couldn't help but feel a little guilty. he knew that he was neglecting the other, rejecting his silent bids for companionship and pretending that he didn't notice them. but when the opportunity to work and spend time together had struck... well, no one had ever said jayden wasn't an opportunist.

[break][break] he'll pretend that this had nothing to do with him, though. that he hadn't had a hand in shifting assignments around so that he would be paired with the newly-promoted associate.

[break][break] jayden appears on silent footsteps from the cloud of dark, hands wrapping around the other's shoulder.

[break][break] "been waiting long?"

[break][break] vagahn sweeps out of the phantom force portal with ease, joining his new friend in the skies with a pleasant chirp.

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney [break]
sparkling spawning

☉

He would think that a task as seemingly small as this one would fall by the wayside in the wake of everything going on in Hoenn around them. In the days leading up to suspected impact, Fern doesn't think that disrupting the mating rituals of ledyba and ledian is hardly a necessary task.[break][break]

But then again, he is more than happy to attend to it, if there is opportunity to be found. And there most certainly is.[break][break]

It's not that he thinks that jayden cross has been avoiding him, or anything. It's just that...well, Fern is a little bit of a clingy creature when his affections are spurred. But he doesn't want to be smothering, either. So Fern has largely let him be, and busied himself with his own tasks.[break][break]

Fern's shoulders climb to their ears as their nerves spike. A quiet yelp of surprise crawls up their throat, only to be cut off prematurely as they clamp their mouth shut in a wide, thin smile. They twist under the hands on their shoulders so that they can face Jayden. For a moment, their expression drops into a pronounced sulk, and they swat lightly at his own shoulder. "Ooh, you startled me! But no, only a few minutes."[break][break]

Vagahn sweeps into the air behind Jayden, and Ceci is quick to let out a delighted cooing as he joins her in her game of twisting through the trees. Though after a moment, she greets him with a head bonk as well.[break][break]

After their little fright passes, Fern leans up to press a swift peck against his cheek. Well behaved and modest, though they'd very much prefer to act otherwise because to them it's been ages since they've seen him (just a touch dramatic, there.)[break][break]

"I've been having Ceci scout for a weak spot in the fencing," they chirp as they lean away again.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | m: sparkling spawning[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon dragapult"]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon typhlosion-hisuian"]

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

guilt immediately fills his gaze at the yelp released from fern delaney's throat.

[break][break] "ah. sorry for startling you."

[break][break] when on missions, or in general, he often forgot how silent his steps could be. father had taught him the silent steps of an assassin, and he often forgot that civilians were not as well-aquainted. not that he considered fern a civilian. being a rocket made that impossible. however jayden was also well aware that there were several different categories of rockets, and not all had the ruthlessness of being dmitri's only living son.

[break][break] the kiss on his cheek sends a spark down his spine, and a light blush dotting his cheeks, but he says little to combat it.

[break][break] they are in private - sort of. he would allow it.

[break][break] "good idea," he remarks, nodding towards his dragapult to instruct him to follow ceci's path. he begins their descent through the forest shortly after, hoping the other would follow.

[break][break] "thank you for coming," he remarks after a moment. "this ledyba population is of particular interest to rocket. i'm sure you are wondering why we'd be sent on this particular task, with everything else going on. the population of these ledyba are reported to have been seen in distortions — and with everything going on, it will be pertinent to collect as many samples as possible for our research team. that being said, i couldn't trust exactly anyone to accompany me."

[break][break] not exactly a lie, but not a truth either.

[break][break] he turns his head, smiling a bit sheepishly at the other.

[break][break] "also. i missed your company."

[break][break] not a lie.

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney [break]
sparkling spawning

☉

A short laugh follows their initial fright. “No worries, you’re so quiet.” Fern is definitely capable of sneaking and utilizing stealth and quiet. But he’s not quite that good.[break][break]

He could have been much more affectionate than what he offers. The kiss is met with a slightly flustered reaction, which he expected, but he’s not pushed away for it, either. So Fern will take the win where he finds it. Minimal or not.[break][break]

“You call, I come running,” Fern teases before falling silent in favor of letting Jayden explain the purpose of tonight’s work. “Not just anyone? You flatter me.” He’s pleased all the same. “Funny how much fuss there is over some sexy time sparkles.” Too blunt? He’s not wrong, though. That’s what it is.[break][break]

“Did you now?” he says with a slight trill in his voice as he looks up at jayden cross . His lips twist coyly, and he lets their fingers brush together for a fleeting moment. Unsure as to whether or not that’s a bit outside the range of professional comfort for the other.[break][break]

Not wishing to make a fuss over it, though Fern drifts ahead of him, and glances back over their shoulder. “I missed yours as well.”[break][break]

While they make their way toward the spot his dragapult has found, Fern decides to call out another pokemon to assist in the effort of pulling down any of the ledian or ledyba should they pose a problem.[break][break]

The large, Hisuian typhlosion is still an oddity to him. After all, Nimuë was not as she is now when they initially wandered into that distortion a couple of weeks prior. She regards Jayden with slow-blinking, droopy eyes before promptly trying to root in his coat pockets.


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | m: sparkling spawning[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon dragapult"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"i am? oh — sorry, habits die hard." he flashes a smile at the other. "if you want, i can teach you someday."

[break][break] after all, it had taken years of him copying his brother's assassin steps to perfect the maneuver even though he was fairly sure that it wasn't exactly the same.

[break][break] as fern teases him, jayden says nothing even though he privately enjoys how easy the banter falls between them. it's only moments after that he asks, "sexy sparkles?" he seems bemused at the response, as if it wasn't something he'd considered before. at least, no one had ever framed their mission like that to him.

[break][break] it was one of the many reasons why fern wasn't just anyone.

[break][break] "i did."

[break][break] jayden turns to him, looking seriously, as the brush of their fingers sends a spark down his spine. naturally, his hands clutch those fingers before sliding them together, palm against palm.

[break][break] he flashes a soft smile. "good. i'm glad."

[break][break] as they walk through the forest proper, jayden regards their pokemon with careful ease, to make sure that there isn't anything unusual about their surroundings. there had been reports of unusual ledyba, but he had done the necessary work to make sure that there was nothing that should have been amiss and ruin their operation. still, it was always good to be wary of the inevitble.

[break][break] he blinks as the hisuan typhlosion appears, pausing as the pokemon roots around in his pockets. unlike with human-touch, jayden doesn't seem alarmed — in fact, there is something nearly affectionate as he regards the beast, allowing him to nuzzle his pockets before he steps in. he pushes gently against the pokemon's head with one hand, untangling his grip with fern delaney to pull a cookie from his pocket.

[break][break] "you're clever, aren't you?" he murmurs. "sniffed out my pockets for a treat."

[break][break] he tosses it towards the fire-type.

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney [break]
sparkling spawning

☉

Fern drops his head to the side with a grin, “Nah, it’s okay. You’re forgiven. The stealth lessons would be nice, though.”[break][break]

“Well that is what they are,” he retorts, glance sliding upward to where the sky shimmers in the spaces between and above the trees. “Literally one big booty call.” Fern snickers again, clearly still overly entertained by the whole concept. Probably not what jayden cross had in mind when he said that not just anyone should accompany him.[break][break]

But Fern is Fern and there’s no way around it, really. His commentary goes everywhere with him, in any and most situations.[break][break]

He’s not being rebuffed for it, though. So maybe…just maybe he can pull an actual laugh from Jayden? It feels like a lofty goal, but it’s a challenge Fern personally feels invested in.[break][break]

“That makes me happy to hear.” And truly, the simple admittance followed by the snag of his hand in what he’d meant only to be a fleeting touch makes his chest feel all static-y and warm. Fern’s smile widens as well, and the feeling intensifies when he catches sight of the softness in the other’s smile.[break][break]

“If you keep smiling at me like that, we’re not going to get any work done fast.” It’s silly, the whole thing. Here he is, feeling like a smitten teenager rather than the elder of the two of them. But Fern’s self-awareness isn’t about to make him untangle their hands just yet, either.[break][break]

As they walk, Fern is also on the lookout for any overly large ledyba. Sort of sounds like a nightmare to consider, honestly. The concept was fascinating though – would any trace of those distortion pokemon be able to simulate recreation? Who was to say?[break][break]

Nim’s immediate snack hunt draws a sigh from Fern, though he’s not all that chiding about it. Doubly so when jayden cross doesn’t seem irritated by her antics. “She’s looking for apples,” he explains. “she knows I have them when we train.” A cookie is an acceptable alternative too, though, and Nim catches what is tossed to her– happily crunching on the treat.[break][break]

“She sort of changed recently, so I’ve been trying to work with her a bit more. Figure maybe she can be useful if anything does turn up while we’re collecting samples.” If she doesn’t fixate on her snacks, that is.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | m: sparkling spawning[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon dragapult"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"a booty call?" he asks. "what's that?"

[break][break] it isn't that jayden hasn't had his own experiences before, but such phrasing like that elude him. if he'd been aware of it, perhaps he would still be curious about the connections between mint frost and DEREK HOFFMAN, of which he still lacked clarity.

[break][break] confusion filters in his gaze at the jest, but jayden merely tilts his head. "but why? i like smiling with you."

[break][break] he waits for a heartbeat for turning his attention back to their task at hand. while he isn't sure exactly if they are looking for terribly large ledyba or small ones, he's sure that whatever they would find on this mission would be good enough to send back to headquarters. they were merely the retrieval team; they would leave the scientists like Lulu Flint to figure out what to pry from the distortion pokemon.

[break][break] kneeling down in the ground before the hisuian typhlosion, jayden's brow arches with curiosity. "actually, that isn't a bad idea." he pulls himself to his feet and sure enough releases his own pokemon. "this is lukyan," he says, the old galarian dialect catching on his voice. "he changed in the distortion too. perhaps the two of them could go see — "

[break][break] and it was as if the two typhlosion was the key that was needed to fit into the lock. something clicked, somewhere, and sparkles glimmered in the distance. growing closer, it was two ledyba swimming in the starry night, chasing each other like beedrills in the dark.

[break][break] immediately, lukyan lets out a roar and releases a SWIFT. the ledyba dart upwards and away, and all that is left is the sight of stars spinning through sparkling starlight.

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney [break]
sparkling spawning

☉

Fern’s eyes snap over to Jayden, wide as his brows shoot up. “P-“ what he’s about to stay is cut off by a giggle that is equal parts entertained and confused. “Pardon?”[break][break]

Oh, sweet sweet summer child…[break][break]

“A send out for a late night hook up, usually,” they clarify with another laugh. It’s not mocking, though. Just amused. Something that falls away when he manages to follow all of that up with a question that comes through incredibly sweet.[break][break]

Their face colors slightly, maybe only somewhat visible in the dim light. “Well..” they pause, turning toward him so that they can snag him by the chin and lean up to kiss him again. That time on the lips. Soft and slow before they resettle on their heels. “Because then I’d prefer to be doing more of that than working.”[break][break]

Fern shoots him a sidelong glance afterward. “I like smiling with you too, though.” It makes them feel giddy, really.[break][break]

They feel rather pleased with themselves when Jayden seems keen on their idea. “Lukyan,” they repeat and their own accent pulls on the name, but there is something in the way it sounds in Jayden’s voice that makes their stomach flip over.[break][break]

The draw from the two distortion pokemon lights the night with heavy sparkles. “Huh. How about that? It actually worked…” He frowned. “Did you want the ledyba too? Or just samples?”


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | m: sparkling spawning[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon dragapult"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

oh.

[break][break] a soft blush dots his cheek as understanding dawns on him. he hadn't ever really thought to put a name to it — then again, jayden also didn't make habit of messaging random people for hook-ups in the dead of the night. usually if that happened, it was a matter of convenience or coincidence.

[break][break] as lips press against his own, he feels the familiar tingle of affection he always does whenever fern delaney presses close to him. before he can pull away, jayden reaches for the lapels of their coat, holding lightly as he presses the briefest of kisses back.

[break][break] "does this make this a bootycall?" he wonders outloud, just as he allows the other to step away.

[break][break] starlight spawns between them just as several more ledyba swarm the area. there are twinkling lights in the distance, and jayden tilts his head sideways at the other.

[break][break] "we could catch at least one for observation. i'm not sure exactly how many specimens will be needed for research, but having one on-hand would probably be helpful."

[break][break] with that said, he whistles sharply under his breath. lukyan immediately understands the silent command, darting forward into the dark to do just that.

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney [break]
sparkling spawning

☉

The proof of his surprise is immediately noticeable. Even in the lowlight. Cute, they think, though Fern doesn’t say as much out loud.[break][break]

Fingers close around the lapels of their jacket and Fern feels their heart turn over several times as jayden cross chases the first kiss with one of his own. If they weren’t on the job, they would have allowed their arms to slip around his neck to eagerly continue. But alas—[break][break]

Somehow, they’re still entertaining the idea as the two of them part.[break][break]

Only for Fern to let out a squawk of laughter moments later as they twist to look at him. “No, this isn’t. This is work.” They pause, though, a brow lifting as their voice takes a conspiratorial turn.[break][break]

“Unless…you had an ulterior motive in assigning me to this task with you, that is.”[break][break]

It’s still a bit romantic, all the twinkly light, isn’t it? No matter what it is, in context. “Sounds good, surely there shouldn’t be one too far off now.” A click of their tongue commands Nimuë to follow after, and she darts into the darkness as well.[break][break]

Idly, their hand finds its way back to Jayden’a as they wonder aloud and look around. “I wonder where Ceci has wandered off to..”



[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | m: sparkling spawning[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon dragapult"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

when fern laughs, it's like light enters his heart. in the low-light of the night sky, jayden's cheeks flush as he's teased.

[break][break] had he said something funny?

[break][break] “unless…you had an ulterior motive in assigning me to this task with you, that is.”

[break][break] did he?

[break][break] "yes," he says, blinking at the other. his fingers reach down, brushing against the other's cheek. "i suppose i did." a pause. "i wanted to see you."

[break][break] he kisses them once more, a slight peck, before pulling back and allowing their hands to intertwine in the night sky.

[break][break] "let's go find her," he says, with resolve, as he leads them down the path towards their matching typhlosion.

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] fern delaney [break]
sparkling spawning

☉

Fern’s brows climb at the simple affirmative to their joke and for a moment, they can feel their face begin to warm. Just enough for the other to feel it under the drift of his fingers down their face.[break][break]

They breathe out a quiet laugh, “Still not quite a booty call, but I’m pleased. I’ve missed you.” To know that desire to see the other is a mutual thing makes Fern’s heart beat just a bit faster.[break][break]

The next kiss makes him feel feather-light and empty headed. It’s almost easy to forget they’re out in the middle of Petalburg Woods late at night. Even if it’s only a short-lived peck, Fern is left feeling giddy and childish.[break][break]

It makes what would normally be a perfunctory mission that much better. More exciting.[break][break]

“Surely she and Vagahn have caught up,” he says as he squeezes the other’s hand while they wander through the dark. Eventually, Fern sees the ethereal glow of the matching typhlosions’ fiery ruffs in the distance.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | m: sparkling spawning[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon dragapult"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]