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[attr="class","body"] countless encounters with league rats and interdream nightmares alike have left jayden weak. perceptible to attack and ambush — to the vengeance of one angelo vestri and LATIAS.

[break][break] when attacked by the legendary, there's no choice but for jayden to be thrown off his dragapult's back. not even astlik's expert flying can save him as he plunges into the ice-cold water of dewford's raging seas.

[break][break] the last thing that he feels is surmounting FEAR before he chokes on water and the ocean swallows him whole.

[break][break] and his vision goes black.

[break][break] flying about his body with anxious trills is none other than astlik. she's relieved to see her trainer's partner, recognizing him almost immediately. a soft SURF pushes the dead-weight of jayden cross's unconscious body towards fern delaney.

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fern delaney

[break] + INTERDREAM

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Their goodra glides through the frigid ocean, steady despite the rugged push and pull of the waves. Above them, Fern can see Astlik flitting to and fro with obvious anxiety. They call for her to follow from the air before allowing their attention to move back to the surface of the sea.[break][break]

Where is he? Where is he?[break][break]

Fern’s heartbeat is loud in their ears. Frantic as they try to catch sight of him from where they cling to Brigid’s back. Calling his name will do no good, because he’s nowhere to be seen until a strong surf brings him to the surface.

Never a strong swimmer, they still tear free of their anchor and sink into the water as they reach for him—fingers curling first around heavy, wet fabric. Then an arm. Then his middle as they flounder and try to haul his limp body back to the goodra who meets them halfway.[break][break]

The lilac dragon descends and then re-emerges below them so that jayden cross is draped over her back. Fern whistles for Astlik again, then fumbles to release Medb into the air with her before they pull him back to shore.

Washed up on the sandy beach, Fern leans over him. Frantic as they search for a pulse or some sign of life as he lays there. “You owe me three times over now,” they chide in a voice wobbly with fear, shaking him in a weak attempt to rouse him. “Wake up. Right now.”

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[attr="class","body"] there's a specific sort of irony about this moment, especially since the last time they had spoke, fern had said it clearly.

come find me, okay?

[break][break] just like the masquerade. except this time, somehow, the situation seemed that much more dire.

[break][break] astlik is quick to follow fern's command. she flies towards him, clicking anxiously, and then with the help of the other dragapult, they eventually lead her trainer to shore.

[break][break] she'd seen jayden in some terrible situations, but perhaps none as terrible as this.

[break][break] fern delaney shakes him, but the body of jayden cross is cold and unconscious. it's water-logged and filled with FEAR, limp at the touch.

[break][break] in this moment of vulnerability, the interdream mist takes advantage.

[break][break] 'fern delaney, is it?'

[break][break] bemused, the manifestion of alexei volkov appears in a pink-infused fog. the scarlet sclera of his eyes pin the younger man.

[break][break] 'looks like my brother's finally dead.'

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fern delaney

[break] + INTERDREAM

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There is no moment worse than this one.[break][break]

At least in the two prior instances where Fern has helped jayden cross, he was alert and looking back at him. Now, though, he’s limp and cold.[break][break]

They can’t be too late.[break][break]

“C’mon…” they shook him one more time to little avail. “Pulling you out of danger isn’t a habit I like making.”[break][break]

This can’t be happening, it can’t be real. They don’t even know CPR. Fern hails their goodra, who quickly channels a LIFE DEW that glows around the other admin in hopes of pulling water from his lungs.[break][break]

Fern’s breath shakes as they work to stay calm so that they can think through this whole moment step by step. Jayden won’t come to quicker if they go to pieces in the process.[break][break]

The voice that cuts through the quiet on the beach, though, startles them. Fern looks up frantically–to ask for help, to ask the stranger to do something, anything, but the sight of him emerging through the pink mist freezes them in place.[break][break]

My brother had white hair.[break][break]

They lay eyes on an older, pale-haired version of Jayden. Sharp red eyes glaring daggers at them in a way that makes their heart lurch uneasily. “You don’t know that. You’re not–” Well, he shouldn’t be real.[break][break]

He was supposed to be dead, not Michail.

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[attr="class","body"] the heal pulse does it's job, stirring the body into movement. water spurts out of his mouth as his body glows with the power of the goodra's efforts. perhaps it might have worked better if they had more time.

[break][break] but then the interdream mist takes over.

[break][break] alexei volkov appears, in the flesh. in many ways, he looks similar to jayden. they have the same wind-swept hair, same jagged elbows and shoulders. all the sharpness of the knives that jayden holds so dear. they must have inherited it from their father.

[break][break] but in so many more ways, they are different.

[break][break] there is an innate, almost carnal viciousness in the way that he holds himself. his windswept hair is pushed back into a slicked albino cut, one that resembles what jayden looks like when he's playing the part of a pharmaceutical ceo. he wears his mother's face, inheriting the beauty of a painted picture. alexei ivanov is all tallness and sharp angles, manicured nails, and smooth pale skin.

[break][break] not a hair out of place.

[break][break] the iris of his eyes are not a bruised violet but a fluid crimson, easy in the way that it lands on fern.

[break][break] jayden is easily forgettable. his older brother is not.

[break][break] alexei is made as if he was born to be remembered.

[break][break] 'i'm not real?' he says. 'say that again.'

[break][break] 'touch me.'

[break][break] the older cross offers his palm out to fern. an innocent gesture.

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fern delaney

[break] + INTERDREAM

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“Again,” they mumble to the goodra when some of the water is expunged. But her energy is low, and a second dose isn’t as powerful.[break][break]

The effort to remain attentive wanes when Alexei appears. The look of the man alone is enough to send a shiver shooting down their spine. But just as quickly that fear is swallowed up by a burning hatred. Something reserved particularly for the sparse memories he’s managed to pry loose from their partner.[break][break]

For those who caused that pain in the first place.[break][break]

“You’re not real,” they reply flatly. But there is a hint of agitation that hides at the fringes of their voice. Waiting to break loose.[break][break]

If there is something that Fern can meet jayden cross’s older brother in, it’s by far an overly inflated sense of self.[break][break]

The request makes their lips curl back in a hostile sneer as their nose wrinkles. “Do you think I was born yesterday? Please.” More irritation trickles free.[break][break]

Then they whistle, and Medb comes sailing down.[break][break]

Instead of reaching for him with their own hands, the dragapult meets the visage of Alexei with a SUCKER PUNCH.

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[attr="class","body"] a sigh.

[break][break] 'a shame. that someone like you is wasted on my brother.'

[break][break] the SUCKER PUNCH cuts through the air, and astlik flies to deflect it. a PHANTOM FORCE consumes alexei, pulling him to the ground and away before the attack can hit.

[break][break] alexei and astlik appear next to fern once more. long fingers curve as they reach under the dragapult's chin, scratching gently.

[break][break] 'you're wasting your time. he's dead. he was always too weak to survive.'

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fern delaney

[break] + INTERDREAM

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Their eyes narrow at him as they push themself up to their feet again, head tilting.[break][break]

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?”[break][break]

Careful steps are taken so that they come to stand in front of Jayden, between his limp body and Alexei.[break][break]

All of their arrogance wilts, though, as the PHANTOM FORCE cuts down Medb’s attack. Astlik?[break][break]

She isn’t theirs, but it still stings to see dragapult drift to the side of her trainer’s brother. Medb trills at the other dragapult, seemingly to no avail.[break][break]

He’s wrong, Fern thinks as they push back the urge to look back over their shoulder and pull their eyes away from Alexei. He’s wrong.[break][break]

They chance a step closer, then another as his chin tilts up to stare at the other furiously. “He is not weak.”

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[attr="class","body"] a sigh.

[break][break] 'he's not? then explain to me why he's dead.'

[break][break] alexei points towards the waterlogged body behind him. despite the goodra's efforts, the body has not yet shifted — although it does seem that he does seem to be a little more flushed than he was prior.

[break][break] 'you know, i don't even know why father likes him. he can't keep up with the training, he's no good at it.'

[break][break] 'he's scared of water, did you know? all because father almost drowned him.'

[break][break] he scoffs, as if the thought itself was incredulous.

[break][break]'you'd think father tried to kill him.'

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fern delaney

[break] + INTERDREAM

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“He’s not dead.”[break][break]

Fern continues to look directly at Alexei. They can’t look back. They can’t fall for it. It has to be a trap.[break][break]

They step closer to the supposed apparition until they’re toe to toe with him. “It sounds like to me…” they drawl, chin tipping up further as their head tilts and gaze turns flinty, “is that you’re a jealous little brat.”[break][break]

As Fern speaks, their voice takes on a babyish tone. Mocking and snide. “And you can’t stand the fact that you didn’t get your daddy’s undivided attention.”[break][break]

Their sneer is sharp and undaunted.[break][break]

“Did that just burn you so bad?”

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[attr="class","body"] anger flashes like lightening across alexei's face.

[break][break] 'a jealous little brat?'

[break][break] red eyes burn with an intense fire, smoldering with the heat of his fury. it's clear that fern delaney had struck a nerve, had somehow hit the button to make it all worse.

[break][break] pink smog lashes out like vines around his body.

[break][break] 'you insolent child.'

[break][break] he barks out an ugly laugh.

[break][break]'you're just so protective of him, aren't you? you think that if you can protect him from me, from all the bad things in the world, that you can protect him.'

[break][break] 'but you can't.'

[break][break] alexei steps around fern, circling like a predatory to it's prey.

[break][break] 'so, so brave. you must love him very much, don't you?'

[break][break] he bares his teeth, revealing a pair of incredibly sharp fangs.

[break][break] 'too bad he's not capable of love. we burned it out of him.'

[break][break] fire dances in alexei's eyes, the kind of fire that could turn the world to ash.

[break][break] 'he's just using you, just like we taught him to.'

[break][break] astlik stands behind alexei, glassy eyes turning to fern. there are pink lashes around him too, but rather than in control of them, the pull her around like a leash.

[break][break] blink, and they're gone.

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fern delaney

[break] + INTERDREAM

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They seem to strike a nerve and the reaction cracks like lightning across Alexei’s face. Fern smirks as a flush of pride sweeps through them–short lived as it is. “You don’t decide what I’m capable of.”[break][break]

Maybe it’s their saving grace that they never know to leave well enough alone. Audacious enough to refuse to back down. Maybe it’s their downfall instead.[break][break]

Blue eyes follow the slinking movement of his steps, a harsh laugh meeting the taunts Alexei shoves at them. “What do you know of love? Nothing, obviously.”[break][break]

'too bad he's not capable of love. we burned it out of him.'[break][break]

They pause. He doesn’t know anything. Distrust flares up in their chest as Alexei spews all of the things that Fern wants to hear the least back at them. Their own insecurities and fears parroted at them in a voice they can’t stand.[break][break]

Jayden didn’t say it back. But that doesn’t mean anything, it doesn’t.[break][break]

Right?[break][break]

Right?[break][break]

Their gaze snaps to Jayden’s dragapult, to the binds that pull her tight. “Brigid! The bindings–quick!” they hiss at their goodra. She surges forward, lashing out at the vining ties that wrap around Astlik with a BREAKING SWIPE.[break][break]

Then Fern turns back toward Alexei. Both of their hands lift to push the older Volkov back, square on the chest. “You’re wrong!”

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[attr="class","body"] 'what do i know of love?'

[break][break] alexei scoffed, his laugh cutting like a blade.

[break][break] 'what do you know if it?'

[break][break] dmitri's son bared his teeth, showing fangs. the interdream mist muddled his expression, morphing it into something that was raw and terrifying, a demon that was only just beginning to surface.

[break][break] 'just because you spent a few months with my weakling brother, you think you love him. you think you know everything there is to know about love. about him.'

[break][break] 'but your time in rocket is nothing compared to mine, to ours.'

[break][break] 'and if you were a true rocket, you would understand exactly what i meant.'

[break][break] 'to be a rocket means to have an intimate sense of loyalty — '

[break][break] he points.

[break][break] 'you, my little duck, do not have it.'

[break][break] but as soon as the words leave his mouth, the BREAKING SWIPE sets astlik free. she lets out a cry of triumph as fern shoves him backwards, and joins them, slashing down with her tail.

[break][break] scarlet eyes widen.

[break][break] 'you..!'

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fern delaney

[break] + INTERDREAM

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