[attr="class","littlejay"]


jayden was surprised when he heard from nikkari hect, and more than that, that he wanted to stage a meeting.

[break][break] but it was not unpleasantly so.

[break][break] jayden would always make room in his schedule for an old friend, no matter how frought his schedule seemed to be of recent.

[break][break] the meeting place is at the city's center. jayden walks down sootopolis' steps with ease, his wounds now long-since healed from the last time that they had met. the bite from freya morningstar in his neck, the nearly-fatal wound from angelo vestri. rocket's healers had done wonders on him, after all.

[break][break] but even so, there is the vagueness of bruises under his eyes — though it is hard to tell if it is from lack of sleep or something else.

[break][break] still, his face is friendly and polite when he greets his old friend.

[break][break] "how was your trip?"

[break][break] lada and hesus, his two umbreon, dart behind him and eagerly greet the galarian native.

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] nikkari hect

☉

it's his first time in sootopolis. previous to rocket's occupancy, the port town hadn't made for a very good hub of discreet trade, given its natural fortifications. no, slateport had been a much better hub for underground activity. so he'd come to spend a few nights to himself, familiarizing himself with the locals. 

he knows the names of several bartenders in the area now, of whom are interconnected with the rest of the city and some cities over. he has an insight into the locals' take on its rocket occupancy, which isn't exactly surprising. life has gone on much the same for them. 

his galarian fog is still steaming. another waits for jayden beside him; he stands when he sees the man and opens up his arms for a short embrace. 

and after, he stoops to give scratches to the two umbreon. alecto pokes one sapphire eye from within nikkari's shadow, gives a little gremlin wave, and then ducks back down. 

"alright," he says. "just signed a lease for a place in lilycove, though i may look into a smaller flat here in the city." he sniffs. "unless we're expected to live on the...was it a submarine?"

jayden cross

☉

[attr="class","littlejay"]

despite what the likes of mint frost or fern delaney may say, jayden is not one for physical touch. it is evidence of his close relationship that nikkari hect that he allows him close at all, let alone enough to embrace.

[break][break] when they pull away, however, his expression is softened into pleasantries.

[break][break] he's happy to see nikkari here, in his home.

[break][break] "you don't have to live on the submarine," he says swiftly. it was the first thing that Cillian Quinn had told him when he had come back from galar, all those years ago, after his parent's funeral. his lips twitched. "i had the same question when i returned."

[break][break] jayden reaches for the coffee cup left for him, hands warming around the surface.

[break][break] "lilycove is fine," he says. "but i would much rather it if we were neighbors, i think."

[attr="class","ooc"] nikkari hect

☉

"then i'll buy a property near you as well," he says with a wave of his hand. it'll have to be smaller. the place he's procured in lilycove isn't exactly humble and though he's well off, one keeps wealth with investments. he has a few he's working towards now, but until then, he'd rather not go too heavy with his splurging. 

he sips daintily from his mug. 

"tell me what i'm walking into."

jayden cross

☉

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"do i have to?"

[break][break] his expression is bemused.

[break][break] between their shared history, it shouldn't have come to a surprise to know that nikkari should've already had some idea of what he was walking into — if not the entire map.

[break][break] "what do you want to know specifically? you know i don't beat around the bush, kari."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] nikkari hect

☉

power vacuums aren't easy to spot unless you have an in with all of the players and as of now, he's still an outsider. he's always danced along the fringes, but his bloodline had afforded him certain respect he can't use here. 

"i know," he says with a simpering smile.

"a breakdown of my superiors from your perspective. i've heard the grunts', the contacts', and everyone's in between." in a way, it's a maneuver to glean information from jayden as well? how much will his old friend trust him with?

jayden cross

☉

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"ah."

[break][break] of course nikkari hect would have done his research already. jayden shouldn't have expected any less.

[break][break] "well, as far as underbosses go, there is THEO BECKETT and Cillian Quinn. they are my mentors, and have been since i was a child."

[break][break] "Elisabeth Fiorelli, who holds favor with wo-chien. she's not from kanto, so you may not have heard her name, but she specializes in toxins."

[break][break] a head tilt.

[break][break] "then myself, admin howard slayte, admin BARNABY FINCH and admin fern delaney make up the admin rank."

[break][break] his eyes softened an imperceptible amount when mentioning the latter — though a friend like nikkari hect would've been able to notice the tenderness in his gaze, sweet like a ripened peach.

[break][break] "as far as scientists go, there is Amor Rose and Naomi Sato." another pause. " Lulu Flint was away for some time too, but she's back now, last i heard."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] nikkari hect

☉

he need not take notes. some of them have faces he can attach the names to. others, he's only heard in passing, but each are categorically filed away with careful consideration, with three standing out against the others.

peace and happiness are hard to come by in their line of work. it's possible. with enough power, enough safety, it's possible, but it's rare. he opens his mouth to comment, to ask about whoever might have finally snagged jayden's attentions, but the words die at the mention of her. 

"yes," he says, "i may have heard that too.

"perhaps it's time i acquaint myself with our colleagues, both old and new."

jayden cross

☉

[attr="class","littlejay"]

he may, or he may not. whichever route that nikkari hect chooses in his future with rocket need not matter to jayden cross. after all, he and nikkari have been acquainted for years. theirs is a trust that is built through time and experience and diligence.

[break][break] it is a wall not easily eroded.

[break][break] "what makes you curious," he asks instead, taking a sip of his coffee. "about rocket?"

[break][break] in other words: why did you return?

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] nikkari hect

☉

"the motostoke dragons are dead," he says. his aunt is gone; his already-dwindling bloodline rests on his shoulders now. there is a wistfulness to his words, but not a sadness. 

the end of an era means the beginning of another. 

"and the galarian tabloids are calling hoenn the beginning of the end of the world. who would i be, if i missed that?"

jayden cross

☉

[attr="class","littlejay"]

ah.

[break][break] "that would explain things."

[break][break] it had been a long time since he had been back to galar. perhaps too long. maybe when the war was over, he and fern delaney could make a properly trip together.

[break][break] for book-keeping, among other things.

[break][break] "fair enough. well, either way, i am glad to have you here with me."

[break][break] he smiles - a rare thing - at his friend, clinking their cups of coffee together once more.

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] nikkari hect

☉