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[attr="class","text"]In the end, they aren't required to give Kaname Fujihara the answer he is looking for, because jayden cross offers it for them. Initially, they might have given him a look for cut through the verbal sparring, but Fern (fickle as they are,) is easily placated by that precursory admin delaney is impressive, are they not? Their eyes narrow at the head scientist, smugness seeping into their expression while faced away from their partner. "Yes. Congratulations." It's an obligatory murmur, but one that also smacks of try me again.[break][break]

"No problem," they answer the jab from Marza Volchitsa smoothly, though they can do no more than regard her pointed expression about her lateness with an apologetic shrug. It wasn't as if he toasted her things on purpose. They had simply been fired up and emotional. Could they be blamed? It wasn't like electrical manipulation came with a how to manual, and tapu koko was only maybe 10% interested in helping. 25% on a good day.[break][break]

The way their attention deviates from Kaname is dismissive at best, but the acknowledgement that comes from Zev Harcourt is one that is worth entertaining. If only because of the sharp pointedness of it. Fern sits back in their chair, hands folding neatly as one knee crosses over the other as they look over at the beast evenly. "Well," they start, refusing to fumble under any edge of intimidation, "we are at a summit for discussion now, are we not?"[break][break]

They smile, then blink once, twice. Their own gaze is cool - at least until they see the ripple of dark crystal before it flashes out of existence. Fern frowns, stifling a prickle of unease. "If you have any issues with the slow spread of information, feel free to address it with whichever higher power you like. I was not the only person on that particular expedition, nor was I the highest ranked."[break][break]

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[attr="class","text"]Is someone speaking to them? Oh. Yes.[break][break]

“Mm. Well enough,” Fern hums, glance not leaving their nailbeds as he replies. “Likewise.” The return is flattened down to pancake—nay, crepe, thinness. Of course, their nailbeds do not need examination. They are carefully kept, with nails neatly lacquered with a bright teal shade. Still, they make a show of it. Picking at an uneven edge is much more interesting than devoting full attention to Kaname Fujihara.[break][break]

They halt, however, at the follow up that Kaname provides. Blinking a few times, Fern sucks their teeth, the sound whistling through their mouth before it’s punctuated by the click of their tongue. They do not fully turn toward the head scientist, but their head swivels in his direction. Suddenly their voice weighs itself with a honey-sweet drip. Saccharine sweet, cloying and contrived—as contrived as the smile that widens itself across their face.[break][break]

A hint of teeth. A snarl if it catches the light right.[break][break]

But then it’s tempered by a bright chuff of laughter. “Sorry? Are you insinuating that I don’t know the companions I keep?” They are careful to avoid insinuating ownership. The stuffy pigeon is a clever one, and it won’t take kindly to that particular simplification of their transactional relationship. The island spirit splits attention between the two of them for all of two seconds before flitting away. It would like to find Marza Volchitsa once she arrives so that it might heckle her for a moment. “I would think that a scientist specializing in biology needn’t ask what something is.” They lean forward just a tick, brows raising, "Someone might question your credentials."

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[attr="class","text"]The dark, aural swirl of PHANTOM FORCE announces Fern’s arrival. That, and squabbling.[break][break]

“I don’t see why you just cannot cooperate,” they hiss as they step through the opening just outside the Cave of Origin, not once missing a beat in the conversation. Behind them, they leave Levy Alinsky to mind their shop. “Can’t you just—“[break][break]

Beside them, tapu koko snubs them and turns its head away. In Fern’s hand: a nice, luxury pokeball.[break][break]

But it is of note that it does not abandon them to this meeting.
Though it refuses Fern’s requests, it continues to drift alongside them. Peering around at the looming cave and its forbearance with obvious curiosity. Stubborn, and yet also compliant—just in its own terms.[break][break]

A prim little sniff from Fern is the cap on their disagreement, and they pocket the pokeball then recall their dragapult with another. On entrance, a warm smile is spared for Tempest Quinn, their hand settling on his shoulder briefly as they pass. “Thanks for being here,” they greet, and even tapu koko regards the other with familiarity as they continue.[break][break]

The bickering casualness slides away in favor of formality. Chin tipping up as they tug the lapels of their jacket to straighten it. All business. Or about as business as someone like Fern can be.[break][break]

They suppose this is how the official announcement is made— no flair, no excitement. Because the island deity refuses Fern their sense of panache (lamentable, really,) in allowing them to unfurl it from a pokeball at their whim and discretion. They will gripe about this later, while refusing to acknowledge that in the same way, they would refuse the same puppeting. A pot calling the kettle black.[break][break]

In short, those who weren’t aware prior to this meeting, well… now they would be.[break][break]

Fern’s pale eyes seek out Elisabeth Fiorelli in particular as they enter the room. They make no greeting to the underboss, but there is still a silent question in the tilt of their head. Nothing is said of their recent meeting, but… Their gaze shifts to the snail in place alongside her. Hm.[break][break]

Then they are deviating, offering a wave across the table to mint frost and a nod to Cillian Quinn as they slide into the seat saved for them alongside jayden cross. The air of confidence and formality in their demeanor doesn’t break as they lean sideways toward their partner, but it does soften somewhat, just for a beat. “Hello, you.”[break][break]

Attention traveling to the seat on their left, the smile on their face slips for a second, before pulling into something taut and overly polite as they survey the newest head scientist positioning himself nearby. The warmth in their tone leeches away in indifferent surveyance. “…Kaname.”

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[attr="class","text"]The more he calms the longer they stand there, the more at ease Fern feels themself. There’s no guarantee that this isn’t just some strange trip and they’ll wake up fine tomorrow. It could be permanent. Fern has no real way of knowing. But if they are with him, then it will work out the way it’s intended to.[break][break]

They are sure of it.[break][break]

“Yes,” they smile, the expression every bit as tender and fond as it ever is, “I’ll be right here with you every step of the way.” They let their fingers wind through his as he leads them away.[break][break]

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Huddled in their bed, shrouded in dark, Fern rolls toward him. Moonlight peeks through a gap in the window curtains, giving them just enough silvery light to find his face and the violet gleam of his eyes.[break][break]

Their hand weaves up from under the covers as their other arm tucks under their own head as they study him. The crease between his brows that has been more and more common as of late.[break][break]

“Why on earth do you think that?” they murmur back, voice a lilting coo as their fingers thread through his hair, tucking strands behind an ear. Then they shift to that crease, thumbing over it.[break][break]

“You’ll give yourself frown lines, keeping your face so serious all the time.

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