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[attr="class","body"]They can’t stay like this—of course they can’t. No matter how much they’d prefer it to their other obligations for the day.[break][break]

Before he can finish his thought, the alert comes through the comm. Fern’s eyes fall shut again, and their lips press together as they breath slow through their nose to redirect the heavy, frustrated sigh that wants to fall free.[break][break]

When it comes to matters like duty, they know they can’t win. There would be no point in trying.[break][break]

Their voice feels weak and small when they speak. “Go. You’re needed.”[break][break]

They don’t want him to, though. They want him to stay with them even if that had never been a part of the plan. They want him in their sight at all times. They want him close.[break][break]

They would beg, if they could bring themself to be so selfish.[break][break]

Normally, that’s not an issue.[break][break]

Blue eyes wide and stupidly sad as he pulls back, Fern shakes their head and lets their hand cover his for one last moment. “I think I should be the one saying that to you, love.”[break][break]

They withdraw. Ache in the center of their chest, but they steel up their resolve and smile. “Find me later, okay?”[break][break]

Too cowardly to repeat their words from earlier though they desperately wish to.

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jayden cross

[break] + COMMS [1/2]
[break]

SPOILER: Click to show

+ thread participation (50mp) + ic post x14 (140mp) + paranoid from the deep sea (10mp) + use of poison barb (10mp) + assist another player (10mp) + comm mission complete (100mp) + win mission (200mp) = 520mp

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The rapport that has developed between them over the years has made their partnership come naturally. In this setting, and in everyday life. Fern counts Mint among the few they feel truly close to, despite their social presentation to the rest of the world. They trust him, and that doesn’t necessarily come easily.[break][break]

So working alongside him today allows for a coordination of both mood and attack— they are, in fact, equally as energetic and enthusiastic as the beast though it manifests with all of the flair of a theatre major than it does as unbridled energy.[break][break]

“Make use of that, Beira!” they chime as the duosion pulls the opposing forces together in a tight group. Lumbering forward, the baxcalibur bellows, releasing the onslaught of a frigid GLAIVE RUSH to barrage pokemon and person alike with ice and snow.[break][break]

“Excellent dynamics if I do say so myself.”

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[attr="class","body"]Both dragapult make a formidable pair. Perhaps as tough as Ceci and Vahagn are together, though less trained alongside one another. Not as tamed as Ceci, though, Medb takes cue from Astlik—mirroring brutality as she tears into the would-be pursuants.[break][break]

But Fern is too busy pulling Jayden away and running as fast as they can—granted they’re not the fastest of individuals but adrenaline and strange, nostalgic deja vu field them. Unlike that incident at the mall, though, this moment feels weightier with what they’ve said.[break][break]

What they’ve admitted.[break][break]

What hasn’t been returned.[break][break]

The anxiety that flares up around his accidental declaration fades when their steps finally slow to a stop and he pulls them close. The hand cupping their face weakens the self-imposed toughness they went into this day with and Fern melts into the kiss. Eyes falling shut as they struggle to both catch their breath from that sprint, and keep their lips pressed together.[break][break]

Their hands, curled against his chest, slip up to rest against the sides of his neck as they return the thanks with another short peck before leaning back enough to study his face. “Well, looks like I’ve just done a favor for you,” they tease, then shake their head.[break][break]

“Always. Anytime.” There’s never any question of it.

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jayden cross

[break] + COMMS [1/2]
[break]

SPOILER: Click to show

+ thread participation (50mp) + ic post x13 (130mp) + paranoid from the deep sea (10mp) + use of poison barb (10mp) + assist another player (10mp) = 210mp

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"Excellent work, but I'll be taking over." The directive isn't an insult by any stretch or means. As Fern sends the grunt off, it's with the intention that the other returns to support moving parts elsewhere. They are there so that those numbers can be strengthened. They'll deter Ms. freya morningstar.[break][break]

A gracious sacrifice in their own opinion. Out of the goodness of their little admin heart. Because Fern's a bit tired of running into combat and blockades. In fact, they'd very much prefer to go back to cargo running as they had earlier on in the day, where the work was easier and the communication was a bit more reliable.[break][break]

Never the less, they persist![break][break]

Fern drops down from hiding, perched on the back of their dragapult--arms folded on the flat expanse of Medb's head. Practically lounging as they drift downward to where she searches their surroundings. As her scanning shifts to the side, he clicks his tongue and Medb moves into action, firing off a round of DRAGON DARTS while she's distracted from the grunt's work with the SHADOW SNEAK.

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Their hands flutter against his face as he looks down at them, conflict swimming in his eyes as his face shifts expressions—seemingly at odds with himself.[break][break]

But Fern doesn’t look away as their breath snags with overwhelmed emotion again. Not until he’s drawn close again, and something resilient in his weight sags and gives up against them.[break][break]

“There you are,” their voice feels weak and childish when he relents, and they hold on tighter—grounding themself from the warmth of breath on their neck and fingers in their hair. “Thank you.”[break][break]

He’s here, and maybe he’s not totally okay.[break][break]

But he’s safe.[break][break]

Eventually they roll out from under him and up to their knees. Their hands are quick to find him, though, and help pull him up to his feet. Fern leans against him, eyes shut as their breath slowly evens out.[break][break]

“Okay, let’s go home.”[break][break]

Reluctant to be parted from him again, even for a few moments. Scared that he might vanish into thin air right in front of them again if they do.

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“I can tell.”[break][break]

Fern snickers, amused.[break][break]

“I guess that depends on if you’re an optimist or a pessimist.” They wink at him, grinning. Obviously, Fern’s more likely to take that optimistic glass half full Kinda vantage.[break][break]

For the most part.[break][break]

They bark out a laugh, the flat of their palm pressing against their forehead. “Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence. Guess I should do better, hm?”

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[attr="class","body"]For a moment, they can only fixate on him. How prone he looks from what feels like a simple admission from them. Of course it’s not simple. Nothing about those words will ever be simple, and especially not to someone like jayden cross. They don’t know the details, they don’t know all of the traumas that are wrapped up under that mysterious surface that they were teasing him for only minutes before.[break][break]

But it doesn’t matter, because they love him regardless.[break][break]

It’s all right there, written in his expression as time slows down to a crawl. Stretching out to impossible lengths as figures emerge behind him. Their face falls, because he doesn’t turn. He doesn’t move against the sudden onslaught, and for the second time in a matter of weeks, they feel their blood run cold at the concept of loss in motion.[break][break]

Again, the rush of adrenaline. The movement of their body without reason or thought. Instinct flaring up to take control, to heed the warning thump of their heart on the precipice of cracking into pieces.[break][break]

“Medb,” they hiss as they reach for him. Fingers curl like a vice grip at the front of his jacket and yank him toward them. Quick and solid in a tangible way they hadn’t been able to manage that night at the border. Instead of closing around empty air, Fern feels the thud of him bumping against them.[break][break]

Their dragapult phases back into view in tandem with the movement, her tail swinging up to block against the swing of the weapon as her body twists and morphs. Solid on contact, then dissipating and fading as the knife carries through.[break][break]

They don’t wait. They don’t wait to see if it’s real or imagined.[break][break]

They don’t wait to see if he’s alright, or if he’s realized what’s happening.[break][break]

They don’t wait, they’ve wasted so much time waiting.[break][break]

Their hand slides down, away from jacket fabric to find his hand. It’s real and there, and he’s not fighting against them.[break][break]

“Mischa. Run.”[break][break]

Fern tugs him and takes off the way they’d come, time speeding up again in furious motion. The sound of metal whistling through the air. The angry reptilian growls of the phantasmic dragon. Apparition and shadow pitted against one another.[break][break]

They’ve waited so long to say what they meant out in the open air so that it can’t be taken back. They won’t wait so long now that they lose something now that it’s finally within their reach.[break][break]

Now that he finally feels within reach.

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jayden cross

[break] + COMMS [1/2]
[break]

SPOILER: Click to show

+ thread participation (50mp) + ic post x12 (120mp) + paranoid from the deep sea (10mp) + use of poison barb (10mp) + assist another player (10mp) = 200mp

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