[attr="class","jayjaytop"]

[attr="class","body"]“Right. I know, I know.” They still do, however. It comes naturally and instinctively.[break][break]

Still, the reassurance makes them smile. For a little bit, anyway, before their blunder.[break][break]

“Not always, though,” they tease, “I like your stories too.” Or the nicer ones, anyway. The ones that don’t leave them simmering with resentment for how he was often treated.[break][break]

Hearing about these things is nice. Until they fumble, and wish for the ability to sink into the ground as Medb does.[break][break]

“Well that’s obviously not the lie!” they babble back indignantly, feeling heat creep up the back of their neck and flood their face, in spite of the situation. It’s a stupid wartime declaration isn’t it? One that probably won’t be taken seriously…or, or is just something said impulsively, and again, not taken seriously. But–[break][break]

But they mean it. They really do mean it.[break][break]

Pursuing their lips, they whistle a sliding note. “See? Whistle just fine.” As if it needs proving. Whether that whistle is heard through the air, beyond the earpiece, remains unknown. Dependent on how close they’ve managed to draw together.

[attr="class","oocnotes"]

jayden cross

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

SPOILER: Click to show

+ thread participation (50mp) + ic post x10 (100mp) + paranoid from the deep sea (10mp) + use of poison barb (10mp) = 170mp

[attr="class","credit"]☉

[attr="class","jayjaytop"]

[attr="class","body"]“Alright, good. You’re…being careful?” They don’t mean to fret. But it comes naturally. As they reach their sableye, she points down at the blinking device left waiting. A league camera, perhaps? Left to suss out any identities? Even if this is not the case, they pluck the device from where it’s been attached to the corner, and crush it up under the heel of their boot.[break][break]

Nice and easy.[break][break]

“Oh, well. Dark and mysterious just suits you better, duck.” Their words are teasing, though to a certain extent truly believed. Even if the more stubbornly elusive parts of Jayden’s past and personality proved to be frustrating at times to Fern’s endeavors to know him better. But the fact that he didn’t dodge around the explanation now was a…good sign. Yes. It seems to be.[break][break]

Another laugh follows, the cadence of it knowing. “See? You prove my point–mysterious. What was the lie, then?”[break][break]

Recalling their little sneak, they make their way toward the other edge of down, just west of their position. The rift there is where they’ll meet Mint with their decoy cargo. “Fine, though. I’ll be expecting an answer though. Let me think…” Fern hums, tapping at their chin as Medb floats just ahead of them.[break][break]

“I once fell from a window and broke my arm to get away from local law enforcement, I cannot whistle, annnddd I love you.” They say it so offhandedly, so casually, that it takes a moment for Fern to register they admitted it in the first place. And over a game on the radio. Their palm smacks their forehead, but their jaw clicks shut. Always with the foot in the mouth, Fern Delaney, you idiot.

[attr="class","oocnotes"]

jayden cross

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

SPOILER: Click to show

+ thread participation (50mp) + ic post x9 (90mp) + paranoid from the deep sea (10mp) + use of poison barb (10mp) = 160mp

[attr="class","credit"]☉

[attr="class","icon"]

For now. Fern was confident, though, that they’d be able to meet any conflict with ease whenever it did decide to show itself. In no small part because of the beast’s capability. “And I’m sure glad for that.” Fern, though they’d been practicing a bit more, was decidedly not as much of a heavy hitter.[break][break]

They were better at dodging and defensive maneuvers. Wiggling out of things and pulling sneakier moves rather than head on attacks. But what the two did have in common was that desire to put in effort. “Sure would. But that also might be boring.” If the situation called for more offensive maneuvers, then Fern would shift to fit. No one could claim they weren’t flexible, at least.[break][break]

“Oh no, that would be so cold if they were left all alone, waiting,” they trilled back. Their grin–the only thing visible under their half mask, mirrored Mint’s. In a bright beam of light, their chandelure is replaced by a much more imposing baxcalibur. “Shall we? It’d be a shame to leave them hanging.” And if they could swipe any of their cargo, which more than likely wasn’t full of fakes the way theirs was…well that was all the better then, yes?

[attr="class","jayjaytop"]

[attr="class","body"]They couldn’t hear what was happening on jayden cross’s end, but his lengthy pause made them frown slightly. “Everything good over there?” Asked as they peered around a corner before stepping into street lamp light long enough to scurry over to the other side of a back path.[break][break]

All to get to the sableye still signaling them.[break][break]

“Oh nooo,” they can’t help the small laugh that follows. “Why white? I think you make a better brunette.” Still, purple was, all things considered, not the worst to end up with in Jayden’s case, probably. “Looks like I’ll owe you a favor then.” Fern sighs quietly, not wholly displeased.[break][break]

“What will you have me do?”

[attr="class","oocnotes"]

jayden cross

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

SPOILER: Click to show

+ thread participation (50mp) + ic post x8 (80mp) + paranoid from the deep sea (10mp) + use of poison barb (10mp) = 150mp

[attr="class","credit"]☉

[attr="class","icon"]

“I’m not being a baby..” they huffed back, tone absolutely every bit as whiny and pouty as would be expected. It sounded ridiculous, but deep down Fern did know that this was Marza’s good side, and that they hadn’t managed to fall out of those good graces just yet. For now, it was good that she groused over him like this rather than just decking him and calling it a day. Though it probably wasn’t much consolation, that loyalty wasn’t lopsided. They would fight to protect and assist her just as determinedly. Though their level of ferocity was more like a kitten taking a swipe in comparison.[break][break]

At least they felt a bit more confident in battle and not just quick, clever escapes as they once had felt lacking in. So the jab left them scoffing in a fussy offense. “My level? So they’re much tougher than they look,” Fern grumbled. “Looks are deceiving, you know..” Brigid followed along behind them, ready to be of use in the wake of the scatterbang. Cutting off the league’s access to that entry point was the primary objective, and she dove down into the open space–swinging ferociously with a POWER WHIP that didn’t care whether it was aimed at pokemon or person.[break][break]

As they’d said– deceptively menacing for a cutesy, gooey dragon. And the see, I told you look that they still took the time to send Marza's way said as much.

[attr="class","icon"]

Fern doesn’t seem to need to justify the sudden grate in their tone for Mint to set in motion. An act that spurs their own desire to let things come to a head, rather than allow the two leaguers peaceful passage. Not that they likely would’ve done so, anyway, but it was true enough—for Fern, this was personal.[break][break]

The instinct to follow comes and they dart after the beast, free falling from the edge with perhaps less reckless abandon, but still with shared itch for a fight.[break][break]

They hop down from their perch with a bit less fanfare than their partner, floating down to neatly land a short distance from mint frost. A bit closer toward facing ollie morales if they managed to twist through the dense air with enough accuracy. Their hand lifts, fingers waggling by their face to greet the Ever Grande captain. “Fancy seeing you here,” they chime, tone a little bit too saccharine to be friendly. Smile a bit too sharp at the edges.[break][break]

A dragapult floats up from hiding—phasing through the sandy earth to weave around the group, picking up speed in her DRAGON DANCE.

[attr="class","icon"]

Having successfully warded off interlopers at the rift with Marza Volchitsa for a spell, Fern feels due for a breather. If only to regather their wits and patch up any scapes before diving back into the rift to continue overseeing the movements of their remaining incoming teams.[break][break]

Their goodra’s LIFE DEW pulls some of the pain out a deep cut in their palm, slowly starting to knit the wound back together before they command her to recede. It’ll be good and grounding, this pain. Not to mention, the need to make sure the dragon’s energy stays up. The night is far from over, after all.[break][break]

The sound of a nearby battle pulls at the fringes of their attention as they finish wrapping their hand with sturdier bandaging. Stepping toward the long stretch of beach along Dewford, they catch sight of the lingering fragments. Someone high above the water, plummeting down to land in the briney expanse.[break][break]

A small frown slips across their mouth when the figure doesn’t break the surface within seconds, but it’s the flicker of a semi-translucent form still floating in the air that makes FEAR crowd their throat and smother any air there.[break][break] 

It’s not vahagn that floats above the rough waters, but still a dragapult that feels familiar. But it can’t be him, right? They only just spoke what feels like a few hours ago.[break][break]

Cold seeps under their skin before they even reach the shoreline. There’s no guarantee, but Fern can’t leave that up to chance. “Take me out there,” they manage to direct the goodra. Pulled into the murky stretch, tucked against her back as she dives toward the spot where jayden cross went under.

[attr="class","icon"]

“Hm. Hopefully not.” Hopping up, their feet catch in the odd, water-like gravity—allowing them to better push off the ground and twist around to look behind them as well. As of right now, Fern isn’t feeling the same itch of paranoia under their skin as they were before meeting. Hopefully that persists.[break][break]

Touching back down to the ground, their head tilts as Mint speaks of the front. “Glad I’m not up there,” they admit, eyes following the solosis as she darts away. “Think I’m better sorted for this work, anyway.”[break][break]

A soft laugh follows the question. “Wouldn't that be nice? Easy enough to wave off.” But the flame body of their chandelure reveals no pesky zubat fluttering about or obstructing their path.[break][break]

“Looks like interference.” With a sly grin, they nudge Mint with their elbow. Nodding over to the bend around a high outcropping of rock laden with strange, almost fleshy looking barnacles. The beginnings of a resistance group meant to push incomers back looked to be showing themselves.[break][break]

“A blockade, maybe?”

[attr="class","jayjaytop"]

[attr="class","body"]They don’t try to dwell on the slightly off kilter feeling that remains. It’s not how they want this moment to go–before they are unable to hold a steady line of communication. So they’re thankful when he doesn’t press. They wonder, absently, if he even wants to.[break][break]

Slinking down from their perch, they continue to set the scene for delays to incoming league parties. Cloaked by night and followed by their dragapult, they lay a line of POISON BARBS to impede any opponents before they even reach the rift.[break][break]

From the shadow of a building, their sableye flags them–gem eyes glimmering in the dark from what little light is cast by dimmed street lamps and the moon.[break][break]

Still, they sift through the options given as they make their way over to the pokemon. Making a point of humming playfully. “Surely you never dyed your hair, that must be it.” It’s sort of funny to imagine, though. Perhaps an adolescent Jayden with hair gone terribly green.

[attr="class","oocnotes"]

jayden cross

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

SPOILER: Click to show

+ thread participation (50mp) + ic post x7 (70mp) + paranoid from the deep sea (10mp) + use of poison barb (10mp) = 140mp

[attr="class","credit"]☉

[attr="class","icon"]

“Ouch,” they reply, a hand pressed to their chest. “Always so cold. Positively frigid.” Brigid returned to their side, head drooping a little at being waved off. Fern was quick to console the goodra. “Don’t you worry a bit, darling. Marzy’s just a grump.” Their hand slid over the dragon’s smooth head, unbothered by the slightly sticky consistency of her scales.[break][break]

“Oh, well I’m never going to be one to turn away easy clean up.” They’d take the lighter hits–it just meant they stored their strength for the tougher matches. And maybe it allowed them their lazing too, but they weren’t about to say so out loud.[break][break]

Fern scoffed, mask slipping back down over their face. “Excuse me? I’ve been the epitome of productivity, thank you.” Wanting to get the jump on their targets, he threw out a SCATTERBANG down into their path–looking to disorient what seemed to be some newcomers.[break][break]

“They definitely don’t look like pros, do they?”

[attr="class","icon"]

False cargo successfully transported with mint frost, Fern makes himself useful at the rift. Or at least, he makes a show of being useful as he takes the pause to catch his breath.[break][break]


"Sight for sore eyes, you are, Marzy~" he still manages to chime playfully as he catches sight of the beast. His goodra stands alongside him, ready to activate a wave of healing with her LIFE DEW.[break][break]

But Fern isn't looking to sap her strength too much just yet.[break][break]

Besides, he's in pretty good shape this time around, all things considered. Pulling himself up, Fern saunters over to his friend and pushes his mask up for a brief moment.[break][break]

"Anything coming our way?"

[attr="class","jayjaytop"]

[attr="class","body"] Guilt for the pulse of doubt twists through them, knotting up their stomach. It was nothing. They have no need to be concerned. So those thoughts get quickly shoved away.[break][break]

“True. I suppose I’m a bit off my game tonight,” they murmur back with a short laugh. They hum in pronounced thought. “Let’s see…how about two truths and a lie?”[break][break]

The glimmer of a smile returns to their face. “Fail to guess the lie, and you owe the other a favor.” Saved for a later date.[break][break]

Because it implied a later to be shared, beyond that night.

[attr="class","oocnotes"]

jayden cross

[break] + COMMS [1/2]

[attr="class","credit"]☉