t’s a wonder they were able to find out that it was his birthday. At first, it almost stung that he didn’t go out of his way to say as much, but Fern has slowly, slowly begun to accept that even with them, he holds some cards close to his chest.[break][break]

And trying to pry them loose will get them nowhere.[break][break]

An amused scoff follows the groggy comment, and they lean forward to smooth a hand through his hair again. “It all worked out in the end though, no?”[break][break]

Distraction comes in the form of Jayden’s confusion. Fern, however, brightens—always a lover and collector of odd little stories and traditions.[break][break]

“Oh, so you never heard about it?” It’s probably just a silly thing— an out of date old wives tale. But he remembers the phase in his youth when all of his peers were desperate to find one, and then gift it in turn.[break][break]

They’ve never given one away, though. Personally.[break][break]

Fern can feel the warmth in his face where their palm is pressed to skin, and they smile as that hand slides away to beckon the flapple. In spite of themself, their own face heats with color and there is a twist of nerves that kicks up in their stomach.[break][break]

The little flapple lands delicately on their open hand, tail curling up around their arm for stability. “Like we practiced?” they ask it, and it quickly snaps itself together— pulling its sour apple shell together to at least somewhat resemble its pre-evolved stage.[break][break]

“An applin, when given to someone you care for, is meant to bring good fortune, and…longevity,” they explain carefully, almost awkwardly as a nervous laugh slips free.[break][break]

Their smile still stretches a tough wider, though, as they look back up at Jayden, finding that glint of violet in the lowlight. “Simply put- It’s a love token, Michail.”[break][break]

Whether the tale itself is true or not, the symbolism is the same.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross | m: festive flirts……[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

Fern didn’t bloody his hands often. Or at all.[break][break]

He was more the skulk away quietly sort of person than much of a fighter. Or in this case, enforcer. He’d attribute that to not having the skill set for it. And until then, that had largely been fine. But how was he meant to aid in leading an organization if he couldn’t handle the messier parts?[break][break]

And now, with this new project on their hands, it was considered a necessity. A fact that he’d reminded himself of throughout the evening. Though his company for this particular task struck him as interesting, to say the least.[break][break]

“Admittedly, not in the least.” Blue eyes cut across the interior of the car toward Lulu, and then drifted back out the front windshield as the targeted house came into view.[break][break]

He could’ve come close at Mt. Pyre, he figured. Though it’d never turned out that way. Still– “Rest assured, though. I won’t balk easily.”

[attr="class","icon"]

Once upon a time, Fern had been much more adept at skills like thievery than he would technically consider himself to be now. Since his arrival in Hoenn, he’d grown a bit lax– leaning on his forgery business more than the thrill and adrenaline-spiking entertainment that came with breaking and entering. That wasn’t to say, though, that he was wholly inept. And now as an admin, he felt a need to hold himself to a higher standard.[break][break]

That meant improving in areas where his skills were weaker, and knocking off the dust on old abilities that were a bit out of practice. And thankfully, he fell into those old habits much easier than anticipated. If he hadn’t, it would’ve been absolutely devastating– he was far from interested in committing character assassination on himself so early into his promotion.[break][break]

Particularly around one Mei Liu, who had snagged his interest. If not because of her demeanor, but because of the singular, connecting tether between them bearing the name Marza Volchitsa. [break][break]

“Of course,” he replied, flipping his hair to one side with a hand, “it’s important to establish rapport, no?” No matter his rank, Fern was a social creature. He’d wither up like a sunflora without light if he only fulfilled isolated tasks.[break][break]

“It’s also important to remember your roots.” But that might have also just been a Fern-specific mentality. He stooped to examine the lock on the exterior door at the back of the building before turning a winning grin right back at her. “Well with such charming company, the pleasure is mine.”

He’d been just about to lift his cup again, when the other’s words made his hand pause, mid-air. Slowly, he set his mug down on its saucer again. “I see,” he said quietly, letting a slight pause follow. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?” He glanced up at the boy, a faint smile curling with his softened words. Finally, a degree of empathy crept through his carefully kept veneer.[break][break]

The loss of a life would certainly not be worth returning him back to where he’d come from. Fern couldn’t claim to understand what sort of burden the younger man felt, but he wasn’t going to be the one to hoist it back onto his shoulders. His brows rose as some life seemed to filter back into Micha. “What makes you think that you aren’t already?” His head tilted as he asked, more out of curiosity than the interviewing he’d been doing this whole time.[break][break]

Still, Fern smiled. It remained a bit careful for the time being. It almost felt like he was suddenly handling a soft, baby bird with a broken wing. “I’m sure we can manage that. Though– all of that will be up to you once the paperwork is in place, of course. I can only help so much.” Though it would be said that Fern knew a thing or two about presenting one’s self as grandiose and larger than life. Just for the sake of self-preservation. And, okay, yes. Because that was also just in his nature.[break][break]

Regardless, he pushed his cup away and rose. Thumbing through his billfold for payment, he placed it neatly on the table and then looked down at the other. “Would you like to accompany me to my shop, then? It’s just down the street.”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] mint frost // 3-ish? years ago // m: vying for attention[break]


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