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IC INBOX | @erku
Hey! It's Jester!
I can't pick up right now, but I'll reply really soon, okay? Don't miss me too much.
...doot doo doo beep boop!
🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭
Drop a message, actionspam, or delivery below!
A5 chart |
Hey! It's Jester!
I can't pick up right now, but I'll reply really soon, okay? Don't miss me too much.
...doot doo doo beep boop!
🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭🍭
Drop a message, actionspam, or delivery below!
A5 chart |
You're right. I did.
[She chews at her lip, trying to find the right words.]
You were so happy when you talked about Molly, and Caleb, and Vax, and...and Aphrodite. [She treats the last name with extra special care, keeping her voice light and neutral because she doesn't want to sound bitter in the least.] And you talked about what a bombshell she is and how she's a goddess and you're her paladin. I thought...
[The tiefling squirms visibly in the same, her tail whipping restlessly back and forth, once.]
Maybe you changed your mind about liking me, because you have this gorgeous love goddess now. Obviously that's stupid, but I can be kind of stupid sometimes.
[She chews at her lip, trying to find the right words.]
You were so happy when you talked about Molly, and Caleb, and Vax, and...and Aphrodite. [She treats the last name with extra special care, keeping her voice light and neutral because she doesn't want to sound bitter in the least.] And you talked about what a bombshell she is and how she's a goddess and you're her paladin. I thought...
[The tiefling squirms visibly in the same, her tail whipping restlessly back and forth, once.]
Maybe you changed your mind about liking me, because you have this gorgeous love goddess now. Obviously that's stupid, but I can be kind of stupid sometimes.
I don't change my mind about wanting people, that's kind of the problem.
[ He pats the driftwood beside him so she doesn't have to stand there like she's on trial for living her own life. What Molly said about not treating her like she's from a book, the same way she did once with the Oskar stuff, still resonates through Fjord. ]
I only told you about all of them because you never seemed that bothered when I did, you were this supportive cheer squad and I ... I should have seen past that. I was just so nervous about telling you, I didn't.
[ He pats the driftwood beside him so she doesn't have to stand there like she's on trial for living her own life. What Molly said about not treating her like she's from a book, the same way she did once with the Oskar stuff, still resonates through Fjord. ]
I only told you about all of them because you never seemed that bothered when I did, you were this supportive cheer squad and I ... I should have seen past that. I was just so nervous about telling you, I didn't.
Oh.
[It's a big oh, a thunderclap right over her head, and Jester has to squeeze down the bolt of joy that wants to strike through her, not...not yet. Numbly, she walks back and sits down next to Fjord, never as aware of her own limbs as she is right now.]
Of course I was supportive. It was really good to hear about you feeling so happy and loved. It's what you deserve. I was sad, sure, and upset, but I didn't say anything because I figured, well, he's got people that love him, why mess with that?
[It's a big oh, a thunderclap right over her head, and Jester has to squeeze down the bolt of joy that wants to strike through her, not...not yet. Numbly, she walks back and sits down next to Fjord, never as aware of her own limbs as she is right now.]
Of course I was supportive. It was really good to hear about you feeling so happy and loved. It's what you deserve. I was sad, sure, and upset, but I didn't say anything because I figured, well, he's got people that love him, why mess with that?
Even if I hadn't known I had said something, you did. You had the right to mess, Jes.
[ Wanting to take her hand, he forces his to remain where they drape between his knees. Ahead of them the ocean is beautiful, murky on an overcast day but still peaceful. Silent as he thinks of how to word himself, Fjord goes with honesty. ]
When Molly and I started fooling around, that was all it was. Then it changed, and we promised we would be faithful to each other as much as the City allows. We made sure to share the same bed every night, no matter who we were with during the day. It was ... important to me. Molly's the reason I haven't broken down yet.
[ Yet. He walks a thinner wire every day. ]
I know you don't want to hear about the others but he's a big part of my life now.
[ Wanting to take her hand, he forces his to remain where they drape between his knees. Ahead of them the ocean is beautiful, murky on an overcast day but still peaceful. Silent as he thinks of how to word himself, Fjord goes with honesty. ]
When Molly and I started fooling around, that was all it was. Then it changed, and we promised we would be faithful to each other as much as the City allows. We made sure to share the same bed every night, no matter who we were with during the day. It was ... important to me. Molly's the reason I haven't broken down yet.
[ Yet. He walks a thinner wire every day. ]
I know you don't want to hear about the others but he's a big part of my life now.
Well, I guess I know that now. I've never done any of this stuff, remember?
[She fidgets with the hems of her socks, picking at the edge of the elastic as she listens to Fjord talk about Molly.]
I get it. And I don't...I don't not want to hear about it. If you love someone, I want to be a good enough friend to you to listen to it. Friends are supposed to support each other no matter what, and Fjord...
[Her fingers curl and uncurl, wanting so badly to reach for his hand.]
No matter what else happens I am always your friend.
[She fidgets with the hems of her socks, picking at the edge of the elastic as she listens to Fjord talk about Molly.]
I get it. And I don't...I don't not want to hear about it. If you love someone, I want to be a good enough friend to you to listen to it. Friends are supposed to support each other no matter what, and Fjord...
[Her fingers curl and uncurl, wanting so badly to reach for his hand.]
No matter what else happens I am always your friend.
[ The grass and the ground in general are a welcome change of pace, and Caleb sits down hard next to her before letting himself fall backward, staring up at the mostly cloudless sky. ]
I'm glad you liked it. [ He tilts his head toward her with a small, careful smile. ] It wasn't so bad this time, thanks to you.
[ His hair is definitely a mess, though. He pushes a few flyaways out of his eyes as he considers whether he should ask Jester about how her week has been, about why it seemed like she needed to get out today so badly. But this should be an escape from those things, shouldn't it? Fun without the complications--as much as possible, anyway. If she needs a sounding board, she'll say something. ]
I'm glad you liked it. [ He tilts his head toward her with a small, careful smile. ] It wasn't so bad this time, thanks to you.
[ His hair is definitely a mess, though. He pushes a few flyaways out of his eyes as he considers whether he should ask Jester about how her week has been, about why it seemed like she needed to get out today so badly. But this should be an escape from those things, shouldn't it? Fun without the complications--as much as possible, anyway. If she needs a sounding board, she'll say something. ]
All you needed was a good safety harness!
[Her tail bops him across the shin, and Jes turns her head to look over at Caleb, grinning and happy.]
Don't worry, I won't make you go again.
[She waits until her breath is regular again and her heart has stopped pounding, and then pulls herself up to her feet. She bends down and offers Caleb a hand getting up.]
C'mon, let's at least look at the food.
[Her tail bops him across the shin, and Jes turns her head to look over at Caleb, grinning and happy.]
Don't worry, I won't make you go again.
[She waits until her breath is regular again and her heart has stopped pounding, and then pulls herself up to her feet. She bends down and offers Caleb a hand getting up.]
C'mon, let's at least look at the food.
Thank you, Jester. Even if everyone broke up on the spot, I'd like to think we would all still be friends at the end of our time on this godsforsaken island.
[ Picking up on the way her hands are restless, he finally places one of his over hers. ]
Can we ... start this over? Because apparently I bared my soul to you in the future but I'm from my own past and it's giving me anxiety not knowing what's happened. What I did, or why.
[ Picking up on the way her hands are restless, he finally places one of his over hers. ]
Can we ... start this over? Because apparently I bared my soul to you in the future but I'm from my own past and it's giving me anxiety not knowing what's happened. What I did, or why.
Well, of course. We're all stuck with each other.
[The air goes out of her as she feels Fjord's hand cover hers, and she just sort of...goes boneless against his side, the tension draining out of her body. She sounds really tired.]
Yeah. Let's do that.
[Head still resting on Fjord's shoulder, she explains the whole thing. The statues, what happened to her, their talk in the tower...and then everything else she remembers, too. All the details, the scary fights and uncertainty and having to evacuate her Mama and Veth's family.]
...so I totally feel like if the world doesn't end my Mama and my Dad are definitely getting back together. And that...is everything I remember.
[And she feels like a ten-ton weight has been lifted from her shoulders, after weeks of carrying all that around unsure how to tell anyone all of it.]
[The air goes out of her as she feels Fjord's hand cover hers, and she just sort of...goes boneless against his side, the tension draining out of her body. She sounds really tired.]
Yeah. Let's do that.
[Head still resting on Fjord's shoulder, she explains the whole thing. The statues, what happened to her, their talk in the tower...and then everything else she remembers, too. All the details, the scary fights and uncertainty and having to evacuate her Mama and Veth's family.]
...so I totally feel like if the world doesn't end my Mama and my Dad are definitely getting back together. And that...is everything I remember.
[And she feels like a ten-ton weight has been lifted from her shoulders, after weeks of carrying all that around unsure how to tell anyone all of it.]
[ Slumped against each other as a light drizzle skirts across the beach, it's a lot to take in. ]
No wonder you've been stressed, beyond all the dumb romance stuff.
[ He really hopes the families are okay, cheek resting on Jester's blue hair as he runs through it all. ]
The world won't end. [ Fjord has plans to return to the Menagerie Coast after all the bullshit with the Somnovem and Ickithon is finished. No one is taking away a well-deserved holiday like that. ] Jes, if you want to see more people in this City because it's your choice and not the Augur's, like you said, then ... I want you to do that. I want you to feel like you can talk to me too.
No wonder you've been stressed, beyond all the dumb romance stuff.
[ He really hopes the families are okay, cheek resting on Jester's blue hair as he runs through it all. ]
The world won't end. [ Fjord has plans to return to the Menagerie Coast after all the bullshit with the Somnovem and Ickithon is finished. No one is taking away a well-deserved holiday like that. ] Jes, if you want to see more people in this City because it's your choice and not the Augur's, like you said, then ... I want you to do that. I want you to feel like you can talk to me too.
That's what I'm saying! [Her tone is more upbeat, now, closer to her usual self than she's been in days. She's so content to sit here and just...not feel mad or sad or jealous or any of the other stupid things she's felt since she got here.]
I don't know if I want to, yet. Eventually, maybe, but...not right now. But if I do...I'll talk to you about it.
[She looks up at him, the tiniest smile on her face, and she almost doesn't ask the question but it's burning to be asked. She knows she won't be able to rest easy until she does, anyway.]
And what about...you and me? You just want to be friends?
I don't know if I want to, yet. Eventually, maybe, but...not right now. But if I do...I'll talk to you about it.
[She looks up at him, the tiniest smile on her face, and she almost doesn't ask the question but it's burning to be asked. She knows she won't be able to rest easy until she does, anyway.]
And what about...you and me? You just want to be friends?
... You'll always be a friend, but never just a friend. Does that make sense?
[ That was what he wrestled so hard with when he got mad at Molly for shoving a reminder of Jester in his face when they were being intimate, it made Fjord feel horrid. Multiple partners who are aware of each other is one thing, and he's slowly getting used to the idea of having the ability to bond with certain people in a crazy halforc way while having one real mate, but while she was absent there was no reconciling why those conflicting feelings were rising up.
She's here now, though. And she's being amazing, all things considered. Quieter, even though it's just them on the beach, he confesses, ]
I think you're so beautiful, [ clarifying a beat later, ] stubby horns or not.
[ That was what he wrestled so hard with when he got mad at Molly for shoving a reminder of Jester in his face when they were being intimate, it made Fjord feel horrid. Multiple partners who are aware of each other is one thing, and he's slowly getting used to the idea of having the ability to bond with certain people in a crazy halforc way while having one real mate, but while she was absent there was no reconciling why those conflicting feelings were rising up.
She's here now, though. And she's being amazing, all things considered. Quieter, even though it's just them on the beach, he confesses, ]
I think you're so beautiful, [ clarifying a beat later, ] stubby horns or not.
Yeah, it does.
[It does! It's all she could have hoped for or wanted, coming here. If that's what Fjord wants, then she's more than happy to have that with him. There's a smile in her voice, whether or not Fjord turns to look at it on her mouth, and she wriggles a little bit in her seat, like her body can't handle the compliment he gives her, so soft and beautiful like music to her pointy blue ears.]
Thank you, Fjord. [There's a shy pause, before she's giggling.] Of course you already know how handsome and rugged I think you are.
[It does! It's all she could have hoped for or wanted, coming here. If that's what Fjord wants, then she's more than happy to have that with him. There's a smile in her voice, whether or not Fjord turns to look at it on her mouth, and she wriggles a little bit in her seat, like her body can't handle the compliment he gives her, so soft and beautiful like music to her pointy blue ears.]
Thank you, Fjord. [There's a shy pause, before she's giggling.] Of course you already know how handsome and rugged I think you are.
Yeah, I went to the amusement park, remember? Caleb bought me all kinds of fried nonsense. I loved it.
[Behind them, her tail lifts to wrap loosely behind Fjord, the end settling next to his thigh on the other side. A gentle tail hug. Jester laughs.]
But seriously, I think it suits you. You're very nice to hug like this.
[Behind them, her tail lifts to wrap loosely behind Fjord, the end settling next to his thigh on the other side. A gentle tail hug. Jester laughs.]
But seriously, I think it suits you. You're very nice to hug like this.
Unfortunately I do, otherwise someone else will have to get strong enough to pick up the Star Razor and I don't see Yasha anywhere.
[ He slips his hand into hers, giving a tug. ]
You know, I'm suddenly fucking famished. Let's go get something to eat? Dick around the house, see what everyone's up to? [ That's what he yearns for, the warmth of a home and good company, people he loves. And comfort food. It feels like he can enjoy those things, now. ] He won't admit it, but Essek really likes being bothered when he's busy.
[ He slips his hand into hers, giving a tug. ]
You know, I'm suddenly fucking famished. Let's go get something to eat? Dick around the house, see what everyone's up to? [ That's what he yearns for, the warmth of a home and good company, people he loves. And comfort food. It feels like he can enjoy those things, now. ] He won't admit it, but Essek really likes being bothered when he's busy.
Then I guess it defaults to be yours.
[ His hand remains in hers as he starts up the beach, pretending to drag her along but just enjoying the simple touch for what it is. New to him, anyway. ]
I wish you had, that thing is ninety-percent sugar. We'll be bouncing off the walls with our rotten teeth by evening ...
[ All the way home, the tone is set. ]
[ His hand remains in hers as he starts up the beach, pretending to drag her along but just enjoying the simple touch for what it is. New to him, anyway. ]
I wish you had, that thing is ninety-percent sugar. We'll be bouncing off the walls with our rotten teeth by evening ...
[ All the way home, the tone is set. ]
[ He's about to say that he would go again if she asked, but by the gods, he's being given and out, and he'll take it. He clasps Jester's hand with his and lets her tug him back to his feet. ]
Ja, okay. I can probably stomach looking at it.
[ A little grin and a gentle, playful jab of his elbow into her arm, and then they're walking side by side to the row of food stands, each with a colorful striped awning and glossy signage depicting the specific kind of friend and/or candy coated treat they sell. ]
Pick out whatever you like. I have plenty of credits that I never use.
Ja, okay. I can probably stomach looking at it.
[ A little grin and a gentle, playful jab of his elbow into her arm, and then they're walking side by side to the row of food stands, each with a colorful striped awning and glossy signage depicting the specific kind of friend and/or candy coated treat they sell. ]
Pick out whatever you like. I have plenty of credits that I never use.
Great! I keep seeing the words corn and dog in the same sentence and I'm very intrigued.
[What ensues is a montage of Jester dragging Caleb around to every food stall she can see; she emerges from this with a funnel cake, a corndog, a basket of fries covered in cheese, two deep-fried Oreos on a stick, a large cup of lemonade and of course a bag of cotton candy. They find a picnic table in the shade and Jester spreads out her haul, surveying it all greedily as she decides what to try first.]
The way they make this cotton candy is so weird. Are you sure it isn't magic?
[What ensues is a montage of Jester dragging Caleb around to every food stall she can see; she emerges from this with a funnel cake, a corndog, a basket of fries covered in cheese, two deep-fried Oreos on a stick, a large cup of lemonade and of course a bag of cotton candy. They find a picnic table in the shade and Jester spreads out her haul, surveying it all greedily as she decides what to try first.]
The way they make this cotton candy is so weird. Are you sure it isn't magic?
[ Over the course of the montage Caleb's queasiness gradually subsides to the point where he actually considers sampling a few of the foods Jester collects. The cotton candy he's had, but the rest is bound to be a new and...interesting experience. ]
You know, actually, I can't be sure.
[ He's just going to take a long sip through the straw of that cup of lemonade, and only make a little bit of a face. He expected sour, but it's very sweet. But he's mostly joking when he asks, ]
Does it taste magical?
You know, actually, I can't be sure.
[ He's just going to take a long sip through the straw of that cup of lemonade, and only make a little bit of a face. He expected sour, but it's very sweet. But he's mostly joking when he asks, ]
Does it taste magical?
[Eagerly, Jester rips open the bag and rips off a hunk of cotton candy roughly twice the size of her mouth, and then pops the pink-and-blue fluff into her tongue. Immediately, her eyes go wide at the rush of pure sugar; she sighs happily as the candy melts on her tongue and crunches a little between her molars. Once she swallows, Jester sighs happily.]
It does, it's heavenly.
[And washed down with a sip of lemonade out of a plastic, dick-shaped cup? Unbeatable!
As much as she could eat that whole bag of sugar fluff right now, there are other, more tantalizing smells wafting under her nose, so she moves on.]
Thank you again, Caleb, [she says almost shyly as she plucks a fry that's dripping with cheese sauce out of the basket.] I'm having such a good day!
It does, it's heavenly.
[And washed down with a sip of lemonade out of a plastic, dick-shaped cup? Unbeatable!
As much as she could eat that whole bag of sugar fluff right now, there are other, more tantalizing smells wafting under her nose, so she moves on.]
Thank you again, Caleb, [she says almost shyly as she plucks a fry that's dripping with cheese sauce out of the basket.] I'm having such a good day!
[ Now that his stomach has settled, Caleb is discovering as he samples it that most of this food is actually delicious. Anything would taste good fried and covered in melted cheese, probably. ]
So am I. [ The curly fries are pretty great too, he discovers as he shoves several into his mouth. ] I think we both needed a day out.
[ A distraction. ]
But you are welcome, Jester. Always. And we haven't even seen the rest of the rides yet.
So am I. [ The curly fries are pretty great too, he discovers as he shoves several into his mouth. ] I think we both needed a day out.
[ A distraction. ]
But you are welcome, Jester. Always. And we haven't even seen the rest of the rides yet.
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