[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.
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?
... 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.
[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.
Motorbikes. [The word is foreign and weird in her mouth, but she'll ask for an explanation later. For now, she's gripping his forearm with an iron grip and giving him a playful shake.]
No! You don't need it! You're perfect just 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.
[ 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 ...
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[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.]
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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.
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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?
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[ 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.
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[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.
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Oh, well. I'm not all that rugged anymore ... Did you know they fried food here?
[ Haha, fuck. He laughs under his breath, nudging her side. ]
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[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.
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But not tomorrow, because I'm suddenly hit with the inexplicable inspiration to work out.
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No! You don't need it! You're perfect just like this!
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[ 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.
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[Up she goes, tired but bolstered enough by the change in mood to laugh.]
Yeah, that sounds perfect. Oh! We could eat the cake you got me! I almost stepped on it, you know.
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[ 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. ]