leetle | IC INBOX

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.

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.

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.

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.]

[ 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.

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.

[ This feels right, closer to how they usually are. ]

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. ]

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.

I heard about that. [ Thank the gods for Caleb Widogast. ] Between you and me, the arcade is way better. I'll show you the motorbikes game.

But not tomorrow, because I'm suddenly hit with the inexplicable inspiration to work out.

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.

I can pick up the Star Razor, helloooo!

[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.

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. ]

IC INBOX | @erku

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