IC Contact [ryslig]

[catphishing]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, OLIVER. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 142.58.303.67 *** oliver has joined 142.58.303.67 <oliver> So this is my private channel. <oliver> Talk to me?

Current Usernames

<trashpanda>
<mothman>
<oliver>
<deBricassart> (anon)

Former Usernames

<creepypasta>

Throwaways

<zx01r3z>
<tfk>

Changeling Throwaways

Comments

[catphishing]

[He doesn't want her to go, but Oliver knows Jade. She'll do what she thinks she needs to regardless of what he tells her. He looks her over tiredly.]

Did you eat breakfast?

[fourthsaken]

I... [Jade was gearing up for another argument, she had her retort ready, the simple questions throws her off. It throws her so much that she doesn't think to lie.] Uh, no, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday.

[catphishing]

[He's too tired for an argument he knows he'll lose. If he weren't so exhausted he might at least put in some effort to trying to talk her down, but for now he just can't bring himself to. He has to put what little energy he has left to the important things at hand, like finding Soeki, and making sure that Jade doesn't completely neglect herself.

He sighs, opening up the cupboards to start fetching out the things they'll need for breakfast. He hadn't been planning on more than a quick stop back at the apartment, but now he's here it's a reminder that Soeki isn't the only person he needs to take care of.]

You need to take care of yourself. Help me get breakfast ready. And lose the gun, you aren't going anywhere with that thing.

[fourthsaken]

Shades don't even need to eat... [But the retort is half-hearted and she even starts pulling ingredients out of the fridge, juice and vegetables and eggs. It's weird doing something so normal when Soeki isn't there, when Soeki should be there cooking with them, but she doesn't want to push her luck with Oliver. Not when she's hoping he'll just forget about his issue with her gun. Besides, he needs to eat and Jade's worried that he won't without taking care of her as a reason to take a break.]

[catphishing]

Shades need to be careful not to lose themselves.

[It had been a big problem for him when he'd been a shade, and looking back he wonders how much of that had been a lack of normalcy. He'd stopped eating. He'd barely had physical contact. He'd got so caught up in the things that made him angry.

Jade does a lot better at managing herself than he did, but he feels like he needs to make sure she can still do that when something's upsetting her. He puts on water for coffee, knowing he's going to need that to stay awake, and fetches out the utensils they're going to need to start cooking before starting to exit the kitchen again.]

Do you mind starting? I'm just going to put on something that fits real quick, then I can help you finish off.

[fourthsaken]

[It's the first time Jade really looked at Oliver since he walked in on her packing up to search for Soeki, looked at him when the thing on her mind wasn't winning the argument. He looks exhausted. And just as scared as she is.

She nods once, expression softening. She digs the gun out of her bag and sets in on the counter before she turns back to the breakfast supplies.]

I don't mind. Take your time. No offense, but you look exhausted.

[catphishing]

[He laughs hollowly, leaving to change. It really doesn't take him long. He just throws on the first thing he can find. If the shirt happens to be one of Soeki's... he can pretend that's a coincidence.

When he enters the kitchen to help out he probably doesn't look much better, but he's relieved about the gun still being out on the counter and not in Jade's bag. He really is too tired for that argument.]

What do you need me to do?

[fourthsaken]

[She definitely notices that its Soeki's shirt, not his, but she'll pretend not to. If Oliver gets even a little comfort from wearing it, she won't bring attention to it in case he's embarrassed.]

Dude, just sit down. I've got this.

[And she really does. Vegetables and eggs are cooking in a fry pan, coffee is brewing, and bread is toasting. She's cutting up bananas and strawberries with her telekinetic ability as she scrambles the eggs.]

[catphishing]

[Oliver watches, impressed she can do so much when he knows she must be just as stressed as he is. He is reluctant to sit down though. He's a little afraid he'll fall asleep if he does.]

Are you sure I can't do anything?

[fourthsaken]

[The only thing keeping Jade solid and from spiraling out of control is focusing on the task. She's almost grateful to have something she knows she can do. Cooking breakfast is so much easier than the daunting mission of finding Soeki (safe and alive, she hopes) that lies before her.]

Uh, you could take over cutting the fruit if you want? You're probably faster than I am.

[catphishing]

[The fruit is almost done, but Oliver is glad for something to keep him going. He takes over to finish cutting the remaining fruit, arranging it in bowls ready for them to eat.]

We'll find him. He'll be okay.

[fourthsaken]

[Jade freezes, her whole form shifting to shadow and the spatula she was holding clattering to the ground.]

What if we can't? What if he isn't?

[They're the two questions she's been avoiding asking herself all morning and she can barely say them out loud.]

[catphishing]

He will be.

[The bear stubbornness gives him a certainty that would be there otherwise. Soeki will be okay. Nothing else is a possibility worth considering.

He leaves the breakfast prep, stepping closer to Jade and putting a hand near her shadowy form. He might not be able to hold her like this, but he can still try and give her some comfort.]

He'll be okay. I promise.

[fourthsaken]

[Jade is still far from certain, but Oliver's outstretched hand is enough to ground her, to give her something to focus on that isn't her own fear and worry. It takes a few seconds, but she settles into her solid form, the aura around her going from a dark black to a lighter grey. She hesitates for several more seconds before pulling Oliver into a hug, burying her head against his chest.]

I-I hope you're right. He can't be hurt again, it just can't happen.

[catphishing]

[He hugs her tightly, subtly taking in the reassuring scent of her hair. Jade is safe. That's helpful. He doesn't know what he'd do if they both went missing again.]

It won't. If he is, they'll pay for it.

[No one messes with Soeki. Nobody.]

[fourthsaken]

[Jade doesn't know what she'd do without Soeki and Oliver either. The idea horrifies her and she can't help thinking about it now that Soeki's disappeared. She's afraid that Oliver will be next.]

We have to find him. I can't lose him too. I can't lose either of you.

[catphishing]

I'm not going anywhere. I promise.

[It might be a promise he can't keep, but he won't abandon Jade willingly. His grip on Jade tightens. He needs to leave soon to find Soeki, but he's just as worried about her disappearing as she is him.]

[fourthsaken]

[Jade desperately wants to believe him. She doubts he'd be able to make that promise if he was a faerie right now, and she's almost grateful that he can lie. Jade will never be an optimist, but she needs the sliver of hope that Oliver's promise provides right now.]

... Okay. I'm not either. I-I promise.

[catphishing]

I know.

[He doesn't. Not really. But Jade's the most stable connection he has here, even more so than Soeki. She's been here the entire time he's been in Ryslig, and she's always been there for him. It's nearly impossible to imagine being in this place without her. He rubs her arm as he embraces her, preparing himself to reluctantly pull away from her.]

You ready to eat breakfast?

[Then they can go and find Soeki, and bring their family back together.]

[fourthsaken]

[She nods, untangling herself from Oliver's hug with the same reluctance. She's still not that hungry, is honestly unsure if she'll physically be able to eat much, but the faster they have breakfast, the faster they can be out looking for Soeki.]

The, uh, eggs might be kinda burnt.

[catphishing]

[Oliver laughs, just a little, leaning away from her and over to turn off the stove.]

That's okay. I don't think either of care how it tastes right now.

[fourthsaken]

[Jade just shakes her head and grabs their plates. She eyes her gun that's still on the counter as she starts to serve up the food.]

... You really don't want me taking my gun?

[catphishing]

I really, really don't.

[It's enough of a task for him not to confiscate it, but he's pretty sure she wouldn't let him get away with that.]

[fourthsaken]

Why not? I know how to use it. It's not like I don't know what I'm doing...

[catphishing]

That's not the point. They're dangerous, Jade. What if it ends up just making things worse?

[He takes his own plate, trying not to dwell on how often Jade might have gone out with it without him knowing]