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I'm broke.
[and yet, he'll take a seat in what would presumably be the customer's spot.]
What would you take instead?
[and yet, he'll take a seat in what would presumably be the customer's spot.]
What would you take instead?
OOo, you'll take payment in factoids. I have tons of those.
[jem taps his cheek a couple times, picking a personal tidbit to share.]
I've died once before.
[jem taps his cheek a couple times, picking a personal tidbit to share.]
I've died once before.
Yup. I was rescued.
[an intense expression as he concentrates on the arch of cards. jem reaches out, nearly selects one, then changes his mind at the last second and takes a different card from the far left. it's kept face down, per instruction]
This one.
[an intense expression as he concentrates on the arch of cards. jem reaches out, nearly selects one, then changes his mind at the last second and takes a different card from the far left. it's kept face down, per instruction]
This one.
My pilot, but it's not like there was a time limit. I actually don't know how long I was dead for. [lifts his own hand so nothing will resist when molly is ready to flip.]
There is definitely a time limit. Might be longer than you think though.
[ just. medically. but also magically.
going to flip the card. It's labeled at the top and bottom: BOND and BETRAYER. Towards Jem, it's facing with BOND upwards. The image is a bridge and two figures, one still on the bridge, holding onto the hand of the other who dangles into the open sky. the figure left dangling hides a dagger behind their back. ]
Bond and Betrayer. The card of Vulnerability.
[ just. medically. but also magically.
going to flip the card. It's labeled at the top and bottom: BOND and BETRAYER. Towards Jem, it's facing with BOND upwards. The image is a bridge and two figures, one still on the bridge, holding onto the hand of the other who dangles into the open sky. the figure left dangling hides a dagger behind their back. ]
Bond and Betrayer. The card of Vulnerability.
[if there was more to it that jem was about to clarify, he isn't now. his eyes are wide as he takes in the revealed card. his gaze flits up and down it, making it difficult to tell whether he's more intrigued by one b-word or the other.
someone's getting read for filth and they aren't purple.]
Huh. So. It's not 'or.' It's 'and.'
[maybe he should have left this chill hang at him being broke. too late, now.]
What does it mean?
someone's getting read for filth and they aren't purple.]
Huh. So. It's not 'or.' It's 'and.'
[maybe he should have left this chill hang at him being broke. too late, now.]
What does it mean?
Things are rarely an "or." They're entwined already, aren't they? hand in hand.
[ tapping his finger on the card. ]
It's about deciding who you can trust. Who you're willing to try for. In order to bond with someone, you have to also know they have the capacity to hurt you.
[ tapping his finger on the card. ]
It's about deciding who you can trust. Who you're willing to try for. In order to bond with someone, you have to also know they have the capacity to hurt you.
[come, molly. let's head to the glittering gala boutique where now other outfits can be perused. jem would like to keep moving right now. that sounds ideal.]
Can I ask about the tattoos?
Can I ask about the tattoos?
You make being hurt sound nice.
[he'll indicate with a motion to see if he's allowed to pick up the card himself for a momentary closer inspection.]
More of that duality, huh?
[he'll indicate with a motion to see if he's allowed to pick up the card himself for a momentary closer inspection.]
More of that duality, huh?
Lots of things.
[it has come to Jem's attention he asks many questions despite veering away from answering many himself. must angle toward fairness.]
Let's start with where you had them done. And was it all the same artist? Was it painful?
[oops that's more than one.]
[it has come to Jem's attention he asks many questions despite veering away from answering many himself. must angle toward fairness.]
Let's start with where you had them done. And was it all the same artist? Was it painful?
[oops that's more than one.]
Edited 2026-03-02 13:43 (UTC)
[ molly can be cagey and frustratingly vague with answers, but this one he doesn't mind getting into. ]
All over the place. Some were by others at the carnival, sometimes I pay for them in a town we're passing through. [ holding up his arm with the snake on it. ] This was started by someone at the Carnival one of my first nights there.
Can't say they're comfortable, but you get used to it. Worst over joints, or where the bone is close to skin.
All over the place. Some were by others at the carnival, sometimes I pay for them in a town we're passing through. [ holding up his arm with the snake on it. ] This was started by someone at the Carnival one of my first nights there.
Can't say they're comfortable, but you get used to it. Worst over joints, or where the bone is close to skin.
[jem's slim pupils visibly dilate as he looks at the snake tat.]
What about the eyes? The pyramid one on your nape? Do they mean anything?
[he reaches out a hand as if to touch the body of the snake, but he stops shy of it. remembers his manners.]
What about the eyes? The pyramid one on your nape? Do they mean anything?
[he reaches out a hand as if to touch the body of the snake, but he stops shy of it. remembers his manners.]
[jem has a standing invite to the lemon lounge, although he's trying not to make himself too much of a staple. leave that to the (somehow even) needier limes and oranges. but he's here now, sitting on the far arm of the crying couch that molly has set up camp on. if molly was dozing at all, he may have been watched...
just to make sure he was breathing. assuming molly breathes.]
Hey. And here I thought we were all clear after no curfew last night.
just to make sure he was breathing. assuming molly breathes.]
Hey. And here I thought we were all clear after no curfew last night.
[ molly does, in fact, breathe. he is a mammal with working lungs. supposedly ...
he would have dozed on and off for a bit, but as soon as jem talks he's going to sit up, waving a bit. he's beat to hell, and should have spent more time in the healing machine, but just obviously didn't for reasons unknown. he's got a bandage eyepatch over his left eye, at least for the moment. ]
That's how they get you. Surprises.
he would have dozed on and off for a bit, but as soon as jem talks he's going to sit up, waving a bit. he's beat to hell, and should have spent more time in the healing machine, but just obviously didn't for reasons unknown. he's got a bandage eyepatch over his left eye, at least for the moment. ]
That's how they get you. Surprises.
Always keeping us on our toes.
[perhaps he should have been quiet and let molly continue to catch stray z-s. jem privately avows not to take up too much of his time. mammals require rest.]
You don't have to sit up for me. I'm here to see if I can get you anything. Well, and I'd also like to know what you went through, but that can wait if you're in a lot of pain. Your comfort is my priority.
[perhaps he should have been quiet and let molly continue to catch stray z-s. jem privately avows not to take up too much of his time. mammals require rest.]
You don't have to sit up for me. I'm here to see if I can get you anything. Well, and I'd also like to know what you went through, but that can wait if you're in a lot of pain. Your comfort is my priority.
Did it have to do with any missions your Team was assigned? One of ours was about sharing our fears.
[were none of lime team's bad enough to be prayed upon besides columbina's? or is this a correlation-ain't-causation thing?]
What happened when you showed up?
[were none of lime team's bad enough to be prayed upon besides columbina's? or is this a correlation-ain't-causation thing?]
What happened when you showed up?
[in... the sitting room. where thursday night narja was supposed to be. jem sits there, for now alone, ankles crossed and knees bouncing. a lot of energy and nowhere to appropriately expend it.]
Hey.
Hey.
Edited 2026-03-15 01:45 (UTC)
Awful one. L'Orange is going through it.
[the 'it' is being down (soon to be) three team members while the lemon party holds strong.]
[the 'it' is being down (soon to be) three team members while the lemon party holds strong.]
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