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sometime vaguely after shit hits the fan

[ordinar]

[Enough time has passed that the news has settled: it wasn't Cadens that burned, but another city. It didn't make Wilhelm feel any better, but he'd undoubtedly feel worse if someone he knew had been snuffed out in the strike. He should have tried reaching out to Jesper days ago, but that's the thing about guilt. It makes you so sure that anything you say could unlock your secrets, that everybody can sense a shift in you.

Eventually, he works up the courage.]

Hey, Jesper?

How is everything over there?

[itookashot]

Bloody and on fire.

I'm actually going on a supply run in a few days. A group of us will be escorting soldiers to get supplies from Solvunn and take it back. Much better at that than healing.

[ In fact, Jesper could be a great healer, but that was his mother's calling not his. ]

[ordinar]

As long as YOU'RE not bloody and on fire...

[Haha...ha...]

So you're leaving the Free Cities? I guess I wouldn't expect a risk-taker like you to stay still.

[A throwback to their last conversation.]

[itookashot]

Were you worried about me, Pigeon?

[ He can flirt even over this.]

Yeah, it's quite a trek, but Solvunn seems to be supplying both sides with things. It's a smart tactic, pretending neutrality while profiting over it. I salute them.

[ordinar]

Maybe.

[And he can be coy even over brain texts.]

I mean, at least they haven't set any towns on fire. That's a smart tactic too.

[itookashot]

That's cute.

Trust me, Reiner is not kidding when she says that was a light response. Free Cities has a lot of dangerous tech weapons. It's why I was trying to find out a way to get to you lot and pull you out of Thorne.

[ordinar]

[He genuinely can't tell if that's flirting or teasing, so...]

Shut up.

[...Better cover all his bases.]

Am I a damsel in distress now?

[itookashot]

You shut up.

[ Laughing. ]

You're all damsels in distress and I am the handsome hero.

[ordinar]

Well, good luck. There's like a million magic wards on this place.

[Though he's definitely got the handsome part down. That goes unsaid.]

[itookashot]

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Would you run off with me if I did?

[ordinar]

Well, it would be rude not to after you went through all that trouble.

[itookashot]

I'm working on it. I'm not about to leave you lot there.

[ordinar]

You're serious.

And insane.

[itookashot]

I'm absolutely serious. I've pulled off daring rescues before.

[ordinar]

I guess you weren't joking about taking risks.

So tell me about it, oh brave and handsome hero.

[Haha jk except not jk.]

[itookashot]

I'm both always joking and completely serious at the same time.

Are you flirting with me, Pigeon?

[ordinar]

[A yes or no question shouldn't require so much deliberation. But as the latter is untrue, and the former is too nakedly bold, here he is. It's not even serious, it's...fun. A little exciting, a little nerve-wracking. Very nearly a distraction from everything burning around them.

After a long pause:]

Only because you started it.

[itookashot]

I'm always flirting. And here I thought you were straight.

[ordinar]

Guess not.

[itookashot]

Damn, you should have told me at the party! I could have kissed you in person. Rude.

[ordinar]

[Oh. Preoccupied with missing Simon — and brooding over the way they'd burned down — he hasn't given much thought to kissing anyone else. But now he is.]

You know, I thought you'd hang around longer that night.

[itookashot]

I got distracted by them telling us to use those bugs to protect Jaskier.

[ And everything that went wrong after that. Jesper himself is not that close to Jaskier, but he's still one of the Cadens family, and he's close to Geralt and Nadine. Jesper's very protective over people.]

Would you be interested in kissing me? Because we can do that in the Horizon any time we want.

[ordinar]

[Right, that was a stupid thing to say. Think. Whatever.]

I just meant

I had a good time with you.

[Although now every memory of that night is left charred by what followed, in the way fire catches hold of everything around it, the hour spent with Jesper stays one he wishes he could go back to.]

Really? Like right now?

[Or...something less embarrassingly eager. Fuck, his brain seriously needs a backspace key.]

I mean, if you're not busy.

You're probably busy.

[itookashot]

I had a good time with you too, love.

[ He's laughing. So eager! His favorite. ]

I'm not busy. A pleasant distraction would be greatly appreciated right now. If you're interested, come to the Crow Club. Hard to miss, it's a seedy-looking club with a giant crow symbol over the door. Meet me there?

[ooc: going away on Sat but we can start something here if you want!]

1/2

[ordinar]

See you soon.