Welcome to Gaia! ::

Molly laughed. Little pipes? That made her think of a church organ. “O..oh?” She questioned a bit nervously in regards to those favors. “Well…a promise is a promise! Whenever you’re ready, just let me know, Koty.” She beamed. “I think Miss Clerise’s self confidence is very admirable. I wish I was half as confident as she is.” The Misty blinked as Dakota took her hand and then kissed it. Cue bright red cheeks as she squeaked, turning even redder as his lavishly kissed it.

“…Uh…Thank you? I think…” She wasn’t sure. “O…oh, I will! I promise. You make sure to keep in touch too, okay! Be careful Dakota, please? Oh, and remember!” She called out after him, “Try your hardest! No one can ask anymore of you than that! But I’m sure you’ll do well!” She waved the Moon Hunter off, and twiddled her fingers now as she waited.

Jordan nodded. "It's a cute photo. She could use some taking care of too, I think." He didn't know Clarice much at all, but it wasn't hard to see how much responsibility and stress and work she shouldered, and yet she still found the time to help and advise and care. He admired that.

He blinked at Clerise. "You've got some experience with - uh - non-traditional arrangements?" If she did, her advice could be invaluable - and it had been good, judging by the soft, faraway smile she wore.

"I'm glad someone agrees with me. She worries too much, I feel it in my bboooooneeesss."

Upon Jordan's query, Clerise just nodded a few times. "Yep! I mean, I've been with plenty in short terms," "But for the real s**t more than a night or two, I was with a married couple for a few years. Me and the wife hit it off first-- I got along quite well with her ,man, too, but...Well, she was the one in the middle, more often than not--"

A wild Dakota appeared. "Be back in a minute, Professor," she promised, letting the Moon hunter lead her away.

Clerise listened to him talk, and once more, she remembered how young he really was, and she wished she could curl around him, to protect him from the outside. It was a strange realization that she wanted to do that, and not just for him, either. To protect Rep and Clarice and Marcus and Sasha and Dakota, to shield her friends from pain.

Friends. Huh.

Clerise pressed another kiss to his mouth, to calm him, thumb rubbing over the hand in her own. She set another at the base of his neck, and she pulled him down so their foreheads touched. "I can't do that. I can't promise I won't die, because that sets us both up for disappointment later. I can, and will, and DO promise I'll try."

She took the earing, hooking it into a ribbon that held up one of her buns. From her pocket, she procured a spare one, black and satin, and tied it around his arm.

"You sound like an idiot because you are one." Clerise grinned. "We are not a thing," she said to Dakota, serious. "But you are my friend, and a good one, and I would rather like to continue the excellent benefits we have."

Another kiss and a lazy smirk before she released him. "Now, you promise me not to be a retard and do anything heroic for anyone, mister. If you die a virgin, I'll never forgive you."

Sasha was silent as Jerry spoke for her, smiling fondly at the intermediate before she turned her attention back to Ami.

"Ahh, yes. I'm ju-just ah.. tangled. Was thinking of a hair cut when we all g-get back, you know? Like.. short. I don't know. I've always had long hair, so.. I'll ha-have to see how I feel about it once I wash it a f-few times. And br-brush it."

Sasha busied herself by braiding her hair, wincing every now and again. "It just.. it feels so gross, even after I showered at th.. at the last camp."

There were those yucky feelings again. Don't think about the doctor, don't think about what happened. It'll all be fine.

The newer influx of people had pushed Jude and Bix's conversation to the way side. He was glad he had it though, not knowing the other young man very well. He shifted out of the mass of people and hung around the edges looking for any of his familiar friends.

He spotted Molly first and saw a Communications device on her person. "Molly!" Bix moved towards her. "Check it out I got one too." He waved his own device.

"We can keep in touch." He smiled and turned pink. He wouldn't for anyone else but it was Molly and so he couldn't seem to help it. Thankfully his sunburn hid it for the most part.

Molly stopped twiddling her fingers as Bix approached, and beamed as he showed her the communication device.

“Oh, excellent!” She cheered, clapping her hands. “I’m really happy you got one too!” Dakota, Rep, Bix…a lot of Hunters she had a good bond with seemed to have the devices, which was a plus. She clasped her hands together then, and grinned lightly. “The good thing about being here now, Bix, is that I won’t lose you amongst the scenery!”

Aleister jumped and paused when he noticed it was Syd talking. "Oh," He noticed she was yawning. "You okay?" He asked as she told him to turn to face the group.

He shrugged "Okay...." He said as he turned. "What you gunna do?"

Jordan tucked his hands in his pockets and stayed where he was, mostly not watching the conversation between Clerise and Dakota; he looked over the small knots of people talking instead. How many camps would they pause in? How many times would they have a moment of respite in which to say goodbyes again, just in case the next fight was the last one?

Morbid, Ferros grumbled, then added, I want that charge. I'm hungry.

I know you are, but you're going to have to wait till we've got something to burn up properly.

Irritably, Ferros made a sound like a cross between a locomotive puffing steam and the creaking of a rusty hinge. Jordan winced and rubbed his ear, even though the sound was entirely mental.

Clerise was headed back towards him. Jordan refocused and grinned at her. "Settled things with your boytoy?"