So this is the new world of magic I have access to. 

Gotta say, really don't like the back pain. Sure, I can be powerful and strong whenever I want. And also a girl. Not sure how to think about that, so I'm not going to!

Anyway, I have all this magic, but I can basically use it like once per day. And the rest of the day I'm dealing with the aftermath of fighting monsters to get these powers.

I can't work as a fire fighter till I recover, so that's been rough. Been sitting a home playing with my new power, talking to Pascal, and thinking about who I'm going to be.

Someone with a back that hurts, that's what. That was a Joke Pascal

Okay, I need a break.

(The camera captures Pal moving stiffly away from the camera, and then beginning to glow, giving off waves of blue and white light. He shifts as he does so, moving his arms and hands to fit into the costume forming around him. His body shifts and shrinks, becoming about a foot smaller, and growing long flowing hair)
(Moonstone shakes out her hair, her transformation done)

Oh good that's better.

Yes Pascal, I haven't forgotten, I'll leave soon. 

Anyway journal, I feel a lot better like this. The pain is still there, but it... doesn't matter? I'm not sure how to feel about changing my sex. I kind of like it? But also I like it when I switch back? Like maybe I want to be a girl sometimes, but not always. 

Well, I'll think about that later.

Anyway. Pascal's been making me train. Moonstone at least. When I'm the other one I mostly just wait to get better and look for people who could help fix my back.

I feel like there is some separation between me and my other form. Like. We are the same person, but right now I'm Moonstone. Don't call me the other one. And similarly, for when I'm the other one. Moonstone is who I am right now.

Anyway, I'm joining a fight club. No pascal, it's obviously a joke, I don't need to say exactly where I'm going all the time. My journal will know that I'm training to get better at fighting, and I'll know where that is, and because I'm the only one who has access to the journal, I don't need to over explain it.

Anyway  Journal, I'm heading out. Only got 25 more minutes of Moonstone time before I gotta use up more power.

Hey journal!

So. Last contract was a big one. 

Got some missing fingers out of it. Going to see if I can get someone to fix that. I have to know some people by now. I know Johnny is advertising some weird thing, so maybe he has something. Otherwise, I'll go to the person I got my first big injury from.

Pascal has me doing speed training. Yeah I'm telling it Pascal, just. Can you give me like 5 minutes. Seriously, we can talk after this.

Anyway.

I'm super fast now. But, according to pascal, that's even more reason to focus on training and increasing my natural speed as much as possible. 

Magic works on what you have, and Moonstone is an improvement on me, not a replacement of me.

I've chatted with Sammy a bit. He is going to try and talk to the dead rangers in the park.


Yeah Pascal, I know I know, just... 

Sammy wants to know what's going on, so we'll see how that works out. If he goes near the forest, I'm going with him. Seems like it could be dangerous without me, and I'm fast.

Heya Journal.

Being Moonstone feels smooth now. Like her body is more responsive. Pal's body has also been improving, but not nearly as magically.

(Pause as Pal realizes he just referred to himself in the third person). 

Well. Both my bodies are getting stronger. Moonstone is just getting better magically fast. I feel like I could go as fast as a car, and still stop quickly. Like I'll never trip. Like this body really belongs to me.

Honestly, sometimes Moonstone feels more like me than being Pal does. But sometimes she doesn't. Maybe there is something there. If I can ever be Moonstone for an extended period of time, maybe I feel just as strongly that I should be Pal.

(Pal stops and thinks)

Well. We'll see what happens. My body feels like it really is mine now. And after my last mission I feel like I'm getting a hang of things. Contracts are still dangerous. I will definitely still need to be careful. But. I feel like I've come into my power.


I had a chat with Wren! I worry about her some. She... She still has more to go, and I don't know if she will have someone like me with her on every contract. She... can be a bit tough to manage sometimes. But worth it, I think. Everyone is worth it, and she seems like she has been hit harder than most by the world.

Pal sets up the camera.

"Okay, okay. This is fine. This is... Shutup pascal. Okay Just. Recording. Day one. Or whatever"

Pal rolls up his pants. On his knee there is a mark along his leg that seems like a slightly different color than the rest of his leg. There is a bit of black around it.

"So, tripped when I was going on a run. Was working on.... not important. It healed in less than 3 hours. I'm thinking that either I got some sort of curse or..."

Pal becomes Moonstone. 

Moonstone starts stripping her pants.

"I didn't think much about this, but."

Looking at her leg, the black lines are there, but all other skin is the same color as the rest of the leg.

"Well.... I guess when I'm like this it won't bother me as much... But I guess If I get hurt as much as I have in some previous contracts, that pretty soon.."

By the end of the month through training Pal was covered in black lines around differently colored skin.

Pal paces.

He checks his phone.

He frowns.

He paces more. 

He itches at his neck. A sigh.

He picks up his phone. Still no reply. He checks his text history. 

A few screens of just him checking on Wren 

Hey, haven't heard from you in a few weeks is everything alright?

Saw a documentary about ... well, it's not important. Made me think of you. Call if you want to talk?

Hey, not sure If I did something, but just. Let me know you are okay? Please?

He backs out to his contacts.

Ems.

He calls.

Ems picks up on the second ring.

"What happened?"

Pal frowned. "Why does something have to be wrong."

"Pal, I'm your sister. If you are checking in you send a text. If you want to hang out, you send an invite to my google calendar. If you are calling, something is wrong. Now spill, big sister will take care of it." 

Pal chuckles. 

"Well... You remember that girl that I saved a few..."

Wren looks up at the apartment window. Should be asleep. She starts the climb, and soon enough gets up to Pal’s room. She can see he has a small nightlight in his room in the shape of a crescent moon, illuminating the part of the room he is currently turned away from while sleeping.

He doesn’t lock his windows, because why would he.

Wren opens it, trying to be quiet, and slips in. It's embarrassing, but she's grateful for the night light.

Pal tosses a bit in his sleep. By the soft light, she can see he sleeps without a shirt on. He has more scars covering his body than last time she saw him... But they take the form of little bits of him that have Moonstone’s skin tone and texture, and lines tracing the separation. 

She reaches out and feels one of the scars. The difference in the two skin types.

Pal’s skin feels soft. Squishy and warm. Moonstone feels smooth. Almost too smooth. None of the soft micro hairs that all mammals have. A little cooler, but still alive. Like touching living marble, still pliable.
Pal’s eyes flicker.
In a burst of light, his form shifts. Twisting, equipping, and putting her gauntlets on as they form out of light.

Then Moonstone is on her feet on the bed, still blinking sleep from her eyes.
“Wren?”

Wren tries to keep a hand on him as she transforms, to feel what it's like.

The transformation is warm. And bright. You feel the texture of skin replaced as layer by layer Moonstone’s equipment is brought into existence.
“Wren you’re alive!” 

Moonstone shakes the sleep from her eyes.

“Am I dreaming?”

She takes her hand and places it over Wrens, holding it to her chest. 

Wren shakes her head no.
"I'm sorry."

Moonstone frowns.

“Wren, what’s wrong?”

She reaches out her other hand. Pauses, then looks for permission before she touches wren’s face. Then she looks over her with concern, a little confused.

“Do… Do you need blood? You don’t need to apologize, I can heal fast now. You can take whatever you need.”

She tilts her head a little. Baring her neck just a bit.

She does a slight nod to give permission, and her eyes linger on the exposed neck.
"It's not that. I was gone."

Moonstone places her hand on Wren’s cheek. A delicate hand, but much stronger than it should be. Moonstone looks Wren in her eyes. Then down over her, looking for any obvious wounds.

“And now you’re back. You’re safe. It’s okay.”

She rubs a thumb over Wren’s cheek. Her other hand keeps holding her hand to her chest.

“Did someone hurt you?” 

Wren laughs a little, but it sounds almost more like a sob.
"Yeah, god. Someone shot out my tongue and trapped me in another dimension. So I was, uh. I was out of the scene for a little bit."

Moonstone furrows her brow. 

She clearly wants to do something, but has the hesitation that comes from knowing Wren is a particular kind of sensitive.

“I… I want to hug you. Is that okay?”
 
Wren takes a step towards Moonstone, and slowly buries her face in her neck. She's not biting, and she's freezing.

Moonstone wraps her arms around Wren’s and holds her close with one arm. With the other she strips off her helmet, and tosses it to the ground, letting her blue white hair fall down her back.

Then she reaches her other hand around to hold Wren.

“Hey. Hey. You’re okay. You are safe.”

Moonstone runs a hand over Wren’s back. A steady pressure, part pet, part trying to massage out tension in Wren’s back.

The response is a muffled: "You're so warm."

A little chuckle from Moonstone.

“I can turn the heat up if you want. Maybe run a warm bath? Whatever you need, okay?”

Still a bit muffled, Wren replies:
"I think I did something you won't like."

Moonstone pauses.

“And you feel bad about it? That’s why you’re here?”
Moonstone runs a hand over the back of Wren’s hair, continuing her soothing motions.

"I kept thinking about you. While it was happening."

Moonstone holds her tight. 

“You’re okay. You’re safe. You can tell me about it if you want.”

Moonstone lifts Wren momentarily, and she feels a sense of weightlessness. 

In a flash, she moves to the thermostats, and turns it up with one hand to make the apartment warm up.

Then moves to the window to shut it.

She keeps holding Wren as she does this. Seemingly unaffected by her weight

Wren buries herself deeper at the movement. Moonstone can probably feel a flash of fear as she starts moving before Wren relaxes again.
"I got back last month. From the, uh, other place. That I was. And I didn't reach out because I was scared that it had been too long that I was out there and maybe it would be better if I'd just died out there. But. I got back. Went on a contract. The job was, uh. I had to eat [spoilers for contract]."

Moonstone stiffens. Then she keeps rubbing her back.

“You are safe. 
What a fucked up contract… what happened?”

"Um. I won. The other contractors on it blew each other up."

Moonstone lets out a breath. She is still for a bit.

"Yeah, that sounds like what would happen. Contractors..."

Moonstone keeps holding Wren as she trails off.

"That's fucked. I'm so sorry..."

Another pause.

"Do you regret it?"

"She wanted me to do it. To eat [spoilers]."
 
"Oh fuck."

Moonstone keeps rubbing Wrens back.

"Well... That's a fucked up situation."

Moonstone gives Wren a little squeeze.

"I don't hate you or anything. For being in that situation. I'm still safe for you. If you want to talk about how you felt, the decisions you made, what else you could do, or anything I'm happy to talk, and be a support system for you about this.

You are safe with me Wren. It's okay. But we don't need to talk about that now."

"It's just. That's kind of like you, right? I broke into your apartment and you immediately offered me your blood. That can't be right."

Moonstone starts to shrug, but stops because Wren is on her shoulder.

"I thought you would need it. It seems pretty straightforward to me. It's not like... I'm not sure what motivated that girl."

Moonstone runs her hands down the back of Wrens neck, combing her hair some with her fingers, and pressing her into her neck.

"Sometimes people need the help of others.  I've needed it before. 

I feel protective of you. So... If you need help, I want to be one of the people you can ask for it from." 

"So it's okay to hurt you because you think I need to?"
Wren finally actually hugs back instead of just pressing into Moonstone, tight.

"I don't actually mind pain when I'm like this. And I'm giving you consent. That's what makes it okay. If you want to."

Moonstone turns her face towards the side of Wrens face, her cheek touching her cheek.

"I'm tough. Pain didn't bother me much before, and it barely bothers me now. I like being able to help you."

"But she consented. And now she's dead. I killed her."

Moonstone frowns. 

“You wouldn’t kill me. I’m very hard to kill…  I wouldn’t let you kill me… This girl probably needed psychological help…
Do you regret that you killed her?”

"I think so. I've killed people before, but... I don't know, I always felt like I needed to, you know? This wasn't like that. This was me killing a stranger for a little boost."

Moonstone lets out a sigh. Relief.

“Okay. Then you did something you regret. In a stressful situation, where people were dying and exploding, and when someone very powerful offered you something for it.

That you regret it shows that you still care. Whatever else is changing in you, you still don’t want to kill innocent people.

You made a mistake. A mistake in a tense fucked up situation. It’s clearly hurting you. 

For now, you are safe. I got you. You can take all the time you need to process it. Think about how you can make it better next time. Not have to make that same choice.”

"I still want to kill people, though. The uh. The guy that trapped me. I have a plan to hunt him down and torture him. I didn't want to see you until after, because."

A deep breath into Moonstone's neck.

"And then after him, I was gonna go after that guy I told you about before. My ex."

Her hands on Moonstone's back clench and dig into it a bit. Probably not painful for the likes of Moonstone, but a normal person's skin might have broken from the nails.

"But they are just living their lives. That guy that trapped me, it was him or me, you know? He had a family here to get back to. I don't know. How can I be upset that someone killed me if I'm just going around killing other people, right? How do I justify that to myself? How do I do that knowing that you're a goddamn hero and you think I'm worth it?"

Moonstone draws her face back a bit slowly, but stays close, her nose centimeters from Wren’s skin. If she turned she would bump their noses together.

“Some people are dangerous. And those people need to be fought sometimes. And sometimes killed. I had to make someone die on my last contract. I needed to in order to save a little girl.  Some people are too far gone.

But most people are worth it.”

Moonstone swallows.

“Wren I know you are worth it. You have had to deal with more than most, and that is hard. Wanting to hurt people that hurt you is normal. But don’t tell yourself that you are a killer. You aren’t. You are hurt, and violence is an appealing tool. Sometimes it’s the best one. It is one is use a lot. But it’s a tool. Not who you are.”

Wren has her eyes closed.
"If I'm not a killer, what's left?"

Moonstone leans forward, touching her forehead to Wren’s.

“You are. You don’t need to know who that is right now.”
Moonstone’s breath smells minty. Like someone used too much toothpaste since they don’t have a sense of smell or taste.

Still keeping her eyes closed, Wren smiles a little, and sniffles.
"Do you brush your teeth as Moonstone? Or does it transfer over?"

“Pretty sure it transfers. Why?”

"It's nice. Minty fresh."
She looks like she's trying not to laugh, now, instead of trying to not cry.

“Oh? Oh!” 

Moonstone blushes a little, heat and blood rushing to her skin.

“Yeah, I uh. Stopped being able to smell or taste a while back. So. I don’t get any warning with oral hygiene. Uhhh. So maybe I overdo it.”
Moonstone chuckles through her embarrassment.

Wren nods in response, a dangerous movement with their foreheads pressed together like that.
"I can't taste anything but blood these days, but. Still got smells. I, uh. I like yours. Safe."

Moonstone grins. 

“What a deal we’ve made with the world.”

A softer voice. A little vulnerable.

“I. I’m glad you like mine. I want you to feel safe with me…”

Moonstone swallows. 

“I … I missed you. I was really worried.”

"I do. And, I missed you too. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I didn't know what I wanted."

Moonstone blushes more. She focuses 

“What do you want?”

"I want to keep feeling things. The sun... I don't remember if I talked to you about it, but the sun is one of the only times I really feel things anymore. Not great things from the sun, mind you. But the sun, blood... and you."

Moonstone swallows.

“I uh. You were gone for a while. I … I want to kiss you.”

Moonstone starts talking a little quickly and rambling.

“But I also went on a date a few days ago, and we aren’t exclusive, but she said to tell her if I have anyone else, and I like that principle, so I didn’t want to try and kiss you without telling you first. And I also didn’t want you to think I would stop letting you drink my blood, or helping you or believing in you to anything if you say no to letting me kiss you now and …”

Wren's eyes finally open again.
"What?"
She takes a half step back, which might be impossible if Moonstone doesn't pick up on it and lets her go enough to allow that.

Moonstone’s arms are like rock for a fraction of a second, then lets Wren go. Her arms drift in the air at the height to hold Wren again.

“I. I just. I wanted to kiss you. But I didn’t want you to feel like I lied to you. Or…”

Moonstone blushes.
“I thought about you a lot. I told her about you. But I thought you were dead. And I didn’t know if…”

Moonstone takes a breath.

“I’m sorry. I’m making this about me and what I want. I shouldn’t have.”

Wren licks her lips, looking at Moonstone's.
"That's okay. I... You can want things. You're allowed to have wants and. And needs. That's not bad."
She shakes her head a little as she says that last part.

“But it’s… you’ve just been through something awful. I want to be safe for you. This isn’t something that I need to talk about now.”

Moonstone takes a slow step forward. Looking at Wren to see if that is okay.

Wren doesn't take a step back again. She trembles a little and makes a whining sound in the back of her throat.
"But there's someone else now. That's okay. I get that. It happens. I was gone. You thought I was dead. We didn't—I wasn't—."

“I… we went on one date a few days ago. I… Wren …”

Little tears form at the edge of Moonstone's eyes.

“Please, can I hold you again Wren?”

Her lips are pressed closed, but she gives a short nod.
 
Moonstone moves forward, and wraps her arms around Wren, holding her close with strong arms.

“You are safe. It’s okay. I’m sorry. I got you.”

Quietly, Wren asks:
"Is she pretty? And nice? She probably doesn't even kill people does she?"
She makes a sort of sob-laugh noise again, like she's asking that last part as a joke but is still afraid of the answer.

“She… she’s nice. She doesn’t like… this me. Moonstone. Or. It’s too much like a child… I. I’m not sure how I feel about that. She likes Pal though. 

She was a solider. Killed a lot of people, but is trying to change. Like you … I guess I sort of have a type.”

Moonstone burrows her face into Wrens shoulder.

“I just. She liked me, and wanted me and she asked, and if I had known you were alive I wouldn’t have… Or I would have talked to you, I guess, since we had… something. There is an intimacy between us from what we shared. And neither of us got to asking the other. But…”

Moonstone turns to hiss under her breath at the empty room 

“Not now Pascal!”

“It. It’s not… if you wanted me. If you wanted to be… something like… if I could be your boy… girl… something friend. I would tell her, and we would be just friends.

Because I like you Wren. Have for a while.” 

"You're as goddamned crazy as I am. You might also just be the best thing that's ever happened to me."
She starts to nod and hold Moonstone tighter again.
"You want me? I'm yours."

Moonstone cups Wren’s face in a hand, and kisses her.

Pal get's back home after about a week. 

He text's Wren around 11 pm.

"Should be getting back home in the morning. Catching a late flight. Will need to do laundry pretty badly."

"Looking forward to seeing you again! But like. You don't need to see me immediately or anything. Know you have your own life."

"But. Looking forward to seeing you."

Unifel —

Me too! I'll make my way over. Safe flight.

RNG — 

Pal grins down at his phone.

He considers saying something else.

Instead he makes his way to the airport, boards his flight, and sleeps the full length of the flight.

He gets home at around 2 am. He is wearing a white tshirt that fits his frame tightly, and black sweatpants. New clothes. They don't looks expensive. Or nice. 

He does his best to enter the apartment quietly

Unifel —

Wren isn't at the door, but that's usual.

RNG — 

Pal opens and closes the door quietly.

He knows the Wren doesn't sleep.

But it's still good to be quiet just in case. 

Pal makes his way to his bathroom, the one with the laundry built in.

Unifel —

He can hear a quiet humming coming from it as he gets closer. Movement.

RNG — 

He pauses. 

"Hey sunshine! I'm home. Going to start a load, and take a shower. Then we can catch up maybe?"

Unifel —

How loud does he say that?

RNG —

At a normal volume. He doesn't want to accidentally wake a neighbor

Unifel — 

Cute! He's so good.

There's no response.

RNG — 

Pal shrugs. He heads into the bathroom.

Unifel — 

Wren is in there, with headphones on, humming as she pulls clothes out of the dryer. She was... She did Pal's laundry.

RNG — 

Pal blinks several times. 

He puts his bag down.

For a moment he considers hugging her from behind. Picking her up, kissing her neck.... 

Then the thinks about his instinctive responses to surprises.

Don't really want to need to fix my nose tonight.

He moves into the room, getting into Wren's line of sight. 

He looks at her with a soft look.

Wren smiles brightly, and pulls off her headphones.

"Hey! I wanted you to be able to get some rest, so I took care of the laundry for you. How'd it go?"

RNG — 

Pal shrugs. (fond. protective.)

"It was fine. I was mostly worried about the clothes I brought with me though." (True)

Pal grins. 

"You are so sweet. Can I kiss you?" (Happy. Fond. Relieved) 

Unifel —

"Please!"

She leans forward, one of her fangs poking out between her smile as she closes her eyes.

Image

RNG — 

Pal leans forward and kisses her, lightly holding Wren's waist as he pulls her closer. 

He smells sweaty, and a bit dirty. Long job. His mouth is still a little too minty.

He pulls back. (blissful. happy. safe)

"I need  to shower. Also I probably need to start a load. Got a lot of blood on my clothes. Then yes. Bed time." 

Unifel —

She makes a quiet mmmm sound, content in the kiss.

Then she smiles mischievously.

"Do you... need any help? With relaxing? And cleaning up?"

RNG — 

Pal blinks. (Surprised) 

Then grins. (Happy, a little aroused. Regret)

"I am uh.... probably not in the shape for... activities. But... we can cuddle. Shower together if you want."

Pal starts un packing his back. In a collection of large ziplock bags, he has several piece of clothing. The clothes he left in, and most of Moonstone's outfit.

It has several huge holes in it, and is covered in blood.

As he unzips and throws the clothes in the washer (Carefully detaching the moonstones from Moonstone's uniform), the room is filled with the smell of blood.

Unifel —

Wren's breath catches, and she licks her lips.

"Oh my god."

Unifel —

Image

RNG — 

Pal blinks. (A slight guilt. embarrassed)

"Oh! Yeah, I almost got cut in half." 

He slides his shirt off. Wren can see 3 lines of black outlining large swaths of Pal's skin. With how Pal's healing works, you know that he probably lost most of his guts. or Her guts. 

And was probably impaled.

He tosses the shirt in the washer.

Unifel —

Her face looks at the scars.

"You what?"

RNG —

Pal nods. (Embarrassed)

"Yeah, there were like. These swords, and people were good with them, and they cut me a lot. I didn't like... go down or anything. But yeah, I got cut pretty bad. "

Pal grins sheepishly. 

"Flew back after. I could have had people help, but one of them was a kid, and I kind of... Thought I could handle it?"

"Anyway, mostly was solved after that. I also had a whole aerial battle. That was cool. But yeah, was laid out after it for a bit." 

Pal rubs the back of his head, and keeps working on taking off the moonstones. (Embarrassed, a little worried and guilty)

"But I'm fine now! I can recover pretty quick nowadays."

Wren gently puts a cold hand on his shoulder.

"You need to remember you matter too. Was this kid a contractor? You need to let your team help you. You need to-"

She pauses. Her voice steady, she continues after a moment.

"You need to come home to me."

RNG —

(intense guilt)

"I.... Yeah. I will."

Pal moves his hands up to hold Wren's hand.

"I promise. I'll come home...."

He leans down and presses his forehead to Wren's

Unifel —

She holds him, tightly.

"Speaking of coming home, I... Will you move in with me?"

RNG — 

(Surprise. Mirth) 

"Oh? Like Seattle?"

Pal pauses. (Contemplative. Loved. Fond. Protective)

"Oh, that would be a lot closer to Ems anyway. And since I can't really work much anymore... yeah, that sounds great."

Unifel —

She lights up, and squeezes even tighter.

"Okay! That's great! Let me get you cleaned up, and we'll set it up."

She lets go and starts helping with the clothes.

"You take a seat, my light. Rest."

RNG — 

Pal kisses Wren's forehead, then her nose, before putting a light kiss on her lips.

"You are so good to me."

Then he goes and takes a shower. A long shower.

Pal texts Wren before the job.

"Will we a few days late, had a job. But truck is all packed up!"

Then a few days later

"Job done, on my way."
Unifel — 
ETA? I'll see if I can be off in time.
 
RNG —
"Should be there in about... 1 and a half days."
 
"About 9 am I think?"

Unifel —

"Oh, is someone driving with you? You taking shifts?"

RNG —

"Oh no, Moonstone is going to drive. She doesn't need to sleep anymore.
That's new. But Pascal told me about it."

Unifel —

"Does that leave Pal tired, though? Or still feeling rested?"

RNG —
"
He'll be fineeeee. Probably. Maybe.

Well. Probably a good idea to figure that out!

"

Unifel —

Maybe could figure that out in a safer way than driving across the country for... let me guess, plan is about 36 hours straight?

RNG —
"
That was the plan yes.

On a taxi from the airport now.
"

Unifel —
"
Even if Moonstone doesn't need sleep, Im sure she gets bored. Or mentally fatigued. And we don't know how it's going to affect Pal.
You're spreading this drive out longer.
"

RNG —
"
Okay.
"
Unifel —
"
How'd the job go? You okay? No getting cut in half?
"
RNG —
" Yeah, it was fine. I had to carry people, and defend people, but I didn't even get hurt."

Unifel —
"That's my boygirl 😘"

RNG —
Pal blushes in the car.
Unifel —

"But fr, take breaks every four hours. Try to get some shuteye even with everything. Even things like me need breaks, remember?"
"Even if you'd be fine in an accident, I don't want you hurting anyone else"

RNG —

"Okay. I will be. For you. "

"Thank you for looking out for me"

Unifel —
"Always!"

"I'm so excited for you to meet my friends"

RNG —
Pal smiles in the taxi.

He takes about 3 days to get to Seattle.

RNG —
Pal arrives around noon on a thursday.

Unifel —
Wren is... not waiting outside the bar which is the main entrance to her current place.
RNG —
Pal parks his car in the back. 

Then grabs a few bags, then text's Wren.

"Just got in!"

Unifel —

"Sweet! Do you need help carrying stuff? Are you Pal out there? Moonstone might have trouble walking in, maybe..."

RNG —

"Yeah, I'm Pal. You said to spread it out, so I've been sleeping at hotels and things."

Unifel —

"Good job!! Thank you. My friend wanted to help when she heard the person I'd been seeing was moving in... Is that okay?"

RNG —

"Yeah sure. Should I wear my sunglasses and stuff, or have you forewarned them?"

Unifel —

"She, uh. Doesn't know about any of this stuff. I've been putting off talking to her about it and she just got fed up enough at me being cagey and not being as close to her since... you know."
 
RNG —
"Cool

No worries, I'll be uh... Sunglasses, and make up a skin condition.
"
Unifel —

"I can tell her to fuck off if that's easier 🥺"

RNG —

"No! I want to meet your friends. It's fine, I wear it most of the time anyway"

Unifel — 

"okok I'm gonna come out with her. Let's try to hurry back inside though, yeah?"

RNG —

"Will do!"

Pal Grabs a few bags, puts on his glasses, then walks to the back of the building.

Unifel —

Wren is stepping out from the employee only entrance in a slightly more black/goth outfit than Pal usually sees on her - though still fairly revealing - and is talking to someone who is similarly beautiful but dressed in a Pastel Goth style.


RNG —
"Hey Sunshine!"

Pal puts down some of his bags, and moves forward to give her a hug.

Then Pal turns to her friend. 

"Hey! You can call me Pal." Pal extends a hand.
Unifel —

Wren makes a happy squeak as she hugs Pal back.
The friend is smiling widely and looks Pal up and down, going for the handshake.
"Hugs just for Wren, huh? She's told me soo much about you. You're like, some kinda hero, right?"

RNG —
"Don't want to assume anything. I'm a big guy, that makes some people not feel safe, so I try to be careful." Pal shrugs. 

"We can hug if you want. And... I mean. Hero is a strong word. But Wren certainly has a high opinion of me, and I try to live up to that."

Unifel —

She laughs and goes in for the hug, squeezing tight.
Pal can see Wren's shoulders drop a little as soon as she isn't looking - a minute shift in posture that probably reminds him that she is in a great deal of pain in the sun.

"Living up to it so far! 'sides, everyone knows firefighters are heroes, let's be real. I'm Dove, but obviously you knew that already haha!"

RNG —

Pal picks up his stuff, lifting it up high, and trying to subtly block the sun for Wren.

"Let's get inside. I've been driving for a while, and i'd be good to put some things down." 

Unifel —

Wren smiles, gently pulling at Dove.
"Yeah, let's not crowd him."

Dove looks around a little.
"Is that all your stuff? What can I help carry?"

RNG —

"Yeah, I gave most of my stuff to good will. There are maybe 3 more suitcases in the car, I got this."

Pal is holding a backpack, and 4 suitcases.

Unifel —
Dove raises her eyebrows.

"Damn. That's intense. My girl here really won the lottery, huh!"

She starts moving towards the car to grab a suitcase, and Wren follows.

RNG — 

Pal keeps moving, blocking the sun for Wren. 

"Eh. I'm not big on material possessions. Had enough of that for several life times growing up. Doesn't really impact my quality of life. I got my clothes, some momentos, some books, and of course Taotao."

Pal turns one of the suitcases he is holding, showing it has a medium sized dog in it through the cage. Taotao wags his tail seeing new people

Very heavy, but Pal seems fine holding the dog.

Unifel — 
Wren smiles at Taotao, and Dove says "oh my goshh that's a dog! Are you allowed to have dogs?"
Wren smiles and nods, with a wink.

RNG — 
"If we can't, I'll have him stay with my sister. She actually lives in the area. So. More reasons to move. Not that I needed more."

Unifel —

Dove giggles as she grabs a suitcase to pass to Wren, and Wren responds: "Oh, nice! We can watch movies together, then?"

RNG —
"Yeah probably! She travels a lot, and stuff. I also think she just got a new partner, so her free time might be a little squeezed for a bit. But yeah she is close by. We'll have to get together at some point."

Pal keeps awkwardly maneuvering to block the light for Wren.

Unifel —
She shoots him a smile and grabs a second suitcase from Dove, who carries the third and closes the car door.

RNG — 
Pal walks in, still balancing all 4 suitcases. His arms shake a little bit sometimes, as he adjusts the weight, but he is a very big guy, with a lot of muscle. He manages it

Unifel —
As they step back in through the employee door, Wren has an immediately easier time with the suitcases she's got. An older woman with a hint of white in her hair smiles towards the three and says:
"Damn, you guys get it all in one trip? Pleasure to meet ya, Pal. I'm Krystal. This is my bar you'll be living on top of, so keep the crazy noises down, will you? I know how she can get, so I'm counting on you."
She winks and chuckles.

RNG — 
Pal immediately blushes.

"Oh! Umm. Well. Uhh. Okay, will do my best!"
"Nice to meet you too."

Unifel — 
Wren frowns at her.
"Krystal, he's shy. Pretend you don't know what I get up to up there. Go serve drinks or something."
She sticks her tongue out at Krystal, and it's clearly in good fun.
Krystal waves her off and asks Dove: "You're not gonna be late today, right?"
To which Dove feigns an outraged gasp, but pointedly doesn't respond to.

RNG — 
Pal looks confused. 

He looks around for where to go.

Unifel —
Wren nudges him towards a side door that leads away from where Krystal is walking towards.
As he looks around, he can see that this is probably some sort of kitchen for the bar, and she's leaving towards a door without handles and with a window that looks to lead behind the bar itself.
The door Wren nudged him toward looks more like a regular door, though it does have a pull handle instead of a normal door handle.
She starts moving towards it.

RNG —
Pal moves towards the door. 

He starts the awkward dance of shuffling suitcases around to have a hand free.

Unifel — 
Dove laughs good naturedly and says:
"Relaaaax, I got it. That's why I only grabbed one suitcase."

RNG — 
Pal grins

"Thanks! Yeah, I was maybe a bit ambitious. I forgot doors existed."

Unifel —
Wren makes a "pffft" noise and says with affection in her voice:
"Too used to breaking them down to save people, huh?"

RNG — 
"Well. Walls also."

Pal turns and looks at Wren with a soft smile. 

Unifel —
She nods sagely, and then giggles as she gestures back to the door that Dove is holding open patiently, with a big smile.

RNG —
Pal heads through the door.
"Thanks Dove."