blue ribbon

There Fiona goes again, planting her flag for maximum effort, every time.

Juniper's half-measure of apathy doesn't apply to battle, necessarily; they'll strike for swift death in cold blood as long as they've got a clear shot (or a piece of fallen foliage upon which to perch and find one), and they know what has to be done in any circumstance, but they're still quite pragmatic about it.

Are we winning medals for choreography, then? Bolts from the blue made of lightning-bright passion?

Juniper just doesn't know what to make of it. Fiona's fresh face, pale yet flushed with the rush of breaths, in and out, in and out, beams unblinkingly at them.

Well, but now come the blinks. Fiona's brows dance with inquisition. "Are you making out alright, Juni? That was a sterling shot, just there!"

Yes, it was. Unless their bow gives out and the string won't bend, every one of Juniper's aims will strike true. That's no question. It never has been.

"I'm fine," Juniper replies. "But what about you? You were certainly giving it your all."

The beam only grows stronger, to be acknowledged. "That's right!" Fiona plants proud hands on hips. "Colony Mu's signature, one hundred and ten percent! Actually, more like one hundred and fifty - for ten times fifteen."

Ah, an easy mnemonic. Juniper'll make sure to keep that in mind, yeah? "I can see that." They smile despite themselves, because Fiona's just that adorable.

Adorable? Is that right?

So many self-questions. Juniper decides to incline their head and let Fiona take the conversation away as she will. Sure enough, the savvy signifer continues, "I might not be the strongest, but I always do my best when we fight. That way I know I've never let anyone down."

"Oh, you'd never let me down, Fifi," Juniper says, without a single further thought to buffer. Fiona's eyes widen to hear it, but now it's Juniper gone blanched and blinking.

Marks for effort! "I never would and never have."