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[img]https://i.postimg.cc/L5r26P82/Star-Fox-Final.png[/img]

[color=5edaf6]Level:[/color] 5 (6 -> 7/50)
[color=5edaf6]Location:[/color] Sandswept Sky
[color=5edaf6]Word Count:[/color] 628 (+1 EXP)
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From the helm of Naboris, Fox watched the distance between them and the pyramid gradually shorten one titanic step at a time until they shortly came inbound. Seeing as much for himself, he hardly needed Poppi’s announcement to be aware of the Thieves and Primrose’s impending arrival, and moved preemptively to meet them at the top of the lower deck once they came aboard. As observed, they brought yet another newcomer on with them as well, by the name of Alibaba, which one could surmise as the answer to the question of who they went looking for. The question of how they knew to look there in the first place would be a matter of speculation for anyone who cared. With all of them--plus one--safely accounted for, Fox bade them welcome for their return.

[color=5edaf6]“Good to have you aboard,”[/color] he politely directed to Alibaba with a nod. [color=5edaf6]“We’re a long ways from done here. I hope we can count on you for the rest of the mission ahead,”[/color] he beseeched Joker and his crew, awaiting any one of their replies before excusing himself to split off from the group on a separate path from Joker, but not before addressing the presented order of what to do with the Divine Beast should they reach an impassable point with it. [color=5edaf6]“Up ahead or later on, we’ll have to get off eventually, but we’ll worry about that when we get to it. Until then, we’ll take it as far as it can go, and go from there on foot if we have to.”[/color] As a career fighter pilot, Fox knew as well as anyone the eventuality of needing to step out of the cockpit and hoof it, so the prospect bothered him none. Still, he didn’t consider abandoning Naboris altogether to be in the cards, for it was simply better to have a flagship (or the closest practical equivalent they had to it) for extended transport than not.

With that taken care of for the time being, Fox headed for one of the outer decks at Naboris’ shoulders to secure a forward view of their travel, unimpeded by the actual head of the Beast had he gone there instead. It didn’t take long for Midna to follow and question him on his mood regarding the turnout of their previous side venture, citing the [color=aquamarine]"look"[/color] of him as precedent for concern. He was unaware that it [i]'looked'[/i] to be anything at all besides mere self-dismissal to collect one’s thoughts and reassess their progress in the face of the daunting tasks that no doubt lay ahead. Perhaps he wasn’t so keen at burying his discontent beneath the veil of pragmatism as he hoped, or maybe he never was. Certainly, there was no shortage of things for him to be bothered by; further questions, lingering concerns, creeping doubts, relevant memories, but nothing he cared (or felt comfortable) to discuss, preferring not to spend untimely, undue attention on them.

[color=5edaf6]“Do we still have our heading?”[/color] he inquired of her regarding their plotted course and destination, maintaining his default stoical bearing as he did. [color=5edaf6]“What can you see from here?”[/color] he asked further, hoping and expecting her second set of Beastial eyes would somehow afford her the best lay of the land on their continued travel, and that she may be able to pick out any vital details ahead of their arrival. In light of the questioning, he aimed to present himself not as one dodging a question, but one simply focused on what mattered, looking ahead rather than behind. Which is not to say that he [i]wasn’t[/i] doing that. Rather, he was just trying slightly harder to. Either way, he hoped Midna would accept it for an honest answer, and think no more of it.