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Post by Nadia on Aug 29, 2021 20:22:55 GMT -6
Nadia was not phased by any mentions of harming murp. Drunken lords had said worse in her presence, when they believed she wasn’t listening, or when her father’s back was turned. There was enough experience of it under her belt to allow her to roll her eyes and smile through it. Dodger was easily won over by pets and kind words, to boot.
What did concern her was how quickly it all changed… and the speed at which Ashe was moving away.
“Wh— Ashe!” She threw her arms around Dodger’s neck for support as she rose - by the time she was on her feet, the man was mounted, and she had no option but to follow suit on her own steed. There was no way she’d keep pace on foot, should he decide to race off. “Whatever is the matter? I apologise if I offended you, I… it was not my intention!”
Bubbles of anxiety rose in her stomach. What had she done wrong? Something severe enough to change the entire direction of their encounter.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 29, 2021 21:56:42 GMT -6
Ashe may be running away, but he just couldn't seem to outrun her name. It had been in every breath he'd taken for years, and every thought he had a lot longer than that. He had numbed everything the best he could to escape, and here was Nadia, bringing it back. This wasn't working, he was going to have to find another way to indulge himself, save himself. All of his flirty banter slid from him like water on glass. He didn't begrudge Nadia the slightest, but he did nearly forget she was there entirely. Until she spoke.
"It's alright, I'm not offended. I just..." His mind scrambled for something to say, some excuse she might believe. "I suddenly remembered I have to do something. That's all." The tone was absentminded, as if he had something preoccupying his attention,more so than dismissive. He shifted his stirrups, hunkering down for take off. Maverick was better at galloping into flight, but he was capable of taking off from a standstill. The stallion crouched down as if starting to bow, then launched himself with a rear into the sky, giant black wings snapping free and pumping hard and fast. They were above the treetops in a flash.
"Where to?" Maverick asked, a robotic eye rolling around to look at his rider.
"I don't know...." Ashe said, his head tucked. Home reminded him of her. The Keeps reminded him of her. The Park, the Panther, the docks... "Just fly."
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Post by Nadia on Aug 30, 2021 14:16:35 GMT -6
... Well, that was something. Nadia watched blankly as Maverick launched into the air - she felt Dodger tense beneath her, as if he was considering following, but she soothed him with a hand on the neck and some muttered words. There was no point pursuing.
"Let us head home, shall we?" She said to the stallion, coaxing him into a walk in the opposite direction along the street. If Ashe had wanted to speak about it, he would've. Politeness dictated that she should not go where she wasn't wanted. "My apologies for the distraction. I had thought that we would be of some assistance."
The equillion understood nothing, but felt her taut posture. It was impossible for her not to dwell on it; though their acquaintanceship had been short, she had not known Ashe to be tight-lipped, or quite as changeable as that. Nonetheless, it was an issue for another day. She had a home to return to.
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Post by Ashe on Aug 30, 2021 14:31:43 GMT -6
  A few days later had Ashe finally leaving the house. He found his motivation came in the waves of a tsunami - so low you could see the sand, then so high it crashed into everything around. The past few days had found Ashe staying indoors. One of the days, he hadn't even left his bed except to find a new bottle to drain. Thank the spirits he had Jinx and the robots to take care of the beasts he kept, otherwise there would be trouble. But today, he had woken around four in the afternoon fully motivated to go do something. With Inyala on his shoulder, he'd gone to the stables to find a mount to ride. Maverick was there, letting Ashe know he was there if he chose. But Ashe shook his head, gave his muzzle a pat, and moved on. Adam was there... And Eternal. So much for that. He couldn't stand to look at the stallion or the mare, and continued on. It was unfair to Adam especially, but there were just too many memories. Ashe finally settled on a black stallion with a glowing silvery mane and what looked like lava spreading across his back. Ghoul. Ghoul had been created as a protector, though he wasn't much more than a cuddle bug. But he would be silent. No ribbons, no speaking collars. And that's what Ashe wanted. About an hour later, they found themselves in the park. Ashe was nursing a fogginess that wasn't quite a hangover, because he still had alcohol in him, but also wasn't quite normal function. He was kneeling by a stream splashing water in his face, with a tacked up Ghoul grazing nearby. |
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Post by Nadia on Sept 1, 2021 14:07:57 GMT -6
  Ashe had been on Nadia's mind for most of the following days.
Not in the ways that he would probably prefer, though. All she could do was puzzle over what was troubling him, and what she might've done wrong in their interaction; she was naive, but not shortsighted enough to believe that her words had nothing to do with it. The turning point was Vixen. At the mention of the woman, he had closed up like a clam and dashed off with a flimsy excuse... so, relationship troubles, then?
Something she knew nothing about. Great.
Catching sight of him at the park was entirely coincidental. Guppy had been restless on the estate and yearning for a trip, so he was ambling behind her as they prepared to return home after a while playing. His customary tree branch sized stick was clutched in his mouth - she had to keep an eye on the 'gug to make sure he didn't swing it around and take someone out with it.
She almost didn't want to say anything. Anxiety prickled over her skin as she approached the stream, and she took a deep breath before she spoke, hoping that she couldn't possibly make it any worse.
"Ashe, I... I hope you are feeling better, after... a-after the other night." |
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Post by Ashe on Sept 1, 2021 14:39:54 GMT -6
The Equillion alerted Ashe first with a snort and a few nervous stamps of his foot. Something large was coming their way! And Ghoul would make sure it didn't hurt Ashe. He had been forged with the intent of protecting his human and even a monster like a Gug wouldn't stop him. He angled himself to keep between Ashe and the Gug, his hind end toward the Gug for kicking force if he needed it. One word from his master and it would be on! And since Ashe, upon seeing the girl human, seemed safe enough, Ghoul's focus was entirely on the gug as a possible threat, Nadia not as much.
The man watched the whole song and dance with Ghoul and the approaching thundergug - no one could sneak up on anyone with that kind of beast hanging around! So he was well prepared when Nadia arrived at his side, and he gave a shrug. "I'm fine. Pity you didn't join me afterward, it was a blast!" He gave her a suggestive wink. Though his words and actions seemed normal enough, they had a hollow ring to them, as if they just came out and he didn't really mean them.
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Post by Nadia on Sept 2, 2021 1:28:05 GMT -6
Nadia was no fool. She didn’t believe Ashe as far as she could throw him - there was something undeniably off about his demeanour, despite his efforts to hide it. No amount of bravado would convince her otherwise.
Therein was the issue, however. Was it wise to mention it? All she wanted to do was help, but she had no desire to set him off again, or make the situation any more difficult (whatever it may be). Her hands wrung together in her nervousness.
“I, uh, I cannot say I am much of a partygoer…” A lighter response, to take the edge off. “But… I hope that you know that I have a good pair of ears, should you need them. I can listen.”
Guppy was enjoying blissful ignorance in the meantime. Despite Ghoul’s body language, he wasn’t phased; in fact, he leaned down to drop his stick, wondering if the equillion would be interested in a game.
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Post by Ashe on Sept 2, 2021 3:12:19 GMT -6
Ghoul relaxed his stance when he saw the Thundergug meant no harm. It was odd to see him carrying half a tree around, and it looked like it could be a weapon, but he sat it down and showed no sign of attacking Ashe. Ghoul perked his ears, curious at the look it was recieving; it felt like the Gug wanted his attention or something. But Ghoul hadn't been around a Gug before so the body language was new to him. What did he want?
Ashe was quiet for a heartbeat. He knew what she meant, and he knew he didn't feel like talking. No offense to her, because he didn't want to talk to anyone. The one person, or rather thing, he would have talked to, would have been Obs' tombstone. He used to talk to that a lot, and fancy Obs could hear him, even though he hadn't had many paranormal experiences since he'd left Ashe the ring and sword and shield. And now it didn't even matter, because Obs was among the living, and he didn't remember Ashe at all. So, no, Ashe wasn't prepared to talk, to open up and be vulnerable. He'd bared his entire soul for one person and - she was the reason he was even here. Who would be keen to do that again?
Recovering in the blink of an eye, Ashe gave a chuckle as if confused. "Listen to what?" He said dismissively. And then the deflect. "What do you like doing, then? I like more than partying; that's just the most fun!"
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Post by Nadia on Oct 23, 2021 14:08:48 GMT -6
Guppy was equally as clueless about how to work with an equillion. There were some at the estate, sure, but they didn't seem keen on him - intimidated by his size (but he wasn't to understand that). The gug grunted, taking a few steps towards Ghoul and almost crushing his own stick in the process. Did he want to be friends, maybe...?
Nadia wasn't surprised to have her question bounced back to her. Whatever was troubling Ashe, he was taking great pains to avoid talking about it, including running off into the night after a bar fight. What was the right way to handle it? Her fingers squeezed each other where they were clasped together.
"Well, I... I like to ride, as you know," She said as she drew close to him, lifting the hem of her skirt so she could settle on the ground at his side. "I like to write, also, and spend time with my dear companions. They are good company."
Her eyes had been focused on the stream, but she glanced to the side to observe his body language.
"They would know more about me than anyone in the world, if they could comprehend my confessions."
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Post by Ashe on Oct 29, 2021 3:22:34 GMT -6
Ghoul's ears flicked back as the Gug approached; he wasn't sure about having a monster getting so close to him. He wasn't scared, exactly, but... he was big! He did a little nervous prance. He'd never been around a Thundergug before, he didn't understand the body language well enough. He got 'I don't mean harm' vibes from the big guy, but still... a mountain! He snorted and flicked his tail, willing to wait it out and see if it was...dangerous.
Ashe gave a little nod, glad she took the question without pushing further. He didn't know why, but he loved riding - Equillion through a forest, Sarane through the sky, Pliathor through the water. He didn't quite like to write. Writing was for studying and learning, not for pleasure. He practiced runes and other scripts. He wasn't a novelist or a poet, it seemed useless. He'd even tried journaling.
His gaze was settled neatly on her. He was pleased she'd joined him. He liked her company, and knew her intentions were good. He also knew she'd be full of sympathy and he couldn't handle that. Pity. Nope.
"My closest companions can comprehend my confessions," Ashe said, with a slight sigh, as if in exasperation. "I mean, it's my fault, I put those telepathy ribbons on them... But now they can understand when I complain. No secrets, they know it all! Well, at least they can't tell people. Except for Maverick. Enjoy your silence." At the last, he gave her a grin to show his tease.
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Post by Nadia on Nov 16, 2021 13:07:31 GMT -6
Nadia had been careful to avoid that dilemma. Though she would've liked to hear the thoughts of more of her companions, she knew that it would be overwhelming - there was enough going on in her head as it was. Perhaps, if she found herself in a better position, she'd consider utilising ribbons to a greater extent.
While she was considering her companions... she looked over her shoulder to where Guppy was doing his best not to harass Ashe's equillion. The gug glanced to her for reassurance; he wasn't sure what he was meant to do, if the new friend couldn't understand him!
"I think you are a touch intimidating, my boy," She cooed, holding out a hand. Guppy took a few thudding steps forward to push his snout into her palm. "There, there."
It was important for her to keep an eye on his tail as she fussed over him. He was known for lashing it back and forth like a houluh or vulticus, and it would've been quite unfortunate for someone to get clubbed by accident.
"Mm, I imagine Maverick could tell me some stories." Ashe's tease was returned in kind, even if she couldn't fully shake her concern for his wellbeing. "I... would quite like to hear them. It may be bold for me to consider us friends, but..."
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Post by Ashe on Nov 19, 2021 4:12:53 GMT -6
Ghoul snorted in alarm when the Gug started toward the human pair. One wrong step and Ashe could be hurt! He was a tad over protective, but that had been why he'd been made, and damn he prided himself on doing a good job! He took a couple of steps forward.. And realized the Gug was greeting the female sitting with his Ashe. Nose in her hand... Did she have snacks? The sudden possibility made him perk his ears forward. There was something there that the Gug wanted... And Ghoul might want it too. He ventured close to the girl as well, placing his feet carefully not to step on anyone, and trying to nose his way in before the Gug got it all.
Ashe laughed at Nadia's sudden popularity. "To be honest, I didn't take you to be a Thundergug whisperer!" She seemed far too delicate to handle a massive Gug, yet here she was! He directed Ghoul to back up; the Equillion's fear of the Gug seemed to have faded away when he got the idea of treats. At least they were getting along! Ashe was normally of the mindset, letting the animals figure things out themselves. Unless Ashe needed one of them for a particular task. He didn't want anyone getting hurt in their scuffle over Nadia's attention.
"Oh, Mav would squeal on me, especially to someone like you. I think he took a liking to you, before. You are no longer allowed near him!" Ashe declared in jest, shaking his head for emphasis. He sobered a little and gave her a warm smile, one that he used to melt even irritated women. "I consider us friends. There's always room for us to become better friends, of course..." He raised his eyebrows, slowly, dramatically. A tease.
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