Colin's posts

"...he... didn't?" Az asked.

"Wow. That's... that's new." he said.

"Unnerving, as well." he muttered.

"Where'd he come from?" he asked.

"I mean, wherever it was, it couldn't have been nice." he reasoned.

"But did you get anything specific outta him?"

"....ah... I see." Az replied.

"For the record, I was referring to your... nomadic... lifestyle." he commented.

"But assailants?" he asked.

"For YOU?" he asked further.

"They're either very brave or very stupid..." he mumbled.

"At least the kid didn't get caught up in that stuff." he went on.

"At least, I'm assuming he didn't."

Az just laughed out loud.

"Yeah, sure, THAT'LL be the day." he said.

"I was merely being cordial." he commented.

"But if you want help, I'm happy to do so." he told her.

"However, onto more serious matters." he went on.

"First and foremost... who's the kid?" he asked.

"I never saw you as the type to take in a child. For... well... various apparent reasons..." he muttered.

"Okay." Ash responded.

Az then nodded, and the two of them stepped away, behind the desk, and down to the basement. They made their way through the supplies area, before going through another door, to the rather comfy room that Az lived in.

"Your clothes are in the right bottom drawer of the dresser." he told her.

"Feel free to grab them." he said.

"Want privacy to do so?" he inquired, essentially asking if she wanted him to scram for a minute or two.

Ash was in the middle of shovelling something into his mouth, when he looked at her.

He was silent for a moment, before swallowing, and nodding.

"Uh-huh." he replied.

"I'm fine." he told her.

"I'm used to being left alone for whatever reason." he said.

"...geez, that's depressing..." Az mumbled under his breath... though Rylie could see that Ash had heard that. Impressive, considering SHE barely heard it, and he was right next to her.

Ash looked at the woman in shock, before looking at Az.

"Dig in, kid." Az told him.

Ash just nodded, and started reaching for food, happily and fervently making it disappear.

Az then looked at Rylie.

"You all right with leaving him alone?" he asked.

"You know you have a change of clothing in my room here at the inn." he told her.

"If you want, we can head there and you can dress so that the degenerates here won't catcall."

Ash was silent again, but nodded.

"All right." he said.

He then suddenly perked up, and saw his nose seemed to be twitching about.

But before she could ask, she heard her friend.

"Heeeey!" a man with black hair and slightly darkened skin said, as he approached.

"Long time, Rylie." he said, setting down the tray of food, which contained meat, drink, vegetables, and other such things.

"...I was told you needed some clothing." he then commented quietly.

Ash paused for a moment.

"Uh..." he stammered.

"Hang on." he said.

He was then silent, and thought for a moment.

"Ah! 14." he remembered.

"I'm 14 years old." he told her.

Which... was almost alarming, seeing as he looked like he was around 9. At best.

"...." Ash was silent for a moment, before looking away slightly.

"I just..." he stammered.

"I mean... I was taught that those like me didn't deserve to be in nice places like this." he went on.

"Quality people were worth something. If you weren't quality, you were garbage." he continued.

"...however, I am grateful that you still feel that I'm worthy of this." he then added, looking at her and smiling.

"Thank you."

"....oh, I see." Ash responded.

He was then silent for a moment, processing what had just been said.

"Well, quality is important." he said.

"Mistress only got the best quality people." he went on.

"...everyone else was thrown away, or treated like the garbage they were... or are..."' he continued, sadness in his tone.

"...it's really okay for me to be here?" he then asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

Aly released her hold on him, and smiled.

"About 2 days." she replied.

"Yeah, a little over 2 days." she nodded.

"I missed you so much, Eke." she then said.

"But... it's over now, right?" she asked.

Devon nodded in response.

"Got it." he replied.

"OI! YOU LOT!" he then yelled to the other patrons.

"Leave her and the kid alone! Or the boss-man'll want a WORD with you! And you all KNOW what happens to those he has 'words' with!" he then warned them, before turning and heading off.

With that, Rylie made her way back to where Ash was.

"...everything seems so... lively and friendly here." he commented.

"But you don't like the attention?" he then asked, clearly naive as to what was happening.

The one that was there just smiled a little.

When she approached him, he produced a large coat from beneath the desk he was at... one that would at least cover her appropriately until she found proper replacements for her clothing.

"Hey Rylie." he greeted her, handing it towards her.

"Looking for the boss?" he asked.

"He's doing special inventory right now, but you know he'll stop to talk to you." he said further.

"I'll grab him for you."

Ash just nodded slightly, and went to the table obediently, sitting down and remaining silent.

Just as he did so, one of the more... tipsy... patrons started to approach her.

"Well, well, well, someone's lookin' for a good time." he said.

That's when they heard a voice call out.

"You try anything, and nobody'll ever hear from you ever agaiiiin!" they voice said. Not in a threatening tone at all. More of a matter-of-fact tone, with a hint of condescension to it as well.

It wasn't the one she was looking for, but it WAS a friend of her's that worked her.

One that knew perfectly well what she was capable of.