Colin's posts

"....you know, I was always told you were a monster." Ash told her. "That you abandoned myself and my brother to rampage all over Europe." he said.

"Aunt Rocky always said that we were essentially kidnapped, and your rampage was brought on by... well... excessive and massive emotional trauma." he then muttered further.

"I don't know if I ever really truly believed her, but now... I think I can." he said.

"Plus... looking back on it... considering where the first bit of information came from, I really shouldn't be surprised that it's more than likely a lie." he then sighed.

"I guess I just... hung onto that belief because... I dunno, young and stupid, and then it got set in there?" he said, seeming to be not really sure.

"I just know my mind is a mess of conflicting messages right now, but I'm pretty sure everything I've ever 'known' about you has been proven to be a lie."

".......I see." he said.

"Guess it's true what they say." he mumbled. "There's no secrets in this world." he said.

"...you know, I always thought I'd be angry when I met you." he then told her, out of nowhere. "Or, I wouldn't care." he said further.

"I never thought I would feel... THIS way..." he admitted.

"I feel... sad... but also... a little bit... you know..." he mumbled further, trailing off near the end.

".....happy...."

"Mm." Ash muttered.

"But yeah, I just have a bachelor apartment right now." he told her. "NOT something to raise a kid in, and the suits won't look too kindly on it." he said.

"So I need a place with more space." he shrugged.

He was then silent, and looked at her.

"So." he said.

"You've been keeping tabs on me?" he asked her. "For how long?"

Ash nodded along with what she said, before looking at her.

"Yeah." he said.

"Adoption." he confirmed.

He then bit his lip, and sighed.

"She's... had a very rough life so far." he told her, giving her a brief explanation of the situation he'd found Desiree in, and the injuries she had sustained.

"If there's anyone that can relate to her, and help her move on, it's me." he said.

"I'd never forgive myself if I just let her go."

"Right." Ash responded.

He then looked inside the room that Rowena had unlocked.

It was a room, all right. A nice, big room. There was nothing in it, but a lot of space. It was almost as big as his entire bachelor apartment.

"Lotta space here." he said.

"Good to see there's a window as well. Let a little light shine in down here." he commented further.

"I assume the other rooms are the same?" he asked. "Like... I mean, just unused rooms waiting to be filled?" he asked further.

"And also, it's just the one kid." he informed her.

"She's not mine yet, though."

Ash just nodded slowly.

"Yeah..... yeah, sure...." he said.

"Let's... let's check out the basement." he agreed.

"Might... might as well." he reasoned.

It was clear that his mind was blown right now, and he was a tad on the overwhelmed side, to put it lightly.

But he hadn't reacted negatively... yet.

Ash took a few unconscious steps back, collapsing into a chair that was behind him.

He was silent, but seemed like he was trying to be saying something, before he brought his hand up to his head, lightly clutching at the side of it.

"I... woah." he stammered.

"This is.. this is heavy." he said.

"I'm already considering making a massive change in my lifestyle, and now THIS." he muttered further, staring blankly into the distance for another moment... his eyes finally resting on Rowena.

"...Aunt Rocky has nothing but good to say about you." he commented.

"......you're really okay with kids?" he then asked.

Ash was silent for a few moments, seemingly unable to do anything but stare at the woman.

".........ah..... ah...." he stammered.

"W-wait." he said.

"M-m-mother?" he asked.

"But... wait... so you're... this is... I am..." he stammered further, before shaking his head.

"Lindsay!" he exclaimed.

"So Lindsay's been here!?" he asked her.

"A different era...?" Ash asked.

"Well... technically I am too." he told her.

"And... you're right. It IS mostly for girls now." he agreed.

"Which is... well, it makes it more..." he started to say further, before pausing again.

"My brother's name is Lindsay." he told her.

"I think it's time for some proper introductions." he went on.

"I'm Ash. Ash Fyrane." he introduced himself.

Ash accepted the cookie, and smiled.

"Thanks." he said.

He then lifted it towards his mouth, before pausing... almost seeming to freeze in place.

".....wait." he muttered.

"Hold on." he said.

"Lindsay?" he asked. "That's your son's name?"

Ash raised his eyebrow at the comment about her past, but shrugged it off.

"I see, I see." he said, listening to all she had to say about the place.

"So your son lives here, too." he commented.

"I see." he repeated.

"As for a second fridge, I doubt one will need to be installed up here. If it's all right with you, I can bring a smaller fridge for any personal or private foodstuffs we might have." he told her.

"I doubt locking cupboards will be an issue, either." he then said.

"Depends on your son, though." he continued.

"He the sort to pilfer from others coffers?" he asked with a light smirk.

"Sounds good to me." Ash told her.

"Lead the way." he said.

The two of them then started to make their way to the kitchen, with Ash looking at the hat... specifically, the chain around it.

"That's... an interesting hat." he finally commented.

"Where did you get it?" he asked.

Ash was silent for a moment, as he witnessed the woman.

'...why does she seem... familiar...?' he asked himself mentally.

He then shook himself back to reality, and stepped inside.

"Mmm." he mumbled, sniffing the air.

"Well, this is off to a good start." he commented.

"Those cookie-brownies smell delicious." he complimented her.

"Cookie-brownies... Crownies? Brookies? Oh, you know what I mean." he then added.

At 2pm, Ash appeared in a burst of black flames, and looked at the impressive and imposing manor before him.

"...woah." he muttered.

"This place is HUGE." he said to himself.

'Wonder who lives here...?' he then thought, as he stepped up to the front door. As he did, he felt a sudden surge of a strange feeling through him.

He couldn't pinpoint what it was... but it was a ring of familiarity, with hinds of a weird nostalgia.

"Eh? The hell was that?" he mumbled.

He then shrugged it off... and knocked on the door.