Colin's posts

Ash was even warier now... but now mostly just confused.

Quite confused.

"I... ah... okay then?" he answered.

'Sure? Whatever you say, I suppose." he went on, looking around the café, before resting his eyes back on Harmony.

"So how long do we hang out here?" he asked. "And when do we head back?" he asked her.

"Oh, and HOW?" he asked further.

"I assume the same way Hazel and I got here, but I want to make sure." he reasoned. "For all I know, you drove out here or something, and intended to drive us all back." he shrugged.

Again, Ash was a bit wary. This woman seemed to know... a LOT about the Fyranes. And him. He was about to say something, before he narrowed his eyes and looked more closely at her face.

Specifically, the stars on her cheek area.

"...say..." he said.

"Those stars..." he went on, bringing attention to them.

"Interesting choice. Only know one other person with them." he commented.

Ash immediately put his defenses up, and was a lot more wary. Internally, anyway.

He didn't like how she knew he was a Fyrane, but he wasn't going to expect the worst.

Not yet, anyway.

"...I see." he said.

"There's a lot more we're known for, too..." he muttered.

"Thank you even more for giving us this chance, then." he then thanked her.

"Not many would."

"...ah..." Ash stammered.

"I admit, weekly applications ARE a little on the annoying side." he admitted. "And they tend to just disappear when it's done. Doesn't fade." he continued. "Not good when they just disappear and I'm taking to someone or whatever." he went on.

"Longer lasting streaks WOULD be nice..." he continued.

"So... yeah, sure?" he answered.

"How the hell did you see that it wasn't natural?" he then asked her.

Ash was frozen for a moment upon hearing that.

"Wh-what?" he asked.

"Black streaks? What makes you...?" he started to ask further, but then paused.

He could tell that this woman seemingly knew a lot more about him than he expected. And it was clear. Pretending he didn't know what she was talking about would get him nowhere.

"...mana." he answered her. "A hair glamour." he said further.

"And because it looks good."

"...all right." Ash responded, as they reached the counter. They ordered, got their food and drink, and made their way back to where Harmony was, sitting down at the table, with Ash giving the change.

"Here." he said.

"So you're Harmony?" he asked.

The woman nodded in response.

"Interesting choice of headwear." Ash then said, gesturing to the witch's hat atop her head.

Ash was still wary, but he nodded to Harmony and looked at Hazel.

"Come on." he said to her.

"Let's go order something." he said further, as he started to slowly head towards the counter. As he did, he sighed quietly.

"You all right?" he asked Hazel quietly.

"If this is a bit too much for you, you don't have to be here for this." he assured her.

Ash was stunned for a moment, some nagging feeling at the back of his head, before he accepted the bill.

"...thanks." he said.

"And yes, I am AJ." he confirmed.

"This is Hazel." he told her, introducing Hazel. "My roommate, essentially." he said further, before looking to Hazel.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Coffee? Pastry? Both?"

"...right." Ash muttered.

He then checked again, looking around, as they stepped out of the alley, and he saw the café across the road.

"...a large tan witch's hat..." he mumbled, seeing it clearly in the window.

"Hard to miss." he said.

"Anyway, let's go." he told Hazel, starting to walk towards the building.

About a minute later, in a nearby alley, Ash an Hazel appeared in a burst of black flames. Ash looked around to make sure that they hadn't been seen or anything, before looking at Hazel.

"We should be close." he said.

"You all right?" he asked.

"Was the mana transport a bit much?" he asked further.

Ash looked at her hair as it lightly smacked him, and couldn't help but notice how long it was. And, overall, how much nicer it had gotten since she started staying with him, and washing her hair regularly.

He then looked at her, and thought for a moment.

"Coffee'd be good." he replied.

"I DO like me some coffee." he admitted.

"So some coffee, please."

Ash paused and thought for a moment.

"Hmmm." he muttered.

"Well, I know we have some quill-bear steaks, and some root vegetables." he went on.

"Can you make something out of that? Like... a steak dinner, or even a stew?" he asked.

"Because yeah... I AM getting quite hungry." he admitted.

"..." Ash was silent once more, and then hung his head.

"Wonderful." he said.

"Just... wonderful." he muttered. "Vanessa's insane enough to go after THAT murderous mad-woman." he growled. "Hopefully someday she'll bite off more than she can chew." he went on.

"But anyway, enough talk about Rowena Fyrane and Vanessa." he then said.

"Let's focus on less grim subjects. Like how we may very well have a new home VERY soon!"

Ash paused when he heard that.

"...hm." he mumbled.

"I see." he said flatly.

"Surely just a coincidence." he told her. "Can't be anything but." he insisted.

He then thought about it for a moment, and looked at her.

"How do you know Rowena Fyrane's middle name, anyway?" he asked.