Colin's posts

Ash didn't like being reminded about his past. Or being reminded that his brother was still there. But he wasn't about to blame Hazel for that. Besides, he couldn't run from his memories forever.

So he just sighed quietly.

"I'm a Hunter." he said.

"A Bounty Hunter." he clarified, knowing that Mana Hunters were a thing.

"I work for a guild, and go out to do... various things. Gather info, take down ferocious beasts, stop gangs or rogues, pretty much anything." he explained to her. "Get paid nicely for it, too." he continued.

"Because I'm damn good at what I do." he chuckled.

"Well, you are now out of her control." he stated. "And I'll do everything I can to make sure it STAYS that way." he assured her.

"And it's going to be an adjustment. This is a new life for you, and it's all right that you don't know what to do." he went on.

"I didn't, either." he said.

"But you're not alone. That's the big thing." he continued.

"You're not alone in this world, and never will be. Not any longer."

Ash immediately wanted to launch into a passionate exclamation about how wrong she was... but he decided, just before he opened his mouth, that perhaps that wasn't such a good idea.

Instead, he stepped forward, closing the distance behind her, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I know." he said.

"I was starting to feel the same way when I was there." he revealed. "If I hadn't had the help in escaping... odds are VERY good I'd be saying the same things YOU are right now." he went on.

"But... but I found out that that's not true. You and I are both people. We're individuals. And... well... look, I..." he started to say further, before pausing.

"I don't know about YOU, but there are people out there that wonder if I am a human, or not. Because of what Vanessa did to me." he admitted. "But even then, I am finding my way. I found my place in this world. My REAL place. NOT what Vanessa decided for me." he went on.

"You can do it, too, Hazel." he said.

"I'll help."

Ash shook his head.

"Bother? Not so much." he replied.

"The black over the one half of your body, as well as the many scars, show that Vanessa is a cruel, cruel person, and it is a shame you had to endure that." he commented. "But that's not a YOU thing. It's a HER thing." he stressed.

"And if I were to wager a guess, she didn't have you wearing clothing, because she didn't see you as a person." he went on. "You were a thing. An experiment. A resource." he continued.

"But you're a PERSON. An INDIVIDUAL. You deserve respect and dignity." he reasoned.

"And I intend to give you those, at the very least."

"..." he was silent as he regarded her scars, and the black that covered half her skin.

Normally he would avert his eyes from her, out of respect and modesty, but her body looked like it was a testament to Vanessa Encrae's cruelty and ruthlessness. It was an absolute shame to see her in such a state.

Thankfully, he'd managed to get her clothing washed, but it was still in the process of drying, so he grabbed a large robe that would cover her, and handed it over.

"Here." he said.

"So you don't get cold or whatever." he told her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Ash paused again, and realised he would need to carefully pick his words, and be VERY literal with her. For now, anyway.

"You are correct. That is a 'no'. There is nothing else in terms of chores and work that I would like you to do right now." he told her in no uncertain terms, trying to make sure he conveyed his point clearly.

"Do feel free to avail yourself to my shower." he told her further.

"Use the green bottle for shampoo, and the bar of soap is... well, it's a bar of soap for you to use." he chuckled.

"Oh, right." he then said, getting up and making his way to a small closet, opening it up and digging inside, pulling out a pair of towels. "You can use these towels." he finished.

Ash nodded in response.

"I did." he said.

"And that is still applicable." he told her.

"Go on and get cleaned up." he then said, as he scanned the room they were in.

Already he was making plans for it. Which was to say, he would take the boxes that were out here and cram them into the corners of his bedroom, and then move things around a bit so Hazel had as much space as possible for this place.

Ash was just... stunned. Stunned to the point of a blank expression.

"Ah... I... that..." he stammered.

"I REALLY shouldn't be surprised." he muttered. "Vanessa just... everything and everyone is either a property or a resource." he growled.

"I assure you, you will NEVER be shackled or chained or tied or restrained here." he promised her.

"...and you won't be in the corner, on the floor." he added.

"I'll rearrange some things so there's more room."

"...that IS a fair point..." Ash admitted.

"I'll see if I can't find something sooner, even if it's temporary." he told her.

"And in the meantime, I will NOT have you essentially LIVING out on that balcony." he stressed. "Just no. No, no, no." he reiterated.

"It's not the best situation, but the couch here IS pretty comfy, and it should do for a little bit." he told her. "Or I can just grab something small and rearrange things a bit, so you have a proper bed..." he went on, scratching at his chin.

"Regardless, do not think, for a second, that I want you sleeping on the balcony, or gone, or anything." he insisted.

"Please?" he finished, sighing a little.

"What? No! No, no, no!" Ash responded.

"No, please! Don't... don't do that." he told her.

"The balcony is NO place for someone to LIVE. Or stay for extended periods." he told her. "I was just saying that a bigger place will be in our near future." he stated to her.

Internally he was cursing himself, realising he should have KNOWN she'd react like this.

"Hazel, I don't want you staying on the balcony. You deserve a proper place to live. Inside. Where it's warn and more comfortable."

Ash looked at her and nodded.

"Yes. I do." he said. Which wasn't a lie. But it... wasn't the truth, either. His stomach felt worlds better, and he'd loved how it tasted, but he was still pondering how to REALLY help her, or if he was even capable of it.

"Also... I've been thinking." he went on.

"This place is really small for just the two of us." he reasoned. "I'm going to see if we can't find a bigger place to live." he told her.

"And you'll need a few more pairs of clothes, just so you're not wearing the same thing constantly."

"Not at all." Ash responded.

"I was just going back to eat now." he told her.

To which he did. He went back and started eating... only for it to disappear VERY quickly.

"Wow..." he mumbled.

"She can cook, and cook DAMN well..." he commented.

He was shocked. He didn't think one such as Hazel would HAVE that kind of skill.

Ash bit his lip slightly.

"I just want you to not push yourself too much, or keep yourself hurt or uncomfortable." he told her.

"...I'm not Vanessa, I won't ask too much of you." he said further.

"And... I just hope that, at some point... you'll be able to truly break free of what she did to you..." he whispered to himself.

"But... just... please... keep yourself clean, and fed and such."

"...holy hell..." he muttered, seeing the 'good-as-new' state it was in. He also saw Hazel immediately and without hesitation, working on the grody tile that had been underneath the stove.

However, he had to admit that she had moved it with damn ease. He was impressed.

"Hey, Hazel?" he said.

"When you finish that... why not take a shower?" he suggested.

"All those chemicals and stuff? Plus you've been working REALLY hard... a shower'd be nice, yeah?"