See, everywhere I go I got a million different people tryna' kick it

[connatural]

WHO: Ashley Magnus
WHERE: Around the village
WHEN: During the first part of March, post Take Two
OPEN TO: OTA, with individual threads for Desmond and Lucy
WARNINGS: Talk of dying and killing likely

---

Vagabond - South village, moving

For the second time in five months, Ashley found herself moving. Things aren't nearly as bad with Druitt as how she'd felt upon arriving, but she's happier having distance and space from the central hub as well.

Gathering all of her things, mostly clothes (not all her own) and little else, she heads for Vanille and Phryne's place to start getting settled in there. Before leaving though, she pauses at the house where she had lived with Ty for such a short time and digs a small folding knife out of her pocket. Maybe it's vandalism, but laws are always a gray area for Ashley as she works to carve Ty's name on the railing of the porch. Maybe it's childish and pathetic, but he's one of the dearest friends she's ever had, and she doesn't want him forgotten.

Gathering up her things, she heads for the other house. It's not a far move, but it feels like such a change of life for Ashley yet again. It's more times in five months than she's ever moved in her life, and she's still trying to adjust to it all. And maybe in semi-healthy ways as well.

Readjustment - South village throughout the first 2 weeks of March

After the knowledge of her death, of what her life becomes, Ashley kind of let herself wallow in her own depression. She is a Magnus though, and wallowing is not in her blood. Not truly. Not in the way she was raised.

So despite the cold, she starts getting up every morning and going for a run. Hard and fast, sweating out the anger and the pain and the frustration she is feeling without a repeat of her first time dealing with this build up of emotion. It had taken her weeks to heal from the beating she had put on Druitt, and he had returned, and she would like to avoid that if she can. It's hard though, and she pushes herself more and more every day, going out farther and father in an attempt to work through the thoughts in her head.

Other times she might be found in the stable, or outside with one of Vanille's animals, grooming kirin or playing with the other animals from the barn area in the police station. Not much of one to cook, she heads to the inn often for food, spending time by the fire and studying books she got from the schoolhouse.

Comments

For Desmond

[connatural]

Ashley is not great with social skills. She can strong arm anyone, and power her way into any situation despite not being the most domineering person visually, but she is better at combat than she is social skills. For a few weeks she's let herself do much of nothing, but that's over. Which means seeking out a few people, staring with Desmond.

[moderndayassassin]

Desmond usually was the type to hide inside when emotionally adrift, but he went in the opposite direction for once. He kept himself busy. He was doing work with Bull, he went journeying south with Reeve, and then there was being tossed around the area by whoever was fucking with them. So he was actually doing ... somewhat better? It was hard to say with him. It didn't take much to spiral him down a bad path.

Being reminded of that incident, though, is a possibility, so when he sees Ashley coming up toward his house, he's apprehensive. She is one of the only people aware of the secret that he and Lucy tried hard to keep private, and the only one he attempted to explain anything to afterward. He really liked her, too, but he didn't know what to say to someone who knew the worst of you.

"Hey," is a start, at least. He's on his porch, watching her warily.

[connatural]

Maybe she should have come to see Desmond sooner. It might make things easier. Maybe. At least this is giving him time to work through things with Lucy, and give herself time to deal with the her future and what that means for her. Here and back home. Of course, that led to taking time to wallow, to allowing herself to hide in a house that held memories of a life she could have had in this place and lost. It let her think about the aggression she is feeling more and more, to think about how much of what she becomes in her own world is the mess the cabal made of her and how much is just truly her. Hereditary nature? Nurture that could overcome? She isn't sure, and truly Ashley doesn't know if she wants to find out. Not anymore. She wants to know Druitt. Not as the killer he became, but the man her mother fell in love with. She wants to have a life and a home and all the things that her mother had given her, despite everything else about Ashley and in their life. Things she can still have here. If she tries hard enough. Moving was part of that. So was seeing Desmond and Lucy, and others, and talking things out. Not that she could blame him for that abbreviated greeting, or the look on his face. "I promise I'm not here to threaten your life," she says, holding both hands up in surrender. "I'm not even here to yell at you. Promise."

[moderndayassassin]

It's not exact, whether he and Lucy have worked anything out. They are attempting, so there's that. Desmond is in a personal period of change, where he's been unlearning toxic things and taking back healthier things. It's a process. But he hasn't really come around yet to being comfortable that someone knows the worst thing about him. His talk with Altair though made him slightly more open to the idea of sharing, but he's more wary at the moment to make certain Ashley isn't there to yell at him.

She confirms right away she doesn't plan on that, and he smiles faintly. "Cool, because today's been okay so far, threats would really bring the mood down." He often tries to joke to lighten things up, and it's a key sign of when he's anxious or uncertain. Jokes! They'll help!

"You want to come inside?" He's not entirely sure talking in the open is a good idea, but he also doesn't know if she's comfortable being alone with him. At this point Desmond's expecting the worst and he's not sure which road to navigate down. Lucy and his issues are complicated, but there's love underneath their relationship. Adding an outside person into that is a difficult sell.

[connatural]

And she smiles at that joke too! In truth, she half expected him to tell her to fuck off, and if he had, she couldn't have blamed him. She had reacted badly herself, both for Lucy and his life and her own revelations that she is still coping with. "No threats. No raised voices. Though if I find out you've been a dick, I can't promise no stern looks," she says, coming up to the porch, and then she nods. "Sure. I mean, honestly, this is a lot about just being social and a better person, so inside sounds good." It's not easy being diplomatic. Ashley went through a lot of training in her life, and very little of it had been about being a better person in this way. Just in using her aggression in approved ways. Which is part of why she's there.

For Lucy

[connatural]

Maybe their talks aren't exactly the basis of a friendship, but in Ashley's world they do kind of sum up the whole total of how you get to know someone. Now that she's coming out of her fog of despair, such as it is, she's wondering how others are going. Stopping by the kitchen to grab an empty jar that doesn't stay empty for long, she takes the vodka that is now back in their world and heads out one evening to try and find Lucy.

[retributes]

Lucy isn't that hard to track down these days. Her regular schedule of keeping to the house has been put out of line ever since she'd found the small puppy in one of the boxes awaiting her around Valentine's Day. She's seen walking the little furball at least twice a day and making sure it gets its daily dose of exercise.

And that's where Ashley will find her, headed back to the house for the evening. It's the puppy who alerts her to the approaching figure and Lucy half turns to see who else is taking the same path as them.

"Long time no see."

[connatural]

"Apparently. You went and got a puppy and no one told me," she teases, grinning though as she strolls closer. "Seems pets have been going around. Heard quite a few have them," she says. "Up to and including bouncing goats, which are, for the record, some of the cutest things I've seen."

Just about as cute as the puppy she bends down to scritch. "But you're cuter. Shhh, don't tell them," she whispers to the puppy.

"I just thought I'd come see you, see how you're doing. If you're up for some company?"

vagabond

[aguidingkey]

Ever since coming back from her adventure with Cissie, Aqua has taken to walking around the villages. Usually, she sticks with the southern village, as most of the people are there. Without much of a routine or a purpose, she has taken on a general role of protection for the residents.

It's during one of these walks that she spots Ashley walking around with her arms loaded. Aqua approaches with a friendly smile.

"Do you need some help?"

[connatural]

It's not that she has a lot of items, but that there's not that much for her to carry things with. Not like she has luggage, or even cardboard boxes. So when that offer comes, she lights up, nodding eagerly. "I would love it if you could help. It's not that much further but..." But it's cold, and there's still enough her steps are careful since she can't really see where she's going.

[aguidingkey]

Aqua completely understands. This world lacks a lot of comforts that she's used to and she knows her world, or even the other worlds she has been to, don't have the kinds of things people like Ashley are used to. So as Ashley nods, Aqua steps up to take a few of the more awkward things off the top of the pile, careful not to upset Ashley's armload too much. She stops only when their loads are a bit more equal and it doesn't look like either of them will fall over or drop anything.

"Are you moving into a new house or just moving some of your things?" she asks curiously, figuring they can at least talk while they walk.

[connatural]

"Actually? I'm moving in with a friend," she admits, still amazed that she has the chance to say that. She hasn't had friends in her life outside of those that she would also consider family, after all, so this is all new to her and yet she loves it dearly. "I have kind of stayed in a place alone since a guy named Ty left, and it's been kind of... I hadn't realized how lonely, or that I was kind of wallowing, until recently." Talking about this is important, if nothing else because they need to watch out for one another. "I grew up living in a massive place with others, and hadn't thought about why being alone, especially in this place, might be a bad idea."

[aguidingkey]

Aqua smiles at that announcement, happy that Ashley is finding friendship like that. "That's great," she says genuinely. "It can be a little lonely living by yourself." Honestly, she's so used to being by herself in the Realm of Darkness that she hasn't realized how alone she is here. Maybe she should change that.

"I guess that's why I spend so much time away from the house here," she muses as they walk. "It's better not to be so isolated."

readjustment

[ethnobotany]

Beverly has wanted to check in with Ashley ever since New Years. With the near constant pressure and relocation by the Observers, she hasn't wanted to add to that by nudging at some difficult emotions. Still, when she sees Ashley at a table in the Inn one day with some books, she heads over, glad for the open opportunity.

"Getting in some studying?" she asks lightly as she settles into a chair nearby. "What's the chosen subject for today?"

[connatural]

Caught up in her reading, Ashley doesn't realize she isn't entirely alone until Beverly speaks. Looking up instantly, her smile is wide and excited to see her, realizing just how long it's really been since they've talked. Of course you see one another around, but she's missed actually spending time with Beverly. "Actually trying to get some information on the kirin, though having to settle for horses. A friend has a pair of them, and I want to make sure they stay healthy. How are you though?"

[ethnobotany]

Beverly's expression turns very interested. Horses weren't exactly her field of study, though she did have to learn a bit of veterinarian medicine to care for the Enterprises variety of pets, but she knows someone who would be very able and willing to help Ashley's studies.

"You should talk to Jean-Luc sometime," she says warmly. "He has always been an avid equestrian and ever since our housemates disappeared, he's taken over looking after the two we have."

The kirin weren't his to begin with, but she knows Jean-Luc enjoys any chance he gets to work with equines.

"I've been doing all right. Trying to keep up with the general flow of the population. I've tried to take a head count of people who know any kind of medicine and who might be willing to learn. Can't have too much medical staff running around."

[connatural]

"Oh, I've been meaning to talk with him anyways," she says, putting the book aside and looking glad to find there might be someone with hands on practical knowledge. Ashley has never been one for the study side of learning, but when it comes to living beings, she doesn't want to take the chance she hurt them. Vanille would be so hurt if they were.


"Given how they keep sending us off to the far reaches, that's smart. I keep worrying if any they've done that to just haven't come back, and we won't know why since others disappear."

[tosavecocoon]

Vanille has been beyond happy at the prospect of Ashley moving in. Not only is Ashley one of her closest friends here, but she's also interested in helping with the animals. More hands with the menagerie can't be a bad thing. Given their new living situation, Vanille notices Ashley's tendencies, though she doesn't comment on them. Instead, she waits for a free moment during the day, walking outside to find Ashley with the animals.

"Wanna take them all out for a while?" she asks brightly. "We can ride Crystal and Diamond and take the others with us." She has done this plenty of times on her own, just never with another person. Having someone else around who the kirin like and respond to will help so much.

[connatural]

There is something about the animals that Ashley finds comforting. Something about the fact that they remind her so much of abnormals that they feel right. They feel, ironically enough, normal, but then there's also that they're innocent in a way. They don't have to deal with the emotions and the pain that human do, and there's something about them she finds calming. "Can we? I've not ridden horses since like Tibet, I think. I was still a teenager then,' she says, considering how long ago that trip feels now.

[tosavecocoon]

"Sure!" Vanille chirps happily. Since Ashley has already started to bond with Diamond and the mare is the closer of the two kirin right now, Vanille moves over to her left side. "I can give you a leg up and we can go right now. I've gotten them both used to leg pressure and shifting your weight on their back. We're still learning, but they've come a long way."

Clasping her hands together to make a foothold for Ashley, she bends her knees and spreads her weight evenly over her feet so she can take Ashley's weight and give her friend a boost up.

"Just put your knee on my hands and I'll boost you up!"

Then she'll go open the gate to let the others out and off they can go. This will be a lot more fun with someone else riding along with her and she'll get to teach her friend something new.

[connatural]

It hadn't come to Ashley until that moment but there's something freeing about knowing you're dead. Something that means she hasn't anyone else to care about but herself. Herself and those in this place that have become her family and friends. That's all that has to matter now. What they can do to keep all of them alive.

Shifting to do as she is told, putting her knee into that brace and letting Vanille lift her up.

"Do you ride horses a lot back home?"

She's wondering what she's getting into, and how bad this could go for her. And if Vanille will be in a place to try and get her help if it's needed.

Stable: the 8th

[clouded_heart]

Foggy recognises that look on someone's face. Playing with animals, trying to find distraction or comfort in them.

"You ever seen a groffle calf?" It's not much by the way of hello, but it seems appropriate. "Because the North village have both a groffle calf, and two goat kids. They bounce."

[connatural]

Ashley glances up, arching a brow. "I'm going to go... A what? But then it's this place so who knows," she says with a grin. "Nope, haven't seen one, and really?" She chuckles at that, turning to face Foggy and sliding her hands into her pockets. "Where do you get goats around here? Are they native?"

[clouded_heart]

"Not native, friends up north got two kid goats after they tracked back with a groffle calf. The kids bounce, Ashley. They bounce, it is adorable, you must come with me immediately to see them." This is clearly very important.

[connatural]

She laughs at that. "I admit, I've never seen a baby goat. Hell, last live goat I saw was being stalked by a chupacabra, so I'm not sure that counts or is fair for him. Definitely wasn't bouncing, so definitely. Let's do it."

She's definitely up for it, and she needs to focus on the good things here.