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

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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

[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."

[connatural]

That makes Ashley pause, head canting to look at Aqua sidelong, knowing maybe she shouldn't be pushy but it took not having that option any longer of being alone to realize how bad it's can be.

"So you're living by yourself?" Pausing only a moment before adding. "Because if you are, you just said that it's not a good idea to be isolated."

[aguidingkey]

"I did, didn't I?" Aqua admits almost guiltily, smiling in spite of herself. "I try not to spend much time alone. Maybe I'll try to take a room at the Inn, if there is one still open."

That would keep her nearby enough and wouldn't be as isolated as she currently is.

"I'll be fine," she says next. This isn't the first time she's been alone, after all, and if the Realm of Darkness couldn't beat her, neither can this world.

[connatural]

"I would say you should, but then I ran from that. But that's because I have someone there I needed space from," she admits, not wanting to name her father in that but he had been the reason she hadn't been comfortable staying there.

"I would be fine too, and have been most of the winter. Doesn't mean you should have to be," she points out.

[aguidingkey]

"That's fair," Aqua agrees with a light laugh. At this point in her life, she can admit when she's been beaten. "I'll give it some thought. Until then, I'll just make sure to see you and my other friends as much as I can."

That's a good midway point, right? And it's good for her to admit that she has friends here. Thinking it is one thing, but saying it means so much more.