Walking anywhere at night can be risky in Destiny City, but tonight it’s not being attacked by some punk in a strange outfit. The squeaking above you is a dead giveaway that you’re not going to have a good night. Perhaps you remember the flock of bats that swarmed down on Destiny City last year; if you’re lucky, this is your first time being attacked by one. Thankfully it seems like a lone bat has made its way out of whatever cave they’ve moved from, but this thing is giant. It has a six foot wingspan. Does the bat fly away without harassing you? Do you fight it? If it scratches you, you walk away fine, but if it bites you then you can expect a rough time. Being bitten by these bats leaves two small marks that will itch for a few hours. Then, exhaustion and fatigue sets in and you become extremely sensitive to external stimulus; skin feels like it becomes overheated in sunlight, bright lights are painful to the eyes, and smells and sounds can seem overwhelming. The victim will feel constantly cold and hungry, no matter how much they eat or drink. They may also be prone to agitation and bouts of violence. These afflictions may last only a few hours or a few days and then suddenly disappear.
Ashanite paced back and forth, fingers twitching. He liked to think he had more than a little experience with all the weirdness Destiny City had to offer, but giant bats were new. Giant bats that bit him and left him feeling itchy and strange and snappy were definitely new.
There were a thousand vampire jokes to be made about his appearance as an officer, but he'd never actually had any practical aversion to the sun; that was brand new, and he hated it.
He hadn't even realized that he'd wandered into the park where he kept running into Whisler, but there he was.
"God damn it," he muttered, and he dropped on a bench and buried his face in his hands. He was tired and sick and angry, and this was definitely not the face he wanted Whisler to see. But maybe he'd be lucky. for once.
xOrangeish Sherbert
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:06 am
Nick frequented this park more often than he wanted to admit. Laying on the high walled sliding board was often one of his favorite spots to just…think and especially with the weather changing the way that it was…it was nice just to go out and chill. Of course, when others came to the park too, normally he chose to just remain quiet, not really listening, not intruding…but when tonight the voice was one that sent goosebumps up and down his arms, he slowly and silently wriggled up a bit to pear through the space between the playground bars.
…Ashanite.
Of course. Swallowing, he slunk down the slide a little more, wondering if he should just remain hidden…or come out…or just try to sneak away as a civilian…but…no. That plan might lead to him dying and that was not what he wanted to do tonight.
So, with a sigh, Nick closed his eyes and let the sparkling purple clothing and power of Whisler envelop him, then sat up, glancing over at his favorite general. “Everything okay, Ash?” He slid down the remaining portion of the slide and walked to the male. “Is there something wrong?”
The bloom of a Transcendent aura was a screaming hit to Ashanite's senses. He moved his hands away from his face to look around, ready for danger -- because he strongly suspected he was going to be in danger. He pushed himself off the bench and called his weapon, prepared for a fight. (Something in him screamed to start one, but he tried to ignore that.)
It was...probably not a threat.
Ashanite let out a breath when he recognized the man coming down the slide, dismissing his weapon and giving Whisler a tired, but welcoming smile. "Hello, darling," he said warmly. His grin turned slightly sheepish at the question.
"Is it that obvious?" He asked. Stupid question. Of course it was. "I...haven't been feeling my best, the past few days."
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 4:39 pm
Whisler crossed the rest of the way over to Ashanite, his eyes flickering to where the weapon had been in the General’s hands, then to his face. “I mean. I don’t want to brag or anything, but I think I know you pretty well...you are more than welcome to say that I don’t, but...I can at least tell when you’re not...okay.”
He reached the General and placed his hands on either side of his face, looking at him, eyes taking in Ashanite’s face rather hungrily. “Did I startle you? If you had looked at the slide...well. That would have been a bit awkward. Sometimes I come here as…you know. As not Whisler to think about things. I love this park.”
What would have happen if he had been found? It would have been...interesting, to say the least. Leaning forward, Whisler pressed his lips to the tip of Ashanite’s nose and then pulled away slightly. “Now. Sit down at tell me what’s wrong. Can I help?”
Ashanite nodded. He would disagree, but this wasn't really the time for that. "You know me well enough," he acknowledged. Whisler had seen more of him than most people, at least. It was something he should have been wary about.
His eyebrows flicked up. He'd realized he supposed, that Whisler's sudden appearance meant he had likely been in civilian form, but it hadn't really sunk in until he...outright admitted to it. What would he have done with that knowledge? How would he have handled knowing who Whisler was?
What would that have even meant?
"You did startle me, a bit," he said, "but I'm...glad it was you, and not someone else. I don't. Know what I might have done." He have Whisler a shaky smile and sank back down into his seat, patting the space next to him in offer. "You might not want to be around me, though," he laughed faintly. "I think I'm sick."
He bundled his cape around him, shaking his head. "I'm cold. And hungry. And tired, all the time," he pressed a hand to his forehead. "And too much light hurts." He laughed, faintly. "Were it not totally ridiculous, I'd wonder if I was turning into a vampire."
It was a bad joke. He knew it. It was also all he had.
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:04 pm
Whisler’s cape was off in a moment and he draped the fur trimmed fabric over Ashanite like a blanket, frowning at once and sitting next to him. “I don’t want to not be around you. If you’re sick, you should let me help.” He blinked and then wrapped an arm around Ashanite’s shoulders. “I doubt that you’re turning into a vampire…it must just be some nasty strain of the flu or something. I know it’s been going around pretty badly lately…”
Turning into a vampire though…that…
“…Ash, why would you think that you were turning into a vampire? I mean, I get that it’s near Halloween and all…but…coming from you…I don’t know. I’ve never known you to say something like that. Is there a reason?” His hand gently rubbed the General’s shoulder and he tried to provide as much warmth as he could. “Is there something I could do to help you? You know I’d do whatever I could.” He sounded like a broken record...but he was worried.
It wasn't like Ashanite to...well. He hadn't seen Ashanite not feeling well before...not like this sort of not feeling well...
Whatever. He would just do what he could. That was all.
Ashanite sighed and settled against Whisler, glad for the extra cape to ward off the cold. His uniform certainly wasn't built for cold weather. "I--" He started, and then he let out a little sigh. Whisler's concern was sweet, it really was, but goodness.
"I was making a joke, Whisler," he said, voice dry. "Constantly cold, neither food nor drink satisfies, sudden aversion to light? They're common literary vampire signs. and I did get bitten by a bat -- and please do not freak out, I'm alright, you can barely see the mark anymore, and I've been vaccinated against rabies, so it isn't that." He rubbed at his face. "And I did say it was totally ridiculous." It was almost irritating, actually, and he bit back the urge to snap. "Honestly there really isn't much you can do. You're probably right, it is some strain of the flu. Which means I just have to tough it out."
Honestly, he probably should have been at home, asleep, not tromping around as Ashanite, but it was much easier to channel all that instinct to snap and tear peoples' heads off if he was powered.
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:50 pm
“Oh.” Whisler frowned slightly and shrugged. “Well you didn’t…well. Whatever.” He huffed and tried not to keep acting like a concerned mother about him. It wouldn’t do any good, worry…but…he got bit by a bat? That was…different.
He grew quiet, reaching over and taking one of the General’s hands. “I wasn’t trying to mock you or anything…please don’t misunderstand. I just. Worry about you. That’s all.” He was starting to sound like Arias. Overprotective and smothering…that wasn’t what he wanted to come across as…
“I didn’t even realize that…how did you end up getting bitten by a bat? What kind of bat was it? I…I’ve never gotten to see a bat up close really, but sometimes I like to watch them eating fruit and stuff on Youtube but…that has nothing to do with anything so…”
Shrugging, Nick rested against Ashanite again. “…I hope you feel better soon, honestly I do. If you are turning into a vampire though, well. We'll deal."
Ashanite rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I don't need you fussing over me, I promise," he said, trying not to sound too sarcastic about the whole thing. "It's just a bug," he insisted. He considered moving away, but he was warm and practicality beat out irritation.
"There;s nothing to be worrying about," he said, letting Whisler take his hand. He was sure it was cold, since he was cold all over. "It would be horrifyingly ignoble for me to die of the flu." After everything else he'd survived...no. It wasn't possible.
"If you remember the stories out of the Fall Festival last year, the giant bats?" He shuddered. "It was one of those."
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:59 am
“Okay, okay. Sorry.” Whisler’s brows furrowed and he wondered why he kept saying the wrong things. It…Ashanite could be snappy sure, but Whisler was the one who was being weird, surely. “No, I’m afraid I didn’t go to any fall festival last year…but giant bats? That sounds…insane. Though…normal enough for this place, I suppose.”
He tried to defuse whatever tension he had caused by gently rubbing his thumb over Ashanite’s hand, hoping that he could warm it up just a bit. “It would…yeah. About the flu…but that’s not going to happen. You’re going to be fine.”
Shut up. Just shut up, Whisler. He didn’t need to hear that. The knight pursed his lips and fell silent again, staring up into the sky. “It’s a nice night though. Don’t you think? I adore fall weather…” It was strange. Not having anything to say with Ashanite of all people…and honestly, it was mildly disconcerting.
"You didn't miss anything positive," Ashanite said dryly, "at least from everything I've heard." He hadn't attended; public festivals were often too many people for him, in a non-acting context.
He took a long, slow breath. It was stupid, that he was letting every little thing get to him. He knew that. He liked Whisler. A lot. He wouldn't normally be this...angry at everything, but...
It was hard to think straight.
"I suppose it is," he said, and then he shivered and curled deeper into the pair of cloaks. "Fall weather is a little closer to what your uniform's built for than mine, though."
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2017 10:06 pm
“Well, it sounds that way, at least…” Whisler felt at an utter loss for words and after shrugging slightly a few moments later he stood. “I think I might head out, if that’s okay with you…perhaps you should get yourself home and enjoy something warm to drink…I really do hope you feel better soon, Ashanite. And I know I’m being a worry wart, but it’s only because I care about you, that’s all. I swear.”
He paused for a moment, the phrase from wedding vows ‘In sickness and in health’ running through his mind. Well…if he were really planning a future with the darker haired male…he shouldn’t just leave…that wouldn’t…
Opening his mouth to speak once more, Whisler shrugged. “If you need me…I’ll come around to the park again for a while. I’ll bring some soup or something…if you don’t want to see me, don’t feel obligated to come. I just…” He felt so foolish. Like he was doing something wrong…but this was how you took care of someone…and he just…
Ashanite huffed, and as Whisler stood, he disentangled from the Knight's cape and offered it back. "Here," he said, "go on. Maybe I will take myself home." There was soup in his cupboard,s and tea, and thta would hopefully be enough to ease some of this.
It was sweet. Ashanite was lucid enough to register that Whisler's offer was genuinely meant, and that he should be grateful for it. Still, it felt like coddling, like exactly the opposite of what he needed -- what he wanted.
"Don't worry about it," he said, standing up himself. "I'll manage on my own."
It was harsh. He knew it. He couldn't make himself care.
"Another time, darling."
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 3:55 pm
The words felt almost like a blow and Whisler took his cape back, taking a moment to fasten it around his neck once more, before turning his back on Ashanite. “All right. Feel better.”
There was no sense in the General seeing him get his feelings hurt. There was no point in letting that be shown to anyone. If he didn’t want Whislers help. Fine. So be it. He didn’t want to help anyway. Maybe he would go home to Arias and make him some soup…maybe…
The knight drew in a breath and murmured under his breath the words to get himself to his Wonder. There was no sense in sticking around here. He knew when he wasn’t wanted. But…that knowledge only seemed to make the pain in his chest ache all the more. Stupid, stupid Generals. Stupid…
