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 Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:43 pm
“Oh Lygaria, I’m so glad you came today! I missed you last week~”
“I’m so sorry, Vikar, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“No worries,” The Oban was practically beaming as he ushered the smaller ‘woman’ into his shop. With the unseasonably cool breeze filtering through the city the shop windows had been opened wide and the door was propped open with a welcoming sign. There was a charm about the place that hid it’s expensive tastes. The butcher’s shop held nothing, but pure, quality meat that simply didn’t cut corners like so many others. Still, that meant he charged more than they did as well which meant some customers had to take drastic measures.
Such as Asa.
When he’d first been spotted with his scarf wrapped around his head some weeks back the butcher had commented on his exotic beauty. That in itself had been a red flag for the smaller Zenan, but when he started talking about the fair lady that came by his shop for discounted meat Asa had been tempted to stay away completely. Still, the meat was discounted so greatly that it was practically free and with a growing family Asa felt himself in a pinch. Save his dignity and out himself, or swallow his pride and stop by weekly?
This dilemma is how the Zenan had ended up buying a suitably long wig, a few hair pins and a dress small enough to fit his frame yet loose enough to disguise things he’d rather not discuss with a stranger. All he had to do was survive the exchange, get his food, change in a back alley and make it home. That was it..
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:51 pm
[1/10] With her parents in Matori watching their own children, Ygraine had gotten rather used to not having many helping hands when it came to her own two boys. But... having stayed in one place for the past few months, things had somehow, miraculously aligned to keep them thoroughly distracted. A young woman at the inn that they had been staying at had introduced the boys to meat buns - and shortly after Asa left to the market, she appeared at their door with a basket of ingredients, promising to teach them how to make them.
As they hurried from the room, the girl winked at Ygraine, ushering her off with a kind face, and Ygraine decided to take the lifeline. She loved her sons, but - Arden was a complete and utter handful, and Colm was liable to shrink into the scenery if she and Arden didn't tug him back and engage him often enough. It was a difficult balance to keep, and she was exhausted.
A nice afternoon shopping with her partner seemed - too good to pass up. So she pulled her hair up (as was necessary, given how warm things were in Oba), and headed out, trying to remember where all he'd said he was going today...
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:05 pm
"Surely you don't have to leave now. You only just got here!"
Please, for Chi's sake, leave me be! "Oh, I really must. I was expected home ages ago." Asa lifted the pitch of his voice just a touch; not so much as to be unrealistic, but enough to make it less masculine. Vikar's hand was at his elbow, preventing him from fully crossing the threshold of the butcher's shop and drawing more than a few side ways glances from those passing by.
Asa absolutely hated it. It was mortifying enough to be dressed like this, but having extra attention just made his stomach sink. Couldn't he take a hint? What sort of gentleman pushed himself like this on a lady?!
"I could walk you home! Father's here so he could mind the shop-"
"You really don't have to-"
"Please! It would be no trouble at all."
Chi, what was he to do?! He felt guilty for having used Vikar, especially considering the sheer amount of meat that lined his basket, but there was absolutely no way he could return to the inn with this man.
"Maybe I haven't made my intentions clear but-" Caught off guard, Asa squealed as the hand on his elbow pulled him close in a most decidedly romantic embrace. "Lygaria, I want to know you better."
Please, Chi, freeze me where I stand.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:16 pm
[2/10] Ygraine still stood out like a sore thumb here, it seemed. The locals gave her a wide berth, perhaps out of necessity due to her size, but it still stung a bit. And still, no sign of Asa! Just as she began to consider going back to the inn in defeat, though - Ygraine heard a familiar voice, and immediately spurred herself onward, skidding around the corner to see--
... Perhaps the very last thing she'd ever expect to see. There was her partner - literally in the arms of a strange man, which was... alarming. But - Asa was... definitely not himself.
"Lygaria, I want to know you better." The man was saying, to the 'woman' in his arms, who looked like 'she' wanted to melt into the ground.
Biting her lip to keep from laughing at his misfortune, Ygraine drew herself up and walked forward, feigning a concerned look. "Oh, I've been looking for you --" She drew closer, then clasped a hand to her breast, gasping as if she'd stumbled upon something far more vulgar than an embrace. "Is this man accosting you?! Sir - that is not how you treat a proper lady!"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:24 pm
Internally, Asa was shrieking.
His world shattered the moment Ygraine came into view. Whatever uncomfortable tension that had built up inside of him shifted into outright horror that locked the very blood in his veins. Why is she here?! Shouldn't she be with the boys?! Chi's spirit, were his sons here?! What if they saw him like this, what if they-
"Accosting?" Vikar himself seemed shocked and quickly let go of 'Lygaria' who stumbled back. "No, no, I didn't mean anything bad, I was just...erm..."
"You most certainly were, sir." Asa couldn't help it. Even in his costume and higher voice he couldn't help raising a finger to point at Vikar. "You should never be so casual with a lady you...." Whatever 'spark' that had bloomed was already fizzling out the more he looked at Ygraine in his side eye. Asa's skin was practically blossoming in a shade of deep cobalt. "...you barely...know..."
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:57 pm
[3/10] Oh gods. The look on Asa's face was absolutely priceless, and though she managed to keep a straight face, Ygraine felt her cheeks going pink from keeping in a burst of laughter, or even a mischievous face. She had... absolutely no idea why Asa was dressed this way, but she had faith he'd confess why soon enough. For now - she at least understood the necessity for keeping his cover.
Many men wouldn't... handle such a reveal with grace. Ygraine slid between 'Lygaria' and the man, folding her arms and drawing herself up to her full height. "This sweet thing is delicate, mister. Now- I'm in full support of a man going after what he wants-" She draped an arm around Asa's thin shoulders and pulled him into her side, smoothing her hand over his hair (or, wig) as if to reassure him. "Declaring your affections and just flinging yourself on her - why, no wonder she's scandalized! Just what would your father think?!"
The last statement was addressed to 'Lygaria', and accompanied with a gasp.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 4:12 pm
My father would have me flayed alive if he ever saw me. That was a conversation Asa would rather not imagine thank you very much.
Vikar cleared his throat and took a full step back, clearly intimated by the sheer size of Ygraine. "F-f-forgive me, I didn't mean any disrespect." Looking past the hybrid before him, he gave the object of his waning affection a brief apologetic look before turning back to Ygraine. "I'll just...get back to work then." Asa was surprised there wasn't a stream of dust left in his wake. He'd never seen a man scuttle away faster!
As it stood Asa hadn't been this uncomfortable at Ygraine's side since their first meeting! He was as still as stone and wouldn't so much as look at her, visibly cringing when she touched his 'hair'. "May we please leave?" He hissed.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:07 pm
[4/10] Well. At least the man had scurried off. Ygraine watched as he ducked back inside, finally realizing that he must work here, but turned back to Asa, smiling - at least until she saw how uncomfortable he looked. She furrowed her brows and stepped back, releasing him so that, maybe, that horrible look would go away. "Of course. Do you have more errands, hon? I-" She was going to explain why she was here, but... she realized it might not be wise, so close to where the strange man was.
"Everything is covered 'back home', so I'm free to ah. Escort you."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:15 pm
As soon as the term of endearment was uttered Asa whipped his head around to pierce her with a sharp gaze. Just as quickly as those golden eyes looked into Ygraine's they turned away, free hand clenching in the fabric of his dress. Swallow your pride and do what must be done. Hadn't that always been his motto? He did what needed to be done for his family and while this wasn't hurting anyone he surely did feel as if being set ablaze was preferable!
"...Then we should continue shopping. The meat's been salted so it should keep so long as we aren't in the sun." At least the boys weren't around to see him. With a huff, Asa lifted the hem of his skirt to step down from the landing just outside the shop, and a heel was made visible. The sight was accompanied by the audible 'clack' of it tamping down on the stone paved street just before he dropped the hemline to hide it.
There was no point in returning now, especially since he still had a fair amount of errands to run. He just...couldn't look at her...right now. Or ever. With his head still low Asa started to walk away from the butcher's shop.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:33 pm
[5/10] ... Right. Ygraine smiled innocently at that sharp look, but when he turned it away she sighed softly, grimacing as she pushed some stray, flyaway hairs from her face. He seemed... upset. Angry, even. But she couldn't regret seeing him like this - first to save him, and... now because he really did look darling.
She hadn't appreciated how thorough a transformation this was until he began to move, and she watched in wonder as he did, following him a few paces behind. He'd always moved delicately, with the grace and poise of a noble... but now, translated with heels and a skirt, he looked just as noble as any other lady. Her wig was a few shades off from his normal hue, but ... it suited this new look. His face had always been pretty, his frame petite.
At first, Ygraine had trouble understanding why he was so upset. But, as the moved on towards other errands... she remembered. It was difficult to remember, after so long with him. They'd struggled together - had poorer days, bartered things. He'd given up so much for their children, and often insisted he was fine with it... that he didn't want to be a lord, and didn't need gaudy things, or clothes.
Asa trampled on it quite a bit, in the name of his family - but... he did have it. Pride.
"You really do look nice." Ygraine blurted out, and it was in moments like that that she realized she really was, very much, Nimueh's daughter.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 5:46 pm
Walking in the heeled shoes of an Oban woman wasn't so different from the heeled boots Asa had become accustomed to in Zena. It wasn't unusual for those in the upper echelons to wear heels so maneuvering on the uneven terrain posed no threat to him. At points he would raise the dress just enough so that it wouldn't drag the ground, nor would it come into contact with a puddle and for that reason alone he wondered why he hadn't just tailored the damn thing. Possibly because you didn't want to put more work into the costume than you already have? And he had, hadn't he? He'd picked a fabric that wouldn't rub his sensitive skin, a shade that would compliment his coloring, a neckline that would look feminine enough without laying awkwardly against his crystals....
Thinking about how much work he'd put into the façade just made him more irritable. It was beyond shameful. If he could just rip the wig off and be done with it now he would! Why, he even had a bit of color to his cheeks and that just -
"Don't-" For a moment his voice was as sharp and harsh as his father's and that caused Asa to stop. His eyes widened in shame at himself and his free hand went between clenched knuckles and loosely shaking. "Please don't. I've already shamed us enough as it is and I don't know how much more I can take."
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:01 pm
[6/10] The sharp tone was so unusual for him, that Ygraine jolted a bit, despite herself, biting her lower lip as she stopped beside him. But... "Shamed us?" She echoed, her expression crumpling a bit with confusion. "How? I don't- " Shaking her head, Ygraine reached out to take the basket from him, looping it easily against her elbow, just to take that weight off of him.
"Baba's last letter said Morain still hasn't stopped wearing dresses and skirts. At this point they don't think it's a phase anymore. He just likes them." She smiled, in a way she hoped was reassuring. "If you like to wear these things while running errands, you know I don't... mind, right? I'm ah- rather like my papa in that regard." That is, she ... had no specific affinity for men, per se, and was rather an 'equal opportunities' sort of lover.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:17 pm
Oh, was he too frail to carry the shopping now? The next step for him would be to sit by a window and stare outside again with knitting supplies on his lap.
"Ygraine, love, Morain is free to do as pleases. He has every right to wear dresses if he wants to. I don't." Several passerbys came to a halt when Asa's voice raised and he hadn't realized until that moment that, despite the fact it was just the two of them, his tone was still feminine. His last phrase, however, was utterly masculine which contrasted sharply with his appearance.
Her smile was anything, but reassuring. If anything it grated under his skin and felt condescending, though he hoped it wasn't.
"That man saw me a few weeks ago on my way back from the clinic and thought I was a woman." At this point Asa was pointing back to the butcher's shop, clearly so lost in his own tirade that he didn't give a damn about who stopped to watch the hysterical woman in the street. He had been shamed, accosted and every time his stupid wig itched his scalp he wanted to scream. "I knew he was interested in me, I should have set him straight, but when he gave me discounts I just....I caved." Asa took a deep breath to steady himself. "I thought if I could make the best of a misunderstanding then I could provide us with good meals to eat instead of what I could afford on an apprentice healer's pay." Which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't much. Especially with two growing sons. Asa had found a clinic nearby that offered to teach him, but it just...wasn't adding up.
They never went without, even in the harshest of times, but to him it was never good enough. He was the man of the family; the patriarch! And as such it was his duty to provide, to set an example for his sons to follow and it just chafed.
"I never wanted you to see this."
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:46 pm
[7/10] Oh. Ygraine felt her cheeks go pink once more at her mistake, and she turned her head to look at the people who stopped. The attention of the alkidike-hybrid was enough to keep them moving, but... only just. Ygraine's mouth opened into a small 'o' in realization as he explained, her head tilting so she could take in the basket of meats she'd taken from him. "Well... you have." She agreed, softly. She wanted to keep moving along, so that they could discuss this privately, but she feared reaching to touch him, or hurrying him on would upset him - or make him stop venting.
At that last bit though, she frowned. "Well I... I'm sorry." She felt guilty now, for coming. She'd been excited at first, at the prospect of some extra time with Asa, but... now she was learning that her eagerness had led to his embarrassment. "I'm... glad, at least, that I was there to keep him off of you." The last bit came out softly, maybe a bit guiltily, and almost under her breath like she hoped Asa wouldn't hear her admit it.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 7:09 pm
Asa's eyes widened just a bit before he felt the fire slip out of his chest in a deflating 'huff'. He brought his hands up to his face where they scrubbed at the area just above his eyes before sliding down his temples. "No, it's...I shouldn't have spoke to you like that. It was unfair." He was taking his personal frustrations out on her, he knew he was, but it was just....
He may not have been entirely meant to hear it, but he did. "I'm glad you were there as well. That could have become...problematic." Ygraine may not have held a preference for a lover, but Asa did and Vikar was not his type. "I don't regret you coming to find me. I'm actually rather touched that you would want to spend the day with me instead of taking the time to yourself." When he looked up there was a conflicted turn to his eye. He was still horribly mortified by the whole venture, but the love he held for this woman outweighed it all.
"I just would have preferred not looking like...this." Still, at least his tone wasn't as scathing anymore. "When your brother wears them he carries himself with confidence and the look suits him. With Morain I see a natural innate beauty, but with myself it just looks wrong."
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