makingmyway | IC Inbox

[ Listening to Dorian, Ashton can't help but be glad that it was the bard that Ashton reached out to. He knew Orym would be just as good but they feel like they knew what Orym would do or say. Maybe not, the guy was always surprising Ashton, but still. It's nice to have a different view even if it's not too different really.

Of course him mentioning how he was sure Ashton knew what needed to be done does make the genasi deflate further, slumping forward on the bar.

Apologize. He had to apologize to Percy.

Fuck. ]

Yeah yeah I know...I will.

[ Then there's a deep breath as they mentally pick themself back up and take a drink from their beer. ]

Yeah I'll be fine...just needed to vent and...you know...not break things. I actually like that house.

[ Dorian nods, certain that Ashton would apologize eventually. He trusted the barbarian, and he wasn’t worried. He also didn’t want to push them into it, since pressure would just make them more resistant, more aggravated.

They needed to do it when they felt ready. He was just there to support them.

With a small smile, Dorian takes a drink from his mug. ] Honestly, I like it too. It would be nice to keep it intact.

We can have a few drinks, however long it takes for you to calm down.

[ They’ve got time. ]

[ Dorian over here gentle parenting his barbarian friend...and it works.

Damn.

Granted it helps that Dorian understands them better than they really realize. ]

Sounds good to me.

It is though, right? Nice I mean. Having a place that's ours. Haven't exactly had a minute to just sit and take it all in.

[ Dorian nods in understanding as he takes a drink from his tankard. ] I know. Even when I joined with you guys again, we hadn't had much chance to settle in any one place for too long. And from my understanding, that hadn't changed much from before I reunited with you all.

[ Even if Ashton wasn't quite caught up with all that, he doesn't think he's spoiling too much by saying so. ]

Being able to just take things a little easier... I think we've all needed it.

[ Just as long as things were still okay back home when they went back. ]

Yeah? I mean that makes sense...seems like any time we settle in for a bit something gets fucked up or someone starts attacking...

It's also been nice...meeting people and it not being tied to whatever else is going on? Like...like meeting Bor-Dor, Deni$e, and Prism was fine...just wish it wasn't because we were tossed across the ocean.

[ Even if he still doesn't know about that end for Bor'Dor yet. It's fine.

It's fine. ]

And uh...speaking of new friends... [ They clear their throat, running a hand over the back of their neck. ] .....you were right...

I know what you mean. Even with the people we met back home, it would have been nice to be able to get to know them without the looming threat.

[ Dorian blinks when Ashton trails off, and he thinks he hears something but it’s difficult to tell. ]

Sorry, what was that?

You were right.

[ Ashton speaks up with a groan. ]

About Barcus...and me...and....whatever we are. After we got the eggs I...I went to see about getting my hair cut because he does gem cutting so I thought he'd be the best for it.

I made a dumb joke about him getting me in his bed and he was...I mean he was sweet.

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You were right.

[ Ashton speaks up with a groan. ]

About Barcus...and me...and....whatever we are. After we got the eggs I...I went to see about getting my hair cut because he does gem cutting so I thought he'd be the best for it.

I made a dumb joke about him getting me in his bed and he was...I mean he was sweet. <small<[ The last bit is said with a weird disbelieving tone, like Ashton can't believe he likes someone so nice and normal and sweet. Because really, this is Ashton we're talking about. ]

We...kinda..kissed.

[ And no he is not going more into detail about that.

Right now. ]

[ Dorian blinks a little; while he is a bit surprised, it’s only because he hadn’t expected anything to happen so soon. He could see how close Ashton and Barcus were, the playful flirting and the soft expressions, and honestly he was really happy for the both of them.

Still. ]

Wait, you both kissed already?

Yeah? I mean...there might have been...more...but that's not...I mean.

[ Ashton is just rubbing his face now with that slightest hint of color on the tips of his ears. ]

Barcus is so nice and...normal. Is it bad that's why I like him? Because he doesn't remind me of back home? Like...here is nice and while it's got it's shit it's not all riding on us to fox it, y'know? It's more than just the Hells havin' to do shit. And he...god he makes it so easy.

…more?

[ Dammit, Ashton, you can’t just leave him hanging like that!

But he doesn’t press further as Ashton continues, and his expression softens a bit. ]

I don’t think that’s bad at all. We can’t help who we’re attracted to, and honestly I think he’s good for you. And while I don’t know him as well, you seem to do a lot for him too. You both find comfort and strength in one another. Why not embrace it while we’re here?

[ The question just gets a look, Ashton's eyes only a little wider, eyebrows raised a moment as if to say more without the words, before the earth genasi takes a long draw from his drink and nods. ]

Yeah I just...I don't know. I get scared.

Like...what if...what if we end up back home and I forget all about him...but there's like this hole that nothing fits in because the person who made that hole is in a completely different world? Do I take what happiness I can just to torture myself later?

[ Not that he knows if that's the case or not. Who knows. ]

[ Dorian hums softly. From what he’s seen at home, he knows Ashton and Fearne had gotten pretty close. But mentioning that probably wouldn’t help much right now. ]

Well, I think it would be worth it. Whenever we go back home, even if nothing ever fits that hole the same way again, that doesn’t mean you won’t ever be happy. It’s like just like how we can make friends here, even with our friends back home. Our friends back home can never be replaced. We’re just adding more people to care for in our hearts.

Edited 2025-01-10 03:23 (UTC)

Yeah, and like....I know that. It's why I haven't really been pulling away. I like Barcus.

[ As if that weren't more than obvious at this point. ]

I know home can't be replaced but...it's weird how quickly this place is becoming a sort of home too. Like...I wouldn't mind living out whatever sort of life we could have here and then go back...

[ Yeah, called it. But he won’t say anything about it for now. ]

Well, we don’t know how long we’ll be here, or even how to get home. So why not enjoy the time we have here?

[ Hush you. ]

Yeah.

[ Just...draining the rest of his ale with small sigh. ]

Thanks, Dorian. For the talk and stuff...and this. It's...it's weird not having the others around but I'm glad I've got you and Orym here.

[ A sentiment he has no idea he'll be echoing again later. ]

[ Dorian smiles, taking a swig of his own ale. ]

You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help. And honestly, I’m glad to have you here too.

[ He does still miss the others, of course. But he’d been glad someone had been here when he first arrived. He doesn’t know if he could have managed this whole new world on his own. ]

[ Ashton misses the others like a fish misses water. It's weird. They hadn't expected it but at some point the Hell's became their family and they knew they'd do anything for them.

And Dorian is one of them. Even if he hadn't been there long, even if Ashton had been kind of a dick to them, he was important too.

So Ashton just leans over, bumping shoulders with the other genasi and smirks. ]

At least between the two of us we can make sure Orym actually takes care of himself and not just him taking care of us.

[ Dorian laughs a little, nodding. ] Honestly? It’s probably going to take both of us just to get him to relax a little.

[ He ~~loves~~ cares about you a lot, Orym, but you are very stubborn. ]

You're tellin me, the guy needs to relax some time. And not just his meditating shit.

[ Ash looks at the other a moment. ]

Has he ever tried to get you to meditate with him?

[ Dorian nods. ] He has, but I haven’t quite gotten the hang of clearing my mind.

[ Too many anxious thoughts. ]

He has shown me the forms of the Zeph'aeratam, and I had done that with him before. I haven’t done them since before I left, though.

Same! I mean I figured it out once but that was because that Prism chick cast a spell and we all just like....chilled out? I think that's the only time I've been able to actually meditate.

[ The Zeph'aeratam.

Something Ashton doesn't know but with how many times he's woken up to or just watched Orym perform it, feels like they could too. ]

That part...yeah I haven't done that but...i figured it's like. Kinda personal for him? I don't know. But you knew him before the Hell's, right? Was he all that different with the other group?

It’s a connection to the Ashari, I think. But he offered to show me, and the Squall has always had a close connection to Zephrah.

[ The question has him pause a moment, and he really does have to consider that. ]

…yes and no? He’s always been the most responsible one, the one who had to reign us in and keep us on track.

[ He falls quiet as he thinks about Orym when they’d been with the Crown Keepers, and comparing him to the Orym he reunited with. ]

Lately though it seems, he’s… even more so? Like, he doesn’t joke around as much as he used to. He’s holding so much weight on his shoulders now, and I’m… [ His frown deepens as his eyes look down at the table. ] A part of me is worried about him, once everything back home is over.

[ Hearing about the difference makes Ashton's face fall, from joking and banter to a much more series look. Biting his lip in a grimace, Ashton can't help but feel like Orym's seriousness is partially their fault. ]

Yeah well, he's been around a group of fuck ups who at any point could end up killing each other soooo. We haven't exactly made it easy for him to not be the responsible one...

[ And doesnt' that make them feel guilty as fuck?

They slump back in their seat, ordering another round before continuing. ]

Maybe...maybe we can do something here that'll help? I don't know...help the guy lighten up? He's too young to be that serious.

[ At least he seems like it. Wait....does Ashton even know how old his friend is? ]

[ Dorian glances over at Ashton, his brow furrowing a bit. ] I don’t think it’s really anyone’s fault. Orym is also just the kind of person who takes care of people. He’s a protector, and even though he doesn’t see it, he’s very good at taking the lead. He sees it as his responsibility, and it’s difficult not to lean on him too.

[ Dorian knows he’s just as guilty for that. ]

I’d like to do that for him as well. I want him to have a chance to just… be, you know? He deserves a chance to enjoy himself and be happy too.

Yeah.

[ They know that, really they do. It just sucks when said friend is trying to be the protector of someone who seems like they're trying to self sabotage almost whenever they can. ]

So what I'm hearing is that we need to give him the most domestic space as possible? Or something like that.

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I DIDN'T KNOW MY HTML BROKE

Aww no worries, it happens

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