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[She looks over the unfamiliar object the man has. ...Does it look like food? Would it be anything safe for the people of her city to consume?]

I don't even know what that is. I've never seen it among any local vendors.

[It'd be rude and improper etiquette to just take something that belongs to somebody else. Jean wouldn't risk her life or reputation as acting Grandmaster of Mondstat.]

Edited 2022-09-09 14:18 (UTC)

Worried about something?

[He's completely oblivious to how dangerous what he's doing is.]

Yeah. Kinda. Pretty sure that's poison but by all means prove me wrong.

[With his hands on his hips looking very much the part of your disappointed mother his nose scrunched up in offense, he snorts out a frustrated huff.] Cancer, man! What about cancer!?

Or wrinkles? You're a good lookin' guy, you really want to look like a leathery ball sack with cancer?

[ She freezes, the jaws of her long snout a hair’s-breadth from chowing down on a huge mushroom.

The Amanita is ABSOLUTELY toxic, but she was banking on her supernatural ability to heal keeping her from anything more serious than hearing what colors taste like. Changing back, she mutters, ] Buzzkill.

Y’know, there was a time when you would’ve beaten me to that…

[His face was a disgusted grimace at her.] Just straight off the ground? Not even gonna wash it? Fucking heathen.

[Had she gotten any closer he would have straight smacked her snout. Since when did he become the voice of responsibility? Shit.]

You wanna to taste sound or whatever weird shit you're thinking, that's the wrong mushy for it. If I wanted to spend the rest of the night shitting my brains out we would have stopped by Han's for take out.

That’s pagan, thank you very fucking much. [ She gestured brusquely around them. ] And wash it where?

[ She rolled her eyes. ] Come onnnn, look at it. That’s not a puke-yourself-t’death fungus, that is nature’s edibles! [ And it’s lucky for them that Han wasn’t within’ earshot of that, else they’d be washing that mushroom with his tears]

You are absofuckinglutely right. Death isn't so bad. Had a friend who tried it once, she's mostly okay. Cancer seems pretty shitty to bear though.

[He shrugs and nods in agreement.]

Or COPD. Lungs slowly fill with fluid and drown you. I mean if you want death by torture I think that's your ticket.

I'm sure I have some wetwipes. [He starts to dig through his pockets. First he hands her hand sanitizer, then behold, flushable wipes.]

Smell it. If your wolf sniffer doesn't scream at you that it's toxic we need to get your head checked. I can smell it from way up here in the clouds.

Why can't we have clean, sanitary drugs?

Never is. Could be worse though. She could still be dead.

[He snorts out a laugh and shakes his head.] Man, I'm fuckin' with you. [Ashley points at the no smoking sign that isn't as obvious as it should be.] Just didn't want to see the barrista get after you if you lit that up.

You have hand sanitizer… Why do you have hand sanitizer? [ When he produces the wet-wipes, she pinches the bridge of her nose and groans. ] Y’know, for someone who doesn’t want kids, you’re awfully fucking prepared…

I did smell it! And yes, alright, it IS poisonous. But is it poisonous enough t’kill me? Or just give me th’ride of my fucking life?

Clean, sanitary drugs. Do you hear yourself talking? What’s next? Y’gonna start lacin’ my drinks with bleach?

But I am hungry... [ Why can't he eat it? ]

So are a lot of people. Doesn't mean you can snag food off another persons plate.

Have you ever let Neph eat in your car!? Obviously not or you would be prepared!

[Digging out his phone he starts to tap and scroll and frown. Yes, yes he is looking up if it would kill them or just take them on a psychedelic ride.]

My search history is bullshit because of you, you know that right?

Like the kind you buy from a hipster in Brooklyn who has asthetically pleasing packaging and his 'shrooms don't have wild animal piss on them. That kind of sanitary.

Seems like they tuck it out of the way so they can start some shit. Bored and looking for a viral TikTok or some shit.

[ The Swede's grubby hand is inching towards the plate again. ] Please... one potato, please? [ He usually isn't this brave but he is very very hungry. ]

[Ash smacks his dirty fingers and sighs.] First of all, go wash your hands. Ew. [Someone has issues with germs.] Second, they are called fries. I'll order you your own plate. [Like hell he is sharing.]

[ The Swede flinches but then hurries to wash his hands, something that clearly never happens. He can't find water and just wipes his hands on his shirt a few times before shuffling back over. ]

...reallyy? My own plate? [ He can't believe it and starts to tear up a little. ]

That was a weak ass attempt at washing your hands.

[He's a regular at this cafe. Loves to sit outside and watch people. Usually people don't stay around for long or try to snag his fries. He waves to the chick who seems to always be ready to take his order and asks for another order of fries. He looks the guy over and decides to add a hamburger.]

Dude, it's just a burger and fries. Nothing to cry over.

S... sorry... [ He smiled shyly and just kept standing there, afraid to sit down because his breeches are covered in sand and he will get sand everywhere. Also, he's crying a little bit now. ]

I am so grateful... I was so hungry... [ He can't hide how emotional it makes him to just be given an entire plate of food by a stranger. ] Y-you are my best friend now, ja? Nobody gives me food... [ He has to work very hard for his food, there's no hand-outs for pirates. ]

No secret dance videos I can dig up then?

You're an anomaly, my guy, everyone is all about their socials and here you are walking away from it. Did you do something shitty and get cancelled?

Don't think it does it for most people. We're just addicted or don't have somethin' better in our lives to look at.

You want a drink with that smoke? Bar across the street doesn't have a non smoking sign.

Bold of you t’assume I still have a car.

[ She arranges herself on the ground, getting comfortable with her head suspiciously close to the mushroom. No, she’s definitely not thinking about changing back into lupus and snarfing it while he’s distracted with his phone, why do you ask?

She grins. ] Y’mean you don’t know everything?

Th’artisan kind you buy from a hipster in Brooklyn with fancy bags cost money, cheri. Y’know what doesn’t? Wild mushrooms. Besides— [ Sniff! ] — No one’s pissed in this precise spot since th’last rain.

That sounds like the kinda job you should quit.

Or find new work. Something that doesn't leave you feeling like you need twenty years of sleep.

Sounds like what you really want is to be Santa Claus.

My point still stands. She's a mess.

[He makes a face at her and nudges her leg with the toe of his shoe.]

I have money. Still don't get why you and Han live like homeless people when I can take care of you. [He knows why, it's not in their nature. Ashley is a different sort and it has always set him apart from other tribes. He liked his money and his very human things. Maybe too much according to some. Squatting down he gives the mushroom an assessing stare.]

It won't kill us.

[His phone was tucked back into his pocket.]

Ruined him? Christianity did that. They made him a jolly gift giver. I like the guy who punishes the bratty kids. Plus, you'd pull off a beard with style.

Well shit. I was raised an asshole. Guess you know you can go gray and supplement your income playing Santa and still look good.

Ouais, so am I.

[ Even though she knew his heart was in the right place, it still hurt to hear him say those words I can take care of you. ] You do… I like t’think we take care of each other, all of us. Besides, if we let you do that, y’may get it in yer fool head that we keep you around because of your money, and that simply is not true.

[ There were things only he could do. Things he understood better than any of them, though they were all Homids. But, more than that, Oni couldn’t imagine the pack without him. It was the height of selfishness and if, someday, he left them behind for another pack. One that played better to his strengths… She wouldn’t fault him for it. But it wouldn’t be because they didn’t need him. She needed him. Pity she didn’t know how to tell him any of that. ]

Anyway, th’best things in life aren’t what y’buy, [ She split the Amanita down the middle, offering him half ] They’re what you’re given…

Well, shit. [Now he had to join her on the ground and pull his asshole foot out of his mouth. Ash laid down on his back and stretched out.]

Sappy ass. Sorry I called you homeless.

[Taking half of the mushroom from her he thought about wiping it off on his jeans just a little bit. He didn't because he was thinking more about what she just said.]

You gave me a family. That's worth all the money I have.

[And the reason why they would be stuck with him and his money. His pack was his family and they had given him something not even someone as loaded as Ashley could buy. Finding that again in another pack wasn't likely to happen and he didn't care to find out. He knew what they had was rare. Ash tapped his half against hers.]

Cheers!

[He tossed the mushroom in his mouth and immediately made a disgusted face. Still he chewed it up and swallowed it.]

You sure nothin' pissed on that!?

Catholic priest to asshole. Not a life story you hear often. All I've got is that I was a spoiled only child who just got taller. Pleasure to meet you Adrian, I'm Ashley.

[ Sappy?! ] Yea, connard! I only dress like a homeless person. It’s fun t’watch you hit th’ceiling, just because my sandals ain’t nothin’ but bits of cardboard held together with hair ties…

[ She held one foot up, wiggling her toes at him for emphasis. ]

[ Scooching over, she pillowed her head with his thigh. ] Technically, it was Eyota who done that. I was perfectly happy, traipsing all over th’commonwealth, raisin’ Cain ‘till he dragged me down here… Told me I had a purpose… Much good it did him.

[ Oni wrinkled her nose and barely kept from laughing ] Pretty sure? I’m kidding! But, Gaia, that is rank! Kinda puts a whole new complexion on Han’s cookin’, donit?

Edited 2022-09-28 22:58 (UTC)

[He grabbed that foot, pulled off her offending sandal off and threw it. If they couldn't find it later oh well, he'd have to buy her new shoes. Laying down with a hand behind his head he swallowed the remaining remnants of the mushroom. His other hand was idly playing with her mess of hair when she plopped her head on his leg.]

You don't think he accomplished what he wanted by bringing us all together?

[ Well that backfired. She watched her makeshift sandal sail through the air like a frisbee… ] Rude!

‘Course not. That’s not what I’m sayin’ at all, I— [ As she looked up, his fingers in her hair, she saw the branches above their heads split into red, blue, and yellow… It was a lot like looking through a kaleidoscope. ] —I know he’d be proud.

[ But the fact of the matter remained that her oldest friend and mentor might still be alive today, had he chosen another Ahroun. ] Y’getting anything yet?

That was kindness. What the actual fuck are you wearing on your feet?

[He was looking up as well as he played with her hair. There were sparks of light like shooting stars.] Sometimes we're messy but...yeah...he'd be proud. Not of Nasir. But the rest of us.

[He gave a strand of her hair a rug. Ash had known her long enough to know where her brain would go.] He was who we needed. Who you needed. He knew that. Right? The strength of the wolf is the pack. I never would have stayed around for Neph if it wasn't for you, Eyota and Han.

Edited 2022-09-29 02:31 (UTC)

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I do not has Ash a wolf icon! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MUST FIX

Dooooo it

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