[ action ]

[wishmadeinfire]

[ After the horrendous fight with Felix, Ashura had no wish to stay in the Castle where he might run into the other. So, instead, he headed out to the barn and gathered Svitana, tossing on the dragon-horses' bareback blanket and bridle and mounting up.

They surged out of the barn at break neck speeds, Svitana let out a reptilian screen as his claws dug into the earth, throwing up clods of dirt as the pair raced for the forest. They vanished within, racing through the wood at a pace some might consider dangerous if not for Svitana's great traction from his claws. They leapt over fallen trees and rocks, sending birds scattering and deer running and more or less terrifying the local wildlife. 

When they finally emerged, both were panting, and Ashura's cheeks were scratched here and there from twigs having smacked him in the face. He had chosen to ignore them in his more or less irritated rage. His hair had leaves in it that he was slowly yanking out as Svitana scraped through the town, some people avoiding the clearly miffed elf-like man and his giant reptilian horse.

For the first time in a long time, Ashura wanted a drink - a real, hard drink, and that was where he was headed.]

[ooc: feel free to see him running through the wood or stop him in the town and join him for angry drinks]

Comments

town and action~

[echivoc]

[ Cross is in town, really just wandering around with no particular goal in mind. It seems to be a better idea to walk around a quiet, slumbering town than sit in his room and stare out the window blankly.

He rounds the corner and notices Ashura, raising an eyebrow at him being in town at this time. ]

OMGEEEEE

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[Yes, well, when you wanted to avoid someone who slept in the same room as you, what was one to do? He drew up by the fountain and slid off to let Svitana drink, brushing off his clothing and grunting as he dipped his hand in the water to wash at the cuts on his face.]}

[echivoc]

[ Excellent choice. Cross comes up to the fountain and tilts his head to one side. ]

Having a bad night, Ashura?

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[He almost jumps when the other speaks, not expecting anyone. He spun, golden eyes bright, and relaxed minutely when he saw cross.]}

You could say that, Cross, you could say that.

_{[He frowned, touching the scratches on his face, as if suddenly embarrassed.]}

[echivoc]

[ Cross does that to people. He gauges Ashura's appearance, the elf's tone, and added with the time of night... ]

Did someone piss you off enough to take a late night ride?

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[He knew Cross knew about him and Felix, so of course the other was able to guess.]}

He signed up for a round of guard duty, without discussing it with me or even bothering to tell me he was.

_{[The anger and hurt and worry was evident in his voice.]}

[echivoc]

That would explain why you have the scratch on your cheek and a bit of dirt here and there. Now, I think a glass or two of wine may do the trick.

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[He paused, considering, then nodded.]}

Yes, that they might.

[echivoc]

Finish cleaning up, there is no rush. [ And to show he means it, he will turn and walk a bit away. ]

[hyuuga]

[Hinata has been staying in town, avoiding the castle as best she can. And...avoiding staying too long in the house with Ino, Sakura and Jr. She just can't at the moment. So she's been wandering about, looking for a distraction.

And with how Ashura looks...]

...Ashura? [She's almost scared to approach, but she's worried.] Is... You're not injured, are you?

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[He turns to look at Hinata and he manages to calm himself enough to be civil. She had not done anything wrong, after all.]}

Hinata. Good evening.

_{[Never mind that several of the scratches are trickling blood down his cheeks and jaw.]}

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[He sighs, doing that, and takes Svitana over to the bar/wine house. He ground ties him outside and finally walks in, spotting Cross and sitting primly down beside him, rubbing knuckles that had been gripping the reins to tight.]}

Do you recommend something?

[echivoc]

It depends on how strong you want your drink to be. [ The general is already swirling around a glass of red wine — and no red wine is strong enough to truly tone down Ashura's anger. ]

[wishmadeinfire]

Enough to make me want to burn something a bit less.

_{[He frowned at the wine bottles behind the bar, debating and sighed, running a hand through his hair and wincing some when he brushed a scratch.]}

He's an idiot.

[echivoc]

[ Cross makes a signal to the bartender and within a moment, there will be a small tumbler of whiskey over ice in front of Ashura. He takes a sip of his wine, smirking a bit at the remark. ]

Because he volunteered without discussing it with you first?

[wishmadeinfire]

Yes!

_{{He took a sip of his drink.]}

He's needlessly putting himself in the way of danger - again.

[echivoc]

Have you done something similar in the past few months to make him decide to do such a thing?

[wishmadeinfire]

No. He's doing it because... because Yuan died. And I understand what it's like to lose someone, I do.

How can he think I want him to face that alone or that throwing himself into danger is the way to deal with it?

[echivoc]

Ah. [ Yuan...that guy who used to run the now-defunct Peace Patrol... ]

So he is letting his emotions get the best of him.

[wishmadeinfire]

Something like that, I suppose. And when I got angry at him he just accused me of trying to wrap him in cotton or some such nonsense and... he said he was going with me or without me.

_{[And it was evident how much that statement had hurt him.]}

[echivoc]

"Wrap him in cotton wool" — keep him protected with minimal independence. Something like that. [ he dismisses the expression with a wave of his hand, drinking more of his wine. the expression brings back memories of edo to him, and what seems like a blank slate.

oh... yeah, that would provoke anger in someone. ]

So give him the space he wants and you in turn use his absence to get over this.

[wishmadeinfire]

But he never... he does not make good decisions, when upset. The man can barely keep form hurting himself in his own laboratory!

_{[He takes a swig of his own drink and puts it back down a bit roughly, shaking.]}

[echivoc]

Then let the damn man make bad decisions and pay for them. He will learn the hard way to not let his emotions override his logic.

[wishmadeinfire]

And what happens if those bad decisions do not just harm him? What if they harm me too?

_{[He bit his lip.]}

I didn't even get to bury the first body, Cross. I will not be forced to bury this one.

[echivoc]

You know he wouldn't let anything happen to you, pissed off lover or not. And you simply have to roll with the punches.

[ Call him insensitive, but this is how he deals with that type of thing. He keeps himself detached from most relationships, save the one Paradisa wiped his memory banks of upon arrival. ]

Then go with him, or talk to him without a condescending tone and present you side. Let him do the same, and then work it out.