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[wilder]

[Backdated to yesterday]

[Friends from Aselia (aka not Yuan)]

[He promised Korra he would ask people to come, so here we go]

Yo. Some cute girl named Korra wants to go up to the mountains on Saturday to train, so she doesn't terrify ducks or something with her powers. So I'll be gone all day since it's a few hours ride.

If any of you wanna tag along or whatever, I won't stop you. Korra sounded excited about the snow up there, so there's that.

[....What he never said he'd be GOOD at it]

[/Filter]

[Zelos meanwhile is chilling under a tree near the duckpond, since the roof seemed lame today. He's got his hands behind his head as he rests again the tree, his legs stretched out in front of him. Mostly he seems to be watching things around him, still deciding whether or not he's glad to be back. The ducks are doing their own thing in the pond, though they seem to be evading him, even going out their way to do so and if one steps near it will even hiss at him. Because hey, they still remember him as the dude the tore up the place sparring with Korra.]

[Oh well]

[OOC: open post!]

Comments

[wilder]

...Lemme get this straight, I'm your scape goat now?

[persequor]

Mayhaps. But only in this. [ The second part is honest. ]

[wilder]

[he siiiighs and writes in a filter for terrible terrible cooks with a quick "Hello!" except I'm not adding that in because this post is several days late and I'm lazy]

[persequor]

[ Despite seeing him write it, she cannot see the filter. She smiles slightly. ]

Let's try something else while we wait. Mm...people who like the color grey!

[wilder]

Okay okay...

[Writing that one in too!]

[persequor]

[ That one she can see. Her expression doesn't shift. Yet her heartbeat jumps before she mentions the last filter. ]

Now skinchangers.

[wilder]

Skinchangers?

[He KNEW You had an ulterior motive! He hesitates, before writing it as a filter]

[persequor]

[ The filter remains very, very visible. She can feel her heartbeat in her wrists. Swallowing, she looks to Nymeria. The only thing remaining of the duck are feathers. ]

They're a story.

[ And monsters every one of them. ]

[wilder]

[Yeah. He can hear that heartbeat]

What's the story.

[persequor]

It's just an old wives' tale. Nymeria, to me.

[ Her voice cracks on the direwolf's name. Her breathing starts to come in quiet, shallow gasps. She doesn't know what to feel. She doesn't know if she should push Nymeria away. But in the end she's lonely and too unwilling to give her up again.

Nymeria is on her feet immediately and bounding over in three long strides. She whines quietly as Arya grabs her for support. ]

[wilder]

Arya.

[He reaches over, putting her hand on her shoulder]

What is it?

[persequor]

[ Arya hadn't lied when she told him she was always afraid. She's terrified now. Yet anger slips so much more easily into her veins and out. ]

That's wrong! [ She's on her feet and pointing at the journal. ] I am not a monster! I'm not! You're all wrong!

[wilder]

What?

[Okay just what is going on; he looks at her with both confusion and concern]

Who said anything about you being a monster? You're not.

[persequor]

That filter. I can see it. I'm not. I swear I'm not.

[ She's backing away, still clutching a handful of Nymeria's fur. Nymeria bares her fangs, not at Zelos, but the journal. ]

[wilder]

What difference does that make? I wrote what you told me. I sure didn't write monster.

[persequor]

Because they are monsters! They'll change their skin and they'll hunt people and that is not me!

[ BSOD in 3...2... ]

[wilder]

[He's getting up with the intent of moving closer]

Then don't be like those others. You're you, being a skinchanger or whatever doesn't change that.

[persequor]

[ She shakes her head mutely. Her grip on Nymeria becomes painful enough for the wolf to snap at her. Arya lets go reflexively and Nymeria backs away. ]

[wilder]

[yeah he can't blame the direwolf there really, that did seem to be like a death vice on the poor animal. He meanwhile approaches closer to her]

Trust me, I've seen a lotta monsters, okay? Even human ones. You don't even come close to qualifying as that.

[persequor]

And if I change?

[wilder]

Darling, even if you grew wings and a tail you'd still be Arya.

And if you feel yourself getting changing in your head? We'll make sure you still stay who you wanna be.

[persequor]

How?

[wilder]

We find a way. Wouldn't be the first time it's been pulled off by us.

[persequor]

[ Arya makes no response. ]

[wilder]

[....]

[Okay he really hates doing this in such a public place, but he's bringing out his wings since BSODing people need blatant reminders and says very patiently as he kneels down in front of her ]

Look, do you think I'm a monster?