{suddenly, you lose your way and lose the thread.

[terraria]

WHO: Aspen, various
WHERE: Shadowlands, Stygia, and more
WHEN: December
WHAT: Catch-all log (event + general)
WARNINGS: Refer to Aspen's blanket warnings to be safe. Includes nonsexual descriptions of nudity (nude model thread.)

→ harbor

( in this white-out winter, a slender figure steps through the snow with dogged determination. aspen acts like the wind doesn't really bother him, and in a sense, it doesn't - these winters are not unlike the ones he's witnessed in petir. he's missed them - in a sense that he hasn't seen snow for almost two years. he's been so used to rains that he almost forgot that most places got snow instead of flooding. while most seem to be bundled up and bustling, aspen enjoys the snowflakes dancing in the air and some that stick to his cheeks and lashes. that, however, doesn't mean he doesn't take notice when some people are freezing their tails off.

as he unlocks the side entrance to his still-remodeling shop, he calls - )

If you're cold, you can come in here for a reprieve.

( aspen's expression isn't as cheery as it usually is - even as he rustles and flaps his wings to knock the frost off of his feathers, there's something heavy hanging in the air about him. he pushes his braid out of his coat so it falls over his shoulder like usual, setting down the coat that he'd kept over his clothes. he's traded in pastels for darker blues and blacks, and he heads to the stone counter - opening the side gate so he stands behind the counter and starts taking care of the plants and walls of powders, tonics, and salves he has stashed away. )

What are you doing out here, if I may ask? You're not going to cross the sea, are you? If you get knocked off the ship, who knows if you'll freeze or not at this point - ghk...

( he covers his mouth as he coughs up a few flower petals, his sigh melding with an exhausted wheeze. he shakes his head with disappointment. )

Apologies.

Comments

[terraria]

( no.

aspen purses his lips. )

Is this my failing? ( the question is just as honest, wanting to know if he perhaps should have curbed this behavior. )

[damnpire]

I can’t tell you the answer to that.

[It isn’t his place to judge much less put into someone else’s head a guilty conscience.It could have turned out the same even if Aspen had opened the discussion.

Hurt and anger and revenge are very powerful forces.]

They may reconsider their actions if they ever heard or saw your understanding concerning humans. If you were as important to them as they are to you. I believe they might think about what you would have wanted for everyone.

But only if they knew.

[terraria]

( it's something he has to mull over, and maybe alone. he raises his gaze to d and shakes his head. )

Thank you. I didn't mean to talk your ear off about something like this. I haven't met anyone from my world yet, and I hope... I hope that means good things. I do truly hope that Cress isn't doing something like that, and as you say - that they took into consideration my stance. They knew I was not intent on keeping the barrier to humans indefinitely. Perhaps that might soften their rage.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep you.

[damnpire]

I don’t mind.

[He sympathizes with Aspen’s plight regardless of the outcome of humans in that world. Sure, he is fond of them, but, being half of two very different worlds, he understands there is always another side.]

I’m sorry. I don’t have any answers to help you. Though I don’t mind listening. I still believe it’s fortunate you are able to provide others with a little hope for living.

[terraria]

( he sighs, and then shakes his head again with a soft smile. arms crossed, he leans heavy against the counter. )

I didn't mean it - that this is useless. I could never.

I just... I suppose I'm tired of feeling helpless because I can't do battle. I studied this to help. I do want people to be healthy, to live in comfort, and I recognize that this is my best option with my magic and my aptitide.

Well, illiteracy notwithstanding.

( this may explain why there are few to no words around in the shop. )