Cogito Ergo Sum

"A client? Ah, no? ...It is of little consequence. But do feel free to remain a while and make yourself comfortable of course, guest." ~Ren _ Renaissance & Ashmire     Semi-Selective | Independent     [SEMI-ACTIVE] ASHMIRE'S STATUS     Can currently possess Ren Tracking: #asherumpicturam [09/03/2016] Let's face it this is a WIP forever

[martyrsuggestion]

Kid, when you are broken and wretched remember this; “A deity will not be your savior, and in dire times we must breathe life back into our own skins.”

[asherum-picturam]

[ Pre-Accident ] Something Missing || CLOSED || Asherum-Picturam

[mirantiqueliberalis]

There was no denying that this was partially to stave off any guilt that she may have felt if Renaissance were to return to his body. However, the vastly indignant tone within Ashmire’s tart reply was enough alone to bark a laugh.

“Yes, yes I am quite the villain, how dare that I see to that you are bathed and dressed comfortably! The laws of basic hygiene are simply beyond the long lost prince, how incredibly blind I must be!” She mused as she wrung out the murky liquid, biting her stabs for a more dignified response. “Truthfully, you are not wholly wrong. While yes, I do wish to see he have a home to return to…”

A repeated motion to his chest, this time did her hand slight for a more gentle approach. “…It is more for my fill of curiosity I am afraid. Nothing of the noble intent that you believe I possess.”

Half an expectation for the youthful guardian to bind her with his hairy coils once more. It was something Didier did not wish to repeat if she had to. The unquenchable thirst for knowledge kept such qualms at bay - she was thankful that at least mercy had been considered for the eve’s spell. That along with his body not matching the tension his words held, it was actually somewhat amusing but an achievement nonetheless.

She did pause at Ashmire’s silent request, only finding that within the next instance a hand slip to be one of hardpress. A mock surprise came from her mouth, forming a rather sarcastic ‘o’ shape before retreating her hand. Invoking a vocal response was probably what he wanted after all - simply put. In truth she was not going to give him half her salt and she wasn’t about to start now.

Her eyes did not meet his for that matter, instead she chose her words carefully.

“A phantom you say? Then perhaps you could riddle me this, why did you choose to bind yourself to him? Seeming that you have the utmost love for your brother.” It had been bothering Didier honestly, a vague pang told her that perhaps she should not continue with this line of questioning. But at the same time she had to know. “…I do not care for it much,  I must inquire why you choose to be so overtly familiar toward me? This is the first time we have met, is it not?”

The last question sent a little more than chill down her spine. Dread. Had they conversed before and she was not aware? …No, both Ashmire and Renaissance were as different as night and day. The only thing that they shared was irritability. That was it. Or so Didier would have liked to believe.

[asherum-picturam]

"And you doubt that these are things I can do myself? Of course I don't let Ren know about myself. Not that I can stop you telling him now whether I asked nicely or not; it doesn't matter." Ren had been clueless all this time, and his resident ghost had made doubly sure he left no trace behind, whatever he'd been up to; the guardian would wake as if it were any other day with barely a hair misplaced, nothing amiss - likely at his desk - just like a typical, long day, sleeping in the midst of paperwork skyscrapers. Well, no trace save for the bodies strewn about the zone night by night. Angelo knew, but for whatever reason, it seemed he’d kept quiet about all this.

Mismatched eyes rolled. He knew it was going to come to a point where the inevitably of something unsavoury surfacing would soon turn up. "I already said you were being selfish... But because you're curious about me? I don't see much glamour in digging up stuff about me that you'd find...I don't know. Worthwhile, to that end?" Mostly, he knew that despite whatever he thought about it all, it would definitely pain Didier to hear of it; although now that he was out of hiding, it would only be a matter of time before she'd be pressing for details rather than the cloth to wounds...though Ashmire had already prompted for her hand to stop. She had a good point though, from where she was standing. "To entwine myself with my brother's being? Of the two, he was the better choice in the end. At least as my brother, I knew we'd be pretty compatible, regardless of what I thought of him."

"Mother, on the other hand...was just a means to an end. Especially after she went out of her way to try burn me to cinders like the rest of the godforsaken house. As if she hadn't done quite enough already? That fire and her folly turned out to be very convenient though...for me. She should’ve just forgotten about me right? Let the past just die." Ashmire really would have been alone, then. In truth, that was exactly what the departed male didn’t want - in the end his mother’s mistake was his salvation. The house fire from many years before. For Didier, it was the first and last she had seen of him, alike to the way she'd observed him now, although before it was hard to tell if anything was out of the ordinary; Ashmire's hold was weak to match Ren's own poor state - no defiance in the face of what could very well have been their peril. "Now you...You...saw eye-to-eye with me for only a moment that night, before I went under for - how long has it been now - almost a decade?" 

"I remember it as if it happened yesterday... and I liked to think that horror and concern was for me, even though I knew it wasn't. Regardless, seeing you I just knew I was safe after all, that you would take of everything while I recuperated.” Leaning close to her, dark digits perched upon Didier’s cheek, hair gently coiling and bumping against the curve of her shoulder. Even with the blind eye, it was as if a stare bore down from both, cradling the lady’s face with a slight turn to tease a look back from the other as Ashmire had a hold of her. “Lo and behold you did... And once again, here I am." Pausing, a finger raised, strayed from the gentlewoman’s soft skin for a moment in a sudden realisation. Intrigue seemed to escape his throat, before withdrawing a touch likely too close for comfort. "...And yet... Angelo never told any of you? I find that so interesting...” Claws clutched at the painter’s own cheek, drumming playfully against it as eyes looked elsewhere in an idle search within his thoughts. “Did he just hope I'd never come back? Not have the strength to override my brother, even in his sleep? Or was he actively trying to find a way to get rid of me so he wouldn't have to ever bring it up? Be Ren's little hero, after letting me take his master?" 

Ashmire seemed genuinely in stitches trying to think about the reasons the butler had to just stay quiet for eight years. What power did Angelo even think he had to make things 'right'? It was beyond even Ren's possessor, chortling as such thoughts stirred about. "Big pride for such a small guy. Ooh, I'm going to have words with that deluded little shit..."

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

It was a play that unfurled before her, not one of fancy, not one of any particular delight. It was a sort of horror one would hear from the radio host on a late Friday night. With blankets about, covering what shambling terrors that only a voice of crushed velvet could bring. Only this was real and the romance of a fairly tall tale or a fireplace wouldn’t cut corners on this one. 

It was nothing really she had not already seen within the mines though it still bothered her just the same.

With the fresh staccato of dislocated bones, its beat leaped from wall to wall in a dizzying fashion. Didier wanted to be sick. Though she knew better than to heave dryly for something that would never come. Instead, she kept refuge by the door, leaning against it almost casually. That was, if she didn’t have the inclination to bolt. Her eyes had trained thoroughly upon Renaissance. Without noise accompaniment, it would have just looked as if he had been stretching out a few kinks - but to watch closely - his body erupted in a few short spasms, each one slightly more erratic than the last.

The knock caught her by surprise, breaking the haunting aria with just a few raps.

She was grateful to have company, although brief. With Angelo seeming better, it was one less thing that the gentlelady had to worry about. Not only that, the little butler had managed to fill her magnitude of favours to the fullest. It was a tidy pile, with a ceramic bowl that spanned two hands, just on the left. Both the bandages and the towels were a startling white, not that Didier would have expected less but… slowly, she glared at the wretched male - really, it would have been a pity to ruin such brilliance with his filth.

“Perhaps should you see it as a punishment for your own behaviour then yes, I wholeheartedly agree. It is not needed nor do you really deserve it. However I did promise reward, no?” She waved a hand nonchalantly behind her, far more taken by the materials requested. “Choose as you see fit, it bothers me none.”

She beckoned him to sit regardless of his desires, placing the set of clothes on a nearby table and carrying the rest towards the bed. With him basically nude, save for a shred of decency -it was practically an invitation to get staight to work. Yet she hesitated upon standing before his person. It was a rare sight, one that held an amiable pity beyond her comprehension. The young woman tempted herself to touch the crusted etchings that remained of his torso - guising her curiosity of one hardened concentration. Despite the blow being clear cut, there were but a few interesting lacerations that curved inward rather than outward.

Gingerly, her digits braised against the tempered skin before realising herself.

“Quite the mess you have made…” Didier frowned, snapping her hand away to search for the smaller of the few towels to soak and rinse within the cool waters of the basin. Only to then apply it to the mixture of reds that blossomed around his sides. Peeking only to confirm her suspicions. “…If my wits were not fuddled from recent events - I would have to believe that you have come into magic.” But how?

“It is doubtful that you are of mortal status, that much has already been proven.” Now pressing with care against a stubborn stain that rippled just neath the chasm. Breathlessly, she murmured. “Just what are you exactly… how is it that you are able to co-exist with Reni when you do not belong to this realm?”

[asherum-picturam]

"Reward? I'm not sure I follow with that," Ashmire gave a discontented wrinkle at the corner of his nose. While words were sharp, the tone of voice was contrastingly softer although too dry to take any undertone of jealousy as earnest, especially when lashing at someone's goodwill - whether the compassion lied with both or not. "This is just your want to tend to Ren, which was what you chose. What about that is in even it for me, especially since you say I don't deserve it, and I don't need such tending to? He doesn't really need it..." Reluctant in doing so due to adamance in the futility of her actions, eventually the darkly veiled guardian seated himself down by the edge of the bed at Didier's indication - the main reason the stubbornness even fell away - with the duvet lavishly plump beneath him. Ren's head bowed against the ornately-carved corner post, hair pushing up unevenly while longer tresses snaked along spiralled engravings. Somewhat, a sour expression accompanied the curl of lips. 

"...This is just for your sense of fulfilment so you don't feel so helpless." Dark wisps twitched at the other's inquisitive touches, though the painter remained motionless, disconnectedly grumpy and otherwise unresponsive. Soon came the damp press of cloth... with each time a dab lifted, the drift of dusk's air soothed the bloodied, albeit repaired flesh, teasing a faint and audible breath the more the sensation roved its ghostly touch along his sides. Perhaps such a simple but unnecessary experience was not as dull as he'd originally thought it would be. Some of the previous tension subsided, having cooled with it. An iris turned its vision to the tending gentlelady. Magic? Well...how else to put it, he supposed. Never had he really had to explain the concept, for good reason, as it was only recently he had consciously taken seat within Ren to make any defiance of life and death known. Where did Ashmire really sit between the two? Feeling another chill at the soak of skin, his head inclined toward her slowly with a lengthy, gravelly inhale.

"What am I? I already told you, I'm just like those lost, wandering dead folk from the mines. Abandoned. Forgotten about. Hmmn..." Embracing the raven silk of Ren's hair, Ash stroked and messed with what feathered half his face, a flash of his blind eye and flawed flesh as he did so. "But why I'm here? I'm sure you've heard of possession in some form or another, yes? I figured I'd make the most of the hand I waited so long to have dealt to me, and really anchor myself to...him in the end. He's lived none the wiser for years." Chuckling to himself, a hand halted any further sodden touch from the other. "Ah, don't worry... I don't intend to reside in this despicable husk forever. Or much longer, for that matter. Then 'Reni' can stay dead next time so it's fair on the rest of you mortals, okay?"

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

“It is not your jurisdiction to rebuke him - you only cast shadow from the shell of the man, who once could.” Didier snapped, feeling her grasp drill itself deeper into the elsen’s chest. Searching for the last abundance of her strength, she inhaled sharply. “Ashmire, really… you are just being unreasonable!”

A network of fear ebbed within once an impish grin was presented from his toothy maw. It was not a sight that was worth seeing. Nor did she wish to be acquainted much longer. They had barely gotten through the front door for goodness sake! Was it really worth all this travesty due to a single hostility? One thought not, yet nevertheless a flare that sparked the original conflict spoke otherwise.

Surprisingly at just mere mention of her name, did the long male cease in his bullying. This allowed Didier to reclaim borrowed digits and her original position - a small mercy upon his behalf although irritating. Her dark eyes softened tiredly, listening in to garner the remaining informational scraps that were vaguely thrown.

“Saviour, hm…” She repeated, bringing her thumb toward her lip. “It looks like I will not be the only one needing to explain the situation. I suppose that could wait until tomorrow…”

So Angelo was not a name from birthright, however one gifted to varnish over of old lineage? Interesting. It was the first she had heard along with him being of product value. It fell a little hollow - she was one to talk due to the labour conditions of her elsen. The gentlelady’s musings would fall short, since the brattish remark Ash mentioned echoed from the stairwell. She could already feel her eyesight travel inward while pulling a hand across her face.

“In any case, please see to yourself Angelo and perhaps after that.. might I request for the following to Renaissance’s room?” Didier briefly described required the need of towels, bandages, a basin of fresh water and a change of clothes - the latter being for herself - it was basic aid at its finest. Scrutiny was biased toward the intolerably ignorant and unmannerly Ashmire. Understandably so. In any case, she still placed some assurance upon the butler’s shoulder. “I am aware it is quite the tall order, so assume that I am proposing in his stead or seem it as a favour. I will bear no grudges if you do not feel fit for such a task.”

A great reluctance sought attempts to pull Didier back from the painter. Just to keep her rooted safely next to the small butler. Although spitefully, she ignored such cowardly emotions that and connected with Ren at the first step. Only to then part a vastly unsympathetic sigh.

“As do you, mind.” She took the first few stair without a second glance. “You are seeking excuses to start something, just so you can cleave open that bloody wound of yours even more.”

[asherum-picturam]

Angelo quietly massaged his fingers around his neck before straightening his tie. Huffing a little from Ashmire's abrasive attitude, it became a simple wheeze once Didier asked service of him. "Hhhh...Of course, Master Didier...right away. It's not a problem..." The butler did away for the time being to tend to his person before fetching what had been asked of him. Coming from her, he didn't mind at all; the 'Master' on the other hand might have met with extreme reluctance if not outright refusal - and more animosity - at even the most menial of requests.

A wry smile surfaced on Ash's face at the gentlewoman's accusation, caressing his broken body before resting a hand upon the wound he'd bound with her jacket; the other leisurely trailed the stair rail with the trace of fingers while they ascended. Hmm...how much more to talk about, he wondered. Or rather, how many opportunities could she find to dig her hands a little deeper before wrapping fingers around the truths she'd regret she ever learned? He certainly had plenty of dirt on him that it wouldn't be hard to find something unpleasant fast.

"Oh, of course I do,” Ash was droll. “Whatever way you wish it. I'm not going anywhere." He figured he had some reprieve, respite in the fact that Ren's body was in a slow state of repair. Not that Didier knew much about how unnaturally faster he'd heal compared to a mortal's ability - despite Ren having no chance for his body to heal by any normal means due to suffering what was otherwise multiple fatalities even under the older brother's influence, and what should have left him for dead. Currently, whatever had been recovered was beneath the surface - nigh unnoticeable and subtle, though he was still bleeding as such. Aside from the mess, Ash obviously was unfazed by that. Upon entering Ren's resting quarters, came the sound of the friction of fabric as the silk upon his neck was slackened and removed, pulling it free along with the loosening of an equally restricting collar; the upper half of his shirt - or what remained of it - needed little done to it, but such a small thing seemed to make a difference to him, if so little even caused much bother - absent-mindedly letting the black slither of fabric gracelessly pile by a tarnished shoe. Nonchalantly appearing to rearrange the inner workings of his host's body, the sounds of splintering and cracking  betrayed what was otherwise more natural behaviour, and the painter clung to a bed post in his otherwise voiceless, crackling writhing. Breathing with a hint of frustration as he felt fatigue cling to his chest, claws crawled across his ribs to inspect their more sensible arrangement, before giving a quick twisting jerk of his head and neck, which loudly clicked in response. Idly sliding his jaw with a relieving groan as he appeared to finish with the disturbing bout of painful-sounding fracturing, the grinding of his jagged teeth suspended at the few knocks upon their door - Didier's request wordlessly left just outside as for Angelo to not further intrude and incite Ashmire's unneeded witticisms and violence toward the small servant - before the butler was off again, to deal with other errands.

Ash drooped an eyelid at the compilation by the door, pouting as a tongue pressed along the backs of shark teeth. Although he gave little resistance upon Didier's previous insistence on helping him because it was Ren's body, Ashmire still deemed it all so unnecessary, growling as he leaned by the foot of the bed. The artist's hair curled as if the concept of such aid repelled it, subtly spiralling away from the woman in protest. "This wasn't needed, honestly."

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

A speech had been mentally prepared for this occasion, Didier had braced herself for the worst as they gradually approached the doorstep. Honestly how was she going to tell the family butler that, yes his master was brutally gored from inside and out but good news! A malevolent ghost possessed him claiming to be his long lost brother. Definitely not the best way to go about it, her reputation within zone 11 would be that of an unfavourable sort. Of that she would be certain.

However it would seem that upon arrival at the estate, such measures proved unessential. No sooner had she made an utterance of a greeting, the painter clad in the remnants of his own innards made a move.

Which was meant to say it ended quite poorly. With Angelo suddenly being horizontal where Ren took the vertical. It was hardly a sight that one would be normally accosted to, exactly considering how deep rooted their relations had run. All of this just happening seconds between each other… it was as if Didier were looking through a mirror to another reality. One that had sparked such bitter hatred that the tension could have been cut with a knife.

Having been addled by such a bizarre scene, Didier briskly took her place between the two men. It would seem that her line of questioning would not fall to just the missing Castell alone, Angelo had already given a slight inkling that he was already versed with this personality. Crouching next to the elsen, she gave a meager attempt in prying the oily shoe off of him.

“What on earth are you doing..?!”

Nevertheless, the familiar white anger flooded her vision - her chipped and bloodied fingernails trembled with a lack of strength. Her eyes fixated upon the former guardian with a mixture of something close to disappointment along with something else.

“…Whatever ‘beef’ you have with the butler it can wait, yes? Honestly… you are getting blood everywhere…” The sensation dissipated however, when Angelo’s presence had been noted by his wheezing.  "Monsieur…? …What did he mean by saviour. exactly?“

[asherum-picturam]

"What am I doing? Disciplining this underling for his poor manners. Where's the welcome? This is not the reunion I was hoping for, nor deserve... Especially after you were so intent on keeping me, my small little butler boy." It was probably quite awful that the one really out of line was Ash, though whether he was seen as an authority or not, the servant could do little about mistreatment even if he was bottom rung by default; a small stature didn't do any favours once someone else threw their weight around. Feeling Didier's grip tighten below his ankle, trying to prize his shoe from the smaller male, Ash dug Ren's heel further in some petty defiance, malice cast over his face where a mess of hair didn't obscure.

"You shouldn't talk to your master like that, Saviour." A hiss mocked behind a tight arc of fangs; retorting, Angelo was displeased by this aggressive assertion and familiarity. Coming from Ashmire, it had been how long since either met eye to eye? Whatever situation that could have happened. "I serve the family, but you're no master of mine..." he fought against the shoe sunk against his person with pathetically small hands and the strength to match - or lack thereof. "Now if you have any shred of respect for at least Master Didier, you'll also remove Master Ren's shoe from me."

Scowling at either's remark at such swift ill-will, leering at Didier he removed his foot, though loathe in doing so; leaving a quick shove upon the elsen to jolt a choked wheeze out of Angelo before coiling his own arms behind his back. An eye twinged with a residual, taunting and quietly burning bitterness behind the clouded lens. Didier had quite the respect from the 'family' butler - a welcome person of their house and very much a part of Ren's life outside of blood, alongside Angelo. Having it all under his nose made him boil inside, though very little of that steam vented aside his misconduct moments before. Lifting back to his feet with difficulty, Angelo swept his garments, contemptuously hurling the occasional look at the male that claimed sovereignty in a body that didn't even belong to him, nor 'regrettably' ever a part of of their family life. In spite of that - as far as the butler was concerned in his experience - he'd taken from the family and given nothing at all. Why had he the right to wear a crown so undeserved in his claim to Castell's lineage? Even he didn't know if it was bullshit. "Saviour. That's who I was before I came to serve Master Ren. As his possession, he renamed me." The butler cleared his throat. "My name is Angelo. That's the name I've been given, and I wear it respectfully."

"That's not everything though, is it?" An antagonising voice raised itself over them with ridicule. "Well, while you're both so busy, I'll try stop that Ren you love so much from dripping all over the carpet like the juicy corpse he is, shall I?" The butler looked unimpressed. Of course they cared, but pissing either off with this untrue neglect was just what the troublesome being wanted; not that Angelo knew whether he was legitimately dying though, so perhaps it was called for. But not in such a way. Considering the first time though, Angelo determined aid was not necessary. In quiet thought, refocusing found the false master's voice carry from the foot of the stairway with a drawl. "Angelo has...plenty to clean up that you don't need me around for, I'm sure."

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

There was little Didier could do that would attest to his suggestion - since, of course, it was quite literally the safest option. A moment of doubt had caused for some concern. What if they did rise from the mine and cause this zone to perish along with them? It was quite an unsavoury thought, she had felt it best left in the deepest reaches of her mind. At least for the duration of the stay.

“Ugh…Very well. That leads to more questions that you owe me the answers to. You had best hope that the time you have is not limited.” She replied, boredom echoing within her tone. “If it means that our interrogation is to be adjourned, so be it.”

It was unlike her to be so yielding - the guardian was already aware she had seen enough for now. As Ren lifted to his feet once more, she shifted against him if only to feel secure within his hold. A prod and a poke of a talon was what bothered her least right now. Taking one final look, these horrific sights would never prevent her from going back, if she had the proper equipment and a nerve of steel, perhaps there was a chance that one would learn more about what happened.

The offhanded comment that Ash retorted traveled along with them. In response, Didier allowed her grasp to lax in disappointment. She did not care for most elsen. They were there to act under her serving after all, just pawns within a grand game of chess. However, these ghostly beings were empty shells of their former selves - lazy, bumbling and so disorderly. It may have been more reasonable since the fact Ashmire was the cause of their demise that she felt pity. If only by a shred.

With the time spent to ponder upon these new developments, did a soft breeze catch to her forearms.  Warm… were they out already? Blinking slowly, Didier’s vision adjusted to the waning light of dusk. It had been barely noon since they arrived, it did not seem that long they were in there. Though the sky was never good at lying. Once her feet found the smooth concrete, she took this time to stretch her arms and pace a little. Thankful that she had been released at all, unfortunately it did not stop his tentative stare. Among the blood, paint and stains of sweat, the only real cause of concern were the slight tremors her body retained from the experience. But there were more pressing matters. Especially now that they were within the natural light, she had to fully take in the state of affairs Ren’s body had been left.

It was worse than she thought, definitely worse. Oh fairest Eloha, why did she have to get a second look..?

“Ah… to what I may have said earlier, about you vanquishing all those monsters? …It has clearly painted me somewhat of a fool now.” A grimace along with a biting of her lip. “Those wounds look very severe… I am surprised that you can even stand. Yet… in spite of that you still managed to get us out within one piece. Well–”

She rubbed her arm sheepishly before tangling them into a fold. “–Perhaps just myself.”

Although the torso had been somewhat pieced back together, it did not change the fact that he looked rough. Real rough. With gore splintering from the corners of his severed flesh - it did not make her feel any less responsible. After all, Ren was the one who was initially stabbed with his life stolen from him. Then the other inhabitant took a similar blow… yet it impacted him less. But why now did it take for it to sink in? 

“Come now. The least I can do is that I tend to what is left of… you.” She gestured in an awkwardly stinted manner as her brow creased. “I doubt that the rock you swallowed will be enough to disinfect that bloody mess. Do not try to patronise me otherwise. It is not just your body, understand?”

With a curt nod, she turned upon her heel and begun retracing her steps to - where she had believed to be Renaissance’s estate. Of course, this had been the first time she had been acquainted with this particular area of the zone… so there was room for mistakes and a misguided turn along the way. Imagining the seeds of discourse she helped sow, there was to be some explaining to do…

[asherum-picturam]

Silently listening, a weak flicker of light in his iris still shone in the waning gold of sunset. "It's fine. I'm fixing him, it's just..." Grimacing reluctantly at the other's will to help as he pushed up a hand against the garment that he'd prior tied to his waist, running it over his chest wryly, he knew he couldn't really stop her as he stared at the thick fluid that had painted itself over the once immaculate white of Ren's hand nonchalantly. "...Whatever. Do what you wish. It will be a long time regardless, but whatever makes you feel better."   Walking with no limp, no arch, as if painless and unaffected by the state of his host's body, Ash fortunately knew where to walk from the cave, correcting what hint of misdirection Didier's steps veered towards that would stray from the manor. Time betrayed the otherwise short journey, likely from the silence, save for the pairs of footsteps that travelled through the resting atmosphere of the outside world. It operated as per usual, without its master... If not for him, how long would it have taken for them to realise that they were working for naught? Ash leered to himself. No matter. That was where he wanted to steer this world. But not today.

It quickly occurred to him who would notice first though once they arrived at the doorstep, rapping against the locked door, its lock grinding in response with the faint tinkling of metal.

That little butler on the other side.

Rapidly, his expression darkened despite being let in, though in kind, as the door opened, Angelo seemed to notice immediately - grave injuries aside - that something was amiss. Almost like he'd experienced this before; perhaps it was merely due to how obviously unreal it was, considering Ren's composure and stance after having sustained such horrific damage - inhuman. While Angelo's jaw dropped in shock at his master's state, his teeth unexpectedly grinded soonafter - a first in a show of hostility towards what was obviously not the personality he knew dressed in the guise of Ren, as he allowed himself indoors with the company of Didier. His voice was unwelcoming towards the false master, the smaller - much smaller - of the lot of them suddenly conveyed what intimidation he could. "Hhh! ...You! What have you done with the Master?!"

As one would imagine, Ash found the spectacle quite laughable, it at least creased his face before he planted a foot on his family servant before the sheer hilarity of Angelo's tenacity exploded from his lungs into the hallway. Dragging a breath, a taunting smile was wide upon his face as he glared at the struggling elsen beneath him, grinding his heel. "Miss me...Saviour?"

[asherum-picturam]

[ Pre-Accident ] Something Missing || CLOSED || Asherum-Picturam

[mirantiqueliberalis]

The explanation given worked out as a sort of bitter pill. Necessary, however it still retained a terrible aftertaste. It was the truth no less and Didier had to accept it no matter how disgruntled it made her. His last few remarks stung where he had intended, a reminder was not needed that somewhere within this mess was she dealt a very bad hand. Not one of the finest gambles upon her record. Even if Ashmire was correct, she cared very little with the tone he held for her.

In a way, it was expected that the taller of the pair would gloat of her misgivings. Especially now that the guardian was coddled within his hold. Wincing, she forced his face away with a palm. Hoping that in a saving grace that it might hold as a silencer of sorts - unfortunately, Ren’s mouth continued to chunter on - more specifically upon the parts where he had not let a single hair of her head go misplaced. Obviously he was not going to gloss over this fact without twisting the knife further into her dignity.

“Yes… yes… very good, I am so very impressed that you managed to keep me from harms way. Well done.” She retorted dryly, rolling her eyes as she managed to skew his glasses slightly. A victory, small but still a victory nonetheless. “I will be sure to commend your efforts later or something along those lines, yes. Could we just go now–”

The dense population of the cave was beginning to multiply, they had been easily outnumbered by a small nation of blobs of ghostly anger. Didier glanced up at Ren once more, only with just a bit more desperation.

“…Please.”

It was a small ask yet it tumbled unwillingly off of the tongue. What else was she to do in this situation? The perks were - she did not have to climb up the mountainous wall since she now had her own personal elevator. The cons were that this method of transport had a smart mouth and a tendency to do as it pleased, along with perhaps being digested in several stomachs. Either way, Didier was not going to be pleased, though the lesser had been personally deemed ‘safe’ since the chance of dying was considerably low.

A little warning would have been nice, for when Ren had started to move that was. The gentelady found herself with a start and along with one of the many unwanted reflexes. Grasping at what remained of his suit and tie, Didier found herself face-to-face with his grinning rib cage. She could have gagged, she could have just her eyes and wished it was all over. Though it was embarrassing enough that she was clutching to him like a pathetic child awoken from a grim nightmare.

Sight was not required to know the sheer animosity of these creatures had grown unruly. Their hungry jaws screeched behind with an audible bump between them while they struggled to reach the couple. A certain stress clamped hold of Didier’s chest when the occasional disruption slowed the male’s speed - although it did not appear like he would lose hold any time soon. She had only looked at him briefly during these moments, only to be assured of a few lines of concentration that broke the original calm demeanor.

With an eventual effort, they had managed to lose the spectres for a spell, leaving the guardian to draw out a long breath. Knuckles white from grasping at the silken garment a little too hard. Tempting fate, she had looked just beyond his arms to get a glimpse of the horrors they alluded. A mass sea of white and flickers of multi-coloured paint hazed the mine below. It was all she could do not to lose herself in her own consciousness.

“Lucky? Lucky..? …Are you sure that those are correct choice of words or perhaps we are sharing a different view.” She lowered her voice to just a whisper, slowly turning a darkened gaze to her captor. “…Do tell me you have a plan to get out of this. I only have one bomb left, I doubt it will do an ideal range of damage to touch all of them.”

“Do we root out its original? Perhaps similar to a beehive,  do we kill the queen to overthrow the monarchy or do we just wait for a cold winter? Well what should we do, Mr. Castell?”

[asherum-picturam]

Taking respite even moments past their pursuers' leave, Ash's brow raised at the other's press for plans as Didier fixated with quite the 'scary' look. The suggestions thereafter made him choke on his laughter, keeping the amusement in the confines of his throat. 

"So serious..." Ash mocked, placing a finger or two upon her lips, that she would cease what he found to be bothersome solutions. Everything about the situation was problematic to him, though, including what was within his ability. A breath escaping, he leaned his head back gently into the awkwardly uneven edges of the rock face they were propped against, into what was as best an offer of a comfortable headrest it could provide, removing his hand limply as he did so.

"Don't be impossible. If I can help it, I'm not confronting them any more than I need to. That includes not using that bomb of yours, whatever it does." Silence blanketing the open hall of stone and coursing paint with the now long-distant departed, an eye surveyed the paths below with a lazy roll of his head. "These things are ruled by no monarchy - they're lawless, lamentable loons. And I'm not superhuman. Especially not like this." Try find an alpha, if there were one? Surely she jest... Or she must've had faith that he could just raise hell with whatever he pleased and still be in decent nick by the end of it. Unbeknownst to Ren, Ash had him hanging by a thread; they were not in good shape from what his body had to otherwise lethally sustain from fighting already, the ordeal a now dulled song of pain upon his flesh. As much as that sensation was quite enjoyable in the opportunity to slay another, Ashmire knew to moderate...a little bit. At least for now...and especially with Didier around.

"So, just like they're protecting their own kind, I propose a better course of action: That we just leave." Or rather, they were going to leave, there was no choice in the matter for her, as far as he was concerned. Because all Ashmire was concerned about was the gentlelady's safety - and Ren's, if only to not jeopardise Didier's protection as well as his own motives. With that, pivoting where they had rested, Ash slinked off the ledge onto another below, Didier still within the merciful crook of his arms; his claws were carefully placed around her as to not sink into flesh at the impact as the bloodied male kept hold. "If you're so interested in seeing more tormented souls perish for my pleasure, do feel free to remind me in the future, though."

Hair aflame in their materialising pinions of gold beset in black, their hefty flapping expedited the route that had previously lead a foolhardy pair to their answer. And the answer literally lead them out. Warmth welcomed Ren's weary body into its embrace the moment they escaped the cave's maw and the melancholy moans of the otherworldly inhabitants within.  Placing the woman down onto her feet, quills fell flat into the painter's curled mess of hair, the intruding hue weaved upon it now almost non-existent and lacklustre. Wordless since their exit, Ash's eye gave Didier a once over for any injury, though after being held snug to his body, it was hard to tell if was all just his own crimson blooming along her white but dirtied shirt. ...No. Of course not; Ashmire was confident there wasn't a single scratch on her.      

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

“Do you mean to say… that this was all you to begin with?” The words pulled from her lips were long and drawn out. As if not truly believing the question entirely. “…Why would you… no, what is the reason for all of this?”

The decimated bodies that were carved into a inhumane spectacle, all deaths spread out and sporadic… it was almost as if it were some fairy tale. A wolf that prowled through the night seeking its next meal, the hero desperately keeps his doors and windows locked all while the night of the hunt. Only to find that the true beast was himself - not ever to know that there was a darker side to his true self. A parallel slightly different, though similar nonetheless.

Didier watched on as the ruthless corpse raid begun. Tearing the soft exterior of the beast to cotton shreds - flamboyant juices splayed the surrounding area splashing in short waves. Puddles formed as the colours swirled from beneath Renaissances feet. Although it was not a blood that she were familiar with, the stench was putrid enough to become a close relative. Without realising, her hand had covered mouth while her eyes stung with a salted wince. Both senses had been marred with the carnage that Ash had wrought - her body had screamed tiredly once more for her to leave, yet its voice was hoarse and barely audible anymore.

Finally, the male had ceased and within his dripping digits was but a stone, similar to a pebble however large enough to be precious gem. In order to get a decent look, Didier ambled toward the grim display. Her gut bubbled furiously in protest, though again it had to reach her ears. Though fortunately a loud slopping - followed by a crunching and then lastly - crackling all wrapped itself around her eardrums. The shoe had barely connected with the wet, pastelled oils did she feel her entirety of self cringe immensely.

“…What is… that? …Ugh lord… was that at all necessary?” She hissed, pressing her fingers into the side of her cheeks as a reminder not to gag. “…Nevermind. It is imperative that we do stop that beast - there is no more time for thi–”

The guardian did not know what she was expecting.

It was certainly not being a good distance off of the ground, nor was it to be groped with the hands that still sopped with ethereal liquid. Most of all, she had not dreamed it would be Renaissance of all people to hold her like this. Except she had to remember, this was not Ren. The gentlewoman could not mask her shock having already known that. The frail painter’s body had lifted her with a great ease - as if being no lighter than a single feather. Regardless it did not stop Didier from squirming, a feeling of helplessness threatened to reside within her. Even if the strength had been sapped from her, a willingness to fight still burned albeit dimly.

The struggle only lasted momentarily had she understood that it was hopeless cause - Ashmire was merely trying to help her after all. In spite of this, she was not just going to easily let this go without mention.

“…Perhaps it was just my imagination. Though somehow, I remember fully asking you to cease with these measures toward my person.” She replied quietly. “I believe I am more than capable of scaling that wall by myself even if it is of little haste. Will I not just be holding you back like this?”

It was a brief silence to answer her own question, the guardian sighed gently while turning her head away. “Whatever… just do what you must.”

[asherum-picturam]

"Oh, so I didn't throw those bones for nothing after all - you got there eventually... Smart lady, like I said." Complacent in having torn the monster apart for what he 'needed' before consuming it and calling it done, a dull tongue passed between his lips to clean some of the saturated gore from his face before drumming fingers upon them. "Ahh fancy that though, your insisting on investigating nearly got you both killed. But that's the problem with you beings. You don't know when to stop poking around, especially in places you really shouldn't." Narrowing his eye, he hummed at the irony before chuckling lowly to himself. "Without that though, I wouldn't have this big an opportunity to ride the hell out of my brother's shell, don't you think? Ah, I guess I can thank you for that though, right?" At least the little trip wasn't for nothing, he grinned to himself. She got her answer.

Standing by the steep slide, while she protested at first Didier eventually became compliant with his clutching her person, possessing a gleeful grin upon Ren's face. At least it was much safer to hold her this close now that his chest wasn't so sharp; Ashmire definitely savoured that fact. 

"Well... I know you won't be fast enough, and I believe I remember you saying you're ‘merely mortal and have no supernatural prowess’. I'm sorry if that's insulting to hear, but I'm not going on ahead and putting your life at risk after everything I've done in attempts to prevent that." Ash crooned smugly at the woman, despite her attempts to not look at him anymore. It probably sounded like he was really trying to rub it in and toot his own horn. "And so far? Not a hostile paw on you. I'd say I did exceptionally, in this bloody vessel." Distant was an aggregate of faint screeching as a chorus of ghosts poured through the stalactite-riddled ceiling, near where the now nigh-unrecognisable corpse of the larger creature lay. Pausing around it, it didn't take too long for them to spot the pair, storming towards them in an angry, spiralling horde. While their size were more on the insignificant side, Ash couldn't quite count how many there might have been. Yeah...No. Ashmire knew even he would be caught despite his better chances of fleeing between them if he thought to merely outrun them. Running toward the slope, he wanted to at least surmount that before the spectres could close in on them. Shining, the glowing underside of his hair once again expanded into their weird, winged counterparts, aiding his leaps up the dry but still steep sections of the incline.

Even though caution was exercised, he could feel his footing fail on occasion from missteps onto acrylic or dry but brittle footholds. Luckily, the fold of his soft makeshift appendages pressed against the slope to have him not drop Didier in order to stop them from falling flat, with which he would carry on. Most of the hiccups were mere seconds though, but behind them, it was easy to tell they were gaining from the rack up of small mistakes.

Reaching its summit, his pace didn't cease, flapping them up onto the higher routes of the cave in hopes they weren't seen, if not to at least buy more time to distance them from their many pursuers. Restoring his hair's natural state so it wasn't alight from its usage, the beacon they made faded with it, and Ash reclined with Didier quietly against the precarious ledge to watch the herd of disgruntled ghosts shoot by from below, all following suit like a school of fish. Tucked away in a snug alcove, Ash decided to sit low against it, Didier still cradled by his lap as they lay within the inky confinement. "As dense as they were before they died, isn't that lucky..."  

[asherum-picturam]

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[asherum-picturam]

“I’d rather not. And, quite the contrary…I’ve had less than you in recent times.” Gold iris casting away its gaze, Ash scowled at himself as the gentlewoman scolded his inappropriate misconduct. Unfortunately for him, he knew not much was stopping him doing much more, but knew that was selfish, nor that it was the way he’d have wanted it. Breathing his regret, there must have been some sort of apology weaved within, as the words weren’t spoken. Just that he was.

It took moments later for her to…actually show that gratitude - albeit reluctantly -  he didn’t even expect to once leave her lips, considering how much he was antagonising her. Nevertheless, it was satisfying to hear such words so soon, as he acted upon Didier’s previous urge for him to reconsider what he was doing to her. Weakening the weaving of his hair upon her person, the inky strands unravelled to return to its more natural state as the male turned to pace away from her, to the creature that lay beyond them. Her remarks afterwards crinkled his nose in annoyance; though she couldn’t see Ash’s expression, his voice boldened at the comments.

“Jealous?” the false guardian growled. “Never, not for that spoilt, sheltered moron.” Liar. Ren got to grow up all those years living with her. “As for my parents? Hah…that doesn’t surprise me.” His voice was indignant. “I was before Ren’s time. But let’s say I was the child they didn’t want any more, in the end. Especially Mother. They cast my existence aside and tried to forget about me.” Turning to eye the woman again, his face was creased with bitterness. “Lucky for you. If they didn’t, you wouldn’t have met Ren, perhaps. Maybe it would have just been me, instead.” Ash gazed almost longingly, before breaking away, pacing to deal with the monster. “…Things would have been different.”

As he strode towards the creature to finish what he started, a dimly lit spectre rose from the supposed ghostly corpse and ascended towards the stalactites, with which Ashmire cursed before trying to strike it down with morphed extensions of jagged hair. However, he didn’t reach in time as it passed through the cave’s ceiling, frustration narrowing his eye at the outcome. “That time was enough for one to recover and escape me? Ah, that wasn’t the plan…” No more needed to flee if they were close to recovery just the same as the more fortunate of their kin; the irritated male took precaution by turning lances of hair on their allegedly deceased enemy, lashing its multi-coloured plasma about the cavern once again. “Now there’s a reason to hurry, I let one slip. I’m sure you can imagine what it might do now.”

[mirantiqueliberalis]

To be consumed would have been a most frightening reality indeed.

Jarring as it was, the concept of eating another mortal being had seldom crossed the mind. If it had, it was the sort of topic one would muse idly - imagining the textures or perhaps similar tastes toward what would be normally edible. A past-time that Didier had thought of fondly, could be of very real consequence. Odd, among the blanket of terror did she feel a shred of morbid curiosity - just what else did Ashmire eat…? Was it just a preference toward people? …Had he always done so within his brother’s form? A familiar churning lapped within her stomach as a sudden grim realisation came to be.

Reni had no idea.

Before the guardian could bait herself to more possible trauma - the coils that once held her unraveled like silk, floating away as if it had just been apart of the imagination.

“Hm… now that is much better…” She tentatively rubbed her wrists, a faint line circled them from her struggle previously - as a result, it would fade within a few minutes rather than the next few days. With breath of relief, her eyes trained to the painter’s back as he returned to the beast’s final resting place. “Next time… please refrain from using such bonds against me? There are better ways to communicate after all.”

The story that Ash had spun after that - the one to answer just a small part of the many burning questions Didier had - threw her off completely. From what she remembered - not very well mind, of the Castell’s was that they were not a bad sort. Busy, though they had seemed to make some time and effort for Renaissance. Providing what he needed and of course, a roof over his head. It was almost surreal to imagine that they would be capable abort one of their own. She opened her mouth to say her piece, the words were stolen by just his stare. It was a desire she had yet to comprehend, his lament sent a dull ache in her chest. A life without Reni would be painful, one that she did not want to consider… though one with him? A man she barely knew that merely shared his existence with said guardian? There was little she could say…

Could she even trust him?

Despite the bothersome ‘what ifs’. It would have appeared they had bigger issues to deal with than, rather dredging up past issues. A ghostly wisp had eviscerated just above them and soon, the return of the Ren’s hair tendrils had rooted Didier back into reality.

“Do you mean to say that these… apparitions, are the cause for the recent murders in Zone 11?” She stroked her chin. “…If so then, that would make a little bit more sense than what I had originally believed.”

Glancing between Ashmire and the acrylic climb, she seemed a little dumbfounded. Hurry? How was she to hurry when she nearly broke her neck trying to descend the wretched thing - let alone climbing it. Lives were at stake, yes. Though what could she do? The guardian raised both her brows, resting a hand on her hip.

“I doubt I would be of much help in that regard. As much as I would love to help you, I do not have the supernatural strength nor the stamina to keep up. It may be within your best interests to lead on without me.” She frowned at the idea, not being particularly keen about by herself after certain events. “…I will be hot on your heels, not to worry. So… just go.”

[asherum-picturam]

"By their cause? Hah! I don't think so." Ash was entertained by the idea. "They're just angry because we encroached on their territory and disturbed their peace. And...I murdered their kin. That doesn't help." Not that he would've done differently, as was evident in his attitude toward it before; it didn't matter whether they were threatened or not, and regardless of whether he needed to hunt them - sometimes he just killed because he could; Ash probably saw most of it as mere sport. Though this instance it was in retaliation, and taking it to its unneccessarily lethal extent. Supposedly, one such victim of his indiscriminate slaughter lay before them in some odd teeter between life and death - seeing as one had somehow managed to recuperate and flee for its friends. Yet Ash still didn't seem through with it and had left it on the brink purposefully. Hastening himself upon the faint, eerily radiant body after the stray ghost's retreat, it perhaps became clear that he began to tear through it with anything he had at his disposal with actual intention aside outright savagery, as swiftly as he could manage. Looking for something. And making a mess in the rush of it. And still looking like a savage while doing it.

In that more desperate desecration of the monster's remains, taking in some of the silvery, translucent flesh as he did so, Ash's grinning expression carried implications that what his claws finally happened upon was what he was rummaging inside it for. "There you are. Though disappointingly not as sizeable as I thought it might be," he moaned, examining what looked like a rugged, sharp rock, which fit in his palm. "I shouldn't complain, but I thought I did a better job this time." Murmuring to himself, the mess of a male planted it into Ren's chest, flinching strongly in reaction to whatever doing such a thing caused; whether it was the rock or somewhere else within that caused the peculiar light that spilled forth soonafter, it was hard to tell. Clutching the sides of his skewed, fang-like ribs, Ren became one step closer to looking more himself as Ash forced them shut, sealing the light inside. Grimacing slightly, huffing a little, Ash's composure soon restored before his attention turned to the other's suggestion to go on ahead with a glum look in return.

"Don't be absurd, Didier..." He knew what she was saying. "Of course I don't expect you to hurry yourself." In a swift moment, Ash had scooped the other up bridal-style, as to not carry her haphazardly. Assuming, she'd allow such a thing to happen much longer. She probably found it humiliating, he thought.

[quotemadness]

It is still beautiful to hear the heart beat but often the shadow seems more real than the body.

Tomas Tranströmer (via quotemadness)

[quotemadness]

There is an ache in my heart for the imagined beauty of a life I haven’t had, from which I had been locked out, and it never goes away.

Robert Goolrick (via quotemadness)

[quotemadness]

First, he is terribly afraid of dying because he hasn’t yet lived.

Franz Kafka (via quotemadness)

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

Keep reading

[asherum-picturam]

"I'd rather not. And, quite the contrary...I've had less than you in recent times." Gold iris casting away its gaze, Ash scowled at himself as the gentlewoman scolded his inappropriate misconduct. Unfortunately for him, he knew not much was stopping him doing much more, but knew that was selfish, nor that it was the way he'd have wanted it. Breathing his regret, there must have been some sort of apology weaved within, as the words weren't spoken. Just that he was.

It took moments later for her to...actually show that gratitude - albeit reluctantly -  he didn't even expect to once leave her lips, considering how much he was antagonising her. Nevertheless, it was satisfying to hear such words so soon, as he acted upon Didier’s previous urge for him to reconsider what he was doing to her. Weakening the weaving of his hair upon her person, the inky strands unravelled to return to its more natural state as the male turned to pace away from her, to the creature that lay beyond them. Her remarks afterwards crinkled his nose in annoyance; though she couldn't see Ash's expression, his voice boldened at the comments.

"Jealous?" the false guardian growled. "Never, not for that spoilt, sheltered moron." Liar. Ren got to grow up all those years living with her. "As for my parents? Hah...that doesn't surprise me." His voice was indignant. "I was before Ren's time. But let's say I was the child they didn't want any more, in the end. Especially Mother. They cast my existence aside and tried to forget about me." Turning to eye the woman again, his face was creased with bitterness. "Lucky for you. If they didn't, you wouldn't have met Ren, perhaps. Maybe it would have just been me, instead." Ash gazed almost longingly, before breaking away, pacing to deal with the monster. "...Things would have been different."

As he strode towards the creature to finish what he started, a dimly lit spectre rose from the supposed ghostly corpse and ascended towards the stalactites, with which Ashmire cursed before trying to strike it down with morphed extensions of jagged hair. However, he didn't reach in time as it passed through the cave’s ceiling, frustration narrowing his eye at the outcome. "That time was enough for one to recover and escape me? Ah, that wasn't the plan..." No more needed to flee if they were close to recovery just the same as the more fortunate of their kin; the irritated male took precaution by turning lances of hair on their allegedly deceased enemy, lashing its multi-coloured plasma about the cavern once again. "Now there's a reason to hurry, I let one slip. I'm sure you can imagine what it might do now."

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

"You could not possibly mean…” Her features revulsed imagining her childhood friend eating something so inelegant was just… “…Disgusting. How utterly vile. What could you possibly hope to gain, food poisoning?”

Before any more venomous comments, a sudden rush of nerves seized from within. Dipping her in an almost helpless state, by just so much as a touch of the cheek. The goosebumps were an unwelcome guest, multiplying as the digit lingered. A grimace, her dark eyes burned with a violent annoyance -attempting to avert from further contact by snapping her head back. Perhaps if she were any less of a human being, she may have even spat on him or even worse, bite him. Though who could say what evils he had in store?

Regardless, a source of anger riled up inside of her before locking eyes with him once more.

“If Reni was so useless, then who was it that has been keeping house and home for you, hm? Who has given you a new lease of life, if one were to call it that? That is more than you could have ever done, evidently.” Her tongue lashed like a stray whip, confident and every bit viscous. “Or at least that is what I assume, especially since you are so quick to lessen him.”

The news that Renaissance still existed in whatever plane was nevertheless, reassuring. Not she could hide the relief that it brought. He was safe… but would he be able to come back to his body? To his zone…? …To her…? Didier’s chest tightened at these thoughts significantly. What may have just been a few hours or maybe even moments, there was a certain longing for his presence again - well, in comparison to this new personality, she had much desired the one she were more comfortable.

It was much too early to be celebrating such a little victory, the guardian’s body fell captive to her own misgivings. For one, it was her own fault - it was probably a mistake to provoke Ash. No, it was definitely a mistake. However to Didier, it was worth a risk as she would rather fight for her basic right. Her own space.

Like shackles of oppression, his hands had clasped tightly around her wrists - pressing her further into the wall. An onslaught of defiance came only from her, although indefinitely weak in this situation - a dirty tactic would have been necessary. Yet he ultimately stripped her of the privilege. Emitting a gasp, it echoed resolutely throughout the stalactites. With merely a press his legs between her thighs, her only support buckled beneath her. Backed into the wall again, with each of it’s little nags stabbing into her curves, she raised her head with darkened gaze.

“…Is that so? ..Mmm, I doubt he would be long at all. He is stronger than you think, why considering his dedication to his work - do you really believe he would stray that far away from such?” She murmured with sarcasm dripping from her tone as she leaned in to whisper further. “Oh but what a shame, I was so hoping to learn more about you… perhaps we could have even be… friends?”

[asherum-picturam]

"Nothing to concern yourself too much about, at the very least I'll get some semblance of humanity back in this wretched body of his; I apologise if doing vile things actually helps escape this vile visage right now. You do want that for him right? He might get better sooner than later," tilting his head slightly as he crept closer, a fraction of concern formed between his eyebrows. "And I don't have to worry about...I don't know, biting you?" Saying that, there was a temptation there; Ash didn't want to submit to it, for the most part. 

However, the other part had led his mouth to her neck, dragging a hungry tongue and a growl along the side of her throat. The faint heat of her body was warm against his invasive lick, but he drew back to deny the chance of doing anything much more regretful, exhaling as if what self-restraint he had was exhausting.  A golden pupil tightening back into a fine dark slit, though still threatening to pulse at his thoughts and their focus, Ash adjusted his hold on the woman with an appraising hum. "Hmm........You'd certainly be more wholesome, I can tell you that," he sneered. "Although, you're not the one I want." Well, in one sense, he was telling the truth, but... Gazing at the woman with fire in her eyes, it wasn't quite the fire he sought to have kindled within her just yet. He'd only just gotten started with her, he sighed. But Ashmire wanted that dream so badly though - he couldn't stop thinking about it everytime he looked at Didier; He'd kept watch of her for years, watched her grow up...and to her, they'd only just met. And he was disgraceful. You're not the one I want? Not the woman that would lovingly wrap her arms around him, not someone who'd dedicate her attention to him rather than that...brat who didn't even love her. Yet now, he looked just like him. He could be Ren...if it wasn't so damn obvious that he wasn't. Strangely...domineering Ren this time, now that she was here, had him overcome just by his body's senses alone. What was this? The throbbing of her wrists against his grip, the vicious leer...her legs weak as they jostled for space. He'd interacted with other beings several times briefly but, not to this extent, not in this state, and not with her. Yet it sent an overwhelming quiver through him like it was all new. In ways, it was. Worried about how obedient his strength would be after feeling so distracted, he wondered why up until now he hadn't pinned her with a far more reliable alternative, which snaked in lustrous streams rapidly around her wrists as he unhanded her, stepping away as they clung to her thighs - he was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to do much now, aside from words at least, but he supposed that was the most important at this moment in time - the talking. Not that all of it was in earnest. Not that his measures helped alleviate the situation or foster any trust either; Didier seemed to lash out where she could, ever defiant in her imprisonment.

"Ahh Ren. You could say that, but equally, if I wasn't here, he really would have died. And from what I saw of the situation, if I hadn't stepped in you would've been dead too," his teeth bit at the last half of the sentence, contrasting against the gentle caressing of her cheek. "Ren would've been dead long before even this, if it weren't for me. Letting me sleep within him was the least he could do. Even with his drive...let's hope it doesn't take him that amount of years to feel better, hmm?" Some gratitude might have been nice, even if that resulted in the gentlewoman not being so hostile, but Ash wasn't expecting it. "...Now his art...I hate his art, his dedication to it." Lowering his visible lid, it almost looked like he cringed. "Complete lack of understanding what his years of trying to perfect his craft really wrought. Disgusting..."   Ren's art. It was on a list of things he wanted to deal with. Stop his brother doing what he enjoys, what keeps his society afloat. What keeps him alive. Fortunately, his life was the last he wanted to cross off.

[asherum-picturam]

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[mirantiqueliberalis]

If only a glare were like sharp, jagged spears would she have bore holes into his own. The blanket veiling her indifference began to thin while he listed his deeds. Each one, a tiny laceration of guilt tore into the core of her being - Yet somehow, she had remained silent as he goaded. The deep amber of his sight seemed frolic in some twisted delight - had he enjoyed in taunting her like this?

Her slender fingers rubbed her forearm. The creature that once lay behind them, unbeknownst to her, could have certainly been a people. If at the cost of possibly her life, did she help accomplish in taking theirs. A sour bubbling wretched through her stomach, wincing she tried to bring herself back to his level. Only to find him deep within her own personal space. Even if he wore a mask she once felt affection, it was the one behind it that tempted much grief.

“…And what might you do to that creature? Seeming as it is already half past dead. I would suspect little else.” A slight huskiness came her reply, low however still retained a bitterness. “In regards to the gallons of blood loss, how was I to know that you would not be felled by such dire blows? Oh do forgive me! I am only just a mere mortal, hardly worthy to acknowledge such godly strife.”

Already had she been mocked, the mood was low enough for her spite to feel justified. With little pride intact, did she give Ashmire a shove by placing her hands on the least bloodied part of his body - his shoulders. Unfortunately her strength had been undermined by her own fear from prior events. Beneath her breath she cursed, he was suffocating her in mere presence. She needed to breathe without him coaxing her to do further harm.

Didier’s struggle ceased finally as he revealed his truth.

“You are his brother and… you are dead. All right…” She phrased, slowly. “…Yet you live on within his body? This is quite absurd. nevertheless from what I have seen today, I am inclined to believe you.”

Though the guardian cared little for his attitude, it stroked her curiosity more than it should have. She was already in a less than compromising position. The former painter’s stance posed an invisible barrier between her and the wall. His teeth sharp and maw wide, she only narrowed her gaze.

“You are of similar ilk to the beast you bested, yes? Since you are capable of speech and other vulgarities, I suppose you are not like them.” She almost smiled, if a sneer had not confused it. “Special? Well, you are certainly a spectacle like no other. One. Of. A. Kind, hmhm.”

[asherum-picturam]

"Ah, what does one do with prey? At least all those lives won't go to waste if I take what I need." Watching her composure twist every which way as the explanation carved into her left him agape in some weird attraction. It looked like she felt many things, but mainly, what Ashmire could feel was contempt. It's not like she knew the truth in the pressure and pace of the battle, why did she have to feel any shred of guilt, he thought. He killed them, they didn't even know who they used to be in life. Wasn't it better that way? And better they died than have any more chances to even touch so much as an atom of her. With that, a talon-like fingertip delicately swept the curve of her jaw.

"Despite you seeing death being defied at the points they were? You have no faith in that friend of yours," Ash chortled. "Well, of course he was god damn useless. But he's around here somewhere, at least. I bet that's the best news you've had, out of me." 

Sloping his captive body's mouth, his iris dimmed with a glum expression, like he was expecting a lot more out of the situation, or that it might have panned out differently. Oh yes, of course she wouldn't care about him - not near as much as Ash did for her. There was so much Didier didn't know; now wasn't the best time to unload all of that. But he'd been patient so far - It could all wait however long he deemed necessary and appropriate. And it was going to be quite a while, he felt - the decaying strength behind the press of the other's hands against his frame in an attempt to distance him in discontent almost teased laughter from Ren's throat. Taking hold of her wrists, he pressed his weight upon that hold, in conjunction with his waist as opposed to his chest, as to not puncture her. He didn’t think she’d be able to move much, but what his mind said and what this alien body was capable of in this department, Ash wasn’t wholly confident. For good measure, he’d placed his legs between her own, in case she wasn’t above the typical assault against a male; Ash didn’t need that right now.

Leaning close to her, he hissed a breath before calmly taking his next; albeit a gradual one. While it might have been just that, a breath to calm after the exertion, Ash took it upon himself to eerily stare the whole time, taking her in with the air until he was finished and punctuating it with a mischievous sound. "Too bad for you, you're stuck with me. For quite a while. Perhaps you’ll get used to it," Ashmire cooed a little behind the smug simper, deciding to just ride on her disdain for the time being, to make it much easier and bearable. For him. She didn't have to enjoy his company straight out of the box, right? That was unrealistic, and he was still a mess of thoughts and feelings, himself. His head lowered, though his eye remained fixated behind a veil of raven black. "Imagine this, how long do you think it'll take for someone within an inch of their life to be healthy enough to wrestle back dominion over his own body?" He hoped it would take many, many days. All of that freedom - as close to freedom as he could get, for now.

[asherum-picturam]

[ Pre-Accident ] Something Missing || CLOSED || Asherum-Picturam

[mirantiqueliberalis]

It was fruitless to use the last of her armaments, regarding he was but footfalls away. A gamble, she was aware of such. The concoction of a possible danger lay within, a definite high chance that it could kill them both. But the details of how laid uncertain. The tightening of the grip was blatant once the reanimated body of Ren came into the soft lamplight. Only this time, Didier’s lips curved toward her cheeks.

“Is it a fool that you take me for? Might I be so kind as to apologise for your own mistake. This is merely a defensive measure…” She chuckled without humour. “Obviously I have taken some consideration of what you are. Not fully, mind. Feel free to fill in those blanks for me.”

With words that spoke bolder than what was beyond her demeanor - the guardian found herself lax only slightly, against the crooked wall. Difficult as it were, a certain bout of resolution grasped her - if only to not look at the rest of his mangled body. With a slight inclination of her head, she raised a sodden brow, beckoning him to continue.

“Understand, this is just an attempt for a neutral grounding between us. No hard feelings hmhm…”

Strangely, the possessed male had been compliant so far. It would have almost seemed silly to put up a resistance toward him. Perhaps she was right to have her doubts despite how mad her previous action may be. In truth, her heart rapped within her chest - still seized with a mixture of shock and fear - the only saving grace was her ability to work well under pressure.

Upon seeing the blood spurt, she nearly rooted herself out of her position. It was not Ren… however it was still his body. Her dear childhood friend. An irritated sigh escaped her lips while clipping the bomb to her belt. Unraveling her once discarded blazer just to toss it at his dismembered person.

“Ashmire it is.”

Frowning, she averted her gaze. “Stop the bleeding, then we will talk. I do not wish for my answers to be the final croak from you.”

[asherum-picturam]

"Ah. Ah, Of course not, 'Smart' as I said," Ash eyed the woman inquisitively, pacing calmly about to appraise her leaning figure. "But, I can't account for what you might have been thinking this entire time." He tried to lock his gaze with hers. 

"You watched Ren ‘die’. You just watched me senselessly murder those scared, troubled ghosts. You helped me, but...despite being better-informed, I didn't stop. They pleaded and shrieked for me to stop too, when I gouged their eyes out." A grumble resounded in his throat, grinning, with a glimmer in his eye. "It was entertaining, but they needed to die." For what benefit? One might wonder...

His stare broke off to look behind him a moment before making an amused hum to himself. "An Attempt...you're right there - thinking there was any chance you'd level us with whatever's in that bomb if necessary? Now that's rich..." Hair draped over a bored and worn expression upon the male's features. His stature loomed over the leaning woman, creaking violently as he did. He got quite close enough that he could hear the thrum of her heart in the silence; the sound was mesmerising to him, oddly fascinated by it. "I have no hard feelings at all about that, if only for your own safety. Ah...that won't do at all..."

His attention lapsed as some clothing almost fell into his open chest wound. Oh, right...this doesn't look good to her, he thought. Taking hold of the blazer, he decided it was enough to tie right around for his stomach wound. But the more obvious and distracting injury was his mangled makeshift maw of ribs, which was probably more what she would have preferred covering or fixing up.

"This will be better later. As I said, I'm not quite finished with my prey over there. But we have plenty of time, as I said before." Another chuckle emerged. "After how I came about within all of this, you think I might die? Aren't you funny. Anyway..."

Cycling his mind back to what she'd asked of him, his jaw lowered and crooked and ground teeth teeth at one side in thought, like Ash pondered how to word it. "What I am? Or who I am? The who is I'm your precious Reni's dead brother. I can’t imagine I’ve ever been spoken about, but no, I am not bullshitting you. I suppose that's enough to cover the What now, seeing as you saw enough of them earlier... I'm not quite the same case as them, of course." Sarcasm fell through Ash's voice, displeased. "Aren't I special?"

[asherum-picturam]

[ Pre-Accident ] Something Missing || CLOSED || Asherum-Picturam

[mirantiqueliberalis]

It was fruitless to use the last of her armaments, regarding he was but footfalls away. A gamble, she was aware of such. The concoction of a possible danger lay within, a definite high chance that it could kill them both. But the details of how laid uncertain. The tightening of the grip was blatant once the reanimated body of Ren came into the soft lamplight. Only this time, Didier’s lips curved toward her cheeks.

“Is it a fool that you take me for? Might I be so kind as to apologise for your own mistake. This is merely a defensive measure…” She chuckled without humour. “Obviously I have taken some consideration of what you are. Not fully, mind. Feel free to fill in those blanks for me.”

With words that spoke bolder than what was beyond her demeanor - the guardian found herself lax only slightly, against the crooked wall. Difficult as it were, a certain bout of resolution grasped her - if only to not look at the rest of his mangled body. With a slight inclination of her head, she raised a sodden brow, beckoning him to continue.

“Understand, this is just an attempt for a neutral grounding between us. No hard feelings hmhm…”

Strangely, the possessed male had been compliant so far. It would have almost seemed silly to put up a resistance toward him. Perhaps she was right to have her doubts despite how mad her previous action may be. In truth, her heart rapped within her chest - still seized with a mixture of shock and fear - the only saving grace was her ability to work well under pressure.

Upon seeing the blood spurt, she nearly rooted herself out of her position. It was not Ren… however it was still his body. Her dear childhood friend. An irritated sigh escaped her lips while clipping the bomb to her belt. Unraveling her once discarded blazer just to toss it at his dismembered person.

“Ashmire it is.”

Frowning, she averted her gaze. “Stop the bleeding, then we will talk. I do not wish for my answers to be the final croak from you.”

[asherum-picturam]

"Ah. Ah, Of course not, 'Smart' as I said," Ash eyed the woman inquisitively, pacing calmly about to appraise her leaning figure. "But, I can't account for what you might have been thinking this entire time." He tried to lock his gaze with hers. 

"You watched Ren ‘die’. You just watched me senselessly murder those scared, troubled ghosts. You helped me, but...despite being better-informed, I didn't stop. They pleaded and shrieked for me to stop too, when I gouged their eyes out." A grumble resounded in his throat, grinning, with a glimmer in his eye. "It was entertaining, but they needed to die." For what benefit? One might wonder...

His stare broke off to look behind him a moment before making an amused hum to himself. "An Attempt...you're right there - thinking there was any chance you'd level us with whatever's in that bomb if necessary? Now that's rich..." Hair draped over a bored and worn expression upon the male's features. His stature loomed over the leaning woman, creaking violently as he did. He got quite close enough that he could hear the thrum of her heart in the silence; the sound was mesmerising to him, oddly fascinated by it. "I have no hard feelings at all about that, if only for your own safety. Ah...that won't do at all..."

His attention lapsed as some clothing almost fell into his open chest wound. Oh, right...this doesn't look good to her, he thought. Taking hold of the blazer, he decided it was enough to tie right around for his stomach wound. But the more obvious and distracting injury was his mangled makeshift maw of ribs, which was probably more what she would have preferred covering or fixing up.

"This will be better later. As I said, I'm not quite finished with my prey over there. But we have plenty of time, as I said before." Another chuckle emerged. "After how I came about within all of this, you think I might die? Aren't you funny. Anyway..."

Cycling his mind back to what she'd asked of him, his jaw lowered and crooked and ground teeth teeth at one side in thought, like Ash pondered how to word it. "What I am? Or who I am? The Who is I'm your precious Reni's dead brother. I can’t imagine I’ve ever been spoken about, but no, I am not bullshitting you. I suppose that's enough to cover the What now, seeing as you saw enough of them earlier... I'm not quite the same case as them, of course." Sarcasm fell through Ash's voice, displeased. "Aren't I special?"