ashes to ashes

@ashvvilliams

133 posts

FULL NAME — ashley williams. NICKNAMES — ash. GENDER & PRONOUNS — non-binary. they/them. AGE — 32 BIRTHDAY — 06/05/92 SEXUAL ORIENTATION — queer. ROMANTIC ORIENTATION — demiromantic. OCCUPATION — cashier at dreamland market. TIME IN BLUE HARBOR — fourteen years. NEIGHBORHOOD — weaver ridge. LIVED PREVIOUSLY — oxford, united kingdom. FACE CLAIM — emma d'arcy.

STORY. CONNECTIONS. PINTEREST.

tw: domestic abuse tldr: born in a small town, ashley connor was the second youngest of three, often feeling overlooked between an accomplished older sister and an adorable younger brother. seeking approval, ash adhered strictly to their parents' expectations. engaged at sixteen to their high school sweetheart, ashley initially felt validated by their family's acceptance. however, as the relationship turned volatile, ash's world darkened. realizing their parents prioritized their own happiness over ashley's, they finally doubted their path. just after turning eighteen, ash fled to blue harbor, adopting a new last name for a fresh start. though initially lost and taking odd jobs to get by, ashley gradually built a new life. with time, they grew more confident, leaving behind the shadow of their past and stepping into their true self.

➥ location: tres amigos ➥ status: closed starter for @ashvvilliams

There were only a handful of people in the world capable of making Nathan do anything he didn't particularly want to do and all of them were related to him. He pondered this as his eye grazed the menu in hand, wondering what it would be like to be an only child. Much more peaceful than his current life, surely.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he knew it would be Will checking in, again. Probably making sure that Nathan had actually followed through with the lunch invitation. With an internal sigh, he cleared his throat. "So the lads tell me you're working at a store now?"

He looked up at Ash expectantly, face betraying none of his current exasperation with the situation. It wasn't that he didn't like them—they seemed like the perfectly decent, and his mother and brothers thought highly of them which always earned an extra point—but he didn't know them like they did, or in the way he knew Grace. It put him in a strange position. All of the obligation and none of the personal attachment. If the others wanted him to check in on them then fine, he would, but there was a level of reluctance behind the motivation.

there was always a slightly terrifying feeling in their chest whenever they were sitting in front of nathan crane. it had to be the eyes , ash decided. the steely blue had an ability to dig into their soul and dig out whatever they wanted to get. still , nathan and his family had been the safe haven they'd needed when they finally were ready to leave. they'd taken them in when it felt like they were completely isolated , alone with nowhere to turn. mrs crane had always been one of the nicer people in ash's past , sneaking them sweets and giving them a place to hide when they needed a few moments to catch their breath. nathan and ash hadn't been that close , age separating them among other things. but it seemed as if his younger brothers were intent on keeping up to date with everything ash was doing and that , in turn , meant that the only person living in the same city was now seemingly forced to take them out to lunch every few weeks. "i – yeah , i've been working there for a while now. not ideal , but it pays the bills." they fiddled with the napkin placed in their lap. "your café is still doing okay ?"

#interaction.#nathan 001 #ash w. & nathan c.

@ashvvilliams / mic drop — finch birthday celebrations , with ash.

“i'm not — i'm not doing anything.” but the way miles whipped around to face ash told them all they needed to know, was as obvious as being caught red handed. since gifting giselle flowers in the alley between their workplaces, seeing those green eyes illuminate and her often stoic expression finally crack, he had been almost addicted. he knew nothing about alice in wonderland, even less about broadway, and had brushed away a red fake flower being forced into his face whenever he walked past the birthday boy. it was all an elaborate ploy to talk to her again, to give her a gift, to feel that same feeling again, even if just for a fleeting moment. “i just wasn't technically invited.”

for some reason ash was wandering around the establishment , looking for a quiet place to rest their ears for just a few moments. it was proving very difficult with everyone yelling out their songs of choice from all angles. they'd been invited ( mostly by ruairi wanting them to meet their boyfriend ) but they had given both the birthday people their gifts and then promptly hid in a corner. they were trying to come up with a reason for maybe taking a quick break outside when they almost crashed into someone that definitely looked like they didn't belong. "i couldn't tell ," ash replied , amusement evident in their voice. "all this sneaking around was very subtle."

#interaction.#ash w. & miles m.#miles 001

clementinebriar

Grinning widely, Clem can do little else but shrug her shoulders at Ash’s deduction. “Maybe,” she smirks. “It’s cute.” She holds out a finger toward Ash, making sure they see the seriousness of her expression. “I’m holding you to that,” she warns them, though there’s obvious jest in her tone. No way is she going to force someone into a good time. “Maybe I’ll text you first, though. Wouldn’t want to interrupt anything important just ‘cause I’m horny,” she winks.

At Ash’s mention of Blue Harbor’s inexplicable draw for the British, she can’t help but let out a small snort. “Yeah, no shit,” she shakes her head, still in a little disbelief that someone from Ash’s past could find them here, of all places, and not even for the purpose of finding them. Blue Harbor should be studied, actually. The paranormal activity here must be off the fucking charts. “Sorry about your rough couple of days,” she adds, because she is. She’s not so heartless that she thinks someone like Ash, of all people, deserves to be going through some bullshit. She can’t imagine what she’d feel, if someone like her fucking dad showed up out of the blue in this town. Probably would throw herself into the river, actually. “Sure you don’t need me to fight them for you?”

Rolling her eyes at Ash’s dramatics, she sighs loudly, shaking her head. “I just know you’d object and ruin the whole thing,” she matches Ash’s energy with a smirk. “But you know I’d run out of the chapel with you. We could start a life together. In — hm,” she frowns, suddenly drawing a blank for places she’d like to live in. “I don’t know. Fuckin’ — somewhere tropical, maybe.”

there was always a certain thrill to talk to clem. maybe it was because ash was actually allowing themself to want something for once. sometimes ash couldn't tell if clem wanted them as well , or if it was only a way to release some frustration. maybe it wouldn't lead anywhere , but they could have fun while it lasted , right ? "i can pencil you in for tuesday at two am ," ash replied smoothly. "reason for meeting: horny." maybe they weren't as blatant as clem was , but they sure could try. "thank you ," ash replied , not really knowing what else could be said about the situation. grace was there for however long and ash just had to keep their head down until she was gone again. "i think some of my friends have things planned for her , even though i asked them not to do anything." they shook their head in amusement and , honestly , fondness as they once again were stunned by the care their friends held for them. "besides , if shit goes down and you get locked up , who will be meeting me on the fire escape ?" ash scoffed , happy to move on from the subject of their sister , and jumped on the chance to talk of their hypothetical honeymoon. "which is why i'd find a way to sneak in to the ceremony before you say i do ," they replied , as if it was obvious. "we deserve a nice life in the tropics. and you'd look really good in a bikini." ash laid in to it on the last sentence , wagging their eyebrows for added effect.

#ash w. & clementine b.#clementine 001 #interaction.

Oliver wishes Damian would answer a text message. Maybe, it wouldn't be terrible if he came walking in here then he'd actually be able to see his face. He moves up onto his elbows, raising his head to look at the other. "Ash. Does he text you back?" He asks in a soft voice, knowing he doesn't have to mention who he is talking about. "I sent him a text a couple of days ago and I haven't heard anything. It's not like him to do that unless he is really mad at me and I don't know about it."

@ashvvilliams

ash's gaze softened when they saw the anguish and worry on oliver's face. they were both just worried about their friend. "he's ... been distant lately ," ash allowed. "i've been texting , and calling , but he's not replied." oliver was right. it was unusual for damian to not keep in touch with his friends. even if ash hadn't known him for that long , they knew that. damian did all he could for his friends and the fact that he was now actively avoiding them was worrying. "i haven't ... he's not come by here either."

#ash w. & oliver a.#oliver 001 #interaction.

ruby: 3 ... ok this is hopeful ruby: if it makes your nose water ... no it doesn't ruby: nice tho sounds good ruby: should be done with this tea set by then ruby: they ... uhh really like the digestives! ruby: aaaand now he just tried to steal one

ash: you know i have a bit of a stuffed nose ash: so maybe it's for the best ash: skdfs i won't distract you go save your shop ash: i'll see u soon

#ash w. & ruby m.#ruby 002 #texts.

Foster had never been good at accepting comfort; even with Phoebe, he'd fought against it until she finally wore him down. Until the weight became too much that he had no choice but to sink into it. It didn't mean he was in any way used to it, and he tensed up just a little when Ash reached their hand out for his. But it was growth that he stayed still, allowing this tentative step in their friendship, progressing past the familiar comfort a quiet, steady presence. Maybe one day, he would tell them everything — when it didn't feel so raw, and he didn't hate himself so much. For now, the offer was enough...

I think Phoebe would've listened as well. He gave a derisive snort — not because they weren't right, but because the only other response he had was far too embarrassing to contemplate. "Yeah, well, we all knew she was too good for me. I was always living on borrowed time..."

it was a frail ceasefire, tied together on the middle of the table by two hands not knowing how to comfort or accept it. their progress was small, but ash still felt hopeful in thinking that foster might realise that they weren't out to taunt or scold them. they just wanted to listen. "she wasn't too good for you, foster," ash replied, maybe a bit more harshly than they intended. "she was different from you. and good for you. i'm not saying she's not great because she is, i really loved hanging out with her. but it feels as if you went in with the attitude of knowing you were gonna lose her." it always scared ash to speak this plainly, but they also wanted foster to realise that he wasn't the lesser one in the relationship, or in life. they cared about him a lot and wanted him to work through whatever trauma he had gone through with his ex. but foster had never seemed like the person that liked to talk openly about his issues. hopefully he knew that ash only meant well and didn't intend to hurt him.

#foster 002 #interaction.#ash w. & matthew f.

“Ow!” The thwack to their head didn’t actually hurt, it wasn’t Ash’s goal to concuss him or anything, but it didn’t stop Leo from flashing them a petulant look. Though they were currently complaining about their sister, Leo tended to think the two of them were more family than some of their siblings, and it regularly showed during moments like this. “Jesus Christ. We don’t talk about women that way.” He repeated, holding back the eyeroll that he wanted to pair with it - if it put Ash at ease, he could follow instruction. Regularly, Leo forgot that some language was deemed as offensive, merely grouping everyone together in one big asshole category - but he could learn. He was open to it, at least, though it was doubtful that the word would leave his vocabulary at any time. He’d just aim it towards more deserving people.

Gnawing on his bottom lip, Leo took in just how distressed Ash looked. He felt powerless to do anything to help them, damage between Ash and their sister clearly already done - even if they looked and acted different, it baffled him that this Grace Connor could forget her own sibling. Leo couldn’t stand most of his family, would love to forget some of them, but couldn’t if he tried. “You didn’t do anything fuckin’ wrong. You did what you had to to survive - it makes you, like, smart, dude. And really fucking strong.” Leo insisted, worrying over how downtrodden and shaken up Ash seemed to be. Usually, Leo viewed them as larger than life, idolising them in a way he’d never really done before, but now they seemed so incredibly small. He wasn’t an expert when it came to words of comfort, but he’d always been fiercely loyal and protective, heart and stomach twisting at the sight. “A gift card’s kinda wild though. For where? Somewhere good, I fuckin’ hope, she kinda owes you big here.” In the back of his mind, Leo had already taken note of their sister’s name. Grace Connor. Easy to remember, probably just as easy to find.

Grinning fondly, Leo dutifully filled Ash’s shot glass with Crown Royal - the wine could be saved for nursing later, when they were already drunker than they should be and wanting to keep the buzz going. “You love me,” he snickered, pressing his forehead against theirs momentarily, “and everything’s gonna be fine. Just trust me - I know my shit. I got you, ‘kay?” Though he was primarily known for his biting personality, Leo could be gentle when he needed to be - mostly, for those he genuinely loved and cared about. It was easy, actually, to be soft when one felt so safe, Leo had come to learn. Lifting the bottle, Leo cheers’d them with a quick, “Masel tov!” before taking a shot straight from the source.

ash nodded in satisfaction when leo complied, and leaned back against their couch. they knew that leo didn't really care about what the said and how it sounded, but ash still felt protective of their sister, deep down. they knew that it was fucked up, because ash had had to run away and grace had come out of it unscathed and looking just as put together as usual. it felt unfair, but then again, the connors had never cared about fair. only image and reputation. the issue at hand was this: leo wasn't one to give compliments and ash wasn't comfortable receiving them. so when they outright told them exactly what he felt ash felt their eyes mist over again. hearing themself be described as strong was such a strange thing, because all they'd ever seen themself as was desperate. that situation was just ash needing to get out and not knowing how to except crossing the ocean to another continent. "thank you," they mumbled softly, feeling both touched and embarrassed at the praise they had been given. a small, croaked out laugh broke through the silence as leo focused on the obvious most important part. "it was to latte love. she thought i looked like i needed a handout apparently. she's very thoughtful that way." ash downed the shot, letting out a pained groan when the alcohol burned, and leaned over to give leo a big kiss on his forehead. "i do love you," they replied, "you're an asshole, but you're my asshole. don't," they added quickly, "overthink that statement. i heard it as soon as i said it. let's just take it for what it was." they grabbed the bottle from leo's hands as soon as he'd taken a sip, following his lead. "let's forget about all our issues now. it's you and me, little lion. you and me.""

#ash w. & leo f.#leo 001 #inspiration.

ruby: british ... ruby: on a scale of 1 to the flag waving how british are u feelin ruby: this one is like apple ... pie ruby: apple pai chai 😳 ruby: *PIE

ash: for apple pie chai ... ash: i guess i'll be a healthy 3 ash: sounds very autumn-y ash: i'll be by in ... 30 minutes maybe ?

#texts.#ash w. & ruby m.#ruby 002

kittykap-deactivated20260503

As Ash's fingers rushed along her cheek, Ari leaned slightly into her hand. If she could be even a fraction of the friend that Ash was to anyone lucky enough to befriend them, she'd be a damn good one. There was a comfort in Ash's warmth, in every way they offered it—from the caress of their hand against her cheek to the embrace they so readily offered each and every time Ari rang. It felt bad sometimes that it didn't feel reciprocated from Ari's end—that sense that Ash knew more about Ari than most. In fact, neither did Lia. Likely the only people who knew her better than most would have known her from New York or Chicago because there was just so much past in there—so much she had kept so secret since moving to Blue Harbor.

All of her newest friendships were not ever given the opportunity to know the pivotal things that had occurred in her life pre-Blue Harbor, including the real reason that she had gone from a big city to a small town. And for some reason, while Ash's physical form had been entirely soothing, their bids of confidence and vulnerability this evening only reminded her of her own reserves, emphasizing the inhibitions that existed between them and a deeper connection. But she couldn't. Not even with Lia.

When Ash reassured her she did not need to elaborate on what was bothering her, she found comfort again. At the mention of Old Man Tom, Ari's smile creeped back on her face. "Maybe he's one of those doomsday preppers," she mused, "If a zombie apocalypse happens, we should definitely be sure to raid his place first. — And hey, if your days are getting monotonous, come with me to my Rochester location sometime. It's not open yet. But might be a fun new place to see for a change. I have my entire studio set up in the back."

𝐅𝐎𝐑: @ashvvilliams

it was a soft love that ash held for their friend. at first there had been potential for more, but it kind of fizzled out in the sand before it even began. ash didn't really know why, but it had happened nonetheless. ash liked where they had ended up. there was a sweetness that trailed back and forth between them, and ash needed sweetness in their life. hopefully ari felt the same way about them, knew that she could come with anything that bothered them and ash would try and help as best they could. they knew ari wasn't ready yet, but when she was ash would be there. "raid and kill old man tom, noted," ash said, deadpan, knowing full well no mention of death had been brought up. "i know what he has and how much. there's no way he needs forty two rolls of toilet paper and fifteen toothbrushes at once. with him we'll be safe." the mention of ari's new studio made ash's ears perk up, and they sat up a bit straighter, but not enough to jostle them too much. "it's set up ? how have i only heard about this now ? ari, you told me you'd tell me the minute finishing touches were finished. we've spent how many hours on this couch ? we could've been in rochester." it was all teasing in good fun because ash suspected ari might need to get her mind on something else.

#ash w. & ari o.#ari 001 #interaction.

Dahlia held on to Ash tighter as their words continued to come out in shaky breaths. Every broken sentence felt like a stab to the heart, and all she wanted to do was absorb their pain and take it away. She rubbed soothing circles on their back, trying what she could to keep them grounded and in the present moment. “It’s okay,” she whispered, careful not to be too loud or move too suddenly. “It’s okay to feel all of that, Ash. It’s human.” She could feel Ash trembling in her arm – sadness, fear and anger swirling within them – and just held on tighter. Dahlia was genuinely surprised they hadn’t protested yet. She pulled back just enough to look into their tear-streaked face, her hands still gripping them by their arms. “You don’t have to make sense of any of it right now. The important thing is I am here with you and I love you. I will protect you because you’re my family,” Dahlia whispered fiercely. She studied their face, taking in their features and thinking back to when she first met them. Ash had come so far, and no one, not even some estranged sister of theirs was going to take that away from them. Not if Dahlia had anything to say about it. She offered Ash a small, encouraging smile. “We will figure this out together. I’m here. You don’t have to go through this alone. We’ll come up with a plan and take it one step at a time.”

ash held onto dahlia like a lifeline that had been thrown to them in the middle of the ocean. for a moment they disappeared into themself and all they could hear was the pounding of their heart in their chest, vibrating throughout their body and electrocuting every fibre of their being. when they came back to their room ( their shitty living room, with the worn out wallpapers and rundown rug ) dahlia was mumbling sweet reassurances in their ear, calling them family, telling them love and safe and protect. her faltering smile seemed like a weapon at that moment and for a moment ash felt belief like they never had before. they knew that dahlia was right. no one could actually force them to leave blue harbor, but the eighteen year old who took almost two months of panicked planning to leave everything they'd ever known behind ... they hadn't believed it until now. "i love you," they replied, voice hoarse from tears and pain mixing in their vocal chords. it was truer than any love they'd felt before. "you'll keep me here ?" it was an odd question, but just as dahlia had been the lifeline pulling them back to shore, she was also the tether that kept them anchored to their home.

THREAD COMPLETE !

#ash w. & dahlia y.#& dahlia y.#dahlia 003

Juno’s head tilted sideways once more and they continued to watch Ash’s face. They didn’t quite understand the words Ash spoke - sure they had meant to combat Juno’s previous comment but they felt it only proved them more. Then again that was the problem with perspectives. Ash saw themself as upset, but Juno saw them untrained. It had probably taken Juno years to develop their consciousness this far. To work through life in slow motion and at the beat of their own drums. Perhaps that’s why they couldn’t understand one another. So Juno shrugged their shoulders when words failed. They figured whatever was eating at their thoughts was probably too intimate for Juno to fully comprehend. “I like it here.” Juno said, placing their hand back over their journals and dragged one near. “The room itself is calming. You can drown out everyone around you if you simply find somewhere to focus.” It was like staring at a movie but hearing only the echoes of sounds. The deeper into the corner Juno found a place to sit, the more they disappeared. It was pretty dark in the pour house compared to other bars in town, but truthfully now Juno came for Calahan. They enjoy the mindless chatter the two would embark on and the lack of expectation when it came to further arrangements. Juno could simply appear… and disappear. Glancing back up at Ash, Juno said, “Liquor doesn’t really help drive away the sad. I would recommend something more - effective.”

it seemed as if they'd reached an impasse. ash could tell that juno was struggling with what saying next. ash liked juno well enough, but they didn't know ash and it felt slightly insulting when they assumed to know the way they worked. it almost felt as if juno operated on the reality that what they thought about the world was the only correct outlook. ash knew, logically, that it wasn't true, but they weren't in the mood to try and rationalise it. they wanted to drink and forget about their sister haunting the town they had sought refuge in. ash took a quick look around the bar, taking in the drunk patrons and worn out decor. it was not exactly what they would think of as calming. ash thought it was the same as any bar, just a little rougher around the edges. "i guess we have a different outlook on it," they replied slowly. the words seemed to insinuate something, but ash couldn't for the life of them put together what juno was referring to. the look given to them seemed expectant, as if they waited for ash to accept their offer. something clicked. "are you offering me drugs ?" ash asked bluntly, voice a hushed in the crowded bar.

#drug mention tw #interaction.#ash w. & juno b.#juno 002

clementinebriar

Beaming, Clementine takes another bite out of her chocolate and hums. “I’m an expert at everything,” she waggles her eyebrows. “You would know, if you’d let me show you some time.” She’s never gotten around to it, mind you — for a while there, she’d just let things lie with Ash. Dahlia had taken to them like a duck to water, and for all Clementine likes to talk about not giving a shit and sleeping with anything that moves, she’d never have done something like that to Dahlia. D seems over it now, though — but maybe she should ask, first. Doesn’t want her to get pissed. Dahlia should reserve her anger for the shitty men in her life, actually.

Clem’s about to comment her sympathy on work, when the next words that come out of Ash’s mouth stop her in her tracks. Chocolate halfway to her mouth again, she lowers it back down slowly, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “A ghost? From your past?” She points somewhere behind her. “Like, from across the pond?” She puts on her best British accent for that particular saying, but then switches back immediately. “Here? In this shithole?” What the fuck is it with people from all around the world deciding to show up in Blue Harbor? Don’t they know how good they have it, like, literally anywhere else? “Jesus. You good?”

clem was as bold as ever, and even though ash tried to keep up she always ran around them in circles. sometimes ash wondered if she just said things for the shock factor of it all. ash thought she did a fucking stellar job regardless. "christ, you love flustering me, don't you ?" they asked, hiding their expression behind their choppy fringe. "but sure, i'll bite. you can come down my fire escape any time." it was ridiculous, but they figured clem would appreciate the dramatics of it all. the terrible british accent didn't distract from the cloud of worry that had been following ash around for ... well, the past decade if they were being honest. "over the pond, indeed ... i don't know what they're doing here, but for some reason bh seem to attract brits from the london area." there were several of them, which seemed ironic in more ways than one. ash, roman ... grace. "honestly ? i don't know. i've had a rough couple of days but i think it's better now." in an attempt to lighten the mood, "well, until i heard you were getting married to peeping paul and i wasn't invited to the wedding. is it because he knows you're head over heels for me and don't want any drama on the big day ?" ash took another bite of chocolate and matched her exaggerated british accent from before. "tell me the truth, clem. is it so ?"

#interaction.#ash w. & clementine b.#clementine 001

HALLOWEEN 2024 — BUTTERCUP

not one for halloween, ash got roped into a couples costume with @dahliayoung and @ariortega. watch out townsville !

#costumecontest.bh #inspiration.

hairpintvrns-arxiv

At that comment, Valentine snorted. Bit unladylike, perhaps, though it wasn’t as if Valentine had been operating on any sort of high ground. Not when they’d just narrowly avoided death by Campbell’s in a rough-hewn neighborhood market in small-town Illinois. A testament to their obscurity if there ever was one. “I take it you aren’t a big fan of fancy folk, then?” Valentine replied, returning the quip. Could envision the type really. Haughty blondes with upper crust-sounding names who spoke with smooth cadences and canned platitudes. Not too unlike their own.

Eyeing me from behind—fucking hell. Granted, it might have been a tall order to keep their appearance obscure. They used to be so good at it, this manner of evading light. Now, it seemed, they just demanded to be seen. A bit too tall, a bit too bright, a bit too everything. “Was it welcome, at least? The eyeing.” They arched their brow, back again to sorting out the cans, making sure the familiar logo was in full display.

“My name’s Valentine,” they said, rubbing the nape of their neck, “I swear I’d seen you before.” Delivered with a playful cadence, though their words had carried some undercurrent of truth. Familiar features. The color, the form, the place, however, they were all wrong. “But I thought—ah, I’d never forget a face like yours.”

ash knew that they didn't look it, had gone to great lengths to separate themself from that part of their life. the stranger couldn't possibly know the weight of that question, but it was kind of ironic from ash's point of view. "let's just say i've had to deal with them enough to last a lifetime." it wasn't a lie. the countless dinners forced into dresses they didn't like, hair styled in a way that felt like it belonged to a stranger. i'm being flirted with. the thought struck ash suddenly, somewhere between the stacking of cans and a teasing question it was becoming clear that valentine had at least some interest in them. it might've been obvious, given the whole ... lurking, but the blush on valentine's cheeks made it even more obvious. ash usually wouldn't go forward with it, but there was something in them that told them it would be good. "it might've been." listening to valentine, hearing them say ash looked like someone they'd seen before, ash felt that familiar twinge of panic. however, it was quickly replaced by a warm fluttering as another flirty line quickly followed. "oh, i'm sure you say that to everyone. and i should be saying that to you."

#ash w. & valentine f.#valentine 001 #interaction.

Without hesitation, Leo took Ash’s offered hand and made himself at home beside them, tossing his backpack onto the floor in front of them. There’d been countless nights where he’d crashed on this exact same couch, so inebriated he’d been blacked out for more than 24 hours straight. Truthfully, he’d have probably wound up dead on the streets by now if Ash hadn’t been watching out for him - Leo could do the same for them when they clearly needed it most. “You flatter me, Ash.” Momentarily, Leo felt guilty - he really didn’t have the answers at all to such an impossible situation. Though they’d delved into their home lives growing up a bit, it wasn’t a topic that either of them particularly enjoyed lamenting about. All he knew was enough to recognise that Ash had every right to be shaken up about this, wrapping an arm around their shoulders and pulling them into his side to press a kiss to the top of their head.

“Families are a bitch. Fuck ‘em. I’m not gonna let some cunt fuck around with you whether she remembers you or not. I mean, have you considered she’s lying, though? About remembering you? You’re kinda hard to forget.” He teased, tugging at the lobe of Ash’s ear. Leo wasn’t familiar with stress, but he felt it in his attempts at comforting. He didn’t usually care, but he wanted to get it right for Ash’s sake. “What’s her name again? I need to know who to avoid, everyone in this fuckin’ town knows each other.” At Ash’s slow reluctance, Leo immediately shot upright. “Don’t worry - I got just the thing. I know you said you still have what I brought last time but we’re not getting drunk on fucking Rumple Mintz, Ash, I’d rather kill myself.” It’d been on sale at a convenience store a few towns over a month or so back - Leo had thought he’d won the lottery until he actually tried it. “I raided the liquor cabinet back home - oh, I may need to crash here for a few days. Don’t ask.” Try as he might, his Uncle Steve regularly forgot about Leo’s talent for picking locks, breaking into their liquor cabinet proving so easy it was almost insulting. “Okay, I brought this, like, vintage bottle of wine they were saving, but. Like, it’s wine, who the fuck cares about saving it? And then we got some Crown Royal here. I even stole a shot glass from the gas station for you on the way over.” He chirped, like that was some amazing feat to be proud of, plunking the glass down that read ‘SUNS OUT BUNS OUT’, shaped appropriately like a woman wearing a bikini.

EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW LEO MEANT WELL, ash couldn't really appreciate the way they went about it. "don't call my sister a cunt," ash reprimanded with a smack across his head. even if she was awful at the best of times, she was still their sister. "repeat after me: we don't talk about women that way." they waited to for leo to do as told and "no, i'm certain. she gave me a fucking gift card, leo. out of pity. she thought i looked like i needed a handout to get through the day." the compliment warmed them, but it was a surface warmth rather than the bone deep one leo usually gave them. "i was so different back then. unmemorable and forgettable." they let out a humourless laugh. "it sounds like i'm looking for pity but it's true. i needed to be as small as possible to survive." they leaned into leo's embrace, seeking comfort and belonging that they rarely felt with other people. leo always came prepared with a plan. the plan was almost always shite, but they at least did the assignment asked of them. so ash wasn't surprised as he began pulling bottle after bottle out of their bag. "grace," they said, voice muted compared to the clinking of glass. "grace connor." there was no time to get stuck on it as leo unabashedly invited himself over for the foreseeable future. ash couldn't think of a reason to decline. it felt silly to get emotional over a shot glass, a stolen one at that, but ash felt their lips quiver at the awful looking thing and they grabbed it with a small smile directed at leo. "you're the fucking worst," they sniffled. "give me everything and then some more." they held out the glass, indicating that it was time to pour something into it, christen it in a way.

#ash w. & leo f.#leo 001 #interaction.#name calling tw

ruby: you can't see the fist pump i did but i s2g ruby: ok but ... how do u feel about ... ruby: spices ...

ash: the fist bump was felt ! ash: i feel ... ash: british ... about spices ash: but i'm open to try ?

#ash w. & ruby m.#ruby 002 #texts.

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