Colin's posts

"...all right." Ash responded, as they reached the counter. They ordered, got their food and drink, and made their way back to where Harmony was, sitting down at the table, with Ash giving the change.

"Here." he said.

"So you're Harmony?" he asked.

The woman nodded in response.

"Interesting choice of headwear." Ash then said, gesturing to the witch's hat atop her head.

Ash was still wary, but he nodded to Harmony and looked at Hazel.

"Come on." he said to her.

"Let's go order something." he said further, as he started to slowly head towards the counter. As he did, he sighed quietly.

"You all right?" he asked Hazel quietly.

"If this is a bit too much for you, you don't have to be here for this." he assured her.

@totalanimefan: ....fair point. Pretty soon it's gonna be too cold to get out there and raid, and soon after that, the weather may as well be saying "Go ahead and TRY. I dare ya!"

Ash was stunned for a moment, some nagging feeling at the back of his head, before he accepted the bill.

"...thanks." he said.

"And yes, I am AJ." he confirmed.

"This is Hazel." he told her, introducing Hazel. "My roommate, essentially." he said further, before looking to Hazel.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Coffee? Pastry? Both?"

"...right." Ash muttered.

He then checked again, looking around, as they stepped out of the alley, and he saw the café across the road.

"...a large tan witch's hat..." he mumbled, seeing it clearly in the window.

"Hard to miss." he said.

"Anyway, let's go." he told Hazel, starting to walk towards the building.

About a minute later, in a nearby alley, Ash an Hazel appeared in a burst of black flames. Ash looked around to make sure that they hadn't been seen or anything, before looking at Hazel.

"We should be close." he said.

"You all right?" he asked.

"Was the mana transport a bit much?" he asked further.

Ash looked at her hair as it lightly smacked him, and couldn't help but notice how long it was. And, overall, how much nicer it had gotten since she started staying with him, and washing her hair regularly.

He then looked at her, and thought for a moment.

"Coffee'd be good." he replied.

"I DO like me some coffee." he admitted.

"So some coffee, please."

Ash paused and thought for a moment.

"Hmmm." he muttered.

"Well, I know we have some quill-bear steaks, and some root vegetables." he went on.

"Can you make something out of that? Like... a steak dinner, or even a stew?" he asked.

"Because yeah... I AM getting quite hungry." he admitted.

"..." Ash was silent once more, and then hung his head.

"Wonderful." he said.

"Just... wonderful." he muttered. "Vanessa's insane enough to go after THAT murderous mad-woman." he growled. "Hopefully someday she'll bite off more than she can chew." he went on.

"But anyway, enough talk about Rowena Fyrane and Vanessa." he then said.

"Let's focus on less grim subjects. Like how we may very well have a new home VERY soon!"

Ash paused when he heard that.

"...hm." he mumbled.

"I see." he said flatly.

"Surely just a coincidence." he told her. "Can't be anything but." he insisted.

He then thought about it for a moment, and looked at her.

"How do you know Rowena Fyrane's middle name, anyway?" he asked.

"N-no, that's not..." Ash stammered, before sighing heavily.

"I just don't want people to hassle you." he said.

"If you can blend in, that's great." he told her. "But I'm just thinking for your own safety and wellbeing." he assured her.

"Regardless, we'll he headed out tomorrow, meeting the landlady at a cafe." he went on.

"Her name's Harmony."

Ash nodded in response.

"All right." he said.

"As you said... only one way to find out." he mumbled, before pausing slightly and thinking about it.

"Hmmm..." he mumbled, looking at her. Specifically, her black side, and her eyes. Or he would be looking at them, were she actually looking BACK at him.

"We can explain away your skin with an accident." he said. "But we'll needed tinted lens to cover your eyes." he told her.

"Or we can use a glamour. I know of some people that can do that at the guild."

@totalanimefan: Hah, nice! That HAD to have felt good, one-shotting a Nidoking like that.

He made his way over towards her and opened the door slightly, poking his head out.

"Hey." he said to her.

"Going to see someone about a bigger place." he said. "Tomorrow at noon, in London, Ontario. So that time zone. Yeah, Canada." he revealed.

"You want to come with?" he asked.

"Or would you prefer to not travel too much, or whatever?" he asked further.

"Bottom line, you wanna stay here or go with me?"