ashes-of-yesteryear

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

Forever. What once would have felt like a suffocating sort of bind encircling her with time was now a promise of everything Ash could fathom wanting these days. A future with Mitchell, together... maybe even for an eternity. She'd begun to ponder that possibility, to be sure, even as a passing thought on occasion. But none of it seemed so daunting, or impossible, or even really that distant. This was the start of that forever, and that made her all the more certain of what she needed to say. What she wanted him to know.

The question drew her features into a somewhat tighter expression, reminiscent of pain. Because it only made Ash realize all the more that she'd been holding Mitchell in this limbo with her, pleasant or otherwise, without any true promise of what it might entail. And of course he'd never asked for anything more than her company--he wouldn't though... even if they both wanted it, she rather suspected.

Ash cupped Mitchell's cheek as she placed a kiss to his lips in her initial reply. As she pulled away, her eyebrows we still slightly furrowed and she could feel the familiar sting of tears at the corners of her eyes. And that, well... that was only further proof of the fact that Mitchell had completely melted away her walls. He held her suddenly very fragile heart in his gentle embrace. "I'm glad that you did," she finally said, offering him a watery smile. "I think I would have run for the hills if it hadn't been a surprise."

She slowed her swaying now to where she could stand still to face him, to admire those features she'd committed to her memory. That she'd come to love. "And I think I've left you waiting long enough. I want this, I want to be with you. Because I..." Ash took in a steadying breath, although with looking into Mitchell's eyes it almost resembled a soft gasp. Maybe someday it wouldn't be so shocking to her, to have fallen in this way, to be with him. But even if she was still dazed by that fact right now, she was still overwhelmingly grateful--for balls and parties, for fae drinks and chocolate lip gloss, for slow dances in quiet corridors, for Mitchell.

"I love you."

"It's something I will be forever grateful for," he replied with a hint of a smile, his hands still resting on her waist. It sounded like a jest but really he meant it. But more that he was grateful for this moment, that she would let him share it with her. He wasn't opposed to dancing on dance floors at balls. His sister had ensured he was well used to it. But this. This felt far more intimate and special.

Though maybe a good portion of that was down to the way he felt about her. It had been unexpected to say the least. He'd had dalliances in the course of his life but nothing that went that deep. And it wasn't that he didn't believe in it, or that he was opposed to it. He'd just never found it. It wasn't something he actively hoped for either. He was content with his life. With his family, his friends, his job. If that was all he had for the rest of eternity he wouldn't have complained.

But with her a picture of a different possibility for his future had started to develop. He could see it in the way she was often the first thought he had in the morning and the last person he thought of at night. In the way a quite joy filled him every time she showed up. In the way he longed to spend more time with her still. To get to know her more. To get to know her family and friends. In the way he wanted to make her happy. It was different to the way it was with new friends. Love, that's what it was. He was falling in love. Perhaps was already there.

He took an unnecessary but contented sounding breath at her lingering touch. But his attention was quickly caught by the shift in her expression. It lent more weight to her words. He had a feeling he knew what she meant, that he could see it in her eyes. "Do you wish I hadn't?" he asked earnestly. "Because...." it wasn't something he'd ever pushed her on, nor would he but it felt like the right time to say it, "If you do then I'll respect that. But if you want this, whenever that might be, I'll be here waiting for you,"

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

Ash quirked a delicate brow, but her expression didn't change otherwise. "I think Mitchell is far from the only romantic out of your siblings, at least from what I've seen. A lot of pining and unspoken love to be had even amongst you." She paused, noting the irony of her words given her own silence on that score. "I also think you don't have to work that hard. Not if you allowed people to know you, that is," Ash replied, mostly because she felt that way about herself with Mitchell.

"Mitchell is..." He trailed off, tilting his head a bit. "A romantic. Which is darling really. But the rest of us have to work a little harder. Thus I offer..." He gestured to her with an open hand. "Not that I expect you'd take me up on it."

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

Ash’s hands came to rest against Mitchell’s chest as he brought her to an upright position again, with something between amusement and curiosity playing behind her eyes. “What an honor for me, to show you the merits of an empty hallway… or not quite so empty one.”

It was odd to find herself quite so comfortable with Mitchell, at least in some ways. In the past, Ash had never been the type to cater to feelings, particularly to any of a romantic nature. No, she’d been the sort to flit about between people of the same mindset—no pesky strings or emotional vulnerability. And yet with Mitchell she found herself seeking those very ties, seeking an attachment she’d never once wanted before. It rattled her, really, to have such a sudden shift in her own perspective. And in all truth they were long past the point of merely liking him, which only resulted in her further dragging her heels in admitting any of it. She spent every free moment she had with Mitchell because her heart always sought him out. And he hadn’t once pushed the matter—not of feelings, or commitment, or even intimacy. But it seemed the time now for Ash to push herself. Beyond time. Because as she looked into his eyes she only saw the same depth of feeling reflected back at her.

Ash reached up to brush Mitchell’s hair back from his face, her touch lingering along his temple and cheekbone. And she allowed that vulnerability to take hold of her expression now, not hiding behind any confident façade. “You snuck up on me, you know?”

Mitchell was once again struck by the beauty in the way she moved as she dipped back into his hold. The quiet strength it showed. As the next song started, he gently pulled her back up till their bodies touched. “Clearly I’ve underestimated the potential of a simple corridor,” it was nice, being able to dance with her and spend time with her without any on lookers.

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

Dancing in the Corridor

Ash arched her back, allowing herself to fully dip backwards in Mitchell's hold as the music lulled to a stop.

@mitchellsagoodlistener

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"Charming, but I'm not too sure your brother would love to hear about you offering that," she pointed out rather plainly, sipping her own drink then.

“I think you’ll find I am quite friendly in these circumstances.” Archer replied, accepting the offered drink. “Though if you are looking for services you’ll need to book an appointment.”

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"Do I? Hmm... is my plot to attract a certain not-so-mysterious suitor panning out in my favor?" She teased, turning to face Mitchell a bit more.

"I just said you look beautiful," he replied simply as he sat down next to her.

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"Not the same. He might face plant on the dance floor; the rest of them might fuck anything with a pulse," Ash pointed out with a laugh that only stirred up again at Nyx's question. "It's an interesting question, to be sure. Best guest is maybe he prefers non nephilim?"

"As if that's anything new. Shifters are always high on something or another. Being all hot blooded and things." He sighed, crossing his arms. "I was saying....why won't Atticus just sleep with me already?"

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"I didn't say I wouldn't... just a bit surprised that you've managed to piss someone off to that degree in all of 45 minutes of us being here." She tugged on his arm and walked around the corner into a quieter part of the room. "Care to share?"

"No no....you don't have to hide me if you really don't want to. But you could care a little about my ultimate demise in a fiery grave of death."

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"It's called a backless dress," Ash replied calmly, her lips twitching into a smirk. "Is this displaced frustration over Ava's costume?"

"I said you look like you're naked. Put some freaking clothes on would you?"

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"I genuinely didn't hear you, Nyx. I was too busy looking at that shifter who seems to be higher than a kite," Ash joked. "You were saying?"

"You know...." Nyx drawled, crossing his arms and pouting a bit. "You could have just said no."

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

Sitting in the Corner

"Pardon?"

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

Ash was glad that Giorgio didn't question her, or refuse her, even in his evident surprise. She didn't want to fight her way inside, but given her concern she very well could have done. "Thank you," she replied, stepping inside so he could close the door again.

The comment resulted in a sort of amused smirk from her, or at least as much of one as she could manage in her present state. "I would think most people would associate nephilim with being brave to the point of stupidity," she mused airily. "But I've never really been so condemning of other supernaturals. It all comes down to whether or not someone is a good person... no?" She glanced over at Giorgio as she said that. Of course, she'd gathered enough about the Italian seethe from Mitchell and from their overall reputation to know that they were very much good people in her eyes.

She let out a gentle sigh of relief as soon as she saw Mitchell unharmed, even as clearly emotional as he was. And--maybe not as suprisingly as it seemed--she could feel herself tear up a bit as he caught her gaze. Because it made it more clear that the depth of investment in him wasn't unfounded, that it was even returned. And it stunned her to her core, to be certain, given how soon it was. But it didn't matter.

Ash pulled him in by his outstretched arms until he was close enough for her to toss her own around his neck in a tight hug. "I heard what happened," she replied, thinking it would be explanation enough. "I can only imagine... I just needed to see you."

Giorgio stood with one hand on the door looking at the unexpected visitor. He took in the look on her face. The concern in her eyes. Then her dark hair and striking beauty. All of that mixed with the tell tale marks of a nephilim and he didn't really need to ask who she was. He gave he a small, sad smile. "You better come in then," he stepped to the side, opening the door wider.

"Rather brave of you walking into a den of vampires," he commented as they walked through the halls towards where he'd last seen Mitchell. It wasn't said with any threat or malice. Rather more curiosity about the nephilim girl who would arrive unannounced and uninvited to check on his brother. It cause a faint sort of warmth in him even as it prodded at some dull ache deep inside him.

Stopping, he knocked lightly on a door. Leaning against the frame as he waited for the answer. It came quickly in the form of Mitchell opening the door. "You have a visitor," Giorgio said in greeting, watching his brothers tired expression change as he saw the girl.

"Ash," Mitchell looked at her stunned. He barely noticed as Giorgio slipped past him into Nat and Isambard's room, shutting the door behind him. He found himself walking over to her in the now empty hall way. His hands reaching towards her driven by instinct. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his pained heart swelling with something that felt like relief. Like comfort and the urge to hug her.

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"Careful, I think some of them might bite," Ash mused once she caught the drift in Nyx's expression and tone. "Unless you're willing to admit that you enjoy that."

Ash listened intently, her head tilting to the side in thought. Nyx seemed to be shifting a bit in his stances, although some people would argue that everyone was bound to at some point. "Priveleges and complications, depending on the audience in question," she pointed out, knowing he'd catch her nod at him in the words. The amusement wasn't lost on her, after all, but she wouldn't dig too much. It wasn't her style. "So now it's a secret? My my, you have been busy. And I don't know what you could possibly hope to trade for. I don't have much in the way of intrigue lately." Or, at least, nothing concrete, she thought.

"Mmm....don't they just?" Nyx purred, sticking the tip of his finger between his lips. He'd been quite entertained by them, thus far. Which was pleasing to him. Because it took a lot to interest him when not of faerie blood.

Nyx considered her for a moment. He took a breath, his lips pressing into a suggestive little smile. "Well...." He drawled. "There are after all certain privileges that come with returning to certain beds." He mused. "Although..." He pouted. "It's just such a hassle." Though thinking about the bed he kept returning to did make his eyes sparkle a bit in amusement. "Now now....Ashly darling. I cannot simply tell you all my secrets without a little something in return. What's the fun in that?"

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"Oh, the latter is typically a result of the former. So that's not very unique," she pointed out, though her features hinted towards her amusement. "The real question is what sort of emotional torment has driven you to drink tonight."

"Why not both? I'm a man of many facets I'll have you know,"

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

Anyone that really knew Ash wouldn’t have questioned her actions that night. Her sisters hadn’t, at least. But even in the Institute there were very few people who saw beyond the cool, collected exterior that Ash portrayed. She hadn’t thought to call really—practically ran out of the door as soon as she’d heard. Because Ember hadn’t waited to tell Ash. No, she’d gotten home late, since her call with Fliss happened while she was out on patrol—and while Ember wouldn’t normally get so distracted by her phone, she definitely picked up if it was her girlfriend on the other end. As soon as Ember and Andromeda got back to the Institute, they both went to Ash’s room. She wasn’t asleep, just tossing about somewhat aimlessly, although in hindsight it probably came about from some part of her intuition. But the presence of her sisters in her room without so much as a knock was alarming, to say the least, and it made her sit bolt upright. Ember barely managed to get through the explanation that Natalia and Sofia had been taken before Ash left, and thankfully neither of the two questioned her on it. They knew she’d be going to see Mitchell. Because if it had been her family taken… well, she hated to even think of that.

And now she was standing on the doorstep of Stefan Uccello’s home—the home to the Italian coven—taking in the saddened and confused expression of the vampire who’d opened the door. Giorgio, if she had to guess off of Mitchell’s descriptions of his siblings.

“Sorry to bother you so late… but I just wanted to check in on Mitchell. If he’s home, that is,” Ash practically rambled, feeling rather rattled and outside of herself.

@mitchellsagoodlistener

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

[ashes-of-yesteryear]

"Not to be that person, but that's your fifth drink in one sitting. So... grieving some emotional torment or just an alcoholic?"

@ Twilight