#LEAFSLASH : 01.

[hollowfaith]

「✧」 He didn't think this was one of the native creatures here. But how else to describe the monstrous, snake-like dragons growing from this man's back? They stared at him while he stared back, practically cornering their host in a corner of Opalarian Market Town. Even among the other colorful residents, he stood out.

"How inconvenient for you," Aurelius spoke after a while.

"They hardly seem like they belong."

And so, a hand darted forward to grab the one on the right around its body to give a mighty yank.

@leafslash ໒꒱

[softspokenlibrarian]

Being stared at isn’t that odd in itself but when it’s a dragon watching his every move it certainly is enough to take him off guard. He’s never seen a dragon in person before, let alone one that seems to be… part of the young man standing before him. Ambrose blinks in bewilderment before fixing his glasses with a light push up his nose.

“I mean— um— it’s okay, I’m used to the occasional stares, I’ve just never seen a dragon in person…! I've read about them at most.” He finishes off with an awkward laugh, a little embarrassed that he had startled as much as he had, as such hunching up his shoulders sheepishly, twisting his fingers around the fabric of his sleeve. “But, it is pretty common where I’m from to see people with horns. ...Did either of you have questions?"

      ❝ Sorry, um... He's staring at you, right? ❞ Dumb question, Ashton immediately chastises himself with. Of course Gyoro is staring, that's why this person seems alarmed. Rewind. ❝ He's not going to do anything—promise. ❞

      ❝ He says he's just curious. We haven't seen many people with horns like theirs. ❞ @softspokenlibrarian — cool horns bro.

[feistyvampire]

@leafslash​​

As night quickly fell, Edgar had chosen a ward to explore today - wandering his way into Cotes had brought him into the market town where shops lined all the way down and held a lot of interesting items sold by all kinds of different people. Wares caught his eye more then the sellers did, hardly batting an eye - but they were people he’d have easily crossed paths with back at home.

What he doesn’t fully expect to see, though, is some poor soul who looks entirely dismayed standing in front of a stand that looks fine at a glance, but...

...the whole thing seems fishy at a better look, even from here. If the bits of conversation he can hear are anything, the shop owner is trying to dupe this poor guy. It’s maybe against Edgar’s best interests, but he finds himself approaching anyway.

“Hey!” He starts out casually, not sparing a glance the vendor’s way as he waves at Ashton, “Sorry to keep you waiting, let’s get out of here, yeah? We’ll be late.” He tries for a subtle glance that says ‘Just play along for a bit’. 

[floralalchemy]

@leafslash

“oh, please don’t worry about it. i’m sure it happens to the best of us.”

a rare smile has graced albedo’s face as he sets his fork down on his plate, though behind it is a curious glint in his eyes as he leans his cheek against his hand and watches ashton profusely apologize for his dragons’ behaviour. though they had managed to snatch some of his food, he doesn’t seem overly bothered by it. if anything, after a moment, a bit of a laugh leaves him. he must find the situation a bit on the amusing side.

“they’re just hungry, yes? though i didn’t know dragons enjoyed fish. well, then again, i suppose carnivorous dragons aren’t uncommon.”

a shrug, and what remains of a plate of sunshine sprat is pushed forward.

“you might as well let them have the rest, seeing as they’ve already taken half of this plate. quite a mischievous pair, hm.”

that laughter is still laced into his tone, as much as albedo tries to keep composed.

[painflares]

      ❝   … Well— something is amiss.   ❞   SHE   scans along the tree once again, gaze more critical than the last once-over. The lights are dazzling, so that’s covered. Ornament coverage looks... Uniform, at the very least. Has she just been staring at it too long ?  She folds her arms beneath her chest, conserving what little warmth she’s managed to build up. 

      ❝   I feel as if the answer’s right in front of me.   ❞

@leafslash​ : winterfes ! 

[hjoenk]

@leafslash​​ S.C.

It was a lovely day, and the Café was, while quite full, still cosy and inviting. Its motto was clear as day; a cup of tea just how you'd like it to be. No matter if you're here for some peace as you enjoy your drink, or here to catch up with your associates over some cake; it had what you need. Hypothetically, anyway. The motto did assume that its customers are, well, normal — a bold assumption in a city like this. Then again, no sane café would sell chaos, that's for sure.

Almost everyone was busy with what they were doing, be it pointless conversations or Baristas doing their job, but should anyone be observant enough to notice, there was evidently a goose hiding below the tables, on its way to the counter while trying to remain unnoticed, though currently solely waiting to catch the chance where the employees at least slightly turn away for it to pass by. The Couple wasn't aware of the white-feathered creature sitting right below their table, but it seems like the young man on a neighbouring one had just spotted it.

Whoops.

It didn't honk, of course. It only tilted its head as it stared at the stranger, trying to figure out if it'd keep quiet about its presence, or not.

[phantommirrored]

@leafslash cont!

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”  He just will not cut that out it seems.

Shadow laughed, “Just thinking about lighting this place up, y’know.”  It was meant as a joke, he doesn’t tend to carry anything that can combust, fortunately.

“There are bigger fish to fry than worrying about some shady kid getting lost on his way home.”  Oh.

[revenantress-blog]

@leafslash

“I am beholden by many a wondrous thing, but ah, my dear, you have ensnared me so easily.” She’s watched the other for a moment or more, observing his actions with both others and the environment around. Eventually, she finds something to hone in on, and takes to it like moth to flame.

“Though,” Requiem’s fingers drum against her cheek, and she spins herself on her bar stool. “Perhaps I am just fond of the contrast that green and purple make on most figures. You wear it well.”

[hiddendcncer-blog]

@leafslash - s.c.

“........” Inigo just... stared at the dragons attached to this man’s shoulders. They didn’t look like the dragons he’d seen before, for one none of the dragons were attached to people like that. Nah didn’t count, she turned INTO the dragon. “......... Just what kind of dragons are those?”

[floralalchemy]

albedo’s mind is certainly off somewhere else, though just briefly, and his attention is quite quickly pulled back to ashton fussing and worrying about their surroundings. namely, the creatures not far from their current point of progress.

he hums and turns his gaze away from the local wildlife of the warm jungle and knits a brow.

“well, judging from the look of them they are quite docile and have no intention of bothering us. if there is anything to keep in mind, most wildlife is far more afraid of humans then we are of them most of the time. it will be fine if we simply let them be.”

of course there was always the possible risk of them becoming aggressive but albedo hardly seems worried for now.

instead he hums in thought whilst peering at the compass, tapping the interface, seeming to come to a similar conclusion as the dragons that this compass may be a lost cause.

“ah.”

that’s odd.

“let me think…”

now, he scans their surroundings for a beat, looking for something they might be able to use to find their way back or to know which way they have and haven’t been.

“why don’t we try marking the trees? like so.” he manifests his sword in a flourish, relieved not to be saddled with the wooden replacement for the moment.

with it, he nimbly carves off some of the bark of a tree, just enough to leave it visible should they come back this way again at any point.

❝ H- Hey... Is it just me, or do these bugs look—really giant? ❞ Insects ( even of the gigantic variety ) are definitely not the most abnormal feature of this jungle, but it's easily among the first Ashton takes notice of. He's never been keen on creepy crawlers—or in this case, fearsome flyers—thus it should come as no surprise that the sight of them buzzing from one monstrous flower to the next would set the swordsman a little on edge. Just a bit! Yet despite their frightening size, they do little else but dart about the vines and humid air; the latter of which seems to be stifling him in his own clothes, as he tugs at his collar in hopes to cool off. His other hand is preoccupied with a compass, its needle stuck somewhere between north and east. ❝ And this compass I brought can't read a thing in here... ❞ One of his dragons even bumps his hand to get the needle to stir to no avail, and as a pair they sigh. This would be their host's luck.

❝ Do you think we should navigate without it? I guess the bugs are harmless, but... surely they're not the only things in this jungle, right? ❞ @floralalchemy —— down you go!

[hollowfaith]

「✧」 Thwarted, Aurelius drew back with his thwapped hand in front of his chest, laughing softly to himself.

"I'm sorry."

"But you looked so fascinating that I couldn't help but touch. Do your companions eat with you as well?"

There he went asking questions as if the prior invasion of personal space was simply part of his self-introduction. It would've been enough in his own world—who among his ranks didn't know him? Of those who didn't, none dared to question his authority. Gods hardly needed to justify their actions to the tiny specks of life below.

"Please continue your shopping. I shall simply follow behind to learn more."

And with that, Aurelius side-stepped out of the way to graciously gesture Ashton forward with a hand.

ASHTON is no stranger to being treated as 'other.' Whether it's the judgmental gawking he's regularly subjected to or the frequent experience of being the object of someone's fear, there are few instances in which Ashton Anchors does not feel subhuman. If one were to ask him, he would dismiss these struggles as nothing out of the ordinary—he's used to them, they are simply apart of his everyday life. But that doesn't mean it gets any better, especially when it's this obvious his value as a person is being calculated. In a rare show of frustration, Ashton moves his head out of the man's range, shooing his hand back with a flap of his own. ❝ Wha— ❞

❝ Of course I don't bite! When I said you shouldn't just grab people, I was included in that, too! ❞ He hops the canvas tote bag on his shoulder once, just so it's back in place. There's nothing in it yet, but he's kiiiiind of been rudely derailed from his grocery shopping! ❝ S- So... If you're not injured or anything, could you let me past? I'm trying to buy some vegetables! ❞

[hollowfaith]

「✧」 Blood oozed out of the new wound on his wrist. Aurelius glanced at it in interest, then waved at it before white light encompassed the injury and the skin began to mend. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket in the meantime to clean himself up.

"Why would I do that?" he asked matter-of-factly.

"This is far more entertaining."

Questions were answered at the discretion of the other party. He would much rather find out the answers himself, especially when he'd yet to determine whether the subject was even fit to be called human. For a second Aurelius eyed the dragon on the left. Then he changed his mind and raised a gloved hand over Ashton's head instead, preparing to pet him.

"Though I don't mind wondering aloud if you'll bite me on touch too."

DOES this guy mind? Ashton just wants to buy his groceries in peace... Can't he at least have that? The stare denies him this basic right, and how he's been crowded into a corner even more so. The twin swordsman would almost wonder if the stranger was perhaps looking for a fight or to mug him, though he thinks he doesn't look like a very good target for either. But he supposes it wouldn't be surprising were that the case: people have picked on him for less, after all. ❝ Um... Do you, ❞ Mind? He wants to say. Instead, he swallows it down, deeming it too confrontational. ❝ Do you need somethi—— ❞ Ashton doesn't get to finish the question. The man reaches out, jerking Gyoro by the middle. The crimson dragon snarls immediately, snapping at his wrist and succeeding. Oh jeez, that had to have drawn blood. Skittishly, the host to these dragons of interest shoos his companion back.

❝ Wh- whoa, hey! You can't just go around grabbing people like that! ❞

Grwaor!, Gyoro growls as agreement. He snaps his fangs about the air angrily; Ashton reaches up and easily clamps his snout shut without so much as a glance. ❝ If you have questions, you can just ask...! I'm right here, y'know! ❞

[hjoenk]

leafslash​:

It’s a nice day today. Perfect for spending it out and about, with friends or even on your own. Ashton has started with the latter, deciding he’ll meet up with others later if they’ve the time, though not before stopping by one of his favorite cafes first. He thanks the cashier and finds himself a table near the window, allowing him the convenience of air conditioning with the sunny views of outside. Ah… The atmosphere in here is always so nice. So relaxing. Maybe it’s the way the conversations in the air mingle with the robust smell of freshly ground coffee beans he likes most, or perhaps it’s the delight he finds in leisurely sipping his beverage as he watches people walk past outdoors that’s his favorite. No matter the answer, it never fails to put Ashton in the best of moods. His days go a little smoother when he starts it here, he thinks. His luck’s just a bit more forgiving, or so he likes to believe. Ashton pops the lid off his cup to pour in a splash of milk, but Ururun’s sudden squirming throws him off. What has the dragon so restless? It’s unlike him, especially in a place as comfortable and laid-back as this.  And so Ashton follows his stare, down toward the tiled floor, a hair to the left, underneath the couple at the neighboring table, and… A double take. Hold on. Is that a goose?

What’s a goose doing in a cafe, of all places? Ashton, dragons, and… goose, all lock eyes with each other. Like they’re unsure if it’s a trick of the eyes, or actual circumstance. But Ururun’s squirming only intensifies, and with it joins Gyoro. They don’t trust this avian intruder! Not one bit! “ Hey, ”  Ashton sort of whisper-yells in its direction.  “ Hey, go on. Shoo. ”

Gaze wandering between the three that focused on it, then to where the goose initially wanted to go, before turning to the stranger again. Yeah, whisper more obvious, why don'tcha — it complained inside its small head. The goose was lucky that the couple sitting on the table it was hiding under was far too distracted to notice.

While it would have loved to 'shoo' away as the human prompted it to, the issue is that it'd be seen immediately by the staff if it would do so now, and while the goose was capable of causing mayhem with its sheer presence in a cafe like this, the proud avian was trying to achieve a bit more than that.

Trying to stall for time by tilting its head to the other again, like asking for them to repeat themselves as it totally didn't understand their request the first go, 

— It gladly left when the time was right & the Baristas somewhere else, careful not to hit either of the couples' legs as it vanished behind the counter. This can't be good.