middaeg | 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕓𝕚𝕥.

𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕓𝕚𝕥. - ada's slowatus toplevel time

Who: adeline & you!
When: early-septeril
Where: housing districts/shopping districts!
What: ada has been doing a scare & isolate after her first full moon. can you catch her?
Warnings: tba

𝕞𝕪, 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦'𝕧𝕖 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟!

Certainly it’s been some time, but what had simply been an absent face amongst Geardagas’s crowds had become more of a fully realized absence― the frilled curtain that sat in the little window of her flat sitting still for the whole of several weeks, the brass knocker left un-knocked, the knob left un-turned. In the day, it seemed simply vacant.

In the eve, however, its state was more telling: a lamp lit in that same little window, the occasional vague, passing shape. Perhaps it was your own curiosity that brought you here, or the curiosity of another you’ve decided to carry along― reaching to mar the dust on the brass knocker with a gentle hand, or perhaps a less gentle one. Regardless, it takes several and a bit of frustration before the gilded light behind the curtain flickers, before the lace stirs to reveal a flushed cheek, a bit of downy fluff. Seen, and in so being startled, the shape darts from the window; you’re left on the stoop, feeling rather jilted in the air of an evening just beginning to cool.

Do you dare to tread on what’s polite and press on? For the braver, might you try the doorknob― or braver still, the window latch?

𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕤!

―Gerardagas’s evening markets were generally a jovial time: lanterns lit, flickering soft orange under the fine, heavily-woven canopies strung between the little stalls, with Monster and Witch of every shape, size, and forme bridging the gap between. The amount of beings made for a bit of a noisy affair, but once immersed, the din smoothed over into more of a white noise― occasionally parted with music, with the calling of a shopkeep. Aside from the shopping itself, the evening market seems to have become a social affair, with food and drink and chatter, naturally; filled with faces to recognize from all of Aefenglom’s reaches.

Perhaps you keep to yourself― there to see to one or more of the vendors― or perhaps you’re there simply for mulled wine and talk, interspersing quips through the crowd, weaving in-and-out― regardless, however, of whether or not you make yourself seen willingly, you are seen.

Looking up from your place in the crowd, or alongside a stall, you catch a glimpse of a little hand wrapped around one of the posterns that keep the canopies aloft― no, a glove, a widely-blinking gilded eye, an equally golden curl peering out from beneath a rather suspicious looking shroud. Seeing herself being seen, the creature starts― and takes off into the crowd, the breeze of her speed catching on her hood, revealing two white ears and a stream of curls.

―if you aim to follow, are you quick enough to fight through the crowd? If you aim to confront, you might be able to head her off if you duck between the stalls…

𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕕!

SORRY I PUT THIS IN THE WRONG PLACE AT FIRST anything is a ok but if you want to talk about it hit me up on discord or plurk!!! this is mostly just to get me back into the swing of things and keep me relevant lol

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ada seems to shrink away from his gaze, gloved fingertips finding the edge of her hood.

"―at home, that's all― nowhere important." As she moves to nibble on her lip, Connor can notice the more prominently shaped incisors― sharp enough to make her lisp, ever so slightly. "And how could I go out so― indisposed?"

That same lip begins to quiver beneath her newly-shaped rabbit teeth. When she chooses to look up at Connor for the first time, it's met with the motion of her shrinking back into her darkly-dyed hood.

Her voice is a squeak, caught tightly in her throat. "Why, I'm― I'm hideous."

[Oh, oh no. Connor shakes his head, looking down at her earnestly.]

I don't think you're capable of being hideous. I promise, you look fine. Have you been hiding all this time?

Shrinking into her hood, Ada gives a little sniffle― a tear threatens on the lashes of her gilded eye.

"Of course I have been― what else am I to do? I've become a proper beast― a Monster!"

Feeling tears begin to stain her face, she rolls her eyes; blinking them back as if her life depended on it, only working to make her more upset in how quickly she's become upset.

"―and you must think me so vain! I would have been declared socially dead if I were anywhere but here!" In a huff, Ada re-ties the ribbon to her cloak, effectively sealing herself in the safety of her thick velvet hood.

[Connor goes to pull her into a hug, shaking his head.]

Being a Monster doesn't have to be a bad thing. And I still think you're very pretty.

[He pats her shoulder.]

You're used to living life a certain way, and it's not surprising that adjusting here is difficult. But I can assure you, nobody here will judge you for what you've become.

Oh, she's much too tired to fight it― why, she hasn't seen anybody in days! Though the embrace Connor receives is at first uncharacteristically frigid, Ada warms quickly, drawing her soft touch out of her cloak to encircle his ribs. For a moment, she doesn't speak, but Connor can hear her sniffle softly.

"―flatterer," She huffs, her smile audible despite the lump in her throat. "oh, quit."

Despite the change, she's still herself; with barely any thought, Adeline allows herself to press her cheek against his shoulder. A soft ear brushes against his jawline.

"I just feel so― terribly silly! I can't shake the feeling of eyes upon me. I feel seen, and not in the way my homeland encouraged." Frowning, she prepares to release him, two soft gloves on either side of his midsection. "―does it― go away? Does it get worse?"

[Connor feels her smile, and at least feels better knowing she hasn't completely withdrawn. When she pulls back he considers the question, finding it hard to answer simply because he never had this kind of problem with it.]

I'm not sure. I never felt seen because of my changes, as such. I think my LED draws more attention than my hands.

[Because seeing scaled hands is normal here, but the LED definitely isn't.]

I'm certain that the Monster changes won't go away, though. And you can't hide away forever.

[He leans in to study her.]

I think you should hold your head high and embrace your changes. I'm sure there must be some benefits to them. For one, your ears are adorable.

[He says it in an attempt to make her smile again, but... it's true. They are extremely cute.]

Adeline's coy nature seems to have taken a bit of a blow from her change, seeing how she shrinks back into her rumpled hood at his studying. Her cheeks seem more pink than usual.

"Yes," Ada admitted softly, a little frown on her cheeks. "You're quite right, but it's easier said than done― it's not something I can just hide, as you've said. I did try."

Instinctively, she looks down at a hand― but pulls her gaze up from it rather quickly, as if she's made a misstep.

"―the line between charming and foolish is much too fine. I'm doing my best to stay positive, but I feel as if I'm looking social death in the face..."

You're acting as though you're not surrounded by Monsters. And that you even have a social status here. Not to be rude, but nobody here knows or cares who you are. Isn't there some freedom in that?

[He gets that she's from a place where she had to care, and old habits don't die quickly... but what does she think is going to happen if someone sees her?]

"―but what of― going home― ?"

Her ears slope against her head. Oh... She can't fault Connor for being frank with her when she might need it, but his words still hold a bitter kind of sting.

[Connor softens his tone a little when he speaks again.]

We’re currently in a place full of magic. When we go home— if we go home— I doubt that magic will last. Otherwise I’d be a Merrow in the middle of Detroit.

[He looks uneasy.]

Never mind social status, I think I’d have test after test run on me to find out how an android could become part fish.

―she smiles, however softly; her laughter holds a bit of melancholy, but she takes one of his hands between her gloves to press it there warmly.

"I suppose you're right, aren't you? Thank goodness― nothing a logical mind couldn't solve." Perhaps it isn't totally solved, given the twist that remains in her belly, but Connor's words nonetheless cheer her― save for his uneasy expression.

She bends at the waist to kiss his knuckles in gratitude, looking up at him with both earnest understanding and kindly cheer. "―as you've said, it isn't so. There will be no uncomfortable tests for you, ser, if I have any say."

[Connor places his scaled hand over hers, happy to see her smile again.]

I'm glad. I wouldn't like them much, I think.

[He can't feel pain like this, but his tail can feel it when he's in Merrow form.]

What made you leave the house finally? Did you need to get something? I can join you, if you like.

She gives him a playful little squeeze and a smile before settling in beside him― though it dims just a touch at his question.

"―it's the strangest thing," Ada replies quietly, half-way through pulling up her hood when she pauses to speak. "I've come for bread, which is simple enough, but― I go through my cupboard like I've never eaten in my life! I've eaten more than enough, but I'm never full..."

Her brow furrows softly― a bit of a wince in her features, feeling the throb there, the dull ache of persistent hunger; naive to the root cause, but feeling the repercussions nonetheless.

Oh. Hmm. That is odd. Well, I can come with you, if you'll have me.

[He wouldn't know what hunger feels like, or why Ada can't stop eating, but he can at least help her get bread.]

"Of course I would!" Adeline replies brightly, seemingly cheered by his company. "―I don't do well with more... introverted ways of living, but I felt as if I had no other choice, given my... well, situation." Pointedly, Ada strokes an ear.

Alongside him, she hooks a little hand into his elbow.

"―is it not common, in we Monsters? This― hunger, this― funny feeling? Will it ever be gone from me? It's proving to be quite the nuisance, and it only seems to worsen with the weeks..."

[Connor walks with her, unsure.]

I've never felt it, though I can't eat as an android so that could be why. I haven't heard any other Monsters complain of hunger, but... I suppose I've never asked about that kind of thing before, either.

[He looks down at her.]

It does sound like a nuisance, though. Maybe there's someone who could help you? Or at the very least, explain why you're feeling this way?

Adeline frowns, but it isn't something upset, per se― it's more of a pout, to be frank. To think another Monster wouldn't know... perhaps it was something much more mundane, something baser. For a moment, her mind strays elsewhere, but she brings herself back to reality with a smile.

"―no matter," She gives a little nod of her head, her glove at his bicep. "as I always do, I'll manage! I'm sure it's nothing for us to fret about.

The bakery window seems to make her mood transform completely― pulling him with her as she makes a bee-line for the display case, starry-eyed at all the sweets. Distracted from thoughts of simple bread, of course, but who wouldn't be?

I can still ask around for you, if you'd like.

[Connor speeds up as Ada pulls him to the bakery window, and he gives her a little smile.]

Do you want something? I'll treat you.

[It's hard to ignore the way her eyes light up at the display, after all. And he wants her to smile more.]

"―treat me! Oh― be careful, you." Adeline gives him a coy look over her shoulder, one glove on the glass. Her laughter is bright, at ease, as if the worries of her newfound appearance were left at the market she had fled from. "You put yourself dangerously close to what I consider courtship, ser― or bribery, that is."

A translation for the modern mind: the way to her heart is through her sweet tooth.

"Come," Ada beckons him to the window to look, grinning. "share with me."

There's a brief blink in her expression; coloured with curious, playful doubt, a giggle. "―that is― can you taste?"

[Connor nods, looking at the treats. He just gives her a smile and a wink at the idea of courting her.]

I can taste, yes.

[He's just used to tasting blood, not sweet things.]

I can't swallow, though. So I'm afraid I can only taste it, not eat it.

She warms at the knowing wink― offering a rosy beam for only a moment before coyly returning her gaze to the display.

"―oh, thank goodness! It's enough to serve us, don't you think? Lucky you, that you might have all the fun and none of the consequence!" Adeline teases, tapping the glass with her fingertips. "Let's see― oh, don't those cherry cream brittanies look delicious?"

Audibly starry-eyed, it takes her a moment to pull herself back into the conversation she had suddenly leapt from. "―what might you like to try? Your experiences must be a bit limited if you can't swallow."

I'm not sure what it feels like to find something delicious, but I'll trust you.

[Food is uninteresting to him, unless he's shoving it at someone else. And while it's usually healthy food, he doesn't mind buying Ada something sweet to cheer her up.]

It's your treat, you can choose. You're going to be eating it, after all. I can lick things, if you wouldn't mind me doing that.

Adeline's reply is a burst of bright, bubbly laughter― bell-like and soft, perking up through her ears before they slope again with the tone of her giggling.

"―oh, no! You've no other option, have you?" Grinning, Ada looks up at him; such a bright smile gives him a glimpse of the way her incisors have grown subtly more prominent in her transformation. "Don't worry― you may not be concerned with dignity, but consider yourself untarnished in such."

She points a gloved fingertip at the quaint little pastry package of cherry and cream cheese she had referenced before. "―that one, ser, if you please?"

[Connor smiles to see Ada happy again, and he pays for the pastry and looks around.]

You wanted bread too, didn't you?

[He spots it and waits for Ada to follow him, so she can pick out a loaf.]

"Oh, yes! Why, you had nearly beguiled me into forgetting." As requested, she does so― something enough to last her this time (hopefully.)

Ada seems to drift away in though, if only for a moment. Were Connor human, now would be the time to offer tea at her flat, but... hm. She shakes off her little frown, grinning, and looks up at him.

"―might I interest you in tea? I know you can't drink per se, but I'd like some with the treat you've bought me― and you can hold a cup and look handsome, can't you?"

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