private A Pony in Anima City (Private with Illiad Easle)

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

Ash would nod "I can tell, you've been crying haven't you? I could hear you" he'd pour himself a coffee "you miss your home, don't you?" He would gently hug her "I can't say I know how that feels, but if you need a bit of time off, just let me know" be smiles at her, as he then flips the sign from closed to open.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari was deeply concerned when Ash said he could tell she'd been crying, thinking she had let something show through in her disguise, until he clarified that he had heard her, at which point her concern dropped to only mild. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I didn't realize I was so loud."

As before she did not really engage with Ash's hug, When asked if she needed time off she shook her head, "No, I'm fine. Better to distract myself, tire myself out, so I don't have the time or energy to dwell on it. Not yet at least."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

He would nod "It's alright, I was having a restless night anyway" he'd say to her with a smile, serving the first few customers, just as Nina came into the cafe, carrying some papers, which looked like maps. She'd smile and go over to Ash and Mari "Hey, Mari, if you could, would you go back to your homeland?" she would ask her.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari had mostly managed to distract herself in her work by the time Nina arrived, and have even waved to her when she entered, curious about what she was carrying.

When Nina asked the question though, it brought back everything Mari had been trying to ignore, her pain, anxiety, and fear all rushing back to the forefront of her mind. She froze, She's going to kill me and make it look like I left to go home so Ash won't come looking for me. I knew she would hate me for taking her place.

Above all the thought entered her mind: When you're trapped, backed against the wall, don't forget you can teleport.

She knew her surroundings, standing in the center of the café she had no clear path to any exits, "I... er..."

She panicked, and with a soft 'pop' she teleported out of the café. (I'll let her be found in the next post)  

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

Nina looked around sadly "I oh..I didn't mean..I just..I might have found a way for her to at least..communicate with her friend and family back home" she'd say, looking down as Ash went to her.

"Come on, lets go find her" he'd tell her as the customers had all gotten take out. He flipped the sign to closed and went out with Nina to look for Mari.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Assuming Ash thought to look where he had first found her, the two of them would find Mari, undisguised, cowering next to the dumpster mostly unresponsive. The clothes she had been wearing as a waitress were only slightly burned from when she had dropped her disguise.

She stared straight ahead, undisguised her eyes were simply large cyan orbs, which didn't give much of an indication of which way she was looking if anywhere at all, as she rocked back and forth in the shadow of the dumpster on the verge of outright sobbing.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

The first place he looked, was indeed the back alley. He'd see her and shake his head, gently approaching her, kneeling in front of her "Mari? It's alright, Nina didn't mean to frighten you, it's just she may have found some way for you to at least visit your family and friends back home" he would tell her "I know it's a long shot, but if she has found a way to get you home, would you take it? I am happy with you here, and I do have feelings for you, but your happiness is paramount"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari calmed a bit when she heard Ash's voice, so with her rocking and steadying her breaths.

It took her a bit to calm enough to speak, "Last night, I was crying, because I was mourning my past life. I realized that you wouldn't be happy if I were focused on my past, on leaving, so I decided to give up hope, to just focus on here, because I didn't believe it would be possible..."

*sniff*

"I don't believe she has an answer to that, as far as she knows I'm a gazelle, she probably just found a place with other gazelles and thought maybe I'd be from there. She couldn't have known I'm not like the rest of you."

She stopped to wipe some tears away,  "That's beside the point though. Her question made me realize... forced me to confront... that I don't know. As a changeling, what I want, how I feel, comes second to the hive. My happiness won't feed a foal-ling,  only the happiness of others will, so the happiness of others, of you, should come first. Staying here, I can't help the hive. I'd have to go back, or I'd be... a deserter." She spat the word out.

"I hope she's wrong, because I can't bear to make the choice if she isn't."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

He would nod "Like I said, a long shot, but you're right, she doesn't know that you're...you" he would say, helping her up "And Mari, this is not your hive, here, your happiness does matter. It matters to me a lot, and it matters to Nina" he says to her "come on, Nina'll help in the cafe, you take the day off, okay sweetie?"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari weakly nodded as she got up from the ground I wish I could believe that. She grimaced a bit when she saw the state of her clothes, "Sorry, I seem to have burned your clothes a bit. I... I'll replace them as soon as I can."

Given they were already damaged by the fire Mari simply reapplied her disguise without bothering to take them off, damaging them a little more in the process, "Sorry again."

If Ash or Nina didn't ask her anything she'd simply head back up to her room and draw the curtains, the darkness reminded her of home. After a bit of sitting in the darkness she returned to the desk and set out to write:

My Queen Mother Sleipnir,

I am writing this in the hopes that it may someday reach you, hopefully it will serve to ease your worries and assuage any doubts. While scouting the Zebrican continent I managed to integrate myself into one of the zebra tribes, and was invited to participate in one of their rituals, specifically one meant to communicate with their deceased ancestors. Something in the ritual went awry when mixed with my changeling magic and I was transported to another world, a world not too dissimilar to our own. I have managed to integrate myself here, I am safe and well. I hope that one day I will be able to return to you and the hive, I will wait patiently until such an opportunity arises.

Your loyal daughter,

Mariposa.

It was cathartic for her to write the letter, far better than the mourning she had done the previous night. She folded the paper up into a letter and set it aside on the desk. If, against all odds, Nina had some way to get it where it needed to go, it would be ready. If not, then Mari knew she had done all she could. 

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

The day went on without much of a problem, and during lunch, Ash would go up stairs to bring Mari another glass of mineral water before going back to work.

At the end of the day, he'd hug and thank Nina for the help before making his way to the kitchen to make a drink for himself and relax in his living room. He'd check in on Mari "Mari, are you feeling better?" he would ask her

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari nodded, "I think I am, I mean... I'm not crying anymore. I wrote a letter, " she pointed to the letter she wrote, "Even if it is unlikely, if she somehow did have a way to get it home, it's ready. And if not... then I'll have done my part."

She sighed, "Sorry again for causing trouble. Did... did Nina elaborate on what she meant? I should apologize for how I reacted."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

"Well it's good you're not crying anymore, and yes sometimes writing down your thoughts and feelings can help, I do it myself, sometimes" he would say, "And it's alright Mari, I probably should have told Nina to wait, and she did, turns out there is some magic in this world after all, nothing huge that can create a portal strong enough to take you home, but something that can at least send your letter to them until we find something better for you"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari looked somewhat concerned, "I question how she would have known such would be necessary. Magic, that is. You... You didn't tell her about me, did you? What I am and where I'm from, she doesn't know, right?"

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

"No, she only knows you're not from here or Japan. I just told her what I believed she would understand" he would tell her, sipping on his coffee "She is quite understanding, but young and naive, and I figured the deeper stuff should be left to you to tell her should you want to"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari calmed down a bit and nodded, "I know you trust her, but given her connections I hope you can understand if I don't trust her as quickly as I did you. She... not to offend you of course, but she poses a much greater danger to me if she were to prove... unfriendly, than you would have."

She shook her head, "No... that's coming out all wrong."

She took a moment to recompose herself, "Changelings are very secretive by nature, our survival often depends on no one knowing what we are. Usually we never tell those close to us, even potential partners or lovers, if it can be avoided. I... I hope you can understand."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

Ash nods "I can understand that, it is one of the reasons I only told her the bare minimum" he would say to her, nodding "I see, I think you did mention something about your kind being hunted back where you are from" he would say, sitting down "Well, a few adjustments, but I can do it, after all, it's the same for Beastmen who still live across the bridge"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari sighed, looking down, "I wish... I wish I knew what I was supposed to do. Usually in a situation like this I'd be able to ask my Queen, or her advisors, for guidance. But I can't do that here. Relying solely on my own judgement is... new, frightening even. I'm just so scared I'll make the wrong choice, that my Queen will be disappointed in me. I..."

She shook her head, "Sorry, I'm working on it, but everything I've gone through these past few days is quite a bit to take in. I... I guess now is when I am finally safe enough to really take stock of everything I've gone through. Still, I shouldn't burden you with all this. I'm sure I'll be fine, eventually."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

He would nod "Take your time Mari" he would say to her, finishing his coffee "As for disappointing your Queen, I know it's only been two or three days, I'd say you've certainly assimilated yourself into the society here quite well" he would smile reassuringly "Actually had some regulars ask where you had gone they were quite impressed with your professionalism the other day" he tells her, getting himself another drink.

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

Mari looked a little comforted by Ash's comments, "That's... true. Although, I doubt she'd be pleased that I revealed myself to you, or even that I've gotten so close to you without fully investigating you first. I mean, I don't even have a basic bugout point! But... I can't seem to work up the nerve to do anything more than I have. I suppose, she can't fault me for doing what I thought necessary to survive until I can get back to the hive, which might be... well, never."

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before steadying herself, "I'd... I'd like to get some clothes of my own, if that's alright? I feel bad just borrowing your clothes, especially when I accidentally damage them like today."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

Ash would nod "I suppose we can all really just see what happens" he would tell her, then thought of something "Mari, you're capable of magic here, as I assume that changing disguises would require at least a little bit, right?" he'd ask her "Can't you try what you did to get here to get back? Not that I want you to leave, but if you're able to use magic, then that means something right? And if you can't get back, maybe there's a spell or something you could use to at least send your letter" he'd suggest and then nod "Of course, we can go clothes shopping now if you'd like"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

7 hours ago, Scarlet Rose said:

Can't you try what you did to get here to get back?

Mari looked down with a sad expression, "I tried. One of the first things I did when I found myself here was try to get back, but..." she sighed, "I didn't get myself here alone, I got sent here when my changeling magic clashed with another magical ritual. To even replicate it would require at least half a dozen other magic users of the same type as what I clashed with and even then... what if instead of going home, I end up somewhere bad? I... I don't think we should risk it, given the possibilities."

7 hours ago, Scarlet Rose said:

maybe there's a spell or something you could use to at least send your letter

She shrugged, "Maybe. But if there is such a spell, I don't know it, and I doubt there's someone here who could teach it to me. But... it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out for a manner if it exists."

7 hours ago, Scarlet Rose said:

"Of course, we can go clothes shopping now if you'd like"

She smiled a bit, the most she had since her breakdown that morning, and nodded, "I'd like that, thank you."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

He'd listen to her and nod, seeming to be in contemplation "I see, that is a big risk you'd have to consider, and now I can see why you were so desperate to find other magic users here the other day" he'd tell her, frowning a little "and I see, I suppose if you already knew the spell, you would have done it already" he'd put down his mug, "Ah well, I'm sure in time we'll figure it out" he smiles to her and picks up his bag with his wallet in it, "Come on, there's still light out, so we can make it in time for the shops"

[Illiad Easle 3,139]

@Scarlet Rose

19 hours ago, Scarlet Rose said:

"Ah well, I'm sure in time we'll figure it out"

Mari looked away, "Is... is it bad that I hope we don't?" She looked down, seemingly ashamed of herself, "I know, I know, I should want more than anything to go back home, and sure, I miss my hive and all, but..." she blushed and looked away again, "I don't want to leave you either."

 

19 hours ago, Scarlet Rose said:

"Come on, there's still light out, so we can make it in time for the shops"

She nodded, getting up from the bed, "I'll meet you out front, I should change into something that isn't burnt before going out. I won't be long."

She took a few moments once alone again to steady herself, turning her attention one last time to the letter sitting on her desk, Until the option exists, I need not worry about the decision, nor its implications.

That resolved, she quickly changed and met Ash out front, ready to begin a new adventure in a much better state of mind, "Alright, I'm ready."

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

@Illiad Easle

At Mari's words about not wanting to leave him, Ash would noticeably blush and rub the back of his neck "well I ah..I.." he was at a loss of words and tried to think of something to say "I uhm..well.." he was feeling a bit awkward, "I am glad to hear that you want to stay, but as for your question, that is..really something you have to answer for yourself" he would tell her, before nodding and going to wait for her at the entrance, before leading her to the mall, which was nearby.