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Post by Aster Blau on Aug 28, 2022 20:55:03 GMT -8
Most who knew Aster Blau socially understood she lived out of a garage in a large Summerlin property, presumably the one in which she served as a caretaker. Aster had also helped others with car issues in the past and asked very little, save for some booze and the money for parts. Naturally, major repairs were beyond the extent of the Viper's charity, but her reputation and a few years of Lost assisted by her efforts meant that finding where Aster laid her head was not overly difficult. The space was spartan enough. The car bay was large enough to accommodate two full sized vehicles comfortably. The left wall featured tool chest, which possessed numerous consumer grade automotive tools, situated next to a homemade and clearly well worn workbench, underneath which rest haphazard boxes of automotive parts and parts themselves which seemed beyond salvage. Further past this bench on the far well was a kitchenette, boasting a small fridge, two burner stovetop, a microwave, a small sink, and a few cupboards. To the right of the kitchenette was a small closed off space, with a window looking into the car bay, peering into the windows showed a small desk, chair, and what looked to be a futon. This is where the Viper slept. Hidden from view was a small bathroom. Finally the right portion of the bay was home to a makeshift living room, consisting of a dingy couch, shitty coffee table, and a worn armchair, all of which was arrayed around a small television on an old, sturdy television stand. However, today Aster was far from hidden. The garage door was open, showcasing the Beast's newest acquisition: Baby
 A beautifully restored 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454. Classic black with cream white racing stripes and a sweet cherry red leather interior... Curiously, it seemed Aster's Toyota Tacoma was absent, signalling that it had been supplanted by the gorgeous vision of iron and American muscle now sitting where it had once stood. By looking at Baby, it was clear where the Viper rested. Most of her body dangled out from underneath the front of the car. Aster was dressed in her usual attire, jeans, weathered combat boots, and an old t-shirt. Her leather jacket was tossed over the couch itself and the Beast appeared to be laying on a large, stained Beach towel in an attempt to keep the majority of the grime off on the floor off her shirt. A small distance away, a stereo rested on the workbench playing Push Comes to Shove by Jackyl, completing the grungy metal atmosphere Aster had defined herself with since her arrival to Las Vegas. It was clear by the bobbing foot, and the half empty Pacifico by her waist that today was a good day for the Viper, even as her head remained obscured beneath her new prize. Attachments:
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Post by Aello on Aug 30, 2022 14:32:22 GMT -8
Aello wouldn't call it stalking — ending up where she wanted to be under convenient circumstances was one of the few things she could point to that was fun about being a Changeling. If her friends were being a bag of dicks, they would all find themselves at the same coffee shop in an intervention. If they needed something, somewhere, guarded by someone, she could bypass all their Dirk Gently occult research by simply looking up. It had allowed one of the youngest members of Vegas to feel useful in a motley of excitable prodigies and miserable twenty-somethings Cursed With Awesome.
Aster wasn't like that, at least as far as Aello could tell. The other lady held herself in the same aloof and cautious uncertainty that the Winter King did, and trying to approach her at parties amidst the chaos of a Dream Plague had lasted as long as her and Golden's thoroughly infected attention spans. Aster was isolated. Where newbies like Gavin had chaffed at her instincts and rambled about the arcane as vehemently as Rowan — plus he was in a motley of Spring whimsy now. She would approach him at some point, but her bias tilted towards her follow Summer currently working on the bitchin' ride that the Beast impulsively ran her hands along. Noting the greasy streak, she cringed and danced away from evidence of the crime in beat to the music, ending with an unceremonious thump to Aster's foot.
"Yo."
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Post by Aster Blau on Aug 30, 2022 21:23:25 GMT -8
There was some momentary tension in the Viper's body following the Harpy's nudge. A hand of fine scales reached from beneath swiftly, gripping the bumper tightly as dark claws extended, threatening to scratch the chrome beneath them as the hand swiftly pulled Aster from the Chevelle's undercarriage, her face twisted into a visage of battle readiness. However, at the sight of Aello and the sound of her voice, the serpentine beast softened, tossing a crescent wrench off to the side.
"Fuck, kid," she said, allowing a sigh of relief to leave her throat as she rolled her shoulders. The claws retracted back into their usual nubs as the Viper rough wiped her hands on her jeans. "Next time, just hello, yeah?"
Retrieving her beer, Aster spied a the grease streak. Slowly looking to her fellow Beast and back to sizable smudge, Aster would move to driver's side of the car, reaching in to retrieve a soft cloth before tossing it to the younger Lost along with a vague gesture to the mess she had created.
Pulling a drink of the beer, the Viper looked at Aello, her gaze one of guarded curiosity.
"Someone send ya?" she asked, figuring the Harpy's visit was business.
The Viper was different than the last time she and Aello had met, the tell-tale scales of Aster's Mien spreading to cover most of her form. The Mantle of Summer, too, was stronger, emitting more of Aster's telltale heat, particularly in the moment Aello had startled her. Though a far cry from the nobility of their shared court, Aster had nonetheless grown in Summer's brutal grace - and deepened her ties to her Arcadian past.
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Post by Aello on Aug 31, 2022 13:15:28 GMT -8
Aello danced back, light on her toes as the claws flashed and exhaling a sharp 'oop'. Her hair stirred from the heat like she had opened an oven, squinting as the viper unfurled from the vehicle, "Sorry," she chuckled more out of embarrassment. The Beast had gotten used to the fact that her motley couldn't be jumped, but laughter from spooking another Lost felt mean.
When Aster asked if she was here at the behest of a Knight, she offered a quick 'nope' as she grinned and shrunk from the pointed look.
"Just enjoying the downtime. Heard you got hit with party worms too but at this point it's like, who didn't, right?" she offered, fumbling with small talk as she tested the texture of the microfiber cloth and started to polish. "I thought these were for glasses. I kind of miss wearing them, actually, did you know they just sell ones without prescriptions for a Look?"
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Post by Aster Blau on Aug 31, 2022 13:44:23 GMT -8
The Harpy's apology elicited only a shrug from the Viper, her brief offense already beginning to melt away from Aster's psyche. Aster knew Aello did not mean to do as much and the reality was that the act was far from significant.
When the younger Beast indicated this was a social call, the Viper couldn't help, but smirk.
"Right. Enjoying the downtime. And you decided to come spend it with me," she offered, her words heavy with sarcasm as she pulled another drink.
The revelation of eyeglasses as fashion made Aster chuckle.
"I had heard about it, but I figured people were pulling my leg. Never needed them myself, had good eyes even Before," she offered, "The Other Side didn't take that from me at least."
The last words bore the slight bitterness some may have come to expect from Aster when the Viper's mind considered her past and all the time she had lost. It was a bad habit, but what could you expect from a Child of Arcadia?
Noting the near empty bottle and desiring to lighten up the dour mood, Aster turned to the kitchenette and began moving to the fridge.
"Well, fuck, if this is a social call, I might as well host. You need a drink? Got beer, Coke, and water," she offered, her voice at least attempting a tone of friendliness. Aello had come all this way for something, the least Aster could do was try and appreciate the company, "So... you had bad eyes before? And not anymore?"
It was a rough attempt at conversation, but, hey, at least the Viper was trying.
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Post by Aello on Aug 31, 2022 14:10:53 GMT -8
Aello shrugged, used to self deprecating humour being casual seasoning to any conversation of her generation, and interpreting Aster's statement as much. "You helped look for Tanner- sure, I'll take beer- um, what I'm getting at is that I think a lot of Summers only get talked to when there's a problem?" She was just parroting Cinderella, but it made her intentions sound more noble.
"And yeah, lot of things changed, actually," she mused, eyes flashing in a solar ring, "I'm not even that magical, but my sight's baller now. Body messed with me a bit when I look in the mirror, though — it's like you're not even looking at yourself. Do you feel like that sometimes? I know some of the other animal-looking Lost complain about it."
As she spoke, she found a chair and tucked a leg. "I used to have my mom's hourglass hips and shit in high school, now it's like a stiff breeze will knock me over," she chuckled. "I'm like the cracked out version my Fetch. But, I guess Cinder's tiny too and doing well with the whole War Court mantle. So I feel like just getting jacked won't make a difference, or if I even can."
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Post by Aster Blau on Aug 31, 2022 14:59:43 GMT -8
Aster retrieved two Pacificos, one for Aello and one for her. The Viper would place both bottles, alongside a bottle opener, on the coffee table before settling on the couch.
"Least I can do, he and I were Kept by the same... Thing," she explained as she dug a key fob from her pockets and pressed a button, lowering the garage door to afford the pair of them more privacy, "Just glad we got to him in time. Even if I had to catch some lead... he well?"
As the conversation turned to the struggle of identity, Aster's expression turned into a rare instance of empathy. Her circumstances and Aello's were different, but the effects seemed to remain similar.
"I was taken when I was eight, Aello," Aster offered, letting the statement rest for some moment, "Was gone for 15 years and I don't remember much, so... it's complicated. Looking at my Mask is... well, I dunno. I guess I was supposed to look like that. I guess I kind of look my parents, but I didn't exactly grow up human either, you know? So it's new to me in that way, but... nah it don't feel like me most of the time. Not anymore and, when you really look at it, it never really was."
Aster's feeling on the matter were complex and she didn't exactly know how best to describe the feeling.
"Never had to deal with one myself, They never made one," she offered off-hand to the mention of Fetches, "It still giving you problems?"
The Harpy's doubt of her ability to gain strength elicited a shake of the head from Aster.
"Bullshit," she said, "That body is not the limit of your strength, kid. Only half of ourselves is bound by that shit, other half is... different. It's why we can do what we do. At least that's as far as I understand it. If you train your body, it'll respond."
The last line was delivered with an air of certainty. Aster knew what it meant to train onself in the art of battle, even if her methods were a great deal more savage than the armorclad Knights of their shared court. She had not always been as strong as she was either.
"The most dangerous thing you can do to yourself is believe you are meek," Aster expanded as she opened her beer, "You are not meek, kid. I think you know that... but if you keep up that talk you might convince yourself that you are and I ain't gonna have that."
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Post by Aello on Sept 25, 2022 5:55:11 GMT -8
"Tanner? Yeah, better. Him and Gavin I think are working on this project around memory. His liege seems to have pulled back on drowning him now that she's seen what's been going on." The Harpy frowned at the thought, always finding Chunhua unnerving.
Her eyebrow went up with the viper's summary of her challenges. "Oh, damn. I think I've only met that Darkling Rowan who was gone around twelve or something," he hadn't told her, but her motley wasn't as subtle as they thought in a shared living space. "Golden Boy's the same, you know? But he also came back, like, as a teen and they tried to keep him in school when no one really knew what to do. If he didn't escape till an adult I have no idea how his...would you call it empathy skills-? Yeah, like, he was still not grown up yet but it definitely fucked him up differently. He took the name to help but he definitely never saw himself as a child compared to his age group. Said your situation almost always turns you into a hob, so, you must have a hell of a strong Thread?"
Her face scrunched with Aster's encouragement, "Kid? For real?" she snorted. "Okay, yeah my Fetch I think graduated last year so if I want that life back now's the time. I'm just not jazzed on my family and I don't know if I'd stir shit doing what I can now. My siblings probably wouldn't appreciate if I serendipity'd dad off a cliff." Her lopsided smirk grew to an angry grin. "Like, I'm fit Aster, I'm mostly just trying to figure out how you got more recognition from Summer when I've been busting my ass saving the world just as hard. Did you get an arch nemesis? I'm fucking tired of being overlooked."
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Post by Aster Blau on Sept 25, 2022 15:27:49 GMT -8
"Good. Gavin's good people, he'll take care of Tanner," Aster noted, her tone even and assured, "If he can save my ass after I get pumped full of lead, he can help Tanner with his own troubles."
Taking a deep drink, Aster nodded as Aello spoke of Golden Boy.
"Yeah, I had heard that. Might be the one thing we got in common," Aster said, thinking on the new, intelligent King of Winter, "Sometimes I think it's better to push hard in the Wyrd. Shed some of this skin and get closer to what I was back there. Guess I think it'll get me to a more stable place or at least one I can recognize. I get the empathy thing too. Like I said, I don't remember much, but what I do remember was my time over there was mostly about survival. Weakness and hesitation didn't have a place there. I used to think empathy slowed things down too much, but I've learned it's better to at least try and do it. As far as the Thread, it's worked for me so far. Keeps me movin' and the links I've made with others through it reminds me of who I used to be."
As the harpy reminisced about her Fetch, her family, and her uncertainty. Aello mocked offense earned a smirk.
"Younger than me," she teased before her smirk grew to a fanged smile, amused by the Harpy's dark humor related to her father, "Summer might approve or at least the season would."
Then came the heart of Aello's issue, the real reason as to why she had made the trip to the Viper's den. Aello was frustrated, though Aster didn't think it extended to personal jealousy. The Harpy wanted to know the secrets of Summer so that she could grow. Whether the Harpy meant to or not, it seemed clear enough to Aster that she was looking for a guide. Maybe even a mentor.
For several long moments, Aster was silent, her gaze resting on Aello locked in a pensive expression, a rare moment when one engaged the serpentine Beast. Aster was taking the time to piece together what to say because it was important that she say it right. The gaze itself was likely unnerving until Aster finally remembered to blink.
"Maybe it's perspective... From what I hear, you only came to Summer a little while ago," Aster offered, "To me, Summer and the rest of the courts are all in how you handle your pain and fear with the change. Spring tries to drown it out with excess. Autumn tries to learn from it and understand how to twist it for themselves. Winter embraces it and spends their days thinking about what they've lost. But Summer? Summer uses it. There ain't no better fuel for Wrath."
"When I came back, I had nothing left," Aster continued, "Most folks at least get a Fetch. They can chase the chance to return to their old lives, at least. I didn't even have that. Hell, by the time I got out I had spent more time on the Other Side than I ever did here. I never got to experience high school or otherwise growing up the way I should have. My entire life was stolen from me and I had to begin again. In the grand scheme of things, I was taken early on in life. Even if I had a Fetch, that life wouldn't have been there for me to return to. It never would have been mine. I'd be too different from what my parents 'knew' their daughter was like, I would have been the imposter."
There was a pause as Aster ceased her rambling. It was a bad habit, but the Viper didn't know how to explain her view without some background into her own thoughts that lead her to embracing the philosophy of Summer.
"It's as much a vow as any other," Aster mused, "I think the investment from the Season comes from the fact because I've turned all that shit to venom. I'm not here to deter the Gentry with fear or distract them with desire. And I sure as fuck ain't here to hide and work from the shadows when they roll in. I lost the chance to be human and I'm fucking pissed that this is the life I was dealt. I am here to make damn sure that those assholes regret ever having taken my life from me and I want Them to think twice when they're eyeing up another 8-year old girl for Arcadia."
It was not an overly complex philosophy, but Aster was not an overly complex Lost, or at least she didn't think as much.
"For me it's about vengeance and glory, Aello. Every single Spear has their own reasons for appealing to Summer, but what we all got in common is the Wrath in our hearts. You've already got the kiss of Summer on you, you just need to find out how to feed the flame," Aster concluded, "And if you need the motivation? I don't think there's a much better way than a good scrap. So, if you want, we can down these beers, get in the car, and make some calls. I'm sure we can find a few comrades looking to let off some steam, maybe even set up a little tourney if you need more of an incentive. Should be easy enough to find a venue... there's that ranch Kai runs and, failing that, I'm sure someone we know could pull some strings for a warehouse or something. I could probably do it too."
Aster let the offer of an impromptu slugfest hang for a moment, allowing Aello a chance to consider it. The Viper wanted to help, but she wasn't a therapist. If Aello wanted to resonate more with her rage, Aster believed the best way to do so would be through some good, old fashioned sparring. Wrath tended to simmer to the surface in such moments. It'd also help the Harpy hone her skills as a fighter. For Aster, it was a win-win, but she was not Aello and knew not all believed as she did.
"It'll help ya network and stuff too, maybe even some exposure on other folks' reason for joining the Spear," she said, offering Aello an alternative if her views did not resonate with the Harpy, "Bound to be some downtime at some point to talk to 'em... So what do ya say? Wanna muse all this shit over some split lips and bruised knuckles?"
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