[voicetest]

[outclawed]

[so after making some truly terrible choices and getting his ass kicked and passing out in an alley somewhere, Aster is... waking up somewhere that is decidedly not an alley, though not really any less sketchy]

[--and startling with a flash of real panic when he sees that while he's been patched up, his bear Animalia is still activated, bandages wrapped around his paw where it had been slashed]

Comments

[outclawed]

...Thank you.

I won't-- be able to pay you much.

[toxicitactility]

Hey, Animalia gotta stick together, right? Don't mention it.

[outclawed]

[...relaxes perceptibly, if still a LITTLE tense, taking his eyes off Zoah to look down at his paw and gingerly flexing it under the bandage]

You're an Animalia?

[toxicitactility]

Yeah. You'll be safe here.

[outclawed]

I won't... overstay.

[toxicitactility]

And where will you go, huh? At least tell me you don't live on the streets.

[outclawed]

I have a room at an inn. I've been working on the construction at the edge of town. When it's completed...

[trails off, gently testing out his injuries, rolling his shoulders and turning at the hips]

[toxicitactility]

Got it. So what were you doing all beat up then?

[And with his Animalia manifested like that. It'd be smarter to lay low.]

[outclawed]

...A drunk caught a kid picking his pocket. I thought he was... too harsh.

[raises his human hand to rub at his face, a little embarrassed]

[toxicitactility]

[ Stares at Aster a long moment, shocked. ]

[outclawed]

...It turned into a brawl, and I was outnumbered by a pack of drunks who'd already drowned away their restraint-- things got... dangerous.

But the kid escaped.

[toxicitactility]

... weird question. Do you remember what the kid looked like?

[outclawed]

...Skinny, about eleven, light hair, brown eyes. Split lip and a black eye, I'd guess, among other bruises.

[looking back to Zoah, curious]

[toxicitactility]

Haha, oh man . That just figures!

Pretty sure you got lured in by one of our local kid gangs.

[outclawed]

You keep tabs on them?

[toxicitactility]

Well someone has to. Plus they're regulars.

[outclawed]

...They're lucky to have you.

[toxicitactility]

Dunno about that. Anyway, you're one to talk, picking a fight like that. Maybe think twice next time?

[outclawed]

I know. I know.

[toxicitactility]

Alright then. Otherwise next time won't be free of charge.

I'm Zoah, by the way.

[outclawed]

...Aster.

[toxicitactility]

You hungry, Aster? I'm starved.

[outclawed]

[looks like he would like to say no, but]

...I could eat.

[toxicitactility]

Great. Stay right here.

[ Getting up! And leaving the room, obviously to get something. ]

[outclawed]

[waits, quiet]