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Ylva:
Ylva had reached out to Avery after the party, she wasnt exactly doing the best but she was trying. She was sitting in her Hollow, on the beach again. Putting the Sunset that she had painted to good use. The one she had painted in the Hedge hadnt been quite right. Now the beach looked just right. For now at least. An artist is never happy.
Avery:
Avery of course accepted the request from her friend, taking the time to sneak along towards the hollow. Nevertread was still of course active, as were a few others as she kept an eye on the trod.
Avery waited by the gate, not wanting to intrude, and waving to Octavia or Ylva, whoever made eye contact first.
Ylva:
Octavia eventually bounced over to the gate opening it for Avery and leading her to Ylva.
"Mistress is down by the Beach. Friend Avery."
Ylva for her own part just waved her tails as Avery approached. Seeming to be comfy where she is at the moment. Poking gently at a painting that mirrored the sunset of her Hollow perfectly.
Avery:
Avery smiles and enters.
"Thank you, friend Octavia."
Avery waved in return, having a small bag on their back with their tablet in it.
"Art is a wonderful way to Hedgespin. I turned a fire into a landscape picture for Snowy to show how to do it." Avery sits down next to her. "Have you met her yet?"
Ylva:
She smiles seeing Avery. Octavia making a little hole in the sand to hide in.
"Its, the way I find it easiest." A tilt of her head, thinking, then she shakes it. "No. I dont think I have."
A tail reaches out to Avery, an offer to hold but not pressure.
Avery:
Avery reaches out and strokes the tail gently. All her supernatural levels of gentle.
"I feel like its looking in a mirror of last year for me. A...much more sarcastic and confident mirror." Avery pulls out her tablet. "She's an owl."
Ylva:
A happy wiggle at the stroking. Then a nod.
"Reminds you of what you were like after escaping?" Another nod. "Another Bird."
Avery:
Avery nods, undoing some tangles.
"I was scared and wanted to be on my own. Asbolus helped. She just needs to find her Asbolus. I just hope...she finds that person before killing someone."
Ylva:
"You still feel guilty for it dont you?"
She switches the tail eventually, for one that is in more need of getting detangled
Avery:
Avery nods. "He didn't need to die, but I was scared. I've...accepted it. But I still regret it."
She looks at Ylva. "Do you?"
Ylva:
"I understand."
She nods a slow nod.
"Yeah, every day."
Avery:
She works on untangling that tail.
"Winter helped me, they are good at that. Maybe they can help you."
Ylva:
"Im, getting there. Having a memorial to him, working on the community center."
She nods shakily.
"Little steps."
Avery:
"Thats good. I'm glad you are doing that."
Avery looks her over.
"I heard Aubrey hurt you too. Are you feeling better?"
Ylva:
A confused tilt of the head.
"Aubery?"
Avery:
"The Slaver after me."
Ylva:
"Oh, um, yeah. They just scared me. I was out shopping, didnt expect to run into someone that knew who my Gentry was, that all but threw my Frailty at me."
Avery:
Her mantle flares slightly.
"Im sorry. I want to deal with her. I just...need to be more prepared and that takes time."
Ylva:
Another tail reaches up to stroke the side of her face.
"Its okay. We can do time. We can do time."
Avery:
Avery leans against the tail.
"She looks like me...just with dark hair. At least...her Mask does."
Ylva:
"Are they after your fetch aswell?"
Avery:
"I don't know...I haven't faced her yet."
Ylva:
"I cant imagine how hard that would be. Im here for you if you need support though."
Avery:
"I... both want to and don't. It scares me... she has the answers I don't."
Ylva:
"About who you were?"
She wriggles to get some space then offers her arms for a hug.
Avery:
Avery nods, accepting the hug.
Ylva:
A gentle hand stroking the back of her head.
"I get it."
Then a pause.
"This is nice. Thanks for coming over."
Avery:
She relaxes into the headscratches.
"Mhmm...of course."
If you've ever seen those videos of birds half falling asleep, its exactly like that.
Ylva:
"You do know how cute you are when your a sleepy little bird dont you?"
Hand continuing to stroke her hair.
Avery:
Avery ruffles their feather and relaxes more.
"I...dunno? I like it."
Ylva:
"Being cuddled? Or being cuddled in a big fluffy nest that is me?"
Avery:
"The...head scratches, from someone else that can see. It feels nice. I... haven't been able to see Vorpal recently."
Ylva:
"Someone that can see you. Not the mask?"
Avery:
Avery nods.
"Scouring my mask would bring my family in danger, and Maria would not do well even in my Hollow. Vincent has been there a few times before...Petra told me that was a bad idea."
Ylva:
"Yeah, I understand, Klaire has seen me once, when she looked through a Portal. But, yeah, I cant put them in danger by Scouring it."
A pause. "Even if they try, they still cant quite. Its still not quite right. The touches feeling just a little off."
Avery:
Avery nods. "I could...show Maria, but that could end poorly. She is still mostly human. And..." Avery frowns. "She told me she wouldn't care if she was Taken...because she knew she would come back."
Avery frowns. "But no...its not quite right." Avery reaches over and trails a hand down her back, and then down some of the tails.
Ylva:
She nods and then looks a bit taken back. "Lets not, push it then. Not for that."
She wriggles slightly at the touch before settling back down.
"Like you can see what your doing and touch just perfectly to make me squirm."
Avery:
Avery nods in agreement, looking at her out of the side of her eye, and scritches her back again, a questioning look.
Ylva:
"Hmm."
Another happy wiggle.
"Whats up?"
Avery:
"I...want to know what you think of me. Im not good at...emotions on humans. Even worse when its...us."
Ylva:
"I think your cute, fun, good at art, dangerous."
A pause of her head.
"Whats bought this on? Im not being too forward am I? Im trying to be a good girl."
Avery:
Avery blushes a tiny bit at the cute part.
"I um...no you're not. I like you just...not in that way. You are fun to be around...and safe, and give good cuddles. But just...not in that way. I'm sorry."
Ylva:
She strokes her hair, a tail booping her gently in the cheek.
"Its okay. Im too much for a lot of people in that way. And thats okay."
A gentle squeeze, trying her best to not break birb bones.
Avery:
A slight startle at the cheek boop, before they stroke the tail again, relaxing into the hug.
"You are a good friend, Ylva. I like spending time and doing art with you. And... understand that words are hard."
Ylva:
"Im glad that we can spend time together, words are hard. But you are important to me."
Avery:
"Why...am I important to you?"
Ylva:
"Because your my friend."
Avery:
"Oh...I see." Avery looks down at her tablet.
"Do you want to draw?"
Ylva:
Ylva nods. "Sure."
Avery:
Avery boots up their tablet, and attempts to hide what they were currently working on, and made another page.
Ylva:
Ylva tries her best to see because she is a nosy shit.
Pulling out her own tablet in which she was definitely drawing porn and moves on to a different page. Its a heart with an arrow through it like it was carved upon a tree. Joy might have said no but the mind draws what it wants.
"Have you been enjoying it?"
Avery:
Its mostly just a sketch so far, and doesn't have a ton of detail.
"It's different, but yes. I like it. Thank you for buying me the tablet."
Ylva:
"Your welcome. I like to see others enjoying art and this means you can do it online, good for the brain, without the people."
Avery:
Avery nods.
"It helps keep me grounded. Sometimes people are hard. Vinny and Maria make me feel safe but...art is easy when I'm overwhelmed."
Ylva:
Ylva nods in understanding.
"I hope my Hollow isn't too overwhelming, I tried to keep it not too loud."
Did she do that for Avery, maybe.
Avery:
"Everything is overwhelming...some things more than others. This is okay. But thank you."
Ylva:
"Okay is the least I can do."
She says with a smile.
Avery:
"I can hear heartbeats if it is quiet, so it can be hard. But you are doing plenty, thank you. I am not overwhelmed right now."
Ylva:
Ylva nods. "Okay, I just, I. Im a people pleaser."
She chuckles. Then lays her head down on Averys knees and continues to draw.
Avery:
Avery shakes their head.
"I don't need to be pleased. But...okay." She pets Ylva's hair.
"Did you just ask me over to draw?"
Ylva:
"Like, mostly. Just. Ideas floating around in the brain."
Avery:
"Do you want to say the thoughts?"
Ylva:
"Yes. But now that im going to say them outloud, im worried you'll think im silly."
She pushes some hair out of her eyes.
Avery:
Avery looks confused.
"You are funny, yes. I...don't see why that is a problem?"
Ylva:
She blushes at that. Doing the pokey anxiety finger thing.
"Well, we enjoy cuddles. Platonically. And dont really have anyone else and, well, what."
The next part comes out very quickly with no space for breath.
"Whatifweformedamotley?"
Avery:
Avery tilts her head.
"I do like the cuddles...but...I what happened with a motley?"
Ylva:
"You. Me. Motley. Maybe?"
She buried her head into Averys lap. Maybe a slight anxiety scream.
Avery:
Avery freezes up for a second.
"I um...I don't know. I've never been in a motley before...but...you make me feel safe."
Ylva:
"Yeah, no, totally, thats fine. It was a stupid idea anyway."
She pulls her head out of Averys lap.
"I think id like to go crawl into a hole now."
Avery:
"No I...no" Avery pouts.
"I like the idea I'm just...it was a surprise."
Ylva:
"Oh."
And she returns her head to Averys lap.
"Okay. Ive just been, ive been thinking lots."
Avery:
"Why...me? Are there others you want to ask?"
Ylva:
"Because you are. My Friend."
Then a pause.
"I havent really thought that far ahead, kinda thought you'd tell me to fuck right off."
Avery:
"Oh...no, I like you...you are my friend. I...would like a Motley...but I think we need a third person..."
Ylva:
"There are a few new Lost around that are nice."
A tilt of her head.
"Olivia is nice, you said Snowy is nice."
Avery:
"I don't think Snowy is... ready for that. Olivia is... I've patrolled with her, she is very fast, and yes, nice. I don't know her very well."
Ylva:
Ylva nods.
"Okay, i'll think on it now I know you dont hate the idea."
A pause.
"Can I ask you something?"
Avery:
Avery nods.
"I'm not very good at decisions...and yes, of course."
Ylva:
Ylva chews at her lip for a long time, still idly drawing.
"Do you think less of me after the Superb Owl ?"
Avery:
"No...why would I? I...Teagan is a good person, and I respect him, but he also doesn't like Vinny. I'm...confused why he doesn't like Vinny when he makes me happy and feel safe."
Patch NPC:
Avery's senses go away for a moment and they see a home in suburbia. A familiar home. A family of four walking from their car in a driveway to their door, and a flock of ravens attacking them.
Avery:
Avery's face goes entirely pale in shock.
Ylva:
Ylva nods her head.
"Okay. I just, pushed and he snapped and I got banned from DA hou."
And she cuts off looking at Avery.
"Whats wrong hun?"
A tail reaching up to stroke her face.
Avery:
Avery sits there frozen all the way up until Ylva touches her face.
"My...my fetch is being attacked, by ravens. Im-im-im." Avery is very clearly panicking.
Ylva:
"Im here. Do we go to her then?"
Her brain clearly already moving into action mode.
Avery:
"I don't know, I've never talked to her. She...her family was being attacked too. I...I want to help."
Ylva:
"Then lets help."
She stands offering Avery a tail and a hand to stand.
Avery:
Avery gets to her feet, putting down the tablet.
"I can...find them. Can you fly?"
Ylva:
Ylva nods as she downs a little baggy of animal parts that she keeps on her person. Bouncing in place a few times before finally her form shifts to that of a Snow Owl.
Avery:
Avery nods, popping a few contracts
Patch NPC:
The pair pop out of the hedge in her house, and Avery knows exactly where the fetch is, it feels like the right distance and such to be at the house.
Ylva:
Ylva throws open the Bathroom Window letting Avery lead the way, and really, really fucking hoping that Jenny and Astrid are still at work.
Avery:
As Avery pops off the few more contracts...and the pair fade in towards the shadows as they leave the house, making it very hard to see them both. (8 suxx on stealth)
Patch NPC:
Ylva shoots through the air, gaining a ton of momentum. Avery was trying to keep up, and somewhere else, someone else felt they were losing. Ylva takes the edge
Patch NPC:
The pair arrive faster than they ever expected. Ravens sit on every eave and sill of the house, tapping on the glass, laughing caws by the dozens sounding.
Patch NPC:
The Ravens are just making forced laughter sounds or repeating Scare scare scare
Avery:
Avery listens closely to the conspiracy after finding the paths with least eyes to get here, letting the pair find where they could go as fast as their contracts allow once they were in the clear. As the raven flies so to speak.
Avery flies around the house to find where their Fetch and their family was. And make sure there are none of the conspiracy inside.
Ylva:
Ylva lands on the roof as a Snow Owl gently shifting to her 'human' form on all fours as a howl escapes her lips that is far beyond human capacity. Roaring at the Ravens to back off.
Ylva, Four Foot Six Inches of Angry Lesbian.
Patch NPC:
Avery feels the fetch in the front room, moving from floor level to just above floor level... Are they giving CPR? A flash of insight
Patch NPC:
The Ravens all take off at that roar. The neighbors lights start to turn on and sirens are already heard in the distance.
Ylva also appears on the roof, visibly
Avery:
Avery looks up at the other Lost, hoping she knows what she is doing. Avery lands on the roof, and does something they've only done a handful of times...looked through their Fetch's senses. (Spending that WP. I just want to see what they are doing on the inside and how bad it is overall...avery is untrained in medicine)
Ylva:
Ylva kinda knows what she is doing, she looks down towards where she hopes Avery is.
"Do they need anything inside?"
Patch NPC:
The fetch is currently doing CPR on the wife. The bride is bleeding from multiple bird hits. (WIts+Comp-5 for trying to notice through his eyes, without looking where you want to, avery)
As they look around, kissing their fetches wife to breathe life into their lungs, they notice that at least one of the wounds... looks like a blade. A blade shaped like a feather. A Black feather, that still lays next to them, bloody.
Olivia starts breathing and coughing from the fetches work.
The Grimm also notices that on the back of the entryway door, it says "FAKE AVERY! YOU AND YOURS ARE ALL FAKE!"
The handwriting itself all looks like Avery's own, or at least an approximation when carved into wood.
Avery:
Avery backs out to their own senses, immediately shifting back to their normal form.
"Olivia is hurt...their wife. I...I think Aubrey attacked them. We need to get inside...I can...I don't know."
Avery focuses on the Fetch, sending the message of offering help, healing. A friend and protector.
Ylva:
Ylva hops down into the backyard hoping to stay out of sight, then changes tact and heads for the door, their wife needs help.
Patch NPC:
They hear shouting from inside, "Vera, get the door! Someone's there to help!"
They open the door, and two scared looking, unhurt, children, stand there, looking at the woman that stands just over them...and it's questionable with the elder child.
Avery Frisk, married woman, with hands covered in blood, holds pressure on the deepest wound, "Please. Help us, she needs a hospital."
Avery:
The Courser keeps to the rooftop. Ylva was helping with the wife, Avery could help keep them safe. She kept her eyes to the sky for the ravens, knives drawn, and waiting.
Ylva:
Ylva waves at the kids. "Hey."
Then walks over to Olivia on the floor looking at their wounds. (Can I roll a Wits/ Dex Medicine?)
Patch NPC:
One Raven has returned, circling as high as they could.
Ylva sees right away the wound, with the woman holding pressure. There doesn't seem to be any good tools handy right now, however. (Dex + Med -2 due to the lack of tools for now)
Ylva:
Ylva leans down creating a shoddy bandage with the womans own shirt. Applying pressure, probably harder than this woman has ever felt, not breaking anything just holding hard.
"Do you have a First Aid kit or anything like that?"
She is trying to remain calm but, she is panicking and she is also an intimidating little lesbian.
Avery:
Avery glares upwards, letting the glamour flow through them again as they try to find Aubrey with Relentless Persuit, seeing if that is them all the way up there. As is needed by the contract, she whispers the name.
"Aubrey...you've hurt these innocent people."
Patch NPC:
The scary woman coming to help made Avery Frisk, Married Woman, jump to her feet and start running to the kitchen, "We have ... like... a house one.. .but that's.. .how did a bird do that? Why did the birds do that? And how are you here?"
Ylva:
"Just try and stay calm for me. Im here, thats all that matters okay. Im here to safe your wife."
Then she nods.
"That will do, thank you."
Patch NPC:
Aubrey is in the Hedge.
An almost all white avian-lost, nearly identical to Avery, is walking in the hedge. the feathers on their head and chest are black.
Said another way to picture it, if Avery is a black bird turning white, this is a white bird turning black.
Patch NPC:
Ylva is delivered a basic medical kit. However, it's much more than she had previously.
Patch NPC:
She uses some bandages, scissors, and even a scalpel and stopped the bleeding. The woman was shaking, her body still in shock and she was unconscious, but she wasn't bleeding out.
Avery:
Avery, the black feathered one cause theres too dang many of em now, takes a shuttering breath at the image. Its just the one raven right now...if there's more...they'll fight for their fetch. But first, they needed to send a text for help. So they keep looking to the skies and then back at their phone.
Ylva:
"Okay, she isnt bleeding out. Have you called an ambulance?"
A tilt of her head looking towards the door. Keeping up that pressure.
Patch NPC:
The sirens came ever closer. The Lost could easily tell it was about four blocks away. Avery, the Lost one, could see the reds, blues, and whites of the police, ambulances, and fire trucks.
Avery:
Avery sees this, and immediately relays that to the fetch through their connection, 4 blocks, help, ambulances.
Avery can't help but cover their ears at the sound of the closer sirens. At least now, hopefully, the ravens will back off. Avery hides in the shadows of the roof. No need to show off dex 10 to anyone right now. (6 suxx on stealth)
And will also check for security systems, like cameras or the like!
Patch NPC:
"What are these images I get in my head," she cries, "At least this time, it's asking for help."
Patch NPC:
There are doorbell cams, including on the house here. And some of the more paranoid neighbors have more cameras on the outside of the house by the eaves.
Ylva:
"I cant answer that. Whats your name?"
She is a bit out of her depth. Trying to talk to a fetch of a Bird she cares for deeply.
Patch NPC:
"I'm Avery. Avery Frisk. This is my wife, Olivia... did you see all those birds? Why were we in a Hitchcock movie?"
Ylva:
"Hi Avery nice to meet you. Hi Olivia."
She shakes her head.
"Yeah, its why I came out. Its Wild. Must be some government test or something."
Listen, she is out of her depth.
Patch NPC:
The officers and other first responders start to arrive. The police enter first to make sure things are okay, and then paramedics and the like... The fire fighters saw the scene was good, and kept driving.
Avery's sensory overload was on maximum. It was becoming hard to stay still.
The police start questioning the family members and...
"Wait... aren't you that Theodulus woman?"
Avery:
Avery was cradling themselves and clamping their hands over their ears, rocking back and forth slightly as tears pour from their eyes.
Ylva:
Ylva steps back as the police enter, her shady past showing. Letting them take over.
"Yes. Though that inquiry was dropped and is now really the time, I just saved this woman's life."
Patch NPC:
The officer blanched and nodded, going back off to their actual job in this situation.
FADE TO AFTER EVENT BACK IN THE HEDGE-------------
Ylva:
Ylva took them back to her Hollow, carrying Avery, just for comfort not because she needed it.
Stroking their hair and giving them a tail to hold as a stress toy.
Avery:
Avery strokes the tail, most of their contracts having faded. They are utterly spent and half asleep as they are being carried. They are holding onto the tail for comfort as well as not falling off.
Ylva:
Ylva walks slowly, letting them back into her Hollow via the Freeholds Stable Trod. Settling them both in the Autumn Forest, it was the place that felt the safest for her.
She curls on the floor, creating a little nest for Avery to settle in. Stroking their hair with hand and tail.
Avery:
Avery looks up slightly when they got to the hollow, not protesting and snuggling closer to the other Courser.
"Thank you...for helping. I...I wouldn't have been able to do anything there alone. You did so much."
Ylva:
"Ive gotcha, just rest up my Little Bird."
A tilt of her head and a blush.
"I, I just did what I could. For a friend."
Avery:
Avery frowns. "I wanted to leave her out of this. There was writing on the door...its not going to go well. Asbolus is...he's helping clean it up. And...we...we are going to talk to her. I didn't want this..." Avery buries their face in her tails.
Ylva:
"I know hun. None of us did."
She wraps herself around Avery. Holding them.
"Let it out. Your safe now."
Avery:
Avery sobs into the tails.
"No I'm not. I'm not safe until they are gone."
Ylva:
"Your here. In my arms. I gotchu."
Avery:
Avery is tense, and doesn't relax.
"But...they're going to hurt people. They hurt you, they just hurt Olivia, a human. We aren't safe."
Ylva:
"I know sweetie. But. I've got you right now. It's all I can do right now."
Avery:
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry they hurt you because of me."
Ylva:
"They didn't hurt me. I'm okay."
Avery:
Avery takes deep breaths and snuggles closer to her.
"I'm scared. If they were willing to do this...what else are they willing to do to hurt me. I don't even know why."
Ylva:
She snuggles then tight.
"I know your are. I'm scared too. I'll be here for you the whole time."
Avery:
Avery nods, slowly working up the courage to sit up.
"You... thank you. I know I was... uncertain about a motley earlier... but I'd love to be in one with you. You're... nice and caring and smart and...a good friend." Avery nods, wiping away a tear.
Ylva:
"Think on it. Yeah. Don't rush."
Though her smile is wide.
Avery:
Avery shakes her head.
"I did think on it...while...I was hurting from the sirens, and you were...helping my Fetch's family...that you'd never met. I trust you. You are a good friend."
Ylva:
"Yeah? I just kinda acted without thinking. They don't have any less right to live than you or I."
She pauses leaning closer.
Avery:
Avery's lip quivers and they just nod, latching onto Ylva before sobbing.
Ylva:
Ylva just holds them and let's them sleep the night away.
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