back in action

Asra couldn’t help but laugh, eyes crinkling in amusement as the Count was knocked on his royal ass. The peacock seemed unbothered by the encounter, attention turning elsewhere.

Asra stood back up again, smile on his lips again. “Nightshade is a good name. He’s just protective. He was just defending his family.” Probably. Or he was just angry from the long journey. Either way, he hadn’t enjoyed Lucio in his personal space. “It is. Time, space, and treats, I think. Then maybe you’ll win them over.”

He nodded in agreement. “I’ve tamed many animals, these guys will be no problem.” Lucio tossed out more seed further in front of him and watched as the white and gold pair came over to eat. “Just a bit sad I can’t get close to them right now, they look so soft.” He said whistfully but would give the birds their space.

Julian stood in the market of Vesuvia. Most of the shop owners knew him well. "Ilya! Have you come for some leeches?" The Leech Dealer called from his small shop in the corner. One that everyone else was making a point of avoiding.

"Tempting! Very tempting!" Julian said with his usual rowdy grin, "But I didn't bring enough dubloons today. Sorry."

The Leech Dealer smiled and waved his hand. "No worries! Have a great day, Ilya!" He smiled and said. Julian nodded.

On any normal day, Julian would have been glad to buy a leech or two. But today was different. His gaze fell upon a small shop with blue and purple cloths. "Aha!" Julian said, adopting a mischievous smirk. He walked over to the shop and began browsing the many fabrics lining the walls.

Blues and purples. Greens and reds. Silvers and golds. A variety of colored scarves as vibrant as the rainbow itself. "Hmm..." Julian sighed as he focused on finding something nice.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark blue scarf with silver specks peppered throughout the fabric. It had gold tassels and seems to shine like the night sky.

He walked over to examine the radiant scarf more closely. He ran his hand over the fabric and through the small, silky tassels lining the edges.

"It's so silky! This is perfect." He picked the scarf up and carried it over to the shopkeeper to purchase it. His eyes twinkled with excitement. "Do you take dubloons?" He asked as he searched his pockets and pulled out a hefty handful of golden coins. After purchasing the scarf he left the shop with a spring in his step. He bounded toward a small, narrow street where a familiar shop stood.

If they got too lost, Asra would definitely drag Julian back home. Just so they didn’t die. Even if he was incredibly curious now...he wanted answers.

Julian stood in the market of Vesuvia. Most of the shop owners knew him well. "Ilya! Have you come for some leeches?" The Leech Dealer called from his small shop in the corner. One that everyone else was making a point of avoiding.

"Tempting! Very tempting!" Julian said with his usual rowdy grin, "But I didn't bring enough dubloons today. Sorry."

The Leech Dealer smiled and waved his hand. "No worries! Have a great day, Ilya!" He smiled and said. Julian nodded.

On any normal day, Julian would have been glad to buy a leech or two. But today was different. His gaze fell upon a small shop with blue and purple cloths. "Aha!" Julian said, adopting a mischievous smirk. He walked over to the shop and began browsing the many fabrics lining the walls.

Blues and purples. Greens and reds. Silvers and golds. A variety of colored scarves as vibrant as the rainbow itself. "Hmm..." Julian sighed as he focused on finding something nice.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark blue scarf with silver specks peppered throughout the fabric. It had gold tassels and seems to shine like the night sky.

He walked over to examine the radiant scarf more closely. He ran his hand over the fabric and through the small, silky tassels lining the edges.

"It's so silky! This is perfect." He picked the scarf up and carried it over to the shopkeeper to purchase it. His eyes twinkled with excitement. "Do you take dubloons?" He asked as he searched his pockets and pulled out a hefty handful of golden coins. After purchasing the scarf he left the shop with a spring in his step. He bounded toward a small, narrow street where a familiar shop stood.

“A trip?” He repeated, Julian’s excitement not lost on him. He let him explain, head tilting slightly as he considered it. He laughed a little at his explanation. “I probably would. But you know Portia - she’s always up for an adventure.” He was happy to go in her stead, though. He was no stranger to adventure.

Lucio was one of the few people that didn’t complain too much when she did. Not that Faust minded complaining. If she did, Julian would have been free of her hugs a long time ago. Asra watched Lucio walk over before returning his attention to the birds. He’d never really been a bird person. But even he could admit they were gorgeous.

“Flowers?” That made enough sense. They’d all have to have matching names. It fit Lucio’s MO, at least. If Mercedes and Melchior were anything to go by. “Probably. I can’t blame them.” Asra dropped into a squat, carefully scattering some food in front of them, without coming any closer into their space. “Long journeys aren’t always the most fun.”

Lucio squatted down beside Asra and watched the birds in awe as the emerald female went closer to peck at the seeds on the ground. The count grabbed some seeds from the bowl and offered it to the peacock. Then suddenly the the matching male charged forward, his long tail unfanned, Lucio yelped and fell back on his ass in surprise.

Julian stood in the market of Vesuvia. Most of the shop owners knew him well. "Ilya! Have you come for some leeches?" The Leech Dealer called from his small shop in the corner. One that everyone else was making a point of avoiding.

"Tempting! Very tempting!" Julian said with his usual rowdy grin, "But I didn't bring enough dubloons today. Sorry."

The Leech Dealer smiled and waved his hand. "No worries! Have a great day, Ilya!" He smiled and said. Julian nodded.

On any normal day, Julian would have been glad to buy a leech or two. But today was different. His gaze fell upon a small shop with blue and purple cloths. "Aha!" Julian said, adopting a mischievous smirk. He walked over to the shop and began browsing the many fabrics lining the walls.

Blues and purples. Greens and reds. Silvers and golds. A variety of colored scarves as vibrant as the rainbow itself. "Hmm..." Julian sighed as he focused on finding something nice.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark blue scarf with silver specks peppered throughout the fabric. It had gold tassels and seems to shine like the night sky.

He walked over to examine the radiant scarf more closely. He ran his hand over the fabric and through the small, silky tassels lining the edges.

"It's so silky! This is perfect." He picked the scarf up and carried it over to the shopkeeper to purchase it. His eyes twinkled with excitement. "Do you take dubloons?" He asked as he searched his pockets and pulled out a hefty handful of golden coins. After purchasing the scarf he left the shop with a spring in his step. He bounded toward a small, narrow street where a familiar shop stood.

Probably. But Asra wasn’t going to find out. Magic was...dangerous most of the time, and he was loathe to know what would happen to him if he did something like that. Stealing moments together like this would have to suffice.

Asra smiled a little, watching the two of them. At least Lucio seemed to have some sort of respect for Faust. Frankly, if he didn’t, she probably wouldn’t have liked him as much. As it was, she just gave him another playful squeeze. Friend! She supplied helpfully, as if her feelings weren’t already clear.

She returned to Asra, settling around his shoulders for a moment before sliding back into his bag for a well deserved nap. He let Lucio lead the way. He liked the palace gardens, arguably more than anywhere else in the palace. They were well kept and gorgeous. And quiet, save for nature. He gave Lucio a smile again when he held the door, murmuring his thanks as he stepped inside. “A wise idea. It might not be great if they escaped.”

His eyes fell on the peacocks. They were…gorgeous, to say the least. Very brightly coloured. No wonder people liked them so much. “They’re gorgeous,” he agreed. His violet gaze slid over to Lucio, smile pulling at his lips again. A little softer this time. But absolutely not with fondness. “That would be nice. Any idea what you want their names to be?”

Even if he couldn’t understand Faust he could see it in her eyes she was happy to squeeze him. Though now that he’d met his new pets he wanted to focus on them. He went over to the storage shed where tools and the birds food was being stored. Using a bowl he scooped up some of the mixture of seeds and brought it out.

Julian stood in the market of Vesuvia. Most of the shop owners knew him well. "Ilya! Have you come for some leeches?" The Leech Dealer called from his small shop in the corner. One that everyone else was making a point of avoiding.

"Tempting! Very tempting!" Julian said with his usual rowdy grin, "But I didn't bring enough dubloons today. Sorry."

The Leech Dealer smiled and waved his hand. "No worries! Have a great day, Ilya!" He smiled and said. Julian nodded.

On any normal day, Julian would have been glad to buy a leech or two. But today was different. His gaze fell upon a small shop with blue and purple cloths. "Aha!" Julian said, adopting a mischievous smirk. He walked over to the shop and began browsing the many fabrics lining the walls.

Blues and purples. Greens and reds. Silvers and golds. A variety of colored scarves as vibrant as the rainbow itself. "Hmm..." Julian sighed as he focused on finding something nice.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark blue scarf with silver specks peppered throughout the fabric. It had gold tassels and seems to shine like the night sky.

He walked over to examine the radiant scarf more closely. He ran his hand over the fabric and through the small, silky tassels lining the edges.

"It's so silky! This is perfect." He picked the scarf up and carried it over to the shopkeeper to purchase it. His eyes twinkled with excitement. "Do you take dubloons?" He asked as he searched his pockets and pulled out a hefty handful of golden coins. After purchasing the scarf he left the shop with a spring in his step. He bounded toward a small, narrow street where a familiar shop stood.

Asra paused. “I don’t...believe so. I could always do it.” He’d have to free an arm, though. He wouldn’t have to move, but he’d have to shift a little to be able to do it safely. Then the hug wouldn’t completely have to end. Julian might be a little reluctant, though. He wasn’t sure.

“That sounds about right.” Asra wasn’t entirely familiar with peacocks. It wasn’t like they roamed freely in most places he traveled. He’d seen images, of course. They were gorgeous, and a symbol of wealth. It was no wonder Lucio had bought them.

It had definitely taken a while. Faust had been incredibly hesitant to warm up to him, disliking his energy for a while. But now…she was content with him. She didn’t mind wrapping around him so much. She enjoyed hugging him, too. She found it almost as much fun as squeezing Julian. Asra’s lips pulled up into an amused smile at her answer. “She says no,” he said simple. Not that he could blame her. “And, for the record, maybe we shouldn’t release snakes into the city. Not all are as well behaved as Faust.” She replied by squeezing, expression as happy as a snake’s could be.

“Aw.” He said in disappointment but it only lasted a moment. “Yeah you’re right, think snakes would scare people too. No snake is as smart as Faust, you’re the bestest girl~” Lucio cooed to the serpent, not minding being squeezed at all unlike Julian who always freaked out. It was so fun to watch.

Lucio held his arm out to Asra so Faust could return to the magician. They exited the maze where the large encloser was that housed the peacocks. “Until they know not to fly off they’ll be kept in here for awhile.” He said as he opened the door for Asra to step in first then followed behind. There were four adult peacocks, two were variations of the common blue and green and two albino peacocks with white and gold feathers. One of each had the long tail of beautiful feathers.

She returned to Asra, settling around his shoulders for a moment before sliding back into his bag for a well deserved nap. He let Lucio lead the way. He liked the palace gardens, arguably more than anywhere else in the palace. They were well kept and gorgeous. And quiet, save for nature. He gave Lucio a smile again when he held the door, murmuring his thanks as he stepped inside. “A wise idea. It might not be great if they escaped.”

Asra firmly believed Lucio was full of bad ideas. Not all the time, sure, but Lucio was more impulsive than he was, more likely to run into things without thinking. It led to…interesting predicaments. Though…he had some good animals. “You bought a flock of peacocks?” He wasn’t that surprised. Lucio enjoyed flaunting his wealth and status.

He was slightly surprised when Lucio took his hand, though he allowed him to drag him out of the palace. There was the impulsiveness. “It is,” he agreed easily. That was something they could agree on. The palace was beautiful, but he felt like there was always someone nearby, listening, or observing. Out in the grounds…it was easier to relax. Feel more alone.

“I do.” Faust hadn’t wanted to stay behind for the meeting. Not when Asra would undoubtedly be having an adventure. He slipped a hand into his bag to pull her out, letting her curl around his wrist. She was used to Lucio by now, content to wrap around him.

“Yup, I’ve seen pictures but never had any before so when the chance to buy some arose I didn’t turn it down.” Lucio was the definition of impulsive, but his intentions were usually good. He didn’t enjoy seeking out trouble, it just ended up coming to him.

Julian stood in the market of Vesuvia. Most of the shop owners knew him well. "Ilya! Have you come for some leeches?" The Leech Dealer called from his small shop in the corner. One that everyone else was making a point of avoiding.

"Tempting! Very tempting!" Julian said with his usual rowdy grin, "But I didn't bring enough dubloons today. Sorry."

The Leech Dealer smiled and waved his hand. "No worries! Have a great day, Ilya!" He smiled and said. Julian nodded.

On any normal day, Julian would have been glad to buy a leech or two. But today was different. His gaze fell upon a small shop with blue and purple cloths. "Aha!" Julian said, adopting a mischievous smirk. He walked over to the shop and began browsing the many fabrics lining the walls.

Blues and purples. Greens and reds. Silvers and golds. A variety of colored scarves as vibrant as the rainbow itself. "Hmm..." Julian sighed as he focused on finding something nice.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dark blue scarf with silver specks peppered throughout the fabric. It had gold tassels and seems to shine like the night sky.

He walked over to examine the radiant scarf more closely. He ran his hand over the fabric and through the small, silky tassels lining the edges.

"It's so silky! This is perfect." He picked the scarf up and carried it over to the shopkeeper to purchase it. His eyes twinkled with excitement. "Do you take dubloons?" He asked as he searched his pockets and pulled out a hefty handful of golden coins. After purchasing the scarf he left the shop with a spring in his step. He bounded toward a small, narrow street where a familiar shop stood.

Asra laughed. Julian was ever so dramatic. He tinted light pink again, a natural response to being flattered. “That wouldn’t happen to be me, would it?” He asked, amused. He didn’t bother coming up with anything wittier. He was happy.

That was fair. Asra was…determined to believe that he only spent time with Lucio for the convenience of others. So he couldn’t get into too much trouble. Though, sometimes, Lucio made pretty good company. He usually felt that way when he dropped some of the egotistical act, and became something a little more human. Like the way he was with his dogs. Or in fleeting moments with Asra, with no one around.

They had an interesting relationship, that was for sure. Asra honestly wasn’t sure how it had continued so well. ‘Well’ was a bit optimistic, of course. Asra still had his moments of annoyance. Though they were fewer and farther between than they had been at one point in time. He wouldn’t exactly describe himself as fond of Lucio…but something like that.

Asra just smiled, amusement in his eyes. “Yes, worse ideas. There have been so many I can’t count them on both hands.” It was alright, though. Asra was good at keeping Lucio a little tamer. Though…he could be convinced to indulge Lucio on his adventures, especially when they didn’t affect anyone but them. He caught on to the addition. He’d specified that he wanted to explore it with Asra. Maybe he wasn’t just using him for entertainment. “With me?” He repeated, hiding his slight surprise as well as ever, smile still on his face. He didn’t really expect much of an answer. “Have you gotten any new animals since I went last?”

The count scoffed when Asra said that he had many bad ideas. He’d admit some had been strange but not bad. “You’re exaggerating.” Lucio merely brushed it off and grinned when the topic when back to their adventure. “Yeah! I bought a flock of peacocks a month ago and they arrived yesterday, they should be all situated now.”

Without another word he grabbed Asra’s hand and dragged him out of the palace, out to a balcony and down stairs into the garden. Once among nature he let go of the magician’s hand and lead the way through the maze of tall bushes. “I love being out here, it’s peaceful.” Lucio said with a happy sigh. He was always more relaxed when he was away from the palace and the stress it caused him.

He was slightly surprised when Lucio took his hand, though he allowed him to drag him out of the palace. There was the impulsiveness. “It is,” he agreed easily. That was something they could agree on. The palace was beautiful, but he felt like there was always someone nearby, listening, or observing. Out in the grounds...it was easier to relax. Feel more alone.