Some Things Never Change [Solo]

[Ashla]

As a small hand gripped a rich, oak rail, Ashla walked down a fleet of wooden steps. She currently had a zaffre, loose dress on with a white lace wrapped around her waist and looped around the bottom of the skirt. Wearing white oak slippers, the young woman stepped onto the pine floor which was decorated with a center brown rug. Her hair and face were still cool and damp from being washed, her thin black strands pulled back into a pleasant half tail. Voices could be heard from the neighboring room, the parlor. Socially awkward and wary of the new voice, Ashla briefly looked back on her dreadful days as duchess of Eiskalt. . .

. . . Oh, Eiskalt. . .

Sighing, she walked across the creaking floorboards and into the room. There, many members of the Sirvant family could be seen. In the royal blue sofa resting against the right wall, Angela Sirvant was dressed in a bright yellow dress with little white birds. The dark skinned young woman was around Ashla's own age, although her personality was quite the contrast to her own. Angela was energetic, peppy, and optimistic. A home body, she was thrilled to stay home all day and keep the place in check, keeping her adaptive daughter alive. In a rocking chair in the left corner, a visitor who seemed younger than both was seated. Wearing blue robes, he had a rough but usage crossbow at the foot of his seat. The weapon immediately put Ashla on edge. Remembering the knife hidden under her dress, hanging on her right leg, the young woman's hand rested against the archway to the room.

As she hovered around the entryway, a blond toddler with curly blond locks ran around the room laughing about. The little girl wore a bright pink dress (which was in poor condition thanks to how much she ran around.) As Ashla watched the kid pick up a doll and shake it, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning her head, Ashla saw Daisuke walking up to her with a tray of tea and coffee cakes.

"To eat these goods, you must enter the room." The elderly man smiled at her however, bending over to her and whispering, "I understand how you feel. He is armed, we don’t know him, and we two are the most socially inadequate people throughout all of Althanas."

Ashla grinned, "So Deirdre is the third?"

"Where is your student?" Daisuke moved on upon hearing her name.

"Still getting ready." Ashla shrugged.

Daisuke simply nodded and stepped into the room, taking its two steps down, "Tea and a snack, anyone?"

"Ashla!" Angela beamed upon seeing her, "Come on in! Meet our guest, Ed Aluminum!"

Attempting to smile, Ashla stepped into the room. Walking around the toddler and sitting next to Angela, Ashla awkwardly waved to the young adult man.

It was odd, but he seemed to carry the appearance of an Eiskaltian. He had pale white skin and black hair. His eyes were that nixstella blue. . . It was a strange resemblance, but Ashla shrugged the thought off. As Daisuke passed around the group with the treats, the sound of a door opening in another room sounded.

"We're back!" A male voice shouted.

Angela brightened up widely, "Max, come in! We have company!"

"Company??" Another female voice shouted excitedly.

Daisuke, who was standing next to Ashla, shook his head, "Too many crazies live here. . ."

While Ashla attempted not to snicker, a redhead ran up to the doorway. She was between Angela and Deirdre's age, her youthful stature only further proven by her dust coated boots, brown pants, green shirt, and leather jacket. As her eyes fell on the visitor, she tilted her head in a weird, questioning manner. The man spoke from behind the stone wall, "Felicity, we need to clean up for company."

The girl's eyes widened, her body bursting with energy as she froze excitedly, "Oh yeah!" She immediately raced up the stairs.

Max stepped into viewing range. He was a healthy man with brown eyes and thin, reddish-brown hair. His brown shirt and trousers were dirtied from travels like Felicity's.

He nervously chuckled, "H-hey! Um, sorry about the weird people who live with me."