Ashton is emotive, yes, but generally somewhat restrained in their facial expressions; that drops away. They are unselfconsciously thrilled to see Sym take this shape.
"You're beautiful," he says without even having to think about it. Sym's default shape is pretty, yes, but this? This is something else.
For a second she stiffens, reflexive: she doesn't know him nearly as well as she knows John, and her instincts are still a little overtuned even after a year and a half of not fighting for her life nearly ever. She trusts John fully and absolutely regardless of shape, and as beautiful as this form is, she doesn't trust Sym anywhere near that much.
Then she relaxes again, because if Sym kills her - well, he'd have to actually kill her, first off -- if Sym kills her he'd have to deal with Aerith being upset about it. And nobody wants that; not her, not him, not Aerith. So that's good insurance! So Ash hums inquisitively, encouraging him to explain further if he so wishes.
He has no intention of killing them or even hurting them. He just holds them loosely, tentacle wrapped a couple of times around them, but not tightly enough to restrict.
He's quiet, just enjoying the feeling that comes with connection, albeit brief.
Once I was a mushtree. For centuries, just to avoid another Gardener who annoyed me. The leaves rattle and shake, like a laugh. But I think I prefer to have appendages.
The tendency to do a rapidfire assessment of any given situation to determine what Ashton'd do if someone randomly decided to try to kill him is a hard habit to break! There is a great deal of non-malicious murder in his heart. It's just sort of... there.
"I do quite enjoy being a cat," he laments, "but having hands is simply too useful, and the amount of work you have to do to make that shape functional for everyday use while having hands is too extensive for my taste. My warform does have hands, but it's meant for combat, so it's not much suited for day to day life."
"I brought my own with me, wherever I went." That's a little rueful. It wasn't a great way to live, looking back, but it felt the only way to be at the time.
"It was. Terribly so." He sighs. "All my other options felt unbearable to even consider, so it was what it was, regardless of whether it was good for anyone at all."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-04-07 02:36 am (UTC)"You're beautiful," he says without even having to think about it. Sym's default shape is pretty, yes, but this? This is something else.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-07 02:44 am (UTC)This was our creation.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-09 06:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-09 09:15 pm (UTC)I spent thousands of years refining it.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-10 03:30 am (UTC)Then she relaxes again, because if Sym kills her - well, he'd have to actually kill her, first off -- if Sym kills her he'd have to deal with Aerith being upset about it. And nobody wants that; not her, not him, not Aerith. So that's good insurance! So Ash hums inquisitively, encouraging him to explain further if he so wishes.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-11 02:12 am (UTC)He's quiet, just enjoying the feeling that comes with connection, albeit brief.
Once I was a mushtree. For centuries, just to avoid another Gardener who annoyed me. The leaves rattle and shake, like a laugh. But I think I prefer to have appendages.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-11 05:28 am (UTC)"They are remarkably useful, it's true."
no subject
Date: 2026-04-12 01:38 am (UTC)He's always curious as to what people would be if they were unrestricted by the fleshy bodies that they inhabit.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-12 03:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-12 05:25 pm (UTC)He's never been at war, though the conflict with the humans could count as much. It still fascinates him in a way.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-13 05:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-14 02:27 am (UTC)That seems exhausting.
no subject
Date: 2026-04-14 06:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-14 03:55 pm (UTC)And you have since changed your ways?