ASHTON IV (Practice)
Nov 11, 2014 13:49:11 GMT
Post by Admin on Nov 11, 2014 13:49:11 GMT
« Thread started on: Aug 17th, 2014, 6:43pm »
ASHTON "PRACTICE"
ASHTON And the WHISPER SWORDS
by Melissa Aragon
(The following was written beginning June 2014. It is the back story to the WHISPER SWORD spin off that began as story and took shape in 2001-2002 when I was in Japan and became part of a ten year LaRP that was there. This story played itself into Alex's life in those years. I felt obliged to set it down as part of her history. Ashton is fictional. The RP in Japan that leant itself to this story is interwoven in. But as I have no way to reach those I played with back then for permission to use their names and likenesses, I will spin a bit more yarn into the web and create the story myself. Thank you to everyone in Japan and elsewhere who have become part of Alexa's life... and thank you to my beloved As'kha'ri, Jas... for loving Alexa in all her glory (good and bad) and loving her enough to share a soul with her. As you share my heart... Here is another of her life chapters...)
**
“Again!” He snapped as she faltered and the sword lost its straight path and wavered in a lazy arc. “One... and down... Two... and down...”
She mentally shook herself and again began the movements of what she had originally thought was a boringly easy exercise. ONE.. the sword rose over her right shoulder. AND DOWN... it sliced clean and straight towards her lower left side. TWO...straight up to pause over her left shoulder. AND DOWN... straight down to her lower right side. ONE... back to where it began over her right shoulder...
Over and over she moved the sword in the X pattern he had prescribed. And as Ashton began pacing around the back balcony overlooking the sea, Alexa shifted so she was always facing him.
So many rules, so many minute things to remember; always straight lines, never cross your feet as you shift, back straight, never lose focus, and concentrate... always concentrate.
“That's enough...”
As the sword wavered for the fourth time, Alexa finally heard the words she had been waiting for. She completed the cycle she was on and, after two failed attempts, managed to sheath the blade on the belt on her hip. Bowing to Ashton, she awaited his mirrored response. Only THEN did she allow herself to relax and move to the railing to lean on it and stare down into the waves crashing on the rocks far below.
She felt him come up behind her and closed her eyes. She tried to focus on the 'feel' of him. But every time she concentrated, he faded from her 'touch'.
“You feel me because I wish it, Little One. Trouble yourself not that you cannot feel me otherwise. Others far older and more powerful than you have the same trouble.” He laughed softly and stroked her back. His power seemed to radiate thru her. It relaxed her as no one's touch, since Devon's, had.
She allowed herself a second to bask in the moment before she opened her eyes. Without looking back at him she asked, “Why did you come here, Ash?” She waited to hear him speak of duty, honor, her inability to protect herself, and her foolishness in trying to find the swords before she was truly ready.
It seemed like an eternity as his hand stroked lazily up and down her back, infusing her with his energy. When he finally spoke, Ashton's voice was low and sincere. “Because I see in you, Alexandra, an Ancient I will someday follow.”
She hadn't been prepared for that.
Alexa slowly turned to face him, and his hand followed the curve and turn of her body till it rested on her hip, his knuckles feeling the cold steel of her sword where it rested as he looked at her for her reaction.
Sometimes, when she looked into his eyes, there was an expanse of eternity she got dizzy trying to fathom. Sometimes she saw determination. This time she saw HIM. Blue eyes rimmed with dark crimson. The blue like the sapphire of the ocean in the summer after a storm blows away the surface. And the red was like a ruby drop of vitae on porcelain skin. She felt the weight of his gaze and looked down at his chest. His open shirt left a trail of pale skin for her to stare at. There were scars there she never dared ask about. Her hand started to rise with a desire to trace the lines, ask how he got them, then try and help him think of more pleasant things. Halfway up she realized what she was doing. Gasping, she balled her fist and dropped it to her side once more. Swiftly side stepping, she slid from between his hard body and the balcony railing and paced away from him to look out over the expanse of the green grass in the moonlight that separated the house from the forest that bordered and protected the the property lines of Serenade and her occupants.
((modified to clarify heading 8/17/14))
« Last Edit: Sep 8th, 2014, 10:26pm by Llewellynn »
ASHTON "PRACTICE"
ASHTON And the WHISPER SWORDS
by Melissa Aragon
(The following was written beginning June 2014. It is the back story to the WHISPER SWORD spin off that began as story and took shape in 2001-2002 when I was in Japan and became part of a ten year LaRP that was there. This story played itself into Alex's life in those years. I felt obliged to set it down as part of her history. Ashton is fictional. The RP in Japan that leant itself to this story is interwoven in. But as I have no way to reach those I played with back then for permission to use their names and likenesses, I will spin a bit more yarn into the web and create the story myself. Thank you to everyone in Japan and elsewhere who have become part of Alexa's life... and thank you to my beloved As'kha'ri, Jas... for loving Alexa in all her glory (good and bad) and loving her enough to share a soul with her. As you share my heart... Here is another of her life chapters...)
**
“Again!” He snapped as she faltered and the sword lost its straight path and wavered in a lazy arc. “One... and down... Two... and down...”
She mentally shook herself and again began the movements of what she had originally thought was a boringly easy exercise. ONE.. the sword rose over her right shoulder. AND DOWN... it sliced clean and straight towards her lower left side. TWO...straight up to pause over her left shoulder. AND DOWN... straight down to her lower right side. ONE... back to where it began over her right shoulder...
Over and over she moved the sword in the X pattern he had prescribed. And as Ashton began pacing around the back balcony overlooking the sea, Alexa shifted so she was always facing him.
So many rules, so many minute things to remember; always straight lines, never cross your feet as you shift, back straight, never lose focus, and concentrate... always concentrate.
“That's enough...”
As the sword wavered for the fourth time, Alexa finally heard the words she had been waiting for. She completed the cycle she was on and, after two failed attempts, managed to sheath the blade on the belt on her hip. Bowing to Ashton, she awaited his mirrored response. Only THEN did she allow herself to relax and move to the railing to lean on it and stare down into the waves crashing on the rocks far below.
She felt him come up behind her and closed her eyes. She tried to focus on the 'feel' of him. But every time she concentrated, he faded from her 'touch'.
“You feel me because I wish it, Little One. Trouble yourself not that you cannot feel me otherwise. Others far older and more powerful than you have the same trouble.” He laughed softly and stroked her back. His power seemed to radiate thru her. It relaxed her as no one's touch, since Devon's, had.
She allowed herself a second to bask in the moment before she opened her eyes. Without looking back at him she asked, “Why did you come here, Ash?” She waited to hear him speak of duty, honor, her inability to protect herself, and her foolishness in trying to find the swords before she was truly ready.
It seemed like an eternity as his hand stroked lazily up and down her back, infusing her with his energy. When he finally spoke, Ashton's voice was low and sincere. “Because I see in you, Alexandra, an Ancient I will someday follow.”
She hadn't been prepared for that.
Alexa slowly turned to face him, and his hand followed the curve and turn of her body till it rested on her hip, his knuckles feeling the cold steel of her sword where it rested as he looked at her for her reaction.
Sometimes, when she looked into his eyes, there was an expanse of eternity she got dizzy trying to fathom. Sometimes she saw determination. This time she saw HIM. Blue eyes rimmed with dark crimson. The blue like the sapphire of the ocean in the summer after a storm blows away the surface. And the red was like a ruby drop of vitae on porcelain skin. She felt the weight of his gaze and looked down at his chest. His open shirt left a trail of pale skin for her to stare at. There were scars there she never dared ask about. Her hand started to rise with a desire to trace the lines, ask how he got them, then try and help him think of more pleasant things. Halfway up she realized what she was doing. Gasping, she balled her fist and dropped it to her side once more. Swiftly side stepping, she slid from between his hard body and the balcony railing and paced away from him to look out over the expanse of the green grass in the moonlight that separated the house from the forest that bordered and protected the the property lines of Serenade and her occupants.
((modified to clarify heading 8/17/14))
« Last Edit: Sep 8th, 2014, 10:26pm by Llewellynn »