misborncat | [carpe] Closed to friends/family- It's that time again

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[carpe] Closed to friends/family- It's that time again

This time Asato was ready for it. The feelings of restlessness, of warmth, and of a desire to be around people was enough of a warning to send him out into the woods again. He was armed with his sword, blankets, a tent and enough supplies to last him a week just in case.

When he'd made camp, far away from everyone, it was already much too hot and he curled up on his blankets, shutting his eyes and curling up on himself.

It's spring and that means it's time for Asato and his heat. He'll be away from the Mansion for a little over a week and will not be friendly to strangers or people he doesn't totally trust.

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Neville was frankly worried. True, he and Asato didn't live in each other's pocket, so to speak, but they did make contact frequently enough that Neville noticed when his friend seemed to disappear. At first he thought the Ribika must simply be busy with something, but after another day he sought out Merlin considering he shared his cottage with Asato. Merlin wasn't particularly helpful, vague even, waving his hand that Asato was somewhere out there, doing something. Neville could only look at the dense wood with pursed lips and concern on his features.

He didn't press Merlin, finding his energy best used in searching for Asato himself. He patted his wand for his own reassurance before stepping into the forest, eyes and ears alert. He wasn't certain how long he'd been walking; neither was he certain he had any chance of finding his friend.

[ooc: Wil said it was okay to handwave Neville's unhelpful conversation with Merlin, so I hope this is okay with you as well?]

The Merlin can be unhelpful while still being perfectly helpful Asato has found. He tends to just go with it really, but he tends to go with a lot of things.

He's still sick enough though that while he does hear and smell Neville coming closer to him, he doesn't really put any effort into hiding so much as trying to not look like he's running a high fever and shivering. It doesn't really work well, but he does try.

I'm totally groovy with anything and everything. ^^

Neville might vaguely sense Asato's presence before he sees him, but he doesn't pause until the Ribika is actually in sight. His own widen with worry, noting the shiver and he moves closer to him. He doesn't think to hesitate, that Asato might want him to keep his distance. "Asato! What's wrong? Are you ill?"

Asato does want Neville to keep his distance, though only because this is embarrassing and he doesn't like to be weak around his friends.

He hisses without malice and shifts to press himself back against the tree he'd been resting under.

"It's fine," he says, voice a bit thready and soft. "I'll be better soon."

The hiss startles Neville; Asato has never made that noise at him, and it actually hurts his feelings a bit. Even so, his concern is more for his friend that himself. It's enough to make him pause in his tracks though, and bite his bottom lip. "But something is wrong? Asato -- I -- I just want to help. Can I help you return to Merlin's cottage? Or -- I know a few healing spells?"

Asato shakes his head. He didn't mean to hurt Neville's feelings, but he's had time to dwell on the things Muraki said and what he'd said in turn and he's not in the brightest of moods.

"I am sorry. I can't go back yet." Talking is okay. He can talk. "I'll be better soon. This ... this is something that happens to my ... kind."

Neville's brows knit together. "I didn't know what happened to you, but I realized you were gone. I was worried...," he trails off. "There's nothing I can do to help?"

Asato sighs softly and there's a note of utter exhaustion in it before he shivers again and hugs himself.

"It's a Ribika thing. It happens in cycles and nobody can help me." Don't make me say it...

Neville isn't trying to torture his friend. He's just a little slow sometimes, and generally thinks of Asato as more human than cat so he presses out of genuine concern. "But surely -- I could get Merlin? He's such a powerful wizard, he must know some magic --," he trails off, biting his bottom lip. Neville has a history of helping his friends, and he counts Asato as one of his best. He doesn't like feeling helpless.

It's because Neville is his friend (and probably his best friend that isn't Merlin, but then Merlin's family and that's different?) that Asato doesn't clam right up and refuse to answer.

He does blush deeply and fold his ears down as he looks away. "It's..." He's really embarrassed.

"I ... don't have a mate," he manages, reaching up to hugs his own shoulders and clearly feeling uncomfortable on top of sick and in pain now.

Slowly it begins to dawn on Neville, his eyes widening in tiny increments. "Oh! Oh, I -- shite." His only pet had been Trevor, and toads didn't go into heat, but he wasn't completely ignorant. He still didn't know enough about the process to have a clue how he could help -- or perhaps he couldn't, which is what Asato had been trying to tell him. "So you just...you're just going to stay out here as long as you need to? To be alone?"

Asato sighs softly and leans against the tree beside him. "I ... It's best that I'm alone out here. Touch is too much and I'm bad company now." And for someone that is as tactile as Asato, being unable to touch anybody or be touched is almost as distressing as the fever and pain.

"You shouldn't worry about me."

"I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't," Neville points out before biting his bottom lip again. He shifts nervously from one foot to the other, uncertain and slightly uncomfortably with his new knowledge about Asato. "Can I bring you something, at least? Food or blankets?"

Asato hunches up on himself a bit more, embarrassed and not liking how Neville looks so uncomfortable now.

"I'm okay out here. Thank you for being concerned."

"How long have you been without shelter, Asato?" Neville might be uncomfortable, but his concern for one of his best mates far outweighs that. "Can't we construct a shelter?"

"The weather is good," he says. "And I have a few blankets and supplies out here. It's alright. Thank you Neville."

Neville shifts back and forth between feet for a long, silent moment. "So you want me to just leave?" He sounds forlorn at the idea.

Asato's ears fold back and he shakes his head. "I don't," he admits. "I like not being alone, but ... I don't want you to be uncomfortable with me."

Neville frowns. "Let me worry about that, then. I'm never comfortable with things I don't completely understand," he admits, moving closer to Asato, but slowly as if to avoid frightening the Ribika. "Just as my potions' professor," he adds wryly.

Neville won't frighten Asato and he actually straightens up a bit to smile hesitantly at his friend.

"Thank you."

Neville gives him a slight smile in return. "We can discuss the weather?" he offers wryly.

Blink blink. Asato looks up at the sky. "It's a nice day?"

Neville chuckles. "Yes, it is nice. Because I am in good company," he adds with a smile.

ask^

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[carpe] Closed to friends/family- It's that time again

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