Nox looked up and saw the near flight in the open door. He stood up, there was not telling what Oriena would do and short of walking to the door and closing it for her, he had no way to keep her from fleeing his words. But he didn't want to hide, or fake it, or mince words with Oriena. He was grateful for her help in his shit and she knew he was there if she wanted it -- which she never did so offering to help was neither not an offer she was likely to take and she definitely wouldn't stick around for a pity fuck as she'd probably assume it was.
No song played in his ear. Ashtons voice silent for the moment while he conveyed the absolute misery of his life to the only person who had ever unerstood any of his shit. "The horde is gone, Oriena." His voice was emotionless. It should contain the fire of the loss, or excitement at it's disappearance. He didn't elaborate, Oriena didn't care. But it took effort to keep his mouth shut and let her decide what she wanted to do.
While his voice held nothing his body was ready for whatever Oriena through at him. He was ready for a fight, ready to submit if that was what he felt she needed at the given moment. He welcomed whatever she had to give him. He'd at least feel something without the help of Ashton's song. He was positive anything with Oriena would be better than a stranger. There was power in trust and respect.
She could leave, she could bolt out the door, but he wanted to explain, and ... against his better judgement Nox closed the distance between them with his usual grace and speed. He reached out with the mechanical hand, not lost upon him that she'd destroyed the other the last time he did this, but it was different this time. His fingers collapsed around her throat and felt the soft tender skin of beneath his fingers, he didn't squeeze to hurt or strangle, but she knew he was there. "Nothing has to change." He said quietly.
No song played in his ear. Ashtons voice silent for the moment while he conveyed the absolute misery of his life to the only person who had ever unerstood any of his shit. "The horde is gone, Oriena." His voice was emotionless. It should contain the fire of the loss, or excitement at it's disappearance. He didn't elaborate, Oriena didn't care. But it took effort to keep his mouth shut and let her decide what she wanted to do.
While his voice held nothing his body was ready for whatever Oriena through at him. He was ready for a fight, ready to submit if that was what he felt she needed at the given moment. He welcomed whatever she had to give him. He'd at least feel something without the help of Ashton's song. He was positive anything with Oriena would be better than a stranger. There was power in trust and respect.
She could leave, she could bolt out the door, but he wanted to explain, and ... against his better judgement Nox closed the distance between them with his usual grace and speed. He reached out with the mechanical hand, not lost upon him that she'd destroyed the other the last time he did this, but it was different this time. His fingers collapsed around her throat and felt the soft tender skin of beneath his fingers, he didn't squeeze to hurt or strangle, but she knew he was there. "Nothing has to change." He said quietly.
![[Image: nox_sig.gif]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/nox_sig.gif)