The Siren's Song

[Ashton]

Everyone was busy trying to get situated in their new life. Nox was back and the house was full of activity. The kids spent part of their days at Kallisti and the rest of it in the basement playing and working out and doing whatever it was they did the closer it got to opening time at the club.

Ashton helped around the club cleaning things up for the performers, running whatever errands he could. He wasn't so much as getting paid as much as helping out.

For a club in the Red Light District Kallisti was one of the cleanest he'd ever seen. Not that he frequented them often, but sometimes a mark could be found. Though after the Jaxen incident he hadn't exactly frequented places he could make the same mistake again.

With a sudder Ashton started singing to himself. To ease the tension he'd inadvertently created in his shoulders. Singing to himself didn't really do anything, but Ashton relaxed none the less. And no one here seemed to mind his voice piercing their thoughts. At least no one had told him. And Nox couldn't get angry if he accidentally sirened someone, he was alone right now and his voice wasn't carrying beyond the room. And it was nothing really he was just easing tension. What was the harm in that?

[Anna]

Anna arrived with Elyse. She had only stayed the one night, but getting together after the death of their father had really cemented their friendship. Elyse had moods now, something that at least told Anna she was dealing with the emotions. It was still fresh and Elyse had every right to be upset. Today - Elyse was feeling it though. She wasn’t bad - not like she had been, but she was more subdued and quieter.

Elyse had also told her she was upset, but had wanted to come to work. That was a good sign too. She wasn’t trying to isolate. Anna was there by her side, and remained quiet, giving her a slight touch on the back to guide her and remind her they were there.

They entered the lounge and Ashton was there cleaning and singing quietly. It was such a beautiful voice. It always seemed to draw her in. She wanted to hear more. But at his song, she felt all her tension melt away, she began to relax and the two women took a seat at one of the tables to listen.

[Elyse]

Elyse was feeling down today. Her moods shifted throughout the day, but they weren’t as intense. She wasn’t having thoughts of self harm anymore and that helped a great deal. She had recovered her weapons from the underground city and they were still in good condition. She gave them back to Adrian for the time being. He had hugged her then. He knew what had happened.

Anna was with her, guiding her through Kallisti. Anna was a true friend - her best friend - and this whole situation had only strengthened that. They entered the lounge and Ashton was singing. Elyse felt herself relax at his song. Elyse knew what he could do. He wasn’t supposed to Siren people, but she didn’t mind. Ashton liked to sing and to silence that completely would be a travesty and he certainly hadn’t done it on purpose. Besides - she could feel her tension melting away as they sat down. Elyse didn’t mind his song at all. Neither woman spoke, they just became his silent audience.

[Ashton]

Ashton turned to put a way a fallen costume and was surprised by two people sitting there raptly watching him. Ashton's voice stopped. He knew them of course, but he hadn't really talked to either. "I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was here with me." He hung the costume on the appropriate rack.

"Don't tell Nox I was singing please. I wasn't trying to do anything. I promise." Ashton wasn't sure what to do, he should go back to the house. He shouldn't be here when others could hear him. His speaking voice carried no song, he could control it, but he never liked to keep his voice tight and unemotional.

He was terrified Nox was going to throw them all out for his indiscretions.

[Anna]

Anna smiled at Ashton, but felt different when he stopped singing. She couldn’t describe why though. There was almost a longing for him to start again - like there was an emptiness. It was weird.

”No need to apologize. We just came in just now. You really have a beautiful voice,” she said with an encouraging smile.

Anna had no idea why Nox would be mad at Ashton for singing. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but he seemed so apologetic. He seemed almost nervous. ”Is something wrong…you were just cleaning and singing. Why would that bother Nox?” she looked at Elyse who had a knowing smile on her face.

[Elyse]

Elyse smiled at Anna’s responses. She didn’t know what Ashton was. Ashton hadn’t just been singing. He had been influencing them. There were subtle things that Elyse noticed. Anna hadn’t wanted him to stop. Even if she was unaware, Anna was right. Ashton hadn’t done anything wrong. He hadn’t lured them in here. They had come in. He certainly hadn’t tried to harm them and when he realized what he was doing he stopped.

”You did nothing wrong, Ashton. We won’t tell Nox anything if you wish. We just happened to walk in when you were singing. No harm done. In fact,” she said leaning forward with a smile. ”I found your song quite helpful.” Anna looked confused, but Elyse just gave her a smile. Ashton’s secret wasn’t hers to reveal.

[Ashton]

Ashton was surprised that Anna didn't know about him. Nox hadn't told everyone to stay away from him to not trust him. It surprised him that he'd only told a few people. Carmen knew and Elyse knew because she lived with him. But Anna didn't know.

He wasn't sure if he wanted anyone to know. "My voice can influence you." Ashton blurted out. Apparently he wanted to be trusted and known. Nearly everyone here was special in some way or another and Ashton wanted to fit in. "Nox told me not to do it under his roof. And here is part of that collective roof."

He was glad the song had helped Elyse. "I'm sorry you are having a hard time. But it isn't a fix-all. You'll not feel that way afterwards unless you feel that way for real. It can help you get there."

[Anna]

Anna blinked, suddenly understanding that she had not wanted him to stop because he had been influencing her. ”But how…is it channeling?” she said.

Elyse responded. ”Ever hear of the sirens?” she asked.

It clicked. It made sense to her. If magic users, vampires, and wolf people could exist, why not people who could influence others with song. Of course she had heard sirens were female - but why couldn’t there be male ones too.

”That’s…kind of cool,” Anna said with a smile. It took all sorts to make the world an interesting place. She found herself curious about this. The sirens in the stories - at least the Odyssey which she was most familiar with, said they led them sailors to their doom, but she had felt nothing but peace from Ashton, but maybe that was part of the lure.

”So…does it happen any time you sing or can you turn it off? Does that makes sense? And do you control what people do when you’re influencing them?” She asked curiously.

”Anna, don’t push him to share if he doesn’t want to,” Elyse said. 

Anna looked a little ashamed at this, but she looked at Ashton. ”Im sorry - no offense meant, and you certainly don’t have to answer. I’m just intrigued by how many unique individuals there are in our world, and certainly glad so many of them are friends and family!” she hadn’t spoken much to Ashton, but she certainly considered him part of her Kallisti family.

[Elyse]

Elyse hadn’t worried about saying that Ashton was a siren. He had told Anna what he could do, she just clarified it. She also understood what Ashton had said about it not being a fix all. It definitely wasn’t. She would default back to her normal state soon enough, but the brief distraction was enough for now.

”I hope you dont think Anna is being rude here. She’s not trying to be - she’s been learning a lot about what’s out there. It is genuine curiosity and a desire to know you better,” Elyse said with a smile. ”And I know it’s not a fix all - but the distraction was nice for a bit. I appreciate it, even if it wasn’t intended.”

Elyse pointed to the empty chair at the table. ”You’re welcome to join us here, Ashton. I know we’ve not spoken a lot, but I think I can speak for both of us when I say we’d love to get to know you better. You are family after all.” it was the truth and she wanted Ashton to feel like he belonged here.

[Ashton]

Ashton sat down tentatively. He pulled the chair out but didn't push up under the table. Touch could amplify it and that would be bad. "I don't mind. Most people never know what I am. As much as I regret kidnapping Nox for my Mistress I think it was the best thing for us all. I can control it to a degree. It took a long time to learn how to tone it down. They didn't like when I influenced them. I don't blame Nox for keeping the rule. I did horrible things to him, the fact that he even lets me live in his house is amazing." Ashton rambled.

Aston realized he didn't answer the question completely. "I don't have to sing to use my power, it's just easier. And I can make you do lots of things. Trust me is the biggest one, but I can make you feel things more than do them. Can make you want me more than you've wanted anything in your life or get so angry you hurt someone you love." He'd done that once by accident. He was young, before the Blackthorns. It was bad.