Upon Vestia: Chapter One

Kooshie wrote:"GOOD THING I HAVE MORE GARLIC," Ellie said to Heny, looking furious, "YOU'RE SO INSENSITIVE." To Starr she said, "I don't KNOW, but if SHAPESHIFTERS exist, VAMPIRES probably do TOO."

Asher watched the argument in fascination and concern. He thought that perhaps Ellie should be sent to an institution before she hurt herself.

Kooshie wrote:Ellie shrieked and tried to decide whether Heny was telling the truth, or manipulating her into losing her protection against vampires. "I DON'T KILL PEOPLE, EVEN ALIENS."
Asher coughed nervously. "Perhaps you shouldn't try to rile her up, Heny."

Kooshie wrote:"She's unstable, and in poor control of her mental processes," Asher told Heny.
"I'M PERFECTLY STABLE," Ellie said, glaring at the android.
Asher quietly reached for a sedative patch.

Kooshie wrote:"That's why you shouldn't be trying to anger her," said Asher to Heny.
"I AM NOT RETURNING TO THAT SHIP," Ellie shouted at Starr.
Asher tried to grab Ellie, but she darted away, avoiding him. "Oh boy," muttered Asher, and he raced after her.

Kooshie wrote:Asher considered Heny's words, and stopped. "I suppose. Are you well enough to catch her?"

Ellie was so determined to run that she accidentally crashed into the angel being. She staggered, and came to a stop. "I don't know what to believe any more," she said, her voice almost normal in cadence for once.

Kooshie wrote:Ellie hesitated, then took Starr's hand, her own hand trembling. "You are... kinder than you have any reason to be," she said, voice barely louder than a whisper.

"You are feeling all right, I hope," Asher said, suddenly realizing he hadn't worried about Heny's health for far too long.

Kooshie wrote:"You're... hunted?" She frowned, trying to guess why anyone would hunt the angel-creature. "If it's vampires, I'll help you fight them off." After a moment, she added, "Just kidding, I hope."

"If you don't mind me speaking freely, you did goad the unstable human into being dramatic," Asher said humorously. "If you do mind me saying that, then I definitely didn't say anything, and that was you imagining me saying something."

Kooshie wrote:"That is soo freaky," said Ellie, then, "Maybe that came out meaner than I intended. Sorry." She stared at Starr, "Can you turn into a bird? Or a robot? Or dish soap?"

Asher shook his head and sighed. "If you say so." He picked up an emerald green omnicom, noting with delight that it now featured a screwdriver and a knife, as well as the traditional communication, navigation, and flashlight features.

Kooshie wrote:For the first time in who knew how long, the look on Ellie's face was one of curiosity. "Can you turn into really big or small animals? Like a blue whale? Because that would be such a cool party trick."

Asher watched Heny go, wondering if he'd made a mistake defending the bigoted human. Heny did have her own set of problems to worry about, and he knew that he should be trying to help her with those. Heny was picking fights with nutty people, but by picking fights with Heny, was he actually doing the same thing?
He set down the fancy omnicom and moved sneakily to a different part of the market, wanting to escape the interested, not always friendly, gazes that still followed him.