Shadewood i. silver thracian thaw (m)

Thanks!

It was clear by the woman's behaviour that she was after something—a specific something. It was a nice distraction. Asa knew he could not linger here for long if he wanted to conclude his own quest, but a small detour was not going to spoil much. She was entreating him with her eyes; grabbing for that loose thread in a tapestry of plans, trying to unravel him. By the look in his eye he could do with some unravelling. The woman was worth more to him than that, though. He did not know her and that made him uneasy, and she made no attempt to know him, but drew close and tempted at his base instincts - not a trick, then, but a powerful ploy, a manipulation.

Asa could not help but wonder if this was the way the world worked: no lasting connections among living souls. Get in, get what you want, and get out. His father had done it (so his mother had told him) and it was a common enough occurrence. Asa was no prude, nor was he unblemished when it came to such connections, yet in watching this beautiful woman goad him in to something like this felt wrong, somehow. He had not come here looking for this. Did that mean he could not partake? She was willing, and he could be willing, so why was he holding back now?

The woman pulled back from him, watching him, her tail waving. Playful antics which Asa almost did not recognize; when was the last time he had any fun? Maybe that was the problem with him. This stoicism in the face of a little happiness was unwarranted; he could breathe here, and need not be so worried about deviance. The man thrust himself after her in a feigned bow of his own following these ricocheting thoughts — giving in to the chase, seeking the sunlight of the mysterious woman as she took off before him.