Ashton O'Callaghan's page

"What? What did he do? You need to tell me. You can't keep hiding this!"

Let's go number one then

Then I mark XP, I level up, and I'm going to take the growing up moves "Intervene in an Act of Violence" and "Share Your Pain"

The moment he sees Xavier, Ashton breaks into a sprint...and attempts to tackle Xavier.

Intervene against an act of violence: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3) + 2 = 11

When they arrive at the nursing home, Ashton hops out of the car and starts to walk towards the door. As he approaches, he closes his eyes and tries to see if he can get a bearing on where Xavier's gone to - do ghosts have a scent? Would he have left a trail? Guess Ashton's going to find out.

2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 That's -1 if there's no moonlight for 5, +3 if there is for 9. My question: Where is Xavier?

"You okay Deirdre? You having visions now?" says Ashton.

"Right, it's the best lead we have right now. So Lakeside? We don't know what Xavier can do or what he's planning and a rampaging ghost at a nursing home seems like a really bad idea, even for us," says Ashton as he stows JJ's - no, Gavin's book into his backpack. "I have no idea what we're gonna do about Casper the unfriendly ghost though."

With that problem solved, Ashton closes his eyes and tries to put together the clues to figure out who Xavier's father might be. Obviously something to do with Gavin and Gavin's house...but what, exactly?

Gaze Into the Abyss: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (3, 2) - 1 = 4

But he can't seem to put anything together.

"Okay. We need to figure out where Xavier went and who his father is. Best place to start would be Gavin's house, I think, since that's where we found him, but if anybody has any other ideas I'm all ears."

"I can't, the team gets drug tested. But I know some people," says Ashton. "But I'm not going anywhere until JJ gives me the book."

"See?" says Ashton, gesturing over to where Xavier had been just a moment ago. "Now we have a vengeful ghost with undefined magical powers that we have to deal with because you feel the need to give an open invitation to come visit to every demon in that book. When I told you to loosen up I was thinking more smoke some pot then demonology, by the way."

Shut Down: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (4, 3) - 1 = 6

"JJ. Give me the book so I don't have to take it from you."

Ashton continues to pointedly ignore Xavier.

"It's not even your book, JJ. I think maybe it's time to give it back to Gavin."

Lash Out: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 = 7

Ashton says nothing; instead, he moves from the doorway with startling - but still mundane, he is an athlete after all - speed. He doesn't go for JJ - instead he goes for his bag, trying to grab it before JJ can.

I don't know if I need to roll for this or not.

"Whatever. You want to do your thing and you want to not tell us what it involved, you can do your thing. And you can do it without me," says Ashton, getting out of his chair and heading for the door.

Shut Someone Down: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (4, 4) - 1 = 7

JJ, take the condition "Alone". And Ashton's aura has dimmed to the point it's almost imperceptible

Ashton says nothing. Instead, he crosses his arms behind his head, leans back in his chair, and puts his feet on the table.

Shut Someone Down: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (5, 1) - 1 = 5

"Yeah, I've got to agree with Hayden on this. And we handled the fairy lady fine on our own--we didn't really need any additional firepower," says Ashton, still very much not looking at Xavier. "And that imp you summoned made you bargain to get information, so how many candy bars did you have to give to get this deal?"

It is the same as it was

"A ritual? In your book? What did it entail?" says Ashton, glancing over at JJ, still trying to avoid making eye contact with Xavier.

Ashton says nothing; he just crosses his arms, stares off into space, and turns bright red.

Ashton arrives, looking a little bleary eyed and worn out; he glances at the muffins, grabs one, takes a bite and then immediately spits the chunk of muffin out into his hand.

"Gross. So what's going on with Xavier, JJ? You didn't do something irresponsible without me, did you?"

Ashton: What did you two do, exactly?

It doesn't seem like there's anything left to say between Hayden and Ashton if we want to move on

"You wouldn't've happened to run into any big bad wolves or anything like that in fairy land?"

"That does suck. You didn't get anything out of it in return? No special fairy powers or anything?" says Ashton. As he does, he pulls up the sleeve of his right arm slightly and rubs his wrist with his hand; there's a flash of a scar there, barely discernible, an injury that must've been old - or maybe Ashton just healed fast. "Guess I at least get super senses with my stuff."

"I mean, for most of my life I was the only thing that went bump in the night that I knew of. I figured that I couldn't be the only one. And after Gavin's party I knew that I wasn't the only one but Trixie seemed like a worst kind of monster than I am and so did Lucinda. It's been kind of lonely, being the only one. I figured we would have a lot in common," he says with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I don't get it," says Ashton. "But one of the benefits of being on the soccer team: away games. I like a little bit of variety."

"Why do you care? And aren't you and Deirdre a thing now anyways?"

"Mostly I can turn it on and off when I want. Any other questions?"

Ashton bit at his bottom lip. Could he really trust Hayden? He'd waited so long to find someone - anyone - who was like him. But Trixie had been a literal demon and Lucinda hadn't been much better. There was Xavier, for sure but Xavier already knew plenty about him. Hayden seemed like she was halfway to figuring it out anyways; might as well beat her to the punch - and who knows, maybe they have werewolves in fairyland.

"That's the big question, isn't it? Well, the answer's pretty easy: I'm a monster."

"When I was thirteen I woke up naked in the woods one morning, for the first time. When I was fourteen people's pets in my hometown started disappearing. When I was fifteen - well, you don't need to hear that one, yet. Nobody bit me, the full moon does nothing for me, though I am not a fan of silver jewelry. What does that sound like to you?"

"Scout's honor," says Ashton, doing his best attempt at imitating the scout's salute. "I was never in the scout's but I feel the principle's the same. Nobody needs to know anything that gets said - or seen, quite frankly - here tonight."

Ashton: You're not really my type

When Hayden arrives in the forest, she finds Ashton leaning against a tree, his arms crossed, a gym bag by his feet. He nods as she approaches but he doesn't look at her, he just keeps staring up at the night sky.

"So. I'm thinking we have something we need to talk about," says Ashton. "We saw a lot of weird stuff tonight. Not the weirdest I've ever seen, but still. My grandma used to tell me all sorts of stories, about fairies and stuff. She even hung an iron horseshoe above our trailer's front door. Never really struck me as strange or anything - old folks in West Virginia are just like that. But one day, I asked her why she did that, and she said it was because fairies would snatch people's children and try to switch them with their own, but iron could keep them away."

"Now, I've never really been much of a skeptic, but fairies? That's pretty weird, even for me. Guess I was wrong about that, huh? Baobhan sith - that sounds kind of Irish to me. And you know how the Irish love their fairies. The Scotch-Irish too, if you're ever in Appalachia. And hearing you talk to Lucinda - I kind of get the feeling that had I asked you about fairies, you would've known all about them. The way you were with her - it was like she was your cousin, albeit a cousin from the side of the family you don't get along with," he continues. His tone is not accusatory - it's all spoken matter-of-factly, like he's recounting a semi-amusing anecdote.

"I've been waiting awhile to run into somebody - different. JJ doesn't count - as far as I can tell the first time he found out about any of this stuff was at Gavin's party," he says, finally stepping away from the tree and looking to Hayden. "I'm ready to lay my cards out on the table. How about you? You said that you wouldn't tell anyone something about me - what was it?"

Ashton: I am. You ready?

Assuming that Xavier has nothing else to say to Ashton, he gets out his phone and texts Hayden.

Ashton: We need to talk. Meet me back at the woods later?

"The burn? It really isn't a big deal. I've had sunburns that were worse," says Ashton, who does indeed have some aloe vera back at his dorm, ready to apply to his injury. "And there's not really anything you could have done anyways, other than help JJ with his pitch. Don't worry about it."

"Hey man, it's no big deal. We all got caught up in--whatever this was. Fine by me if we all pretend this never happened. I know I wouldn't want the soccer team finding out that I was pretending to be Lestat or whatever, even with all my amazing bat powers," says Ashton, who then gives Gavin a couple of pats on the back as he walks, the last one lingering just slightly longer than necessary, before flashing his trademark crooked grin and continuing to walk towards campus. "Alright! Who's got a spare shirt?"

Turn Someone On: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6) + 1 = 8

"We convinced Lucinda to pick up a new hobby," says Ashton. "She's all about beer pong now. Also, whatever she did to us is over and she's left town for good. All hail the conquering heroes and all that jazz."

"How exactly did you stumble into all of that in the first place, Gavin? And why? Lacrosse and larping kind of seem like a weird combination. Admittedly soccer and larping is just as weird but still. You don't seem like the type."

"Called it," says Ashton. "Alright, let's go find her."

Ashton gives Isaac a thumbs up. "Implied threats of teeth kicking solve a surprising number of problems. And I think we've all learned a valuable lesson: role playing games are bad. Next time you want to do a group activity, consider intramural sports or something. I hear frisbee golf is pretty fun."

"So if we're done pretending to be the Scooby gang--hey, has anyone seen Eva? She kind of seems like the 'I get lost in the woods' easily type."

Yup. Definitely a mothman. Grandma was right! thinks Ashton, jogging after her.

Oh god, this conversation. Wait, what does she mean?

"Wait, what do you mean?" he says, narrowing his eyes at her.

Fairy? No. That can't be right. Fairies aren't real, and Hayden definitely can't be one, can they? But she did mention the Baobhan Sith--and that sounds Irish, doesn't it, and aren't fairies supposed to be Irish, Mr. O'Callaghan? Vampires, demons, ghosts, warlocks: are fairies really that much of stretch? Maybe it's time to make the only thing you share in common with Dana Scully a hair color.

And are fairies really that hard to believe, Mr. I howl at the moon every month? Hayden was clearly hiding something, and this would explain most of it.

"Hey, JJ isn't exactly the best shot. That was clearly his first ever fireball and he needs to work on his aim," says Ashton, poking at the burn on his shoulder and wincing. "I'll be fine. One of the fringe benefits of being a ginger is that I already have a bunch of aloe vera on hand."

"But it's not a big deal. You don't have to tell anyone anything," he says, and he stretches his arms behind his back as he does. Without his shirt on every muscle in his upper body is visible as he flexes. He's tall, that's for sure, but when he does this it's apparent how lithe he is too, and he looks like a cat stretching itself out after a nap, or maybe right before the hunt. "Let's find the others. And maybe find me a shirt, too."

Shut Someone Down Turn Someone On (Wild Hunt): 2d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 1 + 1 = 10

And I'll take that string back

Ashton narrows his at Hayden, looking back and forth at her and Lucinda. He can tell there's something going on with her. He just can't tell what, exactly. He looks up at the moon for a second and closes his eyes, trying to piece something, anything together.

Gaze into the Abyss: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8

I think I'll hear what Ashton gets from Gaze into the Abyss before responding to Hayden

"No, you weren't? What are you even talking about? There is no way you should've been able to hear it!" says Ashton. "Why are you bald-faced lying? There is no f~%+ing way you could have heard me!"

"I asked what you were. The only freaky shit I really know is demons. It was a safe guess. I don't have a clue if there are good demons or what. I mean, you clearly aren't a good demon, but it was one hundred percent a possibility."

"But I don't even care at this point. Whatever you are, it doesn't matter. I'm going home," he says, walking off, flipping Hayden the bird as he does.

Shut Someone Down, tagging Bully: 2d6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (5, 1) - 1 + 1 = 6

Ashton narrows his at Hayden, looking back and forth at her and Lucinda. He can tell there's something going on with her. He just can't tell what, exactly. He looks up at the moon for a second and closes his eyes, trying to piece something, anything together.

Gaze into the Abyss: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8

"First of all, there was no contract. It was a character sheet. That's not a contract. I didn't even sign anything. And why are you taking vampire lady's side in the first place? Is she like your sister or something?"

"Second of all, yeah I have. It's called a hunting accident. I've still got the scars," he says, gesturing to a part of his face that seems to be mostly freckles. "We were facing a demon or whatever and I needed to be intimidating. It kind of seemed like it worked, anyways."

"Third of all, how'd you even hear what I said in the first place? I whispered it to what's-her-face. I'm kind of surprised that she even heard it. There is one hundred percent something going on with you."

"You don't have to tell me what it is now. You don't even have to tell me later. I'm not trying to blow up anyone's spot or anything," he says with a shrug of his shoulders. "I don't know why you keep going after me like this."

Shut Someone Down: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (4, 4) - 1 = 7

I'm giving Hayden the tag 'Bully' and she can give me a condition in return

"Somebody needs to tell me what the hell is going on," says Ashton, touching his skin where just a moment ago he was pretty seriously injured. At least whatever freaky stuff she had done to him seems to be gone now. He bites down on his lip, breathing in and out for a moment, calming himself down before looking back over at Hayden. "Do you know her? What is up with you two, anyways? I think it might be time to let the rest of us in on how deep this rabbit hole goes. Are you a demon too?"

Spending a string on Hayden, I would like her to explain to Ashton what she is

I think I'm supposed to get a condition for my middling roll, right? Or does it not matter since this adventure appears to be wrapping up?

Ashton buckles over in pain, ripping off the remains of his shirt as he does, exposing his magically induced injury. That would have been enough to get most people to back off.

But Ashton, it turns out, is not most people. As the injury manifests itself, he feels every anger and pain he's ever known welling up in his stomach. Every person who's tried to control him, to chain him, to make him do what they wanted, to be a little pet, a long line of people going all the way back to West Virginia. His parents, his brothers, his teachers, all of them. And at Summerwood he was supposed to be able to get away from all that, to finally be free and now, for the second time in a handful of days a f*~%ing demon is trying to tell him what to do? No. Enough. It is time for Ashton to be who--to be what he really is.

"Whatever you did to me, you undo it right now," he snarls, getting back up and stepping towards Lucinda. "I am tired of this stupid game and I am about ready to flip the table over. And if I do, that's really going to suck for everybody here."

He keeps walking towards her, his blue eyes flashing red and black for a moment before returning to their original color. "I think I recognize you. You've seen a monster in the forest, right?" he says when he's close enough to her to whisper. "Well let me tell you something: I've taken a shotgun blast to the face like that and it didn't even leave a scar. So try me."

Shut Someone Down: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (4, 5) - 1 = 8

I'm going to take a string on Lucinda. And I'm going to spend it to tempt her to remove her geasa on Ashton.

"Hey! Watch we're you're aiming that thing," says Ashton, brushing at his shoulder, looking at the semi-ruined remains of his shirt before turning back to face Lucinda. "But you'd better watch it or there's more where that came from."

"Contact her father? What are you talking about?" says Ashton, walking close enough to Hayden that he can lower his voice when he talks to her. "Hey Hayden, remember when we talked to that actual demon and it tried to negotiate with us? I think this is a similar situation. Blaze's arm turned into a claw earlier and also I'm pretty sure Lucinda and the gang are whatever he is. Also I keep getting this weird sensation that if I tell you about this something bad will happen, but honestly, I feel fine, so I'm thinking that was nothing. But seriously, I do not trust any of these guys.

"So, I don't know what kind of bullshit is happening here, but it's done," says Ashton as he runs into the clearing after Blaze. "I don't know if ya'll are vampires or demons or what. But I have not gotten to kick anyone's ass in awhile and I'm starting to miss it. So you're going to tell me what's going on, and then you're going to stop doing it, or else you're going to find out why I have the most red cards on the team, understand?

Time to see if that feeling I got about getting hurt if I don't go along with the game was just a feeling or not, Ashton thinks to himself, glancing at Hayden. She had acted like she had something on her that would help out with this--hopefully she was right. And maybe she had something to spare. And if that magical compulsion was real--maybe he'd be able to power through it anyways.

Shut Someone Down: 2d6 - 1 ⇒ (2, 1) - 1 = 2

Ashton runs after Blaze, glancing back at JJ and motioning for him to follow as he does.

"Try that again, buddy, and we'll see if vampire bones break as easy as regular ones," says Ashton, interposing himself between JJ and Blaze. Hopefully his bluff doesn't get called. Hopefully this doesn't count as acting physically against Blaze, since all he did was say something.

Shut Someone Down: 2d6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) - 1 + 1 = 6

Guess I'll take the Wild Hunt

Ashton arches an eyebrow as Blaze flirts with JJ. He definitely seems like Blaze's type. Well, if this doesn't turn out to be a coven of vampires and all that happens is JJ gets a boyfriend Ashton would be willing to count that as a not wasted evening.

"Let me guess: blood of a virgin? Probably be pretty easy to find around here," says Ashton with a smirk.