Private Barracks/Imperial Condos The Trenches The Canon

[Asta Dalgaard]

Asta glanced down at the small piece of paper in her paw, then back up at the street sign on the building at the cross street where she currently stood. She had finally found the correct street. Though she had been to the Trenches before, it had always been with somebeast who knew where they were going. Navigating Bully Harbor had yet to become second nature for her--she was far more accustomed to farm paths and wooded trails rather than the maze of streets that was the city she now called home. She was rather proud of herself for getting this far in her search, and as she made her way down the street, she counted the numbers on the flats she passed until she came to the one listed on her piece of paper.

She felt a hint of nervousness as she stepped up to the door. The last time she had seen the fox had been under harrowing circumstances, and she only hoped Whisper would not find it unnerving to see the jill on their doorstep. Though it had been a month since the attack at the Opera House, Asta suspected it was just as fresh for the fox as it was for her.

Asta raised her paw and knocked.

 

[Marie "Whisper" Deftclaw]

Whisper was, in a way, in the middle of creation rage. The events of opera were traumatic to say the least for the fox that was sheltered from most harm for their entire life. It did however leave them impossibly inspired. Whisper, casing that perfect symphony, combining chaos, stress and destruction. Fortissimo crescendos that would build the tension! Adagio and allegro syncopation, making the music beautifully anarchic! The possibilities were endless.

And it was second week of that creation madness when Whisper heard a knock to their flatlet. They expected nobody so it made them jump from the chair and fall onto the floor in shock. This resulted in hundreds of pieces of paper Whisper covered in music to fly everywhere around the flatlet. It was an absolute mess, just as Whisper, who in their chase for perfection forgot about even most basic needs of their body.

After scrambling for a moment, Whisper got to the doors and slightly put them ajar. They were looking miserable. Unkept fur, deep circles under eyes. Clothing that consisted of a blanket draped over their body. Only upon actually witnessing who was there, Whisper caught up with the fact they could've at least put underwear onto themselves before opening doors. Especially as on the other side was one very familiar Jill. Asta. The one beast that helped her immensely in the Opera before... everything went to the gutter.

Mortified, Whisper managed somehow to forced a bit of saliva down their parched throat and usher very weak and barely audible "H-hello." After that, their anxiety froze them in place.

 

[Asta Dalgaard]

Asta blinked. For a moment she thought perhaps she had gotten the wrong flat. A glance to the number on the building told her that she was in the correct place. The little fox, however, was quite different than Asta remembered them. A maternal sort of instinct rose in Asta as she looked down upon the disheveled Whisper.

"Hallo," she said pleasantly. "Um, sorry to be intruding this morning. I having a question for you, but maybe another time better?" Then, because she could not go without asking, without at least checking on the small vulpine, "Are you doing okay?"

 

[Marie "Whisper" Deftclaw]

Whisper was in no way sure what to answer. That is aside of course the fact they were unable to do so for a moment. After a very long moment and a few tears that went down their muzzle, they opened the door a bit more to show the absolute chaos of the flatlet.

"I... b-been bu-busy." They weakly managed before again realising they are practically naked. Running away to the closet sized bathroom, Whisper only threw a mismatched mumble to Asta that could mean anything.

 

[Asta Dalgaard]

Asta stood in the open doorway as the fox darted off. She stared at the mess within the small flat. Deciding that Whisper had not told her directly to go away, the jill stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.

"I'll just wait here, ja?" She kicked off her boots and set down her satchel in the entryway, then walked in several more steps to crouch and pick up several sheets of music. Humming the line of notes, she gave an appreciative nod. "What are you working on? It sounding nice."

 

[Marie "Whisper" Deftclaw]

Whisper was now frantically trying to get themselves together. Putting on a skirt and a shirt that were absolutely mismatched and further added to apparent androgyny of the fox. Upon hearing this question, Whisper got confused and left the bathroom to answer. Still disheveled but at least wearing something more than a blanket.

„H-hi Asta… G-good t-to see yo-you.” Whisper stated meekly and moved to sit down in the sofa, first taking a few drums off of it. „I’m so-sorry. I-I did not expect g-guests. I w-was tr-trying to make a n-new sy-symphony t-to p-p-put that opera tr-trauma s-sealed in it.” Whisper sat down on the sofa, realising they forgot underwear. Curling their tail around their legs the fox put their muzzle into their paws, barely managing this combination of exhaustion and embarrassment. They were not good at all, and now they were showing the worst of them to one of few beasts in Harbour that did show them kindness.

 

[Asta Dalgaard]

"A new symphony?" Asta's expression brightened. "That a good way to dealing with what happened, I think."

She stood there, unsure of where she ought to go. With a shrug, she pushed some papers aside and sat on the floor. "I decided to joining the Unsmudgables after everything happened. I thinking you do a good thing, too, writing music. Except, maybe you should eat, too, ja? When is last time you eating something, Whisper?"

 

[Marie "Whisper" Deftclaw]

Whisper still held their tail tightly around their lap as they mellowed. Asta was meaning well. Whisper just had to repeat themselves that over and over and over again. Seeing as she sat on the, the fox too slipped from the sofa onto the carpet. Finally feeling more at ease, the almost motherly question from Asta hit them like a cart.

"I... Th-three d-days ago?" That was the last time Pomodu came for her lesson bringing some buns. Whisper ate a few then. And since they didn't have any food left at home, Whisper just forgo food to continue doing music.

And now, as they were taken into the real world again, Whisper finally started feeling it much. It was so bad it hurt. "G-good... Good for y-you! I am s-sure yo-you wi-will b-be a g-gr-great Smudgie!" Whisper admitted truthfully. They got to learn a lot about them in the past weeks or so.

 

[Asta Dalgaard]

Asta shook her head. "Thank you, I'm doing my best with learning. But Whisper, three days without eating? We needing to get you some food."

She stood up, looking around the small flat. "You having anything here? I can cook something for you. Or," Asta went to pick up her satchel, rifling through it. "Yes, looking like I having enough gilders to buy you something. I not taking 'no' for an answer, either. You needing to eat. Can't writing music if you not eating."

The jill smiled despite her firmness. "So, we going out to get food or I making something for you here?"

 

[Marie "Whisper" Deftclaw]

Whisper blinked a few times as they struggled with Asta suddenly acting like their mother. It was almost too familiar and caused a lot weird feelings clashing within the fox. Fortunately with tired body and starvation creeping in, Whisper didn't dare to say no. Instead, they did let out a weak whine as they've stood up themselves.

"I... d-don't have a-any f-f-food h-here. W-we ha-have to g-go... I-I c-can pay!" Whisper assured, more themselves than Asta as they moved to the doors, once again forgetting that they are in no state that any beast should see them in.