Chapter Text
It wasn’t always a long walk from his quarters to the medical bay, but Ash dragged his feet the whole time. He had so many questions, but couldn’t figure out which ones were… appropriate to ask. He shoved his hands into his pant’s pockets and groaned. The note-taker behind him looked up nervously, though Ash pointedly ignored him.
The archway that led into the reception was wide, easily the largest, other than the main entrance to the palace. Inside, the dark tile faded into an intricate pattern of light stone. The walls felt bland, considering they weren’t intricately painted or covered in Inside, pots full of plants were placed on tables, and larger ones were stationed in between chairs and benches.
The receptionist didn’t seem at all surprised to see him. Ash almost never visited the medical wing, but he wasn’t exactly secretive in his intentions of interrogating their special guest.
The woman takes a few moments to lean down to her computer, showing only her horns. She then moves up, back into view and waves Ash in, before going back to typing on her computer.
The angel sat on one of the hospital beds, glasses still stuck on their face like a lifeline.
It’s about the only thing that’s the same.
Her cloak had been replaced with one of the regular hospital gowns, though the back was missing a part in the back for their wings, and the hole usually for a tail has been sewn shut. For the first time, Ash can see that their hair is an orangish-brown.
She looks over to him- no surprise evident but more curiosity. Their eyes probably flicking between him and the note-taker.
He sits on one of the chairs, leaning back.
“So, let’s begin.” he sighs, “I am Ashswag, Ruler of Lies. So, who are you?”
This is already incredibly awkward. This is important, but he has no idea what they’re going to say. Such is life, he muses.
They shift slightly, pressing her lips together into a thin line, considering what to say.
“You can call me Squiddo.” Her voice sends chills down Ash’s spine. Cheerful, yet conveying such possible malice. It also lets on much more than she probably wanted to let on. The phrasing of their sentence doesn’t set off the alarms in his mind that a lie might.
An option. Not a command. No truth, yet no lie.
He feels a twinge of annoyance as the pencil held by the note-taker (who he still can’t remember the name of) makes a scratching noise against the paper.
“Why are you here?” The most important question, undoubtedly. What was an angel doing in the Underground?
“I was banished.” They said, like that didn’t just lead to more questions. They said, like it was that simple.
A long pause hangs in the air.
Ash clears his throat, and attempts to continue onwards.
“Would you say more about that?”
“Not right now.”
“Do you have any family that may come looking for you?”
“Maybe. 4c and MrCube might.”
“Who are they, to you?”
Squiddo shifts slightly. “It’s hard to explain. They’re my… wingmates. We grew up together.”
The note-taker leans over towards Ash and mutters, “I’m just going to write brothers.” Squiddo scowls at that.
“Would you be willing to work in the palace? In exchange for a room, food, and safety of course.”
She hesitates for a moment, before nodding. The note-taker shifts slightly. Were they uncomfortable at the thought of living in the same building as an angel? Was it curiosity?
“Is there anything you would like to have in your room?”
The note-taker looks mildly surprised at the question, before smoothing over his face and looking back over at Squiddo.
They shake their head, almost too quickly.
“Right.” Ash stood up and fixed his gaze on the note-taker. “Inform someone to prepare a room and a uniform for Squiddo.”
A nod, and he scampers off, like an animal given a chance to escape.
Ash walks towards the doorway, but pauses for a moment. He turns his head for a final look at Squiddo. He had a few more… personal questions. Obviously, he couldn’t ask them. Not here, and not now.
He mumbled a goodbye to her, before closing the door behind him. He turned back around and nearly topples over one of his advisors.
“Zam?” He asks, half bewilderment, half annoyance.
Zam’s wearing a green dress with a matching scarf, and her eyes sparkle with mischievousness and excitement. He grabs Ash’s arm and drags him down the hall and out of the receptionist’s office.
Zam’s tail flicks behind him as he turns, and he motions for Ash to walk with her.
“So, what was the angel like?”
Ash thought about it for a moment. What was Squiddo like? Lonely? Difficult? Untrustworthy?
All of the above?
Still, he couldn’t help wanting to learn more about the angel.
“Her name’s Squiddo. They’re… odd.” He said finally.
Zam scoffed at the plain answer. “Come on! Give me more!”
“We both know you have paperwork to do,” Ash scolded her. “Besides, it’s not like they’re leaving soon.”
“Huh?” Zam asked in great bewilderment, but Ash was already gone.