wildsaber | 01 ♪ video/action ♪ wake up sleepyhead!

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01 ♪ video/action ♪ wake up sleepyhead!

[The feed shows a nice view of absolutely nothing. There is, however, the sound of someone spitting. Very lovely. He just woke up with a mouthful of dead rotting leaves. His day is off to a great freaking start, that's what.]

Ugh, nasty! Ow--... ow... ow. [Don't let the nonchalance fool you. He's realizing he's alive. Taking in a deep breath, and letting it out.

He's alive.

... And also FREEZING COLD. But wait until he finds a way home! This is impossible, but maybe-- just maybe--]

Hahah... jeez, it's c-c-cold. Am I in K-Keterburg or something?

-- Hey, what's...

[And here's when he brushes the journal off. Hello, there's a half-naked redhead getting up close and personal, and turning it upside down, and then shaking it out a bit. What is this strange and mystifying technology? It sure as hell isn't his journal.]

Weird.

[Feeling something tickle his shoulder, he reaches over to brush it off. And then he notices the wings, red with gold tips just like his hair. He has wings. This is not a drill. Luke drops the journal in favor of screaming like the grown man he isn't.]

W-what the hell is going on!?

[NO LUKE DON'T PULL ON THOSE--] —OW! [Yeah, that hurt more than anything else in his life. Now he's curled up over his knees again, trying not to cry. He almost blacked out there.]

G-guess they're real...

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[... Jade. Jade, that wasn't a compliment.]

Well-- n... no. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen. I didn't just randomly lose my clothes after I...

[- disappeared, but. Now he's stuck on that minor detail. Ion and Sync disappeared with their clothes.]

Unless Lorelei really wanted my jacket.

[That's an unusual pause. And the mention of Lorelei gives Jade some concern.

He hastens his pace, striding intently into the forest.]

I'm afraid that you have the entirely wrong answer. Putting aside the matter of whether or not Lorelei shared your taste in clothing, I may as well cut to the chase. You're in an entirely different world now, Luke, and things don't quite work the same here at all.

[Lorelei. It has been easy to assume that Luke had come from some point in the past, like during his previous stay. But now the seed has been planted of the idea that Luke could be from the present. Back from what seemed to be death.

Jade's mind is racing with the possibilities as he advances. The possibilities, as well as hope.]

[He lets out a little breath from shock, and then he's silent for a minute. It's written on his face, heart on his sleeve, like always.

He's not in Auldrant?

Then, his promise... his everything. What about getting back home? What about going back to see Mother? Is this just some cruel, temporary reprieve?]

Who did all of this? I thought we couldn't go to different worlds. I thought... you couldn't bring back people who...

We'll discuss this in person.

[He says somewhat sharply. He doesn't want this hope to be confirmed yet, after all. Not until he sees Luke with his own eyes.]

For now, let it suffice to say that there apparently is no one who is exempt from this world's pull, alive or otherwise.

[If Jade says it like that, then Luke isn't going to argue. He knows better, and he respects Jade a lot.]

Okay.

[He quiets down then, and busies himself with examining his wings. This time without pulling. He's trying to smooth them down, actually, since they're agitated from being rolled on and everything else.]

Edited 2014-02-12 05:42 (UTC)

[Jade's Jade. He keeps the video feed open to listen and look for clues, but he won't speak much more unless spoken to.

The moment that Jade sees Luke, the book is snapped shut and attached to his belt so it could be forgotten.

And he pauses as he sees him, for the first time in so long. Alive again. What could it mean?

There's something like a slight smile on his face as he regards him.]

Luke.

[Luke doesn't bother him further. When Jade finds him, he's curled up on a log so that his feet aren't touching the snow. Looking somehow paler than usual-- maybe it's the cotton pants-- he's just a spot of red against the snowy backdrop, like a bit of blood, or maybe fire.

He looks up when he hears Jade approach. He jumps up awkwardly, feathers puffing out again (god damn it he just dealt with those)-- and then he decides he doesn't care anymore. He's alive, for certain values of it, and this is Jade. His reluctant teacher, someone who understood what it was to make a mistake and try to atone for it. Jade knew that Luke probably wouldn't come back, but he saw him through to the end.

And now he's come for Luke.]

Jade!

[A handshake isn't enough. He takes a couple steps, sprinting lightly through the snow, and then he hugs Jade tightly, briefly, only long enough to be a gesture. His hands return to his arms, trying to preserve every bit of warmth he can.]

Thanks for... coming for me. F-- for everything. [He's gonna punch his own bottom lip if shivering makes him stutter again.]

[Luke, the boy who stole lessons from him. And the one person who could truly and consistently surprise Jade. And that was proven very quickly when Jade was wrapped in the hug. Jade looked uncomfortable for just a moment before reverting to a casual stance as Luke pulled away, taking a moment to adjust his glasses.]

My, Luke, you certainly know the least appropriate way to greet a military officer. [He smirks.] Don't thank me just yet. We still have to get you to shelter before you are unfortunately riddled with frostbite. Of course, these may help...

[He then suddenly pulls out a satchel he had concealed beneath his jacket. Inside are some shoes and clothes in Luke's size, as well as a jacket. They are unceremoniously tossed at the redhead.]

[Jade's reaction gets a little laugh, small but honest. He didn't mean to hug Jade and embarrass him-- it just happened. Honestly, everyone is going to get a hug when Luke is done. Even Asch. Though Asch might have to wait if he's in the mood to rip off some limbs.

Luke has really no idea what he's getting into.

He brightens visibly when Jade produces some clothes, even though he nearly gets them in the face. At least someone came here prepared. It sure as hell wasn't the replikid. He manages to catch the clothes, his reflexes still as good as ever.]

Heh, it's almost like you were expecting this to happen.

[Give him a minute. He's jumping into those shoes ASAP, and going right for top clothes after that. He's not getting naked out here. Hell no. He pulls the jacket closed and settles into it, waiting for his body warmth to kick in.]

Now now, Luke. Even my foresight has its limits.

[He says with a smirk as he adjusts his glasses. Of course, it is very likely that Jade had prepared for the possibility, and could even have similar measures in place for others who are not present here yet.

He pinches at his nose and turns away as Luke garbs himself. He glances back when Luke is fully clothed.]

Is the young lord warm enough to move already? [He asks with his favorite vague undertones of sarcasm and condescension.]

[Luke makes a face at the nickname. He starts to protest, but then he remembers that he's officially a Viscount whether he likes it or not, thanks to his uncle and Natalia embarrassing the shit out of him.]

I-I'm fine! [Screw it, he's protesting anyway. He draws himself up within the jacket, his cheeks puffed out and red from the cold.] And don't call me that.

[Oh Luke. He can't help but tease you. In that way, it almost reminds him of one of their first conversation. But he waves a hand casually.]

My, my. Nobility is so touchy these days. I suppose it can't be helped. [And he starts to move.] Now, follow me to the village.

[Luke was reminded of that too, when he said it. And that just made him more embarrassed. Damn it Jade. IS THIS BECAUSE OF UNSOLICITED PHYSICAL CONTACT?

-- Probably.]

Yeah. Let's go!

[He doesn't trip this time, but he does kind of scurry to catch up to Jade so he can walk side by side.]

... Huh. These shoes are actually pretty comfortable. [Even though they're kind of damp because of his own wet feet.]

Oh? [He smirks, feeling like he's leading a red-haired duckling along. It's unusual.

The feeling of someone you knew to be gone suddenly being... there again. Alive and smiling.]

I didn't have comfort in mind when I selected them. Perhaps it's a lucky coincidence.

It's also fortunate that we don't have far to walk.

[That's pretty much exactly what it is. If Luke is feeling it, he's not saying anything.]

It's like you knew my size, too.

[This time, he gives Jade discerning look. Seriously, how?]

... Were you looking at my shoes while I slept?

[He actually chuckles at that. He hasn't had a good laugh in what feels like ages.]

You assume that I need to examine your shoes to determine your foot size. I have much more accurate methods at my disposal. [He doesn't care to specify, however.]

[Is 'slightly terrified' the reaction Jade's going for?

'Cause Luke kind of takes a step sideways. To give him space.]

Hahah... yeah, okay.

[That is the reaction he was going for, and he's simply ecstatic to witness it.

This was amusing and fun. But he'd indulged that part of knowing Luke enough. He had to talk about serious matters.]

So, Luke. Tell me the last thing you remember before waking up here.

[Luke pauses in his step, a little surprised. And then he keeps walking, but his head is ducked this time.]

... I freed Lorelei. He spoke to me and Asch, and then I...

[He doesn't continue. He feels it's pretty obvious what happened afterward. Since he doesn't know about timelines and all of that yet, he just assumes Jade wants to know Luke's last moments. And Luke, having nothing to hide, reveals them.]

[Jade winds up pausing in his step for a moment as well, as he hears the description.

That confirms it for sure. Luke has come from the same time as him. He's alive again. But what he's saying is not entirely expected, especially the mention of Asch.]

How could Asch be there with you?

[Luke chalks it up to Jade being awkward about Luke dying. Or something. He's not thinking terribly hard about this. He's perceptive, but only to a certain point. He has plenty of stuff to distract him, to make him a little more self-absorbed than usual.]

Lorelei took us down through Eldrant as it was crumbling. We went through the room where he was, so I caught him.

But... I felt Asch's presence with me before that. [A pause.] It was when we walked into Sync's trap. He stayed with me when we fought Van.

[He listens closely to try to imagine exactly what had happened to Luke after they parted.]

You found his body?

I do recall that you felt him in some manner. [It went with what he had been looking into regarding the contamination effect.] So at that time... At the end, you still felt your own presence and his?

[One had not overwritten the other. At least not yet.]

[He nods, on both counts.]

I remember thinking that Lorelei should find a way to put Asch back into his body. But that's not how it works, you know?

[He smiles sadly, painfully, and rubs at his nose.]

At least it didn't hurt.

[That's not how it works indeed.

Asch was dead. And death is permanence.

Except here.

Jade tenses as he catches that last part and looks back at him with a definite frown.]

Luke.

What happened to you? [He has to hear for sure what Luke thinks his fate was. It's instrumental in understanding this.]

[Luke doesn't meet his eyes. He's watching his feet instead.]

... I disappeared.

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