01 ♪ video/action ♪ wake up sleepyhead!

[wildsaber]

[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...

Comments

action; i'm sorry i'm not funny

[wildsaber]

[He doesn't want to go back. Maybe it's because he's been here longer. Whatever it is, he's... changed. On one hand, that's really good, but... on the other... Luke has a promise to fulfill. He wants to come home to everyone. He wants to see his parents again.

Of course, some of that is negated by the fact that his friends are here, but being drafted into a war and stuff like that... That's not something he'd wish on anyone. Yet here they are.

He can tell this is something he can't just convince Asch about. Maybe instead of fighting to make him see his side all the time, he should try something else-- try seeing it through Asch's eyes. Try seeing what he loves about this place so much, that he might not want to give it up.

He can talk to Tear about his promise later. They can talk about possibilities and ramifications when he knows which end is up. He shelves his ideas and wants for later; causing a huge scene won't help either of them, even if he can't deny a part of him is kind of mad.]

I don't know about that, [he says finally.] But I don't really know anything yet.

[He deflates a little, leaning over to rest his chin in his hands.]

I got too far ahead of myself again. ... Sorry.

action; comedy isn't required here, just crack and feels

[dissonates]

You just got here, no one expects you to know anything.

[He's just a stupid replica, after all. That's it.

That's it.

Suddenly feeling both irritated and self-conscious, Asch turns away to grab a glass for polishing. He'd never wanted this- for Luke to know, for there to be awkward apologies and uneasy silences, for there to be this... guilt and promises and the memories of Eldrant hanging over everything. As if it was Luke's fault that his body was falling apart, as if it was his fault that Luke made him promise not to die when there'd been no time to explain why he couldn't.

It's taken him so long to come to terms with all of that, and with this Luke, new and unaware and confused by all that's changed... well, he doesn't feel like he should have to explain a damn thing.]

action; what about puns?

[wildsaber]

[At the very least, Luke isn't yelling about the promise. It's hot on his mind, but he's also realizing that as important as promises are, he may have made one to Tear that he couldn't keep.

The seconds stretch on into an awkward, delicate silence. Luke wonders if he's overstayed his welcome but Asch still hasn't told him to go. He hesitates, but he stays for a little longer. If he leaves, will Asch run away? Will Luke miss the chance to speak with him unless it's urgent? He's never known Asch on a casual basis, but he wants to know. It's like a child's curiosity-- unreasonable, insatiable.

It's weird seeing his original like this, but okay. He doesn't actually know that much about what Asch likes to do, hobbies-wise. Luke is fairly simple, but he also acknowledges he had no solid plans for his future. He barely even had one. That's something he has to decide for himself now that he has an abundance of free time. Maybe... Asch was the same way? He's been here longer, a lot longer if his having a job is any indication.

He turns around on the barstool, leaning back against the counter so he can look around.]

... It suits you. [He taps his fingers on the counter briefly, then moves his hand to his knee.] The bar, I mean. It's really... warm, somehow, like home. You look like you belong here.

[Yeah. Asch has a place he belongs. And that's fine. Luke has a place too, or so he thought, but it's hard to focus on that when his original is slipping away. He can't even pinpoint why, or how, but it's just this sinking feeling that won't leave him for a moment. They disagree all the time, so it's not unusual. It's just that this time... it's hard for him to decide where he stands. It's hard not to think about the promises and how he was told there's no hope, no way for him to go home. It hurts.

Luke smiles, though it doesn't meet his eyes. He's tired. He has a lot to think about. He shifts, gets up like he's about to leave.]

Thanks for inviting me.

Re: action; what about puns?

[dissonates]

[Asch isn't sure how to take that comment, mulling it over in silence. It suits him? Standing behind a counter, mixing drinks, washing dishes?

Taking orders?

Serving people?

He doesn't know exactly what Luke means. He doesn't know if it's correct, either. The bar isn't home - and neither is Luceti - and it never will be. Home is beyond him. It's been out of his reach since that day, more than ten years ago now, that he was stolen from his bed and taken away from the manor forever. One single visit with his parents and the insistence of his replica can't change that. The bar isn't where he belongs, but it's his. It was Guy's, from back when Guy actually- you know, gave a damn. And things may have changed, but he remembers. He loses everything, but he remembers everything, too.

He glances at Luke, briefly, seeing him move as if to leave. Asch doesn't stop him, and after a moment he glances away again, his hand resting on the bar counter. His fingers curl, almost possessive, but also... unsure. He draws comfort from the cool polished wood, though his expression doesn't change.]

...I didn't invite you. I just-

[He's not ready to let this Luke in yet. Not again, not when there's still so much tension, so much awkwardness, so much loss. The difference he'd felt in the fonic link had been enough to show him that.

But he's not ready to let it go, either.]

...It's a public building. You can come here whenever you want.

[wildsaber]

[It's okay. Luke isn't asking to be let in all the way. If he can peek through the door sometimes, that's fine. It's more than he had at home, anyway.

Asch says he didn't invite him, but that's exactly what this is. Luke might've hesitated to come see him otherwise, seeing him wrapped up in all his work. Luke feels like he has a tendency to ruin everything.

He glances over his shoulder as he reaches the door. If Asch looks, he might see a bigger smile. A real one.]

Maybe I will. [A pause. Usually he and Asch part on pretty bad terms. This is like, a world first for him. Luke opts to treat him like any other of his friends, or best friends.] See you later.

[And he's gone.]