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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Yeah... [He runs a hand through his bangs, briefly tugging them away from his face.] One thing at a time, right?

[He smiles then, just letting it sink in that Ion is back. Ion's back, he's safe and alive, and he's just the way Luke remembered. Except maybe a little taller but he doesn't know that yet.

Whatever. Second chances all around.]

I'll be there soon. Then we can catch up or... something.

I'd really like that. [It might also help it to sink in more once they actually see each other again -- for both of them.]

I'll see you when you arrive here, then.

[Which basically means he'll be waiting around House One's living room for Luke to get there, trying to read a book or something to distract himself. He's really missed having his replibro around okay.]

[When Luke appears, he's been accosted by the clothing fairy, wearing some approximation of a big white coat and a pair of shoes. It's a good thing, too. He's somewhat dirty, having basically been rolling around in mud and snow for those first few minutes of his new life.]

I'm back, [he calls out as some kind of hello. He can barely believe it himself. He drops the jacket on a nearby chair so he's topless again; his wings are poofy and impatient at being pinned, and they tickle his arms a little. He rubs his hands along his arms to warm them, and that's when he sees Ion sitting there like he belonged.

He hesitates. Now it's really sinking in. All of his long-since-swallowed grief and guilt wells up at once, clamoring up his throat and making it impossible to speak-- only stare.]

[Luke won't have long to look at Ion sitting there on the couch, because as soon as he hears Luke's voice, he's on his feet and headed towards the door.]

[The changes in Ion are far more pronounced in person -- he's traded a good deal of weight for a few extra inches of height, making him only just a little bit shorter than Luke while giving him that lanky-teenager appearance. Not to mention Luke's probably never seen Ion dressed so casually before ~~#npc problems~~. But the smile on his face is still very much the same one he always had back on Auldrant.

[Luke's not the only one at a loss for words -- somehow everything Ion can think of just sounds silly or cheesy. What do you say to a friend who last saw you when you were dying in his arms?]

...hello, Luke. It's... really good to see you again.

[Luke is happy, it's in his eyes, but he's also incredibly moved. Tears well up even though he doesn't ask for them. Thankfully, it's not as bad as it was earlier.]

Ion!

[This time, he can greet Ion with a big smile, even if it hurts a bit at the edges. This is way better than meeting in the afterlife. He takes a step forward and pulls his friend into a tight hug, his face immediately going for Ion's shoulder. He's warm and solid and real. He isn't going to disappear in Luke's arms anytime soon.]

[Ion's breath hitches in his throat when he's pulled into a hug, and for a few seconds he doesn't even seem to react. But as realization sinks in, his arms move to return the embrace. He even takes care not to brush against Luke's wings, well aware of just how sensitive they are for new arrivals.]

[As much as he feels he should say something, he can't seem to find the words. And certainly, even if he had them, they'd only get caught in his throat. Ion never really cried much back on Auldrant, but at a time like this, even he can't help but get a little choked up right now.]

[They'll probably be hugging it out for a little while here, but Ion certainly doesn't mind. They've got lost time to make up for, after all.]

[His fingers tighten in the back of Ion's shirt, beneath his wings. While he's not hugging tight enough to hurt, there's something undeniably clingy about the way he's holding his friend, like he won't let anything touch him. If he's trembling a little, it's not really a big deal.]

I-I thought I'd never seen you again.

[Ion can feel it. It was a familiar sort of hug, and it made him all too aware of the fact that Luke was the one hugging him like this. That slight waver in his voice feels like a vice grip on his heart.]

I know. I'm-- [Sorry. He almost says it. And maybe before, he would have done so. But he catches himself; he shouldn't apologize for dying.] I know. I... I missed you.

[If anyone should apologize for dying, it's this big baby right here.]

I missed you too, [he sniffles, remembering those times he sat alone wondering what he should do. Wondering if Ion ever felt like he did, knowing his days were numbered and yet not turning away from what was to come.] I never got to thank you... for everything you did for us.

You never had to thank me, Luke. It made me happy to be of help to you. To all of you.

[Far happier than he even realized at the time, beyond simply wanting to be useful to everyone. He knew better now.]

That's what friends are supposed to do for each other, right?

[He can't help but feel like he caused this because he thought of Ion as useless, once. It was really just Luke projecting, he kind of knew that now, but still... but still.]

Yeah, but... [He's still tearful, and he tries to fix this before loosening his grip on Ion.] That's not right, somehow. You're my friend, but not just because you helped me.

[Even though Ion had helped him from the beginning.]

I think you saw the real me before anyone else did. [That sounds like a good answer. He's satisfied with that.]

The real you... [It's probably not too much of an exaggeration to say that's the truth. Even before he set out to change, Ion had always liked Luke. And there was far more to their friendship than just Ion helping Luke and the others. Luke had helped Ion as well -- perhaps even more than he realized.]

[His own grip on Luke hasn't lessened, almost as though it was only now starting to sink in just how much he had missed him.]

...you know, I never had the chance to thank you either. To thank you for everything you did for me, even before you knew I was a replica too.

[Luke is a little surprised at being thanked, and his cheeks flare up in a familiar way.]

Y-you really shouldn't...

[He lets out a breath, his tone more than a little self-deprecating.]

I was mean to you. When you needed help and you didn't feel well, I was so-- so awful.

[Ion just shakes his head. No, there was much more to it than just that.]

There may have been times when that was true. And maybe you were a little rough around the edges when we first met. But even back then, everything you did always felt so honest. You weren't afraid to hold back and be who you were.

[The very opposite of Ion, who spent so much time trying to be someone else and tracing the original Ion's footsteps that he had hardly known who he was at times.]

And even after you learned you were a replica... you may not be exactly the same now as you were back then, but you were still you. If I hadn't met you, I might have never realized something like that was possible for a replica. To just be yourself, and exist as someone more than just a replacement for someone else... you're the one who helped me begin to see that.

[It's a little like what he said to Asch. To Van. It's strange hearing his own ideals said to him. He stares, wide-eyed, and then he feels the tears start to prickle again. He ducks his head, embarrassed all over again, rubs furiously at his eyes so he doesn't make Ion any sadder.]

I-I guess so. [He feels lame, only being able to respond with that. He tries to find something else to say instead.] I feel like I'm still finding myself, most of the time... but I'll take your word for it.

[It doesn't make him sad at all, though he can feel his own eyes stinging just a bit. On the contrary, the smile on his face only widens at Luke's words.]

I don't think anyone really stops searching for that. Sometimes I wonder whether or not what I've found is the truth... even with all the time being in Luceti has given me, I still have my own doubts as well.

But I don't think there's anything wrong with that. It just takes time to figure out.

[And if there's anything in Luceti they have an overabundance of, it's time.]

Edited 2014-04-16 22:00 (UTC)

Maybe we're supposed to doubt ourselves a little. [Not too much, as Guy might say.] I guess that's something I have to figure out, too.

[He has a lot of time ahead of him, he hopes. It's more time than he would've had at home. And Ion is here, along with Asch and everyone else.]

Sorry for getting your clothes all wet. [He smiles sheepishly.] I haven't cried like that for a long time.

[Aww, Luke. Ion just smiles.]

That's all right. I'm sure you've had your fair share of surprises since arriving, so it's understandable. [You know, in addition to the whole friend-coming-back-from-the-dead thing.]

We have a spare room upstairs if you'd like to freshen up? I'm sure we can find something for you to wear until you have a chance to get something more suitable at the clothing shop. [Probably not from Ion but you know Guy and Jade would probably have something that would fit.]

Hahah, that's a good way of putting it.

[Like being alive. Also a surprise.]

That sounds good. I'll just borrow something from Guy in the meantime. I'm still pretty sore, though... I might just turn in.

Well, you're certainly more than welcome to. We can talk more about getting you settled in tomorrow.

[And then Ion showed Luke up to the room and Luke passed out on the bed still dressed like a winged hobo or something.]

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01 ♪ video/action ♪ wake up sleepyhead!

[video]

[video] > [Action]?

lights! camera! [action]!

[action]!

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/WOW LATE FOREVER HI

I AM HERE!!!! /RIPS OFF SHIRT ... PUTS IT BACK ON

/just drowns in replica feelings

/gurgles

Re: /gurgles

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