02 ♪ written/action ♪ weak and powerless

[wildsaber]

[written;]

[After the excitement of the past couple weeks, Luke is ready to call it quits. Everyone except him seemed to be under some kind of curse, or something... Shifts? Yes, that's what it was called. Whatever the reason, things have been hectic and weird and confusing and he's ready for things to go back to normal.

But... he hasn't seen Guy around, not before the Shifts happened nor afterward. No notes were left behind, no nothing. He thought maybe Guy just needed some space (despite how hard he had clung to Luke in the snow)-- but this is suspicious, and he's wondering if maybe... maybe, he went home.

It takes him a while to muster up the courage to open the journal. He can't trust his voice not to shake, so he tries writing in it instead.]

Hi, everyone. This is Luke.

For those who know him, Guy's not here anymore. I haven't seen him since before things got weird. He would never leave without telling someone, and we sleep in the same room, so I would've known if he got taken somewhere.

[He tries to think of something else to say. It's weird to think that Guy isn't here. Guy is always here, through everything. He was there when Luke said goodbye and he was there when Luke said hello, too.

Still, seeing it in front of him just cements it. He feels his reserves crumble a little. He's a little angry, even though he has no right to be. Guy would never leave unless he was forced to, he knows that, but... he's still mad at someone. Mad at the Malnosso. Luke wants to be home, laughing and traveling with Guy and his friends. Now Guy has to be-- be somewhere else, without Luke. Maybe even without knowing he's alive.]

... I'm sorry.

[He leaves it at that and closes the journal.]

[action;]

[In the end, Luke doesn't go too far. He's in the woods behind House One, curled up against the gnarled face of a big tree. His knees are pulled to his chest, his head resting on his arms.

His eyes are closed, but he's not asleep. He can't sleep in the middle of the day, and especially not when he's caught up wondering what happened to his best friend.]

Comments

[Action]

[distressedude]

[Ion had suspected, during those few days that he was more or less still himself, that something had happened to Guy. But with the experiment going on, it was hard to say for sure. It's only now, seeing how every trace of him is missing both from the house and from the village, that it's clear he's gone home. He knows what Luke's entry will say before even having a chance to read the words for himself. But he doesn't bother with the journal. His first priority is finding Luke. It was never easy to deal with someone going home, and it certainly wasn't any easier trying to deal with it alone.]

[It takes him a little while to find the exact spot Luke has hidden himself, but when he does, he doesn't call out to him. Instead, he slowly walks over and takes a seat beside Luke, keeping his eyes locked straight ahead.]

...I'm sorry. I know how hard it is when someone leaves Luceti so suddenly like that. [He turns towards Luke.] Are you all right?

[wildsaber]

[Luke stirs when he hears footsteps. Next thing he knows, Ion is sitting down beside him. It's a big tree and there's plenty of room. Plus, it's a nice clear day. Yet... he can't help feeling a little cold.]

I'm okay. [He doesn't appear to have been crying, though he wouldn't be surprised if he broke down right now.] I just couldn't stand being in that room anymore.

[He closes his eyes again.]

Sorry if I worried you.

[distressedude]

[Ion shakes his head.] You don't need to apologize, Luke.

[He sits back against the tree, trying to read Luke's mood. Guy seems to have been gone for a little while now, so in a way at least his departure isn't exactly a fresh wound. But then again, for him to make that announcement now means it's probably only just sunk in.]

Even knowing it's a fact of life here that people leave just as suddenly as they arrive, it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. But for what it's worth, this isn't the first time Guy has left Luceti. So it's always possible he could come back again someday.

[wildsaber]

[Luke rubs at his arms as if to warm them from such a cold, sad mood. It's impossible for him to sit still.]

I know. I know that, but I...

[He lets out a little breath.]

It still hurts, you know?

[distressedude]

I know. I wish I could tell you it gets easier to deal with people leaving all the time, but... at the very least, you do get used to it.

[Though whether or not that's a good thing is probably still subjective. Ion's own way of coping with the losses still isn't exactly healthy -- but if one didn't find some way to move on from it, they'd probably just always be upset and moping.]

[He notes the way Luke is shifting around. Even though he came out here himself, maybe sitting down wasn't the best idea right now.]

...say, why don't we go for a little walk? It might help to clear your mind a little.

[Action]

[yourfononsarewhack]

[Jade had been keeping to himself since the shift ended, thinking back on all he had went through. Living another life, spending time in Peony's body, spending several days trapped in the wilderness while shrunken... but what stuck in his mind the most was actually the encounter he had with Luke. The Luke that wasn't this Luke.

Guy's absence had been quietly noted. Jade knew the tricks to determining whether or not someone had left the enclosure; and he had more or less assumed that the others had figured it out. Guy was gone. Jade wasn't sure if he'd miss him - he didn't like to think he had such sentimental attachments. But at the very least, Guy had been a very useful help in taking care of Luke. And he knew that the replica must be taking it hard, especially considering the time that this Luke came from. He must be facing the possibility that he'll never see Guy again.

Jade takes some time after seeing the journal message before seeking him out. Finding him is easy enough; Jade strolls up quietly, with his hands in his pockets, and he greets him with a candid tone as he finds him huddled by the tree.]

Luke.

You look terribly unflattering.

[wildsaber]

[That's exactly it. If this is the only world Luke has available to him, then Guy leaving means... he might never see him again. Luke doesn't have any regrets. He's said everything he wanted to say, but that doesn't make it any easier. He wants another day with everyone he loves-- but no one has infinite time.

His eyes open slowly when he's addressed, almost as if he's surprised Jade can converse with a ghost. He doesn't try to smile, at least not yet; the jest falls flat and he's tired of pretending he's okay.]

W-well, yeah. That's why I'm out here and not, you know, in the house where people can see me.

[yourfononsarewhack]

I see. So awkwardly positioning yourself out in public is the more subtle alternative.

[Ah, the wonders of how Luke's mind works.

Jade stands beside him, hovering like a wraith. as he looks down towards him.]

You know that everyone will take turns seeking you out, don't you?

[wildsaber]

[Now Luke's starting to get a little flustered.] I-I'm hiding against a tree! In the woods! The odds are pretty good, I think. You're just... good at this, I guess.

[He sighs and relents after a moment. Jade's presence is comforting and yet intimidating at the same time. He's stood by Luke throughout so much bad, bad news that it's hard not to associate him with Luke's own sickness and death.

But he tries not to think about that, and instead focuses on the other thing Jade said.]

... I'm not going to be out here all day, you know. I'll go back before anyone gets worried.

[Too late, Luke. That journal entry was pretty bad.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

Perhaps I excel at tracking skills. Or perhaps your hiding habits are easier to figure out than you think. You'll also have to factor that in this world, there's a high probability of coincidental meetings.

[He pushes up his glasses with a light smirk.]

You have friends who were practically born worried. Your journal entry may have formed the icing on that particular cake. But that's beside the point. [They can't avoid talking about Guy's absence forever.]

[fonic link kinda] late mofo fight me

[dissonates]

[Gone again.

Asch doesn't know how to feel about this, his emotions and thoughts conflicted all over again. As much as he can feel the loss of a childhood friend and any of the potential for healing old wounds between the two of them, he can feel phantom pains from the scars of the wound that had killed him, the wound made by Guy's father's blade just shy of two years ago. Or perhaps the dissonance was acting up again; lately, with his body, it's been hard to tell.

It doesn't... hurt, though. Emotionally, mentally, whatever. Guy's disappearance. It doesn't make him feel any kind of loss or unhappiness, bitterness or anger. Not like the last few times. Mostly what he feels is numb.

Maybe I've stopped caring. Maybe I know what a waste it is to feel that way.

Maybe I'm just tired.

Probably the most likely of options, that. He's been here too long, seen too many familiar presences vanish without a warning. As usual, forming attachments has only caused him pain. It's a wonder he bothers anymore.

His replica, though... that, he can feel a little, through the link they share. That loss. It's all the more prominent because Asch himself isn't experiencing it. And although he'd like nothing more than to close himself off and ignore the whole issue, create a wall around him to avoid getting closer (and therefore getting hurt again), with Luke...

...dammit. Dammit all to hell.

The link is open. Just a little, not enough to hurt but enough to offer up his presence in case Luke has need of it. The metaphorical door is unlocked and he's here, waiting.

Just in case.]

[fonic link] only if a dancy instrumental version of Karma plays

[wildsaber]

[Luke feels it. It surprises him, and he tries to shove that down some or else Asch might pull away again. He's still not sure how to control the link so that Asch doesn't feel... well, everything. Beneath all the sadness and the anger he's feeling at no one in particular, he's actually relieved that Asch is there.

It takes him a while, but eventually he responds in kind, touching his original's mind like hesitant fingers on his shoulder and opening the link.]

Asch?

[He'll always sound that unsure, but... he's trying. Asch is trying, too, if his presence there is any indication.]

[fonic link] I had to go looking to see if one existed

[dissonates]

[Asch hesitates; now that real contact has been made, he has no idea what to do or what to say. Truth be told, he'd been hoping his presence would be enough for that reason. There's an awkward, uncertain ripple in the link before he responds.]

I'm here.

[That's all he's got for the moment. If Luke wants him gone, now's a good time to demand it... but Asch suspects that won't happen, even if he might half-wish for it.]

[fonic link] all i found was this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY54Dc11Lds

[wildsaber]

[Nope, Luke lets him stay here. He can tell Asch isn't good at offering comfort. The fact he's even trying, even listening, means a lot. But of course, pointing that out might fluster Asch and make things worse, so he just sits on his thoughts for a while.]

Thanks.

[Wait, saying 'thanks' won't make him like, try to kill Luke. Will it? It's been too long for that, he thinks.]

... Weren't you and Guy friends, too? Are you okay?

[And here Luke is, ruining the moment.]

[fonic link] ...i would not call that dancy but it is pretty

[dissonates]

[Hope you wanted some negative-feeling backlash in your fonic link, Luke, because you're getting it now.]

Friends? He nearly-

[Shit, this Luke wasn't around for that. Dammit, dammit. Backpedaling.]

...He's wanted me dead since we were children. Someone like that wouldn't have called me his friend.

[action]

[silversnowfall]

[Nephry doesn't go looking for Luke, necessarily. The connections she'd made with him - each of his previous "visits" - are gone again, although he doesn't feel any less like family, and it makes her wary of infringing on his space.

No, she goes for a walk. She likes to walk to the cherry tree hill when she can; sometimes there isn't enough time, and this is one of those days.

The red hair stands out against the emerging spring of their glorified backyard.]

Luke?

[Unless invited closer, she'll keep some distance.]

[action]

[wildsaber]

[Oh, it's Nephry. Luke is a little surprised to see her, or anyone really, but then he manages to smile a little.]

Oh, hi.

[He glances away and wipes surreptitiously at his cheeks just in case he'd left some tears somewhere.]

N-- nice day, huh?

[Very convincing.]

[action]

[silversnowfall]

Something of one, at least for a little while.

[There is no pity in her expression.] Do you want me to go another way, and leave you be?

[action]

[wildsaber]

[Yeah, until he woke up.]

Oh, you don't have to leave. I don't mind the company, really.

[Even he knows a bit that he hates being alone. He's been out here for long enough that he isn't about to shove people away. Maybe when the wound was fresh, but now he knows he's just moping.]

[action]

[silversnowfall]

Thank you. I could use a little break. [And it's forested, so there's an old log or two to sit on and enjoy nature. Or worry about her wayward redhead child.]

I'm sorry to hear he's gone.

[Written]

[knightofratatosk]

He was from your world, wasn't he?

[Not that that will make it hurt any less, as he knows quite well. Still, there's a least a slight bit more comfort when you know what someone is returning to and that you'll be able to see them again eventually.]

[written]

[wildsaber]

[The response comes a little later, after Luke has finished moping outside. He's decided to mope inside, where it is warm and there is food.]

Yeah. We're both from Auldrant.

[Sorry about his handwriting, it's bad but there's not much he can do about it. Everyone's handwriting is terrible when they're a kid.]

[written]

[knightofratatosk]

Then at least you'll get to see him again when you go home, right?

[It's not much, but it's something, and it's better than not being able to say anything at all in a situation like this. There's nothing worse than trying to reassure someone that a friend of theirs will be just fine when neither of you know what they're going back to in their world.]

[written]

[wildsaber]

[Now Luke hesitates. He doesn't want to shove all of his problems on someone he doesn't know that well. Actually, even if he did know Emil pretty well, he still wouldn't want to worry him.]

Yeah. [He hopes his handwriting there is confident enough that it won't give him away. He really can't go home.]

I still have a lot of friends here I can't ignore. I... I'm still going to miss him, but we've been together for a long time. It's weird not having him around.

[written]

[knightofratatosk]

He could always come back, too. And if he does, you won't have to worry about whether he'll remember you or not.

[The fact that people can return without memories of their previous stays here is something that Emil has been made acutely aware of lately. If Luke and Guy were friends in their world, then even if the next Guy who shows up doesn't remember his time in Luceti, he'll still remember Luke.]