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02 ♪ written/action ♪ weak and powerless
[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.]
[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.]
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[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?
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[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.]
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[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.]
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No one was saying anything. It's... it's not right.
[He rests his hands on his knees. He notices his fingers are trembling a little, and clenches them to hide it.]
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Jade remains standing as he talks, looking down towards Luke.]
Our little group doesn't exactly consist of masters of communication. [Didn't that cause most of their problems in the first place?] I suppose that you did the right thing by informing the public.
[He quietly glances towards Luke's just before they were clenched.]
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[Luke's not exactly stellar at communication, himself.]
... Do you think he'll come back? You know, like I did.
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[He pushes at his glasses.]
In short, there are too many uncertain variables at play here. If you dwell too much on the possibility, it will weigh on you.
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... I guess you're right.
[He loosens his fists, lets out a little sigh.]
I didn't get to say goodbye this time.
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Being able to say goodbye to those who are separated from us is a very rare privilege, Luke. [It's one he never had with Nebilim.] You're actually quite lucky to have gotten your fair share at Auldrant. In fact, Guy should be living through that in due time now that he's back home.
Simply put... it's practically an impossibility in this world, beyond the letters that some leave behind when they leave. If you're going to put that much stock in such things, I'm afraid that this world will sorely disappoint you.
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[He's not even sure why exactly he's apologizing. For being an unrealistic, overdramatic pain in the ass. That sounds about right.
He curls up a little tighter. The moments pass, and then one part of what Jade says trickles in.]
... Wait... "Living through that"? You mean, Guy didn't-- he's from our past?
[But he acted like he knew. Luke knew it was a risk after their first conversation, but his reaction with Guy was tearful and Guy had never once said something like 'I had no idea'. He had rolled with it, told Luke to shut up because he was going to live.]
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Guy has yet to travel Eldrant. [He glances down towards Luke.] But you told him what happened to you, didn't you.
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I-- I apologized to him for disappearing. I didn't think...
[He didn't think. Of course not. And now all he can do is look at his hands.]
He never said anything about it. ... I thought he knew.
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That sounds very much like Guy. Why would he have chosen to put his own concerns before your own? That's why you have to be careful in this world, Luke, about the assumptions that you can make in addressing others. I believe it's part of what one would call 'consideration for another's feelings'.
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... It won't happen again.
[He's defeated in every way. He can only hope Guy doesn't remember, wherever he is.]
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I know it won't. Because I know you, Luke. You'll hold onto every mistake that you make, to keep yourself from repeating them. You just have to figure out when you should stop taking this out on yourself. Guy would want you to learn from your mistakes, but he wouldn't want you to spend all your time wallowing in these sorrows either.
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I-- I know that. [He hunches his shoulders.] I'll be okay.
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... Why do compliments from you always sound like they're actually insults?
Anyway... Thanks, Jade.
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[He makes a satisfied 'hmph' sound and lightly smiles.]
I suppose that you're welcome, Luke.