006 [Written]

[fabrecation]

[Now that Luke can stay awake for more than an hour, he'd really like to get back to the people of Auldrant as well as the friends he made here in Luceti. He still can't hear anything, but... well, maybe no one has to know that. As long as they don't try talking to him, he'll be fine.

And being bedridden for these past few days has been extremely boring.

So, he grabs his journal and writes.]

Hey... I'm back.

[... Yup. Not much to expand on there. So let's go on.]

Anyone have any good stories to tell? Or... Actually, what's the most fun you've ever had? Here or in your world.

[Filtered to Asch; 15% Unhackable]

Asch, can I talk to you?

Comments

[Action!]

[distressedude]

[It's okay, Luke. You aren't a bad player, you just can't compete with Tic-Tac-Toe Master Ion. He smiles and leans over to write.]

"You should see the books I used to study at the Cathedral in Daath. The margins are full of tic-tac-toe boards."

[Well, there was only so much a person could do when they were locked up inside all day. Reading ancient texts just isn't as interesting the 5th time through! Then again, Luke probably knows how that feels, too.]

[Action!]

[fabrecation]

[B-B-But he was locked inside all day too! And played tic-tac-toe with Guy all the time! ... Guy probably let him win most of the time BUT STILL.

Luke gives a bratty POUT, but reading what Ion says makes it start to go away, even though he tries to keep it up.]

Who played with you?

[Action!]

[distressedude]

"Usually Anise, whenever I saw her getting bored while she sat with me in the library. But Maestro Tritheim taught me how to play."

[Then, after a moment, he adds:] "He said it was strange that I didn't know how, but thankfully never asked about it."

[Action!]

[fabrecation]

[Oh, he knows that feeling. Luke glances away to the sheets at that.]

Sometimes the maids would wonder why I couldn't do simple stuff, or wonder what basic things were... [But he'll still smile as he tries not to dwell on the worst parts of this replication business.] But Guy never really asked. He probably wondered, but he just taught me everything and put up with me. He's the one who taught me how to play tic-tac-toe.

[A pause, and then he adds on with a little smirk:] Maybe that's why I lost so fast.

[Action!]

[distressedude]

[Ion smiles fondly. With most people, even those who knew what he was, Ion had a tendency to avoid bringing it up or even acknowledge that he was a replica, mostly out of habit. Being able to talk openly was nice.]

"There's a lot of luck involved in playing tic-tac-toe. I bet if we played again, this time, you'd win."

[Action!]

[fabrecation]

[It's kind of the same with Luke; talking about being a replica will always be a painful subject, but with someone who's like him... It's not so bad.]

You think so?

[Action!]

[distressedude]

[Rather than answer, Ion just draws up another board and makes his move before looking up at Luke with a smile.]