008 [Action/Voice]

[fabrecation]

[Luke had been trying to get back to House 5, but it's awfully hard to do so with a sudden crowd of people. There's a whole slew of sounds coming from the journal as if Luke's right in the middle of the crowd, along with Luke himself switching between trying to be polite and being outright indignant about being pushed through a sea of people. One can hear him saying "Excuse me" and "Sorry", along with "HEY" and "WATCH IT, YOU JERK".

Eventually, though, the noises fade as Luke escapes and slides down the wall of a house that he decided to take refuge behind. With a loud sigh, Luke straightens his jacket and speaks to the journal, ignoring the light pain in his abdomen from his still healing wound.]

What a pain...

Guy, Asch, Natalia, I don't think I can make it back to the house. I'll just camp out or something, okay?

[Maybe he can find some marshmallows and make some awesome smores or something. Away from the sudden crowd.]

Comments

[engel]

[ IS IT SNOWING? WE HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT THERE'S SNOW HERE IN LUCETI.

So it was only a matter of time before someone decided to start tossing it around. That someone just happened to be Asch. Snowball to the face, y/n? ♥ ]

1/2

[fabrecation]

[y.

PAFF.]

2/2

[fabrecation]

[Luke lets out a garbled noise and flings the snow away, then GLARES and looks for the perpetrator-

Wait.]

... Asch? [Really?]

[engel]

[ Really. With that successful shot, Asch strolls close enough to leer down at the replica before dropping another snowball right on his head. And whaddaya know, he even has a pair wings like the rest of the population. ]

Know anyone else with this face, dreck?

[fabrecation]

[Well, now he's going to think that this is his Asch. Luke stares him down with an annoyed look and-a;ldsfjs;f another snowball?!

He wipes at his hair with an irritated growl before he stands up - winces - and scrambles away a few feet.]

Would you stop doing that?!

[engel]

[ Nothing like a case of (sorta) mistaken identity to liven things up. Asch's eyes narrow as he scrutinizes Luke's movements, taking a step closer. ]

If you can satisfactorily explain why you happen to be hurt.

[ Don't make him tackle you. ]

[fabrecation]

[Tackling him would only make it hurt even more, man. 8| Luke's glare disappears in favor of confusion, though, and he widens his eyes before he frowns.]

I thought you knew already.

[engel]

[ You expect Fabres to use what little brains they were gifted with? 8T It takes only a matter of seconds for puzzlement, understanding, then contemplation to flash across Asch's face in a flurry; did he feel like listening to Luke whine about him being a jerk? Choices, choices.

He settles for a slight shrug, turning his attention to the mass of people milling about. ]

I thought it was something else.

[fabrecation]

Huh...

[Well, whatever. Luke is determined not to show weakness around Asch, so he leaves his stomach alone, despite it aching a little from his walk through the crowd.]

It was okay earlier. I guess going through the crowd made it start hurting again. I got bumped and shoved and everything...

[And since Asch has been here longer (or so he thinks), maybe he'll know what's going on.]

What's going on, anyway?

[engel]

Of course this amount of people is going to be difficult to get through. Have you forgotten what Chesedonia is like?

[ Another trait they both share is a penchant for being deceptive. Asch hasn't a clue what this place is, but it's easy to see the discrepancy between those with wings and those lacking them, and since Luke didn't comment on his own wings -having a pair of his own- meant that was the norm. ]

Perhaps a group of tourists took a wrong turn.

[ Yes, your original made a joke and the world didn't implode. ]

[fabrecation]

Well, no, but it wasn't like this just a few minutes ago!

[And the joke flies over his head since Luke isn't expecting it, and he's really looking for an answer.]

Tourists? I-I didn't think Luceti could get those...

[...

...

...

Okay now it hits him that it was a joke.]

... You're weren't being serious, were you?

[engel]

[ Must. Resist. Urge. To. Facepalm. Though Asch does mumble to himself. ]

Luceti, huh...? Hn. I was completely serious. See how they all know exactly where what sights they want to see while on vacation?

[ Sarcasm: he has it too. The replica's brain must've frozen in the cold. ]

[fabrecation]

[Luke can at least pick up the sarcasm in his voice, and he puts his hands on his hips and gives him a LOOK.]

No, they look pretty confused to me.

[engel]

Like a certain other individual here.

[ In typical Asch style, he punctuates the statement with kick to Luke's shin. ]

Glad to know your eyes still work.

[fabrecation]

[alsdfjsd

Oh that was a low blow, especially since Luke's already injured here.]

Ow-Hey! [Luke edges away once again before he kneels - with another wince - to rub at his shin and glare at Asch. Jeez, maybe he should just stay five feet away from him at all times or something. Of course, he'll probably break that in about two minutes.] What was that for?!

[engel]

[ Man up, brat. That'll teach you to keep information from him! Not that Luke knew, but. Details. ]

Since when did I need a reason? Though if you insist on one, because your stupidity was giving me a headache. Now quit bitching.

[ Asch figures Luke might need a little help to stand again and offers it by grabbing onto the scruff of his coat, yanking upwards. ]

[fabrecation]

[He probably could use help, but Asch, he needs to stand up slowly. Luke responds by just cringing and wrapping an arm around his middle, then shooting Asch another look.]

I'm not, dammit!

[engel]

You are. Like always.

[ And he wouldn't have it any other way. Bickering is all but second nature these days. Asch's impassive expression tightens and he pauses to let Luke lean against the wall. In hindsight, he didn't know how bad the wound was. ]

...you shouldn't be outside in this condition.

[fabrecation]

[A stab right in the stomach, a deep one too. Thankfully, Guy was there for him right when it happened. If he wasn't... Well, Luke doesn't want to think about that. He's been healed for the most part, but injuries like that aren't fixed immediately like most surface wounds.

Luke leans back against the wall, shuts his eyes and takes in a few deep breaths, but once Asch speaks again, he opens them again and pushes himself away from the wall.]

I'm fine, okay? Besides, it didn't start hurting until I got caught up in that! [He flips a hand to the crowd.] I was heading back anyway... Tch, now I probably can't.

[engel]

[ WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING INTO, STUPID ASS DRECK?! Asch is familiar with being impaled after having become a shish kabob in Eldrant and might've been a touch more sympathetic had he known.

If the replica could keep his mouth shut for any length of time. Something about Luke's attitude was rubbing him the wrong way, and the cold wasn't helping. Asch folds both arms across his chest, wings bristling. ]

Why not? If they refuse to make way, a few fonic artes should clear a path.

[fabrecation]

[HE WAS IN A WAAAAR. And poor Luke has no idea that Asch became shish kabob. And he'd probably flip a table if he figured it out.

He's only trying to appear strong, because Asch always seems to hate it when Luke shows weakness in front of him. That, and Luke doesn't like relying on help if it isn't needed, and he was so sure he was better...!

It's all so annoying.

And that comment makes Luke look sharply at Asch.]

No! I don't want to hurt them! I don't want to hurt anyone else...!

[engel]

[ Just don't try to strip him like you guys did with the Necromancer in Zaleho and nobody will be the wiser.

The manner in which Luke insisted against force causes something in him to give a painful twist, like he'd heard those exact words before. Almost hesitantly, he reaches out to ruffle Luke's shorter bangs without looking at him. ]

...tch. You should know I wouldn't attack innocent people, idiot. Aiming above would be an effective way to startle them into hauling ass.

[fabrecation]

...

[Asch just ruffled his hair.

Asch just ruffled his hair.

Asch just ruffled his hair.

Considering the most affection he's received from Asch during these past months was getting carried back from a kidnapping (and he was sort-of unconscious, too), this makes Luke freeze and stare with wide eyes. But he knows that Asch also doesn't like it when Luke makes a big deal out of the things he does, so he shakes himself out of the surprise and looks away, flushing slightly with embarrassment.]

... R-Right, I knew that. But... Do we have to scare them? They already look kind of nervous...

[engel]

[ In the quietest, most discreet way possible, Asch appreciates the lack of flailing and/or spazzing on Luke's part for the display in front of so many people. He'd been expecting at least a question or two or five. With a huff Asch puts some distance between them, pointedly facing the crowd for both their sakes. A-awkward. ]

You got a better idea? I don't know about you, but I'm sick of standing around and freezing my ass off.

[fabrecation]

[Living with his orig-... Asch has given Luke a few pointers on what and what not to do around him, much better than just seeing Asch for a few minutes before he leaves like he always does. Luke himself looks away from the crowd and back towards the forest for that same reason, but- saaay.]

We could go through the forest and get to the house from there! I don't think anyone will go that far, anyway.