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

[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.

[engel]

Forest?

[ If it's that far out of the way, will it really be that much better than attempting to trek through the hordes of other lost individuals? Then there's the fact he doesn't have the foggiest idea where this forest is and what kind of creatures inhabit it. Should there be monsters, he would have to fight while protecting Luke; no doubt a difficult task in itself. ]

...how far are you looking to go? We could sit still until they clear out. With our luck, they'd never go away.

[fabrecation]

Just the edge of it. [The urge to banter just a little is way too strong to resist, so he place his hands on his hips and looks back at Asch with a half smile.] Besides, I thought you were sick of standing around!

[engel]

[ Dammit, who taught the replica to toss his own words back at him? Asch mutters a few colorful choice words under his breath as he skims the accursed people a final time and double checks his sword. Yep, still there. For his brazen comment, Luke gets a light jab between the shoulder blades. ]

Lead on, smart ass.

[fabrecation]

[At least it's light, so Luke can't help but laugh quietly to himself before obeys and leads on. He... does not have his sword, as he didn't expect a crowd of people to suddenly appear, but hopefully they can make it back without running into any villains or anything.

There are some cute bunnies who try to follow them, though. And if you listen close, they might be trying to chatter to you. In English.]

[engel]

[ One extra poke for laughing, dreck. Hand rested on his sword hilt as they walk, Asch almost jumps from the occasional branch snapping underfoot. So suddenly hearing voices behind them has Asch whirling around to threaten-- a bunch of bunnies?

He's just.. going to stop and stare at the rabbits with all the expression of a tomato because, seriously, what the hell. The only talking animal he knows of is Luke's pet cheagle, who can get away with it due to being a sacred beast. Soup meat isn't supposed to make intelligible noises in his book.

Realizing he must look like a damn fool, Asch stands down without sheathing his sword. No way is he going to mention this strange development, though. The replica isn't allowed to know if he's finally gone off the deep end when he doesn't even have a weapon. ]

[fabrecation]

[Yeah, Luke's gonna be staring at him with slightly wider eyes at that little display. Because come on, he's already used to the little woodland critters who talk, and Asch has been here for like two years; he should be more than used to it.]

... Asch, are you okay?

[engel]

[ There was always the option of blaming his nerves on the mass of people, but that would mean admitting Luke was handling the ridiculous situation better than he was. He couldn't tolerate even the idea. Asch's eyes dart between Luke and the bunnies, finally settling on giving the suspicious creatures a final dirty look before he shoves his way past Luke to take the lead without a single word. The sooner they got out of this screwy place, the better. ]

[fabrecation]

[-But Asch do you know where you're going?

Because Luke certainly thinks he does. And he's making some excuse in his head, like... Maybe the bunnies insulted Asch's mother. Or something.

So, he'll just be following behind him, though he keeps his distance just in case he's still peeved.]

[engel]

[ ... No, but what else is new when it comes to Fabres?

Don't be too surprised when he starts going the wrong way, Luke, since Asch isn't paying much attention to where they're headed or the direction of the village. In fact, he doesn't even notice the abrupt sloping of their path until his foot hits the edge of it and slides right off. ]

SON OF A--!

[ His wings flap hard enough to send feathers everywhere in a vain attempt to keep him aloft before the original goes ass over teacup down the hill and disappears into the snowbank at the bottom. ]

[fabrecation]

[Actually, Luke is just about to ask where Asch is going when he notices Asch falling right over.]

Asch-!

[He'll reach out to try and drag him back - avoiding the wings, of course - but he's not really prepared for Asch's weight, so all that serves to do is just pull Luke right down with him. STUPID FABRE GENES.

So down they both go, and Luke lands face first in the snowbank beside Asch.]

[engel]

[ Luke's failed attempt at assisting only gets a shove before gravity kicks in and for once Asch manages not to land on his backside, but only because his head beat the rest of him to the ground first by being heavier. Stupid dreck! This is all his fault somehow! ]

...mmph.

[ He finally rights himself after a bit of creative wiggling and the use of Luke's head for a handhold, which lets him find a better place to haul Luke up by: namely his belt. A quick check that the replica isn't broken means Asch can get down to business. ]

ARE YOU STUPID?!

[fabrecation]

Owww...

[Oh, that did wonders to his stomach. He lets out a louder, more irritated groan once Asch pushes his head down in the snow even more, and then the next moment, he's hanging by his belt and giving Asch a LOOK. At least he's used to things like this by now.]

What did I do?!

[engel]

[ The volume at which Asch is yelling isn't going to do much for Luke's eardrums either, nor is all the jostling as he tries to drag them both out of the heaping pile of snow. ]

Could've gotten yourself killed, that's what! What were thinking by grabbing onto me?!

[fabrecation]

[s-sob, he's so abused. He's also trying to get himself out of Asch's grip, because it's embarrassing to be helped like this.]

You're the one who fell in the first place! How was I supposed to know you'd drag me down?!

[engel]

Use that thick head of yours for once! If I was falling, why wouldn't you end up doing the same?!

[ Luke just has a natural talent for catching Asch on his bad days. He's really not this bad most of the time? With Luke squirming around it's difficult to find solid footing, so Asch lets the twerp go in exchange for the extra hand needed to remain upright. At a couple trees he pauses for a break and shakes the snow from his soaked wings. ]

Any idea where we're at now?

[fabrecation]

[WHUMPF. Right back in the snow. Luke shakes his head to get the snow out of his face, and his wings shake automatically as well. He scrambles up to catch back up with Asch, though he has to narrow his eyes a bit with suspicion at that question. Honestly, Asch, stop having selective memory loss!]

... The house shouldn't be too far. Here, I'll lead.

[He'll just walk right on ahead.]

[engel]

[ Hah! Serves him right for being both stupid and a pain in his ass. After taking a tumble, Asch isn't in the mood to even try keeping up his charade for Luke's sake. Let the dreck get a headache and think he's gone crazy too. ]

Be my guest. You could've said something sooner.

[ He couldn't wait for a rabid bunny or something to attack Luke's face. ]

[fabrecation]

[Luke just mumbles something to himself before he continues on with his fists clenched at his sides. He still hasn't really figured it out, and deep down, he's very worried about Asch's supposed memory loss. The sooner they get back, the sooner he can figure out what's going on.

Thankfully, it doesn't take too long to reach House 5, a relatively big house compared to some of the others. As it should be, as it's suited to fit at least five people. Luke lets himself in first, though he leaves the door open for Asch.]