009 [Voice]

[fabrecation]

[Filtered from Abyss Crew; 10% Unhackable]

How do you get better faster if you're sick?

[It's worth noting that since Luke's voice is slightly hoarse and a little deeper from whatever he's infected with, he sounds just like Asch. Maybe slightly more raspy, but otherwise he's pretty spot on and doesn't even know it.]

Comments

[fourteen]

[ ... when Saix recovers all his memories, that will be another matter. "little Miss Counterfeit" also springs to mind. maybe none of the bad guys from Luke's world are here? ... if so ... that's good.

her smile is a little weak, and she hesitates just a second too long, but she nods. ]

[fabrecation]

[If Van were to come here... He probably wouldn't even dare to say that. But as it stands, even Asch is trying hard to accept that Luke is his own person, trying not to call him a replica anymore, just as Luke is trying so hard to accept his own name. And Dist is mostly leaving him alone, although that's also because Luke is avoiding him whenever he can.

But... It's still hard. Van's words spring to mind the moment he spoke; "You were born as a replacement, meant to be thrown away".

And that's why, before Xion can smile and nod, Luke breaks the eye contact to stare down at the blankets, his own smile slipping away. At least he dared to say it... At least he's getting somewhere.]

[fourteen]

[ Xion's own smile fades as she watches him.

They try -- with their hopeful words and smiles, always edged with desperation -- but it doesn't always work, does it? Pretending to believe they matter, pretending they think it's all okay. It's all pretend. They're pretend -- it's not such an easy thing to move past when all you've ever known is your own worthlessness.

More than anything, Xion wishes she could curl up against him. That being ... not entirely possible, she reaches out to touch his cheek, no longer caring if that seems strange or overly affectionate. She brushes her fingers against his face, grips his hand, and tries to communicate without words what it is she wants to say.

It's okay. ]

[fabrecation]

[And all of that is true; Luke does pretend, for everyone else's sake as well as his own, but never quite believing whatever they tell him or what he tells himself. He had shouted "I am me" to Van with such desperation that it was like he was trying to get both Van and himself to believe it.

The touch against his cheek, though... This is the first time anyone has touched him like that. And his blush can probably be seen through his fever now, but he doesn't particularly mind. Luke just smiles again, a small one, but a little more genuine than the last one, and brings his free hand up to entwine fingers with her - his palm against the back of her hand. There's an unfamiliar urge there, to press her hand against his cheek or... or... Actually, he's not sure. But he doesn't give in to it, just glances at her with his own silent reply.

Yeah. It's okay.]

[fourteen]

[ By all rights, Xion should know these signs, or at least be familiar with them. She should be able to name the feeling that's in her heart, pulsing through her veins and making her skin tingle when he lays his hand over hers.

And maybe some part of her does know -- recognizes, albeit distantly -- that she's slowly falling in love with him.

But right now, that's just not what she cares about. It's not even on her mind. She cups his face with her hand, fingers shifting slightly between his, and gives him a gentle, barely there smile. Barely there -- but much more real than what she was attempting just moments ago.

Softly, without really meaning to speak these words aloud: ] I'm glad I came.

[fabrecation]

[... Luke's getting that feeling again - to do something - but what? All he can do is keep his hands where they are and fight the urge to look away and say something dismissive. That's the way he always handled situations that made him feel so flustered before, but it'd always just make the other person go away or huff at him. He certainly doesn't want that right now.

So, while he does glance away, he still manages to look back at her, his own smile growing a little. Yes, he heard that, and yes, he sees that smile.]

I'm glad, too. ... Thanks for coming.

[fourteen]

[ She'll stay that way for a moment more, smile widening and warming at his words...

... until she finally, finally realizes just what sort of position they are in. or rather, what sort of position she's put Luke in. No wonder he turned red!

With a sudden blush of her own, Xion withdraws her hands completely, curling them in her lap. Her smile turns shy and she laughs sheepishly. ]

Sorry. I don't know what came over me.

[fabrecation]

[And once Luke's hands are free, he immediately raises one up to smooth his hair - his bed hair, he just realized, and lets the other grip into the sheets beside him. f-ffff, he feels so nervous now, goddamn.]

I-It's okay, I'm fine with it! You don't have to apologize or anything...

lol I love that face.

[fourteen]

[ she laughs again, the sound of it a little freer. at least she's not the only one who's nervous! ]

Okay, okay. But, um ... yeah, my world is kind of ... dreary. I can tell you about the other worlds I've been to, though! They're all pretty interesting.

you bring it out of him bb.

[fabrecation]

[... Okay. Okay! Back on the topic of her world... s?]

You've been to other worlds?

I do try. |D also /watches this thread go on for years--

[fourteen]

Oh, yeah! It was my job! I never told you? [ smiling, leaning forward on her elbows. ]

I went to all sorts of different places. Agrabah was this city in a vast desert, it was always really hot and sandy there. Halloween Town ... [ she laughs ] was just what it sounded like. It was spooky, but not too bad. Then there was the Beast's Castle, and Wonderland! ... even Destiny Islands. But that one ... that one was special. [ her smile tinges with sadness, for just a moment, before she moves onto HER PERSONAL FAVORITE. ]

Of course, the best was Twilight Town. The sun was always setting when Axel, Roxas and I went there to eat ice cream. It was our way to just escape and have fun every day after our missions. I treasure those memories.

I oughta just have him fall asleep otherwise they'll talk forever 8|

[fabrecation]

[... Oh my god that sounds so awesome. They must be small, though, if they refer to those worlds as towns and castles... Still! It's like jumping to completely different places!

And then Xion gets to the part about Twilight Town. Always sunset? So Xion likes sunsets, huh...

... No, why is he making a note of that.]

That sounds amazing... Did you fly to all those different worlds or something?

... that would be kinda cute though.

[fourteen]

[ ... she does indeed. 8)

but that makes her laugh. ]

Fly? No way! We used darkness corridors. I'm not exactly sure how they work, but you can use them to create portals to all the different worlds. It's a really quick and easy way of getting around. I wish Luceti had let me keep that power... then I could go to the beach whenever I wanted. [ sigh. ]