fabrecation | 010 [Written/Accidental Voice]

[Written; Filtered to House 5]

I'll be back once this is all over, okay?

[/Filter]

[Luke made sure to cover up the little camera that records his face as he writes, and he does so all the way until he shuts the journal. It seems that's all he's going to do.

Except a little while later, the journal's knocked open, and a broken pair of scissors that clatters against the floor near it proves to be the culprit. Luke himself... or, rather, Asch can be seen with his back to the journal in a community housing room while he stares intently at a mirror and tries to style his hair into something that looks a little more like himself. He had tried to cut his hair, but judging by the scissors, that proved to be a colossal failure. At the moment he has his bangs down in front of his face and brushing furiously, trying to get them to stay there, trying to look at least a little different-

But once he's confident enough to let go of the hair, it just springs right back into place on the top of Asch's head. Luke stares for a second... then buries his hands in his hair and ruffles it wildly with frustration, and he tips his head back to shout (with Asch's deeper tone):]

Damn it, why won't you stay down?!

[And, of course, once he jerks his hands out and gives the mirror a flat look, the hair springs back into place once more, looking as if nothing ever touched it except love and care. With that, Luke drops his head into his hands and lets out a long groan.]

I give up.

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[Now Luke isn't the only one who has to look away, but there's a smile on Ion's face as he does so.] ...all this time, I always admired how strong you were. And for you to think the same about me...

[He looks back at Luke.] We've been helping each other this whole time and not even realizing it.

[Unlike Luke, Ion's never really spoken to anyone about all of this. It felt nice, being able to speak so freely about being a replica to someone who understood... no, it wasn't just that. Being able to talk so freely with a friend, with Luke, always felt nice.] Thank you, Luke.

Yeah... I guess so.

[And maybe this thing he has with Xion... is deeper than he thought. He always thought they were so close because they understood each other, yet here are Luke and Ion understanding each other, and Luke certainly doesn't feel an ounce of what he feels for Xion... whatever it is. Sure, he feels a little closer, but... it's not the same.

Maybe he's figured out something else. It's not too big on his part, as he still doesn't understand, but it's a little step for him... which mean much more to replicas like them.]

Thanks, Ion... I'm glad you came over. [And he can't help looking just a little helpless.] Even if we figured out too many things... [coughcoughGuyandAsch.]

[Even if they took the long way to get there, Ion was just glad to see he'd been able to help put a smile on Luke's face, despite all that was going on with this experiment.]

I'm glad I came, too. That's the first time I've seen you really smile since I got here.

[Luke just scratches his cheek a little while his smile grows, which probably just looks odd on Asch.]

It feels weird, smiling like this... It'd probably be easier if I was in someone else's body. [In more ways than one...]

That's likely the case for many people around the village today. [Can a bag of gald smile? ...that's actually kind of horrifying to think about.]

I'm still not used to hearing Anise's voice every time I talk.... and my voice had only just started to come back before the experiment began.

To be honest, I'm not used to hearing Anise's voice and thinking it's you.

I guess it's too much to ask to let our voices stay the same... although I think that would just make things even more strange than they already are.

Mine wouldn't be too different... But I know what you mean. It'd be too weird to hear a girl's voice come out of a guy's body...

[He's thinking of a certain someone here. While it would be nice to hear her voice again (which makes him blush a little), hearing it come out of his body would just be... yeah. No.]

[Is that a blush? And that was a rather specific example that didn't seem to fit anyone he knew...] Who are you thinking of, Luke?

[D-DEFENSE MECHANISM GO: TSUNDERE MODE.]

Wh-What made you think I was thinking of anyone?!

[This is Ion. He is immune to tsunderes.]

Well, you said it'd be weird to hear a girl's voice come from a man's body, and I don't know anyone in that situation from this experiment. I thought maybe you were thinking of someone specific?

Well, I'm not! [But judging how much he's blushing, it's such a lie.]

All right, I won't ask about it, then.

[Can you see what he's doing, Luke? Reverse psychology always works when Ion does it. Especially because it's completely unintentional; he won't pry if Luke doesn't want to say anything!]

[Ion gave up way too easily.

...

Graaah, now he's feeling guilty! It was just like this back then, too! DAMN YOU AND YOUR TWISTED PSYCHOLOGY, ION.]

... One of my friends got turned into a guy. He's her best friend, kind of like Guy for me, so...

[He's not doing it on purpose, really! Unable to think of an alternative explanation, Ion's just assuming Luke didn't say anything to spare his friend the embarrassment. Luke, you're such a nice guy!]

I see, her best friend? That almost sounds like the situation I'm in, doesn't it...

[If people were turning into their best friends that meant... maybe the experiment wasn't exactly how they thought it was after all? He isn't sure whether to feel relieved or not.]

[....... Yes! That's totally it! Ion, you're so smart.]

Yeah... But if it's just best friends, then I'd be Guy instead of Asch. [Sorry to crush your hopes, Ion.]

Ah, that's right. It would... be like that, wouldn't it...

[He looks off to the side, seeming just a bit distracted now.]

[And Luke is a bit of a derp when it comes to picking up on these things, but he still tilts his head a bit to try and get Ion's attention again.]

... Is something wrong?

[He looks back up - is that a blush on his face? Of course not - and shakes his head.] Mm, just thinking about something, is all... we'll probably be like this for the next week, won't we?

[Whereas Luke has the tsundere-defense system, Ion goes for the subtle change of subject.]

[Which works, even if there is a pause of suspicion.]

... Yeah. I'll stay here until then.

In that case, I'll make sure to come and visit you while you're here. [A pause. Was that too bold?] If you don't mind, of course.

I don't mind... I could probably use the company, anyway. [Considering he was already getting lonely by the time Ion came over.]

010 [Written/Accidental Voice]

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