[And at those words, the tone Luke takes as he speaks, everything just... stops. Asch falls silent, the connection withering like a poisoned flower. It doesn't break completely, but the overwhelming emotions that had been flowing through it so constantly are now more like a flutter, a heartbeat of pain.
I'm your replica, he'd said. Freely, without force, or coaxing, without shame. Instead...
...pride? Is that what he's feeling? Is that Luke? It must be- he knows, knows it isn't his. His pride is buried too much right now. There's too much inside him.
I'm tired. I'm so tired...
...of feeling like this...
But what else is there for him, now? What else is left? Sooner or later, everything fades. Everyone leaves. He lost everything once, and then Van betrayed him. Everything he gained in Luceti... it's fragile, a tentative peace that can be broken so easily.
Luke could be gone tomorrow. He could be gone tomorrow. And he almost wishes for it- does wish for it, even, though only through sheer stubbornness alone does he make sure that Luke doesn't see the reason why. At least then it would be over at last. He'd die like he was supposed to, and he could rest. There's no point in trying to get home alive now, after all.
No one remembers Luceti. What's waiting for him there? Who?
When he speaks again, his voice is quiet, dull; resigned to a fate he won't share or explain.]
...It's better this way, Luke. I can't go back. Just go.
[Action]
I'm your replica, he'd said. Freely, without force, or coaxing, without shame. Instead...
...pride? Is that what he's feeling? Is that Luke? It must be- he knows, knows it isn't his. His pride is buried too much right now. There's too much inside him.
I'm tired. I'm so tired...
...of feeling like this...
But what else is there for him, now? What else is left? Sooner or later, everything fades. Everyone leaves. He lost everything once, and then Van betrayed him. Everything he gained in Luceti... it's fragile, a tentative peace that can be broken so easily.
Luke could be gone tomorrow. He could be gone tomorrow. And he almost wishes for it- does wish for it, even, though only through sheer stubbornness alone does he make sure that Luke doesn't see the reason why. At least then it would be over at last. He'd die like he was supposed to, and he could rest. There's no point in trying to get home alive now, after all.
No one remembers Luceti. What's waiting for him there? Who?
When he speaks again, his voice is quiet, dull; resigned to a fate he won't share or explain.]
...It's better this way, Luke. I can't go back. Just go.