fabrecation | 013 [Voice/Actionish] (Backdated to the day before the event)

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013 [Voice/Actionish] (Backdated to the day before the event)

[Ever since that battle with Vanitas and his talk with Asch afterward, Luke had been feeling absolutely exhausted. He'd spent all day, all night, and then all day again in bed, which surprised him a little. Hyperresonance had never worn him out that much before... Then again, he never actually tried it in Luceti apart from his training with Asch, and never in combat like that. It's the next morning when Luke finally feels energized enough to get back to his daily routine.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first. Sure, there was no breakfast, but it's not like that was too unusual. Maybe enough to make him raise an eyebrow, but he shrugged it off and made himself some toast with butter and cinnamon. That seemed to be one of the few things he couldn't ruin, even if the meal wasn't all that fulfilling.

It's as the day goes on that something seems to be wrong. The silence could always be from Guy managing Good Spirits, but a quick check made him see that Guy wasn't even there. Sure, he could be somewhere else, but... without even checking in on him? Even at his worst, by this time Guy would always come by to see if Luke was okay and if he needed anything. It was always a little annoying, but... it was routine, too. A routine that's never broken easily.

It's late in the afternoon by the time Luke flops down in one of the chairs and frowns as he stares worriedly down at the floor. Something about this feels wrong. He's kind of afraid to check on Guy, because what he finds might just be everything he feared. It'd be easier to just pretend things were okay, to think that Guy's just off somewhere and that he'd be back later. Maybe he finally went to bring Asch back from wherever he was. Maybe he just went to do some errands. ...Very long errands.

But he can't keep doing that forever. He shuts his eyes, then stands and heads towards Guy's room.]

Guy? Guy, come on. [Luke's at the door now. He raises his hand to push it open... turns it into a fist, and brings it back down to his side.] ... Look, whatever I did, I'm sorry. Just... open the door, okay?

[No response. Luke purses his lips and tightens the fist at his side, then forces himself to relax it enough to raise his hand and open the door.]

Guy...

[Somehow, a part of him was expecting this. It was only a quiet, little part of him though, one that would be pushed firmly away by denial and what he felt was rationality. Even now as he stares into the completely empty room, a wave of rejection comes over him. No, maybe Guy just cleaned his room way too nicely. It continues even as Luke steps slowly into the room and looks into the closet, checks the drawers, even peeks under the bed: No, Guy's just having a massive cleaning day. He just moved to another room - Luke even tries to make sure by checking all of the other rooms, his steps quickening into a run by the time he goes upstairs, calling his name uselessly. No, Guy's just...

He's just...

Luke finally stops at what used to be Natalia's room. It was just the same with her: Everything was gone. All that was left was an empty space where his dear friend used to be... Just like Guy's room.]

[It takes a long while before Luke thinks to at least let everyone know what happened. He'd sat on what used to be Natalia's bed with his head in his hands and quietly thought of things that would take away the fact that Guy was gone and mentally berating himself every time his breathing hitched.

It takes another few minutes for Luke to actually get up and go to his room, where his journal lays on the nightstand. He rests one hand on the journal while the other reaches up to wipe at his face, trying to make himself look at least somewhat presentable.

... But when he does that, he just wants to cover his face, turn away and leave. To get away for a while, because now the house felt too empty, but... He shakes his head to himself and flips the journal open, keeping his head ducked down to hide whatever emotion he might be feeling.]

Guy... went back to Auldrant.

[That's all Luke can say before he shuts the journal and leaves it behind.]

[[ooc: ~~Just a fair warning, Luke might not reply to some of the responses.~~ Null and void since I am terrible at that. 8| He's a sad puppy right now and all. He can be caught wandering around the village, though, if you want to talk to him!]]

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Thanks. [He sounds kind of tired, and who can blame him? It's been an exhausting day.

Still, Luke steps inside, keeping his head down slightly. He's a little nervous about what he's going to ask and all.]

Did you...? [Hear about Guy? And no, that wasn't the question that's made him so nervous.]

[offers a hand for his coat. Once there is a long enough silence after his question...]

Well, I'm not sure. Did I what?

... Sorry. Did you... get my message? [There. Sort of.]

Yes, I did. I answered, but you must have already gone.

...I'm sorry, Luke. It must be very hard for you.

[That doesn't really get an answer from him. What he really wants to do is just deny that it happened; pushing it away and not talking about it is about the best he can do right now.

After a moment, though, he turns back to her and spits the question he's been holding in out.]

Can I please stay here for a while?

...Of course. You know you're always welcome here.

Though I think you should inform Asch, if you haven't already done so. The last thing any of us need is him trying to search for you, too.

He'll know where I am. [Asch has the handy dandy replica gps system in his head and all. Still, the thought of Asch makes him purse his lips and reach up to rub the back of his neck. He has his journal with him, right? He got the message... right?]

I'm really worried about him. But... at the same time, I don't think I want to know how he's handling this. [It's easier to see Asch as the stronger original. It's just... weird to see him at his lowest, weird and scary and... very sad.]

...Wasn't he home?

Uh... no. [Luke finally sheds his jacket and hands it over to Nephry before he steps further into the house. No, Asch isn't at home... but right now, he really doesn't want to get into why he isn't there.]

I see.

[hanging up his coat, then]

Unfortunately, we don't have an extra bedroom. Will you be all right staying on the sofa, at least for tonight?

Oh, it's okay! I'll go back to the house tomorrow. I just... [He can't. Not tonight. Not when he'd expect to be woken up by Guy.]

[she will lead Luke over to said sofa then, with a gentle smile and a hand on his arm]

You are more than welcome to stay longer, if you want to.

...I'll bring you a pillow and some blankets, but...is there anything else you'd like?

No... I think I'll be okay. Thanks. [He sits down on the sofa, somewhat awkwardly at that. He's never really... been here before, except on the few occasions when he'd have to whine at Tear to heal some injury he had. Staying here feels weird... He'll definitely have to go back tomorrow, despite his reputation for not being able to take care of himself. What if Asch came back, after all...?]

[That's right. The Luke she knows as a frequent guest...isn't this one. If he does go home tomorrow, she will be sure to check up on him at least once. For now, he gets a pillow and two blankets from the linen closet]

The fire should die down on its own.

I'll probably keep it going for a while.

[For now, though, he gives Nephry a weak smile as he takes the pillow and blankets and sets them on the couch, making it as comfortable as he can. It's very, very rare that Luke fon Fabre sleeps on something like a couch, but it's better than the cold, hard ground outside. And it's even better than his own bed right now.]

[there is a hand on his shoulder this time]

Would you like to talk, at all? ['I'll listen,' being implied here.]

[That... gets him to pause in his actions and consider her offer. He's already talked to a few people, even Xion... but his chest and throat still feel tight. No amount of talking can really take that feeling away...

Yet he runs his thumbs over the blanket in his hands and keeps his gaze on it as he speaks.]

... For some stupid reason, I thought Guy would be here forever. Or... at least until we found a way back.

Of course you did.

[hesitant, she sits on the edge of the sofa]

And it means very little to hear that he's gone back to where he belongs, doesn't it?

[Luke stays kneeling by the couch, not even glancing at Nephry as she sits.]

I don't even know what's going on there.

With him?

Yeah. He came from the future, so... I...

[It doesn't help that Luke has a sneaking feeling that something's happened to him in Guy's time. Guy wouldn't go from being unconcerned about Luke being gone for a month or more without any way to know if he was okay or not back on Auldrant and then worrying if he was gone for even a day here in Luceti. But... Luke would rather not try to figure that out. Just the suspicion scares him to death.]

[Ordinarily she doesn't do this. But.]

I am from farther ahead in our time than he is. ...He's fine, Luke. Likely trying his best to enjoy His Majesty's rappigs.

... So he's still taking care of those rappigs, huh.

[It's a joke without humor - he's still scared. It would only take someone saying that nothing happened to him to really let go of his worries. Even if he really doesn't mind dying sometimes... It's still scary to think about.

... But the thought of Guy still walking rappigs is pretty funny.]

And Emperor Peony is quite pleased with that arrangement, I'm sure.

...I'm sorry, Luke, but I don't feel it would be right to share much more than that, about your future. I don't know what doing so would cause.

[but he may find a hand rubbing his back, gently. He seems to need the reassurance.]

I don't want to know my future, anyway. It'd be like getting a Score reading... That's what we're trying to fight against, right?

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