fabrecation | 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!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Luke had had the blanket wrapped around himself while he laid on his side and started at the fire. Back when he had long hair, it was easy to fall asleep early - in fact, that was his schedule. But once his hair was cut, once he had to deal with Akzeriuth and the fact that he had to kill human beings to save even more of them... He was never able to sleep that early again, nor have a good night's rest since then. So, it's no surprise that he's still awake and hears Jade walk into the house.

Not knowing that it's Jade at first, Luke sits up swiftly, tensed and ready to fight whoever walked in... But once he sees who it is, he lets out a sigh to relax himself, then shifts to get into an easier sitting position.]

Jade...

Hello, Luke. [Jade's tone sounds completely normal, as usual. Completely free of any guilt or concern that he was possibly keeping Luke from a good night's sleep. Of course, Jade was aware of Luke's nightly struggles. He knew that tonight, of all nights, this would likely be the rule and not the exception. Of course, even without this knowledge, Jade would likely still be here.

Jade walked over and stood in front of the fireplace. Jade was not good at being compassionate or warm, but he was here.] You're an easy person to find.

[Luke would be more freaked out if Jade was compassionate and warm. It's enough that he's there, unconcerned as ever. It kind of settles Luke down a little.

He sheds the blanket off of his shoulders and lets it pool at his waist instead. Frankly, with that little scare and the fire, the blanket was a bit too warm for him. He'll pull his knees up and wrap his arms around them to settle back into a withdrawn position, though.]

I guess so... I don't exactly have a lot of places to go right now.

[It's good to know his social ineptitude is good for something.]

Really? I don't see anything necessarily wrong with your old place. [Hint, hint. Although it was uncomfortable, Jade did expect Luke to return eventually. He very much doubted that Guy would want to see Luke running away from the house.]

... I'm the only one there now, Jade.

[Guy, the one who took care of everything, was gone. Asch, the one who took care of the things Guy couldn't for some reason, had gone off to the mountains, and now that Guy's gone... He's pretty sure he wouldn't come back down for a while.

That left Luke. The last thing Luke wants to do is admit it, but his tone alone indicates that he knows he can't take care of himself, especially in a house as large as theirs.]

Now Luke, what about me? [Not that he'd even been in the house at all. Nor had he been invited by anyone that was still here at this moment, but well, he wasn't leaping for joy at the offer to live in the same house as Dist, nor was he overly excited to go off and live by himself either, even though he was perfectly capable of it.

And well, living with Luke perhaps wouldn't be terrible. If what he wanted was another living, breathing body in the house, Jade could handle that. The cooking and cleaning was another story, but well... In Jade speak, this is an offer.]

[That manages to make Luke look up at him with surprise. Was Jade actually... offering to stay with him? Jade? Though... thinking on it, it's not really that surprising, considering that Dist lives here. Heck, he's more surprised that Jade didn't get out as soon as possible.

It's a nice offer, one that Luke really considers for a moment. Jade is much older and much more capable, and... who knows, maybe he can give some wisdom on the matter to Luke.

But thinking about going back to House 5, even with Jade... There are too many memories in that place. He'd wake up and expect to see Guy, or to smell breakfast... brunch being made, and he wouldn't be able to have those again.

So, he curls up a little more and looks away, glancing down at the couch's cushions.]

Let me stay here a few more nights, okay?

Do what you like. I'm not stopping you.

[And with the unconcerned way Jade throws up his hands and shrugs his shoulders, he seems completely honest. He didn't have the energy to waste dragging Luke kicking and screaming back to his house when he wanted to stay elsewhere. Nor the burning desire to give it a try.

He knew Luke was perhaps being a bit childish, but he wasn't Guy. He wasn't going to try to be. If Luke wanted to stay here for a few days, if that somehow made things better, then so be it.]

... Thanks.

[At least he didn't run off to the mountains like Asch. Speaking of his original, he really had to find him sometime... Just to try dragging him down.

For now, though, peeks up at Jade again.]

Do you think Guy's okay back on Auldrant? [Luke doesn't know exactly where Jade came from in the ever confusing timelines, but he can assume he's from the future. Everyone else was.]

[Really. Of all the things to worry about--] I'm nearly certain of it. In fact, I'm sure that by now Guy is happily walking his Majesty's rappigs, fetching his royal laundry and doing all sorts of absolutely inane tasks.

[This is meant somewhat as a joke. Somewhat. There was perhaps a bit more truth to that statement than Jade was willing to dwell on. His Majesty could be something else.]

[... Yeah, Luke can't help giving a half smile at that. He knows about that much, at least, and though Peony intimidates him a little (a lot), even he knows that some of the things he does can be... weird.]

That kind of sounds like what he did back at the manor. [And at least that matched up to what Nephry told him. Guy was happy, then... Even if his suspicions are true, at least he's happy.

... Maybe. Who knows, when Jade says it.]

Really now? Did he walk you on a leash too?

[At least now he can survive a little longer! A week, maybe.

And that just gets Luke to narrow his eyes. He walked right into that, didn't he.]

What? No! I never needed a leash!

[Oh yes! Don't get him wrong. Jade is quite thankful for the improvement.]

My, my. There's no need to get so defensive Luke. [Can you tell he;s having fun?]

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

[CREEPER. 8| And yes!]

[Yay!]

[Action!]

[Action! /o/]

[Action! \o\]

[Action! \o/]

[Action! /o\]

[Action! ~o~]

[Action! |o|]

[Action! >o<]

[Action! I can't think of anymore :|]

Re: [Action! Good, because I just ran out. xD]

[Action! You win this round. 8|]

[Action! |Db]