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!]]

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...Whatever. [Asch's response is little more than a mumble, torn between annoyance and resignation. At least Luke hadn't really tried to argue. That wouldn't have gone over very well.

At the same time it's... very strange for them to be so quiet. He's not used to this quiet comfort, this persistent companionship. It's almost like-

...But he doesn't want to think about that, so he pushes it from his mind, closing his eyes. He could close the link, shut down completely, push Luke aside and run again.

He could, but he doesn't. Strange, indeed.]

[It is kind of strange. Luke hardly ever resorts to this kind of comfort, after all; he usually tries with his words, even though he usually fails at that. Even now, Luke can't help trying to think of the words that might help the situation a little, even though he knows that it's impossible. No words made him feel better, and he was hurting the least of the two.

This, however... This was much more peaceful than trying to figure out how to say something that wouldn't set Asch off, push him away and run. Luke counted himself lucky that Asch was even letting him touch him in the first place. This silent companionship was... honestly making him feel a little better, and he only hoped that Asch felt the same way.

Still, he had to talk sometime. There had been an offer in his head that he was hesitant to propose, but ultimately, he had to. If he didn't... Who knows when he'd see Asch again? It took several more minutes for him to speak up, and even then, his voice was still quiet, raising only a little more than Asch's.]

Asch, come back to the village with me. I don't mean right now... But some day, let's find a place to stay. A smaller place, just for us. [Not House 5. There were too many memories, not to mention that it was frankly too big for the two of them. Luke couldn't imagine helping with chores in a house that big.]

[Asch wants to scoff at him. Almost does, but one thing holds him back: the fact that Luke is, at least in part, correct. House 5 isn't a home for them anymore- everything that made it one for Asch is gone. It wouldn't be the same to live there, where every day he would expect to find Guy around the corner, or in the kitchen, or in his room to help him pour over the books he'd hoped would save his life. Or to discuss anything and everything on each others' minds that needed to be said.

...Or-

...None of anyone's business but his. Too many memories, too many things that would hurt him, in the end. And he didn't want that. If he had to return to the village - and surely he would, eventually - then he didn't want to return and live there.

They had to move.

His voice is quiet when he finally responds; gruff, vague, and as bland as he could make it to conceal his concern and fear.]

...Just for us? What kind of stupid idea is that, the two of us living alone together? Do you even know what you're suggesting?

I know.

[He thinks he knows, anyway. They'd fight. They'd fight a lot, and vicious words would be said, and they'd grow frustrated with each other. They might just take off alone and wonder why they even agreed to stay with each other. No matter how many steps they took towards improving their relationship, there would always be a sense of animosity between them.

But they were still original and replica. Luke still cared deeply for Asch, and if they lived separately, he's sure that he'd stop by way too many times to see how he's doing. And there was still the fact that they were trying to take steps to make things work between them, not to mention that Luke had nowhere else to stay without imposing on anyone. He's pretty sure it's the same way for Asch, too. It just seemed like the right choice for Luke.]

I know I ask stupid stuff without thinking about them sometimes, but I did this time.

...Hn. [Asch doubts he's really thought it through; not when practically every time they're together, his one and only goal is making Luke feel as inferior as humanly possible. The idea that he's weighed the pros and cons of this potential arrangement and is okay with it is ludicrous, and is reason enough for Asch to doubt him.

If he'd gone back ho- ...to the house, though, where would he have gone, if not there? And if he'd gone there, then... they'd be living together anyway. The two of them... without Guy.

Could they do it? Could they really live with each other like that? The idea of it... it just felt... wrong.

But is it better than being alone...]

...Don't expect an answer now.

[Not a yes. But not a no, either.]

... All right.

[Just the fact that Asch didn't outright reject him gave Luke some hope, and it even made him smile a little before he shut his eyes and relaxed. Living together, if it even happened, would be hard and he knew it, what with Asch constantly calling him such degrading names. But he was sure it'd be worth it. Neither of them would be alone.

Their conversation was over and he knew it, but... Luke didn't particularly want to leave. Now that he'd finally found Asch, and now that he actually felt... comfortable and not abandoned for the first time since Guy disappeared, it was hard to just leave. Maybe Asch wouldn't mind him staying like this for a while...]

[And Asch... doesn't move. For a long while, actually, just resting there with Luke so close, oddly content with the companionship. He considers the matter closed, so he's not about to start chatting his replica up or anything, but... if he wants to stay? Asch won't force him to leave. Even if the idea of accepting companionship from Luke still baffles and almost frightens him, the idea of being alone again - with the link active and so peaceful - is even more frightening right now.

Maybe he can be weak for a little while. Maybe... this is okay.]

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

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