014 [Voice/Action]

[fabrecation]

[It's well into the night by the time Luke makes his way back to the apartment where he lives, a small bag with the belongings he brought with him being carried by his side. Unfortunately, it had rained while Luke was out there, so the mattress he brought along was ruined by the time he decided to head back. Thanks to the rain, his hair is also a mess, so he's not particularly happy.

He is, at least, much calmer than he was a few days ago. After his talk with Ion, Luke's had quite some time to think. Maybe he was being selfish... Maybe it would've been best to never know about any of it. But at the same time, he's glad to know. It feels like the wool's been pulled away from his eyes, and now he knows that he has to go back. Even if... he'd have to face Ion's death... there was still much to do. And here Luke thought everything was peaceful again...

He'd been thinking about the experiment, too. One that gave him a real life, a real family... He'd have to contact Paprika sometime. And how did Asch feel about it? Should he have stayed away? Well... There was only one way to find out.

That thought, though, makes him stop on the bridge by his community building. He has to wonder whether anyone else felt the way he did about some parts of the experiment... So, on a whim, he takes out his journal and pushes the voice option.]

Hey, does anyone else wish that some of that experiment was...

[Real? ...]

... Never mind, forget that. Uh... has... anyone gone camping before?

[... Stupid question. Luke shakes his head and shuts his journal with a light, frustrated little sound, then continues on his way to the apartment. If Asch was upset with him for that experiment, he'd soon find out about it.]

Comments

[fabrecation]

[Luke opens his eyes to think about Asch's answer. He's changed, he has - but that's not enough for Asch. Having too much confidence in himself wasn't enough, and not having any wasn't enough. Will he ever be acknowledged by Asch? Only when he reaches some kind of middle ground?

How will he ever come to that? Everyone at home would look at him with fear or pity; pity because so much has happened to him, so much has been flung at the poor replica who's too much of an idiot to learn; fear because he's different, a fake, a weapon. Everyone in Luceti treated him better, but no one could ever know what it was like to live knowing that you're a mere replacement. Not even that, but a temporary replacement, meant to be thrown away. Meant to kill thousands, then to die himself. Who could ever live with that? Who could ever be confident with that? Why couldn't Asch just...

But he... He wants to try. For Asch. For himself, too... For the people who believe in him. For Guy... who always wanted him to like himself again. It's not going to happen right away; Luke can't just fake confidence, lest Asch grows even more annoyed with him. But wouldn't it be so nice, to be confident in himself again? He already thinks that being a replica isn't so bad... What's one step further? Or several?

It'll be so hard... Yet he'd give anything to be able to stand by everyone else without thinking he doesn't deserve it.

He shuts his eyes again.]

I want to find it. Just... give me some time to do it, okay?

[dissonates]

[Asch makes a noncommittal noise in response, shifting in his seat and reopening his journal. It seems as though Luke is at least giving it some thought, which means he's making progress. He won't hold his breath about it, but he'll take what he can get for now.]

You seem to have plenty of that in this place.

[Hell, even Asch seems to have been given extra time. And speaking of which, he needs to reschedule with Dist...

...bleh. Later, he'll think about it later.]

[fabrecation]

... Yeah.

[And with that, Luke finally opens the door to his room and slips inside. He needs some time to think now, and respond to everyone else.]