fabrecation | 014 [Voice/Action]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hello, familiar voice who she just shared a breakdown with a few days ago. She catches sight of Luke's entry not too long after. Having the memory of the other day still imprinted on her mind, Noel can't help but wonder if Luke is okay now, especially since he just so nearly happened to bring up the former experiment.

But... thinking to bring it up makes her a little uneasy, especially considering how things turned out in the end. Yet all the same, she--

...w-well, maybe she can talk about camping, too.]

I... I've gone once, but... um...

[...oh, screw it.]

[Private]

...are you okay?

Really? How... um...

[... Yeah, screw it. The camping thing was a stupid, throwaway topic anyway.]

[Private]

I'm... yeah. What about you?

[He'd come so close to revealing just what he was - he's not sure what else he can say to her without blowing his cover... So maybe he can shift the attention to her instead.]

[And yet, she's clueless as to what he did come close to saying. Whatever it is... it's probably best to try and not bring it up again, for Luke's sake.]

I'm fine. I... think I'm fine. [...] L-Luke?

[Uh... how does she say this?]

Y-Yeah?

[Oh, jeez, what's she going to ask? "Are you a replica?" "Are you not a real person?" She doesn't seem like the type of person to ask, but sometimes Luke's paranoia can get the best of him.]

[Dude, Luke, she wouldn't even know what that is. B| ...except kind of. BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT. Noel must. Word this correctly... somehow, because as expected? She's a bit embarrassed in herself from last time.]

I-- [...aughhh] I-I just wanted to... apologize for the other day. Th-That's not how I usually act, and the experiment took me by surprise, s-so... so I promise that won't happen again!

[YOU CAN NEVER BE SURE. The apology makes Luke blink, and that ball of nervousness in his chest manages to melt away a little.]

Huh? Oh, no, it's okay! I wasn't really acting like myself either... Besides, what if you - we do act like that again? So... How about we promise something else?

[He has a point. She can't just guarantee that she'll never act like that again, can she? Especially since this hadn't been the first time--not around him, anyway.]

Something else? ... Like what?

[And now that he's been asked, Luke isn't really sure. What else should they promise? Luke likes to keep his promises, so it has to be something that's possible to keep...]

Uh... How about... we... promise not to tell anyone?

[Noel likes that.]

Sure. We can promise that, then. [...] No one has to know about it.

Okay. Then I promise not to tell.

Are you all right now, Noel?

I promise, too. [So even if she doesn't promise that other thing, this is just as good, if not better. It'll just be their secret.]

And... I'm okay now. [Which might be a white lie, but she's definitely not feeling as bad as she was when it just ended.]

About as okay as I am, I'm guessing. [Which isn't all that okay, but still better than last time. It looked like they were both suffering the same amount, so it'd make sense that they still felt the same way.]

[No. Not really, but she does feel better talking to him, at least.] What about you? Are you feeling a little better now?

A little, I guess... I'm sure not shaking and crying anymore.

That's right. A-And I'm sure that in the long run, none of this will even matter anymore, so... [...that's actually all she can think to say, really.]

... Yeah. Maybe it won't. [More like not. This is the second time Luke felt like he really had a family, only to be denied of it.]

Hey, you know what we should do? We should hang out together some time to get that experiment out of our heads...

[... Derp. That was kinda...]

... If you want to, anyway.

[...]

[W-Well, that's--

Wait.

...really?] Um... you mean, just--

[What do you think he means, Noel? Realizing how silly her almost-question was, she'll try saving herself from the embarrassment.]

Ah! I-I-- yes! We can do that sometime! [...BUT IT ALSO MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO CALM DOWN.] ...b-but only if you want to.

[...] Wait... you said that already, didn't you?

Y-Yeah, but - It's fine! I don't mind. [... Wait, he's the one who asked.] I mean... Uh...

Okay. So it's settled. Right? [So awkward. Luke, you have a girlfriend! Don't go saying things that can be misinterpreted!]

[If there were any, Noel doesn't even notice it.] R... Right! Whenever you'd like, we can get together sometime, then!

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