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

[Voice]

[fabrecation]

I...

[He would go on about how he felt throughout it, how he feels now... But he realizes that this conversation is wide open to the public, so he shuts his mouth about that. Instead:]

I think I get what you mean. [...] I'm not anyone's brother now... But thanks anyway.

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[chiisaichou.livejournal.com]

[It's those words that suddenly seem to flip a switch in Miyabi's mind. She blinks, and feels herself almost shove the grief off of herself. She'll be sure to thank Luke for snapping her out of it once she feels a little better. For now, she'll be curt and honest.]

Luke, I considered you my brother long before this experiment. ...And I still do now. [So don't mope.] I still have a family - my beloved family here. You were always part of it. If anything, I should be thanking those idiots for just proving it even more.

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[... She really has? Well... Luke feels kind of humbled by that. He's never really been considered a brother before...]

I... Thanks. Really, Miyabi... [He pauses and glaces away, a light blush on his face.] You're kind of like a sister, too...

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[chiisaichou.livejournal.com]

[Nggh, stupid journal... If she were really there with Luke, she could at least give him a hug to reinforce what she said. Luke looked like he was aching a lot more than she was, and that makes the little painter realize how selfish she was before. Luke was...different. Miyabi didn't fully understand how, but it must hurt a lot more.]

Thank you, Luke. I'm glad you hear that. [She pauses for a second, and a smile begins to spread on her face.] ...Watashi no hōmotsu ni.

[Sound familiar?]

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[... Vaguely. And it still sounds like some alien language to Luke. There's a pause before he hesitantly asks:]

What's that supposed to mean, anyway?

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[chiisaichou.livejournal.com]

It's Japanese, my native tongue. What I said before...it means 'I treasure you'.

[Embarrassing, yes, but all true. Luke was certainly a part of her family now. Her kazoku. But whether was big or little brother...hm. She has yet to fully decide that.]

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[After that moment of surprise, however...

Luke nearly shuts his journal - not all the way, he keeps it open with one hand lodged in the pages, while the other presses against his face to fight back the sudden wave of emotion. She treasures... But he doesn't...

He tries to keep that tremble out of his voice when he replies.]

... Thanks.

[Voice | Filtered]

[chiisaichou.livejournal.com]

[Ah--...did he just shut the journal on her? The picture got black all of a sudden. Did she say something wrong? Did she upset him? Was he just embarrassed?

Ah, there. He was still there. And even though she can't see him, she can hear him, and the quiver of his voice. ...So she did say something wrong.]

L-Luke? ...I-I'm sorry if I said anything to upset you, but I was speaking honestly. Please don't be angry with me.