fabrecation | 019 [Voice/Action]

[On the evening of the 25th, one of the few days where he didn't find himself wearing a mask, he's sitting on the rail of the bridge near his apartment and staring up at the sky. Yes, it's scary, especially with how large and angry the moon looks right now. But he can't help staring, because he's contemplating something. He's pretty sure that it's not the moon getting larger, but coming closer. Maybe it seemed crazy and stupid, but... he can't get the idea out of his head. It's nearly Halloween, the day that terrified the whole of Luceti last year even though he was away for it. One scare tactic after another...

His journal is open by his side, recording the sound of crickets and the river flowing. Eventually, one might hear him speak up, too.]

What's got you so pissed off, anyway?

[It's the moon he's talking to, though he doesn't expect a response. After a few minutes, he turns to pick up his journal and write what he's contemplating about to a certain someone. It takes some work, but he's finally able to get a good filter.]

[Filtered to Asch // 100%]

Did you see the moon, too?

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[It's probably a good thing that Van doesn't move to comfort or lie to him. Luke wouldn't know what to do in that case, but he'd like to think that he'd move away and call his lie. He hopes, at least.

At those words, he looks down at Van (sitting on the railing like this, he's really only an inch or two taller than his master) with wide eyes. He... He saw what Asch wrote. Luke was hoping that no one would see it, or if they did, they wouldn't know what he was talking about.

But Van saw. And of course he knows. He was a primary part of something Asch said.

After the initial shock, Luke looks down at the river again. He's never... actually talked about Akzeriuth with Van, and he doesn't particularly want to now. Besides, he gets the feeling that Van isn't here to remind him, once again, that it was Luke's fault for listening to him.]

I didn't want anyone to see it. [But there's nothing I can do about it now, that goes unsaid. Idly, he moves the hand he practically punched the railing with to hold his opposite arm, letting it slide down to his elbow.]

What about it? [Since you saw it, there has to be a reason you brought it up.]

[The little details never get by Van. That's how his plans come together. That's how he's survived this long, while breaking laws and quietly preaching heresy. That's how he found the conversation in the first place; and, having read the damning words, that's how he found Luke.]

The thought had occurred to me. [He shakes his head; a tiny, restrained motion that nonetheless makes his ponytail bounce and sway.] Not even Asch would be capable of such a thing. The scope is simply too great.

[Van's not about to hand his discarded tool validation...but if the replica wants to pick it out from among the words for himself, there's plenty he might find. He wasn't the only one to have the idea. It's not just because he's weak. Asch isn't any better, not this time.

And Van came to find him -- to stay his hand. To prevent him from doing something foolish. Just this once.]

[Not even Asch...]

... I thought if we worked together, we could do something about it.

[He looks away. He knows Van's words are true, even though... Maybe, with Asch, it might have worked. They were able to move the entire outer layer of the planet's crust downward with their combined power, not that Van would know it at the time he came from. Maybe, maybe it would have worked... but.]

I don't think Asch can do that right now. [It's not Asch's fault, really. He obviously has a mask on, and it's hard to take it off. That has to be the reason he acted like... that. And he's sure that Asch would just use hyperresonance for something stupid and to make someone angry rather than for the good of the people.

So, he has to say it. He even looks forward again.]

... You're right, I know that. I thought I could do it, but... I might end up killing everyone, like Asch said.

[He can't help the wince on his face, one that Van might see if he looks at him. This isn't about Luke. This is about the people he's come to care about. He couldn't possibly go through with something that might put them, this world, in danger. Even if the end result might benefit them all... there's still a chance that it'd doom them all instead.

But there's still a part of him that remembers Akzeriuth, how his power killed everyone... Asch opened up that wound with just a few words, and it's made Luke subdued and regretful. He couldn't... possibly let that happen again. He couldn't.]

Asch shouldn't be minded. [If Asch is going to taunt the replica towards a potentially catastrophic course of action, Van has no qualms dismissing him entirely.

(To be honest, Van has very few qualms with dismissing Asch's contrarian pique entirely on a normal day.)

Van does catch that wince, out of the corner of his eye. He finally moves, stands up, turns his back on the moon, and again leans on the railing. He doesn't want to look at it anymore... although its reflection in the river is hardly better.]

I'd prefer to be wrong. I'm quite sure that I'm not.

[He looks at Van briefly before looking up at the moon again. Unlike Van, he can't really stop looking at it. It helps him think about the situation at hand rather than trying to forget about it.]

Can't we do anything? If not about the moon, then the people here?

There is the slight possibility that the barrier will keep it out, as effectively as it keeps us in. [From the tone of his voice, it should be clear he considers this possibility less than slight.] I would say that it keeps us from finding safety, but... [He shakes his head. If the moon is going to fall on them, there is no safe place to find. Not really.]

[... Luke lets out a sigh at that, hunching over slightly and letting his shoulders droop.]

So there's really nothing we can do, huh... [His fists clench. It's so frustrating, knowing he can't do anything to help these people.]

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[action] I did, in fact, buy celebratory cheesecake.

[action] Why would you ever