025 [Action]

[fabrecation]

[Sunset of the 21st. After looking in his diary several times to make sure of the date, Luke has practically memorized the exact time it happened. This is the day, and the time, that he and Xion confessed to each other, without the influence of the experiment, and shared their first kiss.

This is the place, too. Luke leans on the railing of the bridge nearest House 14, staring out ahead of him and obviously lost in his thoughts. Even though this is the day, and even though they had been making plans to celebrate it, Luke's sure that Xion won't be able to now. Not with everything that's happened.

Still, that doesn't mean he can't find his own way to celebrate. It isn't much, though; he just leans on the bridge and twirls a blue iris idly in his fingers. Later, past sunset, he'll make his way to Seventh Heaven for the first time in quite a while, only to practice the piano. He's been away from it for a good while, so he's just a tad rusty. But he still manages to get over it after a song or two, and he doesn't mind, for once, if anyone else is there. He'd even be happy to chat it up with someone, whether on the bridge or in Seventh Heaven.

He does seem a tad cautious, though. He hasn't been here for a while for a reason and all.]

Comments

[fabrecation]

[When he does look down, at first, he sees the red hair and is satisfied. Luke is not one to linger on his reflection unless he has to, due to his image problems.

But then he realizes that the hair he's looking at is not as spiky as it should be, and when he looks closer -

askldfjdsf he leans away at first with wide eyes... before he blinks, then moves closer with a slight squint.]

Paprika?

[byakkoyagirl]

[She smiles at his reaction, but doesn't change her position.]

You look glum. Is something wrong?

[Yes Luke, she's talking to you.]

[fabrecation]

[A talking reflection.

... Yeah, he has to stare for a second. This is weirder than seeing her in the mirror at that... Luceti Land place. But he gets over it soon enough, to look away and rub the back of his neck.]

Is it that obvious?

[byakkoyagirl]

Your expression tells it all. Is it from this 'falling in love' stuff I've been hearing about?

[fabrecation]

Not really. It didn't really do anything to me until the last day... it actually helped me figure out some things.

[He's quiet for a moment. He knows that this could lead to something he doesn't want to talk about, mainly about his life expectancy. Luke can talk to Paprika about so many things that it kind of scares him, but this is one thing he isn't sure he wants to share with her.

... Still. After that moment, he lets out a long breath of air before talking again.]

There's someone I'm worried about, that's all.

[byakkoyagirl]

Someone?

[She thinks for a second about the likely people.]

Is it Asch? Or Xion?

[fabrecation]

[He gives a half smile, somewhat helplessly. He's that predictable, huh?]

Xion. A lot of things went really bad for her recently. Her best friend went home, the... person she was made from went home too, and... [Mm. He catches himself there, and he shuts his mouth to think for a second before trying again.] And I'm not sure what to do for her.

[byakkoyagirl]

[Paprika nods.]

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just be there. She's going to need you to help her and that may be the most you can do.

[fabrecation]

Mm. [He isn't entirely sure of that, though. One of the problems Xion's going through is him, and he knows it. It's why he's kept his mouth shut beyond letting her know something's wrong; further knowledge could just stress her more.]

I'll do everything I can to help her with that. [He gives a half smile as he gives the flower in his fingers a little twirl.] Today's the day we really got together one Luceti year ago. Did you know that?

[byakkoyagirl]

Eh really?

[She claps her hands two times and then folds them together.]

Congratulations to you both! Did you have a nice anniversary?

[fabrecation]

Well... no. We didn't really do anything for it because of all the stuff going on. [He rubs the back of his neck. Luke isn't really... into celebrating stuff like this, but in a place like Luceti, it's kind of worth celebrating.]

[byakkoyagirl]

Oh, I see. Well, you should still find time to celebrate it when things calm down. Some people really put importance in dates like "one year together". It could keep her mind off things.

[fabrecation]

Yeah... That's what I'm going to do. I'm kind of celebrating in my own way right now.

[He gives the flower a little jerk, to save it slightly at Paprika.]

This place right here brings back a lot of memories.

[byakkoyagirl]

Does it? Let me guess -- is this the place where you and her shared your feelings for the first time?

[fabrecation]

... Do I really even have to tell you anything anymore?