abyssdressing | (no subject)

[He continued to walk on his way, already disliking this place.]

[His pace slowed to a stop.] ... Not in my world.

[Finally caught up to him. His pet rappig...well, still grazing on that yummy patch of grass, so we wouldn't worry about him. Jade here is important.]

Tell me what happened in your world.

[And if Jade knew what Peony was thinking, he'd be touched.]

... Replica data extraction can sometimes be a rather painful process when one is still alive. Thankfully... you had already died.

[There was a moment of shock on his face. He died? How? When? Why?

And then it hits him in an instant. The idea just clicks in his head.]

So, wait. I died already and then you...

[He just smiled at the other, though really, it was hard to determine what exactly he meant by that smile. Weary? Smug? Self-loathing?]

He is nothing like you, of course. Neither was the professor... Fomicry is an amazing technology, isn't it?

No, Jade. It's a terrible and illegal technology. I have it outlawed back home because it is unethical to create copies of people.

As for you, if I'm gone already, then doesn't that make you lonely? [Lonely enough to use that dread machine.] If you made several copies of the original and then their fonons become unstable...do you know what happens?

... On my Auldrant, I was the one who outlawed it...

[He doesn't answer the first question.] ... It was difficult enough to make one replica with the Planet Storm stopped. Of course I know what happens. Luke...

... [He closes his eyes, beginning to recite as if he had practiced this every day since the moment he heard it, which he had. It left chills in him when he first heard the words, and he was able to memorize every last one.] 'ND 2019. the forces of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear shall march northward, through the Rugnica Plains. After inflicting atrocities upon the villages in their wake, the army shall surround the fortress capital. Within a fortnight, the city shall fall. The Kimlascan army will stain the Malkuth throne with the blood of its last emperor. Their howls of victory shall resound throughout the land.

'ND 2020. A mountain of corpses shall bury the fortress capital. Death and disease shall envelope the city. The plague born thence shall become a new poison unto humanity, killing all within its reach. Its spread shall mark the true end of Malkuth. Kimlasca shall enjoy decades of prosperity as the plague of Malkuth grows. Ultimately, the plague shall be brought into the Kimlascan kingdom by a single man...'

I... am the plague of Malkuth. That is my mission; to fulfill the Score's final wish.

[He listened. He listened very intently. What's he suppose to feel at his words? Anger? Shock? He shivered when Jade said, "I am the Plague of Malkuth." He wondered if Nephry is here and how she would react.]

Those prophecies...doesn't happen back home, Jade. They are not absolute. People are turning away from the Score. Slowly people realized they are the master of their own lives.

Does fulfilling the Score's wish makes you happy, Jade?

... Nocturne. 'Jade' is gone.

Are you so certain? That is the closed Score... The one Van died trying to change. The one Luke died for...

And nothing could faze it. Nothing. [He appears to be more angered by the second.] The deaths of thousands, and nothing could stop it... If it is the planet's will, then I would have to see it through to its end.

... The people I cared most about have all been taken from me by the one thing that the very planet is slave to... I could never be happy.

Nocturne then. [It sound like endless night.]

...That sounds dreadful.

[All of his people gone and here Jade thought the only way to end it is to resigned to fate. A very long, lingering thoughtful pause and then Peony forces himself to smile.]

Hey, I have an idea.

[It has been an endless night... an endless nightmare, ever since Asch came back, begging him to make a replica of himself... After the deterioration of the second Luke replica, the wars had started once again.]

... I dread asking what it is...

[The idea came to him spontaneously.]

Let's go to a bar and have a drink.

... A drink. [He lifted a hand to rub into the bridge of his nose.] ... That's fine by me... [Oh, he knew the other might try to get him drunk. At this point, he really didn't care.]

[Yes, a drink to drink away all of our angst and sorrows. /o/]

Follow me.

[He just stares at the other unblinkingly, before closing his eyes and yielding to him, following.]

... Lead the way.

[And he leads Jade to the bar. He whistled sharply for rappig that was left behind a few threads ago and the smart rappig followed right behind them.]

You haven't met this little guy, but this is Cute Jade. He's the smartest rappig of his pack.

[And now he finally notices the rappig. ... And see him walking away? Yes, he's going to go bash his head against a brick.]

[Oh no you don't! Peony is going to grab your sleeve and draaaag you to the bar.]

Where you're going? The bar is this way!

[Oh, such beautiful blue eyes, Peony... He's missed those lively eyes.]

... I know. [Sigh...]

[He tugs him to the bar until he finds a seat. The rappig is going to wait outside...and search for another patch of grass to graze yet again.]

Let see, what to drink? I am thinking some wine...does wine sound good to you?

[He sits down next to him, tapping his fingers on the bar.]

... Whatever you wish.

[Not very picky are you?]

I think most Jades are fond of merlot wine.

[So Peony ordered for two glasses and the bartender whips it up in no time.

Peony lifts up for a toast. Cheers?]

[Not when Peony's annoying the crap out of him like usual.]

...

[He lifted his glass in a toast out of politeness. He stared into the glass and gently swirled the liquid, closing his eyes when the fragrance hit his nose. He reopened them and dipped the tip of his finger into it, reaching over to spread the droplets along Peony's cheek, only pulling the finger away when it reached the corner of his lips.]

[He only sighed and offered no explanation for his strange behavior, finally sipping the wine in appreciation.]

[He sipped on his wine, thinking pleasantly. His only hope is too cheer up Mr. Endless Night here.

Then he nearly choked when he felt his cheek prodded. He picked up a napkin to wipe his cheek dry.]

Hey, can I ask you something?

[Mr. Endless Night... You're hilarious, Peony. It would take more than a glass of wine to cure this one's plight.]

[He looked over when he choked, unfazed. The color of the wine quite reminded him of blood, and, well, red suited Peony.]

... The answer will most likely be 'no,' but go ahead.