- 001

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[He's been here for too long. No, he's been stuck here too long with no way of getting home. None that he knew of, at least. And he'd tried looking for information in too many places. Nothing helped.

Asch was exhausted. He had kept himself in top form with some sword, fonic arte, and even hyperresonance training. He didn't want to fall behind in case he sudden;y did return home somehow. There was no room for error now. He'd been leaving for Eldrant before ending up here, so Asch couldn't afford to be weak.

The sun was setting over a large field outside the village where he had been training. Large scorch marks littered some parts where he used Explosion and Thunder Blade, and there were some definite holes punched into the boulders around, but Asch himself was watching the sun set over the horizon peacefully. The wind swept as his face gently, making his hair and bangs sway. He liked places like this - big, wide, open, quiet. A place where he could really think.

And relax.

His sword was right beside him, dug into the ground, but Asch's eyes were on the rolling clouds painted in beautiful colors across the sky. Most of them were reds, yellow, and oranges, but some purple and blue tinted the darker parts. It was...really nice. He hadn't ever had time to really just sit and relax like this before.

People are welcome to come across the stoic redhead on their way out of or back towards the village. Hell, he might not even glare at you that much. Unless you're Luke.]

Comments

[prismshards]

[ Another redhead was out and about this evening, so intent on enjoying the myriad of colors crossing the sky that he failed to notice the change in landscape. Most notably the dip in the ground from where a particularity strong spell had torn bits of the earth out, leaving a nice pothole that Luke walked right into. ]

WAAAAH!

[ THUNK. ]

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[...Luke, your Fabre is showing. Asch turned around and sighed when he saw the replica stuck in one of the miniature craters he made. This would honestly be very amusing if it wasn't so sad, or if he didn't interrupt his relaxation time.]

Watch your step.

[prismshards]

[ Of course it is; he only cut his hair so short. --oooooh. And he's not stuck! ...yet, anyways. Give him a minute to try climbing out, then you can decide if he's stuck or not. Though before Luke even tries to right himself, his face scrunches up. ]

...gee, thanks for the heads up.

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Asch smirks down at the replica from his spot before standing up, grabbing his sword out of the ground, and going over to look down at him. Yulia, he was so stupid. He just totally walked into it, too. What an idiot. At least it amused the original, though.

You're still on your own to try and get out, though.]

Maybe if you actually used that head of ours once in a while, you wouldn't have fallen, idiot. You're luck it wasn't deeper than this.

[prismshards]

[ S-sob. Of all the people to trip up in front of, it HAD to be Asch, didn't it...? Wait-- where did this hole come from anyways? After some creative wiggling Luke falls over sideways with a soft curse.

BASTARD. ]

I-I do, okay?! Sometimes I get to thinking too much and stuff like this happens! Bet you've done your share of stupid stuff!

[ Luke dusts himself off upon standing, then checks his noggin for damage, wincing as his fingers brush over a lump. Stupid rubble. ]

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Of course it had to be Asch! That's just how luck is for you, isn't it, Luke? Asch will just be over here, snickering to himself at his replica's plight. Oh, this is indeed some quality entertainment right here.]

None quite as creative as your feats of stupidity. You're lucky you weren't here earlier. You head could have been the one with a hole in it. Though that may already be the case.

[Haha, he loves making fun of you, Luke, it gives him great joy.]

[prismshards]

[ He would hate his mun, but this isn't dear_mun. Sniffles. Were Luke crude and familiar with insults, he would have given you a one-finger salute, Asch. You're such a jerk. ]

If my head has holes in it, that's only because they're a copy of yours. And if you're not going to help, you can go away now.

[ He'll be trying to climb out now. Thankfully it's not too wide, just... a bit deep. Must've used a Stalagmite or something here... ]

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Had Luke given Asch a one-finger salute, he may have lost his entire hand. Just like Noir down there. 8|b And he's only a jerk to you, replica.]

Ha! Come up with that all by yourself, replica? I bet you're so proud of yourself. And you interrupted me, dreck, you leave. ...If you can.

[Smiiirk. Nope, he's still not going to help. This is pretty fun to watch.]

[sexy-ringmaster.livejournal.com]

[Well this was different, Noir walked into the field out of curiosity. The land was riddled with practice, not that she has never seen such a thing but only knew of a few people who would do that. It took her no time at all to spot the familiar back that belonged to Asch. Quietly she approached him, keeping out of sword's reach until she spoke.]

Long time no see~♪ It's nice to see you relax for once♥

Oh my god, Noir. ♥

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Well. That certainly wasn't a voice Asch was expecting to hear. His eyes widened a little before he turned, and his shoulders visibly tensed as he turns around to regard the woman carefully.

This certainly was strange. It was almost like he never left Auldrant, seeing this woman here of all places. Though Asch wore his infamous scowl as usual, he actually felt a bit more comfortable in Noir's presence.]

Hmph, looks like this place will take anyone that comes its way.

♥♥♥

[sexy-ringmaster.livejournal.com]

Oh my, you're making me sound like scraps~ How mean Acsh.

[Regardless she smiled teasingly at him, taking a spot next to the boy.]

Looks like you did a number to this field~ Any particular reason~?

♥♥♥♥♥

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Asch 'hmph'ed in the way he always did when speaking too often to Noir, especially during her teasing, but didn't move away from her when she sat down. Just don't get too close, Asch likes his space.]

Training to pass the time. There's not much else to be done in this place, considering escape isn't an option.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[sexy-ringmaster.livejournal.com]

[Personal space? What's that?

She only goes into his bubble when she feels like particularly getting on his nerves or in revenge for some 'wrong doing'. Her teasing smile didn't fade just yet, it had been a while since she saw him. There was a lot of catching up to do.]

Training to pass the time? After all the excitement and commotion you caused for us I would at least think you'd be able to keep yourself entertained~♥ Or maybe even take a proper rest for once~

♥ x ∞

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[What are you, Anise's sister? >B\

Asch wasn't in the mood for her teasing exactly, but he'd tolerate it...to a point. Hell, he even may have gotten slightly used to it over time. And he wanted some answers to the questions bubbling up in his head. But, before he went on his tirade, Asch glared at the woman.]

You didn't have to do anything I ordered you to. You always had the choice not to work for me. [Yeah, and get arrested, but that's beside the point.] Tch, I'll take a rest when everything's under control. What do you remember last on Auldrant? I need to know if our time-frames coincide.

Lol, what was that?

[sexy-ringmaster.livejournal.com]

[Nope, an orphan~ But very close♥

Noir was very use to his glares, so much so she barely noticed them anymore. Though the woman couldn't help but loose her teasing smile over the rain of accusations.]

Is that resentment I hear? I do what I want to do. Always have, always will, you know that.

[Though the thought of getting arrested never pleased her. She and everyone that was in cahoots with her would probably get executed the next day. Then what would all the orphans do?

Mocking him slightly she looked around and shrugged her shoulders.]

Everything looks under control to me~♥

[The woman then paused before giving him a slight angry look.]

What happened last? You we're being an idiot, that's what happened last.

[Delivering a swift punishment, the woman ruffled his hair. He knew better than to make her worry.

The infinity symbol. xD It looks so weird on LJ.

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

The philosophy of a true thief.

[Though Asch was in the know of Noir's true ambitions, considering they worked together so frequently. Maybe that was why he was paying her a little bit extra on certain occasions. It was better than her stealing off goods, despite her motives. A crime was a crime.

Asch gave the woman a dry look, but didn't say anything more. Everything was not okay, woman. He had to get home and to Eldrant! Van's plan could have succeeded by now, and he was stuck here, waiting stupidly for a means of escape!! To the angry look, Asch gave one back. Who the hell did this woman think she was?! He was paying her, she should show a little res--

HCJDL;SJFHS WOMAN, THAT IS THE PRIDE OF KIMLASCA YOU ARE RUFFLING, ASCH WILL EAT YOU FOR BREAKFAST.]

ENOUGH! [He jerked away, slapping her hand from his hair, looking absolutely furious.] Don't think you're anything more to me than my subordinates! I'm paying you for your services and that's it! If you don't like what I do, then don't work for me!! And I demand a bit more respect from a low-life crook, Noir! Remember I can throw you and those other two in prison any time I wanted to.

I was torn whether to throw Fonic or Flame at him, and this one won out.

[foniclight]

[Unlike his partner in crime counterpart, this Luke didn't fall into a pothole. He was just walking around -- since he was bored with nothing to do -- and finally stumbled across Asch. ... Whoa, was he seriously just relaxing? Luke had to marvel at that for a moment. And while he didn't really want to disturb him, maybe now was a good time to talk to him without feeling the force of Asch's wrath.]

Hey, Asch. I--AAAGH! [THUD. ... He tripped over a tree root.]

[Hey, I said he didn't fall into a pothole.]

Either one works! :'D 1/2

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Oh, god, not the other one. Asch, amazingly, didn't sense Luke's approach, probably because he was stupidly letting his guard down for the briefest of moments. His eyes were cast to the skies, watching the clouds and the different colors laid out on them.

That is, until Luke's faceplant made his jump, reach for his sword, and whirl around with it pointed outward.]

2/2

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Oh, it's just the replica. Asch lowers his sword with a dry look and sighs. Lorelei, he's really beginning to think what he said about replica brains being defective wasn't just an insult.]

x> Just for you, bb.

[foniclight]

[You'd think he would've watched himself, but noooo. Luke sat up, rubbing his head and trying to get the grass and dirt off his face and shirt. Ew, dammit. Ptooie. Luke just gave a sheepish smile up at Asch, though it ended up more at the ground than anything. Great, he probably just blew any chances to talk to him...] Uh... Hey, Asch.

[Yes, this is YOUR replica, Asch. :|b]

/chuuu~

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[DEM FABRE GENES AGAIN. And yeah...Asch is giving you the most unimpressed look he's ever given you, Luke. Seriously, way to fail. But he's not yelling yet, so you still have a minuscule chance of getting to talk to your original.]

What do you want, reject?

/CHUUUU~ ... and asch and luke should do the same. c'mon, boys~ XD

[foniclight]

[ALWAYS DEM FABRE GENES. I wanted to see Asch fall through that hole in the floor. ... Yeah, Luke's not feeling too bright right now. Ugh, great. Luke will still try.]

I just wanted to know if you'd found any way home, yet. I haven't come up with anything so far. Because... well, you know. [Because we have stuff to do and Asch needs to be there.]

HA good luck with the sour grape over here. 8|b

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[ALWAYS. ...Oh god, me too. I bet he spent the first twenty minutes cursing and maybe three kicking the door. Asch frowns, closing his eyes tightly and setting his jaw. He still hated to admit that there really wasn't any way to get back. Or none he found.]

...I didn't find anything. I've checked libraries and everything, but there was no information on just what and where this place actually is. I've also scouted perhaps every corner of this place that I could. Nothing. [He opens his eyes and looks sharply and expectantly at Luke.] What about you, replica, did you even look?

Yeah, Luke's still pretty scared of Asch, himself. :|b

[foniclight]

[... Twenty? Holy shit, Asch. Luke just kind of avoids Asch's gaze, frowning and thoughtful. If there was no way back, then how... how would they ever stop Van? Would he just succeed? Would Guy and Tear and the others... No! There had to be a way back!]

Hey, I looked, too! I checked the same places you did, and I asked a few people. Everyone says there's no way back except maybe when this place feels like sending you home.

We can't just stay here...! [PUNCH. to the ground. He was really worried about his friends, about everyone. Was there just no way to save anyone...?] Dammit!

Asch is just a big pussycat, Luke. A big, angry, ferocious pussycat who will pop your head off. <<

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Yes, twenty. Asch is a BOSS. Asch watches Luke for a bit, and...maybe it's a trait they share, maybe it's because they're replica and original, but Asch just feels he knows what's on Luke's mind, and looks away himself, a deep crease forming between his brows as he glares at the darkening sky.]

...I know that. I've heard the same thing from the people here. They seem awfully laid-back about it, too. [Asch looks back at Luke and stares impassively. He was feeling the same way - needing to hit something - but he already did plenty of that earlier.] Tch. Stop it, throwing around curses and acting like a child won't solve anything! I want to return and stop Van just as much as you do, replica!! [He sighed, sticking his sword hard into the ground beside him again.] ...I'm going to look for more information tomorrow. There's something we;re missing. No one would remain so calm if they were just dragged away with no means of escape. They'd find a way out, or die trying. We don't know everything.