The apocalypse is nigh!

[mieudesuno.livejournal.com]

Asch agreeing to a drink with Emperor Peony? Luke studying more or less willingly? Asch chuckling? Uncle Jade?

It would appear Abyss Dressing Room has inexplicably stumbled upon the four signs of the apocalypse. This must explain why there is suddenly a horde of monsters poised to attack. Redheads! Denizens! Defend your nexus!

...Just be careful with those artes. Looks like the apocalypse is a lot fuzzier and noisier than anticipated. As such, every arte used spawns at least two dozen cheagles. And Mystic Artes spawn about fifty.

Good luck. And welcome to Luke's Asch's anyone who isn't Tear or Ion's hell.

Comments

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[freaking out and standing some distance away because he's unarmed and what, level 5? What was Luke's starting level again?]

Wh-what the hell are those things?!

[it's actually a toss-up as to whether he's talking about the monsters or the cheagles]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

You really ought to be more specific, Luke, there are quite a lot of 'things' here.

[Jade is crouched on the ground next to you, prodding at a cheagle. Maybe you should punch him before he dissects the poor thing.]

I understand that you're less intelligent when you have long hair but please, do try to make an effort.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and you're obnoxious all the time, Colonel, but you don't see me getting on your case about it.

[Luke knows better than to punch Jade, but he does grab the cheagle away by the ear and hold it up] Well, if you wanna actually be helpful and explain something, try starting with this!

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

I will have to respectfully disagree. You make sure to tell me that every time you see me.

[Jade shrugs and simply grabs another cheagle.]

It's terribly rude of you to snatch away my pets. Why, and I had just finished naming that one Luke! Maybe I'll call this one Fabre then...

[The cheagle is making rather upset 'mieu mieu mieuuuuuu' sounds and flailing around. You might wanna stop abusing it, you jerk.]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure you've never respectfully anything-ed in your life, Colonel.

[this is Luke's skeptical look] Pet. Riiiight. [he shudders] Stop channeling His Majesty unless you really wanna keep a gaggle of these things in your room.

[pfft, cheagles can take more abuse than that, if Mieu's any indication anyway]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

Likewise, I'm sure.

[Eyebrow raise.] You've met His Majesty? Strange, we haven't been to Grand Chokmah until you got your life-changing haircut.

[Do you want Jade forming an Animal Rights group just for the sole purpose of ticking you off? DO YOU?]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

Huh? What are you talking about? I live there. And you guys are the ones who won't let me cut my hair!

[Forming an animal rights group and pissing Luke off would count as Jade's two good deeds for the year at least]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

It seems that we come from different worlds. My, my, I truly pity the Jade who has to deal with you on a daily basis.

[It's soooo hard to do good things when you're a Necromancer.]

May I ask why you aren't allowed to cut your hair? Really, I would have thought that all the Anises here would be lining up outside of your house with their scissors all ready.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

Different - oh yeah. Ugh. [what a pain, so confusing] And it's not any better for me!

[but at least you'd be doing them in the most obnoxious manner possible]

Blah blah, mark of Kimlascan royalty, whatever, apparently there might be trouble if I go back to Kimlasca with short hair. So I just ended up with this. [Luke flicks a lock of hair up, it's trying to be brown in a pretty bad dye job just not reflected in most of his icons because I have no graphics programs okay.]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

Such a pity. I had hoped that even a place with His Majesty around would be better than one where your family is sending you to your death to fulfill the Score.

[Slight frown.]

Who told you that? The disaster at Akzeriuth happened when you had long hair. And I don't think such a bad dye job would really avert the 'hair of red' part in the Score.

[SCRIBBLE POO-COLOURED LINES OVER IT ON MS PAINT! That'd reflect the 'bad' part quite well, doncha think?]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[That's a sore spot, Jade, you jerk :|] They're - I - that's why His Majesty's letting me stay in Malkuth in the first place, you damn - !

That's - what, you... that's not the part of the Score I'm trying to avert! [because that...'s dumb, Jade.] I'm just trying to stay out of any mining towns, and it's not like I can hang around Grand Chokmah with my normal hair!

[b-but I don't want poo in my hair ;o;]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

[Sorry sorry, Jade doesn't know that. He just assumes Mr Longhair's been kept in blissful ignorance. ): ]

Well, I suppose people won't ever suspect you of being a noble with such a rather cheap-looking dye. How ingenious.

[/shruuuuug. House Fabre has stupid genes, remember? This could be just another of their stupid plans.] Ah, yes, in that case, perhaps if you were to spend a whole year in this...not altogether pleasant place.

[As if it had been waiting for a cue, THERE'S SUDDENLY A LIGAN LUNGING TOWARDS YOU LUKE~]

[Well people won't approach you if you stink badly! So go dunk your head in some poo before I do it for you.]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

We tried a couple of types, but it just doesn't tend to take - [wait why is he talking haircare with Jade] - I already told you, it wasn't my idea!

[flat stare] I'm spending it in Grand Chokmah! I don't know how I ended up in this weird - [AHH WHAT IS THAT DUCK AND FLAIL but he lets go of the cheagle at least]

[Luke's One Year as a Malkuth Hobo: The New Adventures]

[scionofhispower]

Monsters. Do you have any more questions with obvious answers?

[ Well, at least Asch has a weapon? Although he also very visibly twitches when he notices the cheagles because they're more annoying than a gaggle of replicas. So he quickly assesses the situation, eyes on both the cheagles and the monsters as he begins working out some method of taking the vicious ones out while not causing too much harm to the annoying sacred beasts.

He can question why the hell there are so many of the damn little annoyances later. Once the deadly monsters are gone. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Luke holds the cheagle he grabbed from Jade up in front of Asch] What, even this thing?

[it's pretty pathetic for a monster. ...but the others aren't, so he's just going back away a bit more and watch Asch fight]

[scionofhispower]

A cheagle. I'll assume you haven't met one before, then. [ Allow it to annoy the everlasting shit out of you, Luke; it's karmic retribution. ]

Tch. You're all just a magnet for trouble, aren't you. [ That he manages to avoid saying "you replicas" is amazing enough. But he's definitely referring to all Lukes. Regardless, he slashes a ligan... only to end up stepping on a cheagle, which sends out a very painful cry of "Mieuuuuuuu... mieu mieu mieuuuuuuu~" ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

A cheagle? [dangles the thing in front of his face dubiously] No, should I have?

Hey, I didn't have anything to do with - ! [kyaa Asch-sama so kakkoii~ Except the landing could use some work. Luke supposes he should feel sorry for the thing instead of finding it hilarious, but... ...no, it's just hilarious, he slaps a hand over his mouth to muffle the snort]

[scionofhispower]

[ It's not that Asch intended to step on the cheagle or anything; it's not really his fault that they're everywhere. But he tries to be a little more careful in where he lands, if only because he can't freaking stand that damn sound. Meanwhile, he slashes through another couple of ligans. ]

Hn. I suppose not, considering what it took for Luke to meet them.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Luke keeps watching Asch fight, absently bouncing the cheagle up and down by the ears like a yo-yo. He's probably not helping the noise pollution.]

Really? What happened?

[scionofhispower]

Tch. [ No, he's really not; Asch is going to have one hell of a headache when this is all done, and he can't even get relief from the damn noise when he goes home because there's a damn cheagle there, too. B| It's like something's out to get him. ]

...Is now really the time for this kind of conversation? [ ...In other words, he'll explain when the deadly monsters are dead. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Asch's life, sohard]

[Luke raises a hand like in surrender, a hint of good humour still on his face] Take your time.

[1/2]

[scionofhispower]

[ It totally is, what with having to put up with a cheagle full time on top of all of these clueless replicas. B| And now this?

Of course, Asch being Asch - and having grown more than accustomed to fighting solo as well as conserving his energy in a battle, especially over the past few years - he dispatches most of the monsters rather quickly without even turning to artes. Which is probably a good thing. A really good thing. Because neither of them probably really wants more cheagles around, right?

...Not that he actually knows that's what's making them appear. So when he's down to the final monster, well, he's kind of pissed off and he just wants this over, damnit. Which means it's time for a fonic arte. ] O' frigid blades, pour forth! Icicle Rain!

[scionofhispower]

[ ...Except, it's more like Cheagle Rain. Here is one very unamused Asch watching as freaking cheagles rain down onto the final Ligan in icicle assembly. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

...

[Luke blinks.

Looks at the cheagle in his hand.

Looks at the cheagles raining from the sky.

...looks at Asch.]

...thaaaat's no icicle I've ever seen.

[scionofhispower]

Yes, I noticed. [ Very unimpressed Asch is very unimpressed. ] This might explain the sudden increase in their population, however.