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]

...so, he wasn't just... but then why would Master Van be with Daath? I don't - none of this makes any sense -

[scionofhispower]

Because that was the best place to set his plans in motion.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

The - his... plans?

[scionofhispower]

...Are you really sure you want to hear this? [ Asch remembers vividly just how much Luke trusted Van before the big replica reveal. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

...

[scionofhispower]

...

...Being used to start a war is the least of your worries. Van's purpose for you is that he would use you to eliminate the fifth Sephiroth at Hod, destroying that entire section of the Rugnican Continent.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

Use... me...? Sephiroth? I - I don't know what - why would Master Van want to -

[he presses the back of his hand to his mouth, like he's trying to fight nausea]

[scionofhispower]

...

[ Does he dare break the replica further or... ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[but he still looks sick, pressing his hand harder against his mouth]

[scionofhispower]

Using you is one of the first steps in the destruction of Auldrant and creation of his replica world, Eldrant.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[scionofhispower]

...

[ He's a little surprised Luke isn't vehemently defending Van, honestly, even if he knows this Luke has not been near Van in some time now. ] His idea is that, to break free from the Score, everything related to it must be destroyed; the Score only speaks of originals, after all, so destroying not just every single person alive and replicating them but also land of the entire world, followed by destroying Lorelei, would obliterate the Score.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[excuse him a moment, he's going to stumble a couple of paces off to the side and actually throw up, this time. Limit for processing: reached, and he doesn't even understand a lot of what he just heard]

[scionofhispower]

...Luke...

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[he wipes the back of his hand roughly across his mouth, but doesn't try to look at Asch] ...

[scionofhispower]

...

[ Asch comes a little closer and drops to one knee not too far from Luke. ] Are you alright?

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[his eyes are closed and he's trying to get his breathing steady]

[scionofhispower]

...I see.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[he makes a short, humourless noise and covers his face with a hand]

[scionofhispower]

Forgive me. But it is also in your best interest to know the truth. [ He says this and yet even he is not cruel enough to tell Luke that he is a replica. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[scionofhispower]

You take things one step at a time, assess the things you see and everything around yourself, see the world for yourself - through your own eyes and with your own perception rather than someone else's - and make your choices from there. Decide what you want to do as well as what and who you want to believe in. [ ...Asch has seriously unofficially taken Luke as his pupil or something. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Luke finally looks up at Asch at that, then swallows hard and nods, just the tiniest bit.

Although it'll probably be a while before he's really in any condition to do much of anything.]

[scionofhispower]

[ He's willing to give Luke time; after all, it's not like he doesn't have experience with replica meltdowns. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[he's silent for a long while before taking a long, shaky breath, his voice numb and barely audible]