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]

[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]

[scionofhispower]

... [ In some ways, he can understand that. After all, Asch had his own reasons for wanting to remain Van's student as long as he did. But... ] Just take it one step at a time.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Luke buries his face in his arms, breath hitching occasionally. He's just going to think for a while. Or maybe he's going to try not to think for a while.]

[scionofhispower]

[ Asch watches him carefully for a few moments before placing a hand on his shoulder; if Luke reacts badly, he'll leave him be, but he's not quite sure the idiot replica kid should be alone right now. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Luke flinches a little at the touch, but barely seems to register it otherwise. He doesn't exactly want to be alone, but he doesn't want to have to face anyone, either.

Mostly what he wants is for the last conversation to not have happened, but that's not an option anymore, and by his own decision.]

[scionofhispower]

...Maybe we should get you somewhere a little less prone to monster attacks.

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[he'd actually pretty much forgotten about the monsters]

[scionofhispower]

[ Asch rises and offers a hand to Luke; he's not sure exactly where he intends to take him, but he figures, if nothing else, he can let Luke hang at his house for at least a little while, until he's feeling at least a little less overwhelmed by what he's learned. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Luke takes the proffered hand after a moment of hesitation, climbing to his feet. He has his head bowed, his expression hidden behind his hair, but he'll probably be okay to follow Asch to... wherever.]

[scionofhispower]

[ Well, then. Asch will lead him back to his house for now. ]

[inlonelyexile.livejournal.com]

[Luke follows after obediently, more or less on autopilot, vaguely reminded of those first couple of days trying to get out of Kimlasca, when the world just stopped making sense and didn't start again for a long time.]