I'm sorry, he's being really loud

[sacrificesmade]

[Someone's making good use of his time here. Now that he's here, and things aren't... they aren't interfering with things at home, it's a little freer. He doesn't have to hide inside a stuffy medical facility to keep Van and the God-generals from finding out about his condition, for instance. Though unfortunately, this comes at the price of worrying what's going on at home, and what's going to happen if he can't get back in time. But for now... he'll take what freedom he can get.

Not that he has the energy to do much with that freedom, and indigaytion probably wouldn't be pleased if he started pushing himself too much. But it does give him the chance to do... small things.

Like go out on short walks and just look at things, things he hasn't really had the chance to see for a while, though after a couple weeks the novelty has started to wear off a little. Still, there's something to be said for being able to just sit down, take your shoes off and stick your toes in the grass, feel the cool autumn breeze and watch clouds bustle by, when you know you won't be able to do any of these things for too much longer. Though lately something about that's been bothering him...

Bother y/n?]

[[ooc; open like a news stand on election week]]

Comments

[fononfailure]

[ This time of year does offer the perfect weather for strolls, with the temperature not being too extreme in either direction and by providing a kaleidoscope of foliage. So it's little wonder that someone comes bounding along towards Luke - though that someone happens to be a certain cheagle sans ring. Who scurries between Luke's legs to hide from another replica that comes storming after him. ]

Dammit, Thing!

[sacrificesmade]

[Luke blinks at the sound of someone - or something, at least - bouncing towards him, and glances down in time to jump in surprise at a cheagle suddenly crawling into his lap.]

What the- [hold that thought. Blue fur, floppy ears...] Mieu?

[And the other replica's shout only confirms it. This Luke's still new to the nexus, so he doesn't realize how odd it is to actually find a Mieu here.]

Oh... is he with you? [From your world? He has no idea if being from the same Auldrant is common or not...]

[fononfailure]

[ For better or for worse, the only reply Luke gets is an excited "Mieuuuu!" before the cheagle makes a dive for cover to avoid being snatched up. Or rather, to keep hold of the object he's toting around. ]

Unfortunately. [ Greetings can wait. Luke sidles left and grabs at a tuft of white fur sticking out, but just misses as Mieu shuffles the other way. Ring around the replica time! ]

[ At least until Luke realizes how damned stupid this is and thinks to ask for assistance. ]

Grab that idiot, would you?

[sacrificesmade]

Sure.

[Luke is all too happy to oblige. If nothing else, Mieu and this other Luke running around him in circles was starting to annoy him, or at least make him feel uncomfortable. After a couple misses, he manages to grab Mieu by one of his ears some things never change and when Mieu jerks to a sudden, surprised halt, grab the cheagle properly. Hey wait, was he holding something?]

Gotcha!

[fononfailure]

[ Luke takes the familiar squeak of success as a signal to snatch Mieu by the other ear in case he should make a break for it (again), though their combined manhandling causes Mieu to drop his loot into the grass: one Jewel of Lorelei. ]

Thanks a lot. He can be quick when he feels like it! [ Luke scoops up the red gem with an irritated huff, giving it a thorough once-over to check for damage before flopping down beside the other replica. Thankfully it looked okay... ]

Man, I can't believe he ran this far.

[sacrificesmade]

[Luke releases the errant cheagle, instead choosing to lean over to get a look at the object the other Luke was holding. Was that really... it was. The Jewel of Lorelei... Luke didn't have his, anymore. He'd had to give it to Asch and the others, so that they could shut down the Planet Storm...

This is also the point where he notices a few differences with this Luke - most notably that they have much longer hair (probably something to do with time... Jade had mentioned something like that was possible, in addition to duplicates) and that they... didn't really act like he used to.]

Was it really far?

[fononfailure]

[ Mieu knows when he's been beat and sinks into the grass between both redheads, ears drooping. If they hadn't spent close to an hour trekking all over for a ridiculous game of keep-away, Luke might have felt a good deal more sympathetic towards the cheagle. As it was, they both were slightly worn out and Luke stuck with glaring as punishment for now. ]

All the way from the other side of town, the twerp! I don't know what he was thinking.

[ Speaking of thinking, Luke only now gets a solid look at the other and quirks an eyebrow. Something was off. It was hard to put a finger on, but it was plain to see that this replica -assuming he was one- wasn't a mirror image of most Lukes. He almost resembled Ion in a way... ]

[losemyplace.livejournal.com]

[It just wasn't smart for Asch to be outside and out of reach of help from the Luke he knows. He knows that as well as Luke, because the fact is that without his medicine around, it's a lot more dangerous to risk being active.

But today Asch's chest felt fine. Sometimes he has days like this, when the pain isn't so bad, and he feels like he can go outside. Besides, Luke can't be there all the time, even though it seems like they're stuck here.

So, while Luke is away, Asch is out for the very same reason as this other Luke. To see the sights, just for the sake of seeing it. He hadn't been outside of Meltokio except to sneak out, so this is like a brand new sight for him.

It's during this that he comes across Luke, watching the clouds with his toes in the grass. By now he's heard of duplicates; Luke told him that much with wide eyes full of wonder and confusion. Asch can just look at this Luke, see how pale and thin he is, and know that this is a different version. Quite frankly, it unnerves him to see him that way... and to know that what Luke said was true, that there are duplicates.]

What are you doing outside?

[Even though he's different, he still looks like his brother. He can't help the brotherly concern; his tone isn't even accusatory.]

[sacrificesmade]

[At first the voice makes Luke jump, stare at Asch with wide eyes, and try to scramble to his feet, stumbling a little as he does so. He's halfway there when he realizes... wait, this might not even be the Asch from his own world. It... it certainly didn't sound like him, at least. In Luke's own version of Auldrant... Asch was... not happy with him, at best. Unhappy that he was such an idiot and was stuck sitting around and doing nothing because they might need him later to free Lorelei but he had to live that long to be useful...

It's a little too late, though, and he at least completes the motion, staggering upright and looking awkward.]

I-I just thought I'd look around a little.

[losemyplace.livejournal.com]

[The movement makes Asch's eyes narrow, and he moves in to grab his arm - not roughly, but in an attempt to support him and keep him upright as Luke staggers upward. This... doesn't look good. Not at all. He looks like Asch on his bad days...

Nngh. He can feel his chest ache. And here he was doing just fine...

Whatever. When he's sure Luke's steady, he crosses his arms over his chest and just. Looks him over.]

You look like you've worn yourself out already, you idiot.

[Still, no accusation. In fact, there's some understanding in his tone. Asch is sure that he'll be worn out himself by the time he makes it back to the house he and Luke found.]

[sacrificesmade]

[Luke is equally surprised by Asch's help to steady him. This just... this isn't what he's used to seeing from Asch at all. He does murmur a thanks once he's steady on his feet though, looking away slightly nervously.

At Asch's comment though, Luke rubs his arm awkwardly.]

I'm fine... [Dammit Asch'll probably see right through that.] ...I wasn't going to stay out for too long anyway.

[losemyplace.livejournal.com]

... Tch. You're just as thick-headed as he is.

[Nonetheless, Asch makes no move to drag him back inside. Instead, he looks away and at the sky. It's more like he's as thick-headed as he himself is... though he can't say for sure what's wrong with Luke. Maybe it's some other kind of sickness, something temporary.]

[sacrificesmade]

Who's "he"?

[... who you talking 'bout, Asch-that-is-not-from-my-world? ... though now that he's able to look at this Asch... he's noticing something a little off about him too. It... it wasn't as bad as Ion or himself, but... Asch didn't look good...

The idea that something was wrong with Asch was enough to make Luke frown in slight worry.]

Er... are you okay?

[losemyplace.livejournal.com]

...

[Yeah, Asch will avoid that last question. Instead, he lowers his head to a level position to look at Luke again. He can at least answer that first question of his.]

My brother. He looks like you, Luke.

Vote for Ginji.

[broji]

[It's a little chilly today, but not uncomfortable. Ginji's walking along, enjoying the light breeze and occasionally casting wistful glances up at the sky. It's too bad he won't be flying for a while, because despite the wind, there's excellent visibility.]

[It's when he turns a corner and finally takes his eyes off the air that Ginji spots Luke. He makes his way over, since Luke looks like he could go for a friendly chat. It's unusual not to see the others with him.]

Mind if I join you?

I need to register first though...

[sacrificesmade]

[Luke blinks up in surprise at the sound of the voice.] Ginji?

[It wasn't someone he was used to seeing back in Auldrant, let alone a face he expected to see here in the nexus. Though really, anybody from Auldrant could turn up, he supposed... He'd already seen mother.]

Oh, uh, sure.

Are you even old enough to vote Luke...

[broji]

[Ginji's head tilts slightly to one side. After all, it hasn't been long since he watched the redhead rush off into the depths of Eldrant. But he doesn't make a big deal about it. Maybe Luke is just lost in thought - Asch sure gets that way enough.]

[The pilot finds a comfortable looking spot and sits down with his legs stretched out in front of him. He looks around him, appreciating the view.]

You don't really notice it in Sheridan too much, but I bet the leaves will be changing colors soon.

... maybe. >>; Maybe not.

[sacrificesmade]

[Once again, Luke and Asch have more in common than they'd realize... Luke chuckles a little at Ginji's comment, though.] I guess there aren't a lot of trees in the desert out there, huh...

[He does look around at nearby trees though, wrapping the jacket Jade got him a little more firmly around himself. Another thing about the rapidly approaching fall was the chill - it was a fair bit cooler than it had been when he'd first arrived.]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

[Hayyy 'sup. Jade is just being a mother hen creeper observant scientist and standing under a tree, watching you with a faint smile of amusement. He has no intention of dragging Luke back inside the house like a disobedient child. Buuut, time is ticking and Jade doesn't want Luke to overexert himself, so when he judges that Luke has been outside for long enough, he walks forward to speak with the replica.]

Having fun, Luke?

[sacrificesmade]

[Hey, he's sitting down and everything how is he exerting himself? DX

Now that's another voice that Luke jumps at. He doesn't scramble to his feet yet, though he does shift forward from his relaxed pose. He eyes Jade for a moment - is this the one that he's staying with...? He thinks it is.

He rubs his arm awkwardly] Yeah... I was going to head back pretty soon, though.

[Maybe. Depending on how he felt. It's not like he's got the greatest track record for taking care of himself, but he is trying to not overdo it...]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

[They should force everyone to wear identity tags.]

Well, some fresh air is good for you. [Jade doesn't sit down, but his posture is completely relaxed.] You simply have an unfortunate tendency of overdoing things. So, how do you feel?

[sacrificesmade]

[And what would they put on them... "sickly Luke"? "That one Jade who likes to brainbreak replicas"?

Regardless, the fact that Jade seems fairly... well, relaxed, relatively speaking, is enough that Luke feels more comfortable easing back into a more relaxed sitting position again. Especially as he considers Jade's question.]

I feel... well... [not fine] okay, I guess. Not... not really much worse than before...

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

[But don't all Jades (and everyone else too) like to brainbreak replicas? :|a ]

I must admit, I'm surprised you're still able to be out and about. Theoretically, larger parts of you should be flickering in and out of existence more often.

[sacrificesmade]

[True, but yours has a particular track record.

Frankly, given the time that had passed and the fact that Luke wasn't really able to receive treatments here, he shouldn't really be able to get up and move around all that much, and they'd be having to work hard to keep parts of him from falling through objects and risking them reforming there.

Luke isn't fully aware of how far he should have progressed, but he's... really beginning to realize that something's off, and Jade's words only bring that realization home. He stares down at his left hand, frowning.]

It's... it's almost like I haven't gotten any worse at all...

[But that had to be too much to hope for, didn't it?]

[indigaytion.livejournal.com]

[Awww c'mon it was just one! And he was a longhair so he deserved it.]

[Jade had made approximations on how much the fonon separation should have progressed, but none of the conclusions he reached had pointed towards the symptoms slowing this much, perhaps even having stopped completely.]

Indeed. I'm not a believer in miracles, but perhaps being transported to this world has halted your fonon separation, or at least slowed it down considerably.

[He frowns.]

It seems to good to be true, and yet...We can't deny the evidence.