(no subject)

[fonicfraccion]

[Oh hey there; guess who decided to show up after so long?]

[There's a certain Luke hanging out in the boughs of a tree, a strange looking bone mask on his face that's in the shape of a G-clef. He's wearing an entirely white outfit with black piping that looks like a cross between his usual outfit and a mad scientist's lab coat. The white isn't as pristine as it normally is, as there are flecks of blood everywhere... probably from the... hand... he's munching on...]

[...don't worry, it doesn't belong to anyone here.]

[As if that weren't enough, he's not actually sitting on a tree branch, though it might look that way at first depending on your vantage point. He's just... floating there, idly munching away on a half chewed finger on his meal.]

...Mm. Curious. I did not believe myself capable of appearing here again.

Comments

Because clearly these guys need to meet.

[betrayalsquared]

[It's been a blur. Ion doesn't know how long it's been since he's felt any moments of clarity amid the hallucinations, and even now, staring down the blood on his hands, he's not so sure he's not hallucinating. How many was it this time? Were they human? Or were they just monsters? He couldn't tell. His mind felt heavy, and he realized focusing on it too much would only send him back. He didn't want to go back.]

[But somewhere, as he blinks back to reality, he hears a voice. It sounds... familiar. And it's above him. His body is sore, still recovering from wherever it is he's come from this time, so it takes more effort than usual to stand and walk out from beneath the tree to get a better look. Is he hallucinating again? Only one way to know.]

...Luke?

[fonicfraccion]

Mm...?

[Luke paused his munching, glancing around to look down at the little bloody Ion. Well that was two things that shouldn't belong together; he shot back down to the ground faster than the eyes could follow, leaving a static-like sound behind. He let his feet fall to the ground, reaching out to him and looking him over.]

...what happened?

[betrayalsquared]

[He doesn't react when Luke suddenly jumps from the tree in front of him, though when he reaches out a hand, Ion reaches back, hovering his hand just inches away from Luke's. If he's real, he should be able to touch him, right? But if he's not real, it'll just mean he's alone again...]

Are you really here? I don't trust my eyes... I don't know what I'm really seeing.

[fonicfraccion]

[There were very few things that got this Luke angry. Messing with his master was one of them. Messing with Ion? Oh hell no.]

[He placed a hand over his, kneeling down to get a good look at him.]

Indeed I am. What happened, Ion?

[betrayalsquared]

...thank goodness.

[Looking him over, a few things should become immediately obvious. Ion's uniform is dirty and tattered, as though he'd been out here on his own for a long time. And there are far more blood stains that what's recent. Some of them appear to be from wounds, matching up with cuts in the uniform...]

[But far more appear to be from splatters that couldn't have come from his own body. Most of the blood on his hands is not his own.]

I... I don't remember where I was or where I've been. It's been so long that everything is a blur. I'm... I'm afraid to think about it any more. I don't want to go back.

[If he focuses too much on what he's done while in the grips of insanity, he could easily slip back into it. But Luke is here... maybe he can help him hold on?]

[fonicfraccion]

You're experiencing black outs?

[Don't mind him while he pokes and prods; an Ion with psychological issues? This was exceptionally unusual...]

How frequent are they? When did they start?

[betrayalsquared]

I don't know... I don't know. I only remember when I go back to being myself. It never lasts very long. No more than a day.

[He looks down at his hands and then looks up at Luke. Luke... had blood on him. He couldn't tell if it was the result of an injury or otherwise, but--]

...I didn't do that to you, did I?

[POST-TOWER SILLY GO]

[bloodyashes]

[Hey Fric, there seem to be an awful lot of ambient Seventh Fonons in the air, almost as though they're looking at you -

And then as if by a single command, they whoosh towards one of the nearby branches, glowing brightly for a moment before settling into the form of Asch, his arms crossed and his feet dangling over the side of the branch. The look he's giving the Luke in front of him is only a little disturbed; mostly he's just looking over that white coat and mask, almost managing to ignore the hand.

He's seen worse in the Tower, although to be fair, this Luke looks like he ought to be counted among those old horrors. Definitely not the Luke this Asch is looking for, but still...]

What the hell happened to you?

[This isn't his Luke, but more frighteningly, he doesn't feel like a Luke at all, the fonon frequency wrong for their connection. He's almost unsure it's Luke at all, instead of a stranger with their face.

And that is far more disturbing than watching him munch on a couple fingers.]

[fonicfraccion]

[Luke let out a disinterested noise, raising an eyebrow at the Asch that appeared. Interesting... he didn't think either of them capable of advanced fonon control, not to mention of that level. Interesting... very interesting...]

That is quite a lengthy, boring answer.

[Actually, it was far from boring, but Asch didn't need to know that. He pause, idly switching how his legs were crossed before he continued.]

I'm more interested in how you were able to do that...

[bloodyashes]

Why don't I believe that?

[Have an exceedingly unamused expression, Fric. Asch is not putting up with these shenanigans.]

oh, right, maybe it's because you're the first version of you that I've encountered ever that doesn't share our fonic frequency.

[And don't think he hasn't noted the other weirdness, up to and including the change in speech patterns. Really, right now Asch really wishes he'd been able to figure out how to turn Sheba's Mind Read into an arte he could use. Actually, he wishes that a lot when she's not around,but it's the first time he's needed it for a Luke]

You want to know something, then answer a few questions yourself first.

[fonicfraccion]

[Luke chuckled.]

My, my... how demanding...

[For a moment, it didn't seem like he was actually going to answer. Finally, though, he let out a tired sigh, shrugging slightly.]

My DNA has been altered. Genetically, I am no longer a 'replica', I just happen to look similar to 'Asch'.

[bloodyashes]

[...And that qualifies as a boring story? Really? Apparently no matter how much he changes, Luke will always be bad at hiding things.]

Idiot. Genetic alteration or not, you can't change how you were born.

[Which, for this Asch, is the thing that matters. He runs a hand through his bangs and sighs. An answer for an answer, after all.]

After my death, I assumed a state of being similar to Lorelei's. If it wasn't for a lengthy and boring experience prior to that, I likely would have simply merged with the fon belt.

[Taste that sarcasm, Fric? It was anything but boring, and there's no way yours was any different.]

[fonicfraccion]

[Well, it was very anticlimactic at the very least. Still, Luke looked very interested at that, hovering closer. He peered close at him, like he was trying to dissect him with his eyes.]

I am well aware of that, however the science of my recreation says otherwise. So sorry to disappoint you.

[He doesn't sound sorry.]

[raisedroyal]

[Natalia believed she had seen her share of gruesome and horrific sights, but there is something inherently wrong about discovering your betrothed (if Luke could even be called that) making a meal off of a human appendage.]

[She gasps sharply, fighting down the urge to turn away in disgust. Or worse - vomit. Instead, she stands firm, although she can't help the trembling which has suddenly made up its mind to take up residence in her limbs.]

...L-Luke!

[Her voice is strained. Remembering last time she tries not to "bellow", but the end result is a typical princess shout - exactly what he complained about before; it's impossible to sound commanding otherwise.] Come down from there at once!

[fonicfraccion]

[Luke didn't really seem to pay attention to her for a moment, letting out a bored sigh as he broke off the pinky finger from the hand, tossing it up and into his mouth like it was popcorn. He chewed, bones crunching loudly in his mouth, before he finally looked down at her.]

Something wrong?

[raisedroyal]

[Honestly, Luke, don't ignore her; she knows you heard every word of it. If nothing else, his response is sobering, although she'd still like very much to be excused for a moment, to somehow erase this picture from her mind.]

...yes.

[She clears her throat.] Yes, there are a number of them, in fact. And I suspect you're perfectly aware of what they are.

[She indicates a patch of grass beside her. Down. Please.]

[fonicfraccion]

[Just to be an obstinate little brat, he floated down until he was hovering at her eye level, not putting his feet on the ground.]

Perhaps, perhaps not. You'll need to be more specific.

[raisedroyal]

[A huff.] Perhaps I won't explain anything until you've allowed me to look you over. You don't appear to be injured, but I'd prefer not to take any chances.

[He is, after all, splattered with blood. Although a great deal of the stains have surely come from...]

[She can't help but look away this time.] ...And please, put that away.

[fonicfraccion]

[Luke huffed himself, actually looking insulted at that last request.]

This is my lunch, Natalia. It's certainly better looking than anything you've cooked.

[And just for emphasis, he bites off the tip of a finger.]

[engel]

[ Any other time Asch would have passed through this part of town without a second glance. Today, however, he's compelled to slow down thanks in part to an uneasy feeling that washes over him as he approaches. Though it's mostly due to the chilling sound being emitted from the tree. Shifting a bag of groceries from one arm to the other, he glances up and can't help but cringe. ]

[ ...are you seriously chewing on a dismembered body part in public? Really, Fricc? Really? ]

That had better be a snack you brought from home.

[ This is hardly how he envisioned their reunion to be. Not that he should have expected much else. ]

[fonicfraccion]

[Oh... oooohhh...! He knew those wings! Luke actually discarded the hand, letting himself drop into a massive bear hug.]

Mm... well, I haven't seen you in awhile...

[engel]

[ Considering Luke's strength, it's probably a good thing Asch has time to brace himself and lift both wings out of the way. Even if it means letting his produce get the short end of the stick. Don't. Bend. The feathers. PLEASE. ]

The obvious result of having not been for some time. You seem well enough, at least.

[fonicfraccion]

[Nah, he wouldn't bend your feathers. Pet them, yes, but not bend them. Such precious little feathers~]

Mm... so it would seem. I do not recall what I have been doing in this time, so 'non-existence' does seem likely.

[engel]

[ Being pet is fine. Pettings are... nice. Like he'll ever admit it without protest though. Hell, he'd actually return the hug if his arms weren't full. ]

...so it was the same for you? For a while I'd almost begun to think everything after Eldrant had been an elaborate dream concocted by Lorelei.

[fonicfraccion]

[Oh, he knows; after all, you're his angel. And yes that's corny; do you see him giving a fuck?]

We're not that lucky.