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

Comments

[losemyplace]

[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]

[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]

... 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]

...

[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.

[sacrificesmade]

[... the whole avoiding thing is never a good sign, but any thoughts he might've had to press Asch further are derailed by that comment. He turns and stares at Asch in amazement. Thankfully he's already been introduced to the idea of duplicates as well.]

I'm... I mean... The Luke from your world... he's... your brother?

[Wait... wasn't there a Luke who... was worried about his brother? The first duplicate of himself this Luke had met... It can't hurt to ask, can it?]

Uh... did... was he wearing a... like a big gem right here?

[He gestures vaguely at around his collarbone]

[losemyplace]

[... Why was this Luke so surprised by that information? Wasn't he brothers the Asch in his world as well? Or... wasn't he? The mere thought is strange. Luke's always been his brother to him...

He answers that one with a nod, though... when he asks about his brother, Asch narrows his eyes again. Yes... a big gem right there. A big gem that shouldn't even be there, one that should be on his chest.

Asch tightens his arms around his chest a little and looks off to the side.]

He shouldn't have been wearing it to begin with!

[... But yes that's the one.]

[sacrificesmade]

[Luke shifts backwards slightly, surprised by the vehemence in Asch's voice. That wasn't something he'd been expecting, any more than Asch had been expecting Luke's surprised at the knowledge that they were brothers in Asch's universe.]

What do you mean?

[You make it sound like... like it's something important...]

[losemyplace]

[That's right. There's no way this Luke would know something like that. Nothing about the journey, about the gradual loss of humanity until... Nothing. How could he possibly understand?

Asch looks sidelong at him, eyes still narrowed.]

I was the one who was supposed to get that jewel, not him! It was my journey to take! He ran off and stole the position from me. Now, he'll...

[... It hurts to say. More than just the physical pain in his chest.]

[sacrificesmade]

[All of a sudden there's a sudden pang of familiarity. They... they really weren't so different, were they? These... these different worlds. The Luke from this Asch's world stole his place did he...? And yet... Luke had seemed terrified when he'd gotten stuck here. He'd said that if he couldn't get back, they'd make Asch go instead...]

It's not good is it? Whatever happens.

[losemyplace]

[There's the strong, very strong urge to agree. It's not good. It would've been better if Asch was the one who went on the journey, then it'd be good. Right now it's the worst situation he ever thought could happen. But...]

Of course it's good! Luke is going to regenerate our world and save everyone in it!

[Still, he doesn't look particularly happy about it, and his words have more of an upset tone than fierce determination. Yes, Luke will save the world. But he won't be saving himself...]

[sacrificesmade]

[Luke may not pick up on certain subtleties really quickly, but that wasn't exactly very subtle. Saving the world... that sounds familiar, and Asch being angry that Luke had taken his place... If this Asch was anything like his Asch, he didn't really care for heroics, so this had to be about something different.

An image flashes through his mind briefly, a spindly, half-completed tower, an attempt by the ancients to reach another world...

It couldn't be like that, could it?]

Regenerate the world?