017 [Voice]

[cakeblocked]

[It's rather late at night when the journal clicks on. Luke had waited until he had calmed down from the nightmare he had to make the post, and good thing, too. Otherwise it'd catch the tremor he surely had in his voice.

Instead, he merely sounds subdued, and maybe a little hesitant.]Does anyone have any good stories to tell

Comments

[Action] not a placeholder because to hell with sleep

[mirrorbirth]

[If Luke happens to look over at his door, he might notice a little sliver of light shining from beneath it; there's obviously a light on in the apartment.

Venturing out would earn him the following visual: Asch sitting on one seat of the couch, nose deep in one of those Dawn Age books he's always poking at, though for once he's reading a smaller, tattered-looking paperback rather than the big, complicated textbooks. A clumsy but colourful drawing of two blond boys decorate the cover, each holding a sword.

On one of Asch's feet, a little furry kitten butt is visible; someone couldn't even make it onto the couch before dozing off.]

[Action] sleep is for the weak anyway

[cakeblocked]

[Luke does indeed notice the light after a little while. Curious, he goes to open the door - only to squint and hold his hand out to shield the light from his eyes. He has messy hair, too, a testament to the fact that he was sleeping.

Once his eyes get used to the brighter light (he had a lamp on, but it was rather soft compared to this), he steps up behind the couch and leans over it on the opposite side of where Asch is sitting.]

Hey... What're you reading? ["Again?" goes unsaid. Asch has been reading a lot lately...]

[Action] INDEED and we are powerful

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch barely glances over when Luke approaches, though his gaze flits to Luke's briefly at the question.]

It's a series of short stories from the Dawn Age. I found it in Daath as a kid.

[Though from the cover and the slight blush that crosses Asch's cheeks, it's probably not a stretch to assume that "short stories" actually means "kid's stories and fairy tales".]

[Action] oh we are the most powerful our power levels are like over two millon

[cakeblocked]

[... Well, that makes him raise his head in interest. Short stories? Luke can see the cover from here, and... well, he still doesn't really put it together. Probably best for Asch that Luke doesn't really pick up on these things, nor is he capable of reading the cover.

So instead of teasing, he moves around to sit on the cushion beside him and pulls one leg up, letting his arm rest across the knee.]

Think you could read one or two out loud? [The request is quiet; he's not sure if Asch heard him while he had the nightmare, but he's sure he let out a short cry or two.]

[Action] and we have the power to go super hyperresonance

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch shoots Luke another sidelong glance - somewhat critical, somewhat judging, and, curiously, somewhat understanding - before he turns back to his book, flipping back a number of pages to start at a different chapter. If Luke happens to look at the book, he might notice a couple of things: one, that it's written in Ancient Ispanian, and two, it has pictures.]"Long ago, there were two brothers, golden haired and strong of heart. They were men of action, heroes of their time, and kindly rulers over their territory. Though they fought often, like siblings are known to do, they never bore one another any true ill will, each devoting his life to protecting the other. After centuries of chaos and strife, peace and balance had been granted to the islands on which they lived, and in time became rich, prosperous, and the safest in the land with the two brothers always watching over them

[Action] everyone else can't do it 'cause they're normal and balding

[cakeblocked]

[No wonder he couldn't read the cover... But Luke can't help scooting a little closer, just to try and see the pictures. He pulls up his other leg once he can and wraps his arms around both legs, holding his wrist as he looks at the pages and listens to Asch. Asch can read Ancient Ispanian? Ah... that's right. Practically everyone could. They never taught Luke that...

He listens, and he lifts his head as the story takes a slightly darker turn. What will happen? The two brothers are going to work together... right? Luke wants to ask all of these things, but instead, he merely leans over to try and read the writing and look at the pictures more closely. He's pretty sure Asch wouldn't like it if he interrupted.]

[Action] it would be nice if auldrant had dragonballs

[mirrorbirth]

[Not so, apparently. Asch flips the page, and a new picture is visible- one of the blond men again, standing angrily over a cowering older man.]"With the time of the fair Priestess's execution merely weeks away, the elder brother fell into despair, unable to find a way to reach her. He pleaded for the help of everyone he knew, but even his brother refused- because to the younger brother, his elder's life was worth far more than the life of his beloved, and the thought of his brother sharing her fate was unbearable to him

[Action] asch and luke could be wished back to life

[cakeblocked]

[Luke, by now, can tell that this is a kids' book. Awfully dark for one... He has a few picture books of his own in his room, though not even Xion knows about them. It's embarrassing, even though he likes them a lot. They have good stories, the art is great, and it's something he was attached to as a kid.

The Traitor character seems to resonate in him... 'This is my fault'. He purses his lips, glancing up at Asch's face briefly.]

... So the brothers are going to save her now, right? [He can't help it. Even as a kid, he'd interrupt the story to ask questions or exclaim various things. It was hard to keep still and quiet.]

[Action] but only once apparently. unless they went to namek.

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch snorts quietly, lifting his brow in Luke's direction, the faintest flicker of a smile crossing his lips before it fades.]

You can't just sit and listen, can you? Like a little kid.

[Action] then they revive them over and over again

[cakeblocked]

[Luke raises both eyebrows, and an indignant blush crosses his face as he turns his head away with an embarrassed scowl. AUUGH.]

I-I'm not a kid... [Sure he's not.] I'll be quiet. [... And a glance.] So... What does happen?

[Action] and the party is like COME ON can we wish for immortality

[mirrorbirth]

[lolol such a kid. He doubts Luke will really stay quiet anyway. Asch shrugs and turns back to the book again, flipping the page. The text is too damn big, what a waste. (Though it is a kid's book...)]

"With newfound hope, the elder brother decided to give the Traitor a chance to redeem himself. He asked his brother for help, and though it was with reluctance - he still did not wish to see his family's lives in danger - the younger brother finally agreed. The three of them set off for the island prison at once, and with the help of the Traitor, the impenetrable prison wall was at last breached, and the Priestess was precisely where the Traitor had said she would be. The elder brother and his beloved were reunited, and amidst their happy tears, the younger brother understood that her death would surely have killed his precious family just as surely as a failed escape attempt would. He vowed that he would spend the rest of his life, from that moment onwards, devoted entirely to the protection of the elder brother and his love."

[The

[Action] and namco's like NOPE that'd mean less angst

[cakeblocked]

[... So the Traitor redeemed himself after all. And the brothers got over their disagreement and worked together... It's a nice story. Luke might have to borrow it later, maybe to try to work on Ancient Ispanian. Sure, it looks boring and hard... but it might help.

Luke smiles a little, and he leans his head to the side to rest his cheek against his knees.]

So... they lived happily ever after like that, right?

[Action] and then the group revolted and staged a coup

[mirrorbirth]

[Oh Luke, you poor disillusioned bastard. Asch shrugs, flipping ahead a few pages to return to his original place in the book, the chapter he was reading before Luke interrupted.]

Not exactly. "The Traitor" committed suicide after they escaped.

[Action] and it fails and luke and asch die again

[cakeblocked]

[... WAY TO RUIN THE STORY, ASCH.]

What?! But... But why?! Why did he...

[Action] their lives are so full of shit

[mirrorbirth]

[HE LIVES TO RUIN YOUR DREAMS, REPLICA.]

Supposedly he couldn't live with the shame. How would you feel, if something you did wound up getting the Fon Master killed? It's the same thing.

[Action] this is canon

[cakeblocked]

I wouldn't have just... given up! You have to do what you can... You have to keep going.

[He frowns, and he puts his hands on the cushions to lean over and looks at the book.]

B-Besides, this is a kids' book! Stories don't just... end like that! [Not in all the ones he's read, anyway.]