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]

[cakeblocked]

It's a hell of a lot better than yours, that's for sure.

[But there's no disdain in his voice; in fact, there's a visible smirk on his face, and laughter in his tone. It's as if he knows that this story isn't true, and it more of a fantasy compared to the one Asch told... But he's liking the way it's turning out.

He writes more, his smile fading in favor of concentration, and after a moment, he speaks again.]

"The three warriors wouldn't allow the evil one to enslave their kingdom, nor the world. They fought hard and valiantly, and the battle lasted for hours. When the dust settled, the head of the dragon lay on the floor, the evil rising off of it and disappearing in the sky like smoke from a fire.

But the Atoner also lay still, having throw himself into the path of the dragon to save the priestess from harm. Were it not for him, she surely would have lost her life against it. The priestess shed tears for the loss of the Atoner, for she owed her life to him, and she had no way to repay it.

And yet, she noticed... He died with a smile. For the darkness in his heart had finally lifted, and he truly felt that he had atoned for his sins, just as his title suggested. He did not die alone with hatred of his crimes, but with the very ones who had changed him fighting at his side, and the knowledge that he could finally rest in peace.

Somehow, she knew that he left without any regrets. And so, to repay him, she had him buried in the very kingdom that had banished him, and set up a monument telling all the story of his bravery and his atonement. His story; his mistakes, his changes and his death, lived along with the story of the brothers and the priestess to be told throughout the ages, as if he, and they, were still living in the hearts of others."

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch is quiet for a long moment, mulling that one over. Just a simple story? Or a self-fulfilling prophecy, perhaps? Atonement was such a huge part of the replica's way of thinking, these days. Which is to be expected, after Akzeriuth- only someone like Van could just brush that aside. And there's no one really like Van, least of all Luke. Dying without regrets, after atoning for one's sins... it sounds so grand and noble on paper, doesn't it? To be remembered by everyone as a hero and not as a sinner.

...Even so... well. Asch can't say he's impressed by that, either.]

That's still a stupid ending.

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[cakeblocked]

[... And he had just gone back to put some finishing touches on the dragon, though his shoulders remained hunched as he waited for Asch's judgment. The comment makes him stop and raise his shoulders a little more before he looks at Asch with a scowl.]

What's so stupid about it?

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[mirrorbirth]

There's nothing great or noble about dying. You can't atone for your sins just by losing your life. Is that what you think, replica? If your death were to have some meaning, it would even the scores? Don't make me laugh. True atonement is living with that pain.

[His thoughts flicker briefly to the Tower of Rem- Luke's resolve to die, his decision to take Asch's place and sacrifice himself to cure the world of the miasma. This Luke has no idea, which means that such thoughts are still potentially prominent in his mind.

It disgusts him, the very idea that-

"I don't want to die-"

...But... no. He remembers that, too. The replica's thoughts had been so loud it's a wonder the entire tower hadn't heard them. Death wasn't the answer; maybe he needs to be closer to death to truly realize that.]

...You're the one who said it was supposed to be a kid's story. Even a martyr's death is still dying.