[Voice / Action]

[mirrorbirth]

Natalia's gone back.

[And he's... not sure how he even feels about that, especially since it's the second time now. He's not the sort to broadcast his feelings on the matter anyway, so he'll leave it at that.]

[Locked to Dist - 75% Unhackable]

If you've prepared everything you need, it's about time we meet.

[Asch won't be around the house much

Comments

[Voice]

[cakeblocked]

Natalia's gone?

[Voice]

[mirrorbirth]

[Dammit, dreck, he doesn't want to talk about it 8|]

That's what I said, isn't it?

[Voice]

[cakeblocked]

[Well too bad 8| There's a period of silence as Luke goes to make sure - not that he doesn't trust Asch, but... he just has to see for himself.

And... he's right. There's nothing left in Natalia's room except the bare essentials, as if she wasn't there at all. Luke just stares into the empty room for a moment, then grips the doorjamb, clenches his teeth and lowers his head.

Damn it. Damn it.

Finally, he returns to the journal. What did Asch say again? Oh.]

... Yeah.

[Voice]

[mirrorbirth]

[It occurs to Asch that this is the first time someone close to him has been sent home. ...Hm. Well it's not like he's going to be gentle about it, but sending him to Guy at some point would probably make life easier for all of them.]

You should get used to it.

[Voice]

[cakeblocked]

[Talk about insensitive, man.]

What, does that mean you are?

[Voice]

[mirrorbirth]

I've been here for more than a year. How many people do you think I've seen leave already?

[And yeah, maybe it still affects him. But he knows how to avoid showing it by now... mostly.]

[Voice]

[cakeblocked]

That doesn't mean it just- gets easier!

[Luke doesn't even know why he's shouting- he's just so... hurt, sad and angry, and not even at Asch. But Asch is there, and he can take Luke yelling, even if it means he might yell back.]

[Voice]

[mirrorbirth]

[And yell he does.]

You can believe whatever you want, you stupid dreck! You think I care!?

[Voice]

[cakeblocked]

[He sure wishes you did sometimes. Those insults - again - just makes him feel like he got physically shoved down, again.]

... Damn it, just- Shut up and leave me alone!

[JOURNAL SHUT. And right after he does that, he feels like he should open up the journal again and try to talk, but... No. Both of them aren't in the mood for that.

Instead, he'll just... clench his hands together, then get up and head out of his room. He can't stay in the house anymore.]

[mirrorbirth]

[He starts the conversation, and then he ragequits? Ugh, stupid dreck, seriously.

But they can't seem to avoid each other forever; Asch is just heading out of the medical center as Luke conveeeeniently might just be showing up at the battle dome later on in the day...]

[cakeblocked]

[Asch is the one who didn't want to talk to him in the first place, jeez. 8|

Indeed, that's where Luke is. He'd been wandering the village for a while, just trying to get his mind off of the fact that Natalia is gone... But nothing had been working. So, what better way to focus on something else than battling with holograms?

Luke doesn't really notice Asch yet - he's busy trying to figure out the coordinates. He can do the simpler battles, but he wants more of a challenge now.]

[mirrorbirth]

[.....Crap. It's the replica. Asch stands still for a moment, debating if he can back away into the medical area just long enough for Luke to go inside the room- and the pause is just long enough for Star to stop moping about his talk with Dist and notice Luke there, piping up with an excited, "mieu!"]

[cakeblocked]

[That's enough to make Luke's attention snap to the medical bay, and- oh. It's Asch. But the fact that he's even here makes Luke lift his hand away from the coordinates; what was Asch doing here? And in the medical bay, at that? And with Star?]

Asch? Star?

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch scowls, reaching down and grabbing Star by the scruff of the neck, ignoring the cheagle's startled squeak as he lifts him up.]

Dammit, why did you have to do that!? I was trying to- [And then he hastily turns the cheagle to the side, getting slightly singed (and even more annoyed) as Star puffs out a flame burst.]

[cakeblocked]

[Normally, that would make Luke snicker to himself and maybe give Star a high-five (well, more like a pointer-finger-and-paw-five) later, but... he just sighs, shakes his head and walks closer to them.]

What're you two doing here? Is Star sick?

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch scowls, dropping the cheagle and glancing away.]

It's none of your business. [Star opens his mouth to give a real answer, but shuts it as Asch gives him a nudge with his foot.] Star's fine.