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[Action] mirrorbirth April 3 2011, 08:41:09 UTC
[It doesn't take Asch very long to pack. He fills a couple of boxes he'd scrounged from the item shop with pointless little odds and ends, belongings but not really reminders. Cups, kettle, a particular tablecloth, a painting that wouldn't make him think of anything but the painting itself. The coffee maker was left behind; he didn't want it. From his room there were books, clothes, weapons, little gifts he'd received over the last year or so, things he'd collected for their uses, rather than for sentimental value. The fon slot seal- that he tucked away, hidden beneath his clothes where Luke would never see it. He hadn't sorted out what to do with it yet.

He checked every room in the house except Luke's, obviously, making sure that nothing they might want was left behind. In the end he still only had a couple of boxes, nothing that would take any more than a handful of trips to move to their new home, wherever that would be. Still had to figure that one out.

One last stop before he finishes, though- the one he'd saved for last. He stands outside of Guy's bedroom for a long while, torn between whether to go in or to just leave. In the end, though, he pushes open the door, steeling himself. He has to see it. For his own sake, for the sake of the memories they'd shared, he has to look one last time.

Empty, of course... just as Luke had found it before. Asch stands in the doorway at first, just staring, then steps inside, walking towards the bed. He's calm, so calm, almost like a statue. There's no reason to get overly emotional, after all. It's fine.

It's fine.

And then he drops to his knees like a stone, hands grasping at the sheets on the bed, breath quickening, trembling slightly.

It still smells like him.]

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[Action] cakeblocked April 3 2011, 09:20:08 UTC
[Most of his belongings were things Luke got for himself, but even the ones Guy got for him, he took with him. What Paprika told him was true - you can go on remembering, but remember the happy times. He still remembers how Guy got him the jacket with the buttons: Luke hated zippers, which he finally revealed after Guy embarrassed him publicly. The memory makes him smile faintly before he packs it away; One day at a time. He was already getting better at this "remember the happier times" thing.

He'd have to be careful with his plants. The music box, too. And all the swords he collected went into a separate, protected bag. Everything else - his bedsheets, little pictures, his journals, and other little things he had collected get packed away, too, with only a few things he didn't want anymore being left behind.

Luke heads to Guy's room next, for the same reason as Asch. Just one more look before he left, for Guy's sake... Maybe his own, too.

But then he hears that noise once he's a few feet away from the door, like something just fell... And someone's breathing growing quicker. Luke didn't have to look to know who it was.

He stops, turns and leans his back against the wall. He'd let Asch have his time alone for now. Luke knows how much he hates being seen like that...]

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[Action] mirrorbirth April 3 2011, 09:37:03 UTC
[He doesn't stay like that for long. The last thing he wants is to break down and crash in front of Luke, or even in the same house, and with their link in the state it's in now, he's well aware of Luke's presence only moments after his replica's arrival at the door. Only his distraction kept him from even realizing Luke was on his way there. Once it occurs to him that Luke is there, however, he pushes those emotions away, shoving them off to the side and forcing himself to rise. He'd considered taking the blanket with him, just one small token of what had been left behind, but now? He knows he has to leave it. It has to stay out of his life now, just like Guy himself, or he'll cling to it and avoid moving on. Like a child forced to relinquish a security blanket, he pries his fingers loose, smoothing down the fabric and stepping away.

And by the time he reaches the door his expression is that trusty mask again, just the way it should be.

There's nothing left for him in this place.]

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[Action] cakeblocked April 3 2011, 09:58:08 UTC
[Once Asch came out of the room with that same stoic mask on, Luke pursed his lips, but that was the only hint he gave at disapproval over bottling it all up. Though he sometimes ran from such things himself, Luke still believed that letting it out really did do some good sometimes.

Starting another argument would be counterproductive, though. So, he just lets Asch pass him by while keeping his head down to bite his own tongue, and once he's sure that he isn't going to call after Asch, he goes into Guy's room to take one last look around.

How many times had he walked in here to talk to Guy? He can still see him sitting on the bed, looking up from what he was doing to smile, greet him and ask him what's up. How many times had they done that, how many times did Luke sit in that very chair beside the bed and talk about everything and nothing at all?

Guy's presence was still very much in this room even though he wasn't there at all. Instead of pushing it away, though, Luke stepped further inside, taking in everything in an effort to remember it. It was sad, yet... happy, at the same time. Bittersweet. That bed, where Guy let him sleep a couple of times...

Luke pulled the blanket off of it, curled it around his arm, and hid it behind his vest. Just a small token.

... Come to think of it, Luke hadn't really looked at the room since Guy had disappeared. He had always avoided it, and even when he was frantically searching for Guy, it was just quick little looks; all of the details had been passed over in favor of finding something more obvious. He takes the time to really take in everything; the room itself, the furniture, the closet, the...

... Sword?

This was...]

... Asch! Asch!

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[Action] mirrorbirth April 3 2011, 10:06:26 UTC
[...Dammit, Luke, he'd just left that room, he didn't want to come back 8| It's with great reluctance that Asch returns to glare into the room, ready to snap angrily about being called over again, but the words die on his lips as he realizes what Luke had found.

The Jewel of Gardios.]

What the hell... why is it still here...!?

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[Action] cakeblocked April 3 2011, 14:38:01 UTC
[It had been hidden in the shadows, which is why Luke didn't find it the first time. He thought he'd lost it forever, again. But now...

There it was, still as shimmering and impressive as ever. Luke turned to Asch while holding the hilt in his hand, absently stepping towards him while he stared and wondered. Once he was close enough, he held the weapon out for him and spoke of his wondering out loud. If Asch didn't want to take it, though, Luke would himself. They couldn't leave this behind.]

I thought everything they owned was supposed to disappear...

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[Action] mirrorbirth April 3 2011, 19:49:56 UTC
[Asch stares at it for a long moment, trying to wrap his head around the fact that it's there, when Guy is already gone. It makes no sense. How...?]

...You asked for it, didn't you? You asked the Malnosso if they could give it back.

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[Action] cakeblocked April 4 2011, 00:41:18 UTC
Well, yeah, but... Wait, don't tell me they think it's mine?

[Just the idea sounds ridiculous. Maybe back when he didn't know whose it was, but now...]

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[Action] mirrorbirth April 4 2011, 04:02:05 UTC
I can't think of another reason. Either way, I don't care. [His gaze shifts briefly to Luke, then back to the sword for a moment before he turns and heads out. There's still a lot to do, so if Luke wants to take the sword, he'd better bring it.]

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[Action] cakeblocked April 4 2011, 04:21:15 UTC
... How could you-?

[Luke cuts himself off by gritting his teeth. Ugh, was Asch just trying to push Guy away completely? But... They can't argue. Not now. Not when Asch just came back, not when they were in the process of moving.

Once he takes in a breath, Luke follows Asch out, keeping the Jewel gripped in his hand. There's no way he's leaving the sword behind.]

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[Action] mirrorbirth April 4 2011, 04:40:32 UTC
[Asch ignores Luke's halted comment, leading the way back to the kitchen and fishing a notepad from his tunic. He passes it over to Luke.]

It's a list of available apartments I found. Pick one, it doesn't matter which. That's where we'll go.

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[Action] cakeblocked April 4 2011, 05:11:38 UTC
[Luke sets the sword on the counter before he leans beside it and looks over the list, recalling where the community houses are in Luceti. At first, Building 1 seems like a nice place, though his reasons are a tad selfish. It was a little further away from Xion, but what was another block or two? They were still close.

There were a lot of people there, though... It'd be weird enough moving into such a small place - at least, compared to House 5. The decision makes him a little annoyed at himself, but he thinks about other areas. He had Asch to think about too, after all. Which location would suit the both of them?

He thinks about Building 2 then. Not only was it still fairly close to Xion, but it was also near the Battle Dome, a place he knew Asch liked to visit regularly. That seemed to be a good choice. Now, as for rooms...

That decision doesn't take nearly as long, and he leans over to point out the apartment he thinks would be best.]

How about this one? Room five.

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[Action] mirrorbirth April 4 2011, 05:45:56 UTC
I told you, it doesn't matter. [Asch takes the notepad back, tucking it away and lifting a box off the table. This would be a hell of a lot faster if they could teleport or something, but moving the boxes from the house to the new apartment would at least give him some time to think.

Because he needed more of that, obviously.]

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[Action] cakeblocked April 4 2011, 19:19:26 UTC
[Luke frowns at the dismissal, but he just shakes his head to himself and, once he sees that Asch is ready to head out, he takes the sword and heads back to his room to grab one of his own boxes (and to deposit the blanket he swiped into it). Once he comes back downstairs, he's carrying a fairly large box with his clothing inside, and the Jewel balances on top of it.]

Are we heading out now?

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[Action] mirrorbirth April 5 2011, 23:54:58 UTC
[Asch shoots Luke a brief look.] Of course we're going now, do you think I was just going to stand around holding this here? Idiot.[Let the abuse begin! But for the moment that's all Asch has to say, turning away and heading for the door.]

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[Action] cakeblocked April 6 2011, 04:50:30 UTC
Okay, okay! I'm sorry!

[Jeez. Here Luke thought he'd mostly escape the abuse since their contact in the mountains, at least for today. He shoots Asch a look in return, then shifts the box to a more comfortable position before he follows after him. Stupid Asch. At least he was feeling better enough to snap at him.]

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