[Video / Written / Action?]

[mirrorbirth]

[The journal turns on with a little crash, revealing... the ceiling. Yes, very exciting.]

Stop knocking things over!

[A small, furry black face saunters over to the journal, sniffing curiously. It meows. And then, turning, flops over right on top of it, covering the camera.]

Hey, cat, get off that, it's not your damn bed.

[A small trill, and

Comments

[Written | Filtered]

[its_rose_damnit]

When? And about what? [Though he has an inkling he knows the answer to the latter question.]

[Written | Filtered]

[mirrorbirth]

Whenever you can meet with me. You know what it's about. [It's filtered, yes, but he's still wary of putting anything so private on the journal system.]

[Written | Filtered]

[its_rose_damnit]

Understood. I'll make my way to the usual location now. Don't keep me waiting.

[Written | Filtered]

[mirrorbirth]

[What, Dist, you think he'll tell someone to meet and then waste time and keep the person waiting? Please. But he needs Dist, for now, so he bites his tongue.]

Fine.

[And true to his word, he'll be in the battle dome's medical center in record time.]

[Action] - Going to bed after this |D

[its_rose_damnit]

[He just doesn't want to be waiting around forever. :| Plus, Dist just doesn't like you, Asch. Wgen Asch does arrive, Dist looks up from the paperwork and numerous notes he'd been taking on Asch's...progress.]

What's happened? Has the rate of your deterioration increased?

[Right to the point. Dist never had been one to mince words in these kinds of situations.]

[Action] /under your bed :|

[mirrorbirth]

It has. [No sense in beating around the bush, this isn't a social call. Asch stands against the far wall, arms crossing.] I've been experiencing chest pains. It started out as nothing unusual, but I know they grow progressively worse the closer I get to the end.

[It doesn't necessarily mean that he's about to keel over and die, but it is worrisome.]

[Action] chjcfrdg get out. 8|

[its_rose_damnit]

Have you changed your daily routine any? And your replica as well - have you noticed changes in his behavior or anything similar?

[From what Dist could recall, the Luke replica was also suffering fonon separation, but his was...erratic. He couldn't pinpoint the rate, because it seemed like it was always fluctuating.

Regardless, he moves toward another corner of the room and produces a bottle of some pills, which he pushes towards Asch.]

These should help with the pain, but I've yet to determine how to stop the Big Bang from actually happening. Mm...I may have to speak with Jade on that matter sometime... Regardless, explain everything you've been experiencing to me.

[Action] /COMFY :C

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch accepts the pills, remaining wordless for a long moment as he thinks back. He'd asked Luke about this, trying to be subtle, but it's harder than he'd hoped it would be to avoid arousing suspicion, so he hadn't gotten much out of the attempt. If Luke knew what was going on, information would come easier, but it would also make him completely unbearable.]

...It was a while ago, but when the replica returned from his first kidnapping, they'd done something to his fonons, and he was exhausted easily. I told him to tell me if anything changed, but he's been fine ever since. And my own body has started to degrade at an increasing rate since we hyperresonated ourselves to the ocean. It seems completely random- like a seizure that can last a few seconds to a minute long. It's hard to move while it's happening.

[Action] /sets you ON the bed instead? D:

[its_rose_damnit]

[Dist frowns at the mention of Luke's kidnapping. That was troubling...not knowing just what those bastards did to the replica. He'd never know, either. Not without actually doing testing on Luke himself... Somehow, he doubted either party would allow such a thing.]

While your replica was experiencing high exhaustion during his kidnapping effects, how did you feel, Asch? Did you experience a lacking or complete nullification of the symptoms you were experiencing beforehand? I want to be sure you and your replica aren't, in short...vying off eachother's fonons. [Because the consequences of that could be very bad.]

As for your hyperresonance, I'd really prefer you not use it unless absolutely necessary. I can't be certain, but my theory is that unleashing that much raw seventh fonons from your body has a damaging effect on you, Asch. You're unstable enough as it is...

[Action] oh myyy~

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch scowls at that. Bad enough his hyperresonance had been taken away from him the last time he'd died- but now Dist expects him to stop using it altogether? He's probably right, Asch can't deny that. His hyperresonance has been getting weaker and weaker as the months pass, and it takes more effort than ever to manifest it properly.

...I don't intend to make any promises I can't keep.

[Chances are it'll become very bloody necessary to use hyperresonance again, with the drafts coming up on a regular basis.]

As for his kidnapping, I felt a fragment of what they were doing to him before I connected with him to find out what was going on. Our link's been advancing as well- this happened before, on Auldrant. It takes less effort to connect with him every time, like our fonons are mixed up.

[He'd felt this before, too- he remembers it, back when Luke was here the first time. It's happening more slowly this time, but...]

[Action] Don't hog my blankets. 8|

[its_rose_damnit]

[Ah, a natural Asch response, but Dist still makes a face of frustration and irritation. Fine, if he's not going to take his advice, when Dist is being honest and even trying to help when this clearly isn't his personal problem, then he's going to be harsh as well.]

Then you're going to die twice as fast as you are now, I suppose. But that's only theory...

[Dist leans against a counter lazily, his icy attitude dimming into one of pure nonchalance as he crosses his arms and listens again. That connection sounded so useful, knowing what was occurring to another body, possibly outside the barrier. Then again, if it was becoming stronger...what did that mean? Were the two really sharing fonons when they were connected like that?]

I see... [Dist closes his eyes, thinking hard. Fonons mixing together...could that he it? But Luke was made of seventh fonons entirely, where Asch was not. Could the replica be, essentially, pulling out Asch fonons? Rrrgh...he wanted to conduct tests, but that'd need both of them present. Damn it!] Again,

[Action] it's too hot for blankets |D

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch scowls at that comment, but ignores it. Dist isn't wrong, but that doesn't mean he has to agree with it, either. Maybe he'll die. maybe he won't.

...No, whether he will or not has never been the question. But sooner...]

The replica can't know. [His answer is quick, leaving no room for argument. Stubbornness issues again, maybe, but he knows the result of asking for those kinds of tests.] He never needs to know.

[Action] ...true. :|a

[its_rose_damnit]

[Dist sighs, then shakes his head with a very frustrated scowl. Just as he thought...though Asch's answer was something he didn't expect. Not those words, at least. He never expected Asch to take his replica's thoughts, and perhaps even his emotions, to heart. It was strange, knowing that Asch could possibly be getting on with the Luke replica. He remembered so clearly how Asch was ready to wipe "Luke" off the face of Auldrant.

But that's not the problem. Dist pushes up his glasses, giving Asch a hard stare.]

...Understood, though I'd just like to let you know how difficult you're making this for me. Now, I gave you my thoughts and options, so what is it exactly you want me to do, Asch?

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[If Dist had voiced his thoughts, he'd have gotten a very different answer. Still, he's mostly right- a lot has changed.]

You're the scientist, and you're the one who asked to study me. Tell me what you can do.

[He knows nothing about this, beyond the physical changes he's experiencing- or has experienced. If Dist wants to toy around with fomicry, he'll have to suffer the ever-changing condition of a live subject. That's just how it goes.]

[Action]

[its_rose_damnit]

What I can do, Asch, is what I have been doing for the past few months - buying you time. For the moment, that's all I'm capable of, unless you ask the Malnosso for a miracle. I still hold to the fact that the Big Bang is an irreversible phenomenon, though I will have a word with Jade if I'm able to get a hold of him. He should have more answers on the matter at hand.

[Dist shifts his weight, then gives Asch another long and searching stare. he hates having to devote so much time on someone like him, but he can't lie that the subject is a challenge he wants to succeed on.]

You'll allow me to do that much, I should hope? And run a test or two involving your hyperresonance... I pray you at least can control it to a very limited degree, correct?

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

If you can't do anything to change this, I'll accept that. But I'll keep looking, even if you decide to give up. As for my hyperresonance- of course I can control it. I've been learning how to do that for more than seven years.

[What does Dist take him for, an incompetent replica or something?]