[Voice / Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[Voice; Filtered 100% to the Abyss cast (sans Van)]

Van is here.

He's not an immediate threat, but you should know.

[With the announcement dealt with (and perhaps an intermission with the replica) Asch heads out, his goal being the south end of the village. He has a certain house he needs to visit

Comments

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[A certain house, you say? Stella was actually just about to head inside, having finished her routine Kyoshi training. Thus, she has a lavender outfit of sorts on and a fan in her hand as she heads around to the front door, letting out a sigh of minor exhaustion as she tilts her head up -

And spots a familiar redhead on the path to her house. Well, the sight of Asch always brightens her day, although something's... off, right now. Something about the tense air around him...

She might have guessed wrong, though. Still, instead of the grin and meeting him halfway, Stella merely smiles and tilts her head, as if to ask what's wrong just from that.]

It's good to see you, Asch.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch doesn't return the smile; that in itself isn't exactly unusual, but the overly serious expression he's wearing certainly is. ...Well. Excessively serious. He steps over to her and pauses one step away from passing her, gesturing towards the house.]

I need to talk to you.

[And- just to be certain, he glances over his shoulder. Van isn't the type to be sneaking around after him (that was Sync's job) but even so, he can't help being cautious.]

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella has never seen a more serious expression in her entire life.

The way he says that, though, and how he glances over his shoulder... Stella briefly leans her body to the side to look behind him as well, then nods slowly and walks the rest of the way to the front door, where she opens the door and steps aside for him.]

All right.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[With a shake of his head - paranoia and imagination, nothing more - he heads inside, waiting for her at the entrance. He doesn't take off his boots, though, demonstrating that he has no intention of staying.]

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[That's fine with her. She still closes the door behind her, making sure to lock it, and heads inside to the kitchen. Even though he isn't staying, she'd still like to get some tea ready for him.]

What did you need to talk to me about? [Her voice is low, too. She passed Norma on the way here, and there are other people in the house. It's not quite a cozy place anymore.]

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[...Oh, they're going in. With a quiet grumble, Asch kicks off his boots and follows her in, standing uneasily by the table.]

Van arrived in Luceti this week- my master. You deserve a warning.

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

Van...

[Her eyes widen, and her movements slow. Asch might not have told her full details about his replication - and it's a good thing, too. It sounded horrifying. But from what she's heard...]

What will you do?

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

Nothing for now. It's better not to antagonize him- he's a powerful enemy. But unless he makes an enemy of us, fighting him would just make everything worse.

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella stays quiet at that. She can agree, even though she wants to... do something. Anything. Anything would be better than doing nothing and knowing that such a person is out there...]

... I won't speak to him, then. [One important question, though:] What does he look like? [After all, she might just chat him up one day and not even realize it.]

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

I'm not telling you to avoid him at all costs- it's possible that doing that will just make him suspicious. But if you do meet him, avoid associating yourself with me. I don't know what he'll do.

[He tugs out his journal, ripping out a page and doing a quick sketch of Van, showcasing the beard, eyebrows, and hairstyle before offering it out to her.]

This is Van.

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[She nods to that - yes, she won't just avoid him... But if she does talk to him, then she's a good enough actress to not be bothered by his presence. And she won't associate Asch with her; doing so would just place him as well as herself in danger.

As Asch works on the sketch, Stella turns to work on that tea some more. By the time he's finished, the tea is on the stove and heating up nicely - she plans on making a drink with vanilla and cherry, just as she knows he likes it. And maybe she has the tin with the tea name on it on the counter. Just so he can see.

When he hands the sketch to her, Stella takes it with raised eyebrows. Even for a quick sketch, it was still very nice. But there are more pressing matters to deal with, so she won't comment on that part. Instead, she focuses on the person she's seeing in the sketch. Good, she hasn't met him yet... And she hasn't really seen anyone quite like him, either.]

That's rather distinct... I suppose that's a good thing. [Stella looks up from the sketch past Asch, where she

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch's gaze falls briefly on the tin, eyes narrowing a little. He's not here for tea, dammit, and she doesn't have to treat him...]

Stella, if you tell people they could just seek him out. That would make things a lot worse than it is now. Let him see Luceti for what it is and maybe he'll-

[He pauses there, trailing off. What the hell was that? Wishful thinking? Van's not going to change his mind about anything, Score or no Score. He's just as untrustworthy as he ever has been. Idiot, idiot...]

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

Mm... You're right. I'll keep it to myself, then.

[She sets the sketch on the counter. Stella caught that moment he trailed off, and she can guess where he was going with that.

For the moment she abandons the tea to go to him, and she brings a hand up... lets it hover over his chest for the tiniest of seconds before she changes paths, until she lays her hand on his upper arm.]

... Will you be all right?

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[His gaze lowers to where her hand rests, and he has to resist the urge to withdraw. It's... not like it's bothersome, but since Van's arrival he's begun to wonder if he should just withdraw from everyone to try and keep them safe. Despite him telling Luke that they can't let Van disrupt their lives, it... really would be safer, in the long run. There was really no telling what Van would try to do in order to win him over, twisted as the commandant's mind seemed to be now. And taking away everything Asch ever loved had worked the last time...

Deep down, he knows that Van isn't stupid or reckless, but the risk alone is worrisome. He closes his eyes, turning his head away before he opens them again. Suddenly the tea kettle is very interesting.]

I'll be fine. I doubt he'll hurt me if I don't attack him first.

[He knows that's probably not what she was asking, but... even he's not sure how he really feels. How can he even think to answer?]