[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]

[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 knows Norma is sleeping on the couch.] Part of me thinks that I should tell the others about this, too. But... [She glances away with an awkward and helpless little tug at her lip.] I've learned that secrets are hard to keep for them. [And Grune would just forget it. Or remember that Van was important but not know why.]

[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?]