(Untitled)

[flameoflorelei]

Who: Guy, Asch, and the Reaper
What: The Church comes calling.
Where: Guy's Bar
When: After the announcement
Rating: PG-13, R depending on how bad it gets.
Open: Nope.

Comments

[jewelofgardios]

Guy was somewhat reassured by the fact that Asch was a minute behind him; he wasn't sure of what they were about to face, whether friend or foe (or something to do with that announcement from the preacher, which bothered him more than he could say), and he didn't want either of them to meet it alone.

He glanced back at the sound of the footsteps on the stairs, already heading into the main bar room, and beelined for the door. "Asch, I'm there," he called behind him, and reached out to open the door for whoever was behind it.

But the face that greeted him was enough to send him staggering back.

"Van?!"

[flameoflorelei]

It couldn't have been! Van had died in Auldrant. The replica had killed him! How could Van have followed them here?

At the sound of Guy's exclamation, Asch jumped the last few stairs. He needed to be prepared for this. Upon regaining his balance, he looked to the door. Sure enough, his former master was standing there, as tall and formidable as ever. Asch's breath caught in his throat for a moment, before he focused in an attempt to show no weakness in front of Van. Any weakness could and would be exploited.

Van was smiling, seemingly happy to have found them both. "Gailardia. Asch. It's been a while," he said calmly.

Asch glared at him. Something had to be wrong about this.

[jewelofgardios]

"... So it has," Guy murmured, glancing back very briefly at Asch before returning his gaze to Van - if it really was him. Considering all he'd seen in the city, it wouldn't have surprised him to find someone else smiling behind those eyes. He took another step back, closer to Asch. The last time he'd faced this man, they were enemies.

Van seemed to sense his indecision, and smiled once more. "Don't worry, Gailardia. My quarrel is not with you." His eyes drifted to Asch.

That didn't reassure Guy in the slightest, and his hand drifted to his hip, where his sword rested. If Van was going to start a fight with Asch, Guy would make damn sure he regretted it.

[flameoflorelei]

Asch continued to glare. "You're not welcome here, Van." He raised his blade in a defensive stance, his eyes full of ire.

Van met Asch's gaze, but there was something different in his eyes. Van was cold, calculating, and cruel, but there had always been a softness in his eyes to hide it. Asch had once believed Van to be a great man, but that persona didn't seem to be there.

Nevertheless, Van's look sent a chill down Asch's spine. "I'm not doing anything you ask me to!" Asch replied. He had his own will now. He had a home and a lover to protect.

[jewelofgardios]

"Are you certain of that, Asch?" Van responded calmly, one hand rested lightly on his own sword, though he didn't draw just yet. "I have a proposition for you, if you will only hear me out."

Guy shifted once more, until he was standing at Asch's side. That was where he belonged. "I don't think we'll like what you have to say."