dissonates | [Locked to Guy]

This isn't what I came here to talk about!

All right, forget I said anything then.

Like hell. If this is something you're actually worried about happening, how the hell can I just forget it?

[Another sigh.] I'm not so much worried about it happening as I am considering it as a possibility. Just think of it as me thinking aloud and forget it, Asch.

So, what, you're okay with the idea?

[Guy falls silent for a moment before looking away.] I didn't say that either.

You make it hard to tell, considering how flippant you are about it. You don't believe in me at all, do you?

It's not a matter of believing in you.

Bullshit. You're not the one with options, remember?

Look- sometimes it's not always a choice. People die or drift away. Nothing's ever certain, least of all anything worth having. I'm allowed to have my own reservations. [Guy notices that he sounds somewhat defensive for someone unbothered by this.]

And I'm allowed to get pissed off that you're even having them!

Fine, then get pissed off. [/petulant]

I can't shut off my emotions like some people.

That isn't what I'm doing!

So it doesn't upset you to think that we might not be long-term!?

[Guy falls silent and looks away.]

[Asch crosses his arms and waits for the next round of bullshit. At the very least he wants an answer.]

[Guy's quiet for a while, but he does eventually speak.]

The Score wasn't absolute; it was one path of many. But even with infinite paths we can take, they still exist, somewhere in the memory particles of Auldrant. We still have predestined lots in life...even if we don't know what they are.

Your lot in life...was to die in Eldrant. Luke's was to sacrifice himself. Mine is to lose people, and to keep going on. And I've accepted it; if I end up losing you to something other than death, so be it. That's just how it is.

My lot in life!? [Okay Guy, you're getting a taste of rage now. Asch grabs him by the collar, yanking him closer.] What the hell kind of attitude is that!? Aren't you the one who told me not to give up, not to be such a defeatist about it? Why are you just giving up!?

[Guy glares, and grabs Asch's wrists to try and wrench his hands from his collar.]

Keep your voice down or Natalia'll hear us.

[Like hell. Those hands aren't moving. And he's not even listening because Guy is just ignoring the issue again.]

When I found out I was going to die, I looked for answers. I looked for ways to stop it, even just to slow it down. When I didn't find anything, I didn't just lie down and take it - I kept fighting with every damn breath I had! When I dedicate myself to something I don't let anything stop me. Considering how angry you got whenever I so much as hinted that I was giving up, I expected nothing less from you.

[And he's... really disappointed to find that isn't the case.]

That's different.

It's not. [Asch grits his teeth and shoves Guy away, trembling with rage.] It's not different at all. That's what you don't understand.

[Guy's boot scrapes across the shingles as he catches himself, and straightens his collar. He doesn't look at Asch.]

[Asch watches him for a long moment, breathing deeply and forcing himself to calm down. Finally he stands up, looking ahead instead of at Guy.]

I'm not like you - I can't look at it the way you can. There's no room for logic in my emotions, no discussions on 'what if' or 'when'. I feel whatever I feel, and deal with problems as they come. And looking at us now, I'm glad of that.

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