[Accidental Voice]

[dissonates]

[There's two voices- one is obviously Asch, and the other is too muffled to hear.]

-ing out to investigate. I told Natalia to stay inside; you should do the same.

[A pause.]

...I am not sick. I already rested enough.

[Pause.]

I'm not a kid, so stop acting like my mother.

[...]

Wh- you are not "as good as she is", shut up!

[Pause.]

Goddammit, Guy.

Comments

[prismshards]

[ ...THAT'S A BIT BETTER Thankfully Luke has an eternal well of hope lodged somewhere in his brain. ]

That's what I'm going to do.

[ "--by hanging out together!" is left unsaid but implied. ]

[dissonates]

[SEE YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY NOW Which is why he annoys Asch to no end, probably.]

Finally.

[You're lucky Asch isn't telepathic all the time.]

[prismshards]

[ WE ARE! Asch can only take so much positiveness before he ODs on it. ]

And when I figure it out, we'll both be happier!

[ If he were making use of their connection, he'd have been able to avoid having Luke latch onto his hand with both his own and beam. ]

[dissonates]

[He's already reaching his limit. Any more and he might explode.

...There is a hand holding his. Why.]

...Don't make me say it again, replica.

[prismshards]

[ Because he's got a cling wrap replica. Asch is very static-y. Luke blinks, unaware that the bomb he's clutching might go off any second. ]

Hmm? Say what again?

[dissonates]

[Timer is ticking down again.]

I said get off me!

[prismshards]

[ Rapidly, I might add. Luke backpedals at the shout, both hands raised to block any potential blows. ]

I wasn't on you!

[dissonates]

[Timer has paused. For now.]

Stop being so goddamned clingy.

[prismshards]

[ Thank goodness for minor miracles. ]

But I'm not!

...am I?

[dissonates]

[It's saved Luke's face again.]

You must be joking.

[prismshards]

[ A sturdy helmet might be a sound investment for talking with Asch. ]

I'm not idiotic enough to joke about something that obviously pisses you off.

[dissonates]

[Probably. Yet no one has clued in on that yet.]

But you're idiotic enough to keep holding on to me when I don't want you to.

[prismshards]

[ Or they're all masochists. ]

Sorry, habit. Why don't you like it when people touch you?

[dissonates]

[That Abyssman costume would come in handy right about now.]

....

[Asch doesn't really have a good answer for that. Because he's not used to it? Because it makes him uncomfortable? Because he has Issues? Any number of answers would do.

The one he really doesn't want to share will just make things worse, anyway.]

[prismshards]

[ The spandex has to be uncomfortable though. ]

...?

[ Luke's head goes to one side as he waits for a response. When one doesn't come, he hesitantly reaches a hand out and latches onto the loose part of Asch's sleeve; it's physical contact, but not so much to get under the original's skin. He hopes. ]

It's okay.

[dissonates]

[But it's protective!]

...

[Asch doesn't respond to the touch at first; after a moment he glances sidelong at Luke, more baffled than anything else. What...?]

[prismshards]

[ And tacky! ]

You have your reasons, and if you ever want to share them, I'll be here.

[ Luke fiddles with Asch's shirt a bit longer before folding both hands behind his head and grinning. ]

Not like you'd tell me anyways!

[dissonates]

[That never stopped Luke from playing the part. D|]

...Of course not.

[Asch crosses his arms in an attempt to withdraw from further contact, though considering Luke's persistence thus far, he's not expecting much. And the replica is the last person he'd ask for help and support.

He just... doesn't get it. The dependence Luke has on him- as if he'd had any sort of part in his creation - birth, he liked to say - besides unwillingly contributing his replication data. Luke wasn't indebted to him. The entire logic of it was flawed.

"This isn't about logic!"

...Ha.]

[prismshards]

[ HEY. He's man enough to wear real pants. DX ]

But yeah, I just wanted you to know that you don't have to shoulder everything.

[ Oh fine. He'll let Asch return to his prickly shell; and yes, it's not about to stop him from continuing his attempts at being friendly with his original. It's all a matter of walking that fine line of trying too little and overstaying his welcome. Though he tends to lean more towards the latter.

Try as he might, Luke can't begin to explain it either. Logic isn't very strong in the Fabre genes. Though it's not dependence! It's a very strong attachment, thank you. ]

[dissonates]

[But he looks so charming in spandex.]

I've always done everyone on my own.

[Why should things be any different just because his useless replica is around? It doesn't change a damn thing.

The only one he can depend on is himself, after all.]

[prismshards]

[ He does have the legs for it... ]

Well now you don't have to!

[ Because the useless replica is going to try, dammit! Two heads are better than one and all that jazz. Look how working on your own turned out last time! ]

Isn't that what you've been so pissed about all these years? Losing the support you had?

[dissonates]

[Though they're not as good as Guy's.]

...Tch. [Asch scoffs and shrugs his shoulders, pointedly avoiding looking at Luke.] You're making it sound a hell of a lot more trivial than it is. I didn't lose my support- I lost my family and my home.

[prismshards]

[ Guy's legs are Amazing with a capital 'A'. ]

You know that's what I mean, Asch, and I'm sorry. But there's nothing I can do to change what Master Van did. We both have to try moving on.

[ Luke also looks away, making sure there's plenty of space between them. ]

[dissonates]

[And he shows them off so pleasantly.]

...

[Asch glances sidelong at Luke, then curses under his breath, leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms.] Some of us don't have it as easy as you.

[prismshards]

[ No wonder the ladies take to him. ]

Never said that you did. Which is why I want to help make things easier. It's the least I can do.