dissonates | [Voice / Action]

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[Voice / Action]

...It's too quiet outside. When is that stupid holiday again? Whatever's going on needs to end.

[Private to Natalia]

Natalia... can we talk?

[He's nervous about talking to either of them, but- shortly after that entry is out of the way, Asch will be leaving his room to look for Guy and, if she says yes, Natalia, too. Unfortunately as soon as he leaves his room, his clothes are suddenly changed to this. Let's see how long it takes for him to notice. |D]

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[Guy starts, then releases Asch's pack and purses his lips, turning away.]

[Good, he finally caved. Asch adjusts the bag and begins to walk away again.]

[Asch gets as far as the main road before Guy runs after him again, this time circling around into his path to stop him instead of grabbing his pack.]

Don't go. Please.

[Asch's eyes narrow slightly at the second interruption - not as angry as before, but critical, as if he's expecting more from this than before.] Why?

...I'm nasty to you. I know.

[Guy takes Asch's wrist, though not with a very firm grip.]

I'm sorry. I'll cut it out.

You've said that before. [Asch doesn't resist his grip, though his eyes drift back and forth between their hands and eyes, like he isn't sure what to do yet.] And then whenever something happens, I'm the one who gets the backlash. Is that what being honest means to you?

[Actually...

No. Now's not the time.]

I'm sorry.

[Asch scowls again, pulling his hand away and taking another step forward as if to pass Guy- but he stops. Doesn't Guy deserve another chance?]

...Is it still because of me? Because of who I am?

[Guy reflexively reaches up to hold his opposite arm, rubbing it.]

...I don't know.

[Asch clenches his teeth, trying to bite back his anger. He doesn't want to end up saying something ridiculous, but it's hard, especially with how long this has been building up.]

I don't want it to always be like this.

[For a moment it feels as if Guy's tongue is glued to the roof of his mouth, before he swallows and asks,]

...do you...want to leave me?

[Asch can't answer right away- not until he gets one very important thing out of the way.]

....Why do you think I rarely traveled with your group on Auldrant?

...I don't know. [But he has a couple different hunches.]

[He hates explaining himself.]

It wasn't just because of the replica. You must know that much.

[That definitely sounds like an "I want to break up with you," to Guy, but maybe he's being fatalistic. He rubs his right arm again.]

Because of me.

[That's the second time Guy's done that. After a moment of hesitation, Asch reaches out to touch his hand, where it's touching his arm. The curse slot mark is still there, he knows. Maybe it's the memories that are getting in their way the most.]

I don't want to leave you.

[But he will if he's forced to.]

[Guy's hand stills when Asch touches it and he realizes what he's doing. He worries at the inside of his cheek for a moment, eyes on the toes of their boots. It feels like an eternity before he speaks again.]

Maybe you should.

You remind me of too many things I'd rather forget. I can't guarantee I'll ever fix this...habit.

If that's the case, then I'll ask you what you asked me: why did you let me get attached if this is how we're going to end up?

Because I didn't know. I don't-

Asch, I don't even notice half the time. I just... [For the first time in a long time, Guy seems to be unable to explain himself. He goes back to rubbing his arm, frustrated.]

And when I point it out to you, you get defensive and deny it's even happening. What do you expect me to do, Guy?

...nothing. I didn't expect you to do anything.

[...Sigh. Asch curses inwardly, closing his eyes, then tugs Guy's hand gently away from his arm, taking it in his own hand instead. His voice is quiet when he speaks again, a little uncertain, but not with the intention of sounding insincere.]

I know you don't do this with the intention of hurting me. That's why you don't notice, right? ...I get that. [It's a hard thing to acknowledge, let alone accept, but he can understand it.] And... I'm sorry. ...That I'm not better at telling you why I'm upset.

[It's his problem too, he knows. They both made a mess of all of this. Again.

And Guy's words creep back into his thoughts, against his will: maybe he should leave. He doesn't seem to be helping matters any.]

[Guy stares down at their hands instead of their toes, his posture tight and uncomfortable.]

...you don't have anything to apologize for. ["You never did."]

[Asch gives Guy's hand a light squeeze. His mother used to do that, on the rare occasions that she caught him looking nervous about something. Every little bit helped- that was the saying, right?]

There's only so much I can do. There isn't much you let me do.

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[Action] I see you

[Action] shhhhh; I can't get on AIM, my boss should be visiting soon. after that, though.

[Action] /lips are sealed :|b

[Action] /seals lips 8|

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