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[dissonates]

[After a few days of Deep Thought following this little encounter, Asch has finally resolved himself to go back home. He's packed his things, cleaned up, done a few repairs to make the apartment somewhat presentable after he tore it to bits during the Halloween ordeal, though he's sure it'll end up fixing itself anyway. Finally, sometime in the morning, he heads out and makes his way to House 5.

Depending on where the occupants are, he'll be looking for Guy, Luke, and Natalia- starting with their rooms, one by one, and then moving on to the rest of the house and outside if necessary. He's been thinking a lot - probably too much for his own good - and he's tired, but more than that, he's tired of just running away.]

Comments

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

[Guy rubs his face hurriedly, the movement a little bit manic. He hadn't wanted to do this so soon; he'd been hoping to soften the blow by at least a few weeks of sorting himself out first.]

I meant it. But at least give me a little time to make some leeway before we get into this.

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[fabrecation]

[Nnngh, even with his hearing starting to come back, he's still useless, isn't he? Luke's pretty desperate to prove that he isn't, though.]

If you just... talk a little louder than normal, I can still hear you!

[dissonates]

...No. It's okay, I didn't mean...

[Dammit. Dammit, and he's already screwed up. This isn't how he wanted it at all.]

I just... wanted to make sure. I had to be sure.

[Probably more than Guy knows.]

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[dissonates]

And have the entire house hear what I have to say? No thanks. [Dreck he is trying to dismiss you, why are you not cooperating 8|]

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

[Guy hesitates, then turns his head to face Asch, resting his cheek on his arm.]

I meant it. I need you.

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[fabrecation]

[Because he does not want to be dismissed 8(

But... he sighs. Asch is right; it'd be terribly inconvenient to have them talk while his hearing's only just starting to come back. Way to make a momentous occasion suck, Asch.]

I... Okay. I'll tell you.

[dissonates]

[Asch falls silent, letting that sink in. He hasn't felt needed, really needed for anything for a long time now. It's what gave him purpose after he lost everything, when Van and his goals were all he really had. If this is true, and this really is something only he can do...

...well. Maybe he doesn't need his life to have meaning like he used to; he has plenty more to live for these days.

But it's nice. It's nice to be needed. He nods quietly to himself, head bowing to press against his knees.]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Yeah, he's good at that, you know. Asch watches him for a moment, looking almost hesitant before he finally speaks up again.]

...It's good that it came back.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

[Guy's voice drops to a murmur.]

Thank you for coming back home.

[dissonates]

...Where else would I go?

[Guy's right; it wasn't the same, being away like that.]

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

I can imagine tons of places you could, but agreed. This is the best place you could've picked.

[Action]

[fabrecation]

[Well, that makes Luke jerk his head up in surprise. Normally, Asch would say some other scathing remark and then walk off, right? At least, that's what Luke was expecting.

... But they're getting better now, right? That's what he told Guy, and Luke did call Asch a friend, and he still means it. So... Maybe this isn't so bad.]

... Y-Yeah. It really is.

It's good that you came back. [Luke still isn't sure why Guy and Asch... broke up (that's still SO weird), but it must've been bad if Asch wanted to avoid it for this long and Guy only asked about him.]

I-I'm... here if you need me. Okay?

[dissonates]

Hm. [Asch shrugs, knowing it isn't worth arguing about. If not here, he'd just be on his own, anyway. It's not like he has someone he'd like to stay with. He lifts his head though, glancing up at the stars briefly before moving to stand.] I should head back inside.

[Action]

[dissonates]

[...Ugh, this is why he hates doing nice things sometimes; the surprise when it does happen only serves to irritate him. He shrugs off the offer - he can't talk to you if you can't hear him, so anything he has to say will have to wait anyway.]

You should find Guy. He'll be happy.

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

[Guy stands with him, stretching and wincing at the pops that sound from his back.]

I'll make us some dinner. There should be some chicken in the fridge.

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[fabrecation]

[Luke nods, though he hesitates before he walks past Asch and starts to jog down the hall to find Guy. A tacklehug for him and a tacklehug for Natalia later and a good night's rest later, Luke spends the day outside, just listening for sounds and being glad that he's here and starting to get well. ... Which is strange for him, considering he's usually in a state of wondering if he's better off not living at all. But just this once, he's really enjoying it.

... Until Guy hunts him down, anyway (and zips up his jacket again, stupid Guy). By the time he's back, though, Luke can hear better and better, and when it's late at night again, he stops in front of Asch's door and lifts his hand... only to hesitate and let it drop by his side. What did Asch need to talk to him about? Why him? Couldn't he talk to... to Guy, or Natalia? They'd probably be a lot more useful than he is on whatever Asch wants to talk to him about.

Still, Asch sought him out specifically, and he doesn't want to just deny it. So, he takes in a breath and knocks on Asch's door, and he can't help smiling a little when he hears the sound of it. It's still not as loud as it used to be, but Luke's sure that it'll come back by morning.]

Asch?

[dissonates]

You don't have to do that. [He's still too concerned about how awkward spending time with Guy is going to be. He's already starting to feel it.]

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

Why not? I'm hungry too. Besides, we've been sitting up here on the roof; having something hot would be good for both of us. [Meanwhile Guy is sliding effortlessly back into socializing with Asch as if they'd never fought.]

[dissonates]

[Oh, Guy. You make it look far too easy. Unfortunately Asch is going to be tiptoeing around the issues for a while, so he shrugs quietly, turning away to climb down off the roof. If Guy wants to hang out then he can at least try. It's not like they hate each other, it's just...

...alright, it hurts. But hell if he's not going to try to fight tooth and nail against letting it show.]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[At the knock on his door, Asch looks up from where he's been writing some notes at his desk, his eyes narrowing slightly at the sound of Luke's voice. After a brief hesitation, he does respond, even if it's in part unwilling. He asked for this, so no backing out now.]

Come in.

[Action]

[fabrecation]

[No backing out now. Right. Luke tells himself that too before he opens the door and lets himself in. He takes a moment to glance around Asch's room - he doesn't get to be in here often, so he likes to see how he decorates his room - before he focuses on Asch.]

You... wanted to talk to me?

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Asch jots down the end of his last note before setting down the pen and facing Luke. He studies his replica for a moment before nodding his head.]

Shut the door. This isn't for anyone else to hear.

[And he watches; to see if Luke really hears him, to get a feel for whether or not he can explain himself properly without Luke missing a crucial word (or more).]

[Action]

[fabrecation]

[And Luke shuts the door obediently. Asch's voice doesn't sound like an echo from far away now; more like he's standing further away than he should be. Luke heard every word clearly - it's just a little fainter than he'd like for it to be.

He isn't really sure what to do right now - stay standing, which is a little more comfortable at the moment? Sit down somewhere? Where?]

[count-gardios.livejournal.com]

[Guy isn't naive enough to think Asch wouldn't still be somewhat upset or hurt -considering they were technically still split up- but he follows Asch without complaint, determined to keep his spirits up.

Into the kitchen and up to the fridge, Guy pulls out some ingredients and gets started on a baked lemon chicken dish. He feels better already.]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Asch makes it a little easier for him, gesturing him to come closer. That ought to at least ensure that he hears everything clearly, since it looks like he really can hear now. There's an extra chair at the desk, and the bed is also free; Luke can sit wherever he wants, since it's pretty clear that Asch doesn't care.]