dissonates | [Action]

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[It's morning, and Asch is paying a visit to the smithy to look into getting his Maestro sword sharpened; it's been a while, and you can only do so much without giving it a proper filing. While he's there waiting for his request to be processed - or waiting for a free spot in the workshop to do it himself if necessary - he browses around the store at the new arrivals, wanting to check on what kinds of blades have shown up. And that's about when he stumbles upon something he definitely wasn't expecting to see.

So within a few hours, Asch can be found heading home through the snow with two swords, one at his hip and the other simply carried by his side, though he's careful with it, as if it's some kind of sacred weapon. He's looking for someone specific, but feel free to stop him en route to House 5 if you're around.]

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Asch. [Guy purses his lips.]

Oh no, lip-pursing. He's so intimidated.]

[...Goddammit.]

I don't know what to say to you now.

[Guy rests his head against the doorjamb, though it makes him feel small to do so. The appearance of his sword stirred up a few insecurities, and although it's the last thing Guy wants to say it's the first thing that comes out of his mouth.]

I've been doing everything I can to make you feel welcome. I've tried to talk with you, I've made all the kinds of foods you like; I don't push you or mess with you. I haven't brought up anything that might make you uncomfortable.

I don't know what else to do.

[Asch knows he's being difficult; it's been hard for him too, dealing with all the conflicting emotions and issues that have cropped up since their initial fight, and he is not good at this. At all. Nor is he very good at being accommodating. Obviously it's starting to wear them both down.]

...I can't just... pretend everything's fine. Not when we used to be... [Different. Closer.

...Like that.]

What did you expect when you asked me to come back here?

You said you'd wait for me.

Is this what you meant? Putting everything we had on hold?

[Slightly annoyed now, though it's out of frustration more than anything else.]

If you could tell me what kind of boundaries I should have, maybe I'd be doing a better job of this.

Why don't you tell me the boundaries you want.

Don't turn the question on me when you're the one who suggested doing this in the first place.

You're the one who tried to leave, Asch. You told me you wanted to get away from me- and you did, even if I had to push you to get you to do it.

I don't understand what you want from me. Why did you come back if you still didn't want to be near me? If I had any boundaries I wanted you to respect I'd have told you what they were. If I didn't want you around I wouldn't have asked you to come back at all.

[Guy buries a hand in his hair, making a noise of frustration.] Why are you waiting for me to make all the decisions? If you don't want me to do something, tell me not to do it.

[Asch is silent for a while at that, hands clenching into fists at his sides. Why did he come back? Why? It would've been better for everyone if he'd just stayed away. How can anyone expect him to deal with Guy's problems if he can't even deal with this properly?

He thought he could handle it, and this whole time he's been proving himself wrong. Dammit, dammit, dammit.]

...I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't. I don't know how to stop thinking about it, or to stop wondering what's okay and what isn't. I don't know how to go back to thinking of you as just... Guy.

[Guy stares at a spot just below Asch's chin instead of his eyes, hand working through his hair a few times as he sorts out what he wants to say.]

Then don't. I haven't gone back to thinking of you as "just Asch." I probably never will.

Then how am I supposed to act around you? What does "splitting up" even mean?

It means-...

[It means he's giving himself an ultimatum. He sighs.] It means I'm making a decision for you again.

That time when you packed up and left the house, what were you going to do if I hadn't tried to stop you?

...I don't know. Disappear for a while. Probably come back on my own when-

[When what? That's something he hadn't really asked himself before.]

...When I thought you'd have gotten over whatever it was, probably. Or when the replica came back.

You...

...you threatened to leave me because you thought I was throwing a tantrum?

That's not what I said.

You were going to leave and come back when I got over it. Got over what? Got over whatever had me upset at the time, or got over my habit of using you as an emotional punching bag?

I don't know, alright!? I just needed to get away before I lost it!

[Guy blows out a breath and gives Asch his back, rubbing his forehead and leaning against the doorjamb.]

...Asch, can I ask you something?

[Oh geez. Asch already has a feeling he isn't going to like this any more than he liked the first question.]

...What?

Why are you going through all this trouble if it's easier for you to just pack up and go? If that's what you prefer to do?

It's not- that's not what I prefer! I made a choice, and it was wrong. It's not the first time I've done it.

So what are you going to do about it then?

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