dissonates | [Action / Accidental Voice]

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[Action / Accidental Voice]

[There isn't much less pleasant than waking up cold and alone, is there? Which is exactly how Asch finds himself this morning- on his own in a tent behind the battle dome, no longer an adult but rather regressed to the tender age of about 11. In his haste to get up and figure out what's going on, he knocks over the journal, and it catches his alarmed call as he opens the tent flap to find a lot of snow and not much else.]

...Master Van...?

[This isn't the cozy, temperate region of Daath, which is puzzling, because he knows he'd been in Daath the night before. Where, then...?]

Master Van!

[Had he been abandoned? No... Van had said he needed him! There must be a reason for this.

Not noticing the journal, Asch tucks the blanket around himself and starts shuffling out through the snow, wandering into the village in search of something - anything - familiar.]

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[Geez, so serious.]

It's a house in this village. [He should probably drop this bombshell now, though it might make Asch run off again. If worse came to worst he could drag him there kicking and screaming, but Guy would like to avoid that if at all possible.] ...your replica is there, too.

[Bombshell, indeed. Asch's expression darkens again at once, and he looks like he's deciding whether or not to bolt.]

I can't go there. Master Van... he says I can't ever meet him.

Van isn't here. I'm looking after the both of you, now.

[...Um. What.]

I don't understand... where is he...?

[ASCH WHY CAN'T YOU BE AS GULLIBLE AS LUKE.]

It's about as hard to explain as it is to explain why I'm bigger. [Mrrrph. Looks like he's not going to get out of this without lying, either. Oh well.]

Asch...Van told me what was going on. About how he was the one who kidnapped you, and about your Score. He told me to take care of the both of you until he gets back, but I need you to trust me.

[BECAUSE, OKAY. ...JUST. BECAUSE.

That explanation seems slightly more plausible than before, but... it's still questionable. If Van wanted him to be looked after, he'd have left Asch with the Oracle Knights, in the underground base like always. Handing him over to Guy to be with the replica didn't make sense at all.

Still... he's shaking even harder before, so maybe he should let Guy take him inside. He can always run away later if he has to. Reluctantly, he stands up at last, rubbing his arms.]

[FINALLY. Asch's lips are nearly turning blue though, so Guy hurriedly shrugs out of his jacket and holds it out for Asch to slip his arms into.]

Here, put this on.

[Asch cooperates again, slipping on the coat and huddling slightly in the warm and somewhat overwhelming material; it's far too big for him, but the way it shelters his bare skin and the remnants of Guy's body heat is enough of a comfort for him to ignore everything else. His eyes remain fixed on the ground though, still trying to grasp the situation. There's so many questions he needs to ask, and he intends to drill Guy for all the answers until he's satisfied.

One thing that worries him, though... can he trust Guy?]

[Asch looks about Luke's age -physical age, anyway- so Guy assumes he's past the age of holding hands as you walk. So instead he starts for home, waiting for Asch to walk alongside of him, and occasionally a puts a hand to his back when they have to turn or change direction.]

[Asch is tense under Guy's hand every time he's touched, hands clenching into fists in the long sleeves of Guy's jacket. Whatever happens, he's going to be strong. He will be strong. And surely Van will come back for him, right? Van needs him...]

[Once they reach the house, Guy shows Asch over to the couch and checks on Luke.

...dead asleep. Oh well, that meeting will have to be later.

Guy returns to Asch and jerks his thumb in the direction of the kitchen.]

You need something warm in you. Join me in the kitchen?

[Asch had been peering around the house in confusion while Guy was gone, still huddled in the coat. This is nothing like the manor, or Daath. And he's never seen know like this. At Guy's invitation, he slips off the couch and shuffles after him, looking warily about as if someone's going to jump out at him or something.]

...Are we in Keterburg?

Not quite. It's a village called Luceti. [Guy ushers Asch to the table and gets started on something warm for him.]

Tea or hot chocolate?

Never heard of it. [Asch's brows furrow again, puzzling over it. He knew all the cities and towns of Kimlasca, and most of Malkuth, so his lack of recognition didn't make sense. Unless it had been developed while he was in Daath... but that still didn't explain why he, Guy, and the replica were all here.

Belatedly he remembers Guy had asked a question, and adds,] Chocolate.

It's a little removed. [A lot removed. Like a whole different reality removed.

Guy fixes Asch some hot chocolate -puts in a drop of peppermint extract and some whipped cream on top for good measure- and places the mug in front of him on the table. God, they're both so cute at this age.]

Any preferences on what you'd like to eat? I remember how to make a lot of different things they had at the manor.

[Asch doesn't respond for a long moment, staring down at his chocolate, legs kicking idly beneath the chair. He scrutinizes the drink as if searching for something, then finally speaks up, still not looking at Guy.]

...Aren't you just going to kill me anyway?

[...oh dear. Van what were you doing telling such a young kid something like that?

Turning him against everybody, obviously.

Guy bows his head, rubbing the back of his neck.]

So Van told you.

[Guy shakes his head, then steps forward to Asch's side...where he lowers himself to a knee.]

I'm sorry.

[The words and the behaviour are enough to alarm Asch into looking at Guy again, eyes wide in disbelief. What... what was he doing!?]

Why... why are you sorry...?

[Guy shakes his head, keeping it bowed.]

I was wrong. It's true...that your father attacked my home, and it's true that I hated him for it. Still do sometimes, but that has nothing to do with you. I should never have put any blame on you for what your father did.

Please forgive me.

...I... I don't understand. [Asch slides off the chair, hands clenching into fists, and shoves Guy will all the might in his child body.] You're supposed to hate me! You wanted to kill me, right? Every day, all the time! Van told me! Get up and hate me!

[He sounds almost desperate.]

[Guy doesn't expect the shove so he staggers, but manages to catch himself and kneels in front of Asch again.

Every day? Van.]

No. I don't hate you.

[Asch trembles, nails digging into his palms. He wants to push Guy away again, but he can't bring himself to move.]

You have to... you have to hate me! It's so much easier if you hate me...! [If Guy hates him and really wants to kill him, that's even more of a reason to stay away from home! The replica can die in his place, either because of Guy or the Score, and he'll be with Van, and everything will be okay because he's needed, and...]

...I'm sorry. But I don't hate you. [Guy lowers his head again.] I'm sorry for lying to you, and I'm sorry if I hurt you.

[Asch draws a shaky breath, the simple act catching in his throat. He's not going to cry; he's determined, deadset on staying composed. He'd cried with Van. That had been enough. It's enough, right...?

Stop shaking, stop choking, he hates this...!]

[Guy looks up to search Asch's face, then lifts a hand and sets it atop Asch's head, stroking his hair just a bit. He doesn't say anything.]

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