dissonates | [Voice / Action]

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Natalia's gone back.

[And he's... not sure how he even feels about that, especially since it's the second time now. He's not the sort to broadcast his feelings on the matter anyway, so he'll leave it at that.]

[Locked to Dist - 75% Unhackable]

If you've prepared everything you need, it's about time we meet.

[Asch won't be around the house much today; he'll probably be home late. His main haunts today will be the Battle Dome, the library, (maybe a quick bite to eat in the plaza |D) and finally Good Spirits to ~~sulk~~ read a book in a tucked-away corner of the bar. ...Though the amount of reading may decrease depending on what he's drinking over the course of the evening...

Oddly enough, Star the cheagle will be tagging along with him over the course of the day.]

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[If Luke hadn't used Steel, he might have been successfully pushed back. But as it stands, he just grits his teeth and pushes forward, too, with the same objective in mind as Asch. Whether this was his own thought or if it was influenced by Asch, he doesn't know, but that doesn't really matter to him, anyway.]

[If Luke is too strong right now for Asch to push away, he opts to change tactics instead- after a moment, he abruptly lets himself fall roll backwards, allowing Luke's momentum to drag his replica forward so Asch can flip him away.]

[Luke definitely wasn't expecting that. He can't even react when he falls forward except to widen his eyes and let out a surprised noise. And the next thing he knew, there was pressure against his stomach, and the world violently turned upside-down.

Once Luke lands on his back, he stares ahead for a second, trying to figure out what just happened... But then he realizes that he's still in the middle of a spar, and one with Asch at that, so he rolls to his stomach, gets himself up into a kneeling position and tries for an arte that can be used to attack at all sides.

The arte is risky, sure, since it leaves him open to attack if it fails, but with that moment of being stunned by the flip, Luke figure that maybe Asch might be caught up in it. He spins, dragging his sword along the floor to create a circle of light - and a glyph appears beneath his feet as he jabs his sword into the floor.]

Guardian Field!

[... You're lucky she notices Star just now, so she's snatching that cheagle from you whether you like it or not. Even though her expression doesn't soften much.]

... I've been looking for him.

[Guardian Field, huh. Asch pays it little heed- in relation to his goal - namely, a decent injury - the damage it deals is fairly low. He continues charging forward, skidding to a halt just inside the circle and counters with Guardian, allowing the arte to protect him and take the brunt of the attack.]

[...That is not what he expected to happen.]

Looking for who, the cheagle?

[Once the arte finishes, Luke yanks his sword back, then swings it forward once again; as he's still kneeling, Luke is aiming for Asch's knees, if only to make him jump away and give Luke the opportunity to stand and be mobile again.]

[Asch curses inwardly and backsteps, but rather than just stand there and let Luke have a moment to recover, he slashes his sword through the air in front of him and then slams it down onto the ground, a blast of fiery fonons - Devil's Inferno - flaring upwards from the collision.]

Yes, and the rest of you as well. [It's rather easy to notice when no one else home, not even the cheagle.]

[For the small second of time that Asch gave him, and once Luke sees the attack he's going to make, he scrambles backwards, knowing that he can't possibly just stand up and run. Still, the outer part of the attack hits his cheek - and it burns, making Luke hiss, but it doesn't deter him.

Once he's out of range, Luke stands again, a light cringe on his face thanks to the results of the arte. Now that he's up, he'll go for another arte - Swallow Fury - and, if successful, will make Luke dart behind Asch and use a series of kicks to make him fly upward into the air.]

[Asch meets him halfway- the attack catches him initially, and he staggers back, struck by a number of the blows. He only manages to avoid being sent into the air - and thus losing control altogether - by kicking off the ground to flip away, backpedaling and keeping his sword lifted as he catches his breath. This is not going the way he'd planned. Why the hell is it going the same way as before? Just like in the real Eldrant...

Dammit, this is all wrong!]

[There's no stopping an arte unless it's forcefully broken, so Luke flies into the air for a little longer, then lands heavily on his feet and spins to face Asch again, panting lightly as a small stitch in his side begins to form. This wasn't like with Yuri - sure, he still tried hard, but this was Asch. Luke is pushing himself beyond how he'd normally spar, all because of the person he's fighting.

In an odd way, he's trying to say, through his actions, that he isn't as worthless as Asch might think.]

Well, you've found me. Good for you. And I'll ask again- what?

[He's clearly not overflowing with patience today. Less so than usual.]

Is it wrong to express some concern? [You may be 'used to it,' but Natalia is the first person she was close to to have left Luceti.]

[They're both tired, and it's probably starting to show. This is becoming a desperate battle, each of them seeking to prove something, either to themselves or the other, and even Asch can't tell who's doing what by now. He takes a step forward aggressively, as if to attack, and raises his sword, already mentally selecting the next arte to use.

He falters at the second step, though, when a sharp, stabbing pain in his chest forces him to a dead stop, and he lifts a shaky hand to his heart. Now? This is happening now? Ugh, it's all the replica's fault, isn't it-]

I don't need your sympathy. [Or anyone else's.]

[Luke had also moved forward with his sword raised, had also been selecting the next arte in his head, almost as if he wasn't the one making the decision at all, when his focus snaps entirely. What... What was happening? What was wrong with Asch?

The spar is completely forgotten as Luke lowers his sword and runs to Asch, stopping just a couple of feet away and lifting his hand towards him with uncertainty. Did he go too far? What was wrong with him?]

Asch? Asch, what's wrong?!

Edited 2011-02-14 08:43 (UTC)

[Oh Asch, you're hopeless.]

How are you doing?

[Asch doesn't respond at first, his body hunched, waiting in silence for the ache to fade away, as it usually did. Inwardly he was cursing, even as he pleaded for the sudden crippling weakness to vanish- the irony of it happening now, in front of Luke so soon after talking to Dist about it- was just as painful as the physical feeling.

Once it fades enough for him to move, though, Asch finds himself at a convenient distance from his unguarded replica. With his body the way it is now, and the both of them so tired, it would be sheer idiocy to not take advantage of this, so without another moment's hesitation he suddenly thrusts his sword forward, aiming for Luke's sword arm. Disarming him would be nice, too, but this kind of injury ought to end the fight here and now.]

[Yeah, maybe he is. At least he doesn't bother lying; Guy would just pry the truth out of him anyway.]

I'm alright. It's mostly the frustration of knowing it might happen again.

[If Natalia comes back - with no memories, to boot - the thought of having to explain their situation once more just pisses him off. He's tired of it.]

[Once Asch had hunched over, Luke raised both of his arms, even his sword arm, and leaned in a little closer, as if to try and hold Asch's shoulders or... something. He was worried, extremely so, because something was happening to Asch and Luke wasn't sure what it was.

But soon enough, Asch relaxes. Before Luke can, however, he's surprised by the sword slicing through the air and, unfortunately, a part of his arm. Not enough to cause him to lose feeling his arm or anything, but definitely enough for him to cry out loudly, drop his sword and fall to his knees, clutching his arm and feeling the blood seep through his fingers and down his injured arm.

He can't even think of why Asch did that; it just hurts.]

Yeah, there's that.

[Guy rubs the back of his neck.]

At least we know she's going back to a safe world.

If we're lucky, she won't remember what she went through here. [Though it's not like many people do. ...Still, it's worth hoping for.]

...you'd rather she think of you as dead?

...At least that way she won't wonder what's happening to me- or any of us. It's better if I'm dead and out of her mind.

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