dissonates | [Voice / Action]

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[Voice / Action]

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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[Guy blinks.] Star was the original?

Yeah. I didn't expect that, either. He said he died, and his replica was sacrificed to revive him.

[Guy's steps falter just slightly before he catches himself and smooths his stride.]

I see. I didn't know that.

[Asch is silent for a while, his own steps slowing, falling behind. This is the part he hasn't really wanted to think about, but... with it out, now, he can't help but dwell on it. Is this what his life has been leading up to all along? Is he doomed to be nothing more than Luke's back-up life?

Is his replica going to steal his existence from him again someday? And if it's here, he'll be revived, only for it to happen again and again...

What kind of life is that?]

[Yeah, noticing Asch doing that. Eventually Guy will stop and reach out to take hold of his arm.]

Asch.

[What can he say? He can't promise he'll fix things, or promise they'll find a cure for whatever this condition is. He can't promise anything except...

Guy slides his hand down to Asch's and laces their fingers together.]

I'll be right here the whole time.

[Asch doesn't resist, but he averts his eyes, visibly uncomfortable.]

I don't... want to make you go through that again. Once was enough.

Hah! Can't get rid of me with a weak excuse like that.

[Guy swings their arms a bit and takes a step, tugging Asch to goad him along.]

C'mon.

[A moment of hesitation - a brief one, at that - and then Asch relents, moving to walk beside Guy once again. He doesn't respond, but his grip on Guy's hand does tighten a little.]

[Guy will even take his book since he seems to be juggling Star, his tabard and the book in one arm now that Guy's commandeered the other for his own nefarious purposes.]

Hmm...what's this? ...is this fonic theory?

[Asch glances over to spot him checking at the book, and nods.]

It's a complimentary of one of the books from Daath that I got during that Christmas holiday. I found it at the library.

[Guy hums noncommittally as he examines the title.]

Is it difficult?

[Asch ponders that. He could offer up an explanation to make himself look smart. It's Dawn Age theory, after all, one of the pilfered texts he'd managed to collect over the years, whenever he'd confiscated a book from a particularly devout heretic. They were brilliant works, full of inspiring artes and technology that any fan of ancient times would love to spend hours pouring over and analyzing line by line.]

On the other hand...]

It's ridiculous.

[...He barely understood the most basic of chapters.]

Hahaha!

[Guy can't help himself; Asch's expression just makes him laugh. He swings their hands a bit more and hefts the tome.]

Well, I guess it would be a moot point for me to even attempt, huh? I'd be lucky to understand the first introductory paragraph.

...See for yourself if you want. [Actually, the idea sounds pretty amusing- to someone who wasn't a fonic arte-user, the theory behind it would probably be as confusing as- ...well, as confusing as a certain someone's fontech rambling. They're right by the house now, so there'd be no harm in reading a bit more, would there?]

Why don't I just borrow it after you're done? [Guy lets go of Asch's hand and holds the book out for him to take, opening the door.]

After that? No, I think we should read it together. [He does take it, though, heading inside. Gotta put Star to bed in his room first; he can pester Guy all he likes after.]

Whatever you want.

[Guy will make some tea then, since Asch seems determined.]

[A winner is he! Well, not that it's a particularly grand victory- but it is a little entertaining to imagine confusing Guy. Too often has he endured the fontech ramblings by now, so payback is going to be delicious.

A quick trip to his bedroom to deposit Star and his tabard on the bed, as well as to retrieve his journal notations, then back to Guy's to wait for him. The bedrooms are cozier and much warmer, after all. Now what is Guy doing that's taking so long 8|]

[When Asch doesn't return Guy goes looking for him and finds him in his bedroom.]

Oh, here- Geez. You're strange, Asch. [And he leaves to retrieve the tea from the kitchen and bring them both a large mug of it.] Why didn't you tell me you were coming in here? [He settles onto the bed beside Asch, holding the tea aloft delicately to avoid spilling it.]

...I didn't know you were making tea. [COMMUNICATION, AREN'T THEY GOOD AT IT. But whatever, tea is good. They need something to keep them awake if they're going to try and tackle a book written by the same guy who wrote the one that took even Jade all night to figure out.

He sets aside his notes, offering the book out to Guy and takes his tea instead.]

[Guy gratefully exchanges and flips the book open, turning a couple pages until he reaches the introduction. He begins to read.]

[And...has to go back and...read it again.]

[...and again.]

What the-

Is this Ancient Ispanian grammar? Am I missing something here?

I don't know, I always get lost when they throw in references to historical artifacts. I think those are supposed to be arte-enhancing weapons, but...

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