[Action]

[dissonates]

["I think you should sleep in your own room for a while, Asch."

He hasn't forgotten those words- despite Guy saying they're okay, they haven't exactly shared much living space lately. Since being banished from Guy's room, he hasn't spent a lot of time in the house, or speaking to anyone else in particular, really. Self-exile is one of his best talents, after all. And even though he can normally handle being on his own, he can't help but feel bothered by it- after all, it's Guy himself who told him it wasn't healthy, the last time they fought. It's the only thing that's kept him from outright leaving the house.

Eventually, he's had enough, though, so early this morning he heads to Guy's room, knocking briefly as a pointless warning before opening the door and peering in, calling out as he does so.]

Guy? We need to-

[.........................................SOMETHING IS AMISS.]

Comments

okay then |D

[fabrecation]

[Once Asch lets go of him, Luke rubs the back of his neck and turns his head to look back at him. Just from Asch's posture alone, Luke can tell that he knows something about what's going on. Normally, he'd just get the hell out of there after something like that, but... He honestly looks frustrated and kind of sad. And Luke hates seeing his original like that. Not only that, but... those two are in a relationship. He doesn't want to see them fall apart over something he doesn't even know about.

Before he can speak up, though, Asch starts to move. Well, Luke isn't going to let him get away, so he follows after him, remaining silent until they reach the kitchen.]

Asch... do you know why Guy's so mad?

[dissonates]

[Asch falters in mid-step, very briefly, then continues wordlessly until he reaches the kettle, putting it on and getting some tea for himself.]

...He's mad at me.

[And the rest is left unsaid: it's none of your business.]

[fabrecation]

[Except it is his business. Luke stops a few feet away to watch what he's doing, and he waits a second or two for some elaboration... buuut isn't surprised when he doesn't get one.]

But you didn't do anything... [Well. Nothing that's unexpected from a Fabre, anyway.]

[dissonates]

You don't know that. [Asch's response is quick, curt, and leaves no room - in his mind, at least - for misinterpretation or more questions. Guy never gets mad without a reason, and it's usually a good one.]

[fabrecation]

... You're right; I don't know that. And I'm sick of being left in the dark, Asch! Just what the hell happened between the two of you?

[dissonates]

[Asch's gaze flickers to his replica, eyes narrowing sharply.] It's none of your damn business, you dreck! Stay out of it!

[fabrecation]

[Luke clenches his fists at his sides, his own eyes narrowing a little.] It is my business, damn it! We're all living in the same house, you're both my friends and I don't want to see you two fall apart because of something that happened! Can't you see I want to help?

[dissonates]

You don't see me getting involved in every little thing that happens with you and your little girlfriend, do you?

[DISTRACTIONS DISTRACTIONS]

[fabrecation]

[sld'fkjas;dfjiojads;oj

Luke sputters at that and turns absolutely RED. That certainly threw him off, but he's determined to not be deterred, so he shakes his head to get his act together.]

How did-ugh, never mind, I don't want to know. But I do know that if something like this ever happened to us, I'd want someone to talk to and ask for help. I know I wouldn't want to be alone, so... I don't want you to be, either!

[dissonates]

That's another difference between you and me, then. I don't want to talk. I don't want your help! Now leave me alone! Go talk to Guy if you want to help so badly, he listens to you.

[...Okay, maybe he's a little bitter. Still.]

[fabrecation]

I don't want to talk to Guy. [Because Guy is mad at Asch so his side of the story will be colored by that. He wants Asch's side... even if it is similar to pulling teeth.] I don't want him to listen to me, I want him to listen to you!

[Luke takes in a breath, shuts his eyes, then opens them again and loosens his fists a little.]

And if he won't, then I will.

[dissonates]

[Ugh, seriously? Does he really have to put up with this? The last thing he needs is Luke getting involved. Even if he thinks he'll be helping... by taking Asch's side he'll just end up making it worse. Does his stupid replica not understand that Guy already has issues with the way they talk? Or the fact that Luke's protectiveness of Asch - bizarre and out of nowhere as it is - pisses him off?

Granted, this Luke hasn't experienced the Tower of Rem yet. But Asch knows; Asch remembers.]

Telling you won't change anything. He'll still be angry, I'll still be angry, and then you'll be involved. There's no point.

[fabrecation]

[Luke just... sighs at that. Even if there's no point, he still wants to help somehow, even if it means just listening and helping try to figure out what's going on here. He doesn't like just sitting aside and doing nothing; not only does it make him feel useless and helpless, but... he saw the looks on their faces when they glared at each other - he doesn't want to come home one day and find that they fought like that again.

Luke wants to try something, anything. Even... Even if this is all he can do, at least it's something.]

What if I promise to not get involved? I'll back out and let you two handle it. I just want to know what happened, that's all.

[Then again, if it is something he needs to talk to Guy about...]

[dissonates]

[Asch scoffs at that. Promises. They don't mean anything to him, no matter who they're from. Not anymore, anyway. Least of all in a place like Luceti, where anything can be made to happen.

The kettle starts to boil, and he looks away from Luke, standing up and getting himself a mug. Tea first. Then he can pack up. Maybe if he gets rid of Luke before he finishes, no one even has to know he's going. ... Get it over with, then.]

During the last experiment I was with someone else. That's all.

[...Okay, not exactly all. It's kind of a lot.]

[fabrecation]

[And, again, Luke waits for some more elaboration. ... This time, he's surprised that he doesn't get any.]

... Wait, that's it? But... But everyone was with someone else!

[dissonates]

Everyone is not in a relationship with Guy.

[What the hell do you mean, "that's it"? How is that not enough!?]

[fabrecation]

But it was an experiment! I mean- I wouldn't have told Xion... anything if it weren't for that! And you- and he knows people who were in relationships were with other people too!

[This doesn't make sense. It was an experiment! Guy's more rational than this. He's been in Luceti far longer than Luke, so why the hell is he reacting like this?]

[dissonates]

You asked me what happened and I told you. What, do you think I'm lying? [God, it was hard enough to tell you that one little thing. Do you have to act like it's trivial when it's completely ruined everything?]

[fabrecation]

No! I just... I don't get why he's so mad at you for something you didn't have any control over! I mean, wasn't he with someone too? [Because Luke is pretty damn sure he was, and that's just hypocritical of him.]

[dissonates]

He didn't mention anyone. [Asch pauses as he stirs his tea, brows furrowing as he thinks for a moment. Then he glances over at Luke, puzzled.] Why?

[fabrecation]

[Luke frowns deeply and stares down at the floor. What the hell, Guy... Luke had always prided himself in feeling like he knows what Guy's thinking at times, but right now? He has no idea at all. And whatever Guy's thinking, it's hurting Asch. Damn it.]

Guy was gone just as much as the rest of us. He didn't even make us any food, Asch. When has he ever done that? [He'd wake up and there'd be no breakfast. Not even any lunch. And just for that week, too.

There's no way Guy wasn't with someone. At least, that's what Luke thinks.]

[dissonates]

[.....That's... true enough, but kind of hard to prove. Guy spends an awful lot of time at the bar, and it's not like Asch was around enough to say that Guy wasn't around.

Still... it's a little suspicious, isn't it. At the same time, he doesn't want to believe it- because that would mean that Guy's angry with him for doing the same thing he did. And that...

...is not the first time Guy's blamed him for something that wasn't his fault. Or taken his issues out on Asch. Or lie to him. Or lie to both of them. Or... hide everything because it's easier.

It takes the overspill of the tea - and prompt burning of his own hand - to make him realize he's shaking.]

[fabrecation]

[It's that little noise that makes Luke look up - and to see what happened, with the tea spilling over and over Asch's hand, and the trembling...

Luke purses his lips and narrows his eyes, partly because he's frustrated and confused over the whole situation, and partly because he's not sure what he should do now. Asch is upset... More than he's ever seen him be. Luke had never been good at things like this - oh, he'd try, but his words would never quite reach and he'd know it. Maybe it's because he's a replica... maybe it's because he never did understand things like that. Maybe that's why he always found it so much easier to talk to Xion...

Regardless, Luke can't just stand there. He takes a couple of steps to be closer, to look up (up, Luke will never get over the fact that Asch is a couple of inches taller than him) at him and hesitantly reach out to rest his hand on Asch's shoulder.]

Asch... [But what exactly is he supposed to say? He can't just tell him to talk to Guy again - Guy might not listen or maybe cause another fight. He can't say it'll be okay, not when he doesn't know if it'll be okay.]

It's not your fault. [That's all he can come up with, but he wants Asch to know it, too. Who knows, he might have spent this whole time thinking that it was. But from what Luke has heard... it wasn't at all.]

[dissonates]

[The hand on his shoulder is irritating, and he shrugs to try and lift it off, but the words irritate him even more. Not his fault? He's the guilty party here, even if Guy did end up with someone else. Asch broke off the relationship. Asch got engaged, not that he's going to tell Luke that. Just what about this isn't his fault?

Even if it was the Malnosso... he let it go too far. He went out of control.

....but...

Why... why hadn't Guy told him...?]

This is why I didn't want you to know.

[fabrecation]

[Luke lifts his hand away, and he shuts his eyes over Asch's tone. There he went again, not reaching the people he cared about.]

I'm sorry... [He opens his eyes to pull the tea away and pour out the excess into the sink, leaving enough for a proper cup of tea and putting it back near Asch.] I promised I wasn't going to get any more involved, so... I'm not. [Even if he wants to listen to Guy about this so desperately, to try and figure out what he's thinking...]