dissonates | [Video]

[It's early afternoon. The journal flies open and turns on abruptly in mid-air, a blast of resonating energy having blown it away from where it had been placed. As it flies, a few flashes of red, white, and black are visible, and when it lands, Asch and Luke are in the distance, swords clashing, the rec center just beyond where they're fighting. Occasionally they'll exchange commentary, but none of it seems to filter in.

The resonating noise continues, though, and as their swords clash one more time, it seems to grow even louder than before, until finally one shout rings clear-]

Pull back you dre-

[And before he can even finish, an explosion of light flares between them, and two identical cries of alarm are the only sound that filters through that eerie resonance. The light spreads, flaring outwards and sending the journal flying backwards, cutting off the feed.

The light is probably visible to most of the village as a single beam of light flying up towards the barrier and disappearing from sight. And there is a nice big crater in the forest just south of the rec center, where pretty much anything in that location - trees, bushes, grass, whatever - has... pretty much been decimated. A journal bearing Asch's name on the cover is sitting in the grass just outside of the crater, looking pretty ripped up and charred. The scene overall probably looks pretty dooming, especially since neither of the redheads are anywhere to be found.

[ooc: most responses will come from Luke, though Asch will chime in as well when he can!]

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[Asch has been in the background ~~skipping stones~~ ~~building a sandcastle~~ ~~drowning himself to escape the sap~~ wringing and airing out his clothes, so he's in the middle of dragging on an open tunic as they pull apart, catching his attention.]

Are you finally done?

[Luke gives her one last smile, also feeling much better, and takes his attention elsewhere to notice Asch ~~stripping OH GOD~~ airing out his clothes. ... Ah, that's right, he should... probably dry off, too.

He swallows for the umpteenth time, and he can't help coughing afterwards. Uuugh, he needs some water or something... even though he isn't sure why, considering he just had a bunch of water forced down his throat. Once he's done, he heads over to grab the second towel and ruffle it through his hair.]

Yeah, we're done. [And he lifts his head again-]

Edited 2011-05-29 01:29 (UTC)

[... And notices those scars on Asch's chest. They're huge and ugly, and it makes Luke stop what he's doing and stare with wide eyes.

He didn't have those scars.

What happened to Asch?]

[ Xion just steps back to wait, hands clasped behind her back. Though that cough is a little bit of a concern... he was just out in the ocean. Maybe he swallowed some water. She doesn't think too much of it.

In fact, she glances back out over the water while she waits, only turning back when Luke speaks--

--and gets that look on his face. Her eyes widen oh so slightly, and she looks between him and Asch, startled. ... is there ... something strange, here? ]

[Since Luke doesn't show any notable reaction, Asch finishes fixing his shirt and slings the towel over his shoulder, heading over to them.]

We need another portal to go back, right? Show us how to use it.

[Luke's even slightly pale over this. They weren't... recent, but... Those had to be horrible wounds. As if...

... But calling attention to them would only cause a fight, and he doesn't want to drag Xion in the middle of it. So, he swallows again, clears his throat and looks away, ruffling his hair again, though slowly and almost mechanically. He'll just... try to pretend that he didn't see that for now. Pretend things are okay. Yeah... They had to get back. Not be distracted by this.]

[ For a moment, she does not respond, simply looking at him, then at Luke, then back at him.

... were the scars what Luke was staring at? They mean very little to her. He got hurt badly, once. Maybe he died, like she did. Would it be so strange? They all have scars... and secrets. If there's some further significance, it's certainly none of her business.

Finally she only nods. ]

It's simple.

[ She lifts a hand, looking down the beach, and a few feet away that swirling oval of darkness reappears. ]

All you have to do is walk through. You'll be in darkness for a little bit, but once you come out the other side you'll be in front of your community housing building.

[After a second glance, Asch notes that Luke is uncomfortable and, just as quickly, dismisses it entirely. He turns his gaze on the portal ahead, and without showing any indication of discomfort or fear, he steps past them and marches right into it, disappearing from sight. Maybe he trusts Xion, or maybe he just doesn't care what happens- it's probably difficult to tell, and he's certainly not going to let it show.

....Really, really weird sensation, though, to suddenly be standing in a completely different place after passing through that. The teleporters in Daath are nothing like it.]

[Maybe Asch got them in the past... a horrible battle, maybe - just the thought of Asch being hurt that badly makes Luke feel sick. And the other thought in his mind... that Asch might be - like Ion -

No. No. He can't be... Asch was - Asch was supposed to stay alive and come back to Baticul and take his rightful place and return to his real parents who are so worried and concerned about him - Luke can't lose him, he -

He's stopped scrubbing and has been digging his fingers into his scalp since Asch turned his back on him. It takes Luke blinking and seeing sand at his feet to remind himself of where he is and what's going on, and he looks back to see that the portal is still there, and Asch is gone... they were probably both waiting on him.]

... Oh. Sorry... [He wraps the towel around his shoulders, takes in a breath (which results in a light cough), keeps his eyes to the ground and walks through the portal. The first few times he went through these, he ended up falling flat on his face. But he's gotten... somewhat used to it, enough to save his pride and stay standing once he gets out of the portal.

Asch couldn't have died. That's that. It was just a few bad wounds... That's all.]

[ Luke leaves before she can say anything -- and she had wanted to say something. He looks so upset.... she has to chew her lip and get control over her sudden, deep worry before heading through the portal herself.

... well. She's going to have to talk to Asch, isn't she? ]

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