dissonates | [Voice / Action]

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[Voice / Action]

[Voice; Filtered 100% to the Abyss cast (sans Van)]

Van is here.

He's not an immediate threat, but you should know.

[With the announcement dealt with (and perhaps an intermission with the replica) Asch heads out, his goal being the south end of the village. He has a certain house he needs to visit.

And Luke should be doing the very same thing :|a]

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Oh, did you?

[Asch's gaze falls briefly on the tin, eyes narrowing a little. He's not here for tea, dammit, and she doesn't have to treat him...]

Stella, if you tell people they could just seek him out. That would make things a lot worse than it is now. Let him see Luceti for what it is and maybe he'll-

[He pauses there, trailing off. What the hell was that? Wishful thinking? Van's not going to change his mind about anything, Score or no Score. He's just as untrustworthy as he ever has been. Idiot, idiot...]

[ARRRRRRGH WHY DOES HE EVEN BOTHER. Back to walking for the door. Seriously, why did he stop last time?]

Mm... You're right. I'll keep it to myself, then.

[She sets the sketch on the counter. Stella caught that moment he trailed off, and she can guess where he was going with that.

For the moment she abandons the tea to go to him, and she brings a hand up... lets it hover over his chest for the tiniest of seconds before she changes paths, until she lays her hand on his upper arm.]

... Will you be all right?

[... A certain redhead needs to learn to choose his words better.]

That almost implies that this man would otherwise try to communicate with me if I did know who he was.

Goodbye!

[Very fortunately for Asch, after she calls her farewell, she doesn't follow.]

[His gaze lowers to where her hand rests, and he has to resist the urge to withdraw. It's... not like it's bothersome, but since Van's arrival he's begun to wonder if he should just withdraw from everyone to try and keep them safe. Despite him telling Luke that they can't let Van disrupt their lives, it... really would be safer, in the long run. There was really no telling what Van would try to do in order to win him over, twisted as the commandant's mind seemed to be now. And taking away everything Asch ever loved had worked the last time...

Deep down, he knows that Van isn't stupid or reckless, but the risk alone is worrisome. He closes his eyes, turning his head away before he opens them again. Suddenly the tea kettle is very interesting.]

I'll be fine. I doubt he'll hurt me if I don't attack him first.

[He knows that's probably not what she was asking, but... even he's not sure how he really feels. How can he even think to answer?]

[He's preoccupied, but oh well.]

I'm not going to deny that that's the case.

Of course. [It'd be a rather terrible thing if she were to find out some other way. To suddenly see her brother here would be pretty shocking, all things considered.]

Do you know what he intends to do? If anything, that is.

[There was, after all, the smallest possibility that Van wouldn't have to be their constant enemy here. But this was Van they were talking about...]

Van isn't the type to be up-front about his plans. [Unfortunately. He'd like to know what Van's going to do as much as the rest of them - if not more, since he's pretty certain that any plans will involve him - but it's too early to know for sure.] It's likely that he'll stay close, though.

[ It doesn't. Just a few moments later she breaks it off, though she doesn't let go of him and actually rests her forehead against his, trying to control her breathing. ]

I won't. [ Her voice is much stronger -- surer. ] I won't let him take you back. I don't care how many times I have to say it or -- or how many kisses it takes. [ Her voice falters, just a bit -- if he were able to lean back and get a good look he'd see she suddenly flamed bright red. What did she just do...?!

Focus, Xion! ] You really are a good person, Luke. Or you wouldn't care... remember? You'd be like him. And ... there's no way you're anything like him at all. Don't ever forget that.

[Well, if Xion were to look at him, she'd see a matching color across Luke's face. Did they really just...?!

Focus, Luke, focus! He keeps his eyes shut and one hand still in her hair, just breathing... and listening. That's... That's right. They talked about this once, after he told her about... that day. The reason why Van is weak, and why Luke is stronger than this. Because... he can care, while Van only cares for his own goals. Everyone else is just... a puppet. After all... Van was able to smile at the face of thousands of people meeting their deaths.

Maybe he can fight this after all. It's... tentative; he knows the power his master has. But it's not so hopeless now, at least.]

I don't... want to be like him. I used to, before... everything. But I can't do it now.

[He does lean his head back, only to duck it a little lower.] All my life I thought Master Van was... the only person who understood me at all. He was my teacher, and I... I really looked up to him.

[He shakes his head, the hand in her hair idly sliding down to the back of her neck.] I... don't think I do anymore. Not at all.

[ Slowly -- somewhat sheepishly -- she untangles her fingers from his hair, gently carding through it before letting her hands slip down to rest on his chest. Once he moves his head a little, she lets her arms slip further, so she can circle them loosely around his waist instead. ]

That's ... probably what he wanted you to think. [ Very gently. ] But you're not alone anymore, Luke. You'll never be alone again. And your friends -- they're the ones who understand you, and love you, too. Van ... I don't think he could do that, for anyone.

[Despite her best efforts, his hair is still a little messy thanks to her gripping onto it. Hers probably is, too, but Luke's not looking at that right now.

Instead, his eyes come up to meet hers, though something about it seems shy. Their kissing earlier left him both like that and just slightly dazed. But after a moment, he leans forward a little to bring his balance off of his hand, to give him the freedom to circle his arms around her neck, rest his forehead against hers again, and let out a sigh.]

I've never felt more... [real.] like myself - like Luke until I met everyone here. You, and Miyabi, and Paprika and... and everyone else.

[His lips quirk up into a smile, his first one since he arrived at her house.]

I think I'll be okay with everyone here. [And you.]

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