[Action] (backdated to the 18th)

[dissonates]

[Since this happened, Asch hasn't been entirely sure what to do with himself. He eats breakfast, he reads a little. He wanders through the village for a while, aimlessly and calm despite the bad news. It's a normal day. A nice day, even. Luceti is blissfully aware of his loss, and he likes it that way. There is no house to burn, no alcohol to waste, no friend to garner comfort from. There's the village, and there's the memories, and there's that coldness in his heart creeping up again. As usual. It's just another going-home situation, and that's become typical of this place. Maybe people are happy. She's gone back. She's free.

She's dead.

He needs to hit something, so he goes to the Battle Dome for a while. Normal. Everything is normal.

Eventually he'll make his way north- first to House 34, to get whatever Norma has for him. Then he moves on to the cherry blossom trees beyond the edge of the village. And then, finally, he finishes his wandering in the woods not far from the 2nd apartment building, tucked under a tree with a pad of paper and a few pieces of charcoal. He'll be there until the sun gets too low to see.

After that, well... who knows. But he won't return to the apartment until well after dark.]

Comments

[dissonates]

[PERSONAL SPACE INVASION THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. Asch takes a step back - gritting his teeth and telling himself it's a defensive move, not a retreat - and rests his hand on the hilt of his sword. There are a lot of things he could say to that.

But he's in a terrible mood, and that's making him feel rather antagonistic, so instead of simply scowling, a slow smirk crosses his expression.]

Looked familiar, didn't it.

[faterecanted]

[Trying to escape? Van certainly can't allow that. He takes another step forward, aiming to back Asch up against the wall.]

Don't think you can toy with me, Asch. Not today.

[dissonates]

[Asch steps back as Van does, and when he feels the brush of the wall against the heel of his boot, he stops, choosing instead to stand his ground.]

And what makes today so different?

[It can't be any worse than the day he's having, right?]

[faterecanted]

Today, I'm under no compulsion to humor you.

[Asch may stand his ground, but Van just leans in closer. He may not tower over Asch quite as much as he once did, but that certainly isn't going to deter him. That isn't the only factor in intimidating someone into submission.]

[dissonates]

[Van you are a jerk, did you know that? Between them, there's a sudden click as Asch starts to lift the sword from his sheath. Might want to get some distance between you there, commandant.]

Neither am I.

[faterecanted]

[Oh, Asch. Certainly you don't think he's stupid enough to leave an opening and get slashed across the stomach, do you? What kind of idiot would allow something like-- oh. Oops.

He doesn't back up. Giving Asch room to swing would do him no good. He does make a grab for his own sword, half-drawing it and pulling it across his body to parry any strikes.]

Put it away, Asch.

[dissonates]

[Ahahahaha SHUT UP.

Asch makes no move to sheath the sword, taking a step forward so that his blade grinds quietly against Van's. You first.]

What do you want, if not a fight?

[faterecanted]

[Van flashes him a truly nasty smile; and then thrusts his arm forward, pivoting the flat of his blade to shove Asch back.

Thanks for the leverage.]

You're not capable of giving me one.

[dissonates]

[Asch's back is forced against the wall this time, but he swallows back the pained grunt it might've dragged out of him otherwise. He won't give Van the satisfaction. And speaking of leverage, rather than accept the handicap of being trapped, Asch uses the wall to help him push back against Van, leaning forward a little to glower properly. Stop being so tall, you bastard.]

You're a fool if you still believe that.

[faterecanted]

[Van pushes back, angles his sword to trap Asch's underneath it and leans over the blades. He's so close, Asch can probably feel the warmth of his breath.]

You're hardly proving otherwise.

[dissonates]

[Asch grimaces, but he holds his ground, not allowing Van's proximity to intimidate him. Even with the blades drawing closer and closer to his throat, he won't be giving up here.]

The arena's right behind us. I can easily fix that.