Appointments Post

[dissonates]

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[relinquishing]

Who knows.

[It's casual, even as he lets himself lean back, elbows propping him up, one ankle crossing the other. Maybe it's a stark contrast to how uncomfortable Asch is, but really, Guy's just good at hiding it.]

There's a lot of things that people think are impossible. I think that's why you have to just... try for yourself.

[For years, he thought retribution would not come until blood had been shed. Now that he was here, that death already on him like a brand, it was startling how little it solved. Maybe because he really had moved on. Maybe because the action wasn't entirely his own. But for a long time, he thought that anything but revenge would be impossible.

And yet, this is where life had led them.]

[dissonates]

[He's not a big fan of trying. He's not particularly good at it, and it tends to end in either failure or outright exploding in his face. It's hard to be optimistic when you've led the kind of life he has.

For Guy to suggest it, though - and to him especially - is enough to give him reason to pause and think about it, though. At least consider the possibility. The potential, even. It's not like he could ever expect a miracle, or a return to what he had before. He wouldn't want it even if it could happen. (The damage it had caused? Once was enough.) But...

...friends...

...Ha. Best to wait and see if "acquaintance" sticks, first.]

I'm not very good at this, you know.

[relinquishing]

You didn't used to be that good with a sword, either.

But you still practiced.

[An ancient memory, but still a true one. It really was one of the many things the two Fabre shared. Whether it was because of the time Van poured into them, the rush, the praise, or the power, both worked as hard as they could when it came to the sword. For very different reasons, sure, and yet they were both skilled fighters now.

It's a simple implication. If Asch could try that, then he could try this as well.

Guy trying it... yeah, that would be interesting enough. But delving into his personal reasons isn't a smart option. Besides, at least he bothered to call himself friendly or at least act the part when necessary. Asch either didn't have that luxury or didn't care enough to pursue it.]

[dissonates]

...You want me to practice... being a person?

[That sounds like, at the same time, both the most ridiculous and yet most legitimate suggestion he's ever received.

And he has no idea whatsoever how to utilize it. As usual.

Ugh.

...He can't believe Guy remembers all of that, though. He noticed that?]

[relinquishing]

[He notices a lot more than you might have thought, Asch. Whether he'd be bothered to talk about or not, though? Good luck.

Meanwhile he is going to try and fail to hold back a sputtered laugh. Sure, okay, that was kind of what he was saying. But the way he put it wasn't exactly what he was going for.]

Does it matter what I want you to do?

[His palms are up for a moment before Asch can bother to get huffy about that.]

If it's not something you're good at, and you want to get better, you have to get yourself involved in some way. Sitting and thinking and worrying about what to do or not do isn't going to change much, except make you worry even more about the "what-if's".

The only way to beat that is to do something. So yeah. You could call it practice.

[dissonates]

[Asch's response, after a pause, is a somewhat indignant snort, and the very beginnings of a fractured smile as he glances off to the side. Practice being a person. Or, perhaps more literally - and comfortably to consider, since the alternative would be like saying that he isn't a person now, in which case, screw you - practice being with people. Which is what Guy had wanted from him, last time.

"Does it matter what I want you to do?"

...Heh. Well.]

I work at the bar. Do you know why?

[If there's ever a place to "practice", it's a social setting. And there's still some nights where he'd love to set the whole place on fire and walk away, but he hasn't quit yet. That's something.]

[relinquishing]

Lost a bet, maybe?

[It's said with a shrug, far from a serious response and staying open enough to let the redhead explain himself. Of course he doesn't know why. Seeing Asch actively working in a place like that wasn't what Guy would have expected, sure, but he could say without a doubt that the redhead wasn't doing it for fun. Really, the whole time Guy had been in there tonight, Asch barely shifted from his regular sour demeanor.

Sure, that could have been because of him being there in the first place, but he'd rather throw that idea out the window for right now.]

It's not work I'd picture you enjoying.

[dissonates]

[His first remark earns Guy a bit of a glower (again), but somehow Asch manages to shrug it off. It's actually easier, with Guy acting a bit more like he's used to, rather than the glaring, hateful version he'd experienced last time around. And at the same time, it's almost too much to endure; he keeps catching himself before he responds too flippantly, or even playfully- like they were already friends instead of just not enemies. A behavioural turn-around like that would just make him look suspicious and stupid. Or worse, like Luke.

He doesn't want either of those.]

It has its moments, for good or ill. But the one who convinced me to try it was you.