[Action]

[dissonates]

[Missions suck as much as, if not moreso than, the drafts. Asch has decided this. It's not just that he'd been sent on an uncomfortably-outnumbered solo mission, it's not just that his health problems had reared their ugly heads in the middle of it and nearly gotten him killed, it's not just he'd had to rely on luck and skill to keep him alive with zero ability to heal himself despite being a Seventh Fonist.

No, at this point, mostly? It's the fact that once it's all over, and the Malnosso saw fit to send him back to the village, he finds himself floundering underwater.

Bastards, is his second thought, since his first is a string of expletives that would do a sailor proud. Thankfully he's only a couple of feet or so from where his feet can touch solid ground, so within a minute he's slogging towards the shore, soaking wet and pulling seaweed from his hair. Damn. Bastards.

Not that the shore is much better. There's apparently something going on - the usual love experiment, no doubt - and he's managed to get dumped right in the middle of it. They probably did that on purpose. He can't do anything while soaked as he is, though, so his first order of business is to get changed. There isn't much selection, but within a few minutes he's got his uniform hung out to dry and is wearing a suit and a long, dark blue bathrobe. It's humiliating, but it's better than freezing to death back in the village.

Since he has to wait for his clothes and hair to dry in the sun, Asch will be hanging around the beach area, available for chatting, fruity goodness, and whatnot. Come and bother the cranky one! (He is unaffected by the normal love stuff, btw.)]

Comments

[dissonates]

A little. [Asch pauses, and then glances suspiciously at the fruit scattered over the beach.] ...You're not going to suggest I eat those, are you?

[herotypical]

Because the job description is to protect the world from vampires, demons, and the forces of evil. Human baddies? Well -- I let the human authorities take care of that.

[dissonates]

Since your job is a secret, I assume you'd be punished for indiscriminate killing anyway.

[Just an educated guess. Something like that isn't so different from the cities in Auldrant, after all.]

[fabrecation]

It really is... [Luke doesn't seem all that bothered, either. He stands up, a bowl of strawberries in hand as he wanders over to the piano. He stands before it, just. Examining it for a moment. This is suspicious. This might be a trap.

...

But he doesn't seem to care much, as he sits down at the bench and sets the strawberries beside him. He tries out a few practice notes, and he can't help shutting his eyes. Wow, the tuning of this piano is even better than the one at Seventh Heaven...

He glances back at Asch. There's a... small memory, from before, when they were brothers. Maybe... Maybe Asch will remember.

So, Luke looks forward, takes in a breath, and begins to play a song.]

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

[Don't worry, because he's not going to be moving much at all. He's quite comfortable where he is.

... maybe a little TOO comfortable, because it won't be long before he starts to doze off. Whoops.]

[herotypical]

...Indiscriminate killing should be something avoided for more than just dodging the strap. I protect people -- kinda hard to do that when you're killing them.

[dissonates]

[It only takes a couple of chords, and Asch does remember. Normally he might be irritated by how easily the memory comes to mind, actually, but right now the music only brings to mind nostalgia, and the very faintest traces of a smile. So Luke still plays it. He doesn't remember how he composed it, but he does know that it's his.

He's not a music fan. Not at all, not with the memories it brings. This memory, though... it's okay.

He listens for a little while, not breaking the sound with movement or words. Then he quietly pulls the sketchbook and charcoal from the drawer, returning to the couch. He looks at Luke, then down. Then at Luke again. Pauses.

And then he starts to draw, letting the music guide his hand.]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[And Asch... just lets him. Because right now, Emil's not annoying or invasive or anything. He's just a friend. A tired friend, apparently.

And that's okay.





...At least until the fruit wears off...]

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

[Plz to not be dumping him on the ground or anything when that happens, okay. It's not his fault. :(

But for now, he's just going to be enjoying a little nap right here with his friend.]

[dissonates]

[Asch shrugs.]

That's a morality issue, though, not any sort of obligation or duty.

[herotypical]

I once...thought that I'd killed a girl. Even by accident. It didn't feel just like a morality issue. I knew I'd done something wrong.

[dissonates]

[Wrong to kill, huh...

...haven't felt that for a long time.]

It's a non-issue for you because of those beliefs, but it still comes down to your morals against someone else's. Another person might see an accidental death as excusable and dismiss it.

i made this icon just for you

[fabrecation]

[In the times Luke played this in the past, in the memory where Asch would sit next to him and listen to him play, he'd mess up a couple of times. Maybe go a little slower than intended. He remembers how Asch would scoff, yet ruffle his hair and tell him he'll get it.

Now Luke plays it without skipping a note, nor straying from its intended pace. Even the more difficult part is played with expertise, as if Luke has been practicing this and piano playing in general for quite a while. Even though Van's started working at Seventh Heaven, it still hasn't stopped Luke from visiting on occasion to play the piano. Sometimes this song will come up, and it always takes him back to that time.

It was nice, being brothers... Being as close as they were.]

[meritocracy]

..I suppose you do. [she glances around them warily]
No matter how harmless this place looks..I suppose I too, have learned better.

o rly I made this sketch just for you too

[dissonates]

[It's well-played. Asch nods to acknowledge this, still not speaking; the idea of interrupting the song just feels wrong, now. Maybe it's the music that's making him feel so at ease now, which is unusual, or maybe it's the fruit, or maybe he's simply in a good mood today. Either way, he's content. He might even be smiling a little by the time Luke's done playing.

When he's finished sketching, though, he ends up with a piece a little something like this albeit with more skill and detail due to mun fail: simple, technical, not particularly lively, but with more heart than most of his human sketches have. It's more akin to the work he'd done when coached by Miyabi, only this time he'd done it himself.

...Huh.]

[dissonates]

It doesn't take long to stop trusting what you see in this place.

[An unfortunate truth, but a truth nonetheless. Luceti has a habit of sucking when you really don't want it to.

...Still, it is really tasty looki- NO, NO, DON'T LOOK AT IT.]

[meritocracy]

..Hm? Something catch your eye? [she glances over at him]

[dissonates]

N... no. Just- that fruit. I don't see why everyone is so fascinated with it.

[Why does his gaze keep wandering in that direction? Sheesh, how annoying.]

[broji]

No, I wasn't. Not unless you're feeling reckless after everything you've said about not letting my guard down.

[Ginji gestures with one hand, a palm-turning motion; he's open to whatever suggestions or orders Asch intends to dish out.]

What are you in the mood for, Mr. Asch?

omg i feel so honored *w*

[fabrecation]

[When Luke finishes, he simply sits at the piano for a moment and shuts his eyes, hands still hovering over the keys, unwittingly providing Asch with the perfect pose for last minute sketches.

He then opens his eyes and turns to look at Asch with a smile, though his eyes widen a little with curiosity when he sees what Asch is doing.]

Hey, what're you drawing? [Time to get up to GO SEE~]

YEAH WELL YOU SHOULD

[dissonates]

[Asch doesn't respond for a moment, just finishing up, and then turns the book to face Luke, glancing away in disinterest.]

The only thing in here that I can draw, obviously.

[He doesn't do shitty still life, okay, FOOD IS BENEATH HIM]

/FLAUNTS ALL HER LOVE

[fabrecation]

[Luke stops midstep as he sees the picture. Sure, Luke's pretty much the only thing Asch can draw in the room, but... well, he still wasn't really expecting that. So, he looks surprised for a moment... before he gives a sheepish smile and lifts his hand up to run through the back of his hair.]

You... [You drew me? Playing the piano?] ... You're getting a lot better. [Because he knows Asch doesn't enjoy redundant questions.]

..... /FLIPS, IT'S ANNOYING NOW

[dissonates]

[Asch lifts a brow at his surprise, then glances down at the sketch again. An improvement? Eh, maybe. He hasn't put much thought into his skills (or, occasionally, lack thereof) or whether or not he's gotten better at it. After a moment he tugs at the corner of the sheet and tears it free of the sketchbook, offering it out.]

Take it, if you want it. I don't.

/SOBS

[fabrecation]

[And again, Luke's mildly surprised. But he gets over it quickly this time, enough to smile, shake his head, and sit down beside Asch to take the sketch, just holding it in both hands for now.]

All right. ... Thanks, Asch. I'll keep it somewhere. [Likely somewhere right in the open, at that.]

[dissonates]

...Hn. Whatever you want to do. [And with zero warning whatsoever Asch shifts his body to take up the rest of the couch, tucking his knees up... and flops backwards to rest his head in Luke's lap. Enjoy the hair cascade, replica.]