[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

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

Thanks a lot...

[SUCH A GREAT FRIEND, ASCH.]

[fabrecation]

You try liking it when you nearly drown the first time you actually go there.

[Asch should remember that quite clearly, too. Luke really would have drowned if it weren't for him.]

And then get a crab in your hair the second time you go. [... But after a pause, he lets out a sigh, and gives a somewhat helpless smile.] But it's really nice right now. The way it looks and smells and sounds... It's kind of like - I don't know...

[dissonates]

You're not supposed to let first impressions colour your entire opinion of something.

[Shut up, he knows he's a total hypocrite. He's too cozy to worry about what he's saying at the moment.]

Anyway, just remember it like this instead. You'll be better off.

[dissonates]

Do I look like someone who puts a lot of thought into something like that?

[Seriously what kind of weird question is that to ask him of all people.]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[Okay, okay, fun has been had. Seriously now.]

Fine, whatever. Which one did you try?

[herotypical]

Hey. I was just trying to not judge a book by its cover.

[broji]

Sorry.

It wasn't when I left, and that was about four hours ago. A lot of people were already here when I arrived, and more keep streaming in bit by bit.

[A beat, and gently because he doesn't want to be yelled at:] But you're the first person I've seen to show up in the middle of the ocean... Was that...?

[inkdrops]

Eh, well... [Okay, Asch does have a point. But the Malnosso have been kind to them a sparse few times in the past. This could just be one of those instances, as hard to believe as it may be.]

A-At least everything turned out all right? You're still the same, and I am too, aren't I?

[fabrecation]

[First and second impressions, actually. He was willing to give it a chance! And then it interrupted make-outs with his girlfriend to nearly drown him again and tangle a crab in his hair. At this point he's just convinced that it's out to get him.

But... yeah. Asch is right. It's nice to remember it like this, just watching it peacefully with Asch right by his side. This is... really nice.]

... Yeah. I think I will be.

[He enjoys it for a moment longer. The sea, the company, the warmth... before he tilts his head slightly to look up at Asch.]

Hey, there's some places to go up on the hills. You wanna check them out with me? A lot of people have been going up there already.

[dissonates]

In this case you're probably better off doing just that.

[dissonates]

Far as I can tell. [Asch offers a bit of a careless shrug, though. Let no one ever say he's afraid to try new things, alright?]

[dissonates]

[Asch blinks, lifting his head a bit lazily to meet his replica's gaze. The mountain? What could possibly be out there? And why would they want to move?]

Mm... alright. It could be interesting.

[And why is he agreeing?]

[dissonates]

...That... [Asch's tone is just oozing delight as he responds, can you tell,] Was the Malnosso's idea of gratitude for defending their citizens. Either that or they have terrible aim.

[herotypical]

...Even when I try to be nice, I screw up. That's just not fair.

[dissonates]

[....SIGH. He can practically feel Guy's disapproval all the way from Auldrant. Fine, he'll behave a little. She is trying, and it's not like she's a stranger to him.]

I wouldn't call it fun, but I sketch sometimes. It's something to do, anyway.

[herotypical]

[ see? was that so hard? ]

I think that could be fun. Depending on what you like to sketch.

[fabrecation]

Yeah... And we can come back here if it isn't.

[... He doesn't really want to move. It's so comfortable here... But after a moment, he pushes himself up, then holds his hand out for Asch to pull him up.]

Come on, I'll race you there.

H E H

[meritocracy]

[she flushes]
So..it looks--nice then?

[dissonates]

[APPARENTLY IT WAS.]

I mostly do landscapes and technical drawings. I'm not very good at drawing life.

[dissonates]

...Race? Are you crazy?

[Asch lifts a brow, though he does take Luke's hand to let his replica pull him upright.]

We're not children, you know.

[dissonates]

O-of course it does. [She's wearing it, what else would it be? It's just so- ...he should stop staring at it.]

[fabrecation]

So? You don't have to be a kid to race, you know!

[He grips Asch's hand a little longer before he lets it go to start running. He does look behind him after a few steps to see if Asch is following suit or not; he'll either speed up or slow down depending on which it is.]

[herotypical]

[ no good at drawing life? perhaps because you need to GET ONE. ]

Hey. That's at least two ups on me.

[ verses a one-up. idek. ]

[meritocracy]

..That makes me--quite happy, then. [she glances away shyly, her toes curling into the sand, before she flashes a bright smile. ]

[dissonates]

[...His replica. Is such. A brat.

Asch watches him for a moment, then, with a quiet huff, he pushes himself to his feet and takes off at a run after Luke. Better get your ass in gear, replica, because he's catching up now.]