dissonates | [Action]

[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.)]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Pointing to a tree!]

One of the ones from that tree over there. They're really sweet-- I think they're almost ripe.

[Tch, why does he agree to these things... with a quiet sigh, Asch wanders over to where Emil pointed, tugging down a fruit and cracking it in half. He offers part of it out to Emil- it just seems like the thing to do.]

I'll give it a shot- but just one.

[See this grin, Asch? This is a very happy grin, and Emil has to resist the urge to glomp Asch again as he accepts the piece of fruit, almost bouncing on his heels with glee.]

Thank you!

[YOU WON'T REGRET THIS, REALLY.]

[HE'S ALREADY REGRETTING IT- okay no. But he is a little wary as he bites into the fruit.

....

And a moment later the wariness fades. This is good. Damn, it's really good. He hadn't expected that.]

[Emil is just going to watch Asch's face intently for his reaction. Hopefully he likes it... at least, he SEEMS to like it, because he's not spitting it out, and he's still chewing...]

[And Asch's reaction is... positive! Surprisingly. It takes a couple of bites, but a very slow smile crosses his lips, and he nods agreeably in Emil's direction.]

Alright, fine, it's not bad. I wouldn't mind another.

Let me go get one!

[OMG yaaaaay Asch liked it why is that making him so happy all of a sudden? Oh well, not like he minds; instead, he'll be racing over to the tree to grab another fruit and bring it back for Asch like an obedient puppy fetching a stick for its master.]

[Well, someone's awfully compliant today. Asch isn't going to argue, though, taking the fruit and helping himself.

....

Oh, alright, Emil can have some too. He feels oddly affectionate for the guy right now.]

...Yeah, it's delicious. Thanks, Emil.

O-oh, you're welcome... you really don't have to thank me for that, though.

[He's not blushing. Nope. Not at all. But Asch actually THANKED him!

... he's not sure why that makes him so happy.]

Oh well, too late.

[A lazy shrug. This is... nice. Really nice, actually. Just hanging out with a friend! Wow, when's the last time he did something like this...]

[Better think fast, Asch, because Emil will be scooting closer until... lean. Hey, his shoulder makes a very tempting pillow, okay, Emil just wanted to try it out and see if it was as comfortable as it looked.]

[Emil's on his shoulder.

Emil's on his shoulder.

....oh, okay. Just don't crinkle the hair, chum. Asch mumbles something under his breath and tilts his head until his cheek rests against Emil's hair. He can deal with this, strangely enough.]

[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.]

[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...]

[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.]