[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

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.]

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.]

[fabrecation]

[Whoa what hey - Luke lifts up the hand closest to Asch in an effort to get it out of the way of the suddenly falling original, and he keeps it up in the air as he just stares down at the mass of hair.]

... Asch? [But... he doesn't seem as surprised or awkward as he would've been earlier. He slowly sets his hand down beside him, in the space between Asch and the couch, and sets the sketch aside with the other, only to let it rest on top of Asch's head. The action is slow and hesitant, as if he isn't sure how he'd react... but the warmth is there, regardless.]

[dissonates]

[Asch lifts his eyes to stare up at Luke, his expression surprisingly calm- not challenging, not angry, not annoyed or even demanding. Calm, settled, observant. Waiting to see if Luke will protest, or try to move, or complain about it.

And when a hand rests on his head, a series of emotions flicker in his expression - brief irritation, a slight wariness, gradual acceptance.

Relief.

And then he closes his eyes, relaxing against his replica pillow. It's fine.]

[fabrecation]

[And when Asch accepts his touch and shuts his eyes...

... Heh. Luke can't help feeling relief of his own, and it makes him let out a breath as he moves his hand, gently stroking his fingers through Asch's hair. He smiles a little, the expression somewhat fond and and just plain happy, before he shuts his eyes and leans his head back against the back of the couch, his hand still brushing through Asch's hair.

It's fine.]