dissonates | [Action]

[Action, backdated to October 6th, locked to Luke + housemates if they want!]

[There is a vast difference between seeing nothing and being unable to see at all. It's the first thing that Asch realizes when he opens his eyes, waking up in the cold of the underground tunnel, slumped against the invisible barrier outside of John's domain, and seeing, for the first time in months, some kind of... light. It's blurry, more like a shadow within a shadow, and as he squints at it, it occurs to him that it's entirely possible that his eyes hadn't been fixed correctly at all. People are occasionally stuck with side effects anyway, though, after their penalties have been removed, so he pushes those concerns aside and reaches out with his mind towards his replica.

....

Nothing. Not even a flicker. And there's a moment of panic - that something happened while he was gone, that he's dead again - but memory catches up with him. He's in the tunnels. Luke can't hear him down here. And even though he feels weak, bone-weary, and a little dizzy from his clumsy vision, he pushes off the wall and forces himself upright, edging his way towards the near-light of what he's certain must be the tunnel entrance. There's a ladder, a way up, and as he climbs, he keeps trying to contact Luke, hoping his replica is available to get him home. Just one last time, one more guiding hand. That's all he needs.

Thankfully Luke is available, and he will get Asch home, so he'll be back on the evening of the 6th, sticking close to the house for the most part and waiting for his vision to come back bit by bit.]

---

[Action, October 10th, open to anyone]

[Finally, finally, Asch wakes to find that hey, surprise! His eyes are as clear as the day they'd been before he died. He spends a long time staring at everything in his room, taking in the details, the changes that he'd missed or accidentally caused over the course of the last four months. There's dust in places difficult to clean, his closet is a disorganized mess, and the books on his shelf are out of order. Some of the houseplants aren't doing so well. Star's getting fat. The white in Tsuae's fur is discoloured from treks in the yard- chasing Ginji's birds, probably. He'll need to do a full sweep of the house and nitpick at it.

Tomorrow, though. Today he gets dressed, gets himself a meal and tea without dropping anything, burning his fingers, or bumping into the table. He leaves the house and he goes for a walk. Nothing special- a long, slow, utterly aimless wander through the village from late morning until after dinner, drinking in the sights and watching the people who pass him by, as if seeing it all for the first time. He swings by the shops, the restaurant, maybe even Good Spirits for a bit, a place he hadn't been since before Guy went home the first time. He might even talk to people. He seems curious and calm for once, almost smiling.

It's a nice day. He can see again. What's there to bitch about?

Evening will find him on Amaterasu's hill, leaning against one of the cherry trees, content to sit and watch the sunset. Only after it's finished does he return home at last.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Luke knew what was going on. Asch had contacted him just before he got carried off, and ever since then, the replica had been making it a point to stop by the tunnel and wait every so often. He'd return home after a while, dejected, only to try again a little while later.

This time though, as he's heading away from the tunnel, a flicker flares through his head. A tug, something that sends him racing back and looking down the ladder.

And, sure enough, there's Asch. Almost at the top, hesitating, probably unable to see straight.

So Luke reaches out and, as Asch grabs the third rung from the top of the ladder, he'll let his fingers brush against his original's hands and wrists, letting him know that he's here. The guiding hand that he needs.]

[As soon as the link slides back into existence in his mind, Asch feels a rush of relief, and he was just about to send an actual, verbalized message when he suddenly feels a hand against his. Halting his ascent for a moment, surprised, Asch shifts his grip to curve his fingers around Luke's hand instead, to allow his replica to help him the rest of the way out of the hole. It's a relief to finally be out- not only is the silence within his mind finally replaced by the fonic link at full strength, but he'd begun to wonder if he was about to fall or something. And wouldn't that have been a beautiful cap to his lousy death penalty experience.]

...I didn't think you'd get here so quickly.

[He looks up, and Luke... is a blur of red, white, and black. Still, it's much better than seeing nothing at all.]

I was nearby already.

[Luke carefully pulls him out of the tunnel, his free hand moving to Asch's shoulder for further support; a part of him still can't really help seeing him as that younger twin, the one he wanted to stay by and guide and take care of. And all the while, his eyes are on Asch's face. Specifically, his eyes.

They're clear. They're focused. They're looking at things, they're looking at him. And while Luke is sure that Asch can't clearly see him, he can still see. This is the first time Asch has really looked at Luke since he...

So after a moment of just staring right back, Luke takes a step and gives in to the urge to hug him tight.

Asch wasn't the only one who felt a sense of relief when the link slid back into existence.]

[Oh, well, that's conveni- whoa suddenly he's being pulled, and-

...oh.

Asch blinks, surprised, and for a moment left to puzzle over what this is for. It's not like he was gone particularly long, or that he'd even been in trouble. And while he'd never call it a pleasant experience, he'd done this song and dance before.

Still, he can see again. (Sort of. Like he's underwater, but sight is sight.) And the replica's always been the more emotional of the two of them. It takes those extra couple moments, but he finally lifts his arms awkwardly to return it, the gesture half-hearted and unsure, but still there. Be happy, Luke, you got a hug.

Now let go. 8|]

[Okay okay fine letting go. 8|

But he still grins as he leans back, and he leaves his hands on Asch's upper arms. He knows Asch doesn't really appreciate acts of affection like this, but Luke just can't help it. He's so happy. Asch can finally see everything he should, and this thing - this thing that Luke still can't help feeling responsible for - is now gone.]

Sorry... How do you feel?

[The world is still kind of a blur as they draw back, and it's almost dizzying, so Asch can't help blinking a few times, squinting in the light. It's such a jarring difference, but it's better than nothing, so he'll deal with it until his eyes adjust.

Honestly, he's not sure how he feels, not really. Relieved? Of course, but he doesn't have the words nor the will to express it properly. Grateful? Not to John, and thanking his replica just seems awkward.

Happy?

....]

...Tired. Moreso than someone ought to feel after sleeping for several days.

[Luke's smile fade a little at that, but it's no less happy and genuine. Right now, there's just something else on his mind: namely, getting Asch out of the autumn chill and bringing him someplace where he can rest. He doesn't even care if Arietta tries to kill him or something; it's time to bring Asch home.]

I don't think it's all that surprising... That stuff's kinda tiring.

... You wanna head back?

Mm.

[There's no hesitation in Asch's responding nod, still glancing cautiously around. The benefit of being in his current location means that his house isn't that far from here, so after a moment of sorting out his direction - the sun is a big bright blur, but it's good for navigation anyway, and between that and the fountain he's able to figure out which way to go. Thus, off he's going.]

Did anything happen while I was gone?

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[action] AND A MONTH LATER OOPS

[action] god damn, kukki

[action] throw me out a window already

[action] /FLINGS