dissonates | [Voice/Action] backdated to Day 1 of the event until the end!

[Asch will be leaving a single message on the journal network on the evening of the first day, his voice flat:]

[Voice]

I know that the village is being its usual mad self this week, but Guy Cecil's gone back to his world. With the recent departures, Good Spirits is shorthanded.

[....oh, right.]

Also, considering the bar is in the area where alcohol is apparently prohibited, thieves have been after the stores. Most of the remaining supply's been hidden, but I could use help guarding it.

As far as I know, the journal network has always been for our eyes only, so if you want any for yourself and the staff doesn't recognize you, try to come up with something only one of us would know.

[After that, he won't be doing much exploration. Asch is having none of this silly experiment business; he woke up wearing this, and since his closet seems to be full of clothes either like it or much worse, he just rolls with it. He's been around the block before. He'll be staying in the bar pretty much 24/7 (besides food runs and emergencies) to make sure the collection doesn't get completely depleted; he may be a recently returned staff member himself, now, but the bar was important to Guy, so he can at least protect it for a while. Alcoholic drinks will be served through the back door to villagers only, so if you want some booze, better figure out a way to act convincing.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

That depends. Most of the Scores given to people are self-fulfilling prophecies- if the Score says, "eat spaghetti on Remday", devout believers will eat spaghetti, but those who don't aren't penalized for it.

The Closed Score is different. It's meant only for the highest ranking church officials and world leaders, and dictates how the world should be run. The way I understand it, the Score is written into the subatomic structure of the world itself- attempts to deviate from it are either seen as futile or outright blasphemous, because it goes against the very nature of the planet and those living on it. Still, it's not unavoidable. Certain people who should have died one year were still alive in the next, the last time I was there. It's a broken system.

Prophecies always are. [ her eyes narrow. all her attention, now, is tied rapt to him. ] That's the trouble with writing things down, I guess.

Most of it's underground or in storage. Nami placed an illusion over some of the bottles, as well.

[He lifts a brow.]

That information doesn't leave this building.

[Her sudden interest is noteworthy- experience, maybe?

Well, it's not like he's untouched by prophecies, either.]

The people of Auldrant were tied to the Score, though, because it's all they've ever known. It's so much easier to let yourself be led through your own life- you stop worrying.

[Emil nods.]

Got it. I could do a patrol if you want, or I could just hang around up here too. Whatever you think will be the most useful.

Patrolling will just make you look suspicious. We want to make it seem as if we have nothing of value here. If you want to help us guard, just stay inside and try to act naturally.

But...I'm assuming the Score tells tales of bad things about to happen too, right? And they just swallow that pill?

[ do you swallow that pill? ]

Okay! Then I'll just act like I'm here for something to eat. That seems pretty natural, right?

Right? I mean, as long as you're not going overboard and taking it out on other people. You should be allowed to feel whichever way you want. Especially in a place like this.

[There goes the rest of her drink. She puts the glass down with a cheerful grin.] Very nice. Thanks.

[Asch snorts faintly, glancing away.]

Depends on how bad. If it's something like a farmer's prediction of a bad crop, they'll usually accept it. But if the Score predicts someone's death, they aren't told about it, because they wouldn't be able to live peacefully up until the day they pass. In the eyes of the Scorers, it's better to let someone die than to risk them preventing their own death.

More or less.

[Asch fishes around behind the bar for a moment, then slides Emil the remnants of a broken menu- the alcoholic drinks have been removed, leaving only the virgin drinks and the food.]

You're lucky we expanded the menu to include food.

Especially when people enjoy antagonizing us.

[It's like it's a hobby for some of them. Asch scowls, but he does nod at the thanks. He'd be a poor bartender if he couldn't mix something basic.]

What about you? What's better in your eyes?

[Emil scrutinizes it for a moment, but it doesn't take him long to decide what to order. He's easy to please, at least!]

I'll have a vanilla milkshake and some fries.

[...]

Make that a large order of fries so we can share them.

Some people consider that a hobby. Pretty horrid, I know.

[Said with all the shamelessness of someone who likes trolling on a regular basis. Cough.]

Any answer I give is biased- the Score predicted my death two thousand years before I was even born. I was raised with the knowledge that unless the Score was overthrown, I'd never have reached adulthood.

[His gaze drifts to the alcohol they'd just spent the better part of the day hiding, then fetches himself a glass and a bottle. He needs a drink for this conversation now, officially.

He's probably talking too much, but it's mostly harmless anyway, as long as he doesn't... overthink it. Right.]

On the other hand, I had the potential to live a very different life - a good life - under the Score's rule. And I'd have died a hero.

So what's better? A short, happy childhood, or an unpleasant but free existence?

[Pfft. Don't you know bar protocol, Emil? You don't share your food with the server.

Asch rolls his eyes, somewhat exasperated, but turns to get started anyway, getting the food cooking before he begins whipping up the milkshake while they wait. If Emil wants to be Mr. Nice Guy, that's his choice. Saves him from making lunch later.]

[That would imply that Emil visits the bar often, which he... well, okay, he visits SOMETIMES, but it's mainly because Buffy makes a kickass hot chocolate. AND NO ONE EVER TOLD HIM NOT TO SHARE. It's the polite thing to do, after all.

He'll just take a seat at the bar while he waits.]

So, um, I mentioned that I'm one of the leaders of Brave Vesperia now, right?

I dunno if I'm the gal you wanna be asking that. I mean -- I chose death. Both times. I might be a little biased.

Of that, I'm well aware. I've traveled with those types.

[And it's not fun. At all.]

I heard about that- you and Luke. Congratulations, I suppose.

[He slides the milkshake over the counter to Emil, looking... well, not bored, but not exactly impressed, either. Brave Vesperia has never interested him beyond a vague awareness of its existence, mostly due to their 'build guild' reputation, despite Yuri's attempt to dispel them.]

...Why?

[His voice isn't judging, or even particularly confused by her answer. There's been times that he'd have chosen death, too, so he'd be a hypocrite to disagree.]

Because...

[ she sits back, leaning on the heels of her palms. it's not such an easy question as she might have hoped. it's not enough to simply say that it was required of her. but: ] Because -- prophesied or not -- sometimes there's just more at stake than whether I'm gonna take another breath tomorrow morning.

[ she still believes it. ]

Thanks.

[He pauses to take a brief sip of the milkshake - not bad at all, Asch! Emil approves - before continuing on.]

I want to do the best I can to be a leader. I know Yuri used to be annoyed that all anyone ever asked us for was help with building things, so I want to try to make sure that Brave Vesperia does more than just that.

[....huh.

His brows furrow a little at that, mulling it over. It's not what anyone could call a happy sort of end, but it's something he can agree on, even if he won't say as much. It's why he made the choices he did back home, after all- because if he had to die, he might as well save the damn world in the process.

For the ones who matter.]

...I understand.

[That's all he's gonna say.]

Page 8 of 10

[Voice/Action] backdated to Day 1 of the event until the end!

[ action ]

[ action ]

[Action]

[ action ]

[Action]

[Action]

[ action ]

[Action]

no subject

[ action ]

[Action]

no subject

[ action ]

[Action]

no subject

[ action ]

[Action]

[Action]

[ action ]

no subject

[Action]

[ action ]

[ action ]

[Action]

[ action ]