💧 First Strike: Action/Video

[notyourluke]

[The last thing he remembered was...warmth, warmth coming back to his body, and a …voice...]

[And then suddenly he was being torn away, and when his eyes opened he was trapped in that cell again. No, no nonono, not here again, not this AGAIN! He felt his heart start to race, his breath quickening as panic started to sink in.]

LET ME OUT!

[ Emerald eyes shoot open and he wastes no time in kicking the pod door for his release, sitting up and gripping the sides as he tries to register where he was and what had happened. After a few moments he is able to regain his composure, eyes slowly scanning the surrounding area for any signs of similarity.]

[But none where to be found. He lifts himself out of the pod, the sound of the device hitting against the walls alerting him to its existence. He grabs the flyer, and reads over it quickly before reaching in and securing the rest, along with his sword.]

[Which brought more questions, considering he had left it behind long ago. Whatever, those questions and more will eventually be answered, however there was a more pressing concern on his mind.]

XXxxXXxxXX

[Video]

[The red head brings a hand through his hair, fixing it from its disarrayed state before turning on the video function and facing his audience with a very serious expression.]

Working under the assumption this device connects automatically with those handled by the other participants of this kidnapping...[He pauses, well second times a charm isn't it?] Then I would like to ask for any and all information you have on this place. As well as any sightings of a man who goes by the name of Van, and those that work under the title of God General.

....

[He pauses, his eyes closing a moment.] It would seem the Replica is here... [the ma says in a low voice, the words clearly directed more so towards himself then those watching. His eyes open and it was like the disruption never occurred.]

Then before anyone makes the mistake, I am not the dreck that you know as "Luke". My name is Asch.

[And then he shuts it off.]

Comments

Nope, and leaving you with more.

[notyourluke]

[Yes, Van could come back at any time. But whether it was due to being brought back from the grave or just taken from a random point in their history, it mattered not. It doesn’t stop them from knowing, remembering, hurting. Even now he hurt, even now he had to keep himself from thinking about those good times with their master. Instead he held onto the betrayal, the lies… It made things easier for the soldier.]

[But it hadn’t been this land that granted him such a miracle, at least he didn’t believe so. He couldn't really form his brain around it all but he vaguely remembered seeing Luke again before everything went black. He had been carrying him in his arms...]

[Such things where best left in the dark though. For now they ought to pull their resources and find a way home. Once that's accomplished they will likely have to deal with their future, or lack thereof. If he dies so be it. But if his theory is correct and Lorelei was involved, he would like to know his purpose.]

[His eyebrows creased at the replica’s words. So he wasn’t the first one after all. ]

….Anyone we-

[He stops in midsentence as he’s suddenly hit with an overly familiar pain. Forcing him to bend forward and desperately clutch at the cloth over his heart. For that moment the world around him faded out, and he could barely force the breaths out of his lungs.]

G-gah….hah….

[With a clack he slams his teeth down, willing himself to stop making such pathetic noises, while at the same time stepping back. His mind raced with thoughts, not out of fear but with prayer that this would be it, that now his suffering could come to an end. Alas it wasn’t to be. Although it felt like centuries to him, in a few seconds he was left panting for breath but still there, still alive.]

…

[After a long while, Asch finally dares to glance at the other. His mind fully set on the task of walking past him and getting as far away from the Replica as possible. He didn’t need to deal with this, and he didn’t desire his pity. At least that’s what he told himself.]

[headfons]

[Asch's sentence coming to a halt, like that, has the replica's eyes widening, a bit. Instinctively, his hand stretches out, as though he's readying himself to move in to catch him, yet isn't sure he...should.] Asch?!

[Fortunately, it only lasted a couple of seconds. Green eyes narrow in concern as Asch stands there panting. Luke begins stepping forward, until he finds green eyes resting on him.]

...Look, I know you probably don't want to, but come with me.

[He doesn't pity Asch, but he is worried about him. He still remembers that feeling of weakness he'd felt as he'd absorbed those fonons. At the time, he hadn't wanted to even think about it. Since winding up in the hotel, however, he's found himself with nothing but time to do just that- think about everything. It's been proven, time and again, that his imagination can usually do quite a bit to plant crazy thoughts in his head.]

You can rest in our apartment...at least until you get your own place. Takasu and Tear wouldn't mind, I'm sure. Besides, there's no reason for you to wonder around town in your condition.

[His tone is firm.

Persuasion Powers of the Protag: ACTIVATE]

[notyourluke]

[He glares darkly at the replica, a clear sign that he doesn't want him near, and he certainly doesn't want his help. But he holds off from walking away, at least until he can properly feel his arms and legs again.]

[After a while his breath evens out and he's standing tall and proud as usual. He's gotten rather good at pretending to be fine, not letting a single part of him betray that such pain had even occurred.]

Perhaps you wouldn't last a day without your friends by your side, but I can. I'll be fine, and my Condition has nothing to do with you.

[Actually it was all because of him. It was strange, he had felt so much anger when this Replica replaced him and stole away his friends, his family, and his home. But even now, after finding out the cause was due to the replica's existence, well... He never blamed him. If anyone was to blame it was Van, and the scientists who had performed the act knowing full well the consequences.]

[With that said he's looking away, bending over and picking up his sword and the device. He situates the blade against his side, and then starts walking off like he originally planned.]

I don't need dreck like you worrying about me.

Gonna have to try harder then that.

[headfons]

[Oh, was...that glare...supposed to stop him?

He kind of missed that memo, Asch; Luke's approaching his original with a completely serious look on his face. Like hell, he's going to stand idly by while the guy...all but keels over.

Also, it's a little late to be pretending. Even without Asch's body betraying that such a pain had occurred, Luke's memory's doing a good enough job. It doesn't help that Luke knows firsthand about pretending to be fine. He'd spent the better part of his year-long trip pretending he wasn't going to disappear.

Those words, though...they stung, a bit. Luke's face is tensing as he swallows hard, chest tightening just a little. They're more true than Asch even realizes.]

Shut up! [His angry retaliation is really all because Asch had managed to strike that cord, though. Instantaneously, Luke's expression is softening. Quickly working to steady himself, again, he's taking a deep breath.] Stop being so stubborn, damn it! You have no idea where you are. Getting lost when you're feeling like that would be stupid, Asch. Seriously, how badly do you wanna risk passing out in the middle of the street, with a bunch of strangers left to freak out over it?

[The walking off isn't going to be done without Luke, at least, trying to stop him. With a glare, he's quickly moving to grab Asch's arm.]

Well, too bad! [He's already worried, dummy.]