Well, this certainly isn't the ending he had been expecting...

[desireforchange]

Characters: Luke fon Fabre and anyone else.
Setting: Dorm room (2-12), then where ever!
Format: I'll start with prose, but will match.
Summary: He's waking up and kind of freaking out a bit? Eh, he'll calm down, eventually.
Warnings: None that I can think of!

[DORM]

Waking up is painful, actually. When the redhead finally manages to gain control over the movement of his body, he instantly realizes not only that he is nowhere he has ever even heard of, but just how creepy and twisted this place seems.

Could this place be the afterlife?

That thought has Luke sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the floor with a mixed expression of relief (in knowing that he had succeeded in freeing Lorelei), and even a bit of confusion. He has no memory of ending up here. He has no clue how it could have happened. Then he finds the letters. Well, one looks more like an actual letter. The other, similar to a list of... rules, perhaps. He hasn’t actually read any of it, yet, as his focus is on the first. Someone seeing him would immediately be able to tell that he is in a state of shock.

This has to be a nightmare. This isn’t really happening. Those two sentences are the first to enter his mind. The next, however, actually has him on the verge of throwing up. Everyone... Everyone cannot be... His mind freezes, drawing a blank, for a moment. It seems his mind refuses to so much as think the next word, for now. When it finally regains the ability to think, one particular thought is standing out in the back of his mind, "All of that... we did... all of that..."

Luke continues the words audibly, "... for... nothing?"

His hands begins trembling as everyone's faces slowly begin creeping their way into his mind. One face, in particular, causes his breath to hitch in his throat. The stinging of his eyes slowly results in a hint of tears breaching the lower lids, "Tear...too?"

Clenching his teeth, his expression tenses. He slowly moves to his feet. No. This is all a lie. This is simply too cruel. His breathing escalates just a bit as his hands tighten into fists, before he moves the right one to one side of his head. Mere seconds tick by, before he breaks into the silence, "It's... a lie..."

A soft laugh escapes his throat, at how pitiful and foreign his own voice sounds. He looks to be completely unable to grasp the situation, as his eyes are now completely widened. His left hand quickly moves to the other side of his head. Both hands tighten into fists, clenching his short red locks firmly. He drops to his knees, panting. Luke barely recognizes his own voice as it suddenly cries out, "It has to be!"


[WHERE EVER]


He finds himself, hours later, wandering the hallways sort of aimlessly. Luke had been very glad to find his clothes in that trunk, along with several other fairly useful things. There is still confusion resting on his face, though it is now mixed with something else. Luke seems sort of lost at the moment. Pausing in front of a window, he stares out at the fog. This place... What the hell is this place? Is he really stuck here, without a choice? This can't seriously be happening, right? The questions are asked without much drive behind them. Luke's expression softens, and he is looking down at the floor with a fairly sad expression filling his face.

Everyone... Could they all really be gone?

"Tear... Everyone... I'm sorry."

Apologizing only seems fitting. He knows this is completely out of his hands, but he also feels he must apologize at how things have turned out. If their world is truly gone, he is sorry that he could not do anything to stop it. If his friends and family are truly dead, then he is sorry that there is nothing he could have done to save them. No matter how it works out, he is simply sorry for it. The thing that is truly sinking into his mind, though, is that... he may never see any of them ever again. Ignoring the sick feeling in his stomach, he begins walking.

Comments

Lounge - one of them idc

[alae]

Dark Pit comes to the lounges sometimes, just to look at the sky. It's a pain, knowing that he can't fly and he can't get out there, but there's something about the sky that just calls to him.

... But today when he steps into the lounge, he sees a familiar shade of red hair. It's not Asch, so -

"What's going on, Lu -"

Wait. He stares for a moment. "... Different hair."

Yoooou!

[desireforchange]

It is starting to get just a little old, being called by his name; then, watching the person turn around to point out his hair. Somehow, he finds himself sympathizing with Asch. But, that's beside the point, right now. What's important is...

This guy's got wings, "Uh... yeah, I cut it... a while back, actually."

He sounds distracted, as he attempts not to stare at them (even though the guy did technically just stare at him). Are they ...real?

And ...is it okay to ask about them? No, no, what if the guy gets insulted. Knowing the longer-haired version of himself, this guy's already been asked by that him.

Meee?

[alae]

"... Sorry. There's another you in the tower - you are Luke though, right?"

The staring is making him a little uncomfortable, and his wings fold against his body a bit like a cat hunkering down.

"Something on my face?"

Yes, yoooou~

[desireforchange]

"Uh, yeah!"

And they do move! The question snaps him from his being rude, though, and he quickly gives an attempted apologetic smile--attempted, because he could barely contain his creeping excitement at how cool that is.

"N-no! I just..." 'Wings... You have WINGS.'

"So, those are... real?" His face says he really, very much, hopes that they are.

[alae]

"Right, okay."

... Ugh. Humans are so weird about stuff like that.

"As real as I am." Though his own 'real-ness' is definitely debatable. He tenses a bit, clearly uncomfortable with the question.

"You're new though, right? I haven't seen you around, and if you're a Luke I probably would have met you already. I know Asch."

[desireforchange]

...A Luke.

The redhead smiled meekly, in spite of wanting to point out that it was simply 'Luke, thank you very much'. Though, it really shouldn't be that big of a deal. It was likely something he would have no choice but to get used to, in the tower.

Anyway, the guy looked unhappy about the wing thing being pointed out, which made Luke feel bad. Didn't that make the second time, today, that he'd made someone ill at ease? Jeez, he was on a roll, wasn't he...?

"Sorry, if I made you uncomfortable. But, yeah, I'm new. In fact, today's my first day... Ah, so you've met Asch."

He couldn't help but wonder if the guy knew, already, what he was... But, he definitely didn't plan on bringing it up.

[alae]

"Yeah. He's..."

... How to describe it? Asch was kind of as close to family as he was going to get, and actually cared (in his own way) about him as a person, instead of as a tool and without reservations.

"... I wouldn't say I know him really well, but he's helped me out a lot, especially since my -" This is awkward to say.

"- Since my original disappeared. So yeah."

[desireforchange]

Luke's expression softens at that, before he just has to give a slightly fond smile. Yeah, well, he has already discovered that Asch does have some kindness in him. The smile fades, though, and he is tilting his head to the side.

There's a curious expression resting there.

"Oh, so, you have an original, too?"

So, this guy's a replica, as well?

[alae]

"Yeah. And yeah, I know you're a copy - replica. Whatever. Doesn't matter."

Though that tone of voice makes him sound like he's trying to convince himself of that than trying to convince Luke.

"We're all copies here anyway. Wireframe bodies filled with this liquid -" He taps his collar at that. "- with our souls stuck in. If you die you come back with a new body."

[desireforchange]

The redhead blinks at the abrupt way the winged-guy put his feelings; then, a corner of his lips twitch ever-so-slightly, his brow wrinkling. This guy is definitely an acquaintance of Asch--if not a friend, of sorts.

The next words, however, cause his expression to soften, completely. Wire...frame? What's a "wireframe"? He attempts to put it together, himself. He knows what "frame" means. He knows what wires are. So... their frames have all been replaced by... metal wires...?

Luke has already had the pleasure of discovering that they come back to life, so a somber nod is given--rather than an inner freak out, like he had done already...

"Yeah, I... heard about that. But..."

His eyes narrow, slightly, a worried expression joining the slightly grave one, "What exactly do you mean by wireframe...?"

[alae]

"Uh. Basically imagine your shape, but instead of it being all filled in and colorful, it just looks like a generic body shape. A little different for different people, but yeah. Like a doll or something. But it's got lines all over it, to sort of make it look like it has depth."

If only he could just show him the wireframe battles in Super Smash Brothers...

"You'll see it eventually, the glamour likes to glitch out."

[desireforchange]

Aaaand... Lost. He is giving a very confused expression, now, mixed with worry and uncertainty. It sounds kind of scary, actually. The redhead stares for a moment, before looking down and wrinkling his brow. As he speaks, he scratches the side of his head.

"Uh... So, basically," he pauses and thinks very hard, "uh... never mind, I'm completely lost."

Well, he tried. Very hard, in fact. His expression tenses, though, as he thinks about the last thing the stranger had said. Speaking of him being a stranger...

"By the way, what's your name?"

[alae]

"... Like I said, you'll see."

Oh boy, introductions. One of his least favorite times. "Dark Pit. Yes, my original is named Pit, no I didn't get a better name, yes this means I'm supposed to be the 'evil clone', no I'm not actually evil."

[desireforchange]

Blink.

Well, that's ...one hell of an introduction. The surprised expression shifts to a smile, as he speaks.

"Nice to meet you, Dark Pit. I never would have thought you were evil, though."

[alae]

"Most people think that anything with 'Dark' in its name automatically means it's evil. It's just kind of annoying."

Whatever. He can deal.

"What were you doing up here, anyway?"

[desireforchange]

"I can imagine it would be," he offers with a sympathetic laugh.

He gets annoying things happening to him, a lot, lately. At the question, he blinks then shrugs.

"I was just trying to clear my head, I guess... and maybe get some exploring done. Plus, I heard some of my friends are here, so I was hoping to run into one of them..."

[alae]

"The people I know from your world... Asch, obviously. I kind of know Ion? I think that's it."

Not like anyone from his world is here anymore. Then again that's probably a good thing.

[desireforchange]

"Oh... Ion, too, huh?" He forces a smile at that, in spite of the twinge of pain to his chest. Dark Pit knows both of the people that were dead last time Luke saw them.

Wow, that's some pretty morbid irony. The redhead's expression falls a bit and he scratches the back of his head and sighs. This place... is definitely going to be hell getting used to. He could feel it. It seemed to have a sick sense of humor.

[alae]

"Oh, and Sheba - wait. Uh. She's not from your world, is she? ... She and Asch are good friends, I think. So I'm sure you'll meet her eventually."

Slightly awkward, but moving on.

"Anyway. You're a friend - or related to - Asch, so if you need help just let me know. I owe him... a lot. I don't like owing thing. So if you ever need someone to spar with or hunt with or whatever, just let me know."

[desireforchange]

Asch... good friends with someone? Odd thought, that. He gives a furrow-browed smile, before nodding.

"I see."

Oh. Key word, there. His face actually lights up, a bit.

"Sparring... and hunting, huh?"

He tilts his head to the side just a bit, a light smile cracking. Guy isn't here, so he doesn't have someone to sword practice with. The other hims seem preoccupied with other things, and well... Asch is Asch.

"Sure, I'll definitely let you know."

[alae]

He nods at that. "I've got a club, a cannon - it fits on my hand, a palm - which shoots out bullets of energy, a bow that splits into daggers, and a staff. So just let me know what kind of weapon you use so I can bring something that works. And you'll probably have to get used to hunting. The food here's good this month. It isn't always."

Ruana's coming up next, after all... that's never a good sign. "The administrators here like to play 'games' with us too sometimes. If someone's hurting other people, even if it's someone you care about, you need to not hesitate. Ruana's games do that sometimes. People will come back, so don't worry. If you actually care about each other you'll understand."

[desireforchange]

Luke blinks and gives a head tilt at the list of weapons. Wow, this guy has quite an... arsenal. He smiles at the mention of getting used to hunting. Hunting isn't actually something he worries too much about, "I use a sword and Fonic Artes. Most are close-range. And hunting's actually something I got used to back on Auldrant. We spent so much time on the road, it was something we kinda had to do."

He then chuckled softly at the memory, before his expression falls slowly. The idea of... hurting someone he cares about... He isn't sure he could hurt those he cares about, here. Shifting a bit, he looks to the side.

"Unfortunately, I doubt I could do that to... some people."

He'd be one of those people killed by a person he loves...

[alae]

He shakes his head a little bit.

"You're going to have to at some point. Probably."

[desireforchange]

He closes his eyes and shakes his head.

"Only if they were going to endanger other people's lives, would I be able to do it. But... if nobody else is danger, other than myself..."

There's a smile there, in spite of it being a rather pathetic one, "Well, it's a pretty simple choice, if you ask me."

[alae]

... He just sighs. He's going to get tested on that eventually... and honestly he'd made the same choice.

"Mm. Need a guide down? You're gonna have to eat the oatmeal eventually."