Twas the night after Christmas -

[bloodyashes]

Characters: Asch and open; later, he goes to see Jade about things [closed]
Setting: A nicely hidden corner of the upper lounge and/or media floor; hassling Jade in the library
Format: What have you, bro
Summary: Feelings about regains, headaches about replicas, yelling at Jade
Warnings: Fon Fabre temper tantrums incoming.

[There's a redhead in a beanbag chair in the corner, heels tucked in, with an old framed photo in his lap. Asch's attention is pretty much entirely on the picture, which is tilted up so that it can't be seen from any other angle. Want to see? Better come lean around his shoulder and be obnoxious.]

[He puts a hand to his forehead very suddenly, as though taken by an unexpected headache. Uh-oh, isn't the flu epidemic over? Maybe you'd better go see what's wrong with him.]

Library -

[It's as good a place to start looking as any. Asch is very pointedly not hurrying through the shelves, because it's not like it really matters anyway. If Jade can't fix this, then no one can, and at least death in the Tower isn't going to stick.

Luckily, it seems that right there is the teal uniform he's looking for.]

Jade.

[All the greeting you get. No beating around the bush today.]

Is there any way to halt fonon separation once it's begun? Failing that, is there a way to slow it?

Comments

[bloodyashes]

He's younger than you think and has virtually no training at all. But since he's my replica, he's my responsibility.

[Meaning, no, Saber, you cannot has.]

[scorchedchivalry]

I believe Luke has the right to choose who he wishes to learn from. He knows he is welcome to become my squire any time he wishes.

As of now, he prefers to learn on his own. Regardless, your responsibility or not, he is his own man.

[bloodyashes]

He'll always prefer to do things himself, even when he shouldn't.

[A long-suffering expression crosses his face for a moment; Saber, you have no idea the trouble that boy has put him through.]

...Regardless, there are some things he can't learn on his own. Some things only I'm qualified to teach him.

[scorchedchivalry]

Such as what - impersonating nobility?

[From what Luke has told her and seeing Asch, she has drawn a few conclusions on her own.]

[bloodyashes]

It's hardly an impersonation when he was raised as third in line to the throne.

[Talk around it all you like, Asch, she'll find out Luke was raised as you eventually.]

We have a unique ability that he's untrained in the use of. That's all.

[scorchedchivalry]

Raised as is not the same as being true born. And there is more to proper training than just learning to use an inherent ability.

[bloodyashes]

It is in this case. He's my replacement.

[Technically, Luke would be fourth in line, he supposes, if replicas even count for the succession.]

And my objective is just to keep him from blowing anyone up by accident using it. If he wants finer control than that, fine; if not, that's also fine.

[scorchedchivalry]

It is not in any case.

So your true name is Luke fon Fabre, son of the Baticulean Duchy, heir to the throne of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear.

[bloodyashes]

...That name is his now.

[His fingers tighten slightly over the frame of the photo he's holding.]

The me that was Luke has been snuffed out for years.

[scorchedchivalry]

One's true name never goes away. There is power in knowing it. It is engraved upon your soul from the moment it was given to you and will always be there.

[bloodyashes]

Hmph. If I'm Luke, then who is he?

[They took the light from him, and gave it its own body and the name that had once been his. And while he was smothered, Luke blazed.]

He is Luke, and I'm what's left. That's simply how it is.

[scorchedchivalry]

He is also Luke as that was the name given to him. But the true name belongs to you. You were born with the name. He was not.

...a replica is never as strong as the original it was copied from. If he wishes to be strong, he will have to stop being a copy of you. And be his own man.

[bloodyashes]

It's his name, now.

[And that is that, as far as Asch is concerned.]

I have no intention of being 'Luke' again. If he ever decides to be someone else, then I suppose Luke will be simply dead.

[scorchedchivalry]

A person cannot erase their own existence. That is beyond human capacity. [Saber knows that well.] It requires a magic beyond greatness to accomplish.

Did you hate your life that much?

[bloodyashes]

Whether I hate it or not doesn't matter. I can't just step back into being that person after seven years.

And if I had been Luke those seven years, then I would be dead. I doubt we'd be discussing this now, if that was the case.

[scorchedchivalry]

And yet Luke survived those years. How could he do so and you die? He is, after all, an idiot. [As Asch referred to him.]

[bloodyashes]

It's because he was born that either of us was able to survive. Because he had replaced me, I wasn't located after my kidnapping. Thus, I wasn't in the manor to follow the Score to my death at Akzeriuth.

...He escaped, I suppose, out of sheer dumb luck. Replicas are not accounted for in the Score; his fate was never set.

[scorchedchivalry]

So he was created to be a sacrifice? [That did not sit well with her at all.]

[bloodyashes]

Essentially. Van desired my power, so he kidnapped me and left Luke to ensure that no one would go looking. He lived in my place for seven years, and would have met the death intended for me if he'd been left on his own.

[scorchedchivalry]

Then his life gave you yours. Treat him with more respect, Asch. He deserves it.

[bloodyashes]

I'll respect him when he earns it for himself, instead of through the actions of others.

[A pause.]

So far, he hasn't been a complete waste of effort.

[scorchedchivalry]

And surviving where you would have died is not worthy of respect?

[bloodyashes]

Not when it's due to the actions of others. He survived because Tear was there to cast a barrier, no other reason.

And this Luke never made it to Akzeriuth, so it's a moot point, anyway.

[scorchedchivalry]

[Saber just hummed at that, deciding to change the subject.]

And what is this ability of yours?

[bloodyashes]

[The look on his face says that he's not particularly interested in telling you that, Saber.]

Why don't you talk about yourself, first, since you seem to think you know everything about me already.