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

[scorchedchivalry]

[Then she'll just ask Luke about it.]

I do not know everything about you. I am just capable of inferring a lot from my conversations with Luke and what I know about the human nature.

As for myself, I am a seasoned knight of Britain.

[bloodyashes]

[GL with that. Note to self - teach replica to keep secrets later.]

Is that all?

[He doubts it.]

[scorchedchivalry]

That is all that matters. I, too, have lived more than one life.

[bloodyashes]

Is that so? You seemed pretty intent on shoving me into who I used to be.

[Yeah who's calling whose shit now Saber]

[scorchedchivalry]

I do not deny my true name. Saber is to me as Asch is to you. But it was my choice to take the second life I did as I was not ready to die.

I am who I am. Changed, yes, but still the knight.

[bloodyashes]

If you're so hung up on me being Luke, then it's only fair that you share the name you left behind as well.

[It's not as though it means anything to him besides stubbornness.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Arturia Pendragon, King of the Britons.

[bloodyashes]

...No wonder you know so much of royalty.

[With that, Asch folds up his knees again, glancing at the picture in his lap.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Indeed. Is that picture of the family you have forsaken?

[She can't help but be curious.]

[bloodyashes]

[Glare. He hasn't forsaken them, but he grudgingly tips the picture in her direction anyway, just enough to let her see.]

[scorchedchivalry]

[She responds to the glare with stoicism. He has given her no reason to not believe he has forsaken them. But she kneels down next to him to look at the picture.]

[bloodyashes]

[It's a tiny Asch, about eight years old, holding hands with a blond girl about two years older. Behind them, a woman with red hair - darker than Asch's, which is still darker than Luke's, but it's not hard to guess that she's his mother.]

[Asch doesn't respond to Saber coming closer, just rubbing one thumb along the frame.]

[scorchedchivalry]

It seems Jason is fond of making us recall our past lives this season. My crown was returned to me.

[bloodyashes]

I take it you're not particularly pleased with the 'gift.'

[There's a pause, and then Asch chuckles.]

It's not even my holiday.

[scorchedchivalry]

I generally do not like to be known as anything other than a knight. Do you have a winter holiday where you are from?

the one where there's virtually no canon and Nai wings it

[bloodyashes]

Not of the same kind, I think. The Festival of Lights is the new year's holiday, on the solstice.

o7

[scorchedchivalry]

On the solstice? That would be similar to Christmas. The holiday in my world was moved to coincide with the solstice as a way to convert more to the religion it was based upon. Most have a holiday about the winter solstice.

[bloodyashes]

Makes sense, I suppose. Auldrant has only the Order of Lorelei; there's no other religion to compete with.

[scorchedchivalry]

I find it hard to believe there is only one. Humans have too many varying ideals to follow but one religion. Even a kind and just one.

[bloodyashes]

They'll follow one that accurately predicts the future well enough, as long as the future they're promised is one of prosperity.

[He makes a sour face.]

In the name of the Score, they'd sacrifice their own children.

[scorchedchivalry]

That is the second time you have referred to the Score. What is that?

[bloodyashes]

It's the prophecy kept by the Order of Lorelei. The Score that was originally read by Yulia is the most specific; that's the Score that promises prosperity, and also the one that ordered my death. There are other, lesser Scores used to predict everything from the birth of a child to its death. Almost all of Auldrant relies upon the Score entirely.

[scorchedchivalry]

And where did it originally come from?

[bloodyashes]

At this point, I doubt anyone but Lorelei knows the truth of that, and he only talks when he wants to.

[He and Luke were probably the only ones the being would bother with, anyway.]

When I left, the world was in chaos because the Score had been overturned. Very few people on Auldrant know how to make decisions for themselves.

[scorchedchivalry]

Pathetic. Such blind faith only leads to strife.