there's a let it go joke here somewhere

[bloodyashes]

Characters: Grumpy redhead and you!
Setting: Various; see prompts.
Format: Whatever man, you know I don't care.
Summary: Catch-all for February; event stuff may be added later if needed.
Warnings: Valentine's mini event = really bitchy Asch.

Cafeteria Kitchens, early afternoon, any day 1st-13th

[Anyone who braves the cafeteria will find a usual scene - Asch with a bowl full of batter, or his hands deep in bread dough, or cleaning some animal of its meat.

On the twelfth and thirteenth, there's a big bigger prey than usual - large pieces of chocobo meat fill a table, in various states of "frozen" and "cooked," with whatever piece Asch is working on at the moment in front of him. Hell of a bird, that.]

[Floor 101, the morning of the 9th]

[A stop by the hidden floor has become a part of his morning rounds, since he prefers to catch the elevator on this floor rather than at the top of the dorms above. It's less crowded that way.

This morning, though, he has to stop and double-take at the thickening layer of pink snow building up on the garden paths and ledges.]

You have got to be kidding me.

[Around the dorms & elsewhere - CLOSED TO PREVIOUS CR WHO WERE IN LAST MONTH'S EVENT]

[And for those of you who are choosing to stay in your rooms until the malfunctioning powers come to an end - luckily, there's a redheaded delivery service with your name on it.

If you don't run into him on the stairs or in the elevator, with arms full of bundled, makeshift meals, then knock-knock. Here's something a little less sugary sweet and morbid. You'll let him in, right?]

[Valentine's Mini-event catchall - the 14th, obviously]

[At least there's warnings this time. That's about the only good thing about this, really. Come morning there's Asch with a deep pink heart on his cheek and a bad attitude that might be familiar to anyone from Auldrant - he stomps his way up and down the staircase in a rush, with a glare leveled at anyone who gets in his way.

There's no food deliveries today, certainly - as far as he's concerned, you can all just starve. He's got better things to do than worry about people like you - even if yu're one of the people still inclined to help him out.]

Comments

14th, this will go well

[sageprincess]

[It's an agonizingly slow process for a busybody like Zelda, but the energy she gave up for the Tower's continued existence is gradually beginning to return to her. If it weren't for the visions of... everything that continue to plague her dreams at night, she might have even felt more alert than not as the first half of the month comes to an end.

But she doesn't need that much energy to recognize something's odd when she catches Asch in the dorm halls. The glare might be familiar to those from his homeworld, but she's more used to a polite bow of the head when they find one another in passing. But the stain of the heart on his face is the most troubling - it's hard not to associate the symbol with Ruana after two years in the Tower.

Brow furrowed deeply in concern, she backs up to ask:]

Asch, what is wrong?

Re: 14th, this will go well

[bloodyashes]

[It's Ruana's doing for sure - there's a resentful look that seems to be saved for Zelda in particular when she approaches, something rebellious in the eyes that normally hold her in high regard.]

Nothing.

[It's almost snapped.]

[sageprincess]

[Minds and personalities being altered is hardly a new thing, but she can't help being taken aback, lips pursing into a hurt frown.]

... The hateful glare says otherwise.

[So much so that she has to break eye contact lest she wither under it - something she cannot allow herself to do if he's Ruana's playing a game with his mind. This does allow her to scrutinize the mark on his cheek more closely, at least.]

She has marked you for something... [But what, and how does she go about reversing it this year?]

[bloodyashes]

It's nothing.

[Oh yeah, we've got some maximum resentment here going on. The comment about being marked goes completely over his head, as though he didn't even hear it, even though he's close enough that he definitely should have.]

[sageprincess]

Ruana's influence on your mind is not nothing.

[She insists, because it is unfortunately rather easy to misinterpret the lack of a response to the mark.]

You would not look at me in such a way otherwise.

[bloodyashes]

Why should you care? It's not like I'm of much use to you anyway.

[The words shoot out in a flurry of resentment before he can stop them, but from the look on his face, he's not taking them back.]

[sageprincess]

[Of course he isn't. She has never known Asch to be the type to regret his words. She tries to not let them sting, but the idea that he might just think this sort of thing deep down still hurts her despite. It (and, admittedly, the sheer amount of venom in his voice) makes her back up, both to give him his space and to distance herself from the resentment he radiates in droves.]

I care for you as a person - as a friend - before I care for whatever you perceive to be usefulness, Asch. And I do hope you will remember that when this is over.

[bloodyashes]

Idiot!

[Oh we've entered the cursing and insults stage. This is not a good sign; it's a sign there's a good chance he'll do something stupid.]

I didn't swear to you for that - I gave you my sword because I needed a purpose! Something that wasn't just waiting for it all to come crashing down! If you can't at least give me that, then...

[...Then nothing. He can't take back the oath; whether Zelda knows it or not, she would have to release him from it. That's the nature of the thing.]

[sageprincess]

[...

It's Ruana's doing. She's messed with his mind. It's Ruana's doing. She can't hold what he says against him. It's Ruana's doing--

And yet, the familiar weight of failure settles itself neatly upon her shoulders, matching her logical mental mantra with whispers of guilt and shame and regret. Knowingly or not, Asch has pierced through the gaps in the armor she's built up around her heart, but she will not allow herself to respond in kind. It would be unfair.

Numbness, however, is a welcome reprieve. Her expression smooths out, no longer concerned or even pained, but carefully neutral.]

I am... sorry I am not all you thought I was, then.

[Divine blood runs through her veins, the power of the gods literally rests in her hands, and yet... destruction seems to be all she's good for.

She steps aside, out of his way, head bowed as she does.]

I will let you go, now, if my presence disgusts you so.

[He may take that however he'd like.]

[bloodyashes]

[His own grip on his emotions was never the tightest anyway. Seeing her step down so easily - it's the same as Luke does, and it sets off something burning in him. Even if you are a person he can't stand to look at, there's nothing he hates more than a person who won't stand for themselves.]

If people look to you to lead, then lead, damn you.

[There's still venom in his voice, but it's of a different sort - exasperated more than resentful.]

Don't just drop your eyes because you think it will make things easier!

[sageprincess]

[She does, at least, look back up at that, though the look in her eyes is more tired than anything.]

I will not engage in a battle I cannot win. Nothing I say will please you so long as Ruana is influencing you.

[it's Ruana's doing it's Ruana's doing it's Ruana's doing--]

I respect you too much to argue while your mind is not your own.

[bloodyashes]

Tch. Believe what you will.

[Come on, Zelda, since when has telling people they're brainwashed ever worked for you?

He's turning to do the Classic Asch Stomp Getaway now - if she's paying attention, she can probably see the note pinned to the hem of his tunic as he goes. Last chance for gas, princess.]