And suddenly, falling over is the most terrifying thing in the world

[thewilltolive]

Characters: Luke and YOU
Location: Around Vatheon
Time: Early Afternoon
Style: Starting in action, but either is fine!
Status: Open!

[ So, Luke has been here for a few days now. Mostly, he's been keeping to himself and hanging around Guy's place, but with the recent curse he's decided to go out and...well, honestly, he's not really sure why he's out and walking around. Guy was pretty cranky, and Luke was pretty sure he wasn't going to stand for his staying-on-the-floor shenanigans.

So, here he was, out and about. He looks rather frazzled, and keeps looking to the ground nervously. Why was he out again? Because, this is a terrible idea. Probably one of the worst idea's he's ever had, and oh god, oh god he's going to fall over for sure, and--

Luke stops quite suddenly, and slowly



Very, very slowly



He lowers himself to the ground, and just lies there. After a moment, he seems to try and drag himself along, but he gives up on that pretty quickly. Seriously, it wasn't worth it. He was perfectly happy lying where he was, safe and on the ground. So...yeah, it doesn't really look like he's going to move any time soon. ]

Comments

[thewilltolive]

[ As soon as it registers, Luke sits up in a flash, momentarily forgetting his awkward fear of heights and the reason he had been lying there. ]

...Ion!?

[ He looks absolutely shocked. Because Ion shouldn't be...Then again, Luke shouldn't be here either. ]

How...

[fonmaster]

[He seems enormously relieved that Luke remembers, smiling at him warmly.]

I don't know. This place can bring back the dead, it seems. Not that everyone here is dead, of course!

[Don't mind Ion, he's going to just check Luke over since laying in the middle of the ground like that made him worry.]

Have you found Guy, yet?

[thewilltolive]

Don't talk about it so casually!

[ Like he is one to talk. Though, he'll suck it up for now, and just frowns. Physically, Luke seems fine. Except for maybe a bruise or two from when he fell out of bed the night before. ]

Guy? Yeah, I've been staying with him the last couple of days.

[fonmaster]

[He's come to terms with being dead as far as Auldrant is concerned over the past couple months. If Tear survived, then he considers it worth it.]

I'm glad. He was worried about you, though...

[Ion frowns slightly.]

He doesn't remember things. A lot of things.

[thewilltolive]

[ Luke nods, his frown becoming more prominent. ]

Yeah, I...I know. I kind of wish he remembered more, but...I don't know, I guess it's better this way. [ At least he didn't know about the decision Luke had made...

Not that Akzeriuth was any better. ]

[fonmaster]

Why is it better?

[...Luke, why are you making that face? That reminds Ion of... well, himself.]

...what happened? After I... ah, is Tear alright?

[thewilltolive]

There are just...some things that he's probably better off not knowing. [ He chuckles weakly, not really sure what to tell Ion. Not really sure if he wants to talk about it or not. ]

After...well, we found a way to neutralize the miasma, and oh--yeah, Tear's fine! [ He forces a smile. ] Whatever you did saved her.

[ He hadn't really come to terms with Ion's death, but he was grateful Tear was alright. ]

[fonmaster]

You neutralized the miasma? Truly?

[Ion has to hug Luke for that. He'd had faith that Luke would be able to do it, be able to avert the disaster that was written in the Score. Actually hearing it, he's a little overcome.]

I knew you could do it.

[thewilltolive]

I...

[ It feels like there's a lump in his throat that he can't quiet swallow, and at the hug Luke kind of clings to Ion. He felt kind of pathetic. Ion always had so much faith in him, when he didn't have any in himself. He didn't even know if his efforts had been in vain or not. ]

I don't know if it worked or not.

[fonmaster]

[He rests a hand on the back of Luke's head.]

Were you pulled from before it was complete, then? It's alright. That's normal for this city. People are drawn here in the middle of their journeys all the time, and when they go back, everything is just as they left it.

[thewilltolive]

Yeah...

[ He doesn't sound convinced, and he isn't sure he knows what to think about that--Because what if he didn't have anything left to return to? What if he did fail?

He opens his mouth, to ask if dying had hurt, but quickly closes it again. It wouldn't matter if he knew or not, would it. He would go back, neutralize the miasma, and die. That's how...that's how it had to be. ]

[fonmaster]

[Ion is incredibly perceptive for his age. Having had a friend that recently went to their death, not to mention the fact that he's done so himself - he can sense that something is wrong. He draws back to look at Luke, concerned.]

Luke, what is it?

[thewilltolive]

[ Luke just looks down to his hands quietly for a time, trying to figure out what to say... ]

Did it hurt, to die?

((Luke may be different, scion of Lorelei and all - but my Ion has no soul SO))

[fonmaster]

[The words come out haltingly. It's not something he likes to think back on.]

I - no. It didn't hurt. You were there, and so were Anise and Tear, and I just... just sort of faded away... I didn't feel anything.

[He felt nothing, to be more precise. True nothingness. He ceased to exist. Ion shudders involuntarily.]

SOB ION. I haven't given the matter much thought, though I suppose it would make sense ;;;;;;;;

[thewilltolive]

Sorry...I shouldn't have asked.

[fonmaster]

[He keeps his head down, speaking quietly.]

Do you think you died, Luke?

[It's strange. When it comes to other replicas, ones that aren't himself... it hurts to think of them dying. They're people, aren't they?]

[thewilltolive]

There's no way I survived. I saw right through my arm...

[ And he'd gone into it knowing full well he wouldn't survive. It didn't make it any easier to stomach, of course. ]

[fonmaster]

...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...

[He moves his hands to Luke's face, turning it so he's looking at him.]

Do you remember how I told you that there are many possible futures, Luke? Even if - even if you didn't survive, the future you were walking towards... I saw hope, there. For everyone.

[thewilltolive]

Yeah...they have Asch, though. They should be fine. [ He was the original, after all. ]

Thanks Ion. For...for everything. I hope you're right. I hope everything turns out alright for everyone.

[fonmaster]

It will. You've already changed the Score, Luke. That alone is amazing. They can do the rest, I know they can.

[Ion squeezes him briefly before remembering they're kind of in the middle of the walkway here.]

Ah... why are you on the ground exactly, Luke?

[thewilltolive]

[ Oh...right. Him laying on the ground. Well! This is kind of embarrassing. ]

Oh, that? No reason, really. I just didn't feel like walking anymore.

[fonmaster]

You didn't feel like walking? Does it hurt somewhere?

[Ion checks Luke again. He seems fine, but people don't just suddenly feel like not walking! Maybe Luke was getting sick, too.]

[thewilltolive]

No, I just realized how easy it is to fall over. [ Walking around is clearly the most dangerous activity. ]

[fonmaster]

...huh?

[Congratulations Luke, you have successfully made Ion forget (temporarily, at least) the depressing topic they were talking about just moments before. The Fon Master stands, holding a hand down to Luke.]

You have really good balance, Luke! I don't think I've ever seen you fall down.

[Being knocked down in battle is not the same as falling. He has seen that!]

Come on, let's at least get out of the street.

[thewilltolive]

Yeah, well I'm not about to start now.

[ Luke doesn't forget, but the whole walking around business is enough of a distraction to prevent him from dwelling on the matter. At least, for now it is. He'll most likely think on everything later.

He just looks at Ion's hand a moment, before flopping back on the ground and just...lying there. ]

...I think I'd rather stay here, thanks.