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[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[It's silent in the woods. Perhaps too silent? The only thing that can be seen is what looks like a pillow that has been carefully placed in the midst of some branches on one of the trees. The pillow itself seems to have some very angry-looking squiggly lines drawn on it, as though it is frowning intensely. There are a few small circles drawn on it, and on the tree itself.

There's a faint crunch, as if someone has stepped on some leaves, but then silence once more. Suddenly, several knives embed themselves in the marked circles. With a neat flip, Tear leaps out of one of the trees, landing in a ready stance with her staff brandished, another knife clenched between her fingers. She stares at the pillow coldly for a moment, before lowering her staff, closing her eyes and exhaling softly.

She walks up to the pillow, jerking out the knives with a practiced ease, then turns away, starting to walk away into the trees once more.]

Comments

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[AND JUST WHEN YOU DON'T NEED HIM, Asch is there-- a hand on his sword, looking as stalwart as always.]

I need to talk to you.

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[Now is not the best time to appear out of nowhere. Have a brace-full of knives ready to embed themselves in your face for a moment.]

... Asch!

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[Asch doesn't even flinch. Apparently he's used to this treatment by now. His tone is forceful-- he thinks this is important.]

How committed are you to stopping Van?

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[While she may sheath her knives, her eyes are cold. She's not sure how much she can trust him with the truth, regardless of what he's said.

Perhaps it's time to test how much she may have trusted him in the future, first.]

You're from the future. How much do you know?

/equips canon with the "Broken Beyond Repair" title

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[He keeps his gaze level and just as cold. They are two soldiers standing in the middle of a battlefield unsure of what side is which, and that fragile trust is being tested.] You came to the Outer Lands to stop him because you thought he was up to something. I know what that 'something' is. [Well, for the most part. He actually hasn't gone into Ortion Cavern yet but he's going to do it. Eventually.]

I'll ask again. How committed are you to stopping your brother?

[There's just a little emphasis on the last syllable, but it's enough.]

/the costume is rags and a black eye I'm sure

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[She won't let herself react to anything he says, although his last word gets a very subtle twitch...

She turns her back to him as she slowly draws her knives again, before whirling, a snap of the hand and the sound of metal hitting wood. The knives have hit their marks on the pillow and the tree once more.]

I've dedicated my life to stopping him. Everything else is just to facilitate that.

Definitely.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[Asch is mildly impressed. He doesn't smile, though there's a wry curve in the corner of his mouth.]

Good.

[He pulls out a small, plain envelope and holds it out.]

This is for you. Don't open it until they ask you to verify the Seventh Fonstone. And don't let anyone else see it under any circumstances. Understood?

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[She's startled to hear that he knows about that, but it must have been a past event to him. Perhaps it was never even a secret, at that point.]

O-Of course.

[She takes it cautiously, folding it over once without even looking at it as she decides what to do with it. She turns away from him, pulling up her uniform briefly to fold it over the top band of her garter belt. Once she's certain that it's secure she smooths her uniform down again before turning back to him.]

... has he shared his plans with all of you?

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[Asch doesn't stare because he's a polite young man at heart. Really. He'll just stand here with his arms folded until you're done hiding things in your underwear, Tear.

He shakes his head at the question.]

He told the other God-Generals, but not me. He probably knew I'd be against it.

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[SECOND-SAFEST PLACE EVER OKAY]

[Damn, there goes that option. That's almost something she'd consider changing the future for: knowing the true scope of what Van is planning. Instead she steps back to the tree to retrieve her knives.]

If it's what I imagine it is, then... only those as twisted as he is would follow along willingly.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[He was more or less raised by Van, and Largo might have had a hand in his discipline. Maybe. There are a lot of things conflicting inside of him right now, but he lets none of it show.]

They all have their own reasons.

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[She's buried her memories and thoughts as deeply as she can in order to be effective, but she still wears his influence over her like a cloak. Everything she is, everything she's become was because of him and his actions. Even now, she keeps her expression flat and her voice low.]

Of course. Even the sane can follow the path of the insane if it seems like a good idea. Just as I'm sure you have your reasons for standing against him.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[And he doesn't expand on those reasons, glancing to the side for a moment instead.]

Has Jade told you anything?

[clinical]

[Sparring is fun for the whole Abyss family! So Jade stops by.] I hope that isn't Master Luke's pillow. He'll be very upset.

[Except Luke sleeps on Thing, of course.]

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[She bristles, dropping into that familiar ready stance with a brace of knives before recognizing his oh-so-dulcet tones.]

... Colonel Curtiss.

No, it's not.

[clinical]

[Dulcet? So kind!]

I've spoken to His Imperial Majesty, and he's given me the resources to examine the results of our experiment. Have you left me anything?

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[sarcasm, dearest colonel]

I spoke with Asch earlier. Right now we're speaking with you on the Tartarus, and I left a knife in the briefing room. Asch said he would look for it when he was able to.

He also informed me that the Emperor was here with us. Is this true, Colonel?

[clinical]

[You can't hide it! Everyone loves Jade!]

Unfortunately, that won't work between you and I. It would be best if you leave something next time you get out of the Tartarus. [He doesn't intend on saying why] As I've found Asch's, if he finds yours, it will be proof enough that all three universes are connected.

[He didn't hesitate to hide information about the Tartarus, but this is a slightly more annoying subject] Yes, from just the other day. I've updated him on the situation.

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[What about Dist]

I'm not sure how long that will be. I'll advise you as soon as circumstances change. [Yes, she's being unnecessarily stiff. All this temporal nonsense has left her with a headache on top of the one Luke always gives her.]

[AND IT NEVER ENDS!!!] ... is it safe to ask "when" he has come from?

[clinical]

[We do not talk about Dist.]

Of course. [From the smile playing at his lips, that amuses him more than anything.]

He's my contemporary, so that won't be an extra complication. Anise, however, is another case.

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[SHE'S LEARNED TO REALLY DISLIKE IT WHEN HE SMILES. This is no exception.]

... Anise is here as well?

[clinical]

Yes, I'm afraid so. [Why is he smiling anyway? Lorelei only knows.] She's from a point in history after yourself, Luke, and Asch, but the time is before myself and His Majesty.

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[THE HEADACHE IS GETTING WORSE AND THERE IS NO RELIEF IN SIGHT]

I see. I'll be cautious when speaking with her, then.

[clinical]

[Jade can make you painkillers.]

I should mention, now that I have His Majesty's full permission. Asch doesn't have all the information you might want. If you choose to use knowledge from your future to change history, I'd be willing to completely disclose what I know.

[youidiots.livejournal.com]

[the question is, do you trust Dr. Mambo]

Colonel Curtiss, I thought we were trying to avoid issues with timelines.