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tales of symphonia (d1) aster

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[There's a new arrival on the plane. One wearing a lab coat. Some of you might recognize him, as he looks identical to Emil Castagnier, but he doesn't give any indication that he knows what's going on.]

I was...

[There's a pause as he scans his surroundings. Is he going to freak out? Have a panic attack? Suddenly bust into Ratatosk mode screaming about injustice? Nope.]

This is amazing! If only I could bring the equipment from Sybak in here, then maybe I could figure out the properties of this place.

[He's staring directly at, what he thinks, is the ground now and taps his foot against it once. Then again. One more time a bit harder. He can't see anything distinguishing it from anything else.

Aster tries to walk quickly towards-well, he tries walking and trips over himself.]

Whoa!

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[Emil is not having a good day. Or a good week. Or a good year, even. He grumbles to himself as he tries to locate Marta without the use of Tenebrae. It's hard, especially when she is purposely trying to avoid him.]

[But all of that disappears from his mind, replaced by a faint buzzing noise when he sees someone who looks just like him in a Sybak lab coat. He's never actually seen a picture of Aster proper in that coat, but he's sure that's him.

That's Aster, who he keeps being mistaken for. The kid from Sybak.]

[The one from the video message he received on the Plane.

The reason why, right now, his coward self is hiding in a ball and convinced he's breaking apart. Because he is.

There's a terrible thing going on inside of him and he's sure that this won't end well. Not for him, not for his coward self that everyone else seems to adore—]

[—not for Marta...

His mouth forms a tight line, his eyes growing cold like death. In a flat, deep voice:]

[Aster stands back up just in time to feel eyes against his back and hear a voice. A familiar voice he can't place.]

Ah, sorry. Are you talking...

[He stops mid-sentence the moment he lays eyes on the person. It startles him and surprise registers on his face immediately. He can't figure out what to say. He's too busy staring at himself. A mirror image standing right in front of him.

What kind of place is this?]

[Marta is angry right now. However, she's under the impression she's dodged Emil and now has some time to herself. As such... she's finally allowing herself to cry.

She sits on the Plane floor, arms wrapped around her knees, and sniffles a bit. She doesn't even notice the Emil lookalike nearby, she's too busy with her own thoughts.]

Who are you?

[The question tumbles out of his mouth before he can stop it. Before he can think it over and clearly assess what's happening. He doesn't sound accusatory or scared. Aster doesn't even respond to the anger, but he hears it and it keeps him standing in that one spot.]

[Once he gathers his bearings and is able to walk, he hears the sound of her crying. Aster can't have any of that. He's not one to leave someone alone if they're upset.

Sorry Marta. Emil lookalike is coming up behind her without any warning, save for the footsteps she might have heard.]

Excuse me, miss? Are you okay?

[Hearing footsteps causes her to sit up straighter, to rub at her eyes and try to will the tears away again. She turns to look, and hears his voice...

And sees his face...]

Y-You...!

[She abruptly turns away again, closing her eyes tightly.]

[Definitely not another Emil. He's met a few versions of the Doctor in his time, but he's never met someone from Sylvarant or Tethe'alla here that he recognized.

Of course, by that logic, it might not even be Aster at all but some other thing that looks just like him, with an entirely different history and personality.

It doesn't matter.]

Emil Castagnier.

[His gaze never wavers. Curiosity wars with frustration, but resignation wins, permeating every sharp angle of his body and roughening his voice. In the moment he set eyes on Aster, all of his own self-doubt came to light.]

You're Aster.

Edited 2011-04-19 04:48 (UTC)

Me?

[Is she upset with him? Perhaps she was an inhabitant of this place and he offended her somehow. Except he's not sure what he could have done other than trip.]

[Oh well, he's going to apologize anyways.]

I'm sorry.

[After a moment of consideration, he adds:]

I didn't mean to interrupt you, but you looked sad.

I'm not sad! [Yeah right, okay, Marta.] I'm still mad at you, Emil, you big jerk!!

[Both his first name and surname are unrecognizable to him. Aster didn't expect much from a name. He would remember a face that looked so much like his own. It was curiosity, and politeness, perhaps meant to decrease the tension.]

Emil Castagnier. We haven't met before, have we?

[It's a fact, not a question. One he has no doubt about.]

How do you know my name?

[Mistaken identity! That explains it. Aster holds his hands up in defense.]

H-Hey now. I think you've confused me with someone else. My name isn't Emil.

[That gets her attention. She frowns, slowly turns to face him again, and bites her lip. That's... that's exactly what he said when, the last time (http://realityshifted.livejournal.com/517484.html?thread=68913004#t68913004)...]

You're...? Then who are you?

[There is a particular answer she does not want to hear, not at all...!]

[His lips curl into a brief, humorless smile.] We have, in a sense. [Every time he looks in the mirror... every time he looks at the birthmark... it's the same one that was on the video.]

Everyone keeps calling me your name. I've been to Sybak. I've followed your footsteps for how long?

And now you're here. [He moves, footsteps quiet and slow as he circles Aster. Closer and closer, like prey.] ... We really do look alike.

[Yeah, Matti's just gonna be in the background as usual and get ignored. But if Aster does look behind him, there's a girl there looking worried about him.]

A-are you... o-okay....?

[Well now. This is strange.]

[On the bright side, since the Plane is no longer shut down, at least Jade isn't walking around carrying a spear.]

Bringing equipment from home isn't a problem. [As you should know, Emil.

Of course, if you present Jade the Necromancer with two look-alikes with different personalities and none of each others' memories, his thoughts will tend in a very different direction.]

[Sybak?

Aster keeps his eyes trained on Emil's form as he circles, careful to always have him in his sight. There's no fear on his face; no sign that he's uncomfortable despite the situation. Instead, he's thinking up solutions and reasonings.]

I can see why they would mistake us based on our appearance.

[If he 'followed his footsteps' there is only one he left behind. That was his research. Regardless of whether he died, his research would remain there.]

Are you trying to learn about Ratatosk?

[ASTER'S SO SORRY MARTA. Not yet, but he will be once he figures out what's going on.

He smiles, hoping it will make her more comfortable.]

My name is Aster.

[Aster picks himself up. He barely hears a girl's quiet voice and turns around to find where it's coming from. There she is!]

Yes, I'm alright. Thank you for your concern.

[He looks sheepish. He had been too busy looking at all the stars.]

[Noticing her existence just earns this guy a whole truckload of respect.]

I-I'm glad to hear that... u-um... a-are you new here...?

[Now that he's back on his feet, no worse for wear, Aster turns to look at who's talking. His situation is more difficult than he realizes, not that Aster's willing to explain right now. Instead, he decides to inquire for more information.]

Can you explain further? Perhaps what kind of equipment would be allowed?

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