realityshifted | (no subject)

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tales of the abyss (d2) tear grants

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[The forest echoes with the sounds of metal on metal, the high-pitched dragging sound of a knife being sharpened.]

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[Tear is sitting, dragging her knife along a small whetstone with a practiced ease. Her expression is focused even if it's not on what she's actually doing. A million thoughts are going through her mind all at once, keeping her hand white-knuckle tight on the knife, the movements sharp and precise as though wasting no extra energy.]

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[After a moment she inspects the knife edge carefully, wiping the edge clean with her gloved hand, before turning the knife over to even out the edge.]

It's happening. It's actually happening. How could I have not seen this?
Even the others... Major Legretta... how far does this go? Who else is involved with this?
It doesn't matter. It's not going any further.

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[Drawn by sound and Tear's voice, Guy approaches. He's careful not to be silent, and to approach in plain view. No need to startle the lady holding sharp objects. He wouldn't want her hurling them at him, or slipping and injuring herself.]

[Once he's close enough he sits down, watches her silently a minute or two, his own silence inviting her to keep talking.]

[She watches Guy cautiously, although her expression isn't hard. Guy has shown he is a good traveling companion, after all.]

It must be interesting to watch those of us in the past going through the events you've already experienced.

That's one way to put it.

[Painful, is how he's describe it, but he doesn't say as much. It still feels like lying to his friends, not to warn them of the future, like he's betraying trust. To him Tear is an important companion by now, just as they all are. Still, he's silent. He's always been one to keep his own council, even from the start.]

Maybe a little frustrating--part of me wants to join you and help, but I know I'm already there. It's quite a weird sensation.

It must be hard, when you know what's coming. I'm not sure how Colonel Curtiss and Emperor Peony are so calm about it all the time.

You know those guys. Even if something gets to them you'd never notice.

So I've learned. Although that's not entirely true... I never thought I'd see Colonel Curtiss get angry about something.

Jade getting angry, huh? That sounds like quite a story.

I'm sure you'll remember if you think about it. You were there when Major Legretta mentioned fomicry...

I remember.

[It seems like such a long time ago.]

Perhaps when you know the whole story it stands out less.

[Asch also knows better than to sneak up on Tear after their last fighting encounter. But he's followed by the soft sound of armor and the clatter of his sword in the hilt, so it's not like Tear couldn't hear him coming anyway.

He's not having second thoughts about his plan, but he is wondering if this is the last time he'll be able to talk to Tear like this. If he fails... there might not be anything left of either of them.

He doesn't say anything in greeting, but his gaze is a deep, intense green; certainly something she can feel without looking at him.

For once, he is quiet.]

[She doesn't look up when she hears his approach. There's few enough people wearing that much armour, and she's learned his gait from their previous interactions. She finishes the knife she's holding before looking up to meet his gaze, letting her concerns filter through without a word as well.]

[At this point, Asch is almost tempted to ask her if she'd rather not go through with the plan. It's not because Peony and Jade have made him reconsider. It's because he's been manipulating people against their will, and being a victim of that himself, he knows how awful it feels.

He is scared. Terrified, even. He's never had this much control over his destiny before, nor anyone else's. But he is ruthless and steel-like in his resolve, and after a long moment of meaningful glances, he closes his eyes in acceptance.]

You're ready.

[Tear nods, sheathing the knife with a fluid motion before drawing the next one, starting to work on that one.]

As ready as I can be. Can one really be ready for something like this?

... I don't know. [At least he's being honest. He watches her sharpen her knives with an unreadable expression.] Ready or not, we can't turn back. There's too much at stake.

[Why he states the obvious, he's not sure. Maybe to remind himself that things aren't so simple as being able to say 'I give up' and let Jade and Peony live in their happy, bright world where they don't have to think about things like the past. Like all the people they killed with their ignorance.

Politicians are hardly ever the ones on the battlefield themselves. And this is a war that Asch fully intends to win.

He leans against a nearby tree.]

If there's anything you want to know before you go, now is the time to ask.

[She nods in response again, although she's not paying complete attention. Her mind is whirling, trying to plan for the unplannable, just trying to prepare for something that makes her shake just a little when she thinks about what they're actually doing.]

When would be the best time to strike?

Without Luke there.

[That's part of the plan... though she doesn't know that detail.]

He'll just get in the way.

[She can't help but roll her eyes slightly.]

Of course. He'd probably jump in to try to defend him again.

[He's quiet for a minute, his gaze as thick and heavy as the silence.

He could offer an apology for deliberately manipulating Tear and Luke for a desired outcome. He could offer himself in the scenario that Akzeriuth fails completely, and condemns Tear and her time to a darker dimension.

But he does nothing of the sort. He's not that apologetic, at least not openly, and he'd rather not sabotage things by watering any seeds of doubt. All he can offer is a rare moment of honesty, his voice rough and warm and familiar.]

Good luck, Tear.

[They'll both need it.]

What's happening?

[Gin will ask from a good distance away, not looking directly at her]

Change.

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