realityshifted | [ lost ]

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tales of the abyss (d2) asch

[ lost ]

[Asch makes a rare appearance. Rather than talk about his problems like everyone wants him to do, he is the bearer of a distraction. There's something shiny in his hands. The printed side looks like this. Clearly it is witchcraft, and that's what he's chosen to investigate today.

He addresses the Plane at large in his usual forceful, mildly offensive way.]

Hey, you. Tell me. [He waves the CD.] What's this thing supposed to be? It looks like a fon disc, but nothing can analyze it.

[He's sure it's from someone else's world, and that makes him uneasy. Maybe someone here will recognize it. It's worth looking into, anyway.]

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[he brightens at Asch's apparent recognition] Yeah, exactly like that! Like something you'd hear at a Mass, except I don't think they were in Latin. Have you got something like that in your world?

... Yeah. It was Ancient Ispanian. [He closes his eyes for a moment, lets out a breath.] Those hymns are sung during congregations inside the cathedral. [He knows every word, too. He grew up listening to them.

He looks at the CD in his hand, then holds it out for Oliver to take.]

This is yours, right? ... Take it.

[AAAH I'M SOCIALLY INEPT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE FRIENDSHIP FEELINGS]

Oh! They were really...pretty. [he's not sure how else to describe choral music]

[Oliver blinks at the offer, wondering if he should tell Asch to keep it, but after a second's thought, he takes the CD--with a smile] Cheers. Uh...what did you think of it?

[Asch gives a shrug.]

I couldn't find any fontech that could decipher it. What is it?

You... [he blinks] Oh, you couldn't play it! It's a C--uh, it's got music. [he pauses, thinking about how he might be able to share it with Asch without having to scour the TARDIS for a Discman. the obvious solution comes to him almost immediately, though] Here, I've got that one on my datapad! [he sets the CD down and pulls out the datapad. after a moment of navigating menus, he starts up Mr. Brightside] See?

[He hasn't seen the datapad for a while. Asch watches Oliver work with a muted expression, trying to figure out how exactly the stuff from the music disc-- as Oliver called it-- got onto the datapad. There has to be an easier way of transferring data than just shoving it wherever. Oh well, that's a mystery for another time.

-- Rock music. Indie rock music. There is nothing like this on Auldrant except maybe some folk done by the clown people, and anyway, he's not sure what to think about it. Asch's childhood is filled with long-buried piano melodies, soft sonatas performed for his sick mother. They lurk beneath the Daathic hymns.]

... It's noisy.

[Oliver looks slightly wounded] Well, yeah. That's the idea!

Here... [he switches it to Believe Me Natalie, wondering if Asch might like that better. because how could he not like the album at all, really?]

Edited (Coding fail!) 2012-08-05 03:54 (UTC)

[Having something close to Natalia's name in the title of the song is enough to get him to pay attention, but it's also somewhat unnerving.]

What kind of music is that?

[confused] It's rock music. Do you not have that on your world?

[His gaze shifts to somewhere else.]

No. We don't have instruments that sound like that.

[Probably the fault of failing technology.]

Wow. [a world without rock music? he can't comprehend such a thing] Well, I bet the Doctor could get you something to play it--I mean, if you want it.

I don't— [he sucks in a sharp breath, his mood taking a turn for the worse.] I don't need gifts.

[Because this is Asch and he has to turn everything into a battle. He huffs and glances at Oliver, forgetting for a moment about the empathy. His face is annoyed at best, but he's hurting and sad and scared--]

This is enough.

[That, at least, is truth. Vague as he's being, he... enjoys Oliver's company on some level.]

[Oliver is taken aback by his vehemence, and it shows in his expression. he cringes involuntarily at Asch's mess of feelings, averting his eyes briefly. but at those words, he looks back at his friend. and then he gives him a reassuring smile]

Hey. Want to get a drink?

[A mess is a pretty good way to describe how he feels in general.]

A... drink?

[Asch doesn't drink. It's reserved for special occasions, none of which he's had in a very, /very/ long time.]

... Fine.

[He doesn't know what he's celebrating. Dying, maybe.]

[he smiles when Asch accepts the invitation] All right. To the bar!

[and he starts off in that direction enthusiastically]

[Asch avoids his eyes, either because he remembered the empathy thing or because he's chronically awkward. He shows none of Oliver's enthusiasm, but at least it's... something.]

[Oliver, unabashed, continues on his way grinning brightly. you're going to enjoy this whether you like it or not, Asch!]

[He's only seventeen. I hope you know what you're doing, Oliver.]

I'm not drinking anything that glows.

[oh come on, Oliver is from the UK, and Asch is almost 18! he'd totally be legal already with parent permission. but mostly Oliver is just assuming he's at least 18 because he looks it]

[he snorts] Okay, that's fair! What's your favourite drink, anyway?

[Whether he acts like it is debatable.]

I don't know. I don't drink much.

[that's okay; Oliver doesn't act his age either. but way to be Asch-ish, Asch. Oliver's excitement is not to be deterred, though]

Well, then we'll take a look at what's there, and you can choose!

I guess. [It's not like he has another choice. He did agree to this.]

... What's your favorite?

[cheerfully] I can never really pick. I usually like whatever's on tap, but whisky is good for special occasions. Oh, and I tried this stuff on the Plane once that tasted like ice cream. It was amazing!

Ice cream-flavored?

[That--]

... I'm surprised that people aren't constantly drunk.

[he laughs] You've got a good point.

C'mon! [and he picks up his pace]

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sacredashes - 2012-09-19 03:34 (UTC) - Expand

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