melodiesoflife | to spit out the hateful, you're willing and able--

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to spit out the hateful, you're willing and able--

WHO: Luke and you?!
WHAT: Waking up......... and uh. other stuff? ~~YES THIS IS VERY LATE/BACKDATED AND I AM VERY SORRY~~
WHEN: We'll just say almost the entire month of November?!
WHERE: various places (see prompts)

-new beginning-

At first, he hadn't known if any of it was real.

To wake up and find himself with a talking animal by his side (that wasn't Mieu)... Well, he thought it was some case of him having hit his head really hard, or something. But, hours after walking around and discovering that it was all too real to be some kind of weird... hallucination? He was left trying to come to terms with all of it.

Naturally, one of the main concerns, was how his friends and family were. Where they were, was another question. If he'd been somehow spirited off to a strange, new planet, what about his friends? They hadn't been too far away, so it was possible... right? Ugh, the whole thing was way too confusing. He could feel a headache coming on.

His thoughts mainly drifted to Tear -- there were things he had... really wanted to tell her, yet... hadn't. For a number of reasons. It was as he started letting his mind dwell on a number of regrets, he could be found wandering near a hospital. His eyes drifted up to it, curiosity becoming very apparent. Yulia helpfully informed him that it was a place where heroes can be found in what she called... "Crystal Stasis" ...?

Maybe he should go see what she meant by that...

-new discoveries-

Figuring out how those apparent... "Job Classes"... work...

That was proving to be just a little annoying, since there were so many. While he appreciated that he was given two from the start, he wasn't so sure he... liked them. What the hell was a Ghostbuster, anyway? And the Vampire one was annoying, since it was only fully useful at night. So, he was going to be seen musing over something with quite a bit of mental effort.

He wanted to try getting new Job Classes, but the question was...which ones?

Weeks later, it would be possible to find him either checking out the weapons store, item store, chocobo farm... He wanted to learn the world as quickly as possible, but there was also the matter of him generally being restless. He was worried about the fact that he hadn't freed Lorelei yet... and well... another him had been in Crystallis for over a year. How long...would he be stuck there? More importantly, though...

Did he... truly even want to go back?

-~~not actually~~ new home-

When he first arrived in his new home (according to his own knowledge), he hadn't really expected anyone else. He hadn't asked ...Yulia... (seriously, the name had been part of the reason he'd thought it was all a weird dream, or something) about possible roommates. Not that he was used to living alone, but there was the fact that he'd arrived alone.

The female moogle (the name was as strange as the animal herself) didn't seem fazed by there being someone else standing there, though.

She seemed happy to see the person...and pink moogle. Hell, the cheerful, blue creature even waved and greeted the pair, "Hello! My name's Yulia, and this is Luke, kupo! My master and I were assigned to live here, as well... So, I hope we can all get along~!"

"Uh..." Luke was far from as cheerful as her, but he did smile and sort of jokingly say, "Heh... Guess I don't need to introduce myself. Anyway, I'm new to this place."

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“......”

The ninja wasn’t entirely sure what to believe. His… animal companion… had identified herself as Karura, and welcomed him back to Crystallis. He didn’t recall being in this world at all. Where was Suna, for that matter? And his siblings? His last memory was seeing his village, still safe from that Akatsuki intruder’s bomb, and then… waking up in a strange room. His powers were sealed – enacted by the enemy, no doubt – and he had been given two crystals to signify his new Job Classes.

After regaining his bearings, he pressed Karura for more information, but she wasn’t entirely forthcoming with additional details. Especially when she realized he didn’t recognize her at all. She knew a great deal, that was easy to tell. Getting her to open up and reveal everything would be another matter completely. Exploration was also a key factor, but before Gaara could leave, a stranger entered his assigned living space. His guard immediately rose, even though he hadn’t learned how to fight with his new abilities yet.

Lips pressing together, he stared at him in silent assessment, while Karura happily announced, “Oh, it’s so nice to see you again, Luke! It’s nice to meet you too, Yulia! We’re gonna have so much fun together, kupo!”

The silence on the other redhead's part wasn't exactly calming, considering how unsure Luke already felt about the situation. Damn it, he'd been...friendly, right? What more could he have said or done? Though, that wasn't the only thing that had him frustrated; there was something kind of...familiar about that guy. As the replica returned the stare (complete with a quirk of his brow, and look of mild confusion), he almost missed the new moogle's words.

"...Huh?" It took him a moment to realize what she might mean, and then it hit him, "Oh, right... Apparently... I was here before."

He attempted to offer her a small smile and nod, only to have his expression falter quite a bit. He reached up, one hand scratching at the side of his head as he battled his own facial features. He didn't want his first encounter with a new roommate to be one where he was all depressed. So, he outright forced a smile, "So, it looks like the old me was done with whatever he came here to do! I'll do my best to help this world in whatever way I can!"

A determined speech in place of tears; it wasn't the first time, after all. He forced himself to not think about when he'd seen Tear...Guy...himself, frozen in- ...place? Time? Then, like a smack to his face from a very large rock, it hit him. With a softened expression, he paused to stare at the other redhead for a moment. His words were quiet, "Oh... you were-..." there...in the hospital, too...

It had nothing to do with friendliness, or lack thereof. In spite of how the other man acted, Gaara wouldn’t trust him. Why should he, when they didn’t know each other? Or rather, from what Karura had implied, they might have known each other before, but she didn’t say in which context. Were they allies, banding together due to the circumstances of this world? Friendship wasn’t a bond that had crossed his mind. Not when he still believed that he was largely unworthy of it.

As though sensing his sadness, Karura took a hold of Yulia’s hand and flittered away with her. She didn’t want Luke to start asking her questions, in addition to her own master. Gaara was very inquisitive, just like she remembered him. His behavior was a little different, though. She wondered if Luke would be like that too; she could find out if they watched him, in private.

“The old… you,” Gaara echoed with a hint of confusion. Luke was speaking as though some other… version of himself had been present. Was he delusional? Or perhaps it was a branch off of the concept of clones. He had better ask, to clarify. “What do you mean?”

If he wasn’t already accustomed to people staring at him in general, he might have gotten annoyed with this display of scrutiny. Instead, he fired a cool glare right back, unfazed and unintimidated. Waiting for Luke to finish his sentence, rather than wrap himself further in enigma. Was that actual sympathy on his expression? For what reason?

Yulia blinked and appeared a little unsure of why she was being dragged off; she didn't stop the other moogle, though. Instead, she smiled and nodded. Well, their masters needed time to get to know one another, right? Once they were alone, she glanced back towards the previous room, "Master seemed... sad. He's been that way since he saw himself and his friends inside the crystals. Kupo..."

After seeing his moogle get dragged off, he was still frowning a little. His attention quickly returned to the other young man. Seeing the glare, it sparked some annoyance. What the hell was his problem...? He wanted to ask that question aloud, but decided it would be best to just answer his question. Though, it had his expression struggling all over again.

"I'm guessing your moogle hasn't explained what crystal stasis is, then? Apparently, it's something that can happen out of nowhere... One day, you're fighting to help this world, then the next... you're frozen in time. At least, that's what I've learned so far. I'm probably missing a ton of details, since I... am still new here."

When it came time for him to finish that sentence, he simply averted his gaze and appeared unsure of himself. Wouldn't it be best to just...let him go see for himself? Maybe hearing it from a stranger would be worse. With a sigh, he shook his head and scrubbed one hand through his hair, "There's, uh... well. I mean, I could just tell you, but it might be better if you go and see it with your own eyes. I could take you there tomorrow morning... or we could go now."

There was a pause before the last part, since it was added basically at the last moment. He... wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon, after all. So, why not use that time to walk around some more? Plus, he... needed to get to know the guy he'd be living with. It was already bad enough they were trapped on some strange, new world - they could do without the...tension, or whatever.

Their masters definitely got along better the first time, Karura noted with intrigue. Maybe it was because they had been boyfriends? Not that she would want to push them together like that, but if they started dating again, then they would have to be nice to each other! Right? The way they were acting now, wasn’t very encouraging… Not too good for a first meeting. Gaara never really let himself make new friends, from what she recalled. He had always seemed… scared, of something. Karura hadn’t figured out what that was, exactly.

Her wings fluttered faster when she heard Yulia say that. “Oh, no! He saw them already? And himself too, kupo?” One small paw hit Yulia on her shoulder, as if scolding her. “You shouldn’t have let him, kupo! He’s not ready to see that yet… He doesn’t remember anything.”

Speaking of those two, they were communicating just… perfectly. Without any issues or tension between them, at all. Gaara was watching the other man very carefully, all the while debating how this encounter might end. He wouldn’t be so quick to, say, set anything on fire right away, but part of him did feel like lashing out. Being stripped of control over this situation was incredibly frustrating, and he wanted to resort to violence as solace. But, no… he needed to act civilized, as though he was back in Suna and having his sanity monitored.

“No, she hasn’t,” he replied bluntly, and then listened to his explanation. Frozen… in time? For how long, and what purpose? Hmph. Here Luke was, claiming his naiveté, and in the next breath, speaking as though he understood this phenomenon. There was enough conviction in his words to almost believe what he was saying, though… “Do you bear any proof of this… condition?”

Apparently so. If Luke was offering to show him, then he would need to witness it with his own eyes. No sense in wasting time. Gaara had difficulty believing his claim, but with his powers sealed and those newly-assigned Job Classes… He supposed there could be some remarkable factors to this world that he had yet to uncover.

“Very well.” After adjusting his black-colored robes, Gaara retrieved the staff – his new weapon, apparently – and approached Luke. He had long since taken off the ridiculous hat that came with the outfit.

Yulia frowned and shook her head, "It's not like I led him there, kupo! I did say it would be better if he waited, but he refused to listen! He said it would be stupid to deprive himself of the truth... and something about how he's screwed up enough times, thanks to being too naive. K-kupo..."

She poked her paws together and sighed in an almost defeated kind of way, "I tried to argue that he should at least spend today resting, but he's more stubborn than I expected... Kupo..."

It really seemed that the guy wasn't going to be relaxing around Luke anytime soon. It was starting to seriously bug him. There was a slight temptation to outright yell, but then... that was something that the longer-haired version of him would do. He wasn't like that anymore. After nodding, he gestured at the door with his head, "It's a bit of a walk, but I don't mind. It's not like I'll be sleeping anytime soon, anyway."

With that, he opened the door and stepped out, holding it open so the other redhead could pass through. All the while, he was peering up at the night sky with a light frown. For a moment, he was lost in thought - it would be obvious by the look on his face and in his eyes, were the other young man to take a moment to observe that.

It was after the door was closed and they were walking that way, he took a moment to release what might seem to be a long-held breath, "Here I was thinking... the most unbelievable thing was the stuff M-... Van was doing," he started with a shake of his head, "Anyway, what's... your name? And your moogle's, for that matter."

Oh, that stubborn Luke… Her master had his share of difficult moments, reeling him in. There was the night where Luke had drank too much alcohol, and after Gaara brought him back home, shooed both of the Moogles away. She took Ion and flew off with him for a few hours, leaving them alone at home. Luke always did have a mind of his own; she couldn’t blame Yulia for not being able to hold him back.

“It’s okay, Yulia,” Karura reassured her with a pat on the back. She had lightly hit her out of concern for both of their masters. She didn’t want them to get off on the wrong foot, although it looked like that already happened. Anyway, she didn’t want Yulia to think she was a mean Moogle or anything! “It’s not your fault! They’re both really stubborn, kupo! Just warning you now – they’re gonna do some stupid things.”

Like right now, with both of them heading out the door. It was obvious that Luke felt aggravated by his cold exterior. He shouldn’t be offering to help, the naïve fool. It would probably be easier to foster some type of friendship if the ninja behaved more amicably, but… Casting aside that thought, he simply nodded in response and followed Luke through the dark setting, while constantly looking around for threats. Of course, he also continued to observe Luke carefully, making note of his peculiar behavior.

“Who is Van?” Gaara finally inquired, after they had been walking in silence for some time. Never mention a person of interest, in the presence of a ninja. He hesitated before answering, “My name is Gaara. The Moogle is named… Karura.” It felt very strange to utter his mother’s name, in relation to another being… That must have been another intentional jab at his mental state, by the people responsible for bringing him here.

The reassurance was nice, and Yulia seemed to relax after a moment. The mention of their masters doing stupid things earned a soft laugh, "You sound like you've known them a while... How long were they here last time?"

Luke wasn't surprised by the question, since he'd basically set himself up for it. It didn't help the fact that his mind immediately took him to places he didn't want it to. Just like that, he was back in Eldrant - he was staring his old master in the face, just before moving in for... the kill. They'd each traveled their own paths. They'd made their decisions...and Auldrant's fate was to be determined by whoever's willpower won.

"Someone I...killed," he wasn't entirely sure why it came out that way, and his body tensed as he uttered the last word, "He was someone who wanted to destroy my world... and my friends and I refused to let that happen."

In spite of there being a smile on his lips, it definitely wasn't the happiest one. It was clear he was sad, and the look in his eyes was of...regret. Even now, he wished there had been a way to not have to kill Van, even if it had been something he'd... been so sure he'd accepted. Maybe he just needed a little more time to come to terms. Not to mention, it didn't help that they were in a hell of a situation as it was. He and his friends were trapped on a new world...with a new task for them to accomplish.

"It's nice to meet you Gaara," he said with a much more genuine smile.

Boy, did she! They felt like a family, after being together for so long. It was sad not to have Ion around as much as before, since his Hero got put into the crystal. She only saw him on occasion now, whenever he was delivering mail to the area. Karura liked him a lot, but they just stayed friends, even though there were times she hoped for more. He was so shy and adorable.

“Over a year, kupo…” her tone turned soft and sad, “Both of them were really different… They’re not the same Heroes, kupo. Luke even had another Moogle named Ion.” Despite those words, she gave Yulia a small smile. “You’ll like Luke! He’s a nice Hero, kupo. They’ll make a great team! …I hope.”

Killed? Luke? Somehow, he doubted it, and the disbelief was evident on his expression. Luke didn’t truly seem like the type that was capable of killing. But if it was for the reason of saving his world, that made more sense. It reminded Gaara of his desire to murder the Akatsuki member, because he had invaded his village… then tried to destroy all of his people. Only, in his case, he would feel absolutely no remorse for killing that fiend.

“I see,” he muttered quietly, “and yet, you seem regretful.” A reasonable assessment, after surveying his reactions. Demonstrating any hesitation or sympathy toward the enemy would result in death. Luke would need to harden his emotions, or get killed.

Nice to meet him… Those sounded like such empty words. Eyes narrowing, he stared at the back of the other man’s head in silence, as they continued walking toward… wherever he was being led.

“Doubtful, considering the circumstances,” he remarked in a dry tone, “Unless you seek purpose, and endeavor to save this world as well.”

Over a year...

Yulia's expression turned to one of sympathy. She can't imagine being with a group that long, only to have things start over. Offering the other moogle a smile, she moves to gently pet her head, "I'm sure they will! We just have to stay strong and help them in whatever ways we can, kupo~"

The look of disbelief wasn't appreciated, and Luke's own expression hardened into a frown. After everything he and his friends had been through, he didn't like the thought of... it all being doubted. That guy wasn't even there, so who the hell was he to say none of it had happened! He... let it go for the time being.

As for the regret, he didn't feel like going into great detail. Still, they were going to be stuck with one another. On top of that? Some part of him kind of wanted to get it off his chest. Besides, that guy didn't know Van - didn't know any of them before all this, right? With a sigh, he spoke, "I am... He was... someone I trusted. Once upon a time, I was this huge idiot who trusted that man with everything in me. Then... he betrayed me and I nearly died because of him."

With his back to Gaara, he continued walking. The words kept coming out, before he could really stop them, "Van never cared about me from the start. He only ever saw me as someone he could use... and I let it happen. A-anyway, I worked with my friends and put a stop to his crazy plan. We all... saved our world and everyone on it that we could. But... there are still things I have to do. That's why I'm determined to help this world and then return home. Even if-..."

But, he wouldn't finish that last part. His expression dimmed - and then it was clear some part of him actually wanted to cry. It resulted in him being glad Gaara couldn't see his face. Something about the other redhead's words got to him. His temper slipped, arms folding over his chest as he muttered, "Look, Gaara... If you've got something to say, then say it! We're gonna be living together, right? Either we figure out how to get along, or there's going to be a problem. So, if you have some kind of problem with me, then just tell me, already!"

With that, he spun around to look at the other young man, eyes narrowed. With clenched teeth, he let another thing slip, "I've had enough of people looking at me like they're holding back or worse... wishing I'd just die! I'm not putting up with my own roommate doing the same kinds of things!"

Edited 2015-11-30 02:37 (UTC)

Catching Yulia’s paw between her own pair, she nodded while enthusiastically shaking it up and down. The pet to her head reminded her a little of Ion, and for a short moment, she was sad, missing him again. But then she perked up at those words of encouragement and agreed, “Let’s do our best, kupo!” Hopefully, their masters would return soon. Where did they go, anyway?

How intimidating. Except not truly. In all honesty, if Luke didn’t want to divulge any further details, he wouldn’t try to force him. It was none of his business. They were making conversation to pass the time – something Gaara didn’t typically favor. Luke came off as the type of person to enjoy talking, and didn’t feel too secretive about his past experiences. Maybe he hadn’t received enough attention, or his opinion wasn’t valued highly enough, in his home world.

“......”

Try as he might, he couldn’t help feeling some sympathy toward Luke. He understood the concept of being used as a weapon, and then discarded after the purpose had been served. Even getting betrayed by someone trusted. Having to kill that same person… For a brief moment, Gaara looked up at the moon that hung above them, almost against his will. At that time, through tear-stricken eyes, he could still clearly see the outline of his uncle’s body, before he had committed suicide.

Forcing that memory out of his mind, he remarked, sounding somewhat numb, “This world… is surely grateful for your assistance.”

He waited until Luke had finished his outburst, and responded with, “Is there something you want me to say?” Well… it sounded as though an emotional trigger had been pulled, judging by those words. Still calm, Gaara replied, “I don’t know you well enough to desire your demise. Perhaps our interactions will escalate to that level, if we choose to antagonize each other.”

Yulia beamed a little, glad to see the other moogle's response. With a happy nod, she voiced her agreement. Of course... she was a little distracted with wondering where the other two went. She'd heard them leave. Hopefully... they were just going for a walk, so that they could get to know one another better. The only other option would be... Luke taking Gaara-... no, no. She was sure that her master wouldn't do something so foolish! ...Right?

Green moogles being wrong aside, Luke did have a lot of things he wanted to ask Gaara. Apparently all Heroes came from a variety of worlds; what was his roommate's like? Maybe part of his being open, was in hopes that the other young man would do some level of the same thing - to open up about something so that they could start to get along. Sure, it was the first day... but he'd already had to deal with some people being hostile towards him.

They were all stuck there together, so what reason did they have to fight? The replica gave Gaara a light frown, "Yours too! You were brought here to help as well... and from the sounds of it, this place could use all the effort we can offer."

His cheeks were red as he stood there in silence for a moment. With one hand briefly resting on his hip, he shook his head. For a moment, he really didn't know what to say. He hadn't honestly meant to come out with all of that, so he was actually kind of embarrassed. Gaara's calm response didn't exactly help that, either. With a quiet sigh, he muttered, "Sorry... I don't know where all that came from. I think I'm just... a little tense from everything that happened."

After offering the other teenager an apologetic smile, he gave a soft laugh and turned to begin walking once more, "And hey, I don't plan to fight with you anytime soon. I... actually do want us to get along."

Not… at all.

As someone that didn’t have much experience interacting with others, he couldn’t tell what Luke expected from him. If he wanted information, then he should ask questions – simple as that. Why should he come out and divulge details without any knowledge of what Luke would do with it? Not that he really seemed like the conniving type, but only a foolish shinobi would be so carelessly open. Luke should enjoy having yet another person acting hostile toward him. It was going to happen more often than he might think.

Contrary to popular belief, however, Gaara wasn’t aiming to fight with him. He didn’t care for pointless, trivial squabbling. Hearing those words, the redhead decided to hold his tongue, rather than reply with something that Luke might find offensive. He hadn’t agreed to help this world, just yet. Someone was responsible for kidnapping him from his village. Why should he offer assistance to the perpetrator? It would be akin to helping the Akatsuki succeed at their goals, back in his home world.

“From your emotions, I would presume,” he answered reasonably, “You should learn to control them. It would be prudent, for your future endeavors. Though, it is customary for civilians to lack discipline.”

Luke might not like what he just said, but he wasn’t trying to provoke him. If Luke were in a mission-type situation, he could get killed for not keeping a level head. It was kinder to warn him ahead of time, before his mistake turned fatal. To the last suggestion, the ninja nodded. “Mmm. I agree.”

...They were clearly going to become the best of friends.

He didn't hold any assumptions towards how often he'd be treated as though he'd somehow offended Gaara; he was bracing himself for a lot of that. Since he had no knowledge of the kind of place the other redhead had grown up in, he had nothing to go on. There wasn't anything he could use to help himself get on better terms with his new roommate. Well, he wasn't going to just give up.

Even if the other young man was a jerk, he was a jerk that Luke would be living with from then on.

Jeez, that had sounded like something either Jade or...Tear would say. Instead of initially responding, he drew his lips together just a little tighter. After a faintly awkward glance to the side, he managed a sheepish smile at Gaara. Maybe it was because he'd just been reminded of those two, he could only accept the words - they were true...after all...

"Honestly... I have no idea how you guys are able to control what you feel, to such a degree. But... if I'm being honest?"

It was in that moment, he moved to directly face Gaara. Briefly, his teeth clenched for just a moment... and then he posed a question, "What's the point in having emotions, if you have to hide them? And what's the point in living, if you have to spend so much time... holding back. Life's so short... so why do we have to waste valuable time concealing who we are? If you ask me... that's just setting yourself up for regrets..."

The smile he wore was whimsical; a conflict of sadness and determination lurked within it.

Luke should know better than to insult a jerk that could set him on fire at any given moment.

But those words confirmed what he thought Luke was, more or less. He didn’t carry himself like a warrior, whether or not he knew how to fight. Well… he couldn’t hold him to the same standards, then. It was a ninja’s duty to protect civilians. If Luke turned out to be more pleasant and cooperative than the other inhabitants, he supposed that was incentive enough to ensure his safety.

Of course, he couldn’t know exactly whom Luke was referring to. He could answer the question itself, based on personal experience. “Training. Most shinobi are raised as such from childhood.”

Luke held an idealistic view of emotions, but not one that was completely feasible or realistic. A pity, really. Perhaps he needed to learn the hard way, about the dangers of revealing too much of oneself to the world. Unbidden, came a brief glimpse of the ninja when he was a small child, and still believed in the good of most people. Naruto had definitely altered his perspective since the night of the betrayal, but he wasn’t ready to completely bare himself.

“Not everyone is as accepting as you might want to believe,” he replied in a cool tone, and then turned away from the other man. He didn’t want Luke looking into his eyes and misinterpreting what he might see. “There are individuals that experience regret for revealing too much of themselves. If you are emotionally infallible, then you may choose to be as expressive as you wish.”

"What's a... shinobi?"

The word was pronounced almost carefully, possibly making it obvious that he was trying it out for the very first time. The training part was something he could understand, since he'd learned a bit about military expectations from both Jade and Tear. Even Anise and Guy had told him a few things about putting aside personal feelings for the better outcome. For instance, killing people was sometimes necessary, even in cases where it felt...wrong. Painful.

The next things out of Gaara's mouth had Luke falling into a nearly uncomfortable silence. Acceptance... wasn't something he expected, honestly. After a long pause, he finally let out an almost painful chuckle, "I know that... probably better than you could imagine. People... don't always see what's under the surface. Only what they want to see. The whole thing about judging by the cover is more real than it should be, but... it's what... usually happens."

He didn't bother turning away from the other redhead. Instead, he let his gaze simply lower to the ground as he fell silent for another moment, "I'm not emotionally infallible - nowhere close. I... feel pain, happiness, anger... But isn't that true for everyone? I think... everyone feels emotions. There are just some people who are better at hiding it. I haven't learned how to do that, but then I-..." -haven't been around all that long, either...

While letting the rest of his sentence fade into the night air, he shifted his stance. A quiet sound of discomfort slipped from his lips as he shook his head and glanced back up at the other young man, "I never regret revealing too much. It's the times I kept too quiet that I sometimes wish I could go back and change. I've missed out on more things and made more mistakes by doing that. But... at the same time, I do know I should be a little more careful. Guess it's just... complicated..."

With a sigh, he began slowly stepping toward the hospital. Looking up at the sky, he spoke again, though it was in a voice that might have implied he was deep in thought, "And... as far as acceptance goes, I should probably prepare to continue being unaccepted, even in...this world."

He was talking to much, wasn't he...? With a blink, he quickly followed that sentence up, "We're almost there."

Ah. So he hadn’t even heard of their line of profession. Maybe it wasn’t too surprising, if what Karura had said was true, about people coming in from all different worlds. There might not be any shinobi, in Luke’s original world. Part of him was curious about what kind of people lived in it, to compare the difference between their homelands. Perhaps later, if they felt more comfortable around each other to divulge further details. Though to be perfectly frank, Luke didn’t seem like the type to exercise much discretion, based on his forthcoming ways thus far.

There was a short pause before he began to explain, “The most common comparison made by civilians is ‘mercenary work.’ We are trained to infiltrate enemy strongholds, as well as combat situations, for the purpose of completing missions.”

Shinobi also possessed additional skills, but it would be foolish to give everything away. In the end, it didn’t matter in the context of this world. He didn’t have access to his original powers, and couldn’t execute the same techniques. There was little sense in discussing something irrelevant to their current situation. If the circumstances changed one day, then he might consider giving Luke a demonstration of his abilities.

Intrigue alit his expression, at hearing certain key phrases. Not that he could understand why people would want to misjudge Luke. Aside from his obvious naïveté, there didn’t seem to be anything glaringly wrong with him.

“Yes, everyone experiences emotions, regardless of how they react to situations. However, it doesn’t sound as though you want to learn how to conceal them,” he observed in a matter-of-fact tone. Emotional containment wasn’t a requirement for Luke, or he would have already been trained on it. That aspect required years of conditioning, and even battle-hardened assassins weren’t always infallible.

There was that cryptic mention again. Frowning, he immediately inquired, “Why shouldn’t you be accepted?”

As they drew closer to the hospital, Gaara continued to file away the other information that he received. Mistakes and regrets, having the desire to change – those attributes sounded all-too-familiar. He didn’t reveal anything on his expression that would suggest he understood where Luke was coming from. If Luke could have a chance to speak with someone like Naruto, he might have a clearer sense of the path he should be walking down. One of his own choosing, rather than submitting to what people expected from him.

Zelda was a little surprised to see Luke. She saw him so infrequently that the fact that he disappeared and reappeared completely escaped her notice. Except that there was one Luke in crystallis stasis and another now walking around.

There was definitely something different about him, the way he walked and the way he spoke so she carefully stepped forward.

"Luke? Are you okay?" Her voice was light, almost like a sing drifting through the air.

She was wearing her usual winter clothes which included a wool dress, leggings, boots and a scarf. Her long hair was tied back into a ponytail which didn't stop the soft breeze from pulling and playing with the golden locks.

Luke wasn't surprised to see her; unfamiliar faces definitely weren't something he wasn't used to by that point. What he was surprised by, was her calling him by name. It might have become obvious that he was clueless about who she was.

He hadn't been inside the hospital yet, so he wasn't aware that there was a chance that people might know... another version of himself. So, when he spoke, the first question out of his mouth was, "Uh... sorry, have we met before?"

Quietly, he acknowledged how pretty she was; the hint of awkwardness in his expression was the only clue she'd get for that little detail.

"Oh." Zelda noticed his blank stare even before he asked her that question. She shook her head with a little bit of a smile pulling at her lips. "It's a little complicated." She didn't know how to explain it delicately so she'll start by introducing herself.

"I'm Zelda. It's nice to meet you."

She'd explain it to him if he wanted but she'd rather him want the information instead of just forcing it on him.

"I didn't mean to surprise you."

Zelda was very keen unless it came to herself. She didn't notice anything awkward that might not account for his new situation.

A faintly wry smile appeared, since he'd heard those words before... and from experience: "In other words, you wanna spare my feelings, right?"

As far as most assumptions go, it was a shot in the dark. From previous experience, he had grown to learn that most people like to avoid talking about things that... might stress another person out. His other guess, though, was that the story was a long one. Dimly, he wonders if she'd met... Asch, or something, but he realized how stupid that was. The first Luke was...

...Shaking that thought away, he nodded, "It's nice to meet you, too, Zelda. And don't worry about it. I'm kind of used to people mistaking me for someone else."

It was a joke she likely wouldn't understand. For that reason, he was going to hurriedly move the conversation away from it, "Anyway, I don't mind if it's complicated. If you've got time to explain, I'd rather know than not know..."

Zelda nodded her head slightly, she knew that he was a copy when they talked about his birthday but she didn't know how to breach such a sensitive topic. Instead she just smiled a little awkwardly.

"Well, it's actually something that happens a lot here. The way that heroes are taken from their worlds, well it's during different times and sometimes there are different versions of the same people passing through Crystallis." She hoped that made sense. "There are a few people here who currently share the same face but one might be older than the other or different somehow. I don't understand it completely myself. As for you, I have met a boy named Luke but..."

Her express fell slightly. "He slipped into Crystal Stasis. It's like a sleep and we don't know a lot about it except the crystal you wake up with surrounds your body and protects you. For a moment I had thought that he woke up. I fear if you are the same person than I know more about you than you do about me." She paused for a second.

"I don't really think that's fair so I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about me or anything else. I'll do my best to answer."

Crystal Stasis...

The word was definitely foreign to him, which naturally spawned the curiosity of a... typical eight-year-old, perhaps. Even more curiosity-inducing was the mention of her knowing things about him. What exactly...did she know? While some part of him was a little scared to ask, the next question couldn't have been helped:

"Uh... All right, then why don't we start with what you know about this... other Luke?"

While he didn't entirely believe that there was another version exactly like him, only the supposed knowledge she had on Luke could tell him that; without him telling her anything about him, how else would she know every little thing. Then again... maybe there was some chance that his journal had been brought there with him? Who the hell knew at that point, though.

For all he did know, she was right. Another version of him had been there, and then... replaced by a newer version that was free of all memories prior to arriving. Heh... how ironic could it get... if that really was the case...

"You didn't know your Birthday. You had said that you were a copy." She's going to paraphrase. "I specifically remember telling you that where, when or how you were born didn't matter because you were yourself." Her smile widens slightly. "And You were my friend."

She paused letting that sink in. He hadn't ever told her all of the details and she hadn't asked. She just wanted to see him smile and have fun.

"I think we decided on a birthday too. One that was all yours."

Minato was helping out as usual at the hospital, so there was no shortage of old faces to keep revisiting, and new ones who came and left just as quickly (especially with the sad state of the hospital's appearance). Now, as pleasant as the teenager tried to be on the clock, it's not like he made an active effort to remember every single person he's run into, especially if they were just here to quickly get a check up or something. But still...

Something seemed oddly familiar about the face of the person who was standing there near where the other Heroes were, some distance away from the guards who stood before the door of the Crystallized Heroes. Had he met someone who looked like him before? From back home? Or from here very recently...? No, it was probably just something in passing if he'd forgotten.

Maybe he could just leave him alone, but before he knew it he'd approached. What with his usual unassuming (lack of) noise, he might've surprised Luke with his greeting, regardless of the controlled tone of his voice.

"Do you want to visit them too?"

His gaze at Luke is a bit more intent than intended--almost a stare, because of his subconsciously still trying to figure the reasoning for the déjà vu.

The voice was sudden enough to have him jump the tiniest bit. After he blinked over at the other teenager, he gave a slightly sheepish smile, "A-ah... yeah, I was just... curious."

He scratched the side of his head, letting the awkward smile linger. A little curiosity entered his expression, since the other person was... looking at him in an...odd way.

It didn't take long, however, for him to be distracted by the creature next to him. The tiny, blue moogle was frowning as she muttered that he should rethink it - he ignored her. With a quiet sigh, he launched into a brief explanation for the stranger, "I heard this is where they keep... people who are turned into...crystals? I don't know much about it, since I'm still...new here. Yulia says I should wait, but I don't see the point in holding off on learning about this."

To that, the moogle that was flying almost in front of his face (the "Yulia" in question) gave a defeated sigh and shook her head, "K-kupo, I think you should at least wait until you've had time to rest! You just got here, but... ugh, if you insist..."

With that, he sighed and shook his head, "Like I said, Yulia... People turn into those things without warning, right? So... the sooner the better. Shielding myself from the truth won't help," he said, glancing over at the moogle, before offering an apologetic smile to the other young man.

"Sorry about that... By the way, I'm Luke! This is Yulia."

Curiosity killed the cat, you know.

The grim metaphor is kept to himself, but after Hero after Hero wanting to check up on a closer on their fallen friends, he's really not surprised. Maybe he shouldn't blame them, he felt the same way about someone from home, but not enough to really stick close to the place that felt as oppressive as that even if he was working there. Instead, he nods, following with a few short words.

"I see."

Minato tilted his head, blinking once. Yulia probably had her own reasons for trying to stop him from seeing them, but he himself was inclined to agree that it's better to not really delay about learning what Stasis is about. Her insistence--while later complying, makes him thoughtful. But he already walked all this way, without visiting anyone else. ... Might as well not waste the trip. (It's admirable he jumped into it so fast, too, Minato remembered when he had practically tried to live life as normal for his first month.)

"It's fine. Welcome to Crystallis." He doesn't sound either warm or cold, like it's just a fact Luke's here now, but maybe it would've been different if October hadn't ended the way it did. "Luke-san, Yulia-san... I'm Minato."

Crossing his arms, he looked to the floor.

"Maybe if it's just for a few moments, they won't mind..."

Yulia was going to remain quiet as they made their way closer. She avoided looking up, almost as though she was aiming to not draw attention to any particular Crystallized hero. She did give a polite nod upon hearing the other Hero's name. Normally she'd have more to say, but her cheerful demeanor was being paused for the time being.

Luke gave a wave, at least, "It's nice to meet you, Minato... Uh..."

One part of the younger teenager's words had his brow furrowing. Briefly he glanced at Yulia, though she didn't seem to have anything to offer. Not to mention, she didn't seem remotely confused by anything Minato said. He paused his steps, one hand lifting to scratch at one cheek. In spite of the pause, there wasn't any actual hesitation toward asking the next question, "What does... 'san' mean, by the way?"

It wasn't as though he'd been alive all that long, so he wouldn't be surprised if it was something he'd missed out on learning back home. Of course, he was also positive that he would have heard it at least once or twice. So, it had to be something from that guy's world... and that somehow made him all the more curious to learn about it.

On top of that, it had him quietly questioning just how many things were different world-to-world...

"Ah, right. Sorry, it's force of habit." He rubs the back of his head, and gives himself a bit of time to casually explain to the redhead. "It's just a way to address people you're not overly familiar with. You could consider it a non-gendered equivalent of 'mister', I guess? An honorific... yes, that would be how it's probably best worded."

When he lowers his hand, he tilts his head slightly to the side.

It was just a small thing that came with being addressed, (and Minato doesn't address very many people very often) yet if it bugged him...

"I'm kind of... used to it, but if it bothers you, I can try stopping."

Luke listened to the explanation quietly, only to find himself feeling a bit sheepish almost right away. A quick shake of his head was given as he let out a quiet sigh, "Hey, it's not that it bothers me. I just...wanted to know if it's something I should be using after your name, or something."

It was in that moment, he lifted a hand to briefly scratch at the side of his head, "You don't have to stop if it's what your used to. If there are more of these... honorifics, I'd like to learn about them. Besides... just because I'm not from your world, doesn't mean I can't use something you're used to."

He flashed a brief grin to emphasize how willing and eager he was, and then began walking a little more. It was as his eyes landed on the people in... apparent Crystal Stasis (he finally understood why they used that term...), his expression dimmed a lot. Pausing, he slowly turned his head to look around, "So, this is... what it looks like-"

If it seemed his words cut off rather abruptly, it was because they had. With widened eyes, he completely froze. If not for the lack of...crystallization of his body, it might seem he was one of the victims for a moment. His next exhale was uneven. In spite of the unsteady expression, he began walking towards one of the people that were frozen in time.

"G-... Guy," he muttered, and then...his eyes landed on another figure (a young woman with long hair, to be exact).

It was in that moment, he shook his head. Minato might have been able to hear the word 'no' muttered, though he was going to be moving back until his back touched a wall. He was holding back tears - whether it was because another person was there and watching, or not, wasn't going to be made obvious.

When the other teenager looks a bit flustered, Minato shakes his head and tries to keep his voice gentle and reassuring, with a hand over his chest.

--Maybe it came with being at work, but another part of him seemed to just be adapting to how weirdly sensitive to strangers this other person was. Odd guy. Still, he didn't need to leave him a scary impression of the nurses here or something, much less other Heroes that he might end up working with in the future.

"No it's alright, you can stick with Minato. I'm more used to that, now."

After they got the clear from the guards to step into the fortified room, he quietly followed in behind the redhead, fully intending to just keep out of his way and watch over as he looked around.

What followed after was such raw emotion and heartbreak in his voice, it took him aback. He remained where he was, as Luke desperately tried to keep himself composed. But it was clear in his eyes, how much he was hurting. He had never accounted for the possibility someone new would have friends in stasis. Was this what his Moogle had feared he see?

Minato had only just met him, and yet he couldn't let him be and leave him like this. He quickly approaches him by the wall and takes a firm hold on Luke's shoulder, and looks at him in the eye.

"Listen to me: They're not dead. They're just not awake, either."

He waits, with hope--that his breathing would regulate, but if he opts to let the tears out instead, then Minato would also respect that. He keeps his hand on him, but lightens its grip and takes a few steps back, as to not make him feel too stressed from the sudden maintained contact.

The words are surprisingly... numbing, somehow. Or maybe it's the situation itself. While some part of him still wants to yell - to scream - at the top of his lungs, another part wants him to drop to his knees. It wants him to curl up into the fetal position, and just... cry.

Then there's the part of him that feels sick.

It's all flooding him at once, it's no wonder his mind's confusing itself. His heart, though... does know. He just wants them to be...okay. Awake. Yelling at him for being so stupid, or teasing him for being so...late...

For at least two seconds, he's just staring at the other young man. The silence is broken after he releases a heavy breath; how long had he been holding that in...? Did that even matter? Did anything?!

Finally, one emotion surfaces and he pulls back, anger in his eyes, "I wasn't here! I should have been here!"

Where...exactly those words and thoughts are coming from, even he couldn't say. His thoughts are a jumbled mess at the moment. Similarly, he doesn't know why he's doing the next thing...

One hand reaches out to firmly grasp the front of Minato's shirt, his head lowering as he clenches his teeth. The next words come out somewhat broken. The sound of pained sobs manage to slip through the cracks - the emotional wall is already fragile after all, "I should have... been able to protect them. What was the point in- ...What did we fight for...? Why were they even here?!"

He isn't thinking about his words. His mind is stuck on that fight with Van. His emotional state was already raw, and then... well. Suddenly, his eyes snap open, "Jade... Anise, Natalia...! I have to find them..."

Today was supposed to be a simple trip to the item store in preparation for the upcoming expedition to Mysdia—after some of her experiences in travelling to foreign lands, Tear wasn't going to take any chances this time around. Part of her goal was also finding as much material as she could about cartography, given what some of the people she knew would be doing while on the continent.

But seeing Luke as soon as she walked in hadn't been factored into her plans. While it was true that they didn't see each other frequently, it occurs to her in that moment just how long it had been since they last spoke with each other.

Had she taken a few more moments to observe him, she wouldn't have been so hasty with her question. And perhaps she would have recognised that he might just as easily ask the same of her own change. "Luke? When did you cut your hair?"

When he looked at her, it might be similar to how some would... greet a ghost, perhaps. His expression froze in place, which included his mouth. It was practically hanging open as he outright stared. As green eyes took in that face - a face he'd seen within that...crystal - he very slowly began stepping toward her.

"Tear... you're-... You're not-"

Mid-sentence, his arms would be practically flinging themselves around her. He pulled her close, cherishing the warmth that was proof that she was right there. She wasn't frozen in time. Tear was okay!!! A heavy exhale released, as did a very small chuckle of relief. When he pulled back, he was actually beaming a little, "I'd thought you were-...well..."

Looking to the side, his expression dimmed. He... actually never heard her question. That was what someone might view as an ironic fact, considering his own question, "Huh...? Uh... Tear, what happened to your hair?" A pause was given as he tilted his head just a little, and then: "I mean... It looks great on you! But... what brought that on?"

As ready as Tear usually was, Luke had perhaps moved a little too quickly for her to keep up properly from the moment he had looked at her with such a face. He hadn't even given her enough time to figure it out or say anything about it, furrowed brow quickly becoming a surprised blush when she suddenly found herself wrapped in his familiar warmth. The most she could manage was a sharp exhale of surprise, arms lifting up of their own accord to almost wrap around him, but not quite. She was still too stunned to do much else, trying to figure out what he meant with his half-sentences.

Though the colour dusting her cheeks still lingered when he pulled back, the melodist still tried to regain some of her composure before beginning to answer those questions. And from the sound of it, there would be many.

"Th-thank you..." Though she wasn't one to stutter often, their entire exchange so far had caught her off-guard even as she reached up to just touch one of the choppy locks between her fingers. The sincerity of his compliment was appreciated and assured that the blush would last a little longer, even as she casts her gaze downward. "It... Simply put, it was an accident, from when we went to Flence."

For a moment, he'd savored it. The embrace was comforting for various reasons, his muscles relaxing ever-so-slightly against the opposite frame. He noticed the blush, and just a hint of fondness swelled within his chest. Of course his words had been genuine; she was one of the most beautiful women he'd come to know. Not just for the outward appearance, either; he'd grown to appreciate basically every part of her he'd seen throughout their travels.

Questions were piling on by the second, honestly. There were still things he wanted to tell her, too... but those things would wait. For a while, considering the direction that their conversation was heading. The way she looked down gave him a slightly bad feeling.

So, he wouldn't be explaining the unfinished sentences just yet... since he was going to focus on her words quite a bit, "Wait... An accident? What kind of accident? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" Perhaps she had said it a little too quickly, but it felt important to reassure Luke of that right away. As if to further emphasise her point she shakes her head slowly, closing her eyes and exhaling quietly. Enough time had passed that she was more or less accepted it, but there were still moments when she would brush a hand through her hair or try to push it back only to realise it was no longer the same length. After a lifetime of keeping it long, some habits would still linger for a while.

This was also a conversation they would have had eventually, therefore it was better to get it over with as clearly as it could be communicated. Opening her eyes again, she looks up to meet his eye with as much a neutral expression as she could muster.

"During the expedition in Flence... I'm afraid I was careless, so I found myself under the spell of one of the monsters. In the battle that followed... this was the state it ended in."

The way she seemed to be outright forcing herself to seem so... indifferent towards that incident... There must have been more to it than she was letting on. If there was anything he'd learned about Tear, it was that she was the type to always act just fine, even when she was hurting. It had taken Guy pointing that out... that one time when she'd been holding back her tears... for him to take the time to learn it.

But... he'd come to realize just how deep that ran within her.

She really was a soldier through and through, wasn't she? But, that didn't stop her from having feelings, damn it! Frustration surfaced in the form of him firmly taking her upper arm in one hand, and then giving her a look that did nothing to conceal worry and skepticism, "Look, you don't have to pretend that's all there is to it... If you don't want to talk about, then just say so. I know you hate feeling weak, but... you can trust me."

Maybe there was more to it than just the fact that he felt she was holding back. Hell, with the craziness of arriving in a new world and just now seeing isn't... a crystal, it was probably just him overreacting. It's with that thought, he shook his head and offered her a small smile.

"Sorry," he muttered looked to the side, hand releasing her and slowly moving to his own hip, "I think I'm just tense from... well, everything."

A soft 'heh' slipped free right after those words. He looked back to her as several questions continued lurking within his mind. After the pause, he finally asked, "Mind if I ask what the expedition was... for? What kind of place is Flence, anyway?"

Her first instinct was to yank her arm out of his grip, and there is in fact the slightest twitch for a split second before she stops herself. His look of worry was met with narrowed eyes, but that too softens once he finishes speaking. It wasn't as if she could fault him for being suspicious no matter how much it still bothered her, and that was all there was to it.

When he releases her she simply crosses her arms, though her expression has fallen back to a more neutral one. "Being tense isn't always going to be a valid excuse. But if you want to know..."

Were she not focused on keeping her composure, she might have come off as miffed as she went into her explanation. "Flence itself is an independent state that seems determined to stay out of the affairs between other nations, though some would claim it has the best food in all of Crystallis."

... Not that Tear had any time to try and enjoy that, since her mind was otherwise occupied during that entire trip. "Heroes were asked to investigate the strange happenings in a mansion by the Flence Neighborhood Association, and that was why we were there."

"I know..."

His tone didn't hold any bite. With a wry smile, he shook his head, "It's no excuse. I shouldn't push you right into talking about anything. This is... technically the first time we're seeing each other in this world, so I should give it at least a little time..."

...Right?

Never mind he had a weird feeling that had him wanting to dive into talking about a lot of things. Things that had weighed on him before they'd stepped foot on Eldrant... things that had passed through his head as he spoke to her after that final battle against Van... Things he had wanted to say, but never braved... because he thought it would be better to spare her. It was all still there, unmoving. A ball of frustration was resting in his chest, threatening to coax him into just coming out with it, already.

But he had to focus.

It wouldn't be right to detour from what she was saying, just because of his own personal feelings. That would be...selfish, right? His head tilted just a little at the last sentence out of her mouth, "Strange happenings? Like what?"

"... Put simply, there were ghosts and a number of related monsters." So go on ahead and laugh Luke, or be stunned; she had actually tried to brave that little fear of hers and may have actually come back worse for it. But more importantly than that, there was the need to focus yet again on his strange wording. Whether Luke wanted her to or not, there was no ignoring the fact that this time he believed it was their first time meeting, when she very well knew it wasn't.

She allows herself a moment to breathe in quietly, as if to grant herself the strength to confront whatever answers may follow her words and desire for clarity. At the same time, she takes one more look over him to better prepare herself—because it dawns upon her that it wasn't just his hair that was different now.

The fact of the matter was that upon closer inspection, it became clear that he was... younger. Some of the scars she had noticed before were gone, and there wasn't that aura of tiredness to him as there was before. In fact, he seemed more like... the way she remembered him, watching his back as he ascended those stairs just ahead of her.

"... Maybe it is the first time for you, Luke. Maybe you don't remember when I met you the first time..."

It was natural for the blond haired woman to approach people she knew casually, and playfully patting them on the back as a greeting and that was what she did to Luke, when she recognized the boy. Upon hearing that he had been MIA for some time, she was wondering how he and Gaara were doing. Nonetheless, her thoughts were obviously interrupted when she did approach the boy this time.

She seemed cheerful to see the boy, but unaware of how that sort of cheerfulness would affect him. She also was on rather friendly terms with him, so she didn't know that he was not the same Luke. He looked like the same Luke and curiously looking at things the same way she remembered Luke acting.

"Good Afternoon Luke dear," she replied as she peeked over his shoulder to see what he was looking at, "I see you are as bus as usual."

It was enough to have him giving a surprised blink - one that accompanied a brief jolt.

Not that it was anything that might be considered over-the-top, though definitely enough to make it clear he had been deep in thought. It was, however, the words out of the stranger's mouth...that had a lingering look of confusion easily spreading over his face. There were very few blond-haired women that he knew all that well... and none of whom would approach him with that kind of greeting.

Turning around, he gave her a look that was somewhere between clueless and sheepish, "Uh...yeah..."

While he attempted to keep his expression from revealing it, there was clear discomfort in his eyes. While he'd managed to find a way to begin accepting what he'd seen in the hospital, it was going to take a while longer before he full did so. It wasn't the first time he'd been the... latter version of Luke. So, naturally, the situation felt all-too-(uncomfortably) familiar. People knowing another him, yet it not really being him (ugh, that was such a weird way of putting that, wasn't it?)...

As far as he was concerned it was better to be blunt about the whole thing, "Sorry, but...I honestly have no idea who you are. I'm guessing you knew the... other me?"

Selen however, didn't know that at all. She couldn't tell from someone's back and the only way she would recognize that they were not the same was when they spoke, in which she got soon enough. She was still tilting her head a bit at the response, and then the comment that followed definitely made her feel a bit worried.

At the comment, she lets him go.

The other him? At least, it seemed like he had seen the other him. Selen knew that people came and go and there were different versions of people floating around, but this one sort of caught her off guard since she thought he merely just awoken from being in the stasis and not a completely different Luke.

Of course, with knowing so much about the other Luke, Selen chose her reactions very carefully. She stepped back and gave him a sincere smile along with a nod of her head.

"Yes, I did know the other you, since you've pretty much confirmed that you are two different people. My apologies, if I had made you somehow uncomfortable. I honestly could not tell until you spoke."

Anise wasn't really feeling that great, and it was pretty obvious why. When Luke hadn't shown up at the time that they were supposed to meet, the Colonel and her had gone to the Hospital. Sure enough, they'd found him, but not in a capacity that any of his friends would have wanted.

By the time the two of them left the hospital, Anise was practically dragging her feet along, and had Tokunaga wrapped tightly in her arms. People came out of Crystal Stasis all the time (Luke included), but there was no way to know if this was going to be 'the one.'

With so many things on her mind, it was no wonder that she didn't notice the person standing in front of her. At least, not until they collided. She was pretty drained at this point, and her emotions would have probably settled on anger, had she not looked up first.

"Luke?"

As one might expect, whatever Jade felt didn't show on his face beyond making him somewhat more solemn than usual. It was a fact that any of them could enter stasis at any time. They couldn't afford to grieve every time it happened.

Though he had to admit, if only to himself... Losing Luke a second time was a tiresome thing to cope with.

He was following Anise out of the hospital, doing his best to ignore the discomforting sensation in his chest -- and without a warning, there was Luke. Even Jade couldn't completely hide his surprise.

Short hair. It didn't take much to come to the correct conclusion.

"Well, that was fast."

The looks on their faces...

For some reason, that was the only thing he could focus on for several seconds, even after they spoke. One hand was frozen in place, held up as a response to the earlier impact. He had been looking off to the side when it had happened, lost in thought of what he'd just seen inside that hospital not even... an hour ago? Two? Hell, ten? At that moment, he wasn't completely sure how much time had passed.

It wasn't as though he'd been paying attention, after all. Just like how he wasn't paying attention to his own voice, which completely revealed the mixture of relief and lingering sadness, "You... you guys are..."

Of course. He hadn't seen either of them in that hospital room. Did that mean... Natalia was there and fine, as well? Why... was it only Tear and Guy? Not that he wasn't absolutely glad to know Anise and Jade were fine, of course! Just... why them? Why... anyone?! He released a very heavy exhale, which might hint that he was holding his breath a little too long.

Without warning, he stepped forward and practically pushed Anise backward and into a hug, one arm going around Jade as he briefly latched onto the pair, "I'm... so glad you're both okay..."

Was that a trembling in his voice? For that matter, were those tear stains on his face from crying while off by himself? ...Maybe. For the moment, he didn't care if they noticed. He was just waiting for the desire to scream to pass before finally letting them go. They would... get through it together, right? If they...worked together, they should be able to figure out how to bring Tear and Guy back!

Anise was possibly more stubborn than he was, Jade was freakishly smart, and... well... he would never give up until finding a damn way to save those people... Tear... Guy... Everyone... And, speaking of them sticking together, "Is... Natalia here, too, then? I didn't... see her, just like I didn't see you guys."

She couldn't be the only one not there, right?

Anise wasn't sure what to do when Luke wrapped her in the hug, and so she ended up clinging back even tighter. It might've been all of a few hours, but she'd still been really, really worried. Even if she knew she might have to say goodbye to Luke someday, she wasn't ready for it to be this soon.

Whether it was because she was distracted by Luke's sudden reappearance, or because she wouldn't have recognized anyway, nothing struck her as off about Luke's sudden haircut or change in demeanor.

After a few seconds, Anise let go. Despite being nearly in tears earlier, she'd gotten some of her spirit back, as she frowned in Luke's direction.

"Boooooooo, you jerk. We were really worried!"

And then a sudden pang of sadness when he mentioned Natalia. As nice as it had been to spend time here with everyone else, she hadn't really noticed or thought about the other girl's absence. Suddenly, she felt almost guilty, which translated into anger at Luke for broaching the topic.

"What are you talking about? You've been here longer than I have, and you haven't said anything about seeing her. Why are you being so weird?" She looked up at Jade, as if she was relying on him to back up her story. Jade knew how long they'd been here, Jade knew how weird Luke was being.

Jade stood awkwardly in the three-way hug, feeling rather out of his element. Thankfully Anise was there to return the gesture and so Jade didn't feel as compelled to make any embarrassing attempts at showing affection -- well, alright, he could manage a quick pat on the back. Just so Luke would calm down and get it over with sooner. Honestly, that boy...

Well. Even if Luke's short hair hadn't tipped him off, this reaction certainly confirmed his suspicions. Why Crystallis continued to replace one version of a person with another... he still hadn't been able to work that out completely. It did mean there was a higher number of Heroes present, even if some were in stasis. Perhaps that would make a difference when it came to dealing with the Calamity, for good or ill.

This wasn't the time to speculate about that, in any case.

As soon as Luke let go, Jade took a small step back with as much dignity as one could maintain after being snatched into a group hug. One look at the tear stains gave him some ideas of where -- or rather, when -- Luke had been taken from. Still, it was best to have confirmation.

"Now now, Anise. Settle down." Jade's voice was firm. Someone here had to remain composed. "Luke. When did you arrive in Crystallis, and what was the last thing you recall from before that?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

to spit out the hateful, you're willing and able--

Roomies

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-new beginning-

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New Beginning / Hospital

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new discoveries - 17th

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/ironically uses the icon with the longest hair

one of my favorite icons too lmao

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Let me know if either of you guys need this changed! o7

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I DEMAND THE ENTIRE THING BE RETYPED >T

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