Entry tags:
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
melody_of_the_abyssEntry tags:
X12: Heartfelt Gratitudes [Text]
[He'd thought long and hard before writing this.]
To everyone and everything in the City and beyond:
THANK YOU. I can't express enough my gratitude and deepest appreciations for your existence. Special thanks to the City and its deities for giving me a second chance since I'm supposed to be dead. It's given me a place and, to some lesser extent, purpose. Thanks also for the curses, which seem stupid and pointless at times if they aren't all about ruining people's lives, reputations, and relationships with one another.
Thanks to those I've met who aren't here anymore. Your company was well-appreciated.
Thanks to those who are still around to keep me company. I know we've been through some rough times, and we don't know what else lies ahead or what other surprises the City has in store for us.
Thanks to Janine, Eagle Vision, and others I've conversed with.
Thanks to Estelle. At least we know how to handle things when waking in each other's bed to discover we've been handcuffed together. If it ever happens again, we'll know how to handle it. There are probably people who are worse off to be attached to for the whole duration of a curse.
Thanks to Yuri, Rita, and Tyr.
Thanks to everyone from Auldrant who ever paid a visit and didn't stay very long. It's probably better that you aren't here anymore.
Special thanks to Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear for being the strong, courageous, capable, beauteous, amazing woman she is. If only there were more ways to express my appreciation for her without the possibility of her being trapped in the City. She's important and has a lot of things to take care of, so she really shouldn't wind up getting stuck here. Nevertheless, I am grateful for every single precious moment graced by her shining presence, whether here or back in Auldrant. There is no other person I hold more dear and beloved in my heart.
Thanks to Guy.
Special thanks to the replica for surviving here over a year, having an apartment to share with me, and maintaining Hymns of Lorelei, the restaurant established by Natalia. I'm not offended by the fact that you're called 'Luke'. You didn't turn out so bad after all.
Thanks to anyone I forgot, even though everyone deserves to be listed here.
[... Excuse Asch while he hides in a corner now that it's posted.]
To everyone and everything in the City and beyond:
THANK YOU. I can't express enough my gratitude and deepest appreciations for your existence. Special thanks to the City and its deities for giving me a second chance since I'm supposed to be dead. It's given me a place and, to some lesser extent, purpose. Thanks also for the curses, which seem stupid and pointless at times if they aren't all about ruining people's lives, reputations, and relationships with one another.
Thanks to those I've met who aren't here anymore. Your company was well-appreciated.
Thanks to those who are still around to keep me company. I know we've been through some rough times, and we don't know what else lies ahead or what other surprises the City has in store for us.
Thanks to Janine, Eagle Vision, and others I've conversed with.
Thanks to Estelle. At least we know how to handle things when waking in each other's bed to discover we've been handcuffed together. If it ever happens again, we'll know how to handle it. There are probably people who are worse off to be attached to for the whole duration of a curse.
Thanks to Yuri, Rita, and Tyr.
Thanks to everyone from Auldrant who ever paid a visit and didn't stay very long. It's probably better that you aren't here anymore.
Special thanks to Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear for being the strong, courageous, capable, beauteous, amazing woman she is. If only there were more ways to express my appreciation for her without the possibility of her being trapped in the City. She's important and has a lot of things to take care of, so she really shouldn't wind up getting stuck here. Nevertheless, I am grateful for every single precious moment graced by her shining presence, whether here or back in Auldrant. There is no other person I hold more dear and beloved in my heart.
Thanks to Guy.
Special thanks to the replica for surviving here over a year, having an apartment to share with me, and maintaining Hymns of Lorelei, the restaurant established by Natalia. I'm not offended by the fact that you're called 'Luke'. You didn't turn out so bad after all.
Thanks to anyone I forgot, even though everyone deserves to be listed here.
[... Excuse Asch while he hides in a corner now that it's posted.]
Entry tags:
X11: Baticul Twilight [Text]
Over one year in City measure of time the Replica made stay in cursed Polychromatic Home, though this stands only half measure on Auldrant should one count the days. The expedition, ended near one and one half months before, proofed only bitter failure to abscond the loathsome conditions of curses, of deities, of inescapable tic and tock of City cloche mayhaps issued from the Carousel in the midst.
However, a twist of fate that renders the impossible now completely doable. For the Replica, for myself, a means to return to beloved Auldrant wherein family, friend, relative, acquaintance, peoples continue life without Kimlascan heir, a man to take the throne. Such has been until now, of this unexpected retreat, restoration to whence the nobles came, though my thoughts on this return were long cast aside, cast away, for such a man no longer belongs and has not belonged since replacement as a boy.
Upon our immediate arrival did I seek her Highness in Baticul, yet would be but a fool with thought to allow the cast of her eyes, her gaze, upon my face. Let that not be so! for who am I but a dead man in the eyes of the world, of Auldrant and the people thereof. No longer a share among those in this life, and so unfit to be seen in her Majesty's crystal-sparkled blue eyes like the precious stones of this world and numerous others.
(A/N: Hey, this is Luke! It's my turn to write now. And I didn't understand any of what Asch wrote. Mind using actual words next time?) Meanwhile, I'd spent the past few hours looking for my original. It wasn't much different than usual, even though so much time had passed since we'd been home. I remembered all the times I had chased him across Auldrant. My companions hadn't appreciated it, but I thought it was important to see what Asch was up to. He didn't tell us anything. (A/N: No wonder we thought you were the enemy.) Back then, I thought I didn't have a choice. But Asch found Spinoza first, and I had to apologize to everyone for leading them on a pointless side trek. (A/N: The Dark Wings beat us to it. But at least we got something out of it. So I guess it wasn't completely pointless.) Even if I didn't want to replace Asch, I guess I enjoyed having someone to compete against. He was a constant mystery to me, always running off and never telling anyone about what he was doing. But he cared, didn't he? Maybe not about me-- or at least, I was afraid to see it-- but sometimes, I hoped... (A/N: Hahahah... awkward...)
I turned the corner of the courtyard and spotted familiar crimson hair. (A/N: I can't believe I used to wear my hair that long. It always took me so long to brush it out...) It caught the sunlight, the color reminiscent of dying flames. (A/N: Except he was alive. Is.) Apparently I'd found Asch at a bad moment. He was staring intensely through a window, oblivious to everything around him. I'm not sure what he was looking at, but he was tense. (A/N: Then again, he's always tense...) He should have been happy to return home, but then again, he probably thought this wasn't home anymore. I hesitated, then reached out to touch his arm. I hoped he couldn't sense my trembling.
"Asch..." I was a little worried that he'd been hiding from everyone else. They wanted to see him, too, even if Asch didn't think of them as his friends. (A/N: Or maybe he did? After all, he helped us before... and he helps me.) He was incredibly important, especially to me, and I wanted to share everything with him. "Look, I..."
(A/N: I don't know what the replica's talking about--this is perfectly understandable. Here's more.) The trip to Baticul had only been made in vain, for the Princess had journeyed to visit further Kimlascan lands to advise and counsel Her people in lands across the seas and further still, oceans away. In dismay I continued to look on when there was a hand reaching to hold mine, a quiet-timid voice to call my name in tentative manner. The Replica spake, and so I listened.
However, a twist of fate that renders the impossible now completely doable. For the Replica, for myself, a means to return to beloved Auldrant wherein family, friend, relative, acquaintance, peoples continue life without Kimlascan heir, a man to take the throne. Such has been until now, of this unexpected retreat, restoration to whence the nobles came, though my thoughts on this return were long cast aside, cast away, for such a man no longer belongs and has not belonged since replacement as a boy.
Upon our immediate arrival did I seek her Highness in Baticul, yet would be but a fool with thought to allow the cast of her eyes, her gaze, upon my face. Let that not be so! for who am I but a dead man in the eyes of the world, of Auldrant and the people thereof. No longer a share among those in this life, and so unfit to be seen in her Majesty's crystal-sparkled blue eyes like the precious stones of this world and numerous others.
(A/N: Hey, this is Luke! It's my turn to write now. And I didn't understand any of what Asch wrote. Mind using actual words next time?) Meanwhile, I'd spent the past few hours looking for my original. It wasn't much different than usual, even though so much time had passed since we'd been home. I remembered all the times I had chased him across Auldrant. My companions hadn't appreciated it, but I thought it was important to see what Asch was up to. He didn't tell us anything. (A/N: No wonder we thought you were the enemy.) Back then, I thought I didn't have a choice. But Asch found Spinoza first, and I had to apologize to everyone for leading them on a pointless side trek. (A/N: The Dark Wings beat us to it. But at least we got something out of it. So I guess it wasn't completely pointless.) Even if I didn't want to replace Asch, I guess I enjoyed having someone to compete against. He was a constant mystery to me, always running off and never telling anyone about what he was doing. But he cared, didn't he? Maybe not about me-- or at least, I was afraid to see it-- but sometimes, I hoped... (A/N: Hahahah... awkward...)
I turned the corner of the courtyard and spotted familiar crimson hair. (A/N: I can't believe I used to wear my hair that long. It always took me so long to brush it out...) It caught the sunlight, the color reminiscent of dying flames. (A/N: Except he was alive. Is.) Apparently I'd found Asch at a bad moment. He was staring intensely through a window, oblivious to everything around him. I'm not sure what he was looking at, but he was tense. (A/N: Then again, he's always tense...) He should have been happy to return home, but then again, he probably thought this wasn't home anymore. I hesitated, then reached out to touch his arm. I hoped he couldn't sense my trembling.
"Asch..." I was a little worried that he'd been hiding from everyone else. They wanted to see him, too, even if Asch didn't think of them as his friends. (A/N: Or maybe he did? After all, he helped us before... and he helps me.) He was incredibly important, especially to me, and I wanted to share everything with him. "Look, I..."
(A/N: I don't know what the replica's talking about--this is perfectly understandable. Here's more.) The trip to Baticul had only been made in vain, for the Princess had journeyed to visit further Kimlascan lands to advise and counsel Her people in lands across the seas and further still, oceans away. In dismay I continued to look on when there was a hand reaching to hold mine, a quiet-timid voice to call my name in tentative manner. The Replica spake, and so I listened.
Entry tags:
X10: Strangely Refreshed [Video]
[Asch adds another box to the neat pile that lines the hallway walls in Luke's apartment. He then turns his attention to the communicator with a look of disdain and disgust mixed with slight exasperation.]
Guy. I used my day off to clean up the guest room. [He gestures toward Luke's room.] All the useless junk in there is packed up out here.
If we can't find a reason to keep it, then we could give it away or donate it or just throw it out. It's taking up too much space.
I thought you should know. That's all.
[OOC: This post is forward-dated to Nov 10 for the Send Me Forget Me Nots curse! Asch has forgotten quite a number of things, including but not limited to not having the day off, that's Luke's room (not a guest room!), that's Luke's stuff, that Luke owns the apartment, and who Luke is.]
Guy. I used my day off to clean up the guest room. [He gestures toward Luke's room.] All the useless junk in there is packed up out here.
If we can't find a reason to keep it, then we could give it away or donate it or just throw it out. It's taking up too much space.
I thought you should know. That's all.
[OOC: This post is forward-dated to Nov 10 for the Send Me Forget Me Nots curse! Asch has forgotten quite a number of things, including but not limited to not having the day off, that's Luke's room (not a guest room!), that's Luke's stuff, that Luke owns the apartment, and who Luke is.]
Entry tags:
XX9: Escape Plan v.1.5 [Video]
[Asch is near the fountain--sitting, thinking, finishing up lunch.]
I know this doesn't last for very long, but that's why I'm waiting here. That's all.
[/end video]
[OOC: Feel free to jump in with whoever, whenever, and whatever part of the City actually. Doubles, AUs, genderbent characters are go. Replies may be slow or delayed until later this evening, backtagging encouraged.]
I know this doesn't last for very long, but that's why I'm waiting here. That's all.
[/end video]
[OOC: Feel free to jump in with whoever, whenever, and whatever part of the City actually. Doubles, AUs, genderbent characters are go. Replies may be slow or delayed until later this evening, backtagging encouraged.]
Entry tags:
XX8: Generosity [Video]
[Asch wears this outfit as he stands in front of Building 1 with a few boxes of clothing.]
Someone's donating to charity. Feel free to drop by and pick something up.
[OOC: Asch upheaved most of the wardrobe he bought from money earned after he arrived in the City but he's still keeping his trademark tabard with heart details. He's not going to admit that he's the generous someone giving all this stuff away. Anyone's invited to pluck stuff out of the boxes!]
Someone's donating to charity. Feel free to drop by and pick something up.
[OOC: Asch upheaved most of the wardrobe he bought from money earned after he arrived in the City
Entry tags:
XX7: The Dissatisfying Ending [Video - Accidental]
[The communicator switches on from the vantage of someone's belt. It has a view of a white jacket, interspersed with glimpses of someone's dark tabard and white apartment walls.
The first voice is weary but light in tone.] I can't believe we sailed that far just to end up where we started... [Luke sighs heavily and drops his luggage to the floor.] Florian! We're back! ... Huh. Maybe he's at the restaurant.
Yeah. [He says it all quick and terse, and then there's a loud thud as Asch dumps his packs on the floor as well. Then, there are the shuffling sounds of unpacking as he silently fumes. It's a short while before he finally speaks again.] After going through all that… here we are again.
I can't believe it. [His voice is filled with bitterness.]
Asch... [Luke stands there with his backpack in his hands, feeling incredibly useless. This is not a new thing for him. His fingers tighten, and then he tries to summon up some optimism.] ... I'm sorry. But we have an idea of what's out there now, and we all made it back in one piece. It could have been a lot worse.
I know that! [Asch snaps as he rises to his feet.] You easily could've died for absolutely no good reason. The party would've been left without the leader who coordinated this, and then we still wouldn't have found a way back home!
[Luke faces his original, frowning in return. Haha, it probably sounds like Luke is arguing with himself.] So we didn't find a way home. What's important is that we know that we can escape. If something really bad happened to the City, we wouldn't have to be trapped here along with it. It doesn't have to end here... and neither do we.
Escape to where!? We sailed across an ocean and found 'land' that was actually someplace back in the City! How is that an escape!?
[Suddenly, the device slides from its holster and crashes to the floor. This is when Asch kneels to check it and discovers it posting.]
Dammit!
[OOC:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chosenfake is red; stupidgenes is silver.]
The first voice is weary but light in tone.] I can't believe we sailed that far just to end up where we started... [Luke sighs heavily and drops his luggage to the floor.] Florian! We're back! ... Huh. Maybe he's at the restaurant.
Yeah. [He says it all quick and terse, and then there's a loud thud as Asch dumps his packs on the floor as well. Then, there are the shuffling sounds of unpacking as he silently fumes. It's a short while before he finally speaks again.] After going through all that… here we are again.
I can't believe it. [His voice is filled with bitterness.]
Asch... [Luke stands there with his backpack in his hands, feeling incredibly useless. This is not a new thing for him. His fingers tighten, and then he tries to summon up some optimism.] ... I'm sorry. But we have an idea of what's out there now, and we all made it back in one piece. It could have been a lot worse.
I know that! [Asch snaps as he rises to his feet.] You easily could've died for absolutely no good reason. The party would've been left without the leader who coordinated this, and then we still wouldn't have found a way back home!
[Luke faces his original, frowning in return. Haha, it probably sounds like Luke is arguing with himself.] So we didn't find a way home. What's important is that we know that we can escape. If something really bad happened to the City, we wouldn't have to be trapped here along with it. It doesn't have to end here... and neither do we.
Escape to where!? We sailed across an ocean and found 'land' that was actually someplace back in the City! How is that an escape!?
[Suddenly, the device slides from its holster and crashes to the floor. This is when Asch kneels to check it and discovers it posting.]
Dammit!
[OOC:
chosenfake is red; stupidgenes is silver.]Entry tags:
Entry tags:
Entry tags:
Entry tags:
XX6: In the Flesh [Video - Accidental]
[The device turns on with a quiet click, revealing from its awkward angle on the floor a dark room where the silhouette of a nude young man with long hair bustles about amid the shadows.]
Where the hell are they…?
[Then, the lights are on. The room is spartan at best, and it would be difficult to lose anything in such an organized place. Despite that, the young man quickly wanders back into view fast enough to prevent anything from showing before he seats himself at the edge of the bed and struggles to get himself into a pair of boxers.
Asch grunts and struggles with the piece of small clothing because he just can't seem to get it on. This should be simple enough--put one leg into one of the available openings, and the other in the remaining. Yet, he finds his leg repeatedly seems to miss the hole or otherwise slips from it for no apparent reason.]
ARGH!
[This goes on for a minute or so before he throws the pants to the floor, blocking the device's view.]
--What the…?
[Oh my, that must be the sound of Asch noticing the device and making the horrifying realization that it's on.]
Dammit!
[Finally, it clicks off.]
Where the hell are they…?
[Then, the lights are on. The room is spartan at best, and it would be difficult to lose anything in such an organized place. Despite that, the young man quickly wanders back into view fast enough to prevent anything from showing before he seats himself at the edge of the bed and struggles to get himself into a pair of boxers.
Asch grunts and struggles with the piece of small clothing because he just can't seem to get it on. This should be simple enough--put one leg into one of the available openings, and the other in the remaining. Yet, he finds his leg repeatedly seems to miss the hole or otherwise slips from it for no apparent reason.]
ARGH!
[This goes on for a minute or so before he throws the pants to the floor, blocking the device's view.]
--What the…?
[Oh my, that must be the sound of Asch noticing the device and making the horrifying realization that it's on.]
Dammit!
[Finally, it clicks off.]
Entry tags:
XX4: The Score [Voice]
Replica. It looks like you have some explaining to do. You said you took care of it. Then *WHY*!?
What is he doing here!?
[OOC: 4th wall tiems! Feel free to pelt this entry with characters and screw Asch's brain a little more. xD]
What is he doing here!?
[OOC: 4th wall tiems! Feel free to pelt this entry with characters and screw Asch's brain a little more. xD]
Entry tags:
XX3: Vulnerable [Voice - backdated to June 8]
[Low voice. Quiet admissions.]
I'm pathetic. All I wanted--needed--was their approval, their acceptance.
Nothing was ever good enough. I'm always... too soft, too weak.
Too worthless.
Meaningless.
All I wanted was to exist.
I just wanted a reason to be alive. But the only reason I found--
[Insert stifled, choked sob here.]
PATHETIC.
[Recorded silence that lasts a few seconds too long. Awkward. /end]
I'm pathetic. All I wanted--needed--was their approval, their acceptance.
Nothing was ever good enough. I'm always... too soft, too weak.
Too worthless.
Meaningless.
All I wanted was to exist.
I just wanted a reason to be alive. But the only reason I found--
[Insert stifled, choked sob here.]
PATHETIC.
[Recorded silence that lasts a few seconds too long. Awkward. /end]
Entry tags:
Entry tags:
XX2: Perfection [Video]
YOU. The one who asked if I could do any better.
[In the dead center of the screen is a beautiful triple-layer ice cream cake sitting aside nicely on a clean counter. White chocolate ice cream-frosting on the outside, shaped into a flower cupping raspberries on the top.]
I told you I can. THERE.
[In the dead center of the screen is a beautiful triple-layer ice cream cake sitting aside nicely on a clean counter. White chocolate ice cream-frosting on the outside, shaped into a flower cupping raspberries on the top.]
I told you I can. THERE.
Entry tags:
XX1: The Original [Voice - Accidental]
[There are scratching, rustling, and crackling noises like those of a device accidentally turned on in one's pocket as he's walking.]
Do you think my original would try to save you if I killed you, or do you think he'd just be jealous I got to it first?
[That voice is recognizable as Guy's.]
I knew Guy was still cleaning the replica's place. Killing me, huh? Is that what you're planning?
[Asch's voice.]
Let's say I'm helping clean up messes he's too cowardly to. It's the least I can do before I meet him.
... You might be surprised to know I don't plan on dying *here*. And I'm not planning on losing to YOU.
Haha! Do you even realize how he's held your life in his hands? Let me just end the problem for both of you.
Shut up! That has NOTHING to do with you! If he's going to kill me, he'll do it when he feels like it.
[Laughing really mockingly now.]
Are you stupid? Do you seriously still have faith in him? Fine, I'll put you out of your misery. So you don't have to see what he's really like.
[This is followed by more crackling-scratching noise. Presumably Guy-clone and Asch have drawn sharp pointy objects now clashing in battle. The sound cuts abruptly as the device conveniently turns off.]
[OOC Note: Backdated to May 18, please and thank you! O__o;;]
Do you think my original would try to save you if I killed you, or do you think he'd just be jealous I got to it first?
[That voice is recognizable as Guy's.]
I knew Guy was still cleaning the replica's place. Killing me, huh? Is that what you're planning?
[Asch's voice.]
Let's say I'm helping clean up messes he's too cowardly to. It's the least I can do before I meet him.
... You might be surprised to know I don't plan on dying *here*. And I'm not planning on losing to YOU.
Haha! Do you even realize how he's held your life in his hands? Let me just end the problem for both of you.
Shut up! That has NOTHING to do with you! If he's going to kill me, he'll do it when he feels like it.
[Laughing really mockingly now.]
Are you stupid? Do you seriously still have faith in him? Fine, I'll put you out of your misery. So you don't have to see what he's really like.
[This is followed by more crackling-scratching noise. Presumably Guy-clone and Asch have drawn sharp pointy objects now clashing in battle. The sound cuts abruptly as the device conveniently turns off.]
[OOC Note: Backdated to May 18, please and thank you! O__o;;]
Entry tags:
Entry tags:
[OOC] Application @ ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
polychromatic
Contact & Critique: Here.
[series]: Tales of the Abyss
[character]: Asch the Bloody
( Cut for length... )
[series]: Tales of the Abyss
[character]: Asch the Bloody
( Cut for length... )
Entry tags: