selfhelp | [Fourth Wall]

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[Fourth Wall]

[This is a catch-all! If you want to bother Billy Kaplan, Asch the Bloody, or Ellie, they are around town and available for pestering. Billy and Ellie are wandering (on the look-out for familiar faces), but Asch is most likely holed out behind the counter of the bar and hating everything.

Non-obvious visitors should request/specify who they want or prepare to be surprised.]

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[There is an immediate souring of his expression, as he folds the map in a sudden, precise gesture.]

You know Wanda? How?

[This question is more important than following up on the "blasting" thing. He is the self-proclaimed keeper of his sister these days, and the number one hardest part of that job is keeping boys away from her.]

[Wh- oh god he's- ....oh, goddammit.

Asch's gaze darts briefly around the bar - seriously, right here, in the middle of where he works, Luke's crying on his shoulder and hugging him? It hasn't... been that long, surely... not for Luke, anyway. So what...?

Awkwardly he touches a hand to Luke's back, torn between returning the hug and shoving him off. It really has been too long, and he's not used to this anymore.]

What... the hell are you crying for?

I met her?

[Okay, that's probably too vague.]

I mean, she's here. We're friends. I'm Billy, by the way.

[The feather-ruffling is now mutual, congratulations.]

I'm not a replica as you candamn well figure out if you pay any attention at all.

[If need be, he can always bring up embarrassing things that no version of Luke would ever know.]

If you can't tell the difference between yourself and someone else, that's your problem, not mine.

[Yeah, that's hella vague. Thankfully, there's been some help in this department.]

Ahhhh. You're Billy. Wanda told me about you.

[That's still not a smile. Apparently he didn't hear good things?]

[Luke's response is muffled at first. Yet when he realizes that even he couldn't understand himself, he pulls back enough to hold Asch's shoulders instead, though not before he wipes at his eyes and nose with the back of his hand.]

I... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I left. I didn't even get to say goodbye or anything...

[I didn't want to go.]

[ She thinks for half a moment about playing it cool, ordering something to drink and seeing what happened. But she's Rapunzel, and being coy has never been her strong suit. When he's near enough, she practically stands on her seat to lean over the counter and throw her arms around him. ]

Asch! it's so good to see you!

[ She beams, laughing a little as she takes a seat at the bar. ]

Sorry! I'm still sorting out all my memories. I've got three sets of them right now. It's good to see you again, Asch. How have you been?

[ Xion sounds the same, at least. Seems like with her memories came the maturity she'd achieved before. ]

[And there's that familiar flash of red hair swooping in to save her - but no, it couldn't be...]

-- Asch?

[Oh dear. That's... kind of...

...what does that tone even mean?]

Sh... she did? What did she say?

Well, for one thing, she told me you have the same powers as her, but that you refuse to use them. [He looks Billy up and down in a clearly judgmental manner, before standing. He has impeccable posture, carrying himself with the kind of spine one only gets by just knowing you're better than everyone else.] I can't say as I appreciate your tending of her self-doubt garden. She's got enough issues without your help.

[ooh hands, these are good landing pads, yes. it helps that the traveller is about as light as anything, so when it plops down onto Asch's hands it does a little dance with its little chicken legged pointed feet things. hurray buddy]

♩♩♫　♫♩♪

[it leans forward and tumbles off Asch's hands onto the floor, trying to get closer to his face so it can rub against his cheek]

[Oooh, that was an excellent response. Jack's grin widens, becoming something more sinister, and he greets Billy again with a darker edge.]

My my, what a frightfully wonderful hello in return. Tell me, how high did your heart leap into your throat?

[What a curious place Lorelei has found himself in! Not only is the concentration of people greater than most domiciles of Auldrant, but a good many of them are adorned with wings. Their various reactions to one another make for suitable entertainment as he floats above the crowd, gravitating towards the bar. And right through the wall without a second thought.

Oh, why hullo there isofon. Asch's presence stops him in midair momentarily, though the dour expression worn by his scion urges Lorelei closer. Hoping to avoid needless shock, he drifts down to eye-level with a smile and hand raised in greeting.]

Pleasant weather we're having, is it not?

...Tch.

[Idiot, just like always. Nothing's changed at all.]

Stupid... no one ever says goodbye in this place. Do you think I was going to cry about it?

[Weird thing. Asch indulges it anyway, crouching behind the bar counter and out of sight, letting it do as it pleases.]

Happy as ever. You'd better watch yourself, or you'll just get stepped on.

I'm surprised you remember at all.

[Though with the way people are looking - no wings or barcodes as far as he can see - there's something fishy going on, here.]

I'm fine. Same as ever.

[Which should surprise literally no one.]

[Whoa, okay, suddenly hugs. He probably should have seen that coming, but he still manages to look surprised.]

...So you do remember.

[You know what? To hell with it. He's tentatively holding her back.]

[How is he supposed to tell you idiots apart when you still look identical to him? True, this one's temperament is closer to his own than to the replica he was used to, but even that one had started out as an abrasive idiot.]

Tch... if you really were me, you'd know how I feel about... copies.

[Your interest in meeting up is suspicious, okay?]

[Why yes, it actually could be. And is! He glances back at her, though he's still watching the one who'd accosted her out of the corner of his eye. Never turn your back to the enemy and all that.]

Natalia. Are you alright?

[It doesn't click immediately that this is anyone other than a replica - or a copy - so after the initial surprise of seeing him flying like that, Asch scowls and averts his eyes, trying to get back to work.]

Another one? Ugh, how many of you are there?

[Whoa, okay, that was uncalled for. Billy's eyes narrow.]

What I do or don't do with my powers have nothing to do with her. I never told her she should stop training or anything.

[Oh god, that's creepy. And he'd been so friendly before.

...Wait.]

Aren't you... Jack Skellington?

[That was the name, right? it's been years since he saw that movie.]

[Their annoyance with Luke is mutual, at least. Although the other Asch can't see it, this one folds his arms and makes an annoyed noise.]

And I also know you aren't going to believe anything unless you see it with your own eyes.

[Equally stubborn, of course.]

["Uncalled for" could probably be Pietro's middle name. That, or "Asshole".]

Wanda takes her cues from the people around her. She's decided that you're "like family" [Cue sarcastic angry airquotes], so she's going to assign way more importance to your opinions and actions than you have any right receiving. It's going to take me months to undue all the confusion you're causing her.

[He jabs a finger at Billy's sternum.]I don't want to see you anywhere near her from now on.

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