kaisou | closed; it doesn't get easier the further i run

Entry tags:

closed; it doesn't get easier the further i run

WHO: Luke, Zelos, Asch, and Belle
WHERE: Random Play (Belle's video rental store)
WHEN: Early March
WHAT: Luke realizes that the weird guy he met once is not a stranger, and Belle & Zelos realize Luke has a twin.
WARNINGS: Possible talk of child abuse, maybe-murder, infidelity, swearing... Wilder Sr. was a piece of WORK.

[action;]

[With Luke on the network, that might necessitate a change of plans. Yes he took this job so he could look over the deteriorating situation in Kaisou, but the real reason was because he found out Luke was attending college here and he wanted to keep an eye on his long-lost brother. Of course, he never spoke a word of this to Nephrite, but he found out anyway. Asch is fairly predictable as far as motives go.

More importantly—he has other family here, too. But he isn't sure how to approach them, and he's not sure he even wants to. His mother's family was... nonexistent, or so distant as to not care, abandoning a single mother at the first opportunity. His father's family... well, if they were anything like him, Asch sure as hell didn't want anything to do with them.

But Random Play flashes its neon retro lights at him friendly-like, twinkling like an arcade star in a dark velvet galaxy of gray, and he finds himself drawn to it once again. The first time he'd only showed up for a few minutes and quickly hurried away when he saw movement. This time he stays longer, arms folded as he looks at the old movie posters taped up in the windows.

What if he did go in? What would happen?

He turns away after a moment and sighs, slipping his hands into the pockets of his long dark coat. He should do something productive with his time, like finding a proper place to stay. Chasing ghosts never gets anyone anywhere.]

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[He'll clear his throat]

That's a pretty harrowing tale, not gonna lie. Definitely gonna disrupt my sleep tonight.

[Like he's had a good night sleep in years.

But... he's going to choose not to linger on that anymore. Because Zelos has stomached enough horrific things that he's able to get through what actually matters at this moment: the little brother in front of them, and the one on the couch in the other room]

So lemme guess.... your plan is to make sure he doesn't remember you or his past. Something along the lines of "he's better off this way", while you spend your life guarding him from the shadows with the Black Order?

[Goddesss who doesn't exist... this kid really is related to him]

Edited 2025-03-12 13:16 (UTC)

[She glances at Zelos, and—doesn't ask. Her own thoughts flick suddenly to a white spotted monster floating above a ship, screaming with mad laughter: May the Creator refine me! She shivers.

A cult that experiments on people, that stops at nothing to achieve its goals, steamrolls over the vulnerable...

There's something about it that sounds—not entirely the same, but similar enough that the echoes are disquieting to her.]

That...explains some things. Like why a few years ago people were acting so worried.

[Focus. Focus. Luke is hurting badly, and Asch is having a rough go of it. Is worried that Luke will remember and that it might break him, which—seems a disservice, she privately thinks, to the kid lying on her couch.]

I am concerned about him. Even if Krusnik's gone, the effects of their crimes still linger, and from the looks of it, those effects on Luke's memory...

[She shakes her head.]

He's going to remember. This is a certainty, at this point. [Her words are blunt, but her tone is gentle and soft.] The moment he got on the app, it went from a remote possibility to a certainty—not a matter of if, but when. And he's going to remember what they must've done to him.

He's going to need a safety net, Asch. He's going to need his family, especially the family who has some idea what he's in for.

What happened a few years ago?

[He folds his arms. Zelos being serious is... weirdly uncomfortable, even though they just met. He's no longer trying to deflect and that's somehow even more worrying than just the fact Luke is damn near passed out in the staff room.

Of course then Zelos hits him with that. He bristles.]

Before he got on the app, yes, I was sure that I could watch over him from a distance. That was fine. He deserves his own life even if I'm not in it.

But now... I don't know. [He sighs through his teeth.] If being around me causes him pain, then I shouldn't linger. Forcing his memory could break him.

[He's so conflicted.]

... No, you don't get it. I don't know what he went through. If there are people from Krusnik here, they're more his family than I am.

Uh huh. Well that is quite noble! [He'll admit that, his tone slowly getting back to his more casual one.

That is, it's of course a trap]

... But, are you're sure it's him you're worried about breaking here? [He shrugs]

Look, elderly brother advice? You got a chance to reconnect with your sibling, and you might not get another one.

I wouldn't throw it away so easily. It's a regret that lingers.

Edited 2025-03-13 00:20 (UTC)

Zelos is right. Don't let this pass you by—you'd just do the both of you the biggest disservice of your lives.

[And as for that. Oh, boy, she twitches just a little, as if she dearly wants nothing more than to put her hands on Asch's shoulder and shake some sense into him. She shuts her eyes and breathes out, counts backwards from five in her head.

This is what being an older sister is like? Good god, can she go back to being the baby sister?]

I don't know for sure what happened a few years ago. Just that for a little while, the supernatural side of town was...tense. I heard the name Krusnik once or twice, but I never dug much deeper than that.

And then one day, the tension lightened.

[A pause.]

I'd say his memory is going to be forced anyway. He's on the app. It's a matter of time before something happens that triggers a memory into coming back, and right now we don't know for sure what that trigger is going to be. It could be you! It could also be a movie he watches by himself. It could also just be talking to someone and hearing them say a certain phrase.

He's going to need as many people around him as he can get, when that happens. When. And you—you may not have been through Krusnik, but you've got more experience in the supernatural than he does. He's going to need your help to come to terms with that.

Of course it's him I'm worried about. I'm not the one who got my memories tampered with. [Absolutely no one in Tales who says they're fine is actually fine but Asch doesn't know that. He's getting annoyed. Maybe it is Zelos' tone, maybe it's because Belle is nagging him, but maybe he needs to step outside for a time out too.

He rubs his temple.]

That must've been when the Black Order team and their allies eliminated Krusnik's leaders.

[... Their advice sounds so reasonable, but Asch wants to resist it purely because he's Asch and not for any logical reason. That's pretty typical of him even if Nephrite has tried to raise him differently.]

... Look. Maybe to you it seems simple, like I can walk into that room and tell Luke I'm his long-lost brother and he'll accept that right away... but it's not. He's younger than you think— [ASCH YOU ARE YOUNG TOO] —and still trying to learn how to be himself without the influence of other people. If he remembers anything about our past lives, it's only going to be harder for him to do that.

[He wants to help him. He wants to be there for him. But does he really deserve it? Is he really the family Luke needs right now, when he has Belle and Zelos right here?]

He needs space to figure things out. If he wants to get to know me then fine, I won't run away. But I refuse to be part of something actively hurting him.

[God. It's like dealing with an angrier younger version of himself. This is tiring]

So...what? Is your plan to leave him with those other former cult victims and hope they can help him figure out himself? Can't say I know any of them, but I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess they got heaps of their own problems to work out.

[Like he's just saying, that sounds like a recipe for a group of people who needs loads of therapy. ]

.... He won't grow if he never experiences pain. You said you fight with swords, right? Me too. And I bet you remember that first time you ever cut yourself on your own blade during training- or the first time your teacher made you eat dirt. Those moments sucked... but in the long run, it made you a better swordsmen didn't it?

[He shrugs] Neither of us think this is gonna be simple. Quite the opposite. Our family's messy even on a good day. But even so.... I think all four of us have had enough of being alone.

You're the one who lost a brother and then found him again, only to find out he doesn't remember you. [Belle thinks, briefly, that she may be the Wise of this family. It's such a horrifying thought that she internally recoils from it.] Your pain doesn't rank lower than his.

[God, this guy. This is a fun thing to watch in a movie, but boy does she hate seeing it in real life. She pinches the bridge of her nose with a sigh.

This is muttered just softly enough for Zelos to hear:] You look younger than me, you little...ugh.

[Then she focuses up on Asch again.]

He's going to get hurt. But continuing the swordsman analogy—I'd rather he got hurt surrounded by people who love him, in a controlled area, with support and care for any wounds he might sustain in training, than get hurt by his memories because somebody attacked him and he didn't know how to react. [A beat. Then, to Zelos:] That makes sense, right? I've only seen swordfights in movies.

[She's not a fighter! She's just good with hacking and solving puzzles.]

You don't need to be alone, Asch. Neither does he. Right now...he needs his brother.

[True to Wilder form he makes a 'tch' sound at Zelos' rebuttal. Yeah, maybe the cult victims have their own shit to deal with. But there's a chance they'll be gentler than Asch's own brand of... tenderness.

However, as he goes on to talk about learning the sword, that actually gets Asch to listen. Learning the sword was an important part of his childhood in that other life. It was independence, and he knew it was for Luke, too. They even had the same teacher. In this life, his memories came back and took the trauma with them, but it became a way of dealing with those memories and letting out the raw and complicated emotions they brought.

A part of him wonders if, in this life too, they'll end up dueling just to be heard.

... This is going to be difficult, not just for Asch (does he ever think of himself first?) but for Luke, who has to bear the weight of lost memories and a life that was taken away from him. Asch closes his eyes for a moment. He tries to look at this more logically, without the hot burning fury he feels whenever Krusnik is brought up, and the guilt that follows. Realistically, in the same town, with the same family and similar circles, there is no way Asch can avoid this forever. It... makes sense to plant himself here, to continue making connections and not try to work around something (Luke) that might not want to be worked around (because Luke also deserves a say in this).

In the end, that's what he settles on.]

... I want to hear it from him. That's nothing against you, but he's had plenty of people who 'cared' for him speak on his behalf. He might even make the same decision, and that's fine... but I want it to be his choice.

All his life—this one and the last—he's had to fight for the ability to decide things for himself. And just like wielding a sword, he needs to learn that decisions also have consequences. I know he can bear them if he's given the chance.

So... I'm going to give him that. Besides, it's not like I can throw you guys away. That was never the plan. [The plan was to be like Batman watching over the nerdiest part of Gotham and then some rich kid, that's what.

He whips out a notebook from somewhere inside his coat and starts jotting down his address, Libra/Gemini handles, and actual phone number. The address is a nondescript, tiny apartment in a neighborhood where there are many, many apartments like it. He rips it out of the notebook and holds it out.]

Today might be too much for him. But if you want to find me, here I am.

You should be grateful. I don't even answer the phone every time for my mentor. Don't abuse it.

Edited 2025-03-13 06:17 (UTC)

[Well... what do you know, their words actually had an effect. Zelos actually wasn't all that sure it would be- he's going to be happy with it.

And at the mention that Asch wants to hear it from Luke, Zelos shrugs with no offense taken]

Fine by me. I still haven't gotten a chance to get to know my other kid brother yet, so I can't predict what he'll think. [Yes that's right Asch, you're a kid brother. In fact-] All I want is for you to give it a shot, that's all. After that, whatever will be, will be.

[He'll glance over at what Asch wrote down, but let Belle take the sheet. She's the one that records that stuff anyway]

Hey, thanks! But uh, who uses phones to call today anyway? It's all about texting. [Are you a boomer baby Asch?]

Don't worry, we won't abuse it! [And then immediately in front of Asch, he'll directly address Belle] So you wanna set up the family group chat, lil sis?

[Belle is already recording the information in her phone notes. She looks up and nods.]

That's fine with me. Ultimately, it really is up to him. [Though privately she thinks just being on the app is going to force the issue sometime soon. But not right now. In the meantime, she holds up her phone.]

Way ahead of you. I already set up the group chat. [It's just the three of them and the title is Belle Cassidy and the Sunset Kids, and she wears a distinctly smug smile on her face like a cat that just got the cream.]

'Kid brother'? I'm nineteen. [...] Just because I'm not old enough to drink in this backwards country...

[grumble grumble grumble]

A group chat? Is that really necessary? ... Never mind.

[The Black Order one is annoying enough. Not that he's going to say that. Whatever, it doesn't matter.]

Let me guess. The stuffed bunny is your security?

[He does not sound like he approves.]

Oh, you're nineteen? Wow, you're even younger than I thought~! [Totally a lie to grind Asch's gears. When Belle shows the group chat to him, he grins and gives her a thumbs up]

I'm 26 and Belle's 24. You got two other half-siblings who don't live in town [Or in this world, in Seles's case] that we know about. We can tell you more about them later.

[Because honestly... they got enough reunions and lore drops going on for one day. The conversations about Wise and Seles can wait to another day.

At the question about the rabbit security, Zelos sighs-]

No. [He says, right at the same time Belle likely says something to the contrary. This is an argument they've had. So many times]

I remember being nineteen. Aren't you supposed to be at the club? Luke has an excuse, his parents are strict, but you don't.

[Wise and Seles...that's a long conversation they're going to have, and Belle's just about out of energy for that.

At about the same time as Zelos says no, Belle says with a straight face:] Yep, Eous is security. It knows how to handle a taser. [Side-eyeing Zelos and saying, very obnoxiously, in the way of a sibling about to have yet another well-worn argument:] So yes, actually, it's a viable guard, Zelos.

Edited 2025-03-13 14:05 (UTC)

[Look, some days, you just go through it, alright?]

[Luke wakes up on the staffroom couch with the worst headache he’s ever had. His first instinct is to get the fuck out of dodge.]

[Only there is a small creature on top of him.]

[Normally, Luke wouldn’t care, but it’s been a rough day, so he lets it happen. Eous is very attentive, and stays on top of Luke until the headache has dispersed.]

[This ruins Luke’s plans to leave. Luke Waldorf has found something he can complain about, and thus he will.]

[He takes off the noise cancelling headphones and follows the sounds of voices until he finds them. And then, he does the only sensible thing. He opens the door, and:]

Hey, whose robot is this? It kept sitting on me.

[It works, but only in that Asch's face goes from :| to >| which is pretty normal in a conversation with him.] ... That guy really couldn't keep it to himself, could he.

[That's a charitable way of putting it.]

'The club?' ... Never mind. [Belle is quirky and he's going to learn sooner or later just not to question it.]

Hmm. I'll see about getting it some actual weaponry. It'd be helpful if it could change its size, but we'll have to make do. [He straightens.] Consider me your heavy security, then, unless I have an assignment from the Black Order that supersedes it. If I have to evacuate you two personally from the building I will. I'm not taking chances with the recent tear sightings—

[He falls silent when he hears the door opening and sees his brother standing there, looking groggy as hell. Asch... simply doesn't know what to say. In no dream or fantasy did he ever actually pursue the logical course of 'what if I had my brother back' so he just... stares for a long moment.

... And forgets to say anything.]

[He snorts at Asch's confusion. Ah. This kid REALLY didn't get out much.]

Really? Well hey, thanks! I know how to fight, but it's been awhile so I'm probably rusty. So if you're offering, we'll leave it to you~

[Zelos had been paying attention to what's going on here that he ignored the sounds from the other room (8). So he also turns his head in surprise when he hears Luke come in]

That's Eous! He's Belle's baby. Feeling better kiddo?

Edited 2025-03-13 15:55 (UTC)

Weaponry—wait, what? I don't even—it's not programmed for combat, it's—

[—programmed for ~~Proxy work~~ managing a store, she's about to say, but then Luke steps out of the staff room and Belle turns in surprise, her words forgotten. Oh! He's awake. And he looks apparently okay, thank god, so her smile is real when she sees him.]

Eous is a valuable staff member, if it was sitting on you it just wanted to make sure you were okay. Hey, Luke—are you feeling any better?

[he’s terrible actually]

[But he’s better than when he walked into the store, so there’s that. The headache is gone, and now he’s mostly confused and trying to pretend that this afternoon never happened.]

[It does feel weird, though. A smarter person would leave at this point, but unfortunately, Luke Waldorf.]

Yeah, I guess the guy did help a little bit. My headache’s gone.

[not that he thinks it’s cute or anything]

Hey, don’t take this the wrong way, but who are you guys?

[He feels a twinge of irritation.]

Did no one teach you manners? You're supposed to introduce yourself first.

[... even though literally everyone here knows who he is—]

Edited 2025-03-13 20:20 (UTC)

[ 💧 ]

Oy, where were those manners 10 minutes ago?

[YOU DIDN'T INTRODUCE YOURSELF FIRST EITHER ASCHY]

Anyway I'm Zelos Wilder. You can call me Zelos.

[She doesn't nudge Asch with her elbow, but from the way she twitches, it's clear she dearly wants to.]

I'm Belle, you've met Eous. Welcome to Random Play, how— [She immediately stops the welcome spiel right in its tracks, because they're a bit out of that territory now.] That's good to hear, really. If it comes back, let me know, I'll get some aspirin from my bag.

[WOW]

[What a rude jerk.]

Hey, I think that goes out the window when you wake up on a stranger's couch.

[But, at least the other two are nice.]

Thanks. I'm Luke. It's okay--I get these sometimes. Dunno what causes them.

[You sure bud?]

[He looks at Zelos. And then Asch. And then himself.]

We look a lot alike, huh? What, are we all secretly related?

You would have been on the floor otherwise.

[This is going swimmingly. Just fucking... perfect. Ace. 10/10, gold medal, yep. He's getting more and more irritated with just about everyone except the bunny and... Belle, but she has only temporary immunity.

Asch could be helpful. He even considers it for like a quarter of a second.

And then it goes out of the window.]

Do you even listen to the words that come out of your mouth? Think critically for one freaking second! You do know you're adopted, don't you? Did you never even think about who your old family was?

[aAAAAAAAAUGH]

Never mind. I'm leaving—

[HE NEEDS TO GO YELL AT THE SKY]

[Without even looking at him, Zelos reaches over and grabs Asch by the back of his coat in order to stop him from running off]

Nooo, you're not. Deep breaths now.

[Is this what having brothers is like? It hasn't even been an hour and he is feeling a serious mental drain.

He'll then look over at Luke]

Don't mind him, he's just wound a little tight. That being said... you're not entirely off the mark.

Did your parents ever talk to you about where you came from?

2/2

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