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

[sacredashes]

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.]

Comments

[sacredashes]

You couldn't remember how to do anything?

[... This sounds way too similar to their past lives, but he won't say that. More importantly, it confirms something for him.]

... Then it's as I thought. The spell to Seal memories also Seals away abilities, but it's highly dangerous to the subject. It can alter their personality or revert them to a childlike state in the worst cases. They used it when they were done with you in order to cover up their crimes.

[It feels so cold when he puts it like that. Even though he'd been bristling earlier, he... feels bad.]

... They should have never gotten their hands on you.

[wilder]

[Zelos has fallen quiet again, his arms crossed as he listens to this story. More and more, pieces are falling together in his head- and man does he not like the picture. Someone was invested in dealing with Luke, enough so that they were monitoring DNA websites. And yet when Belle and Zelos had taken the test.... it'd been completely fine. Not a single weird incident.

... He has a bad feeling about this, but he's not going to voice that right now. He rather look into it, get confirmation before he throws an accusation. Especially with the younger siblings. They're already processing a lot]

Can't say I'm surprised they went into overprotective mode, with an incident like that.

[Any decent parents would be freaked out over an incident like that. Protecting your kid is what you're SUPPOSED to do.

But also-]

Any idea who the weirdos that approached you today were?

[greatlydares]

I can understand using it on someone who's actually done dangerous things and would keep on doing it otherwise, [and there's quite a few people who pop into her head at the thought,] but—on a kid? Just because they were trying to cover for their crimes?

[Her hands clench into fists, her jaw tightens. Her eye implants don't glow, but something like a red-hot fury flashes in them before she reins it back in.]

It's a good thing they're gone. I'm not sure what I'd have done if I'd known anything about this before. [She lets out a breath after that, and her fingers relax, but the line of her shoulders remains tight and stressed.

Stays that way as she hears more. Weirdos in suits going after Luke right after his DNA test, when she and Zelos got by fine with nothing happening...

No. No, she can't and won't think about that, right now. (No one went after Asch, anyway, right? Right?) Instead she makes a mental note to keep a watchful eye out for anyone in a suit who might be a little too interested in any of them.]

God. I'm sorry, I get why your parents would be overprotective if that had happened on top of what you were like, when they adopted you. [But she nods.] We're family. By blood, at least. I...understand if it's a little much for you, I promise I was planning to ease you into it first. Things just—happened too fast.

—how did these guys tell you?

[replicannot]

[It feels weird.]

[He's talked to these people for all of twenty minutes, and they feel more upset about the situation than he does.]

[Probably because he's just a normal kid. He's a normal kid, who's had a weird day, and none of that is going to change when the magnitude of what happened today actually sets in.]

[Anyway.]

Nope, nothing at all. I can't remember much of the time, but my 'rents always told me how rough it was.

[He continues.]

There were a bunch of them: a kid with the bandana, some asshole looking blonde, and my tutor was there too, for some reason?

[And here comes the introspection.]

They didn't really say anything. I asked if I'd seen them before, and they mentioned we'd met before at "a really bad place," but I got a really bad headache so we couldn't really talk.

[He's not going to mention the memories because he doesn't want to. If he talks about them, they'll be real, even if he's already accepted it on the surface.]

[sacredashes]

Exactly, Belle. It's a spell known to the Order, but it's only used when every other avenue has been exhausted. It's for criminals, not for children. These damn 'scientists'... the cruelty was the point.

[None of these descriptions do much for him except "asshole-looking blonde". He'd ask if the bandana kid was someone Asch knows, but dismisses that almost immediately; Kinich would not be a part of something so messy unless he was cleaning it up.]

Other Krusnik victims, maybe? The reports said the city is home to a few, though it was rather... nonspecific. [That could have been a place for him to start, but no. It would be weird if he started interrogating Krusnik victims about Luke when even Luke doesn't know. Asch does respect some boundaries, as it turns out.]

... You should rent that movie and let everything settle. [This is, perhaps, the most helpful advice Asch has ever given.] When you figure out what you want to know, we'll be here.

[wilder]

["Kid with a bandana".... well, he knows one person that fits that description, and it makes him tired just thinking about it. Of course that guy is sticking his nose in their personal business, again. Ugh. Belle sure picked some guy to befriend.

But at least it wasn't anyone they'd have to worry about. Zelos was just concerned it was more people trying to grab the kid. ]

That'd make the most sense, from the sounds of it.

[What a mess this is. It's going to take forever to unravel everything, and it sounds like the kid's already been through the ringer. Asch speaks up first and.... wow, yeah, he actually agrees with that]

Yeah, I think Asch's got a point. None of this stuff needs to be solved right this second, so might as well take a break before to help you digest stuff.

Belle's a real movie buff. Tell her what you like, and she'll find something perfect for you.

[greatlydares]

[Asshole-looking blonde is a little harder to place, but when a kid with a bandana is mentioned, Belle immediately shoots a quick little side-eye at Zelos. That's her friend! Don't be mean to her friend. But she does relax a little, because she trusts Harumasa and she figures he likely had his reasons.

It makes her think, though, about when he'd first contacted her. She's cobbling together details now and the picture it forms worries her but...for now, she lets that be.]

If it was the other Krusnik victims, I'm sure they meant well.

[A quick nod.]

Yeah, I am very good at recommending movies. What's your favorite genre? What's the kind of thing you're looking for?

[replicannot]

Yeah, thanks. You know, you all are pretty alright.

[He nods. It's a lot to think about. He's ashamed enough about his behavior that he doesn't want to actually talk about what happened, but he knows they didn't mean poorly. Even if it turned out that way.]

Maybe a superhero movie? That sounds like a good way to cool down tonight.

[And, he opens his pocket to take out his wallet. Where is his wallet?]

We, uh, might have a problem?

[sacredashes]

[Huh, wow, Zelos agreed with him on something. Maybe this will work?

... He is trying not to ruin the goodwill he's just received. He is trying so hard. But when Luke reaches for his wallet and comes up short, Asch looks like he's about to burst a blood vessel in his forehead.]

You lost your wallet? [GOOD LORD maybe his parents were right to keep him close all these years. He's already facepalming.] Did someone bump into you at school or on the way here?

[Maybe he can go track them down while Belle and Luke are doing normal people things. Asch can't sit still for a movie knowing someone is out there taking advantage of his twin brother and not facing any consequences for it.]

[wilder]

["pretty alright" is higher praise than Zelos ever got from his family back home, so you know what? He'll take it.

That won't stop him from groaning when Luke requests superhero movies]

Seriously? Like Belle needed another excuse to make us watch those things... [uuuuugh he hates those movies they're so LOUD and stupid. The fanservice outfits aren't even that fanservice-y!!!

Oh right, missing wallet]

...You got some bad luck.

[Thanks Zelos]

[greatlydares]

Wait, seriously? You lost your—

[Oh my god where did he even keep his wallet? Belle pinches the bridge of her nose again and inhales, then exhales. Who did this, who stole her baby brother’s wallet, she’s going to—well, she doesn’t know what she’ll do. Make a really sad face at them? She’s not exactly a combatant.

Something occurs to her quickly:]

—can you get back to your places from here? It’s a long walk back and I’m not sure I like the idea of letting either of you walk around Shopping Street this late.

[Because Luke might get pickpocketed again and Asch looks like he just might knife the next guy who does it.]

Or you could both stay with us for the night and watch Superman.

[replicannot]

Hey, it’s not my fault! It just wasn’t there when I woke up.

[He probably dropped it.]

[He definitely dropped it.]

[No other explanation, none.]

Man, this sucks. I can get back to the dorm, but I can’t get in without my student ID. Can I take you up on that offer to crash here?

[sacredashes]

[Asch immediately shuffles a little and glances off to the side, a subtle hint that he's uncomfortable. Better than yelling.]

I can handle myself. I'm not unarmed.

[When you can just blow up whatever monster runs at you, the sword is kind of secondary.

... But. He's also... curious about how the siblings live, he'll admit it (if only to himself).]

I don't want to overstay my welcome.

[wilder]

[Zelos makes a soft amused sound to himself. It was hard to believe these two were the exact same age. Luke sounded like a total kid, while Asch was clearly trying to speedrun to being middle age. But... he supposes that's also a kid thing to do.

He gives them a shrug and a wave of his hand]

Stay, we don't mind.

Belle and I actually live in a big house away from this place. There's enough beds for both you guys to stay in comfortably. Got another bangboo there that makes damn good pancakes for breakfast, that alone is worth the sleepover.

[greatlydares]

We really don't mind at all. I wouldn't have made the offer if I did mind. [To Asch, specifically:] Silly, you're my brother. There's no way you can overstay your welcome.

[She's going to be so annoyed at herself later when the shouting begins.]

I can vouch for Bunbastion's pancakes, too. You won't believe what he can do with instant pancake mix and berries.