Video | un: thenecromancer

[keterclass]

WHO: Nephrite Curtiss and anyone
WHERE: Libra network
WHEN: Now
WHAT: Asch's dad has showed up to check on his kid
WARNINGS: None yet

[There are many ways Neph could go about this. It would probably be more proper if he reached out directly to his son, or to other Black Order members in town, letting everyone know that he's arrived and is setting up to be based here for a while. But he honestly does want to know how Asch has really been doing, and he isn't going to find that out just by asking people who know both of them already, or giving people time to prepare stories.

And maybe he also wants to jumpscare everyone who might recognize him. A man's got to find his fun somewhere.

So instead, you're getting a smiling, cheerful man with red eyes showing up on the network in a video feed. His demeanor oozes insincerity.]

Hello, Kaisou!

I do hope you all might indulge a concerned father for a moment. You see, some months back, my son Asch moved to this city. Now, he's a wonderful young man, but very independent, and he doesn't always come to me when he has problems. So if anyone can tell me honestly how he's been doing in his time here, I'd very much appreciate hearing it! Now that my work has transferred me here as well, I hope that we can all get along more closely.

[Is he threatening Asch? Anyone who might have been mean to Asch? All of the above? ...Let them guess, and let's see what comes of it.]

Comments

video; un: belleoftheboulevard

[greatlydares]

You're Asch's dad? I'm Belle! I'm, uh...well, I run Random Play, the video rental place.

[An awkward pause, as she considers how to say this.]

I, ah. Is it all right if we talk in person because, uh, the news I have is the kind of news you sit down for. Asch isn't in any trouble! Like, it is about him, kind of, but he's not in trouble.

[keterclass]

[Well, that's an intriguing start, to say the least. What has Asch gotten himself into now?]

Is that so? It must be very serious. [He does not sound like he's taking this seriously at all.] Would your shop be a good place to speak? I don't have anything so pressing to do that I can't drop by.

[greatlydares]

Yyyyyeah, you could say that.

[Ahem hem. But she nods.]

Yeah, we're on Shopping Street! Just look for the shop with the Bangboo right outside dressed like Hedwig handing out flyers. [And she will swivel the camera around to show Eous, who is in fact dressed like Hedwig, wig and all, and passing out flyers in front of the shop.] I'll be inside.

un: wilder | video

[wilder]

[Well. Well. Well. This is a new twist in events- just when things were getting back to being quiet for him too. He'll raise his eyebrow, keeping casual while settling the situation]

Your Asch's dad huh? How sweet he has such a caring father, checking in on him like this!

[Asch is going to die of embarrassment]

He's been doing well, far as I know. Been working at our family's video store part time.

[keterclass]

['Our family', coming from a man who looks like that, and with that username. Asch mentioned in one of his admittedly-laconic messages home that he'd made contact with his birth family, the ones they'd previously known existed only via DNA test.

Interesting.]

I'm very glad to hear he's found something constructive to do with his time. He can be a bit of a handful if you don't keep him busy.

My name is Nephrite, by the way. And you are...?

UN: hikari-vi | video

[whiteshroud]

[Hey Asch remember that religious guy who was "taking a vow of silence"? Guess who learned to find his voice, and has had a rough enough month to decide to make it someone else's problem?

This guy! ]

Asch failed to heed a "Beware of Tiger" sign and wandered into a tiger den.

It's nice to know he'll have a parent to look after him.

[keterclass]

Well, I can't say that's surprising news.

How are the tigers?

[that's your concern?!]

video | UN: Flamelord420

[replicannot]

[Some situations are delicate.]

[Luke and Asch's situation is weird by the best of metrics, and Luke is aware of this. Unfortunately, the man on the other end of the video is pinging his headache alarm. Maybe he doesn't think that hard about the scary brown-haired man.]

[Fortunately, "not thinking that hard" is Luke's strong suit.]

Oh, hey! I'm Asch's brother, Luke.

[Gotta introduce yourself, of course. This guy will have no idea who he is, otherwise.]

Wait, does that make you my dad, too?

[Is that how it works?]

[keterclass]

[He knew this was coming. He knew Luke was in the city, that sooner or later they'd meet face to face. That he'd be confronted with one of the most impactful and tragic people from the memories of his past life.

And of course, Luke doesn't know a thing. Some things never change, do they?

Somehow, his smile stays in place.]

Hello, Luke. He did mention you to me, actually, as it happens. [Only by name, but the name was enough when they both remember what it means.]

No, I don't think so. [Lightly, cheerfully, dismissive but not unkind.] There was only one name on the adoption paperwork I signed, and it wasn't Luke.

[Luke is a stranger to him now. For now. It's better this way.]

Video | UN: Malipo

[quit_ur_kiniching]

[Kinich has expected this any day, now, so Nephrite doesn't necessarily jumpscare him. Granted, he's always been a tough nut to crack. Must be the military training.]

'Independent' is... certainly a word to describe your precocious child.

[However, Nephrite might notice that Kinich seems to be unusually relaxed. It's like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.]

He almost went in alone to the highly unstable and dangerous tears that occurred earlier this year. He was fortunate enough to be intercepted on that wise notion.

[There's a very subtle sarcasm when he says 'wise notion.']

While I didn't know about the tiger incident mentioned earlier... I'm not surprised in the slightest.

[keterclass]

I really have tried to convince him to look before he leaps, but some lessons have to hammer themselves through a skull like his.

[At least Kinich seems like he's in a good mood.]

I'm glad he's had people around with a little more sense to rein in his more impulsive instincts.

video; un: doordasher

[doublethumbsup]

Uhhhh... why don't you just ask him what he's been doing?

I mean, like. A summary or something. Can't all be super bad and problematic, right?

[keterclass]

Oh, I intend to! But what if he decided to keep me in the dark so that I wouldn't worry for him? He's a thoughtful son, and I wouldn't want to miss anything just because he thought it wasn't important to mention.

text | un; meteoric

[myblacksorrow]

I didn't realize You were coming with him, Mr. Curtiss. He's still alive, so I've been judging it as fine.

[keterclass]

I didn't make it common knowledge; it's more interesting to surprise him. But no, I do trust that if the worst had happened someone would have brought him to me.

[it wouldn't even be the first time he's brought Asch back from the dead]

Voice | UN: HelplesslyWeak

[life_ethereal]

[Oh, are we throwing Asch to the proverbial wolves? Harumasa is down to have the guy suffer some consequences.]

Oh, I'd be happy to help you out! I'm sure that Asch would have downplayed some things like the good son he is.

[That's half sincere. He's genuine on Asch being a good son, however.]

He's a good boy, won't deny that. But little A-man did walk into an area that said, "Beware of tiger," and proceeded to treat the tiger like it was a stray kitten. It was breathtaking in how awe-inspiring that good idea was! At least nobody got hurt, especially not the tiger.

[keterclass]

Like a kitten? Hm, even for Asch, that's awfully careless. I'm glad neither of them were hurt, but really...

[It's one thing to ignore the signs of a tiger enclosure and quite another to pet the tiger you find there.]

video; un: feurig

[sacredashes]

What are you doing?!

You can't just—you—auuugh.

[Now, Asch knew that this was a possibility. No, an inevitability. And yet, in true teenager fashion, he kept pushing it out of his mind, because there was always something more important to be worried about. He's done all right on his own (tiger dens notwithstanding), but there is room for growth, as always.

What he's most concerned with right now is the level of embarrassment he's feeling, which is reaching levels never before seen on this planet.

He's generally the kind of person to use text over anything else, but Nephrite has caught him by surprise.

Dad: 1; Son: 0.]

First, you can't believe everything people say. I didn't walk into a tiger's den. He just happened to live there. Second, I haven't gotten into any trouble, I've been following orders. Third—

[You're going to confuse Luke if you keep this up.

By the way, he can't remember anything.

... Do you mean it?

Asch says none of these things. After a moment he just adds:]

... Belle's shop is full of old stuff you'd probably like. You should visit.

[good enough]

[keterclass]

And a good day to you, too. See what happens when you don't put enough detail into your messages home?

[He was just denying to Kinich that he's followed Asch here, but he's under no obligation to be consistent.]

Oh, do entertain me with your explanation of what the difference is between a tiger's den and a place where a tiger lives. I'm all ears.

Still, I'm glad to hear that you've been making friends. And apparently found yourself a part-time job as well? If you needed more money, you could always have asked~

[He is just having the best time teasing his son.]

video: un: bar_cat75

[wiseoldbartender]

Wondered when you'd show up after him, once he showed. Sounds like they're doing marginally better at getting people transferred where they wanna go now, huh?

[Never sent him the Florida, after ALL his asking. At least the new Order have got that shit on lock now. ]

Been keeping an eye on the network. Quiet one. He seems okay. Spends a lotta time in that video rental place. Far as I know, he ain't fallen into any holes yet, but there's always time. There's a big one in Hyrule.

[keterclass]

The transfer paperwork went through much sooner than I expected; so I was able to surprise him with an early arrival. [He sounds so proud of himself. Successful dad troll accomplished.]

Honestly I'm less concerned for him when he's shouting. [He's easier to track at the top of his lungs.] But it does seem like he's mostly managed to keep out of too much trouble, thanks to the many watchful eyes I'm sure.

[Including Husk's, but he's not going to offer gratitude too directly. Not in the open on the network, anyway.]

voice | un: kissmyash

[switchaxe]

No, I'm pretty sure he walked right into a tiger's den. Lucky him the tiger's sleepy.

[Was he there for that? Nope! But he is going to give Asch shit because it's better than "oh god NOT THE OTHER CURTISS"]

[keterclass]

Despite his denials, I don't know what else to call a place where a tiger dwells. And apparently one that your sibling is involved with, at that? ...In any case I think we're all fortunate things didn't go worse.

video | UN: AverageJane

[averagejanedoe]

[There were two kinds of colleagues that Jane worked with in the Black Order.]

[The first was the people she pretended to like. The people who took the Order's mission to heart, who paid no mind to the bloodshed they left in their wake. The people she tried to be on good terms with, even if it made her want to throw up.]

[The second was the people she actually liked. These were the people who she tried to protect, who were far too good for the Order. The ones who didn't deserve the Order.]

[And then there was Nephrite. He inched closer to like than hate; they had a working relationship, and were on relatively good terms. He brought people back for her, on occasion, something she'll forever be grateful for.]

[But he was also a little terrifying in a way she couldn't quite place.]

Well, there's a face I never expected to see here. I thought for sure you and your son would have left with the change in leadership.

[keterclass]

[Oh, what could anyone ever be frightened of with Nephrite? The unfaltering insincere smile? The casual way he talks about death and necromancy? The pervasive certainty that if he needed to he could kill a person quickly and without hesitation? Of course there's nothing there to be concerned about at all.

Jane is graced with the same cheerful poker face that he always wears, anyway.]

Why would I ever leave the Order? Really, they've given me so much. [The plans to leave were only a contingency for if and when Asch did something to bring the higher-ups down on his head. Nephrite of course would have no choice but to share whatever fate Asch faced - he wouldn't have been able to stand aside and let his son go alone.] The change in management has made our employment much less of a concerning prospect, I'll admit.