animus_network | [Video]

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[Luke's curled up in front of the terminal, looking rather forlorn after the massive info dump that was just dropped on everyone, not to mention Dax's horrifying death. It takes him a moment for him to live his chin up from where it's wedged against his knees so he can speak clearly.]

So... I don't... really understand what's happened. But from what I've read and watched on the network... does this mean everyone that's died is... a replica?

[...he really doesn't know how to feel about that. On one hand, yay, even more people like him! On the other... that is so damn depressing.]

W-were we living when we were taken from our worlds, or was that our first 'death'? How is it even that they were able to bring any part of us here?

[He sulked back until his face was hiding behind his knees now.]

...I think all this gave us even more questions than answers...

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[He'd tried to hunt down Luke, but it looks like the redhead had already seen everything for his own eyes. Dammit.]

Maybe, maybe not. It's a lot to take in.

...

Luke. Where are you right now?

[...he wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to see his best friend or not. More secrets and lies... he wished people would just tell him stuff that's important like this.]

Terminal just outside my room.

Are you by yourself?

[That's what it had looked like from the video, at least. Whether it was him or someone else, Guy just didn't want to leave the kid alone with his thoughts over something like this. Not for too long, anyways.]

Mm... roommate's probably lurking. Not sure.

...Do you want to be by yourself?

[Luke was silent for a long moment after that question.]

...doesn't matter.

[...yeah, Guy. He's depressed.]

[Asch is shaky when he comes around the corner; he's very obviously making a beeline for his room, but pauses when he sees Luke. His replica. The piece of him that was torn out that day.

It's an utterly spur of the moment decision, but instead of retreating, he ducks down, staying outside the view of the camera, and tucks himself into the space under the terminal, practically up against Luke's leg. A tiny ball of tension and shaking, that's all he is at the moment, his back pressed against the wall.

It helps, knowing that the piece taken from him is there, within his reach.]

[Luke let out a startled noise, catching a flash of red out of the corner of his eye, before suddenly there was an original pressing against his legs. He blinked down at him in surprise, not... really sure what to make of this. Because, seriously, everything going on is confusing enough. Do you have to add to it, Asch?]

What's wrong?

[Nope. Nope nope nope. ~~What is depression,w e don't need to be depressed, shut up.~~

That's all he needs to hear. Looming roommate or not, he's logging off the terminal on Floor 5 and coming to find you, kiddo.]

[Yeah, sorry, Luke, your life is just about to get even more confusing. Asch glances up at him - still obviously shaky - before narrowing his eyes slightly. His voice isn't as angry as Luke might expect, though - indeed, it's not really angry at all, just stressed to hell and back.]

You're sitting at a terminal, you figure it out.

[For the viewers at home not fluent in asshole, that means it has something to do with those posts that went up. Asch adjusts slightly to sit closer to Luke's leg.]

Just... let me stay here a while.

[He hasn't really moved much by the time Guy gets there; he's browsing through posts and replies on the network ~~looking very much like the typical Tumblr user~~, but other than that, he hasn't really done much.]

[Luke blinked, not... really sure how him being at a terminal had anything to do with Asch cuddling his legs. He shook his head after a moment.]

Not like I can stop you, but... you okay?

[There's the faintest sigh of relief at Luke's words. Asch tucks his knees into his chest. Damn, he still can't stop shaking.]

Do I look okay to you?

No, but you're always hard for me to figure out.

[He let out a breath, getting up a bit and pushing the chair out of the way so he was sitting down on the ground with Asch.]

I guess asking you to talk about it is a bad idea.

[He blinks when Luke pushes the chair out, and looks even more surprised when Luke comes down to join him. Asch is silent a good long moment, hugging his knees, then - ]

That girl who talked about her soul being extracted... It sounds a lot like when you were born.

[A shudder, his grip around his knees tightening.]

I don't ever want to go through that again.

Our souls... Our souls are still the same, aren't they? The body shouldn't matter... That's right, isn't it?

[Luke let out a surprised noise at that, staring at his original like he had just lost his mind. It took him a moment to even figure out what to say, and even then he wasn't sure it was the best thing he could have responded with.]

...why do you want to be around me then?

I... dunno. I was a replica before I even came here, so...

[He's not even sure what it's like to be a "real" person...]

[An uncomfortable shift. It's clear that he doesn't really want to answer.]

It doesn't feel as bad when you're near.

But... I'm just a reminder of what you had gone through; why would you want that?

[Seriously, he's confused here. Asch you are not making sense.]

[He's busy being traumatized here, he's allowed to not make sense.]

You're composed of fonons that were ripped out of me by that machine. The holes hurt less.

[Yeah, good luck following that train of thought.]

[...yeah, he just doesn't understand. Luke blew out a breath, his bangs flopping up, before he dropped his chin on his knees again. Silence reigned for a long moment, before...]

...you're going to talk to Jade later. Right?

[A pause; he unfolds his arms slightly and leans back against the wall behind him.]

You're coming with.

[Luke hunched his shoulders slightly.]

...you sure that's a good idea?

[Asch tips his head slightly into his knees.]

Better than going through with it alone.

[He's not all that sure he could.]

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