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 Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:47 pm
Finally Asch had recovered from the illness that had plagued him for well over a week. But while he had recovered physically, he still had some emotional healing to do. It wouldn't be long before he was sent off on various missions, since a large portion of his department had been injured on the last one. He would likely be very busy for some time. Thus, Asch had decided to take a trip to Camphoreon. He needed some time to himself. Away from the other Rockets, and even away from his Pokemon for a while. He needed quiet time to think.
Thus as the sun set on another day, which seemed so ordinary to most, the red headed Rocket could be found in the harbor park. It was possibly his favorite place when looking to be alone or to think.
He stood at a railing open a walkway that overlooked the harbor. The rushing sound of the waves below having a soothing effect. It was here that he could look in the direction of his own country, as well as view the sunset. The ocean breeze tossed his long hair freely, while green eyes distantly stared at the scenery. The boy being immersed in his thoughts, mostly about what had happened recently.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:43 pm
Natalia walked along the pathway, enjoying the sun and the fall breeze. She had gotten sick after being caught out in the rain with Asch after the Halloween party and was actually still on the very tail end of it though it didn't show. Soon she came to the walkway that a familiar teen was standing on and she stopped. What was he doing here? Normally she would have gone up to ask him but after their last meeting the noble girl was hesitant.
Natalia crossed her arms loosely and stood there for a moment, pondering what to do. Go and talk to him and possibly end in the same manner as last time or ignore him and keep walking. Her head said to ignore him but her heart said to talk to him. Too many questions for him just to ignore him, too many mysteries just to walk by.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 5:59 pm
Feeling that someone was watching him, Asch tore his gaze from the horizon and turned to look at the blonde girl. There was several moments of silence as Asch simply stared at her. Lips were turned down in a slight frown but his expression was carefully neutral. But there was no glares, no harsh words, and while a part of him wanted to... he didn't turn around and leave either. It was difficult facing her, but Asch stood his ground.
Natalia... He hadn't expected to see her again, and especially not so soon. As he looked at her, he thought about Aila and the words Izaya had said to him. That's what gave him pause and caused him to not act on his initial instincts. Asch's demeanor was clearly different from the last time Natalia had seen him, however, he couldn't yet bring himself to speak. Something was holding him back.
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Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:35 pm
After standing there staring at Asch for what seemed like forever, Natalia took as step closer to him. "Hello Asch." She said, keeping her voice as neutral as she could. Their last meeting's ending came to mind so she felt like she was walking on eggshells already. "How have you been?" She asked, figuring it might be a 'safe' topic to start things off.
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Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:41 pm
The question wasn't an easily answered one, and there was pause as Natalia came closer. He didn't object and turned his gaze back out towards the ocean, green eyes gazing at the waves solemnly. "Fine," he said quietly, his voice completely lacking the brash tone he had used with her at their last meeting.
He didn't want to be difficult or cold to Natalia, but he didn't really know what to say. And it was evident by his tone that things were probably not fine, despite the fact that he tried to cover it up. As much as he tried, he couldn't always keep up the tough act.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:27 pm
When he didn't react unfavorably, Natalia walked slowly over to his side, putting her gloved hands on the rail and looking out as well. She tilted her head forward slightly for a moment before glancing over at Asch. "...Are you sure?" She asked. It didn't seem like he was 'fine' to her and it made her both curious and concerned. Maybe it was the fact that he and Luke looked so similar that she felt this way, but for now she didn't dwell on it.
She turned her eyes back to the ocean and enjoyed the breeze as she waited for his answer, whether it was co-operative or not.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 7:50 pm
No, he was just kidding himself by saying that, or trying to avoid the topic. Nothing ever got past Natalia though, and he should have expected as such. He didn't really want to talk about it, but how long was he going to continue avoiding and pushing Natalia away? He already had several regrets regarding Aila. Was he going to allow himself to make the same mistake with his childhood friend?
These thoughts rolled around in Asch's mind as he silently stared at the horizon with a vacant gaze. But eventually he did answer her.
"A friend of mine is dead," he told her. Inwardly he cringed, but outwardly his expression was completely flat. However, the words also brought about something strange. As if a burden had been lifted off his shoulders at the admission.
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 9:45 pm
Natalia pressed a gloved hand to her mouth briefly to stifle the small gasp she made when Asch answered. Whether it was from him actually answering with something that deep this soon or because of the news she wasn't sure, maybe it was a bit of both. Either way though she soon dropped her hand from her lower face and, with a moments pause, reached over can gave Asch a loose hug.
Was this stepping over a boundary? It went against what she had been taught what to do in these type of situations in court and while it was fine to do when it was a friend at anytime, Asch was still a stranger. But the compassion and sympathy she felt toward him ruled her actions and she wasn't going to second guess now when it was to late to do so. "I'm sorry."
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:36 am
As Natalia's arm found its way around him, Asch's eyes widened slightly not having expected such a gesture. While he would have shunned it from most people, he said nothing and simply allowed the contact. He too was surprised that she would reach out to him this way after he had been so cold to her. It only made the guilt pile on him even more.
There was a soft sigh from the red head at her words, and he knew he couldn't stay silent.
"I have something to tell you," he said with a bit of hesitation. She may as well be the first to know. Natalia would likely found out eventually anyway. So why continue hiding it from her?
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:55 pm
He felt familiar. So it wasn't just his face, his voice, his eyes, it was also something about him that was just plain familiar to her. It was both a curiosity and an annoyance, though the annoyance was mainly because she couldn't figure it out. She didn't want to let go of him and end the hug until she figured it out either.
So when he said he had to tell her something she still kept him in the hug and looked at his face with a slight puzzled look. "What is it?" Maybe she would finally get some answers to why she was so jumbled up soon?
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:19 pm
He didn't really know how to say it, and he paused for several moments, mentally struggling to come up with the right words. What would she say? How would she react? But as Asch looked into her eyes and saw that imploring, searching gaze, he knew he couldn't keep it from her any longer.
"I was born as a noble in Grande Ile to the fon Fabre family. Ten years later I was kidnapped, and the boy that was brought back was not the one you knew." He said this slowly but in a serious and solemn tone. His green eyes remained fixed on her hazel ones, waiting and judging how she might respond.
Did she even remember that time seven years ago? Surely she would have to.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:34 pm
Was she hearing this right? Could it even be possible? She stared back into his eyes like he did to hers, searching for any hint that this was lie or truth. Disbelieve and shock flooded her when all she could find was honesty and hesitance. This man, was her Luke? That's why he was so familiar to her? That's why Little Luke took to him? Her Luke had still been in captivity?
She closed her eyes and tightened her hug as she fought under the whirlwind of emotions at all the new questions his admittance added. If he was her Luke then why did his family lie? Who was the Luke she had helped for the past seven years? Did her Luke just escape recently or something and if so then way had it taken so long for him to talk to her? ...Did he even still care...?
All that and more went around and around her head, not helping the mild stuffed up dizzy feeling that continued to show up at random from her lingering cold. Finally she opened her eyes again and hesitantly raised a hand to Asch's cheek, tears in her eyes as she sought one last piece of proof from him. "...Do you remember our promise?" If he did then there would be no doubt who he was, even though she didn't doubt him now to be honest.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:46 pm
The disbelief and shock was certainly understandable, and Asch merely stood there as she clung to him, waiting for some sort of response. He could only guess at what was going on in her head. All the questions that were probably coming to her. Did she even believe him?
Asch closed his eyes for a few brief moments until Natalia pulled back to look at him again, her hand now touching his cheek, and finally spoke. This question caused his gaze to turn to the side, unable to look at her as his emotions threatened to surface. Of course he remembered. How could he forget? He then looked her in the eye again.
"Some day, when we're grown up, let's change this country. Change it so that no one has to be poor. Change it so that war never happens. Let's work to change this country for the rest of our lives. Together."
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:58 pm
Natalia closed her eyes in a vain effort to keep the tears from spilling and instead made them run down her cheeks. There was no doubt about it, this was her Luke. She had been trying so hard, for years to get Luke to remember the words they had promised but he never could and now she knew why, or at least part of why. It still didn't explain who the Luke that she had been with these past seven years but she wasn't sure she was quiet ready for that just yet.
"Luke." She said in a rather choked up voice. Saying it out loud, acknowledging it out in the air made her press her head against Asch's shoulder as she fought to get her self under control. She felt overwhelmed right now and just needed a few moments to calm down and sort things out.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 7:07 pm
Hearing the name made Asch recoil mentally, but he said nothing, able to tell what kind of state Natalia was currently in. He didn't wish to upset and confuse her any more than he already had. So for the time being he simply accepted it, and gently put his own arms around the girl.
He didn't know what else to say, so he didn't say anything, and held her close. Resting his chin on her shoulder as they both hugged each other. The boy's own eyes glimmered slightly, but he fought back the tears. So much had happened recently, and it was difficult to hold it back, but he refused to lose it in front of Natalia. He was stronger than that.
But again he felt the burden beginning to lift.
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