The drink's called "Going Merry".

And since Guy is back at Good Spirits, I'll leave the mixing - and the prize - up to him.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[There's a bit of a radio silence before he starts up, somewhat hesitant but trying to emulate a certain someone's social confidence.]

This can't be that hard, he does it every time.

To all the New Feathers- I'm Asch, and right now I'm helping to run the bar, Good Spirits. The usual bartender is out of commission for a while, but if there's anything you need, I'll do what I can. If there's anyone with... special needs as far as drinks go, chances are it's probably here. Meryl works here too, and she's been in Luceti longer than I have, so you can ask her questions as well.

...And to everyone else as well, I've decided that the bar's going to run a contest. A while ago I mixed a drink at random, but I haven't named it yet. I'm not very good at that sort of thing, so I need someone to name it for me. Come to Good Spirits any time this week and I'll mix it for you, and if you think of a name for it, you can try for the contest. I don't know what the prize will be, but I can figure that out later. [He's clearly awesome at running contests.] The drink is alcohol, though, so I don't want any kids showing up.


[Once again, Asch is at the bar, taking care of business. Look, he's even dressed as a bartender, d'awww. Feel free to drop in or just harass him via the journal.]

I-

....

...Stupid.

Good Spirits is now open.




[Guess who's trying to get active while Guy's kidnapped? Sitting around, bitching at people, and breaking things won't solve anything, so for once Asch is being an adult about it. He has no idea what Meryl's bar schedule is, so with Guy gone he's claiming the bartender job. ...Hopefully this will not end badly. He'll be there every day from now until Guy returns, so feel free to challenge his novice mixing skills.

Come bother the awkward redhead?]

[Asch's turn! He's waking up from a nice nap in a very unfamiliar bed, feeling a little groggy and weird, but otherwise not particularly different. What he does notice first, however, is the fact that his head feels a bit... lighter.

Something's not right.]

....

Wh...

....

Son of a- Who the hell cut my hair!?

[So someone's apparently missed the memo about what's going on.]

[If you should happen to pass by the north bridge closest to the plaza, you might notice a redhead sitting by the riverside, legs folded, with the Key of Lorelei propped up against his shoulder instead of his usual sword. He doesn't look particularly angry or angsty or brooding, just... lost in thought. He's had a lot to consider with Natalia's kidnapping and Luke's lost memories. Among other things.

At some point or other, though, he does make a comment for the journal:]

Is it ever... too late to regret something? Or to apologize?

How do you make up for something that can't be taken back...?

[After this, because it's too good an opportunity to pass up.]

Natalia, I need to talk to you!

Guy? I think we should talk.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

I'm Asch.

[.....Does he have to explain more?]

...Guy mentioned me the other day.

[More?]

...Don't feel obligated to talk to me just because he asked.

[Maybe that was too much.]

....I'll try to be friendly if you do, though.

[Wait that came out wrong.]

....Right.

[That should do it.]

[There's a little boy poking at the journal and flipping through it. He's rather curious and clueless about it, trying to figure out exactly what he should be doing with it. After a moment, he picks up the pen and starts scrawling lines over it, like he's trying to write but can't quite form the words.]

....?



[ooc: Asch doesn't hate the Luke currently in Luceti anymore; he does, however, hate replicas and the fact that his own replica stole his life. Thus: he's currently baby!replica!Luke, with the memories of being Asch but no real recollection of how to use those memories. Come try to talk to the baby?]

Guy, I know you don't think it's a good idea to go into the tunnels, but I want to help. They need healers and soldiers, and we both meet the requirements. I think it would be safer for Florian to be with the others, anyway.

Luke, Tear, your thoughts? I'm heading out either way.


[And true to his word, Asch is packing up some stuff for a roadtrip to tunnel-land. Who's coming?]

Guy, Luke, Tear:

What happened about Anise and Florian staying with us? Did they decide to come, or what? ...Not that I actually care, I just want to be prepared.

...Where the hell did the Key go? None of you took it, right?

[brb hunting for ancient relic D8]

Stella, Senel, I'm heading out. Thanks for letting me stay with you. ...I left food. Check the stove before it burns.

Rika... thanks for the riceballs.


[Private to Guy]

.......Is it alright if I come back?

[Locked only to people Asch knows and has spoken to]

Can I... stay with someone somewhere? Just for a little while? I can't go home.

Tear, I need to talk to you.

[For the sake of extra interaction just in case, Asch is at home, feel free to bother.]

[Open post!

Asch is wandering around the village a bit, looking for a good spot to practice some artes without killing anyone, maybe get some thinking done somewhere other than at home. He's not in any particular mood, good or bad, so if you're lucky you'll catch his good side. His journal is open since he's checking a folded map he's got attached to it, so if you're lucky, you might hear him muttering a bit.]

...so the lake's... further west from here. Damned trees turned me around...

[Private - 50% unhackable]

Tear's here now as well. With more of the replica's group showing up, among other people from Auldrant, I can't help but worry about--

...no, they wouldn't bring her here.


[/Private]

---

About time the weather improved. Guy, Luke- when there's less mud on the ground, I need some exercise.

[Have an Asch, curled up in bed, waking up from a nice cozy rest because of something feeling amiss. He's used to having two familiar presences always nearby. Guy isn't around, but he expects that (he's looking for Ciel with Meryl, he'd mentioned it earlier), and has no reason to worry. And ever since his first kidnapping with the Malnosso, Luke has been an ever-existent presence somewhere in his mind, at the back or the fore, depending on the strength of the link at the time. But now-

His eyes widen, and he sits straight up in bed, shoving the covers off and focusing intently for a moment. It's pointless - the connection's been severed.

Luke's gone.]

....dammit... dammit...!

[Time to curl up and try to go back to sleep. Maybe it's some sort of bad dream...]

Th... this experiment is weird. I don't know if I-

....

Guuuuy ♥

Luke, are you managing alright? Sync hasn't done anything funny, has he?

....

Does anyone else feel really different?