[ＸＩＶ] Xion (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fourteen) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
lucetilogs2011-02-23 06:31 pm
fourteen) wrote in lucetilogs2011-02-23 06:31 pm
Entry tags:
now she's here, suddenly I know / if she's here, it's crystal clear / I'm where I'm meant to go
Who: ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cakeblocked and poppetry
What: The truth.
When: Starting just before sunset of the 21st.
Where: First at house 5, then That One Bridge.
Summary: This has been a long time in coming. Two shy, stupid, utterly oblivious Replicas finally get their shit together and talk. (Also Kukki and I write each other a series of small novels.)
Rating: PG. (This will probably be the most Disney thing to ever Disney in the history of Disney-fied things.)
Xion's first feeling after the experiment had been ... fear. Lingering, terrible fear that none of it was real, despite all the reasoning and arguments and gentle proddings to the contrary. Of course, she'd told Luke she didn't care, that none of it mattered, that she'd make it real...
And those words were true. But even so... even so... it would have been a blow to learn. All those memories... fake? Different? How could they be? It would have hurt so much...
But on waking early that morning, Xion had realized something, after the fear had faded and she'd had some time to sort through everything she remembered. All of it... was the same. Everything. The way she felt when Luke gave her her own little Christmas. The tightness in her chest when Sanji had asked her, very frankly, You really like him, don't you?
Her plan... to tell him her feelings on Valentine's Day. The letter she'd written... in case of the experiment!
She'd leaped out of bed like someone had electrified her, torn between elation and a driving sense of urgency. It was true! It was all true, all real!
And thus she'd come up with a plan. She had several people to speak with, after all -- Ven, poor Ven, Sokka and Fenimore... and Tsuzuki. Xion found herself endlessly, almost stupidly grateful he'd made that silly entry with the socks, giving her the idea to try and circumvent the experiment. Writing out her feelings for Luke in that letter... had made her blush like crazy, but it had felt so, so good to finally admit it, even if he wasn't going to see it just yet. And the idea had worked like a charm, too -- doing exactly what she hoped. Just sitting there in that box, waiting -- for the moment when the experiment would be over, and whatever had happened -- whatever had gone right or wrong -- she could tell Luke the truth, with proof that predated any Malnosso manipulation.
Honestly, she'd have to bake Tsuzuki cookies for this.
Thankfully he'd responded in a timely manner, too -- it'd still been morning when she'd been able to retrieve the letter and beat a hasty retreat back home, to think (and talk to her friends, too). But also ... to decide what to do. Though she knew the words by heart, she read and reread the letter she'd written, her blush slowly fading as the true significance of her words sank in. This was real... in her hands was tangible proof of her feelings. And that meant ... well. She had to talk to him, didn't she?
So it was that she ended up in front of house 5 a few hours later, fidgeting with nervousness, twisting and untwisting her fingers together. It was already well into the afternoon, almost evening, but it had taken all of those hours of reading and thinking and thinking some more to even work up the courage to leave the house again, much less actually walk over to his. After all... just like before, she didn't know for certain if Luke returned her feelings. Even if he'd said ... he'd said ...
Let's... Let's work together to make it real, okay?
B-But that could have been the experiment... right? Yet somehow... she couldn't get the feeling of hope out of her heart. Anxious hope, but hope nonetheless. This just had to be real... They'd practically sworn to each other. Promised, no matter what happened, to make what they had real, to make it work. She had to believe this would happen. After all... as it had turned out, she'd really meant it when she said she didn't want to just be his friend anymore. If he didn't want... if he didn't feel-- she'd take anything he'd give her, of course. Anything! But if he really didn't love her back, it'd ...
Well. She'd cross that bridge when she came to it, if she absolutely must, as much as it would hurt.
There was no turning back now. Moving up to the door, Xion took a deep, steadying breath and raised her hand to knock.
cakeblocked and poppetryWhat: The truth.
When: Starting just before sunset of the 21st.
Where: First at house 5, then That One Bridge.
Summary: This has been a long time in coming. Two shy, stupid, utterly oblivious Replicas finally get their shit together and talk. (Also Kukki and I write each other a series of small novels.)
Rating: PG. (This will probably be the most Disney thing to ever Disney in the history of Disney-fied things.)
Xion's first feeling after the experiment had been ... fear. Lingering, terrible fear that none of it was real, despite all the reasoning and arguments and gentle proddings to the contrary. Of course, she'd told Luke she didn't care, that none of it mattered, that she'd make it real...
And those words were true. But even so... even so... it would have been a blow to learn. All those memories... fake? Different? How could they be? It would have hurt so much...
But on waking early that morning, Xion had realized something, after the fear had faded and she'd had some time to sort through everything she remembered. All of it... was the same. Everything. The way she felt when Luke gave her her own little Christmas. The tightness in her chest when Sanji had asked her, very frankly, You really like him, don't you?
Her plan... to tell him her feelings on Valentine's Day. The letter she'd written... in case of the experiment!
She'd leaped out of bed like someone had electrified her, torn between elation and a driving sense of urgency. It was true! It was all true, all real!
And thus she'd come up with a plan. She had several people to speak with, after all -- Ven, poor Ven, Sokka and Fenimore... and Tsuzuki. Xion found herself endlessly, almost stupidly grateful he'd made that silly entry with the socks, giving her the idea to try and circumvent the experiment. Writing out her feelings for Luke in that letter... had made her blush like crazy, but it had felt so, so good to finally admit it, even if he wasn't going to see it just yet. And the idea had worked like a charm, too -- doing exactly what she hoped. Just sitting there in that box, waiting -- for the moment when the experiment would be over, and whatever had happened -- whatever had gone right or wrong -- she could tell Luke the truth, with proof that predated any Malnosso manipulation.
Honestly, she'd have to bake Tsuzuki cookies for this.
Thankfully he'd responded in a timely manner, too -- it'd still been morning when she'd been able to retrieve the letter and beat a hasty retreat back home, to think (and talk to her friends, too). But also ... to decide what to do. Though she knew the words by heart, she read and reread the letter she'd written, her blush slowly fading as the true significance of her words sank in. This was real... in her hands was tangible proof of her feelings. And that meant ... well. She had to talk to him, didn't she?
So it was that she ended up in front of house 5 a few hours later, fidgeting with nervousness, twisting and untwisting her fingers together. It was already well into the afternoon, almost evening, but it had taken all of those hours of reading and thinking and thinking some more to even work up the courage to leave the house again, much less actually walk over to his. After all... just like before, she didn't know for certain if Luke returned her feelings. Even if he'd said ... he'd said ...
Let's... Let's work together to make it real, okay?
B-But that could have been the experiment... right? Yet somehow... she couldn't get the feeling of hope out of her heart. Anxious hope, but hope nonetheless. This just had to be real... They'd practically sworn to each other. Promised, no matter what happened, to make what they had real, to make it work. She had to believe this would happen. After all... as it had turned out, she'd really meant it when she said she didn't want to just be his friend anymore. If he didn't want... if he didn't feel-- she'd take anything he'd give her, of course. Anything! But if he really didn't love her back, it'd ...
Well. She'd cross that bridge when she came to it, if she absolutely must, as much as it would hurt.
There was no turning back now. Moving up to the door, Xion took a deep, steadying breath and raised her hand to knock.
no subject
There was probably a whine in that tone of his. His hand fell away from her hair so that he could hang his arms and look just as exasperated as possible, though with how over the top it was... well, considering how emotional Luke is, it's hard to tell whether he's serious or not.
"I don't like singing." And there lay the entire reason behind why he was always so quiet and reluctant while he'd sing. Luke always enjoyed hearing songs and music, but definitely not singing it. He wasn't sure why, it was just... He felt like all eyes would be on him and judging him, and it didn't help that he'd be absolutely embarrassed by the end of it by anyone who listened to him...
But still... The way she was looking at him, and Luke felt those puppy dog eyes staring at him even while he looked up at the sky. It was really hard to say no to those eyes, especially when it was something like singing, even if he didn't like doing it.
So, while he stared at the sky, Luke pursed his lips, then started to hum. It was nothing really comprehensible at first, just a few notes to warm up a bit. And to think of a song. Just the right one for her to hear...
no subject
Xion didn't have time to say anything further. Because then he started to sing, and it just arrested the breath in her chest. His voice was gorgeous, there was no getting around that. And he didn't like to sing?! Somehow, one way or another, Xion would have to cure him of that.
But the very least she could do was complete her thought. Maybe it'd change his mind...
"... it's beautiful. How could you not like it...?"
no subject
"B-Because of stuff like that..." He muttered. And it was the truth: while some praise was practically eaten up by Luke in the past, compliments that were so... deep and genuine would just embarrass him and make him not want it anymore. After so long, it'd sound... fake. And they weren't, he knew it, but he'd just get tired of hearing it. Couldn't he do a mediocre job at it just once? Apparently not.
He leaned against the railing and continued on; "And... I guess I just don't like the way it feels. I want to listen to it, not listen to myself. It hurts my throat, too... It's just annoying when I do it.
"But I guess if you like it..."
That didn't mean he'd suddenly change his mind about singing. It's a viewpoint he held on to for years, one that even crossed over from the way Asch was wired. Neither of them particularly liked singing despite being good at it.
But if she liked it... He'd do it, since she asked. He ducked his head and hummed a few bars, still trying to pick out a song. There were a lot to choose from, yet some weren't even suited for singing, and some just... weren't enough. Not for her. Not for this moment.
no subject
But as she listened to him, watched him turn away, she sighed and moved to stand beside him at the railing, reaching a hand up to card her fingers through his hair from the back. The last thing she wanted was to make him do something he genuinely didn't like. Whatever the reason... it didn't matter. She wouldn't force him. Knowing he was singing when he didn't even want to... when it actually hurt his throat? It wouldn't sound as sweet, somehow.
For a moment more in silence she moved her fingers through his hair, listening to him hum, before she shook her head. "Luke... don't. It's okay. Of course I like it, but... I like it more when you're happy. If you don't want to sing... you don't have to."
She gave his hair an affectionate ruffle before leaning both arms on the railing, leaning forward so she could glance up at his face and smile crookedly. "I'll sing for you. After all... I do like it."
no subject
Come to think of it, it was one of the few times he'd seen his mother and father truly together like that. Other times, they'd seem so... distant. Supporting each other, but at an arm's length. He glanced at Xion, who was saying something, and he couldn't help but wonder if they'd be like that in the future...
He desperately hoped they wouldn't. No, not just hoped; he wouldn't let that happen.
And really... he could handle singing, if it was just for her, if he didn't have to do it too much. Maybe, anyway... He certainly could now, as he looked away from her crooked smile and her offer and answered it with that very same song from his memory, the one that his father and mother shared a rare, affectionate moment to. One that he hoped would stay with him and Xion for... for however long they decided to be together.