[Closed for now]

[celestialelegy.livejournal.com]

Who: Van and Luke
What: Van has something he needs to discuss.
When: After this conversation
Where: Luke's house
Summary: Luke's changed. Van's finally noticing.
Rating: ...PG, for now



He had been here just over three days, with not much else to do aside from conversing through the journals and thinking to himself. There were many questions, few of which had easy answers. It was doubtful that this discussion would answer any of them, but there was still the slight chance that it would help.

And there was something else...

Van stopped that thought and firmly knocked on the door. He'll get to that when it comes, no sooner.

Comments

[celestialelegy.livejournal.com]

"Is that what you truly believe, Luke?" Van stared back with seemingly the same conviction the boy himself has. "Do you truly, honestly believe that people can change? And that even if they can't, they still have their right to destruction."

[wingedreplica.livejournal.com]

"Yes. I do." The answer was curt, and simple. Luke wouldn't be swayed by Van, never again. "I don't want anyone else to die, not by somebody else's hand. Everyone who is born deserves to live their life. No matter how they choose to do it."

Luke had chosen his path, had chosen to die at the Tower of Rem. Even though he hadn't died then and there, he knew he was still slowly dying even know. But it was his choice. And that was what mattered.

[celestialelegy.livejournal.com]

They had said the same thing on Eldrant; all six of them had believed it. After his discussions with those from other worlds, it seemed that they believed the same.

And they all managed to believe it so easily.

"I can't believe that." It couldn't be that easy. It couldn't be possible to undo 2000 years of mindless devotion in a few months. It couldn't be that all those years he spent were just a waste. It just couldn't be. "I've yet to see anything to convince me otherwise."

It was an unusual feeling, being so unsure.

[wingedreplica.livejournal.com]

"If you can't, then I think we're done talking." Luke didn't have anything more to say. He had known Van wouldn't listen to him. Both Luke and Tear had tried so many times to convince him and no matter what they said, Van would turn it back around on them. It was infuriating.

The redhead turned, gold wings twitching in agitation. "Is that all? Or did you have more to ask me?"

[celestialelegy.livejournal.com]

Van simply stared at him. Never before had he seen Luke act so willing to ignore him -- ignore him, when the boy once sought so hard for his approval, even after bing betrayed.

He wasn't done quite yet. "Prove it to me." Van raised his head, appearing as the proud Commandant once more. "Prove to me that people can change, and that your faith is not unfounded.

"If you can do that, I'll put an end to my plans."

[wingedreplica.livejournal.com]

Luke turned his head, looking at his Master over his shoulder, "The only proof I have is myself, and my friends. If you need more than that, then I don't know what you want me to do. No matter how much Tear and I tell you, you don't want to listen."

Van had fully caught his attention again, so he turned, "Do you really think I trust you to do that?"

[celestialelegy.livejournal.com]

People couldn't change so easily. He didn't die twice on a false belief. He couldn't have been wrong.

Yet, he had seen much in the three days he was here. If the dead could live again, then perhaps nothing is as impossible as he thought.

"If your beliefs are true, then even I can change."

[wingedreplica.livejournal.com]

"... I guess so," Luke ran fingers through his hair, eyes falling to the floor. Even if Van did change, Luke could never forgive him for all that had happened between them. He still had nightmares about Akzeriuth, and all the people who had died because of him.

[celestialelegy.livejournal.com]

Van nodded. "That was all I needed to say," he lied. "Thank you."

That said, he turned back to the door, opening it and taking a step outside. Then he stopped and looked back. After a moment of thought, he finally says, "You've earned my respect, even if you don't remember it. I would expect no less from my student." Then he left, closing the door behind him.

[wingedreplica.livejournal.com]

"Mhm."

Luke's head snapped up at the last words from Van, "R-Respect?" But it was too late, Van had gone. Luke stood, hands clenching and falling to his side. He bowed his head then, bangs obscurring his eyes. "Damnit... whole lot of good that does me now." Only after he had stopped looking for it, had Luke finally obtained something he had wanted all his life.