#ashesoftheflame

[the-replica-luke]

Written for  @ashesoftheflame​ after a long discussion about this, quite some time ago. 

__

Two left feet, that’s what he had. The younger Fabre was well aware of his complete lack of any kind of coordination and to make things worse, after returning to the Manor some two years after the end of The Score, the two of them - himself and his original were to be officially titled ‘Viscount’.  His Mother, she insisted that a party be held in their honor - to celebrate both the title they were about to be given and their return home.  

Asch, naturally was against the idea, but didn’t voice his opinion because it would please Mother. Luke was more concerned than anything. A party for a family such as their’s was really more like having a ball, and a ball meant dancing - something he didn’t have the faintest of ideas about. He was also promptly informed by both his best friend, Guy, and cousin, Natalia that, as one of the two guests of Honor he would be expected to dance with someone. 

All the replicated noble could bring himself to do was swallow hard in fear of the very thought. He was bound to make a fool of himself and whoever was the poor soul that chose him for a dance. All eyes would be on him and there would be no place to hide. Luke couldn’t stop himself from panicking. 

“Ow! Luke pay attention!”  

The sound of his best friend’s voice snapped him out of his daze, and he focused on the blue eyes that were narrowed at him with a disapproving look. Taking a step backwards, his shoulder slumped as he sighed with eyes focused on the floor. 

“Guy, what’s the point? I’m never gunna get the hang of this.” The younger pouted, defeat more than apparent on his features. However, he was met with a gentle hand on his shoulder and an equally as encouraging smile. 

“The point is, you said you wanted to learn, so I assume that means you have a partner in mind. You want to do your best for them, right?” 

The redhead nodded, as he looked back up to the other who was already holding his hands out in a stance for a waltz. 

“Then let’s try it again, and maybe you should lead this time. You’ve almost got it down, but you need to lead.” The blond spoke with a chuckle as the music started back up and he waited for his friend to do just as he suggested. 

“Luke, Guy’s right - you’ll need to lead your partner if you want to impress them.” The sound of his cousin’s voice spoke up from the other side of the room, to which he only gave her a look of uncertainly.  “Sooo one, two ,three - one, two, three...” She motioned her hands to them, as if to say - start again.  

Luke remained frozen.  Guy sighed, releasing his hold on the other’s hands and made a motion to the other blond as if to say ‘be my guest.’ She sighed and traded places with him.  “He doesn’t seem to get it with me, maybe he’ll learn to lead if he actually dances with a girl.” He spoke, smiling at her chuckle. 

So she stood offering her hands, and she waited. The embarrassment was plain as day on her cousin’s features, and her assertive personality took charge and before any of them knew it, she was gracefully guiding him around the room to the beat of the music. 

Well that was until - 

“Ow! Luke! Watch where you’re stepping!” 

“S-Sorry.” He released her quickly and took a step backwards and dropped his head in shame. “I didn’t mean it, are you okay?” He stammered out the words, keeping his eyes to the floor. He’d never get this right - and the party was tomorrow. 

It’d gone on like that for hours. 

Night soon fell and the red headed boy found himself in the same room, alone. He held his hands up in the stance he’d been shown, and spoke to himself. “One, two, three. One, two, three.”  He let the rhythm flow from his lips with his words, keeping his eyes closed as he imagined the pace he needed to keep.  It seemed to be going well for now. It always seemed simpler when he was by himself. 

A few laps around the room, and he continued to speak the rhythm “One, two, three. One, two, three.”  He spoke aloud, as if to tempo himself. 

“That’s enough, replica. I think you have it down.” 

The words caused his eyes to snap open, and it was in that moment he realized that his hands had been tightly woven into his mirror’s and the ex-God-General had been moving in time with him along the floor.  

“Ow!” 

His heel drove into the other Scion’s foot as he jumped stumbling backwards with his face dyed the same color as his hair. “How - how long have you - when did you - “ Words became hard to form, as he watched his other simply smirk while embarrassment flooded his every sense. 

“I think we did two or three laps before you noticed. You were pretty in the zone.” 

There was a laugh that came from his other. He was mocking him. Luke’s face only flushed further at the other Fabre as he glared. “You just proved you can be taught, replica. You actually won’t make a fool of yourself.”  

Luke said nothing, to the taunt and merely left the room. 

__

He pulled white gloves on after he finished with the final touches of his uniform. It was such a classy outfit - so fancy - and too be honest it was fancier than anything he’d ever worn. A deep breath after he looked into the mirror let him gather himself for one last time before he stepped out of the door to his room. 

The Ball was being held in the Castle, nobles from all around sure to attend. He closed his eyes when he reached the castle doors and drew in another breath. Why did Mother insist on such a thing? It seemed like she was making too big of a deal of it all - but then again she did just regain the sons she believed to be dead for the last two years.  He could do it for her. Anything for her. 

It was a slow walk as he made his way through the castle; it’s corridors always a confusing maze for the youngest to attend this function of royalty.  By the time he arrived, he realized that he was almost the last one there.  

“This party is for both of us, Replica. You could at least be timely about showing up.” 

Luke found himself frozen as he met the eyes of his counterpart. A matching uniform clad his form, crimson pushed back in it’s usual fashion, while the river that normally hung at his waist was tied back in a carefully constructed braid.  He looked - dashing. 

Beautiful.

Yet, Luke dare not speak the word aloud.   

His breathe hitched in his throat, at the sight and he felt his cheeks flush as met his other’s eyes. The expression looking back at him - it changed, as if growing impatient while the younger got lost in the moment. 

“Replica?” 

“Um.. yeah.. sorry. I got lost. The castle has always confused me.” he apologized, finding it hard to look his mirror in the eyes. He’d never been this jumpy around Asch before, so what was going on? They had already gone through so much to get home, and while relationship had improved from what it’d been - this feeling in his chest... did he actually - was he actually... No he couldn’t be. 

A glance back towards the other, and he felt a pain in his chest. It was hard to breathe, and his heart skipped a beat. His cheeks felt like they were on fire. He was falling in love with his original. 

He was falling in love with Asch. 

His face continued to burn at the thought, avoiding his gaze the entire time, the ceremony of receiving their titles a little more than painful as he did his best to remain calm but avoid the ever pressing voice of his other that made it’s self more than known in his mind. Asch was more than aware that something was up but Luke refused to acknowledge it. 

He couldn’t be. He couldn’t be falling in love with Asch... not after he...not after what he’d given to Lorelei in exchange for this...for this final year with him.  It would destroy him. He couldn’t let himself, it would only make this harder. 

However, with the sound of clapping all eyes in the room turned to their mother. The red haired woman, stood proudly next to them, presenting her sons to the world but what she did next had the younger screaming internally. 

She announced the time for the dance. 

Luke felt his stomach drop, as his nerves flared to life and all eyes in the room focused on them, wondering who the two Fabre boys would choose to be their partners.  However, after a moment of closing his eyes and drawing a breath, the younger of the two turned to his original and smiled. 

“Asch, will you honor me with a dance?” 

[seleniamuses-archived]

▼ (hehehe)

SEND A SYMBOL FOR MY MUSE’S REACTION TO YOURS:▼ kissing them

Tear hadn’t at all expected for Asch to kiss her so suddenly, so outright. Blue eyes widened for a few seconds upon his lips meeting hers, and her body tensed at the sudden intimate contact. Her mind could barely process what was happening, but it was only as he was pulling away when her body began to ease and she began kiss him back.

Maybe she kissed him back because his lips felt unusually nice on her own. Maybe it was something that simply happened in the heat of the moment. It was something that her head couldn’t quite get around, it was something that would remain to play on her mind for a while. As it ended, her eyes instantly turned to meet with the floor, and her teeth began to nibble at her lip.

“... A-Asch, why did you..?” Her words were quiet with a slight embarrassed stutter. Eyes eventually were able to look towards the redhead, to try and take in his reaction.

[child-of-lanvaldear]

[[nerds on my work calendar. Asch is not impressed with my work ethic.]]

[the-booty-of-gardios]

[[Welcome to the grumpy old folk club, ashesoftheflame]]

[sxcrifie-blog]

+ ashesoftheflame

Any semblance of familiarity, of comfort seemed to have been ripped abruptly from under the replica's feet--Causing him to fall into alienation yet again. While vivid blue skies, powdered with the white of clouds put him at ease, it was more of a surreal, disquieting sense of the feeling.

Every once in awhile, midst his routine strides, the youth found himself pinching his skin--an habit he picked up shortly after his awakening--as confirmation that he was actively able to control himself; that he wasn't playing spectator to a hero's journey.

It was selfish, to think that his actions, while well-intended, wouldn't come with repercussions--that despite broken promises, he'd be revered as a hero, or at least, changed. He'd learned that lesson long ago, though an immature mind refused to fully acknowledge the fact: intentions can't speak louder than actions. To be met with disbelief and sorrow in an awakened world wasn't anything like Luke imagined--and it scared him.

               Have I... made another mistake?

Luke let out a heavy sigh; his fingers now occupying themselves with the calloused skin of his palm, while somber emerald eyes laid their gaze on the familiar arched waterfalls bordering the imperial capital, before sinking back down to cerulean and ivory stepping stones.

Guy and Jade; the two of his companions he presumed would find within the aquatic metropolis, were the last of whom he had to reunite with--for better or for worse. Flickering about the vicinity, a gaze of an uneasy youth retreated back to the ground soon after, as the hesitant walk turned into an anxious run.

[turpisgladio-blog]

Spectrum;;

≛ Fate had determined that he walk a path of sorrow. No longer acquainted with former allies, and alone in every respect, he had found a solitude in life he rather enjoyed. Deep in the trees, he had been working, building something. Though, he stopped, and looked up, the sky was a bit dark, as though it could pour.

≛ As predicted, water did start to shower and the blond thought to move away from the forest to seek a better view of the storm. Ever since being alone, he had come to appreciate storms and their beauty. The dull color set of one was something he liked, as per his choice of clothing. He wore blacks, and dark blues and greens.

≛ Setting out finally, the man trudged through the slowly dampening bushes and soggy leaves, all the while becoming heavy with water setting into his clothes. Though it mattered not.

≛ Heading to a hill, that was colored a very dark green shade due to the intake of the sky water, Guy settled upon the surface, backside growing quite slick as he leaned. Watching the water fall was calming, and took his thoughts away from those things that plagued him daily. A kind of thing he could not escape no matter how hard he tried.

≛ Closing his optics, blue became dark as he stared at the back of his eyelids. Feeling the cool rain cascade upon his downed form felt sweetening, and he felt like staying there forever.

[the-replica-luke]

“I miss Asch.....”

[seleniamuses-archived]

ashesoftheflame replied to your post:5 Asch and Tear

[yESSS THIS FILLS A MIGHTY NEED]

{I’ve been feeling Asch/Tear a lot recently so I really needed to do that drabble ;-;}

[child-of-lanvaldear]

"Why did you do that?"

[[Welcome back! Now to happily traipse down the Angst Trail~]]

“I c-couldn’t...” Natalia said, trying to stem the bleeding of the wound that ran from her hip to her knee. Her hands glowed as she trying to gather enough fonons to close up the injury. “I c-couldn’t lose you... not again, Asch...”

It hurt, more than words could describe, but the princess tried to smile at the redhead.

“I’m... s-supposed to take care of you...”

[aschthebravevesperian]

A Little Asch On Asch }|{ ashesoftheflame

There weren't a lot of places Asch could think to go on such short notice. He wasn't anywhere near Malkuth. 

He frowned. Grand Chokmah was nearby. He pulled up a memory of the last time he'd been there, tangled up in the warmth that was his alternate. His body heated up slightly, the chill of the rain fading away as he fell into the memory. Sweaty bodies, long red locks getting twisted up in each other, to the point it wasn't really clear to which alternate they belonged, fingers grasping for purchase along similarly muscles bodies, fevered gasping, near-silent pleading for release...

Asch shuddered and closed his eyes. He headed towards where he knew his alternate lived. At the very least, he'd get shelter from the storm.

-~-~-~-

His knuckles on the hard wood door made a sharp sound. He waited, body tense, for who would open the door. When no one came right away, he knocked again, louder, and called out. His voice was raspy and quiet from disuse, but he called out as loud as he could.

"Open the door! Alternate! Asch, open the Hod-Damned door!!"

[crimsoneyedfonist]

"I had no idea the great Lorelei loved cats."

[themaidsheir-archive]

[[ sees Corrine on her dash and violently misses her Asch blog ]]

[the-replica-luke]

Ω - Got any Tumblr “Senpai’s” and if so who?

@ashesoftheflame, @syncthetempest, @the-king-of-the-wind @pepotour (or any of herps’ blogs @.@) 

-Insert novel crafting word wizards here - 

I love all of them. Dear God. 

I mean I have a lot of people on Tumblr I follow (that happens when you’ve been here since 2011) but Dear God, especially Sync. I am not worthy. The things Sync plots and her drabbles and just ugh, so wondrously crafted pieces of literary perfection.  I am not worthy. 

[seleniamuses-archived]

ashesoftheflame replied to your photo

[ we share ot3 yes <3 ]

{This has made me very happy. If only because I thought I was the only one xD}

[child-of-lanvaldear]

[[and here you can see a vague approximation of my headcanon height for Natalia. As well as the impending doom that is an angry princess]]

[aschthebravevesperian]

Asch Is Back | Hello

"So I heard someone made my duplicate mute. So I rushed right back."

"So. Did anyone miss me?"