GODLY AUDIENCES: LUKE FON FABRE

[divus]

Comments

[dupelicate]

[he exhales out his nose, a sharp laugh of air.]

Maybe. Or unluckiest, since I can't say anything to bring in new followers...

...Still, I guess I'm not that mad about it. I don't think Ion is, either. After all... he probably sees all of you as his dear friends.

[divus]

He's so nice, it's actually a little annoying sometimes.

[She crosses her arms.]

...but, just between you and me? And I mean it, I'll get mad if I find out you told anyone else this.

He isn't so bad. I won't like it if I don't win, of course, but if he won... I'd probably act mad for a couple of days, but then I'd get over it.

[dupelicate]

I promise! Cross my heart.

[if anything, he looks properly proud at the secret—proud of Ion.]

Good to know... but I guess there's no fear of that happening right now. [Ambition, you're still in the lead.]

...And you're definitely not the first person with the "he's so nice it's annoying" opinion—that's pretty much how I felt the first time I met him, too!

[divus]

I mean, you're right about that. Everyone adores me once they get to know me.

[no]

But, like. Just in case. [...] Wait, seriously? You thought that too?

[dupelicate]

[he just chuckles—although it's not clear at what part the laugh is directed towards.]

Yeah. But, well... I was a pretty different person, back then!

But Ion was... the same as always.

[divus]

That guy never changes, does he?

[dupelicate]

Nope. He's the one guy that stays the same.

And... I owe him a lot for that.

[divus]

You're so sappy when it comes to him.

[it's hard to tell if she finds it cute or disgusting]

[dupelicate]

You think so? I guess, maybe a little...

[It's hard to tell if he's blushing, or if it's just color left over in his cheeks from before—but there's something in his expression that says he knows he's a little over the top.]

...I think I'm just happy to see him, again. So... I want to make the most of our time together, you know? [our extremely limited time together, he doesn't say.]

[divus]

...

No.

[You can practically picture her eyes going wide behind her mask.]

Do you have a crush on him?

[i'M SO SORRY THAT'S THE ONLY CONTEXT SHE'S EVER REALLY HEARD "MAKE THE MOST OF OUR TIME TOGETHER" IN BEFORE]

I can't believe I made my comment to Ion before I saw this, I can't believe how this worked

[dupelicate]

Huh?!

[The statement blindsides him so hard, he actually reels on the spot.]

N-No! Wh-What? No way! It's not--we're good--we're friends! He--we--

[He stumbles over his tongue, and tries again.]

I just--this is only 6 weeks, right? Right!?

I'M CRYING WITH LAUGHTER

[divus]

Yeah, it's six weeks. So what? You've known each other longer than that, haven't you?

[TAPS HER FOOT. answer her, luke!]

[dupelicate]

No! I mean, yes! I mean--I mean we only have six--I mean, two weeks left with each other!

[He practically shouts it, his voice a weird combination of desperation, embarrassment, and despair.

There's a pause, and he runs a hand through his hair, ruffling it in frustration.]

Then I'm never going to see him again! You know that, right?!

[divus]

Says who?

[She crosses her arms.]

We can send you home. We don't have to if you don't want to go, you know. This world needs people to live in it.

[dupelicate]

[There's no response. Instead, he looks at the ground, cheeks still flushed hot, frustration writ large.]

I... I can't. I can't.

I want to, but I can't.

[divus]

Why not? Wouldn't it make you happy?

[she doesn't get it]

If it's what you want, just make it happen! It shouldn't be that hard...

[dupelicate]

It would. But...

[The future in potential. The possibilities. No matter what, he could...]

But I have to go back. No matter what. Even if there's nothing for me to go back to.

[It's the desperation from before, with a hollow sadness.]

I have to see it through. No matter what.

[divus]

...that's what you meant by keeping your promises?

[sounds very yikes, to be honest]

[dupelicate]

I don't know what will happen when I go back. But I know I have to be there—I know I have to, or the world can't start to change, and grow.

[of this, he seems completely certain.]

I don't know what'll happen after that. But I know I have to give all of who I am for it, or it won't happen at all.

[divus]

...

Can I ask you a question, then?

[dupelicate]

[Leaning back against the door, he shrugs, and nods, bracing for it.]

Sure.

[divus]

What are you going to ask for if Piety ends up making a comeback and winning this...?

[dupelicate]

[...


He's quiet for a while. It's the first time he's put serious thought into materialising it verbally, so to speak.]

...I want to save Asch. And... I want to be alive.

I want both of us to come back alive.

[For a moment, it looks as though he's going to keep talking—but he hesitates, eyes drifting elsewhere.]

I... was thinking about asking Ion if he wanted to come, too. If I could. But... but if he wins, I feel like I already know what he'd choose.

[He'd never been one to shirk responsibility.]

[divus]

...yeah, I hate to say it, but it's not like he'd really choose. We're gods now - we have to stay here.

[They're bound to this world.]

Unless, like, somehow he stopped being a god anymore. But I don't think that's going to happen.

[...]

What do you think is going to happen if you don't get your wish?

[dupelicate]

I think I'll die.

[For real. The finality of it is... something he doesn't dwell on.

But everything comes to an end.]

Guy... he's from the future—two years after our fight at Eldrant. He... hasn't seen me yet.

[and really, who suddenly shows up after 2 years?]