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[moneyballer]

username: I CAN B UR DADDY

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[moneyballer]

[He is fine, physically, technically.

The bags under his eyes tell a different story.]

Hey.

[The answer is short, devoid of energy.

It takes everything he has left for him to smile.

Asher steps inside.]

It's good to see ya.

[tolight]

[ It's easy to forget that not everyone is from an apocalypse. Not to say Lucina's perfectly fine either, but this is something she's experienced for years; it'd be weird if she was struggling ( though, a zombie apocalypse where everyone isn't struggling is pretty strange, too ).

But Asher isn't. Her smile dies down, letting silence drag on before— ] And you, as well.

[ She leads him to the living room, where both their armors are laid out and displayed, and the Falchion rests against the wall, sheathed. If someone didn't know any better, this would look like a house of weeaboos. ] Would you like something to drink?

[moneyballer]

[Asher marvels at the stuff that's on display, clearly impressed by it. He can't say he's known any girls who've had this sort of shit out and about, and he even taps on one of the magnificent pieces of armor, knocking it softly with a knuckle.]

Daaaaang. Is this shit for real?

[His head snaps back to attention as she asks, hands sliding into the pockets of his green hoodie.]

And uhhhh, sure!

You got any beer?

[tolight]

The armor? [ She turns, halfway to the fridge— ] Oh, yes. That's Aqua's, and the one beside that mine. [ Said in the most natural way possible, because it is... natural... jfc ]

I don't think we have any beer... [ Given both their drinking preferences ( aka, nothing ). It doesn't stop an apologetic frown appearing on her lips. ] I apologize. Did you want anything else?

[moneyballer]

[Aqua. He vaguely remembers her from over the network.

She and Lucina do seem to be similar in several respects.]

Oh! Oh, don't worry about it then.

Water's fine.

[Said before inhaling sharply. The weapons they have seem so cool, pieces that resemble the things he's only seen in video games. Still, has she had to keep a sword at her side for as long as she can remember? That's fucked up, god.

It doesn't seem as though Lucina has ever had time to relax.]

I'm guessin' things are gettin' a little cray cray down at the precinct.

You still goin' in to work, or nah?

[tolight]

[ Dear Asher, neither of them are gay. ] Water, then. [ Give her a minute, at least after she pauses at Asher's gasp, watching him study the blade. If she smiles, hopefully he doesn't see.

( Besides, all things considered, it is a rather beautiful sword ). ]

Of course. Someone has to enforce the quarantine, if anything. [ Not that it helps much — the streets are mostly deserted anyway. ] Though the captain has gotten more lax on the hours we are required to work, compared to the beginning.

... It has become rather hectic. How are you holding up?

[moneyballer]

Enforce the quarantine.

[Asher perks up at that, curious.

In hindsight, it seems that law enforcement is just doing it's job and containing the infection. But something about his phone call with the mayor struck him as bizarre. It's not as though he hasn't had his fair share of speaking to political figures; his childhood was full of dinners with judges and senators and the like. There is selfishness, a desire to protect one's own rights and well being, but this?

This was bizarre.]

Does anything about the Captain's behavior seem weird to you, at all?

[look at him ignoring that second question smh]

[tolight]

Hm... [ She's back in the living room, handing Asher a glass of water, first. But her expression's thoughtful, at first, before eventually shaking her head.

Nothing. ] Not in particular. He seems more... defeated, than anything. [ A perfectly acceptable behavior, at least in Lucina's eyes, at the wake of an apocalypse. ] There aren't many things for us to do when most are already staying indoors.

Aside from hoping that the virus is contained... [ But jury's out on how successful that would be. ]

[moneyballer]

[Mentally, he draws a line through that option, as if it were a note on a piece of paper.

So, there's no foul play at that level. A relief, in a way.]

Daaaang, good to know the po-po's not in on this shit!

Then I'd really be freakin' out.

[She hands off the glass to him and he winces, as if something is amiss.]

Aren't you?

[Freaking out, he means.

Oddly enough, Lucina seems suprisingly centered.]

[tolight]

Am I... freaking out? [ She blinks, eyes moving from Asher to her hands to Asher again.

She thinks of the state she's landed herself in, the nature of the city separating her from the people she cares about. Her friends slowly losing their minds to the effects of the virus, and the others that also have to watch the people they care about become zombies.

But allowing herself to be overcome with emotions won't help, not when there's a long list of things to do and not enough time to fix it all. ]

I don't see how ... that would help. [ The police aren't here to save the timeline, they are. ] I am relieved that we do not have another force to fight against, however.

[moneyballer]

Ch'yeaaaah, no.

[Asher takes another sip of water, inhaling sharply.

Panicking is not the productive thing to do. Thankfully, he hasn't let himself panic, not just yet.

Well, not too often.]

You're right.

[Should he say what he's been thinking?

Lucina seems fine, but fine is almost never Good.]

But if you're not spooked, then...

What are you feelin' right now?

[tolight]

— Right now? [ The question shouldn't catch her off guard, yet it does.

Mostly because there's no good way to word what Lucina's feeling when thinking about it isn't natural for her. There's the anxiety that coils deep within her gut, and the impatience to do something to fix all these, but she doesn't like to think of them as feelings, more as to do lists that will get resolved with time. ]

... Anxious for the mission to succeed, first and foremost. [ Because the mission needs to succeed, above all else — they don't have any other option. ] Though, it may take a while before we get to that state. [ A pause, then— ] Why do you ask?

[moneyballer]

I don't think I've ever seen y-

[He stops here, unsure of what to say.

Usually he lets his mouth run, but as of late, he's been trying to be better about it.

He has never really seen her feel anything all that strongly, other than anger, and that's always been directed towards something or someone. Save for the slight bit of animosity she exhibits towards Achilles, Lucina isn't the emotional sort. That being said, not everyone is.]

Uuhhh, nevermind.

[tolight]

... Ever seen me...? [ She parrots back, almost naturally, eyebrows furrowing in equal parts curiosity and concern. Even with context, and her trying to fit the pieces back together, she can't fill in the missing blanks ( mostly because it's less obvious to her than the rest of the world, with how much she's grown to sucking it up and move on ).

But his dismissal worries her, because it's unlike Asher to do so. ] What is it, Asher?