(no subject)
Title: Ad Undas Drabble Collection
Ego Booster
Perhaps unbeknownst to his subordinates, Vandesdelca knew that Luke had a kind, nurturing spirit, as proven by his eagerness to improve his country, even at the age of six. Undoubtedly, it would more than likely turn out to be the biggest setback in his plans.
Fortunately, right now, it was the sincerest of blessings. Luke doted on the replica with affection bordering on maternal love, and the replica seemed to instinctively know that the person caring for it was the reason behind its existence. The entire length of their excursion by ship, Luke stayed beside the replica and kept it relatively calm and quiet; indeed, even by the time they had reached Daath, the replica was able to form a word.
"Luke."
Luke -or Asch, as he now wished himself to be called- was estatic, and said that as a reward, he would give the replica that name. Over the course of the next year, Asch employed a very hands-on approach at teaching the replica basic skills, such as walking, speaking and eating. Unfortunately, he was unable to teach the replica to read or write, as he himself was still learning, so Van had them tutored at the same time.
It disgusted Van to think of it, but Asch actually loved that replica. Not in a romantic sense, nor even a familial sense, as far as he could tell.
The only way Van could put it was that Asch saw the replica as his. His own to cherish, to care for, to build into something great. With the loss of his country and parents, Asch found himself blissfully busy caring for this new, innocent thing, and appeared to be happiest when the replica clung to him (which it did with disturbing frequency). Almost like a beloved pet, but...beyond that, as it was a pet that could talk, could hug, could tell him, "I love you, Asch."
It gave him purpose. He was only six...he couldn't yet grasp what Van had planned for him. So he devoted himself wholly to ensuring the comfort, safety and happiness of this new being that relied so desperately on him.
It was quite the ego booster.
The Twins
They were calling them 'the twins.' Van hated that. To call them twins would be to put that replica on the same plane as Asch, which he most certainly was not, and never would be. Asch was his precious tool, the knight in his chess set, his indespensible ally.
That replica was not. The replica was a copy, to be manipulated and used as a buffer between Asch and the real world. The second anything threatened Asch, the true Sacred Flame, then and only then would that replica prove its usefulness. Van made sure it was well aware of that, although he would never breathe a word of his intentions to Asch.
It was disgusting. The replica actually seemed eager to be Asch's sheild, to be a living sacrifice. "I would do anything to keep Asch safe," it would chirp at him, and Van's stomach would lurch. How he hated that replica.
Occasionally, Legretta would ask why he hated the replica so, when his overall goal was to create a world of them.
"Because it was a necessity," Van had told her, and refused to expound upon it. Simply put, Asch was one of the few he had not planned to replicate, one of the few that would be worthy of the new world. It was unfortunate that Asch had to be replicated, merely for the sake of politics, and even then, that replica had somehow ensnared Asch and failed to serve its purpose.
A failure, through and through.
Undoubtedly, the weariness slowly, slowly creeping over Asch would become noticable to the boy, and then Van would tell him the effect that replica's birth had on him. Then he would hate the replica, side with Van and assist however possible, Van was sure of it; that was the type of person Asch was. At last, he would have Asch's unwavering loyalty and his overwhelming power. Asch was priceless in the grand scheme of things.
That replica was not.
Soon, he would be free to wash his hands of it. Very, very soon.
Ego Booster
Perhaps unbeknownst to his subordinates, Vandesdelca knew that Luke had a kind, nurturing spirit, as proven by his eagerness to improve his country, even at the age of six. Undoubtedly, it would more than likely turn out to be the biggest setback in his plans.
Fortunately, right now, it was the sincerest of blessings. Luke doted on the replica with affection bordering on maternal love, and the replica seemed to instinctively know that the person caring for it was the reason behind its existence. The entire length of their excursion by ship, Luke stayed beside the replica and kept it relatively calm and quiet; indeed, even by the time they had reached Daath, the replica was able to form a word.
"Luke."
Luke -or Asch, as he now wished himself to be called- was estatic, and said that as a reward, he would give the replica that name. Over the course of the next year, Asch employed a very hands-on approach at teaching the replica basic skills, such as walking, speaking and eating. Unfortunately, he was unable to teach the replica to read or write, as he himself was still learning, so Van had them tutored at the same time.
It disgusted Van to think of it, but Asch actually loved that replica. Not in a romantic sense, nor even a familial sense, as far as he could tell.
The only way Van could put it was that Asch saw the replica as his. His own to cherish, to care for, to build into something great. With the loss of his country and parents, Asch found himself blissfully busy caring for this new, innocent thing, and appeared to be happiest when the replica clung to him (which it did with disturbing frequency). Almost like a beloved pet, but...beyond that, as it was a pet that could talk, could hug, could tell him, "I love you, Asch."
It gave him purpose. He was only six...he couldn't yet grasp what Van had planned for him. So he devoted himself wholly to ensuring the comfort, safety and happiness of this new being that relied so desperately on him.
It was quite the ego booster.
The Twins
They were calling them 'the twins.' Van hated that. To call them twins would be to put that replica on the same plane as Asch, which he most certainly was not, and never would be. Asch was his precious tool, the knight in his chess set, his indespensible ally.
That replica was not. The replica was a copy, to be manipulated and used as a buffer between Asch and the real world. The second anything threatened Asch, the true Sacred Flame, then and only then would that replica prove its usefulness. Van made sure it was well aware of that, although he would never breathe a word of his intentions to Asch.
It was disgusting. The replica actually seemed eager to be Asch's sheild, to be a living sacrifice. "I would do anything to keep Asch safe," it would chirp at him, and Van's stomach would lurch. How he hated that replica.
Occasionally, Legretta would ask why he hated the replica so, when his overall goal was to create a world of them.
"Because it was a necessity," Van had told her, and refused to expound upon it. Simply put, Asch was one of the few he had not planned to replicate, one of the few that would be worthy of the new world. It was unfortunate that Asch had to be replicated, merely for the sake of politics, and even then, that replica had somehow ensnared Asch and failed to serve its purpose.
A failure, through and through.
Undoubtedly, the weariness slowly, slowly creeping over Asch would become noticable to the boy, and then Van would tell him the effect that replica's birth had on him. Then he would hate the replica, side with Van and assist however possible, Van was sure of it; that was the type of person Asch was. At last, he would have Asch's unwavering loyalty and his overwhelming power. Asch was priceless in the grand scheme of things.
That replica was not.
Soon, he would be free to wash his hands of it. Very, very soon.