dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[ Oria thinks about how they were playing games in the retro arcade. He always wants to stay connected in some way, just in case. It's like having your phone on all the time.

But seeing Sinclair explain makes Oria feel fond for him. ]

I said random notifs, not yours. Yours are always fine!

[ He will welcome a call or a message or anything sent by Sinclair. ]

[oh...Sinclair feels warm again ]

... then, um. Even so I hope you don't wake up too often.

I'll be there for you whenever I can. Just call for me.

[ Sinclair is his best friend. He can't lose him. He's heard of terrible things about Geroy and the fact that Sinclair goes there and is treated like equipment like the two in Grave Mole... he doesn't like it.

He thinks that, but he still has no idea of the extent of the experimenting that goes on behind closed doors, much less of what happens to Sinclair each and every time.

Oria can't lose any more people. He doesn't want to. Sometimes he has nightmares of the moment before Aria died, exploding into bits in front of his eyes. ]

You can wake me whenever you want.

Yeah? [ He can't say much about what happens to the two in Grave Mole...he knows they suffer too but he doesn't even know what happens to them.

But sometimes it feels like there's very little he's allowed to hold close. He doesn't want to lose Oria too]

... you're always so reliable. Thank you, Oria.

Of course I wanna be reliable! We're friends! You're my best friend, even. You've always been important to me.

[ Always. Always, always, always, always, always— ]

[ Ah...he really wants to hug Oria now even though Oria doesn't like hugs and some days Sinclair can't handle them either.]

...you too. I can't imagine anything without you anymore.

[ Oria isn't sure how to feel about that... Should he be happy that Sinclair deems him just as important? Yes. Oria is still used to pressure in this verse, but it's a different kind of pressure. Gauntlet Knights were just treated like e-sports, but he knows that one day, they'll be used for actual government military things, should the times call for it. Instead of banning military altogether, all the nations decided to strengthen them.

This surely won't backfire on everyone later! ]

If you say it like that, I'll think you're proposing to me!

[ There's something to be said about the notion of a "Healthy Military Balance" being the driving force of their world. And sometimes, it bothered Sinclair.

Yet here he was, a gauntlet knight. It'd be fine. It's not like any of them really wanted to fight. He reddens, pouting. He was being earnest and here Oria was again--]

What...? D-Don't kid around like that.

Hey, I wasn't the one who said it like that.

[ Sinclair being earnest is what made Oria appreciate him in the first place, so he accepts it. It's just...

...

He reaches out to take some more fries. ]

[Still a little pouty]

Sometimes it feels like a lot of things I say come across as weird when you say it like that.

[THIS MORNING EVEN]

[ Oh, Sinclair... so sincere. So pure. Oria laughs. ]

It's fine. We're all the lechers here except you.

[ Is it though??? ]

[...

he throws a fry at Oria's face.]

That's exactly what I mean.

[ Oria expected this, so he catches the fry in his mouth. :9 Yum. ]

Hey, I can't change everyone else's minds! Looks like you'll have to get used to it.

[Sinclair also expected this but he was hoping...]

I slowly am but...

[Now he's distracted]

...I wonder how many time you can catch a fry like that.

Wanna find out?

[ He grins. Oria is so ready to catch more fries in his mouth.

This is what youth is actually about: doing silly things like this. ]

If you're ready--

[Tossing another!! Lets go, lets test Oria's skill.

It would be nice if it could always be this peaceful.]

[ He catches the fry in his mouth. Successful! He even chews on it and swallows while waiting for the next one. Delicious. ]

If you toss it way up, I'm not gonna bother!

[He waits for Oria to finish chewing before he tosses another, a little off angle towards the left]

I wouldn't do that. That's a waste.

[ Oria leans into that direction and catches it. Munch. ]

Yeah, we shouldn't get in trouble for causing a preventable mess.

[ It's fun, but Sinclair might get the feeling that he's being stared at... ]

Mm...that would be a problem.

[Another fry in the same direction. Go, Oria go! But...uh, that feeling...Sinclair blinks and turns around, scanning the restaurant. Hello??]

[ There doesn't seem to be anyone staring at Sinclair from where he is. Despite that, the same feeling creeps back in.

Oria, oblivious to the creepy feeling, eats up the thrown fry and looks at Sinclair curiously. ]

You threw it here, you know. You didn't throw it anywhere else.

I know. I just thought--

[He wishes Charon could exist in any cameras around because he doesn't like this feeling at all]

...I just thought someone was watching us.

[ Oria sure wishes it was someone who would admire Sinclair from a distance, but he'd still hate the idea of that at the same time. The duality of man makes this complicated.

He lowers his voice. ]

If you don't feel comfortable being here, we can leave.

[Sinclair looks over...and nods, reaching for Oria's hand]

...lets go get some more desserts to bring back.

[refill the peep stash]

[ Oria holds his hand and gets up. He's sure the workers will clean up after them, so he doesn't hesitate on leaving the plates behind. ]

I know just the place for that.

[ He smiles and runs off with him. Yes, Oria paid already for the meals. Don't worry about it. ]

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