dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[ 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. ]

Ah--

[Sinclair yelps, laughing]

Hey, where are we going?

[ Once the two are out of earshot...

"He has sharp senses."

"As expected of someone like him." ]

Only the best candy store in this entire place!

[ When Oria says that, it must be the only store that still sells Peeps.

Because it definitely is.

Thankfully, the stares are no longer there so Sinclair can rest easy for now. ]

[(fear) but Sinclair relaxes the moment the feeling fades. Better...]

Oh? They have peeps then?

[the one world they are united in this]

Yup! It's the only store that sells them now, because the other store closed down.

[ Their peeps... Oria is finally glad to have a comrade in his favoritism of sugary baby birds. ]

And I really need to restock them. The sugar crash I feel after a gauntlet session is seriously no joke.

You know, being a gauntlet knight is the only job I can think of where we can eat as much sugar as we want without being scolded.

[He understands though. Some days the fatigue is a lot and he can barely move...sugary baby birds from hell are the only things that can save him]

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