dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[ This can have as much importance as a presidential hearing, and Oria would still walk out. Not many things take priority above Sinclair, and this disciplinary meeting is very far from it. He sticks out his tongue on his way out at the military people. Fuck you guys specifically!!

In the meantime, he figures there are guards at the entrance and tries to take another route. Even if it's out the window, that will be more than good enough. He knows that they can also be easily found, but he's not aiming to hide from them. Oria just wants to be alone with Sinclair and far away from them.

And of course, the AOU gauntlet knight group chat promptly explodes once word gets out, but Oria is doing a good job at ignoring all that and the private messages that he's being sent. Fuck it. He turns off his Selcom. ]

[ Moving away from the entrance is a good call because that's where the guards congregate, complaining about being pulled out of their posts for this. But there's a back entrance they only use for special, privileged people. No one seems to be there anymore. They may not get away, but they can at least regroup.

Sinclair slowly feels awareness coming back to his body through the lingering shocks wracking his body. The metallic taste of iron in his mouth, the twinges in his muscles, sharp and stabbing]

...Oria?

[ Oria knows that he's going to catch hell for this, but he wouldn't just sit back and watch Sinclair get hurt like that--especially now that he thinks he knows what's really going on for Sinclair at Geroy if shocks like this are considered "normal punishment". ]

Shh. Rest your voice. I'm trying to find a good place where we can rest.

[ Those shocks probably did a number on his vocal chords, is Oria's assumption. He passes the back entrance. Even though there's no one around, he doesn't have clearance to get through it. ]

...meeting room...

[There should be another meeting room. Or the entrance to the garage. Something. Sinclair feels his selcom go off, but he doesn't respond. Charon blocks out all calls for him]

Oh, right.

[ Oria nyooms on over to the meeting room. It doesn't take too long, since he knows where it is. Luckily, it seems to be empty and Oria finally lets Sinclair down on a cushy bench. ]

I'll get some water and napkins.

[Sinclair curls up on the bench, feeling relieved to be somewhere soft. Quiet. The sounds aren't rattling in his brain now]

Mmm...okay.

[ Oria returns with a bottle of water and some paper towels. He opens it first to dab some onto the paper towel so that he can help clean the blood coming from Sinclair's nose and mouth. Sorry, but it's a bit cold. ]

Do you think you can drink water or do you still need some time?

[ Being shocked is no fun at all. ]

Also, turn off your Selcom. I bet you're getting notifs like crazy.

Ugh. Charon keeps blocking calls but...[Sinclair closes his eyes, wincing a little at the touch to his skin. Cold...

Once the selcom is off, Sinclair sits up and nods]

I can drink now.

[ Oria tries to help Sinclair in sitting up, because drinking water in a lying down position is bad for anyone and everyone. Then he brings the water bottle to Sinclair's lips to help him drink. ]

How are you feeling now...? Does it still hurt?

Mm...it's kind of sore but.

[It hurts, but he's been through worse is the absolute worst thing to say right now.

And that worst...]

Ah...

[His gaze snaps upwards and his breath quickens as fear sinks in. Oh no. What had he done? Because of him, Oria too was in trouble.

He had lashed out even after trying to be better. He had gone too far, and now-]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm-

Edited 2024-11-02 22:30 (UTC)

[ Since Sinclair is done drinking the water, Oria puts a hand over Sinclair's mouth. His face is close to Sinclair's and he smiles. He speaks quietly: ]

What you did was really cool. Thanks for standing up for me for Aria.

[ And he hopes that doing and saying this will help Sinclair calm down a little. ]

[Sinclair goes quiet instantly when his mouth gets covered. He stares into Oria's eyes for a moment before he gives a tiny little nod and looks down, pulling away from Oria's hand so he can speak. His breathing is evening out again though]

...I really hate the way they speak about you and Aria.

[ He withdraws his hand and relaxes once he hears Sinclair's breathing evening out. At least his face isn't so close to his anymore. ]

Me too. It's really the only way they can vent out their frustrations because I'm related to someone who can threaten them.

[ Kaleria may be from AOU Russia, but she values her kids more than whatever nationalism people got here. But Sinclair would know that Oria is not really on best terms with his mother, or rather, it's like a one-sided love that Oria finds incredibly overbearing. This is why he always wanted to sleep in the gauntlet knight dorms instead of going home. Aria never had problems with their mother though. ]

It's a privilege to be able to think that way, you know, so I'll let them have it in their ignorance. Most adults don't think we know any better, but joke's on them. All they have are words, after all. It doesn't hurt me.

[Sinclair's brow furrows and he wonders briefly, before he met Oria...how many barbs did Oria have to put up with? He feels a tiny bit of relief when Oria's face moves back because that was its own kind of distracting despite the circumstances. He wiggles over a little to make room on the bench for Oria]

...because they're not worth acknowledging? [A dry smile tugs at Sinclair's lips, even as he fidgets, rubbing his hands together. The gloves have been very effective in curbing the worst of Sinclair's habits]

Yeah.

[ Oria grins at that. ]

I usually ignore them and they get all pouty because they don't get any attention. I guess they didn't get a lot of it when they were a kid.

[ But Oria didn't ignore them this time, because of the blatant disrespect towards Sinclair. ]

[Laughing a little, despite the strain it has on his throat]

You think so? Maybe it is like that.

[Then he settles, and leans back, rubbing his throat. He's a little nervous but...did Oria want to ask? He doesn't mind telling him what he can, but...]

[ Oria will just let Sinclair know: ]

I want to ask what exactly is happening, but your neck must be fried. It's not a good idea to have you keep talking. Also, it's a good idea to keep the Selcoms off right now. So, when your throat gets better, you can tell me then.

[ Sinclair opens his mouth to say something but closes it and nods. It does hurt. But he reaches out to hold Oria's hand in gratitude]

[ Oria smiles and holds his hand with their fingers intertwined, though he makes sure to be gentle just in case if Sinclair's hands feel sensitive. ]

Let's rest a bit here. The consequences can come later.

Mm... I'm going to be in a lot of trouble, I think.

[ He squeezes Oria's hands a little, his own grip weak but there]

[ Oria too, but for Sinclair, it must be hundred times worse. Oria may have gone through the usual experiments that a gauntlet knight goes through, but he's out of that stage now. He's not supposed to be experimented on in present day--there's no good reason to. (so far)

Oria wishes he could do more--that his "protection" could extend over to Sinclair, but he knows that it won't. ]

You can contact me by Selcom when that happens...

[ ... ]

... like before.

[ Sinclair nods, his brow furrowing a little as he leans forward. He's tired]

...is that okay? My connection is always a mess.

So? That doesn't mean you suddenly don't deserve to send messages or meet up virtually. Here, you can lean on me or lie back down.

[ It must be rough for Sinclair right now, so he can offer this much at the very least. ]

[Oria probably notices the shaking in Sinclair's hands. But Sinclair nods and leans against Oria anyway]

...thanks. You're warm...

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