CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[insinning]

It's a holy night. Silent night.

All is calm.

Everything is b r i g h t.

Comments

[dissimulative]

[ 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.

[insinning]

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]

[dissimulative]

[ 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.

[insinning]

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

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

[dissimulative]

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. ]

[insinning]

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

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

[dissimulative]

Yeah? I'm usually pretty cold.

[ For a human, anyway. But maybe he means it emotionally too.

Despite all that, he sounds and looks fond when Sinclair leans against him. He notices the shaking in Sinclair's hands, so he takes and holds them both into his own hands. He may be wearing gloves, but he's still doing this to comfort him. ]

[insinning]

Are you? [ Sinclair might have seen some of that, with other people. But with him, it's never been like that]

...mm...maybe I'm cold too. But you're definitely warm.

[dissimulative]

Shh.

[ Oria is embarrassed for once, but he tries not to show it by gently shushing Sinclair. His throat must still hurt, so Oria doesn't want him to wear it out by talking. ]

[insinning]

[ Sinclair blinks, confused and gives a tiny laugh. Ow. He'll be quiet but...]

How come only I get shushed like this?

[dissimulative]

You don't see anyone else, do you? Besides, I'm actually really fond of hearing your voice, so it would be a shame if you lost it.

[ totally. ]

[insinning]

[ ...? Sinclair gives Oria a confused look but he sighs a little, and pouts. He's not blushing. It distracts him from the inevitable]

You shouldn't say things like that.

[dissimulative]

Why not? It's true and I think it deserves to be known.

[ He could just confess right now and distract Sinclair big time, but... he doesn't want to. ]

[insinning]

[ Sinclair's brow furrows a little in confusion and embarrassment]

But there's nothing special about it?

[Ah. His throat gives another twinge]

[dissimulative]

It tells me that you're here.

[ He puts his hand over Sinclair's mouth again. ]

Take a nap. I'll be here.

[insinning]

...okay. [Sinclair closes his eyes, not quite relaxing, but appreciating the moment. Not much time passes by before someone knocks on the door and a vaguely familiar voice calls out.

"Hey, kiddos, you done here? I can't keep diverting them from you forever."]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria sighs. ]

You could have just said that you didn't know where we went...

[ He doesn't feel like turning themselves in just yet, if at all. Oria looks around the meeting room. There aren't any windows here, are there... ]

[insinning]

["Haaah, you know I don't get paid enough for that, you know? Besides they'll keep knocking down every door eventually. That kid's special."

Sinclair stirs awake, making a confused noise]

...did I hear Rodya?

[dissimulative]

Mm. Looks like the guards were covering for us.

[ Oria wants to lessen the punishment for Sinclair somehow. How does one lessen shocks that course through your body?? He knows how to prevent getting shocked by static electricity, but not something like shock collars or whatever is embedded into Sinclair that shocks him. Ugh. ]

... What do you wanna do?

[insinning]

...if I keep putting it off, it might make it worse.

[Sinclair draws in a deep breath]

Rodya isn't part of the Geroy Institution so...it'll be okay if I go with her.

[dissimulative]

... Alright.

[ He'll trust Sinclair about this, since he knows a lot more about this. ]

Ready to go? Looks like they don't have much time. I'll help you.

[insinning]

[Sinclair draws in a deep breath but he gives a tiny nod]

Thank you.

[Sinclair smiles, as he squeeze Oria's hand, but goes to the door. Rodya and Gregor are there, looking sympathetic, but serious. Ah, he really was in a lot of trouble, wasn't he?]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria squeezes Sinclair's hand in return and looks at Rodya and Greg. ]

I would like him back whole, please.

[ He knows the two can't do anything about this, but he says that anyway. Oria wholeheartedly believes that Sinclair isn't as broken as they say he is. ]

[insinning]

[ "Haaah, I really don't know what to do with this lovey-dovey atmosphere between ki--" Rodya gets an elbow to the ribs and Gregor mutters something under his breath. Sinclair looks at them both blankly even as Gregor laughs and tries to reassure Oria...poorly.

"We'll make sure he's fine! Don't you worry, it's not like this ever goes on for long."

Sinclair looks at Gregor.]

...Mr. Gregor...you're still so bad at this...

[SO SO BAD]

[dissimulative]

[ lol. lmao. ]

Oh, come on. If we're still the kids that you believe we are, then you could at least try to make us feel better.

[ Well, Greg's attempt made Oria laugh a little, at least.

He ignores the lovey-dovey comment. ]