dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

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...

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. ]

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.

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. ]

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

How come only I get shushed like this?

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. ]

[ ...? 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.

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. ]

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

But there's nothing special about it?

[Ah. His throat gives another twinge]

It tells me that you're here.

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

Take a nap. I'll be here.

...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."]

[ 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... ]

["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?

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?

...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.

... 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.

[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?]

[ 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. ]

[ "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]

[ 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. ]

[Gregor Tried okay. He's so bad at this so he pats Sinclair's head.

Sinclair accepts the pat to his head, even as he wrinkles his nose. ]

...we're not that young.

[But he's also trying to hide that he is pleased with the headpat too. Conundrum. Rodya and Gregor lead them up to the main hall, where there were plenty of vehicles waiting.

"Looks like your vehicle is here, kid." Rodya nods at Oria, while leading Sinclair away to an unmarked military van. Sinclair glances back nervously. Ah...]

Sure we are! We're living out our youthful days and all.

[ Ugh, he doesn't want to get into those cars. Oria finally turns his Selcom back on and makes a phone gesture to Sinclair and waves a little. Bye... ]

Now we really do sound old...

[Sinclair waves, turning his selcom back on to be greeted by Charon's sulky voice. Oh. Oh no.

But it's a nice distraction for when he gets back in the van.]

[ If there's one thing, he's pleased to know that the guards that Sinclair occasionally talks to aren't with Geroy. Perhaps that rapport Sinclair built with them, or at least some sort of camaraderie was worth it. Oria will never tell him not to talk to security guards again. He watches Sinclair and the two guards leave.

"Lovey-dovey", huh. Maybe it's true, but Oria won't count on Sinclair returning his feelings despite being who they are to each other. Sinclair has enough to deal with... and so does he, himself.

Oria closes his eyes.

The AOU group chat amongst gauntlet knights had Oria spinning fantastical versions of what happened that were so obviously fake, but the others either seemed amused or didn't care. That didn't matter to the one sending the messages though. The others also note that Oria was finally caught by the officers and thoroughly chewed out, but that he bit back twice as hard. Is that true?

Of course it's true, Oria says in the chatroom, followed by chat stickers that convey determination. He says that he's exhausted, so "peace out", fellow Gauntlet Knights. That's what Sinclair will see when peeking into the chatroom.

It takes a while, but rumors circulate fast throughout Geroy and perhaps making it to Limbus as well. There are military staff that seem intimidated by Oria's presence. They say that while Sinclair is the wild physical one, Oria is the one who plays mind games with you to demolish your psyche. They never want to see his blue eyes while in that state ever again. Witnesses say that they truly saw "broken" people that day. Sure, Oria really lets the adults have it when he's annoyed, but would Oria really go that far?

Regardless, a familiar name sits in an empty room in the VR world. ]

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