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]

"Well, yes and no. You met 'Oria Severine' two years ago."

[ The voice grows fainter. Maybe Oria's body isn't meant to be talking right now from how painful everything is. Imagine that. ]

"Do you still have the coin?"

[insinning]

[ The...coin?

Something snaps in Sinclair's head and he lets go of Oria's hand, sinking to his knees.

The coin. The coin...?

A woman's scream, pained cries for him to run. Blood. Bodies everywhere.]

...if you're not Oria. Who...who are you?

[dissimulative]

"My Sinclair... Have you really forgotten?"

[ The strength seems to be sapping rapidly, though Oria's heartbeat still continues, steady... steady... ]

"I am the reason why you're here in the first place. After all, these factory-borns... they're an affront to humanity."

[ The hand drops onto the bed and the heart rate lowers significantly, but it never dips to the point of no return.

There is no more response from Oria's mouth. The Selcom seems offline too. ]

[insinning]

[ Shut up! He wants to say. But Oria's hand stops moving and...

Factory born...?]

... but I'm Factory-born. And Oria...

[something doesn't add up. Of those afflicted, the Factory-born had it the worst. But it was so clear to Sinclair that Oria was suffering so much too. His gaze falls on the clipboard with the doctor's notes. What an old fashioned thing. But it was something that couldn't be hacked...]

[dissimulative]

[ Sinclair can "hack" it by overwriting the things on the clipboard if he wants, but the meal break is nearly over. Moreover, the significant drop in heart rate have alerted the medical staff to come look. Time to bail... ]

[insinning]

[He's just taking a picture of the board and leaving, hopefully without notice.

What that person in Oria said...

He goes to look for Limbus Personnel. He had to speak to That person. And maybe...they could help him help Oria ]

[dissimulative]

[ A few more days pass and there has been no signs of Oria's Selcom coming online throughout the time. However, once those few days pass, Oria is allowed to have visitors in a separate private ward.

His Selcom is still off, but Oria is seen looking out the window at the occasional passing bird in the sky. ]

[insinning]

[Sinclair goes to Oria as soon as he's allowed to with permission. He had removed Oria's name from the files, and then asked some of the Limbus Personnel what it might mean. The personnel he knew that wouldn't spread anything around. But aside from that, he feels useless. If he really was someone capable of knowing military secrets, then he should be smarter right? His discussions with Dante steady him but...]

Oria...I brought some peeps. They said it should be okay.

[He sets down his bag of snacks, picked out with Oria's likes in mind]

How are you feeling?

[dissimulative]

[ Oria slowly turns his head to Sinclair and grins when he sees him. ]

Haha... a bit under the weather, but fine, generally! Ohh, you brought peeps! My favorite too!

[ Yup, this is Oria. ]

[insinning]

[ Sinclair relaxes. This was definitely Oria]

Of course. It'd just be hosptial food in here, right?

[ Sitting down and scanning Oria over. Nothing notably wrong anymore...?]

[dissimulative]

[ Those odd dents throughout his body are gone, or at least whatever is visible, which... isn't much. His hospital attire has long sleeves, long pants, and a blanket that covers from waist down. His hands look fine though. Normal hands. No dents. ]

Ugh, yeah... I was actually stuck with nutrient IVs for several days because I was out for so long.

[ Oria doesn't seem to remember that he was barely conscious to text Sinclair that day. ]

Peeps will definitely rejuvenate me~ Ahhh~

[ feed him. ]

[insinning]

I can't imagine.

[ He feeds Oria willingly, holding the peep up to his mouth. It's a relief seeing Oria awake and not like death had come for him]

... still, you managed to send me messages even like that.

[dissimulative]

[ Munch. ]

I did?

[ He doesn't turn his Selcom on though. It was probably advised that he keep it off for a bit longer. ]

I don't remember it though... maybe I was half-asleep.

[insinning]

[ The chill sinks in again. But Oria was awake and here so he holds up another peep for him to take]

I thought so... since your messages came out weird. [ he's not going to bring up how unsettling they were]

Do you know how longer you need to be in here?

[dissimulative]

I must have typed a lot of nonsense.

[ He sighs. How embarrassing... He takes another munch of the peep. ]

I don't know for sure just yet. I'm definitely not well enough for Gauntlet Knight training though.

[insinning]

[ Sinclair avoids Oria's gaze for a moment, even as he reaches for the other snacks]

... that's alright. It'll be good for you to rest properly. I was really scared when you fell like that.

[dissimulative]

[ Oria has a tight-lipped smile. He sure didn't want that to happen, but that was certainly out of his control. ]

Sorry, for worrying you. I heard that it was some sort of virus going around, but you look fine... so I'm glad for that at least. What have you been doing lately? Other than worrying about me.

[insinning]

[ Sinclair shakes his head and squeezes Oria's hand. He can't tell the truth because there's no way Oria would be able to handle that well. "I spoke to someone in your body who knew me from before and they were creepy and now I'm trying to investigate things I have no leads on."

Yeah, no]

...I haven't been able to do much since no one is allowed to use their gauntlets right now. First thing they checked was the master key for everyone.

[He fidgets a little ]

So I've been doing simulation training instead and... I've been working with a doctor to unlock my memories. It's been hard though.

[dissimulative]

[ The part about the gauntlets make sense, but Oria looks concerned about the memories part. ]

Emotionally taxing?

[insinning]

Yeah, it's...like I've lost sight of what's real and what isn't. And that's scary

[ He looks down. Can he believe it ? Can he really believe that he had a family once?]

My name is unusual for someone born in the AOU isn't it?

[dissimulative]

[ Oria holds his hand as tightly as he can, which isn't much but he's trying. ]

I don't think so. One of the nations that AOU used to be was a melting pot of cultures, so many people all over the world came to this land. I tried tracing my heritage before and if my parents didn't settle here, I would have been from ABN.

[ Since Britain is from there too, apparently. ]

[insinning]

[ "Me too" is automatic. But that can't be right, can it]

...the ABN is very religious, isn't it? Do they...dislike factory born?

[ His head hurts]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria slightly tilts his head while thinking. Hm... ]

I'm not sure about their general opinion, but I know COU doesn't like the concept of it in general. ABN is pretty religious as you said and my life probably would have been really different if I was there, but last I heard, they're really gung-ho about religious freedom, so you can't slander any religion without facing consequences.

[insinning]

[ "It's blasphemous how--"

"The damned AOU freaks. Thinking they're all high and mighty."

His head pounds. Why is he remembering this?

"Sinclair, remember our deal. I'll help you if you..."]

I remember hearing that too. That... they had a lot of religious freedom but also, a lot of discrimination against certain groups of people.

[dissimulative]

Honestly, there's probably discrimination wherever you go.

[ Nationalism, tribalism, etc

Oria looks over at Sinclair and looks worried. ]

... Hey, what's wrong? You look like you're straining something.