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 frowns when asked. It's not because of Sinclair. He hasn't done anything wrong, but it reminds Oria that Aria didn't trust him as much as he did for her and when things are unbalanced like that with Oria giving "more", it makes Oria want to recoil and abandon things altogether. ]

I don't know. It surprised me too, when I found that out. She usually just hung out with her friends after training.

[ Typical normie stuff, like going to cafes, going shopping, etc ]

[insinning]

[ He thinks, it makes sense. Aria was the older sister after all. And older sisters always

Emil. Run!

Something churns in his stomach.]

... Aria was more mysterious than we thought, huh? She must have been looking for something.

[dissimulative]

Aria? Mysterious?

[ In the past, he would have blown that off completely, but all it does is make him feel a little bitter. ]

I think anyone would laugh if they're told that.

[ Because Aria was such a ditz outside of gauntlet-related things. ]

But I wonder what she was looking for... to the point of asking hackers under the table.

[ There's a pause. ]

Maybe I should go home to try and find more things about her. She never stayed in the dorms like us.

[insinning]

[He wishes he could make that better. But it's the kind of feeling words couldn't fix. The only person who could address it wasn't here.]

...that's right. She always left at the end of the day.

[Sinclair was practically permanently confined to the dorms outside of the outings he had earned with merit points]

They'd probably let you take a day off or two after you get better too.

[dissimulative]

I wish you could come with me...

[ Oria sighs while looking annoyed, but it's really to hide his uneasiness. He doesn't want to go home. He doesn't want to talk with his mother again, but he knows that she was closest to Aria out of all the siblings. ]

[insinning]

I can try asking for permission.

[ He fidgets, frowning a little. He just needed to find the right reasons and someone other than Oria to vouch for him. But even then...]

You don't really like visiting your home, do you?

[dissimulative]

Yeah. I hate going home.

[ Without hesitation. ]

Now that Aria is dead, I'm the only one left. What used to be a family of six is reduced to three.

[insinning]

[ Sinclair looks down]

... I see. [ Only three after six, huh? He wonders how much that must hurt for those left behind. ]

Then, I'll do my best to get permission to go with you then. So you don't have to go on your own.

[ Even if he had to agree to unreasonable demands.]

[dissimulative]

... You don't really have to. I know your restrictions don't give much leeway either.

[ He lightly squeezes Sinclair's hand. ]

[insinning]

[ Sinclair shakes his head. He wants to help Oria as much as Oria has helped him. But if he says that, he might get his cheeks pulled]

I'll find a way. We're friends, so I want to be there for you.

[dissimulative]

[ Yeah, too sappy.

Despite that, he greatly appreciates it. Sinclair is the only person he wants to show vulnerabilities to. Friends. He wishes they can be that forever at the very least, but forever doesn't exist. ]

You're so good to me.

[ He says, thankful. Sinclair truly does so much. ]

Thanks, Emil.

[insinning]

[ Sinclair's cheeks go red and he looks away]

...s-sure. You know, I'll always be here for you. So you can rely on me too.

[dissimulative]

I will.

[ He's the only one he'd entrust that too. ]

Hey, your face...

[insinning]

...what?

[Scooting back a little. Don't look at his face??]

[dissimulative]

Hehe... tomatohead.

[ affectionate ]

[insinning]

I am not.

[Aaaah. The tomatohead grows more]

[dissimulative]

Oh my god, you're getting even redder, Emil. I don't think I did anything for you to be this red??

[ Fascinating?? ]

[insinning]

I-it's just genetics! Why would you have to do anything?

[Huffy!!]

[dissimulative]

Oh, I dunno... because making you blush is easy?

[ :) ]

[insinning]

[Now he's pouting and sulky]

That's not true. My cheeks are just naturally pink.

[dissimulative]

Okay, buuut your face was really red.

[ That ain't pink, bro. ]

[insinning]

I-it wasn't that red.

[Why are they arguing over this, help]

[dissimulative]

[ Oria laughs. ]

Sure, Emil. Sure. Naturally pink cheeks, huh? I wonder why you're not such a hit with others.

[ As in, Sinclair being confessed to often. He's so cute, sincere, and so, so loyal. ]

[insinning]

[ Funny how everytime Oria says his name it can put him at ease.]

A hit? You mean for teasing?

[ that is rude...]

[dissimulative]

No. Has no one ever hit on you?

[ lol. lmao.

He'll just say it outright. ]