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]

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. ]

[insinning]

Wha--of course not.

[ This is Sinclair though...looks at how all of Oria's flirting keeps going over his head]

Why would they want to?

[ He's seen people try to flirt around the gauntlet knights. And movies. And at Oria.]

[dissimulative]

Beeecaaaaause! You're cute.

[ Oria doesn't like cute people nor things, but he makes an exception for Sinclair. He's always an exception. Always. Always always always— ]

A shame if they don't see it. You're the best.

[insinning]

You always say that.

[ It's because he knows Oria doesn't like cute things that he doesn't take that comment to heart. At least, that's what he mentally tells himself as he fights another blush. Stupid traitorous heart. Stupid traitorous cheeks.]

I-I wouldn't know what to do with that attention anyway. So that's fine. I've got you.

[ And there are probably stories among the knights about how crazy it gets when hormones go wild...aaaah]

[dissimulative]

[ There sure are! It's nice that Sinclair says that, even though Oria knows it's platonic.

He quiets his voice. ]

Did you know? Someone was making out in the hall in the little pocket of space next to the janitor's closet.

[insinning]

Eh? There?

[ Scandalised...]

But anyone can walk by...

[dissimulative]

Yeah!

[ He talks in a pseudo whisper, mimicking gossiping housewives that are usually on older films, the era of B3W. ]

That's how people know.