dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

...

[Sinclair looks down, rubbing the blanket between his fingertips as a self soothing gesture]

... something took over you, I think. Like... something to make me worse. I was trying to figure out how to snap you out of it.

[ Oria is quiet for a while, some parts surprised but not. He still doesn't have his glasses on, but at the moment, he doesn't want them back on. ]

It was designed to make you worse and you subdued it with a headbutt.

[ A small smile breaks out on his face. Typical Sinclair. ]

Well, now I'm not allowed to get mad about it.

You can. [ His hands go to his pocket even though the little note sits in his room burning a hole in him every time he looks at his notebook] It's not like you wanted any of that to be done to you. I really was just panicking.

[ Oria can probably see his (useless) messages too]

I can tell you were really panicking about it. I saw all your messages...

[ His voice trails off. ]

Hey, Emil. Is there something you want to do about all this?

[ He fidgets a little]

About all of this?

Yeah. It looks like you're the center of all of this, so I want to ask you... if you wanna do something about it.

[ His serious expression lightens up a little. ]

If you do, I'll help you. No matter what. It might be weird because I have... that thing in me that hurts you, but I sincerely want to.

[Sinclair is quiet for a moment. Then he's sliding out of the bed, carefully tugging the machine with him to sit on the edge of Oria's bed. He takes Oria's hand with his uninjured one][A pause]

And no matter what, you're the one I trust the most. Even though there's someone that put that projection in you...I know you never wanted to do any of that.

[ Oria still doesn't know what that is supposed to be, but he knows that he needs to accept it. The faster he can accept things, the faster he can move onto dealing with said thing.

It makes him a little happy with a side of dokis when Sinclair sits on his bed and holds his hand. Oria squeezes his hand in return. ]

You should stop me when that happens again.

Even if it means headbutting you again?

[Not that Sinclair is even sure what Projection K is meant to be. The name 'Kromer' stirs up a distant anger in him. It was a dangerous and cruel thing, from what he could tell. But what he has read still doesn't quite match to his blank memories]

Yeah.

[ He won't be awake to complain?? It's fine. ]

That's so weird though... it I'm a CPP, then I should be aware of what the projection should be doing, but I'm not. I just black out.

...that's right. I always know what Demian does when he takes over. [ He squeezes Oria's hand a little] But for you, it's like...you're overridden. It's happened twice now. Once when I snuck in to see you in the hospital, and then just now.

[ Huh. ]

In the hospital? You came to see me?

[ ... ]

Y-yeah...I was really worried so I. Um. Kindofsnuckin.

[Sinclair had very little faith in scientists after all]

[ Oria thinks that explains why he doesn't remember Sinclair's visit nor the reason and how the texts were being sent to him, but then he sees his face.

... ]

What are you blushing for.

[ Was he naked or something??? ]

[No??? ]

It was kinda scary sneaking in? I got really worried about being caught.

[ He's blushing because he realises how weird it is to sneak into a hospital for a friend]

That's why?

[ Oria laughs a little. ]

That's what you gotta risk. Emil. If you liked the end result, then the gamble was worth it. Maybe you have a knack for being sneaky.

[ Oria laughs more, because that's not true. ]

You're so rude to me.

[pouting...despite everything Sinclair really didn't like getting into trouble. Oria gets a poke to the cheek for that]

That's because I l--

[ He corrects himself quickly and laughs. ]

--like teasing you! But thanks, for coming to visit me.

Sure. [ This is a little belated. Of course Oria likes teasing him. Nothing else ] I really felt like I had to.

Always with the sincerity~

[ Just then, the two will receive a notification on their Selcom regarding Current Events. The nations don't seem to be getting along due to resources and not wanting to take the blame for a catastrophic crop disaster. The tensions rise and the wars are inevitable. Oria is quiet about this. ]

[ Sinclair falls silent as he pours over the information. Honestly, what Shion had said to him had been eating away at his conscience but without any clear memories, he couldn't atone, if it was even possible to atone.

And now this?]

... do you think they'll send us ou5?

Most likely. They won't let the chance go to show off what's "theirs", after all. Showing military might as a form of intimidation was always a thing, I think.

[ He sighs, letting Sinclair know what he thinks about that. ]

But government stuff takes forever, so we'll still have time.

[ Sinclair grimaces. He shares that thought ]

I hope so. I know everyone is talking about fooling the higher ups to avoid fighting for real, but...

[ Maybe it's because of what he's been through he can't hang onto that hope]

But?

[ Share those thoughts, Sinclair. Oria is here to listen. He's also pessimistic about the notion, but he's not here to drag the mood down. ]

... they're not stupid. They'll have strategists observing us.

[ Sinclair rubs his thumb over the back of Oria's hand]

They'll never let us get away with it.

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