CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[insinning]

It's a holy night. Silent night.

All is calm.

Everything is b r i g h t.

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[insinning]

[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.

[dissimulative]

[ 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.

[insinning]

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]

[dissimulative]

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.

[insinning]

...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.

[dissimulative]

[ Huh. ]

In the hospital? You came to see me?

[ ... ]

[insinning]

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

[Sinclair had very little faith in scientists after all]

[dissimulative]

[ 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??? ]

[insinning]

[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]

[dissimulative]

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. ]

[insinning]

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]

[dissimulative]

That's because I l--

[ He corrects himself quickly and laughs. ]

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

[insinning]

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

[dissimulative]

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. ]

[insinning]

[ 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?

[dissimulative]

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.

[insinning]

[ 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]

[dissimulative]

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. ]

[insinning]

... 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.

[dissimulative]

You're right.

[ Oria simply responds as if it's a matter of fact and briefly squeezes his hand. ]

They'll find out pretty fast if the strategists are actually doing their jobs and relay it quick enough. Again, I don't have the faith of the government's speed unless they're losing resources, money, or face. But even then, it should buy us time for whatever Bath Order wants to really do. Our goal isn't to keep the stalemate going forever. There needs to a purpose in doing so. Why buy time for something that isn't being worked on?

[insinning]

Mm...we need everyone working towards a treaty.

[And then...hah]

But I don't think any union wants that. We're.. their show of power. They have to prove we can decimate the opposing military.

[dissimulative]

Yup... Seeing others improve makes them want to do better too, and it's a repeating cycle of who's the best. AOU has you too, after all, and supposedly had the highest P3 level holder.

[ Anyway. ]

So, the truth is, no one with the power to do so actually wants a treaty.

[insinning]

[Sinclair nods, squeezing Oria's hand again.]

If they did...then they wouldn't be sending us these messages. They'll keep trying to find someone to make a kette. And they'll keep finding excuses not to talk things out...

[dissimulative]

[ Oria squeezes his hand in return again, though his head is really killing him. He should take those meds or lie down to rest. ]

That's the part about being a realist, but not a jerk.

[ Don't have to put that in people's faces, etc. ]

Some people only learn the hard way, and, well, no matter who we're related to, it can't affect the governments as a whole. I heard about Lingji's plea to her grandfather, but that also didn't do anything and they're supposed to be some royalty or some shit. My connections won't mean jack shit either, despite my mom having cut military funding before.

[insinning]

There are people really determined to make a war happen.

[ Sinclair exhales softly. Demian's voice whispers in his head. There is no love or freedom for those tied down by their nations. We can only truly hang onto both if we move beyond them.

But where would they go? What could they do]

As long as they think it's beneficial...I wonder what LATO think.