dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[Those were confessions? Oria, where is the atmosphere? The mood?? Sinclair bumps shoulders with Oria in return]

So it just can't be helped, huh?

[ Look... not all confessions can be arena-tier, okay. He's not romantic!! ]

Yup, because that's just how I am.

[ The two get Selcom transmissions from higherups, saying that they should just fly into the helicopter again. Oria figures it's because it can't land properly. It makes him laugh a little. ]

Damn, this is pathetic. Should we go or tease them a little more?

[they'll both work it out...maybe. Sinclair looks up, rubbing his arm with a sigh]

I mean, technically we could outfly the helicopter but...

[maybe they should behave. hm]

Imagine if we played tag with the government officials.

[ Oria imagines Sinclair frowning about that. Goody-two-shoes... ]

It's fine. Let's just go in. Besides, I can use some rest. If they're gon a lecture us all ride back, I'll just zone them out.

[ He holds out his hand after turning on the Gauntlet again. ]

Let's go.

[Please no government tag, Sinclair's stress levels can't handle that

Sinclair takes Oria's hand]

Okay. I guess it's time to face them.

[ The two fly over the helicopter. They don't get reprimanded right away because they have to wear headphones to block out the sounds while they ride on it. However, they do get their full lecture when they get there though. Oria is suspended from Gauntlet activities for several days, which is far more lenient than they should be, but they need him. They can't deny that.

So in those two days, Oria chills in his room unless Marimo gives him a reason. ]

[aaaah the lecture. Luckily for both of them, Limbus does have Sinclair's back in this situation and they argue a lot. Relentlessly. Back and forth. No they would not be returning Sinclair to the ABN, this was their investment.

Sinclair does need to sit in isolation for a little while, but he's left alone...and it's not like he can't access his selcom in isolation is it really isn't isolation at all. He'll just go to his private room with Oria and wait there for him to appear]

[ He is finally here!! And so am I. Kinda. Anyway, Oria is finally in their usual private virtual room. His avatar is the usual as it goes to slump next to Sinclair on a beanbag chair. ]

Emiiiiil.

[ whine ]

Oria! [Sinclair visibly lights up as he turns to Oria, reaching out to nudge him]

Are you okay?

[ Oria is nudged and he whines again before pulling Sinclair down onto him. Hi. ]

Noooo, I am soo bored. It's like being grounded except your mom is the military.

[Hii?? Sinclair stays flopped on Oria, but then adjusts with a tiny huff. He's not blushing. Shush]

Ahaha...I guess that sounds about right. My ears are still ringing from the lectures.

Like, what are we supposed to do? Just stand there and watch everything happen when we were literally trained to do things?

[ Yes, but Oria won't stand for that. ]

Can't stand them. Seriously.

[Sinclair imagines Oria standing still and listening without snarking and tries not to smile]

Mmm. What they wanted us to do was wrong to begin with.

[Of course, Oria going into rescue Sinclair against orders probably made it worse for Oria too]

[ He would blatantly yawn mid-lecture though. Fuck adults. Oria has been incredibly lucky that his "sentence" has been extremely light for what he did. ]

I knooooow. ABN really picked the worst timing for that too. People got to see AOU being dogs with tails curled to their bellies to prepare you on a silver platter, ABN being suspicious, and now forcing the spotlight on you for whatever reason.

[ Anyway, since Sinclair is on him, Oria rests his head on... whatever closest body part is available. Head? Sure. Back of head. ]

Haaah...at least the Limbus offfials are annoyed.

[ Sinclair huffs and tucks his head against Oria's shoulder. Better. Sinclair hadn't been present for the yelling matches but he knows it was intense]

Yup.

[ Oria lightly pats Sinclair's back. There, there. ]

Politics are gonna be an absolute more pain in the ass now. I'm so glad I'll never do this sort of thing.

[ He says that, but he's already mapping out a politics relationship chart in his head regarding advantages and disadvantages. ]

[ Sinclair pulls a face and nods, burrowing a little more]

Mm. It's annoying they can't be straightforward and just communicate properly without playing games.

[ Sinclair's patience, endless except it's permanently at zero for that.]

Yeah, because politics is all about power play--higher-ups thinking they're doing some grand 5D chess move, until they realize they've been playing the wrong game from the start and lose terribly. The forums have been full of complaints and some adults are actually protesting outside... probably like two blocks away? But I can hear them from how loud they are. Something about how AOU won't bow down to ABN. There are people not wanting you to go there just for that sentiment alone, so at least you kinda have support from the people.

[ It's not the sentimental kind of support that Sinclair probably wants, but it's... something. People are on his side, even if it's for the sake of their nationalistic pride. ]

Really? [It's definitely not the kind of support Sinclair wants, but it does move him a little. People out there care, even if it's not quite for the reasons Sinclair would like. He drums his fingers against Oria's arm] It's a little surprising. No one's gotten hurt yet, have they?

[ Oria shrugs. ]

Dunno. I'm sure the news will show up at our Selcoms eventually if someone does.

[ He sighs and leans back against the beanbag chair. ]

So what is Limbus doing to keep you here? Hopefully not assigning you a bodyguard.

They're threatening to get sponsors pulling out... and negotiating with prisoners.

[y e a h. Sinclair rolls over so he's not on top of Oria anymore]

[ Oria thinks that Sinclair is falling off, so he grabs and pulls him back on him. ]

I bet Shion will tell them to eat ass.

[ lmfao ]

[ Sinclair yelps and falls back on top of Oria and blushes again. It's just a selcom room but it feels real because of their respective p3 levels]

Probably but... they're still trying to get information on the virus out of him.

[ It's like being in VR Chat, so Oria has no qualms about doing much in this sort of virtual realm. Sinclair's reactions are cute though, so he will savor them. Thank you. ]

I should go visit him, even if he'll just give me the cold shoulder all the time. Besides, he can tell them that even for the virus interrogation. It's a very flexible insult.

[ He snickers. ]

[ help!! it's hard to focus when he's this close]

Mmm...well you're the most likely to get anything out of him I think.

[ Sinclair will respect Shion's hatred of him and Avoid]

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