dappledleaves | CICONIA: WHEN THEY CRY

[ The trainer waves the protest off dismissively.

"Cadet Katherine will run the same as everyone else. It will be a good experience for the actual conditions you will be fighting in." Sinclair looks at Katherine, worried, his stomach twisting in knots. But there were other people flagging further and further behind and he can see some soldiers rolling out a fire hydrant hose.]

...but if Katherine gets injured further, she wont be able to participate in the formation. She's a key member of that--

Actual conditions? We don't run in the sky! We fly! Are you stupid?!

[ He sees the hose and that's it. This is just bullying. He won't stand for it. ]

I'm not gonna train under someone who doesn't know how to train us!!

[ So he just jumps one of the people holding the hose with a kick to the arm. ]

[The soldier holding the hose yelps loudly and drops it, cradling his arm. Maybe something is broken. Then another soldier takes out a taser gun and promptly fires it at Oria.

"Insubordination!" Sinclair panics]

No, don't--

[ Oria would have yelled out "INCOMPETENCE" in retaliation, but then he gets tasered. That shock hurts like a sucker punch but throughout his entire body, making Oria fall to the ground. It's as if he couldn't breathe for those painful few seconds.

But they're not Gauntlet Knights for nothing and it would be a shame if the 89th copy of Oria Severine fell here from a simple taser gun whose entire purpose of existence was to create a healthier and stronger body each time.

So he ends up standing and shoves away the nearest officer. ]

... If I'm gonna get written up regardless, I should go all the way, right?

Oria!

[ The other knights have stopped running now, caught up in the drama unfolding in front of their eyes. Sinclair surges forward, only to be pulled back as the soldier turns red and pulls back with a baton.

"Fucking shitty brat. It's been high time someone's taught you a lesson--" ]

[ The GK group chats go wild respectively in their groups. Some even message Sinclair, expressing worry of "what the heck is happening" or "be careful".

Meanwhile, Sinclair would know, but the look in Oria's usual blue eyes aren't usual at all. It's not like they changed color, but the vibes around him, or just him, has changed completely. The thing about Oria Severine is that he doesn't really like other people in general, but he still cares about them to an extent, and is extremely loyal to the ones who matter to him. There's a trace of empathy in Oria Severine.

It's devoid of that right now.

But he does raise his hands as if it's a gesture of surrender. Baton movements are predictable. They've been trained for this. He plans to dodge the baton attack, if any, and then counter. He "shows his willingness to surrender", so if they attack him despite that, he has the right to counter it.

Still, Oria Severine struck the first blow regardless. This is just a different situation from that itself. ]

[ Sinclair goes a little still and he stops fighting against the people pulling him back - his fellow knights of course. He sees the look in Oria's eyes and turns to the soldier, who seems to get cocky in turn.

"Giving up now? I'll teach you a lesson!" The baton goes swinging down over Oria's head and Sinclair pulls away]

Don't touch him - !

[ He's too far away to stop them though ]

[ He easily moves out of the way, though his hand seems to visibly twitch—most likely from the aftershock. That's why when he uses the hose to smack the baton-officer in the face, it isn't as effective. The body hurts. Some muscles move involuntarily. ]

The AOU military officers are pathetic. Adults are...

[ A small pause, probably due to the aftershock. ]

... so very unreliable.

[ It might not be as effective, but it still hurts. The officer staggers back, clutching his face and swears profusely.

"And you brats think you're hot shit, playing at war safe in your VR." The man spits out some blood. "I'll teach you a lesson-"

This time, Sinclair manages to put himself between the officer and Oria]

--stop it.

[ He stops when Sinclair gets in between. There's some silence before he looks down at the hose and sprays it at full force (whatever spray strength the punishment was supposed to be) at the officer's face past Sinclair's shoulder. The officer could probably lose an eye if it's strong.

He doesn't care though. ]

Edited 2025-01-30 02:40 (UTC)

Ah-

[ Sinclair doesn't have a chance to react to the blast of water that goes over his shoulder and into the officer's face. He goes down, screaming,and gurgling and the other soldiers begin to shout and move in to secure everyone involved]

Stop, don't touch him--

[But he realises it's Rodion who has her hands on him and Heathcliff going for Oria--

Hopefully they don't eat each other]

[ As he watches the soldier scream, he laughs a little--chuckling under his breath. He glances over at the other Knights before being lifted by Heathcliff. For some reason, he seems pretty complacent while being carried by Heathcliff like a sack of potatoes--to Heathcliff's side, lifted up by the torso and dangling like a cat. He lets go of the hose too.

No struggle whatsoever. There's no manic expression on him either--though it remains to be seen of what's worse: looking bored out of his mind or maniacally laughing about the violence he caused. It's the former right now, but still.

It's eerie. ]

["Hey, kid, isn't that your boyfriend? He always this crazy?" Rodion mutters under her breath. Sinclair is too weirded out to be even flustered by that as he stares at Oria, as he's lead out with slightly more dignity, scientists with clipboards swarming the area. Don't touch their project!!]

H-he's not my boyfriend. And, no, I've never...seen him like that before.

[ He continues to stay limp in Heathcliff's hold, but eventually lifts his head to look at Sinclair. He doesn't say anything, but there's a slight smile on his face. Hehe.

Hehehehe.

Heathcliff is free to do whatever he wants with Oria. Toss him to the side and let the military officers handle him or whatnot. The Knights are scared to actually do or say anything still. ]

[what the f-

No, don't think like that. There's a reason for everything, right? Heathcliff grouches about the grunt work he has to do but he dumps Oria back inside onto the ground with no ceremony, giving Sinclair enough room to kneel by Oria and check on him. Luckily he wasn't the one scruffed this time...]

Oria, are you okay?

[The military officers are coming soon, but Sinclair isn't the one in trouble this time. Probably]

"My Sinclair."

[ It's clear that whatever happened in the past whatever moments wasn't really Oria and Sinclair will feel a hand on his cheek. It's Oria's hand, but it's not Oria that's behind it. His voice sounds quiet and soft instead of his usual boisterous tone. ]

"Do you remember now? And our promise...?"

[ Sinclair flinches a little but he steels himself. Not Oria. Just a program wearing Oria's face trying to make him lose it]

...there was no such thing.

"You still don't remember?"

[ He looks disappointed with a smidge of wistfulness in his expression. Whatever this is has assumed that Sinclair regained a lot of his memories. ]

"The coin... the sign... everything? You don't remember?"

[ Sinclair's expression tightens briefly. All of that was meaningless now anyway. Because 'that person' was dead, having succumbed to a fate far worse than Sinclair could have dreamed]

I remember. [ there was no sign. Just a bloodbath he was responsible for]

And it's all meaningless now.

"Is it? You always look like you're in pain when it's brought up."

[ The small smile has long since faded, but perhaps Sinclair can feel a void of that. There's a void of emotions. There should be something, but to see Oria so empty as he lowers his hand from Sinclair's cheek-- ]

... This is a pain. Get me some painkillers.

...who are you?

[ To see Oria, who was always so vibrant look like this...he knew what this meant. Sinclair looks at Rodya and Heathcliff who both shrug.

"Ten minutes, probably." Rodion says and Sinclair nods. He takes 'Oria's' hand]

Come on. I still have some leftover in my room. Though...you really should be in the medical bay now.

[ It looks like he's about to say something, but he shuts up when Sinclair gives that suggestion. ]

Then why am I not there, and still here?

[ He looks over at Heathcliff like, "you buffoon. you fool. you had only one job." ]

Because...you were being weird.

[ Sinclair doesn't know. He'll lead Oria to the medical bay. His room in the dorms isn't a refuge after all, not right now.

Heathcliff moves to lunge. Rodion drags him off.

"Bye kiddo~. Fau will investigate later."]

[ Bye heathcliff... He follows Sinclair, but his movements are a little janky. The adrenaline has worn off, so he's lost his strength and his limbs feel numb. After a stumble, he collapses on his legs and slumps on the floor.

... ]

Carry me there.

[ Investigate...Rodion meant Faust already knew and Sinclair was in for a Faust-scolding. He didn't really do anything this time though...

Sinclair tries to catch Oria, but other than keeping a hold of Oria's elbow, he can't keep Oria from slumping over completely]

Huh? Oh, okay...

[ Time to pull Oria into a piggy back ride then. Over Sinclair's back you go...!

Heavy...]

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