015 ~ [Voice]

[distressedude]

[For anyone who knows Ion well enough to be considered a friend, or perhaps just well enough to say you've had a conversation with him at some point in the past, you just might catch a filter at some point during the day. It's a small, weak, empty filter and it'll disappear only a few minutes after it's made, so chances are you might miss it. But for those who happen to see it, there's an explanation that follows... though there's no filter here.]

[His voice sounds rather tired, and perhaps a bit sad.]

...when you can't set up a filter to someone, it means they've gone home, doesn't it.

[The way he asks, it sounds like he already knows the answer.]

Comments

[distressedude]

[For Ion, that short walk may not have tired him out, but his sense of balance was still pretty off. But with Luke there for support in case of another stumble, he makes it safely back to his bed. The moment he's laying down, he closes his eyes and holds a hand to his forehead.]

I'm sorry. I'll be fine in a moment, just... a-a little dizzy still.

[fabrecation]

[Luke pulls up a chair near the bed and sits himself down, hands on his knees and his back straight. Ah, the posture of a noble.]

It's okay... Don't try opening your eyes until that feeling goes away.

[distressedude]

Mm. [He'd nod, but he was still trying to keep his head still. He tries opening his eyes once, only to mumble an apology and cover them again. A full three minutes passes before he finally rests his arm back at his side and can turn to look up at Luke with a small smile.]

I guess I shouldn't have tried getting up before... Thank you for helping me, Luke.

[fabrecation]

[Luke blinks at that, then scratches his cheek a little. Eh heh...]

You don't have to thank me for that... I wouldn't have just let you fall over or anything.

[distressedude]

I know you wouldn't have... but I was also thanking you for coming.

[He may have told Luke not to bother, but... he really did want company right now. The first few days after the draft, he couldn't stand being in his room alone, even if all he was doing was sleeping. He was still a little more shaken up than he cared to admit...]

[fabrecation]

Yeah... It's no problem. Just - don't try moving around like that for a while, okay?

[He rubs a bit at his nose, then after some pause, he reaches out to take one of the pillows on Ion's bed and holds it in both arms, just to give him something to hold.]

So who's Simon? A friend of yours?

[distressedude]

Yes. He was one of Anise's good friends. We didn't really start to get to know each other until after... er, that one experiment a few months ago.

[So specific, Ion.]

[fabrecation]

That one experiment? Which one?

[There were several experiments a few months ago, Ion. :|]

[distressedude]

The one in February. [Okay, the months here were weird. He's only going to be a little more specific.] The Malnosso had placed a strange tree in the plaza for part of it...

[fabrecation]

... Oh.

[Oh. Right. That one. Luke shifts in his seat and glances away as he thinks of that experiment. Sure, it... sort of brought he and Xion together, though he's sure they would've been brought together despite it, but... it was still awkward.

But that thought makes him blink and glance back at Ion, one eyebrow raised.]

Wait, so... you were in love with him? [So blunt, Luke.]

[distressedude]

[kjsdhfk.]

[Luke, what is that face.]

Only during the experiment. [That's still a yes, though.] Weren't you affected by the experiment as well?

[fabrecation]

[And that... makes him blush, and glance to the side again as he shifts the pillow a little closer, to hide his mouth. That's right... Ion didn't know about Luke and Xion, right? He at least knows her; he'd seen him talk to her in Xion's filter to the replicas of Luceti. But...]

... W-Well, yeah. But... [How does he start? What does he say? Aaaah, this is why he never tells anyone about this. It's always so awkward!]

[distressedude]

...but? [He knew the experiment had been a little embarrassing, but that blush... did something happen?]

[fabrecation]

[Oh god Ion keeps asking. Luke takes a quick glance at Ion before he looks away again, sinking in his chair a little. His voice is a little muffled, thanks to the pillow.]

... You know Xion, right?

[distressedude]

She was the one asking about replicas before, right?

[fabrecation]

Yeah, she was...

We kind of... We got hit by that experiment, too. But we... sort of... liked each other before that. So the experiment just... pushed us together. And we've... She's...

[WHAT DOES HE SAY?]

[distressedude]

[...]

[.....]

[.........ohhh.]

Do you mean you two are a couple now?

[fabrecation]

[Hurk. That word.

It just makes his blush increase a little, and he nods.]

Yeah, like... that. Since Febru-ary.

[He says the word slow, as if he's not really used to it. Man, these months are weird...]

[distressedude]

I never would have guessed. Congratulations, Luke. [A bright smile. He didn't know Xion well, but she seemed like a sweet girl. And that blush on Luke's face spoke wonders about his feelings.]

Now that I think of it, you two were together during that family experiment too, weren't you?

[fabrecation]

[He just peeks at Ion from over his pillow for a moment. So... he's okay with it? It looks like he is... No teasing, no looks of death. Luke must be safe...

He slowly lowers the pillow to hold it under his chin instead, his lips quirked up in a smile. There's still a blush on his face, though, especially with the mention of that one experiment.]

Y-Yeah. We were... engaged. That was kind of weird...

[distressedude]

[Oh, Luke. Why wouldn't he be okay with it?]

I think everything about that experiment was kind of weird, Luke... [Dist was his father. His father.]

[A pause. Don't worry Luke, he's still smiling.] I'm surprised I hadn't heard anything about this earlier. Why didn't you ever mention it?

[fabrecation]

[You try having 80% of the people who find out give you death glares and not be paranoid about it. ):

The question makes him reach back and run a hand through the back of his hair, glancing away again.]

I don't know... It just never came up. It's weird just telling people I have a... a girlfriend.

[distressedude]

Is it? [This is an honest question, naturally, since Ion would have no idea what that would be like especially since the Malnosso just keep giving him boyfriends.]

I guess it would be a little strange to mention of out the blue.

[fabrecation]

[Maybe the Malnosso are trying to tell you something Ion Luke feels just slightly embarrassed by that, so he grips the pillow tighter and shoots Ion a frown.]

Of course it would be! Don't you feel weird and awkward talking about things like that?

[distressedude]

[Gdit the malnosso made me gay.]

I can't say I've ever had to talk about things like that. I remember being a little embarrassed during the family experiment, but I wasn't exactly myself then.