distressedude | 019 ~ [Action]

[After a certain incident resulted in Ion leaving House One for a week, it was finally fime for him to make his way back home. He'd spent more than enough time feeling guilty about what had happened, and for leaving in the first place. He couldn't just keep avoiding things forever, could he?]

[Of course, it'll take him a little while to actually get there, and not just because it's a long walk. After leaving Luke and Asch's apartment around noon, he wanders around the village in the snow for awhile before eventually returning to the plaza, finding a nice, quiet corner of the library to read. But he might seem a little more spaced out than usual today. After all, while he may have decided he's ready to return home, he knows he's going to have to talk to Anise about last week... and he's not quite sure how he's going to go about doing that just yet. Perhaps he should find someone to ask for advice...]

[Either way, he'll finally make his way back to House One shortly after sunset, still feeling more than a little nervous but glad to be home all the same.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Anise remains standing, shifting awkwardly every so often. Before Ion finishes speaking, she's shaking her head already. She tries to smile.]

No, it's fine! You needed some time away. We both needed to...[She looks down. Everything feels so awkward.] Um, we needed to sort through our feelings. Actually, I'm the one who should be sorry for disturbing you like that.

[It was no small wonder that a fake, forced smile still managed to hurt just as much as a frown might. It felt as though there was so much distance between the two of them right now... and he hated it.]

Anise... [His eyes trail downwards for a moment before he looks back up. He needed to be strong. If he wanted things to go back to how they were, he'd have to do more than just passively wait for time to pass.]

You're right. We did need time to sort through how we felt. I've spent all week thinking about it and I... [His voice grows stronger.] I don't want anything between us to change.

[Anise isn't sure what to think. Just going back to how they were before? Could they really do that? Even if that's what she wants to happen. Besides, she still hasn't completely sorted through her feelings with Ion. If it wasn't for her betrayal, could she love him?]

[Anise firmly shoves the thought away and nods determinedly.]

Yeah. I feel the same way.

[There's a pause.]

[Then, Ion's shoulders relax as he lets out a breath of air he hadn't realized he'd been holding in. For the first time since last week, the smile on his face actually seems genuine.]

...I'm glad. To be honest, I don't think I wanted anything to change from the start. [He places a hand over his chest.] After all, you're still one of my most precious friends. That's something that hasn't changed...

[He stands, walking over to Anise and resting a hand on each of her shoulders with a smile.] ...and something that never will.

[Anise smiles too. It's genuine, but not as happy as it normally is.]

Yeah. Thanks, Ion. You're...[What is he to her, really?] You're one of the most important people to me.

[That was definitely true, even if Anise can't quite puzzle out what their exact relationship is.]

[...of course, just because they've decided things between them shouldn't change doesn't mean everything will go back to normal right away. No one's ever said something like that to Ion before... perhaps that's why he can feel his face grow hot as he blushes and drops his arms back to his side.]

[Somehow, hearing something like that from Anise... he wasn't entirely sure how it made him feel right now, but it was making him blush nonetheless.]

Thank you, Anise. [But, blush or not, he's still smiling. Maybe if he just ignores it, it'll go away!]

I believe Nephry was nearly finished with cooking dinner. Would you like to wait with me in the living room? I'm sure it's much warmer sitting around the fireplace right now than in here...

[And yet despite the weather, it's actually not that cold in the house. But Ion's still shivering. He did spend practically the entire day out in the snow, after all...]

Sure. [Anise still feels slightly awkward around him, but the feeling is much less pronounced now. She's about to lead the way back into the living room when she notices how cold Ion looks.] Ion! You're shivering! [HANDS ON HIPS.] You need to take better care of yourself!

[Is it strange that he really missed hearing her lecture him?]

It's just a little cold in here, Anise. I'll be fine once I warm back up--

[Cough.]

[...or not.]

Perhaps I did stay outside too long after all...

[She hears that cough. >| Pointing towards your room right now, little missy.]

Ion! Go to be right now! I'll make some hot soup for you. You need to rest or you'll really come down with a cold!

It was only one cough, Anise. [It's never only one cough.] Wouldn't it be just as well for me to be by the fire where it's warm?

[Normally he wouldn't argue but he misses spending time with his bff, okay.]

[MORE STERN GLARING.] No! I won't let you! [She softens a bit.] We'll have plenty of time to talk later, okay? But you need some rest right now!

[S-Stern loli glares...]

All right, Anise. If you say so. [With a smile:] Maybe I just need a good night's rest and I'll be better in the morning.

[Unlikely, but hey, a boy can dream!]

Yeah, I hope it's nothing. [Looking a bit worried now.] Go on! Lie down, and I'll bring you some soup!

[He nods and turns to head back into his room, closing the door to just a crack before heading over to his bed...]

[And hopefully by this time Anise is far enough from the door to miss him coughing quite a bit harder. Okay, so he wasn't as fine as he wanted her to think. And he has no one to blame but himself for staying out in the cold for so long! It's a wonder he didn't have a fever already--]

[Er. Unless he did and just couldn't tell.]

[...yep, getting into bed now.]

[True to her word, she returns in a few minutes with a bowl of stew on a tray. She isn't even in the room yet when she hears the sound of Ion coughing. Anise sighs to herself.]

Ion! I've brought you your soup!

[Oh, Ion happened to be mid-cough when he heard Anise's voice. H-He's fine, really!! And he's going to pretend she heard nothing, okay?]

Oh, thank you. [A faint laugh.] I'm sorry. I'm always troubling you, aren't I?

No, of course not! [She gently sets the tray down.] I don't mind at all!

019 ~ [Action]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject