distressedude | 020 ~ [Voice]

[Save perhaps Sync's recent arrival, Ion hasn't been as stressed as he has been these past few months. The lack of experiments has made for a nice change of pace, though he's been refraining from saying as much. Just in case the Malnosso suddenly feel like putting an end to this little break... but it's that lack of stress that makes this new condition of his all the more mysterious. Losing a few feathers when he was sick wasn't entirely uncommon for him, and he had been feeling rather under the weather these past few days, but... well.]

Perhaps this is a bit of an odd question, but has anyone ever had their wings suddenly [...] change? Aside from just the color.

[Glancing over his shoulder. He has his wings folded behind his back so they don't appear in the journal-window. Usually they weren't out at all... which is mostly why he's only now noticing the change.]

Though I guess the color would apply as well, in this case...

[...]

[What, they don't really teach about filial puberty in school! At least, if they did, it was probably one of those days Ion when was out sick. Which is a lot. Though someone Ion's age probably should have already lost most of the fluffy feathers on his wings...... he's a late bloomer, okay.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Would I mind? I-- [And just like that, he's forgotten all about the mention of the draft earlier.] It... wouldn't be too much trouble?

[He's asking in a way that says well enough that the question is more or less just out of habit. YES MOMMY I WANT A BIRTHDAY PARTY OMIGOSH.]

You know better than to ask such silly questions. It's never trouble.

[And he deserves a birthday party.]

Who would you like to ask?

Of course, Luke and the others. And I can't forget Yui, since she was the one who encouraged me to choose a day. Oh, and I'm sure Kohan would like to come as well, and--

[He stops his excited babbling for a second (really, he's so excited he's probably acting a little like a child right now) to think, before speaking a bit softer.]

I wonder... if Sync would be interested...

[Well, fifteen...matches right up with, what, age three?]

Sync? [Wait. Wait wait, that's a name she's heard before.] Sync the Tempest?

[That probably came out wrong. Chalk it up to surprise.]

[Somehow, it surprises him that she sounds surprised. For all the things she knows about Ion, he never really spoke much of Sync, did he?]

[He nods.]

Yes. He arrived in Luceti only a short while ago. Though I haven't seen too much of him since his first message over the journals. [...] Did you hear him?

[There's more than one question in that question.]

Did I hear-

[Now that you mention it. She did hear something - someone - unusual, but he didn't seem interested in continuing any sort of conversation. Nephry is quiet while various things dawn on her.]

I heard you.

[Gently, Ion shakes his head. He's still smiling, albeit in a much more subdued manner. His eyes fall to his lap.]

...do you remember? It was nearly a year ago now, but during the experiment where we all believed we had been born in Luceti, I told you about a dream I had. About a boy who had the same face as me.

[A boy he couldn't save...]

...that was Sync.

Of course I remember. ...You couldn't do anything for him, and he looked just like you.

He's...one of the others, isn't he? [Nephry has no issue with replicas, though.] Do you think he would be interested in...a step toward friendship, then?

Yes. I'd like to think someday we might... get to a point where we can have a conversation that doesn't end in him slamming the journal in my face.

[A step towards friendship was a point in the future Ion wasn't counting on just yet. Baby steps...!]

I know he doesn't like me. That might even be putting it mildly, but... I don't think he would celebrate his birthday on his own otherwise. We were born on the same day; it seems unfair to leave him out.

I see. ...Suppose he would prefer to choose a day for himself? [Having your own identity as a replica is important, after all.] Will that bother you?

I could try to ask him, but to be honest, I'm not sure he'd even want to acknowledge his birthday. He probably wouldn't see it as something worth celebrating...

["Another year of life" held nearly opposite connotations between the two of them, given Sync's overall outlook on life.]

That's up to you. I hope things work out all right.

[She's pretty sure that if Sync ever finds out who she is, he won't care to give her the time of day. Not that he does now.]

Make a list, then. So you don't forget.

I hope so, too...

[With a bit of a huff, as if to signify letting the matter drop. Then, a smile.]

And I will! It's actually been on my mind since around December, so I can't imagine I'll forget easily.

Were you going to let it go by without telling anyone, Fon Master?

[Who would ever think she would use his official title to tease him?]

[A soft laugh.] Not at all. I just couldn't think of a way to bring it up.

Hm. I really don't know the proper birthdays for...anyone from our world here.

Perhaps we should try asking everyone? It shouldn't be too difficult to convert the date to fit Luceti's calender.

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