silversnowfall | [60][voice/action for house 1]

[60][voice/action for house 1]

...Well.

I must admit to my curiosity, I suppose. Did anyone else...find that they got something they wanted? Perhaps without even knowing you did, until then?

[Saphir, 80%]

Your exile from this house is entirely self-imposed.

[Around the house today Nephry is just doing some chores. Tidying up, so to speak. The journal is with her so she might hear any answers that come along while she works.]

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[~~Nephry, your son is sulking.~~]

[Well, that's half true. Ever since the experiment ended, Ion's been much quieter than usual and has either been hiding at the library all day or finding a corner to read in somewhere. Anything to keep his mind off of things...]

[But today, he's actually sitting on the couch in the living room instead of staying cooped up in his bedroom! It's a bit of an improvement, at least.]

[When she sees Ion in the living room, she closes her journal and sets it down, quietly taking a seat on the couch beside him]

Something you wanted? [Dramatic gasp!] Don't tell me you actually wanted to bear Dist's children? You have such terrible taste in men.

As always, I can do little to influence what you choose to think.

[Ion glances up at Nephry when she sits down and manages to give her a small smile in greeting. As awkward as the experiment had been and as horrible as it had ended, it wasn't all bad.]

[Of course, that was just how he felt about it.]

Good afternoon, Nephry.

[her return smile may be the most genuine thing she has done in days.]

Ion. ...It's nice to see that you appear to be feeling better.

Now I don't know about that. [He's really not that stubborn is he?]

So what was it that you wanted, Nephry?

To know if there was anything...at all that people realized they enjoyed.

[Now, now Nephry, that wasn't what he meant. He was interested in what it was that you had gotten out of this experience that you hadn't had before, but no matter. He hadn't been very clear.]

And what was it that you enjoyed?

[and here she is uncharacteristically quiet]

My family.

[His smile falters a bit. She hasn't been worried about him, has she?]

I'm sorry. I've just had a lot on my mind lately, is all.

I think we all have. ...You're welcome to share, if you feel it might help you.

[He grips the edge of his book, staring down at it quietly for a few moments.]

...it's about the dreams we had towards the end of the experiment. Looking back, it feels so strange that I hadn't believed them to be real.

Well. ...Of course it does, now that they are your real memories again.

I think that, in a way, you did believe them. Or they wouldn't have scared you as much as they had.

Perhaps you're right. Although I would like to think if I had truly believed them to be real I wouldn't have been so...

[His grip tightens and he looks up back up at Nephry.]

...Nephry. There's something I need to tell you.

[Oh dear. This sounds serious.]

Of course, Ion. What is it?

Yes, to be honest. I hadn't even realized I'd wanted it until that happened. Then it was lost, and I miss it now . . .

The night before the final day of the experiment, I had what would have been my last dream about Auldrant. [. . .] I was frightened. I had somehow convinced myself if I fell asleep again, I wouldn't be able to dream anymore.

[A hesitant pause.] ...so I found someone to talk to about it. And that person was Luke.

...I see.

[No she doesn't. Not until she gets to think about it for a minute or two and then her whole expression changes.

This is why she asks everyone what they remember. Why some things she just won't talk about. Luke must not have known.]

Ion...

[He brings his hand to his forehead and shakes his head.]

So foolish... all this time I was afraid he would find out and I was the one to tell him. When I couldn't find him the next day, I knew he must have realized what happened...

...Did he?

May I ask...what it was?

[A small nod.] ...I found him later that night. He was trying to stay away from the village, but I couldn't just leave him to be alone when he was still so upset.

[in a tone that says she suspects she knows the answer already]

Why was he upset?

Nephry, I... I lied to him about something so terrible! [He takes in a short breath, and then another. It's not like him to get so upset like this so quickly, but these past few days are starting to take their toll on him. When he speaks again, his voice is calmer, but noticeably strained.]

I didn't want him to know. It was selfish of me, I know, but this... [His voice grows softer.] ...it's the last thing I have to be selfish about.

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