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]

[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.

[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?

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?

[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.

[one of her hands reaches over to cover his]

You were - and are - well within your rights to choose not to reveal a part of the future to him. Particularly a part of yours, and one that could...hurt him so badly.

[He shakes his head again.] It may have been within my right, but that doesn't mean I haven't betrayed Luke's trust by doing so. All this time, he's believed things back home to be all right. Now that he's heard otherwise...

["How much more is everyone keeping from me?!"]

You haven't betrayed his trust.

[the rest may be true, but Nephry is adamant on this one]

He is your friend and you saw no reason to hurt him unnecessarily. ...And to be honest with you, Ion, I think in this case, you also have the right to be...selfish, as you call it. ...To decide who knows.

But what matter is it that I have the right to do so if Luke still feels betrayed after the fact?

[He hand tightens to a fist, but relaxes momentarily. He's upset and worried, but more than that, he's just tired. With a small sigh, he leans back against the couch cushions and closes his eyes.]

...he was so upset, Nephry. I'm sure he already had enough to worry about without needing to worry for my sake as well...

[one of her hands will remain on top of his. The other will, with just a second's hesitation, move to rest on his shoulder, her thumb rubbing it lightly]

I think that, after some time, Luke might understand a bit better the reason behind your decision not to tell him. ...Unless I'm mistaken, you would have shared it with him if he had come to you with specific concerns about it, and that's different from...from telling him just for the sake of it.

[Would he have told Luke if he directly asked? ...he might have, yes. Omitting the truth was a little different from lying straight to someone's face. Ion wouldn't have been able to do that. Not to Luke.]

...maybe I do just need to give him some more time. It's only been a few days after all. [Another soft sigh.] I wonder if I'm the one who's been over-thinking things...

It can happen, when you're tired. [like you obviously are right now, Ion] We've all been under some strain these past few days.

[He gives a light "Hm" in response to that, pausing for a moment or two before taking the opportunity to change the subject. He needed a break from thinking about it.]

...have you heard any word from Dist yet?

[60][voice/action for house 1]

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[Action] /laaate

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