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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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?

[Nephry just sighs. He's being stubborn and immature. And, after everything that has happened here - including that last experiment - he ought to behave a bit better towards his housemates at the very least.

So the hand that was on Ion's shoulder moves to rub her eyes under her glasses instead.]

I don't know what to do about him.

It doesn't surprise me that he would leave after an experiment like that, but...

[It was weird. They were enemies on Auldrant, friends in Luceti, and with the most recent experiment, had briefly been family. Regardless, House 1 just didn't feel right without him.]

Perhaps he just needs time as well?

He has all the time he needs. ...I don't want him to think we would have asked him to leave.

[Because that's just not true. But when she spoke to him, his answers came as though he spoke to...to an enemy. Harsh and angry.

After all of this...this whole mess of an experiment...she's at the end of her rope with things like that.]

I'm sure he doesn't feel that way, Nephry. [After all the experiments they'd been through so far? Dist was smart. He should know better than to assume something like this would completely negate the past year.]

...but Dist has a lot of pride. I would think this experiment was probably rather embarrassing for someone like him.

[Dist stroking Ion's hair and hugging him close after a nightmare? Even Ion felt a little embarrassed thinking about that.]

To an extent it is embarrassing for all of us.

[She slept with him. Maybe even slept with him - not that she would ever divulge that to Ion.]

I know what he's like. I just... [don't feel like listening or trying to be patient with him right now]

[...clearly there are some thing best left unsaid.]

He should come back on his own accord eventually. He's remained living here all this time, after all.

Until then, perhaps it would be best not to dwell on it too much?

[Or rather, it looked as though Nephry could use a break from thinking about it. The experiment was stressful enough towards the end without the added worry over a ~~drama-queen~~ wayward housemate.]

I will do my best.

[the truth is no one in this house has probably ever seen her looking as fragile and unstable as she does right this minute.]

[Ion can see that. This experiment may not have been unpleasant while it was happening, but picking up the pieces afterwards...]

[He falls silent for a minute or two, hoping for a way to alleviate some of the pain Nephry must be going through right now. Eventually, he remembers something he'd been hoping to tell her, but simply hadn't gotten the chance with everything that happened these past few days.]

...as strange as this experiment was, it was nice being able to be part of a real family. [A gentle smile.]

I know I may not have anyone to compare to, but... I thought you were great mother, Nephry.

[to say that takes her by surprise is to put it mildly]

...Thank you, Ion. That...that means more to me than you might realize.

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