silversnowfall | [75][action/voiced]

[It feels like she's been locked in that research room forever. Almost worse than legislative paperwork, turning five small piles of books about various worlds into something that might be useful. Synthesizing data, in a way that felt adventurously real at first before the familiar tedium of it all set in again. And there was more, left undone. There was always more.

Regardless, it will be a while before she attempts another mission. Even one that seems suited to her set of skills. Unlike so many others who go away on missions, Nephry walks herself toward home without difficulty. Thinking to surprise most of her housemates, she stops at the flower shop for something decorative and colorful. Anything to erase the lines of letters from behind her closed eyelids.

Once she does get home, however, there are some orders of business to address.]

Those of you who name your home as a planet called 'Earth': are you aware of just how many different worlds there are that share that name? That share most of a history, often an entire history save for one significant event? It was quite interesting. [Dull hours of reading aside.] Even more interesting that it doesn't seem to be true of most if not all of the other worlds represented here - there is only one Auldrant, for example.

[And now, the heavier news.]

When I returned a short while ago, I...I found Anise's room empty. It appears she has gone home.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A cruel joke, indeed. Though in a way, it would make sense, wouldn't it? How would the malnosso know any better to distinguish a collection of letters meant for if one were to leave Luceti apart from just normal letters and scraps of paper left in one's possessions? If anything, the oddity was when letters were left behind.]

[Would it be easier if there had been letters? No. Ultimately, it doesn't matter. Either way, Anise wasn't here anymore.]

I suppose it doesn't make much of a difference, regardless. Though perhaps that's just because it hasn't quite sunk in yet.

You seem to be taking it rather well. [Especially for someone who was so close to her.]

...crying won't bring her back. [Though the words may seem cold, there's no trace of bitterness in his voice. Just quiet resignation.]

No. It won't. [Or she'd be here already.] That doesn't mean it is without merit.

No. But all the same, I'm not trying to hold myself back.

[He knows better than to do that. Holding back his feelings would only make things worse when they inevitably overflowed.]

If I could cry and feel better about her leaving, I would. But I know it won't help. Perhaps that's why I can't.

[Taller and more stoic and...with a deeper voice. If Anise came back now, memories or not, she might not recognize parts of this Ion.]

Then I guess if it works for you, I shouldn't question how you feel.

I wouldn't hold it against you if you did. [It would certainly make sense for her to do so, given how he reacted to Anise leaving in the past. Perhaps even more so now, after seeing how he reacted after having that nightmare about Nephry leaving.]

Perhaps I won't know for certain how I feel until I stop expecting to see her come through the door with a smile on her face.

At least you aren't alone in expecting it.

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