[21][written/action]

[silversnowfall]

[first of all, there are several inconsequential doodles. This should be concerning because Nephry just doesn't doodle. Next there are several sentences that are so well crossed out they are unreadable. An ink spot where the pen rested too long on the page. A few more doodles.]

I...think I should go for a walk. I will take my journal with me just in case, however.

[and for those out and about, Nephry can be found standing on the bridge between houses 32 and 33 and Community Housing 5. It is quite the long walk, and it will continue in a short while if she's not interrupted. She will answer written or voiced messages too, of course. ...The doodling is kind of a giveaway that something is wrong here]

Comments

He darn well better have. Dare he risk falling even lower?

[silversnowfall]

[well. Neither is she. In fact she probably doesn't notice him, she's so caught up in trying to sort things out for herself. She's leaning on the bridge rail, her hands in front of her over the water; they're trembling]

[emp3thy]

[.... he spots that, but he won't press.]

[silversnowfall]

[the way she's standing, it's noticeable that her hands are shaking. ...Well, Minato will notice. It seems to have escaped her]

[Action]

[fallenambitions]

Oh, no I didn't mean it like that. I read in the guide that if you were to return home...there's a chance you'll forget everything you've experience here. All the people you've met, everything. It's saddening to forget all things you've gain here.

Can he even sink any lower?

[enrappigtured.livejournal.com]

[And when he sees that, concern immediately takes over anything he may have been feeling before.

He takes one of her hands.]

You're shaking.

[emp3thy]

[...it's his turn to touch her arm.] Nephry-san.

[Action]

[silversnowfall]

Oh. I've read the guide as well, of course. ...Suppose you were to learn something about the future of your world while you were here. I believe the risk of altering that future is too great, and so the memories are erased.

Not that I know how they manage it, of course.

[silversnowfall]

[and she seems startled again]

What is it?

Oh yes. She has yet to be openly angry with him. She could always YELL.

[silversnowfall]

[that train of thought just derailed right off a cliff. She actually gasps a little when someone reaches for her hand out of nowhere. And when she turns and sees that it's Peony, well...the source of half of her turmoil is holding her hand.]

I...

Peony will remember that.:|

[enrappigtured.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't let go.]

What's wrong, Nephry?

[Action]

[fallenambitions]

...To some who have a future, I suppose that would make sense. It may cause more suffering then help, or quite the opposite.

The Malnosso certainly have interesting powers over us...

[silversnowfall]

I'm just tired, Your Majesty.

[that moment of vulnerability is almost gone. Her hand is cold, but no longer shaking]

[Action]

[silversnowfall]

They do indeed.

...I...I apologize. [for saying that about a future when his reply makes it obvious he doesn't have one]

[enrappigtured.livejournal.com]

[He happens to glance at her journal.]

You're doodling.

[emp3thy]

You're shaking.

[silversnowfall]

[well, she wasn't doodling while on the bridge. She's been staring at the river and thinking a lot. But she uses the glance as an excuse to glance at it herself and quickly rub one eye]

I suppose that means I've completely lost my mind.

[silversnowfall]

...Oh. [and so she folds her hands together] I'm just a little cold.

[that doesn't work with any of her childhood friends, but it tends to with anyone else]

[emp3thy]

You said it was warm.

[Action]

[fallenambitions]

[he just smiles faintly, shaking his head] It is all right. I cannot share the same feelings you do about being homesick...but I find small conversations usually helps ease the mind.

[silversnowfall]

It's been warm, for the past several months. It's getting cooler now.

[but you can probably tell she's scrambling a little]

[enrappigtured.livejournal.com]

[Is using sarcasm as a fallback a Balfour trait?]

[Peony lets go of her hand, only to transfer his attention to her face. He gently tilts her chin so that the moonlight illuminates her features.]

You haven't been sleeping.

[Action]

[silversnowfall]

There seems to be little in the way of good conversation, sometimes.

[silversnowfall]

[he is breaking so many personal space rules right now. If Jade found them there would be an epic misunderstanding and one of them would be dead. ...Not sure which one]

Your Majesty. Please. [she's whispering, and blinking a little quickly so he thinks it's only exhaustion he's seeing. There's no sense of lecture in her voice, is what's important here]

[emp3thy]

[not buying it.]

[silversnowfall]

...And I'm tired.

[and it's all over her face]