caughtinanetwork | ;video | close to midnight

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;video | close to midnight

[The SFC comes on with a very noisy clatter. When the video evens out, Ioder can be seen looking down at it, huddled up with his knees to his chest. He looks pained, and there's a good reason for that - all the blood that's splattered the right side of his face, his shoulder and staining a good portion of his once-white shirt is to be blamed for that. The wound that's caused it currently has his hand clasped so tightly over it his knuckles are turning white, and he's clearly shaking.]

I... I need... some assistance... please... i-if anyone is awake... I'm at the coral...

[He pauses, breath hitching. He's trying to keep tears back, but he's not sure how much longer he can go without utterly breaking down. He doesn't bother turning the SFC off, instead just burying his face in his curled up arms as his shoulders tremble.]

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[A nod, and a hand comes up to his mouth as he continues to try and fight the urge to be ill right there.]

Did you meet her before this? [She nods at his healing wound. Please don't be ill, please don't be ill. But it's not like she wasn't curious. Why would someone do this sort of thing?

She hadn't realized she was this bad at dealing with hurt people. Asking questions when they look like they're going to be sick isn't exactly the best idea.]

N... no... we spoke... over the network...

[He lowers his hand after swallowing hard, managing to hold it back for the time being.]

What's her name? Do you know that? [This really sounds like she should warn the rest of the Defense Force... Hopefully it isn't someone in it. She doubts it would be, but you never really know.

She's glad he feels well enough to not have a hand over his mouth anymore.]

Ryoko... Asakura... she's relatively new...

Ryoko Asakura...[The name isn't familiar, but she tucks it into a corner of her mind anyway. She may need to tell people about her after all.]

Thank you for telling me. Do you feel well enough to walk home? [Because she will carry him if he doesn't feel well enough. His wound looks manageable for the moment, and Estelle had mentioned Ioder. He probably wouldn't be all alone, and she could just stay with him if no one else was there.]

I--...

[He's not sure what to say. He still feels weak, but not enough to impede walking. But at the same time he's feeling conflicted - he doesn't want to be alone, but he doesn't want to be around Estelle as he is, either.

He grips at his arm under where he was wounded, hands shaking as he looks down.]

I should... be alright...

[She watches him for a moment before asking:]

Do you want me to stay with you for a while? In case she shows back up?

[Being able to walk doesn't mean people want to walk alone or be alone, after all.]

N... no...

[It's a lie, and not a very convincing one.]

[He doesn't lie very often, does he? She smiles at him.]

I don't mind, really.

[No he does not! The one honest politician in Zaphias. Go figure.]

... alright...

[It's actually kinda nice, meeting someone who can't lie convincingly.

Wait...]

Where've you been staying? I think you'll be more comfortable there than out here.

With my cousin, Estellise...

Oh! So you are that Ioder! [But that actually doesn't help...]

Estelle's a friend of mine, but that won't help me get you home. I don't know where she's staying either.

[That actually gets a surprising laugh from him. It's short, but at least it's more than what he has been doing.]

I'm fairly certain I'm the only Ioder in Vatheon... but yes.

[After that, he gives her some directions to their house.]

[She laughs too, rubbing the back of her head and offering him a hand.]

Probably! But I wasn't sure. Should we get going then?

Yes, of course.

[He takes the hand and gets to his feet. There's a distinct ache all over that the healing wasn't able to get rid of fully, but it's better than being cut open and bleeding.]

[Much better! And he'll probably feel better after a couple days of rest, physically if not emotionally. And then she just sorta starts walking in the right direction. Being silent totally works.]

[Yes, of course it does. Ioder is just going to be silent too because what is actually acknowledging that you're not alright.]

[After a while, Colette starts humming to fill her ears with more than just their footsteps. It's soft, but it's definitely there.]

... sorry.

[He knows he's being unusually quiet, but he can't think of much else than what's happened to him.]

Hm? What are you sorry for? [She blinks and looks at him. She doesn't mind at all, really. Just footsteps aren't all that pleasant when they're the only thing in your ears.]

... I don't... even really know, to be honest...

Then why are you apologizing? If you don't know, you probably don't need to! [She smiles at him.]

[Ioder wants to smile back, but he's having a hard time even mustering up a fake one.]

Perhaps. ... I don't really know what I'm feeling right now.

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