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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[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.

[She shrugs and turns around to face him while she walks backwards, wings still fanning slowly behind her.]

Then you don't need to act like you do! Pretending you're alright when you're not makes more problems than it solves, really.

... does it?

[That's certainly not how he's done things. He has an entire nation to take care of! Bad days just aren't acceptable.]</small.

Yep! At least that's how it worked when my friends found out I was...sick and hiding it. [She may have shown him her wings, but he doesn't really need to know how...]

They got really mad at me, and by that time I was really really sick. If I hadn't faked being alright, they could've helped a lot earlier.

... I suppose there's some truth in that...

Heheh, I know it's true! I caused a lot of problems for my friends by lying about that...

I suppose... I'm a little too used to having to pretend as if nothing is wrong.

[There's a pause, followed by an odd sort of laugh]

That's a terribly sad thing to realize.

[She rubs the back of her head.]

Heheh, I think a lot of people are like that. Too used to pretending that nothing's wrong to admit when it's really bad that it's not alright.

And you're right, it is kinda sad when you realize it.

Yes... I'm not really sure what to do about it, though...

[A headtilt.] What to do about not being used to not lying about how you're feeling? Why don't you just try not to lie about it to someone? One person would be easier than everyone you meet!

You... mean like... not lying to you right now?

Maybe! I think it'd be better to start with Estelle or someone else you've known for more than a day that you trust, but you can not lie to me if you want. [Is she being confusing...?]

Ah--... that's.... a very valid point.

I'm sorry-- it's--...

... I'm still not feeling very well...

[She smiles at him.]

I'd be surprised if you were feeling a lot better this soon.

... of course. That's just... silly, isn't it?

[He lets out a sigh, running a shaking hand through his hair.]

;video | close to midnight

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