trashed | → 002; [filtered voice/open action]

→ 002; [filtered voice/open action]

[Filtered to Ion:]

[Okay, first thing's first. He wants to get this out of the way since he's been sitting on it since...well, it happened. And he's actually a little surprised he hasn't heard from any of the Fon Master's little friends yet.

So he's going to make sure that didn't even happen.]

Saturday. Forget about it. Nothing happened that day, do you understand me? I don't want to hear about it again, from you or your stupid friends.

[And that was that.

He closes the book and then starts off, carefully through the ice. He slides where he can, keeping mindful of how slippery the ice is as he makes his way through the village. Really, he's not going anywhere in particular. Movement was best in cold weather like this, after all, and only sitting around was making him more and more mad.

Thinking in general made him more and more mad.

There's a chunk of ice that's hanging in the corner of his eye, and he walks over to it. With a few good kicks it's dislodged, and he moves it around on the frozen ground, his mind still racing.

Stupid place.

Stupid fruit.

Stupid Ion.

All of those thoughts combined together, and before he knew it, that piece of ice was kicked and went flying. When he hears the sound of the crash, he doesn't panic like a normal person would. "Oh my gosh, did I do that?" No, that won't be coming out of his mouth.

Instead he starts laughing, because that was a sort of release for him. He didn't care what he hit - it was just satisfying to hear that destructive noise.

Yeah, okay he's...starting to scrape up some more ice now.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But you do exist. You have a life here. A second chance!

[Somewhat softer, and more hesitantly:] ...we both do. It doesn't matter that we're replicas... because we're so much more than that. We're people, just like everyone else.

Because I was being used as a puppet! I was only kept alive because someone needed to use me.

[...Ha. Hahaha. Hahaha.] Maybe that kind of thinking works for you, but it doesn't work for me.

But why not? Why can't you find a reason worth living for here? A reason to live for yourself?

[The same issue all replicas seem to deal with at one point or another...]

What's the point? I won't be here forever. Not like it'd matter whether I was alive or dead at home.

[Yup pretty much...and this one's just avoiding it.]

It would matter to me.

[And it had mattered: the first and only Ion ever cried back home was when Sync "died." Even if Ion wasn't there anymore now...]

You matter to me, Sync.

Don't lie.

[HANGING UP NOW bye again Ion!! :D]

I'm not--!!

[...lying. Of course Sync matters to him. What reason would he have to lie about something like that? It wouldn't accomplish anything.]

[If Sync didn't matter to him, if he didn't care, why would he be having this conversation?]

[Sigh.]

[Aaand now Ion's just. Going to go for a walk to clear his mind. Yes, it's icy out, but he doesn't particularly care. So long as he's careful and takes it slow, he shouldn't have too much trouble making it around the village. If he sticks to the areas that were still a bit snowy, it shouldn't be an issue!]

[And the cool air was a bit calming... unfortunately, that means he's not really paying much attention to anything other than the ground and his own thoughts.]

[A perfect target.]

[Sync's still being slightly immature as he's roaming around the area. He's still fuming to himself over the conversation he'd had with Ion...

and lo and behold! There's his replibro now, looking...as blank as ever.

So you know what he's going to do? He's going to gather up some more ice and throw it in his direction. Whether it actually hits him or not, he doesn't care - he just wants to knock Ion out of his daydream.]

[Walking, walking, walking... oh, hey, it's kind of slippery around here. He better be careful and watch his ste--]

Edited 2012-03-21 16:16 (UTC)

[RIGHT IN THE FACE.]

[Well, okay, more like the top of his head. But it's ice, and ice hurts, so more than just being surprised, he'd going to let out a small cry and grab his forehead.]

[And then look over at the culprit...!]

[YOU.]

[Okay, that went better than he expected. He snickers a little, and gives him a look that says 'you deserved it' before beginning to move away.

Confront him about his mischievousness, Ion, before he gets away!]

[There are so many things Ion could say right now. "Why did you do that?" Because he doesn't like him. "Do you really dislike me that much?" Is that even a real question. "That wasn't very nice." That wouldn't even be trying...]

[Instead? He'll settle for taking a few steps in Sync's direction and calling out to him:]

I wasn't lying.

[That makes Sync stop. He knows that's what Ion wants, is his attention, but...he doesn't understand.

He just doesn't.

So he turns back to him, eyes rolling and expression turning from amused to irritated. More like his usual self, right?]

Why are you determined to talk to me? Don't tell me it's because you care, or you want to get to know me better, either. There has to be another reason.

[Because everyone has their other motives for doing things, right?]

[Ion stops similarly once Sync turns around. There's a small, somewhat sad smile on his face. Yes, Sync just threw ice at his face. ~~Yes, it hurts and is probably bleeding a little, you ass.~~ And yes, Sync's already slammed the journal on him once today.]

[But they're still talking. This is progress.]

I've already told you the truth. What other reason could I give that would satisfy you?

[There are things that you should be getting used to, Ion. Sync slamming the journal in your face is one of them.

Too bad he can't do that here.

Unfortunately, the reasoning that Ion cares and wants to understand Sync is really kind of lost on him. They were emotions he didn't share, of course - he hadn't ever really cared for anyone, period. He was just trash, after all; he didn't have any reason to.]

You should hate me.

[Dodging the questions again. He honestly doesn't understand this kindness thing - but isn't that why he had called Ion a naive child?]

Why should I hate you? [He's not asking why he would. Perhaps a normal person would hate Sync for everything he's done to Ion and his friends while working alongside the Commandant.]

[But Ion wasn't exactly a normal person in that regard. Why, he even counted one of the men indirectly responsible for his death as one of his closest friends. In that respect, how could he possibly hate Sync now?]

Do you... want me to hate you?

[He's asking carefully, fully aware he's in dangerous waters right now. But he just doesn't understand, and he wants to understand!

Why should you hate me? How about I remind you?

[Are you ready for this, Ion?]

I've hurt your friends, and I'm not sorry. I've fought your friends, and tried to control them, and I'm not sorry. [He starts to laugh.] Do you know what I did, after you died? I came back, much to your irritating friends' dismay. They thought that they could actually get rid of me while Van had use for me!

I was giving out Score readings. That Tatlin girl got in the way...you know what I did? I impersonated you! [His voice hitches a little higher than normal, impersonating the Ion that was on Auldrant.] We have the same voice and everything, isn't it great?

[When he speaks again, his voice was back to normal, but he was grinning now. He thought he'd won this one.] You should've seen the look on her face! It was priceless! I told her that fighting with me meant fighting with her precious Fon Master. And you know what?

I'm not sorry for that either. In fact, I'd do it again just to see her squirm. Having the same face and voice has its benefits sometimes, doesn't it?

[The moment Sync replies, Ion realizes just what he's gotten himself into and frowns. This wasn't the first time he's had a conversation like this, and just like the last time, the end result was the same. And especially in Sync's case, it was just far too soon to think that he could have changed. After all, Sync didn't just not regret it. He reveled in it. Ion could see it in his eyes and hear it in that twisted laugh...]

[But Ion's expression drops from his face the instant he mentions Anise, his hands tightening into fists at his side. Do you see that, Sync? You hit a sore spot. And he'll be damned if he lets it show any more than it already is. There's a pause, just enough for a calming breath, before he speaks.]

...we were enemies on Auldrant. It isn't as though I've forgotten that. [Despite his change temperance moments ago, his voice remains calm and gentle.]

But that doesn't mean we need to be enemies here. Regardless of what you've done in the past, you still matter to me. And that's why I want to start over. I want the chance to get know you as you. Not just Sync the God-General, but Sync the person.

And maybe someday you could get to know me as... someone more than just a replacement for the original Fon Master.

[Oh. He notices that tightening of his fists, and his smile only gets wider, thinking he'd finally made Ion mad...

But then he doesn't. As infuriating as ever, he was turning this around into something that could be positive. Just when he thought he had gotten to him.]

Damn it! Do you ever get mad, or was that feeling just not programmed into you? You're just as naive as I thought you were!

I will never see you as more than just a replacement for the original Fon Master. Never! You may think I can change, and I won't. I don't want to! No matter where I am, no matter where you are, we were both created because of the Score. The difference is, you were successful, while I was a piece of trash!

The Score may not exist here, but that means nothing. That doesn't change who we are! [HUFF. He just now realizes that his fists were clenched so hard that...well, his hands kind of hurt. He takes a deep breath, rubbing his hands together before glaring back over at Ion.]

I'm not you. I don't give up so easily.

[He winces when Sync starts to yell at him, wondering in the back of his mind if this was wise, talking to Sync like this when no one else was around. Sync was smart enough not to out-right attack him, yes, but that was when Sync was thinking calmly. Not when he was angry. And it really always seemed as though he saved a special reserve of anger just for Ion...]

[He waits a moment, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath of his own. His shoulders are shaking, and not just from the cold.]

...not everyone shows their anger by jumping and screaming, Sync. [No, he doesn't sound angry yet. He probably sounds sad, if anything. Although his hands are, notably, still tightened into fists. Try as he might to hide it, those words were starting to sting.]

Just what is it you aren't giving up? Why do you insist on clinging so hard to the notion that you aren't worth anything?

[The part of Sync that Ion just couldn't understand. Why was Sync so resistent to the idea that things could change? That he could he happy? Did he even know what it meant to be happy? Just the very notion was so sad, Ion couldn't wrap his mind around it.]

You asked me why I'm trying to talk to you... because you don't understand why I would want to. But you're the one I don't understand. And I want to understand. I want to understand you, Sync!

[...Yeah, it's probably not wise at all. Even though he's angry, he still knows in the back of his mind if he were to strike him, it would end badly for him.

Not that he didn't think he couldn't take them, he just didn't want to deal with them.]

...So you are angry. [At least, that's what he's taking from it. In a way, it's satisfying to hear, if that was...the case, anyway. He still notes the hands are still tightened into fists...

Yes, good. That doesn't mean that his temper has subsided all that much, though.]

Because I'm not! I'm not worth anything at all! There's no why to it - why are you trying to tell me I am?!

[Because Sync doesn't handle change, that's why. He doesn't want to change from the way he was - why? Well, who knows. Maybe he just likes being miserable.]

There's nothing to understand. Go try to understand someone else.

[It was a statement, not a question, so Ion says nothing. Yes. He was angry. Not angry enough to show it, but angry enough to acknowledge it. Even knowing that doing so didn't really benefit him in anyway, except perhaps to let Sync know he got to him... in that sense, it was almost a concession, wasn't it? Sync's goal had been to trigger that anger in him, after all.]

[But that aside, this conversation isn't getting anywhere, and Ion knows it. Sync is just so stubborn... it's not a quality Ion is really expecting to see him lose, really. But if he just wasn't so stubborn about this, maybe he could actually find a way to cheer up for once in this place!]

You're worth more than you know. You're the only one who can't see it.

[This touchy feely crap...he just doesn't understand it.

He shakes his head.] No, you're the one who can't see it. [Huff.] But you're just wasting my time.

[Neither of them are going to budge on this, are they?]

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