6/9: Ion

[randori]

[ Some time after the trial, before any of them can get too far, Natsuo seeks one of the Ions out. Has he met this one before? Both of them? The same one three times...? He hates the fact that there are two— the fact that he has to think of them as two, instead of them being their own person.

After everything he said in the trial, he isn't even sure how to approach this again. So he does it with a stiff march up to Ion, hand straight out in a handshake. ]

Hi. My name's Natsuo.

[ Can't remember if they've met before? No problem. He will just scrap everything he's learned about either of them, and start everything all over again. ]

Comments

[fonlines]

[ He slowly shakes his head, pausing to think over his words. ]

If I had done such a thing, and wanted to keep it hidden... If I had, I wouldn't have corrected you and said that I was one of the ones who searched the armory. After all, you said yourself that they might have left things out.

In any case, any of the three with me could have confirmed the same for you. That's why I mentioned their names, in case you couldn't trust my word alone.

It isn't a matter of looking, or not looking like I can. I understand that, at least, that appearances can be deceiving. I was as truthful as I could be, however. That's why I responded that way, in a hypothetical. I wanted you to think it over again, and see how it didn't make sense. I couldn't understand how I could have led you to believe that I might have been the one responsible.

I suppose I was surprised.

[randori]

[ He'd wanted Natsuo to think for himself, reason it own, come to his own conclusion and only then will he be truly convinced. It's really too bad that he got stuck on step one, never really taking the time to think when a possibility is already there and he's eager to jump on it and keep things moving. ]

S-sorry. I'm not smart enough to figure all that out, so your faith in me is wasted. It felt like there wasn't enough time to think- I was panicking and I couldn't think at all!

[fonlines]

[ Ion's expression softens, his tone quieting to match. ]

That's understandable, given the circumstances. A great deal has happened in very few days. I think there were many of us panicking, so it wasn't as if you were alone out there.

Regardless of whether it's wasted or not, it feels a shame to not be able to have faith in people.

[randori]

No, I mean. I'd like it if you have faith in me, but not in anything that requires thinking. You'd be disappointed! And people are always saying stuff like "play to your strengths" so mine isn't that.

[ Please don't expect that much from him, essentially is what he's saying, just sort of accepting the reality that is everything he so clearly lacks. He knows this and it's fine. ]

[fonlines]

If that's the case, then I'll certainly try to remember that.

Faith in the strength of your convictions, then. [ his tone turns gently questioning, faintly curious. ] What else, is it, that you would rather me have faith in you for?

[randori]

Faith in... uh... um... Me? As a person? In general. [ There is no thinking involved in his person, so that's another matter entirely. ]

Believe in me when I make a promise, 'cause I won't ever break that promise.

[fonlines]

Well then.

Yes, I can believe in that. I look forward to seeing you demonstrate the truth of it, Natsuo.

[randori]

Good. That's how it should be— believe in me and trust in me.