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]

[ Are they starting anew, because Ion has a distinct memory of both a well-meaning, earnest boy offering him a rusty sword as walking aid, and also straight out asking him if he was able to commit cold-blooded murder of an old lady who hadn't done anyone harm.

Ion supposes they're trying to start fresh, after. All That, just earlier. It's certainly been quite the two days, and he's looking a little wan, but musters up as much reassurance and patience as he can project. ]

Ion, as I'm sure you know. [ He smiles a little, thinly, serenely, tilting his head to regard the outstretched hand like it's a curiosity of some sort. ] The younger one. A pleasure to properly meet you, though I only wish it were under better circumstances.

[ Then he shifts his staff from his right hand to his left, before offering his right to accept the shake. His grasp is surprisingly firm despite his build. ]

[randori]

[ The younger one? His mind goes to the tapestries, but all he has memorized are names and faces and none of the important details below that could have helped differentiate them. Even after deciding the best course of action is to completely forget everything he knows about Ion (as a general composite concept of both people), it's that awkward feeling of meeting somebody who knows about you but you don't know them.

But that's why he's doing this. ]

Nice to meet you. Um- Uh... [ He looks to the staff, remembering that conversation, but not knowing which person he had it with. ] Did you find that in the armory?

[fonlines]

No, [ he says, humming slightly around the word. ] It only arrived when all of us were given access to our rooms. Until then I'd been searching through the armory for a suitable replacement, but with relatively little luck...

[ Ion watches as Natsuo looks to his staff, then decides to take a bit of pity on the other boy. He knows it's confusing. At home, few even were aware there were two in the first place. It's become habit since then for them to try to fill in each other's places as smoothly as possible, even if they aren't actively trying to do such now. ]

I cannot speak for my counterpart. But we two, at least, have spoken on something similar before, while I was still searching.

[randori]

Ah! [ Natsuo brightens up immediately, head whipping around to stare at the staff as if it would reveal all the answers. ] So I did talk to you before! You said you wanted a walking stick, and that's why—!

[ That's why he thought they were the same person all this time, because the Ion he initially met was one he found collapsed and out of breath, and that's the sort of person who'd need a walking stick. Staff. Same thing. ]

[fonlines]

[ Ion inclines his head in an affirming nod. ]

Yes, I did.

[ ... And now he doesn't entirely know where to go from here, because his comportment training was all for being a public figure. As in, crowds and masses. Interacting with individuals, on the other hand. ]

I do understand you meant well, and that you're trying your best. That said...

[ It's a soft, questioning frown. More curious than accusing, but given the gentleness of his features anyway... ]

Did you really think that I could have done it?

[randori]

Done... You mean killing Gi-Gan...? [ His voice drops precipitously at her name, falling to a whisper that he has to forcibly drag back up and make his voice louder to make up for it. ]

...I think anybody could be capable of it. Just 'cause someone's not strong or smart, doesn't mean something's impossible for them. So when people try to discount someone just because of how they look, I get mad.

[ He believes in the concept that anybody is capable of anything, more or less. ]

You said you did it. That's why I believed you. But it was a lie?

[ Sarcasm, or something. Don't use waste it on him. ]

[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.