Week I - Awkward First Steps
"You've grown, Ether."
The boy smiles brightly as his companion reaches over the table and plants her pale hand into his hair, ruffling it gently for good measure. He attempts to move away, but she easily follows his every motion, as if she knows every single one in advance.
"I did not," he giggles in response.
"Yes, you did." She grins and continues her childish treatment of him. "It took you a while, but you are finally taller than me. You finally look a little tough, too."
She stops her hand on the top of his head and presses softly, making him close his eyes at the warm, peaceful sensation. It has been a couple hours since they sat down at this table in a small cafe, somewhere in the Nexus. So far, there have been no people. It is as if everyone forgot about this place, allowing it to exist entirely for the two of them.
He couldn't be happier about that.
"Hey... Rhian?" he whispers hesitantly.
"Yes?" she responds, her hand still resting on the top of his head.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Back in Silent Hill... Was that you showing me the way?"
Her hand seems to tense for a second, her fingers digging into the hair and almost scratching his scalp. He cannot see from this angle, but he likes to believe that she's still smiling. Even when faced with a question like that.
"Does that really matter?" She finally speaks up, her voice as quiet and peaceful as ever.
"...I don't know," he admits and looks up. His eyes, large and confused, make him appear almost vulnerable. It is a precious kind of face rarely seen on the android, and it gets to her easily. Her silver eyes narrow a little bit and focus on his, trying to take in all of this fleeting expression. "I just wanted to know. I don't think it will change anything from now on, but..."
"I'm looking out for you, Ether. Do not worry yourself about such things. Just remember." She cants her head a bit to the side and smiles. "Even if I'm just a fragment of myself, I'll be able to reach you."
"...I see." His lips twitch a bit, trying to smile more than he already does. "Thanks, Rhian. In hardest times, you're always the one helping me."
Once again, her hand freezes over his head... But this time, there is something different. With his gaze focused on her, he notices something. A small hint of a frown, a little bit of sadness. He almost wants to convince himself it's just his imagination, but something in her eyes convinces him that he won't forgive himself by replacing bitter reality with a pretty excuse. His smile immediately falters.
"I said something wrong, didn't I..?"
"It's not that, Ether. I just hoped that the next time I see you, you would realize how much you can really do. Because I..."
And then, something happens. Like a bad digital image, a hologram gone awfully wrong, Rhian distorts into a cloud of white and gray static. For that brief second, the hold on his hair disappears, replaced by suddenly distressing cold of early winter.
"...I do not have much time left, Ether."
The boy smiles brightly as his companion reaches over the table and plants her pale hand into his hair, ruffling it gently for good measure. He attempts to move away, but she easily follows his every motion, as if she knows every single one in advance.
"I did not," he giggles in response.
"Yes, you did." She grins and continues her childish treatment of him. "It took you a while, but you are finally taller than me. You finally look a little tough, too."
She stops her hand on the top of his head and presses softly, making him close his eyes at the warm, peaceful sensation. It has been a couple hours since they sat down at this table in a small cafe, somewhere in the Nexus. So far, there have been no people. It is as if everyone forgot about this place, allowing it to exist entirely for the two of them.
He couldn't be happier about that.
"Hey... Rhian?" he whispers hesitantly.
"Yes?" she responds, her hand still resting on the top of his head.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Back in Silent Hill... Was that you showing me the way?"
Her hand seems to tense for a second, her fingers digging into the hair and almost scratching his scalp. He cannot see from this angle, but he likes to believe that she's still smiling. Even when faced with a question like that.
"Does that really matter?" She finally speaks up, her voice as quiet and peaceful as ever.
"...I don't know," he admits and looks up. His eyes, large and confused, make him appear almost vulnerable. It is a precious kind of face rarely seen on the android, and it gets to her easily. Her silver eyes narrow a little bit and focus on his, trying to take in all of this fleeting expression. "I just wanted to know. I don't think it will change anything from now on, but..."
"I'm looking out for you, Ether. Do not worry yourself about such things. Just remember." She cants her head a bit to the side and smiles. "Even if I'm just a fragment of myself, I'll be able to reach you."
"...I see." His lips twitch a bit, trying to smile more than he already does. "Thanks, Rhian. In hardest times, you're always the one helping me."
Once again, her hand freezes over his head... But this time, there is something different. With his gaze focused on her, he notices something. A small hint of a frown, a little bit of sadness. He almost wants to convince himself it's just his imagination, but something in her eyes convinces him that he won't forgive himself by replacing bitter reality with a pretty excuse. His smile immediately falters.
"I said something wrong, didn't I..?"
"It's not that, Ether. I just hoped that the next time I see you, you would realize how much you can really do. Because I..."
And then, something happens. Like a bad digital image, a hologram gone awfully wrong, Rhian distorts into a cloud of white and gray static. For that brief second, the hold on his hair disappears, replaced by suddenly distressing cold of early winter.
"...I do not have much time left, Ether."