006 ~ [Action] | Forward-dated to the 15th

[soreplaceable]

[Over the past few weeks, Ion had become used to going outside amongst the trees behind House 1 and reading beneath the shade. Lately, the weather hadn't been too nice, so he remained indoors. He had hoped it would have just remained overcast, rather than turn into a full-blown storm! But today the weather had changed, and it was sunny once more. A

Comments

[action, either at home or outside]

[offallingsnow]

Excuse me, Fon Master?

[action, home is fine!]

[soreplaceable]

[He quickly looked over at Nephry, having been momentarily lost in his thoughts.] Oh, hello Nephry. Is something the matter?

[action]

[offallingsnow]

I was wondering the same thing about you. You seem...distracted today.

[action]

[soreplaceable]

Ah, I suppose I am. I haven't been sleeping very well lately... [Now there's an understatement.] It's made me a bit more scatterbrained than usual.

[action]

[offallingsnow]

What's been keeping you awake, if I may ask?

[she has trouble sleeping herself sometimes, and wonders if he might be having nightmares. Also her left hand is having the worst week of its life and is probably visibly bandaged right now, if Ion wants other things to focus on.]

[action]

[soreplaceable]

Nothing in particular, really. It's strange, but I just haven't felt tired at all. Maybe a little forgetful, but...

[And a distraction is just what he's going for, lest Nephry worry needlessly over what Ion believes to be nothing.] ...Nephry, is there something wrong with your hand?

[action]

[offallingsnow]

[makes a halfhearted fist with it when she realizes what he's looking at]

It's...more of a precaution, at this point. I've had a bit of a rough few days too. Has anything else been strange for you?

[action]

[soreplaceable]

[He's about to unintentionally answer that question. He looks at the fist with a puzzles expression.] A precaution? But... what is that on your hand?

[Bandages? All he sees are strange strips of cloth wrapped on there for no reason at all!]

[action]

[offallingsnow]

[What? Opening her hand, she looks at it, front and back, but doesn't see anything unusual.]

All I see are the bandages.

[action]

[soreplaceable]

[He's totally serious as he looks at her hand and then back up at Nephry.]

...what's a "bandage"?

[action]

[offallingsnow]

[...what?]

Are you...sure you feel all right?

[action]

[soreplaceable]

[As soon as the words left his mouth, he seemed to regret the question. It seemed an odd thing to ask, but... he honestly didn't know what it was!]

I'm fine, I... [He shook his head.] I'm sorry, that was a strange thing to say, wasn't it?

[action]

[offallingsnow]

[sitting down across from him now with a serious, but calm, face]

Do you really not know what bandages are? [this expression demands the truth]

[action]

[soreplaceable]

[He looked up at her for a moment before looking down and shaking his head.] I don't. I...

[This was no time for beating around the bush. He looks back up, expression equally serious.]

I haven't slept at all for three days.

[action]

[offallingsnow]

Three days? ...No wonder you're distracted. You should be exhausted.

[action]

[soreplaceable]

That's the thing. I haven't slept because I just haven't felt tired. I've tried to, but I just get bored from laying there and wind up reading all night.