012 ~ [Action]

[soreplaceable]

[Anise hadn't even been gone a full day yet and Ion already didn't know what to do with himself. It hurt to look across the hall and know that the room was empty. It hurt knowing he wouldn't see Anise's smiling face as she cooked breakfast in the morning. It hurt knowing he wouldn't get to spend another day with her around the village. It hurt

Comments

[dawndigger]

[Under the bridge one has to cross to go from the plaza to House 1, Ion will find Simon hunched down beside a rock he uncovered from the snow, quietly grinding bits of rock away. He's been picking away at it for hours, and the rock is looking rather human-shaped by now. With pigtails.]

[soreplaceable]

[Ion may not be paying too much attention to his surroundings, but seeing someone under a bridge wasn't exactly a common sight. And when he sees who it is... his heart sinks. Simon and Anise had been very close, hadn't they.]

[Hopefully the sound of snow crunching beneath his feet as he walks off the path is enough to alert Simon that someone is there before Ion speaks up.]

...Simon?

[dawndigger]

[The voice catches him by surprise, and Simon looks up, lifting his goggles to see clearly. Oh... it's Ion. Oh dear. He hadn't expected anyone to see him here, let alone one of Anise's friends...]

Um... hi. What are you doing here...?

[soreplaceable]

[There's an attempt at a small smile.]

I could ask you the very same thing. I was just walking by and saw you down here.

[He glances at the rock carving; the answer is obvious, but he asks anyway:] Are you working on something? I didn't mean to disturb you...

[dawndigger]

Ah... yeah. [Simon leans back a little, feeling infinitely more awkward but unable to conceal it with Ion right there. With him out of the way, it's probably even more obvious who the statue is.] I just... wanted to do something. To remember, or... [...Or something.]

[soreplaceable]

[Yes, he can see exactly who that carving is supposed to be. He feels a slight twinge in his chest. It's just something so sad, and so sweet.]

[He stares at the statue for a few moments before glancing back to Simon, and then back at the statue.]

...she should have a little Tokunaga with her, too.

[dawndigger]

[Simon leans back a little, considering this, then nods and shuffles around for a smaller rock.]

I should have put her on top of him... she'd like that, wouldn't she...

[soreplaceable]

...I'm sure she would.

[And while Simon's looking around, Ion's looking the statue over... even if it was still unfinished, it was impressive.]

It looks very good so far. Do you make things like this often?

[dawndigger]

Just... when someone goes home. [He shifts a bit, then points towards the bridge- not far away from where they are now is a little collection of stone heads, of varying size, detail, and age, from the look of things; some have bits of moss growing on them, or dirt washed on from the rain and melting snow, and some are newer and cleanly chipped. By now there's eight of them- nine, counting Anise.]

[soreplaceable]

[...]

[Ion doesn't know what to say to that.]

[How long has Simon been here, losing so many people who must have been dear to him? This place was cruel...]

[dawndigger]

[Simon leans back a bit, glancing back at Ion's expression. After a moment, he manages a smile, shaking his head.]

It's... it's okay. Everyone still here... they mean a lot to me. It's lonely sometimes, but as long as Kamina's with me, I know I'll be okay.

[Even... even if he really, really misses her. ...Them.]