Week 5, Saturday Post-Trial - Evan

[fragileprophet]

Excuse me?

[Ion knocks softly on Evan's door. He's not sure if he's there, or if he'll be accepting any visitors, but...it doesn't hurt to try.]

Comments

[selfinserting]

[When he returned to the room, he wasn't planning on staying long. Just long enough to gather a few things before heading to the dungeon to sleep outside his partner's cell.

As he hears the knock, though, he opens the door. There are many people he wouldn't open up for right now, but he doesn't know Ion well enough to place his voice, and he hasn't done anything to make him close it immediately once he recognizes who it is.

He... doesn't look like he's doing too well; he seems exhausted, and it's obvious that he's been crying from the redness around his eyes. Still, he speaks up.]

...Yes?

[fragileprophet]

I'm sorry to bother you...I know this is a difficult time.

[He bows his head as if only to apologize farther. His voice is small and soft.]

As someone who's been in the same position you find yourself in now, I just wanted to offer you my support.

[selfinserting]

...You don't have to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong.

[Still, he looks... uncomfortable. It's not anything Ion's done, certainly, but he doesn't know exactly how to respond to this kind of concern or support from someone that he doesn't know.

Regardless, he starts with:]

Thank you. That's, um, that's really nice of you.

[fragileprophet]

[He shakes his head.]

It’s just the right thing to do. I regret that I haven’t reached out to you sooner—so I can understand if this may come off as insincere.

[selfinserting]

No, no, that's not what I... I hope I, um, didn't imply that at all.

[He glances towards the bed before taking a seat.]

[fragileprophet]

No, you didn’t.

[He just assumes at all times that he’s disappointing people! Rip!]

I can just imagine that it came as a surprise to see a stranger at your door.

[He pauses.]

Are you going to visit your partner?

[selfinserting]

I wasn't really expecting it, but... It's not a bad thing.

[He nods, though.]

After I head down there, I'm not leaving until the morning, though, so... [A beat.] Sorry, I don't mean to, to rush you at all. Just, if there was anything you wanted to ask...

[He won't be back for a while.]

[fragileprophet]

That’s alright. I did the same before I lost Sandalphon, so I won’t keep you.

[So aside from just reaching out, possibly at the last possible moment...he’s not too sure he knows what he’s doing.]

I suppose I’d ask for a chance to talk properly in the future, should the chance arise.

[selfinserting]

[After a moment or two, he nods.]

...Yeah. Yeah, I can do that. Um, tomorrow, then? [A shorter pause.] If I'm, um, still alive after tomorrow morning.

[You never know!!]

[fragileprophet]

[You really never know! Ion was sure Rapunzel would still be here but...he wants to be encouraging.]

Tomorrow. And...I’ll have you in my thoughts and pray for the best. I’m sure things will work out. As much as they can expected to.

[Another slight pause.]

I’m sure Dazai will be relieved to have your company.

[selfinserting]

...Thank you.

[He sounds sincere there, at least, even if he can't quite manage a smile for him right now.]

I hope so. But, um, is there anything else you needed...?

[Before he goes to chill in the dungeon all night.]