Week 2, Friday Post-Investigation - Sandalphon

[fragileprophet]

[It's a little while before Ion makes his way back up to the dorms. He has to pay his silent respects at Natsuo's body, first, and afterward pays a trip to the garden. When he arrives in their dorm, silent and with and expression dark, he sits down cradling a pile of carefully plucked flowers. Each and every one of them imperfect, misshapen, broken.

For once, Ion has no words of hope for the evening. No encouraging thoughts. He takes a seat and starts to wind the flowers together.]

Comments

[melancoffeea]

[Sandalphon doesn't go to investigate. This isn't unusual; however, unlike the previous cases, he turns around and returns to their shared room as soon as he regains his senses.

He sits on his side of the bed and waits for the hours to pass by. By the time Ion returns, he's lost track of how much time he's wasted in his self-imposed cage.

Glancing over his shoulder, he watches while Ion puts the flowers together. He never left the room, but Ion wouldn't know that.]

Did you find the body?

[fragileprophet]

No...I didn't find anything.

[He's not much of a detective, so he leaves it to the others. Ion glances back toward Sandalphon, but then goes back to his task.]

It was Natsuo--I'm sure you heard.

[melancoffeea]

[He looks down.]

Were you close?

[fragileprophet]

Yes.

[At least, he felt that they were. He can only assume that it was the same for Natsuo. He was so open and kind.]

We spoke fairly often...he wanted to learn the difference between me and the other Ion by becoming friends.

[melancoffeea]

I see.

[Asking was a mistake. But he deserves the weight of this guilt that continues to grow heavier.]

His time was short.

[fragileprophet]

Too short.

[He smiles downward sadly.]

I sincerely thought he’d...really be able to protect everyone, just like he told me he wanted.

[melancoffeea]

[Sandalphon falls silent, unable to respond to such a sincere statement. Then—]

Are those for him?

[fragileprophet]

Yes. The other day he had picked up a crown from one of the stalls outside and was wondering what to do with them, so I told him the fun was in making them and offered to show him how. He picked out all the flowers that didn't fit in.

[And Ion was struck by it. Every time they spoke, Natsuo did something else to surprise him with his vibrancy.]

He was excited about it so I thought...perhaps tomorrow I'll...

[His fingers stop moving. He stares at the half-formed crown in his lap. What use is it? They're just going to defile his body in search of justice.]

Maybe I'm just wasting time. I just thought it would be nice.

[melancoffeea]

[Had. Was.

With his back facing Ion, Sandalphon swallows.]

You should finish it. [He hesitates, then adds:] For yourself, and for him.

[This would be the time to offer even a modicum of comfort, regardless of how futile it would be coming from someone like him. But this time . . . to do so would be highly callous. He won't do that to Ion.]

[fragileprophet]

[Ion takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders, and then finds it in him to smile. Maybe it's counter productive after the talk they had just that morning, but...habits die hard.]

I will. I'll feel at least a little better if I do.

[He turns around, looking at Sandalphon even if Sandalphon isn't looking back.]

Thank you for talking with me.