voice.

[theguideless]

[feed starts at the tail end of a harsh exhale.

a beat.]

Where're...Chloe and...Er-eri...[huff. another pause. his voice gets grumblier, agitated:] My friends. Here. Why am I even back.

Comments

[hornedomen]

[This could last a while because Ico had a lot on his mind.

Eventually he spoke,] I’m sorry, Martin.

[theguideless]

[a lengthy pause.

then, numbly, hardly paying attention as to whether he's saying it aloud or just thinking it:] She just. Thought you were one of them. There aren't people out there. On the hunt. That's all. It was a mistake.

[hornedomen]

[He wanted to say that she was not real, but it would only start the same argument again.]

You’re like her, aren’t you? Is she your sister?

[theguideless]

[barely audible:] Yes.

[hornedomen]

And the other one, is he related too?

[theguideless]

Yes.

[hornedomen]

What are their names?

[theguideless]

[a long beat.]

Regina. Alex.

[hornedomen]

[Ico looked distant because he was thinking.]

Can you do the same thing? Can you make weapons out of your body?

[theguideless]

[with no need to bristle and defend what's right, his reply is said as blankly as the one before:] Yes.

[hornedomen]

[So Martin was like them and Ico assumed he could fight. Yet that brought up a far more important question.]

How well can you fight?

[theguideless]

I'm not good. I've never been good. [saying so seems to ignite a little feeling into his tone. nothing pleasant, of course.

bitterly:] I'm. Working on it.

[hornedomen]

[Martin’s tone did not bother him. He thought he was upset like everyone else.]

Would you like to train with me?

[theguideless]

[train? train? now? Martin almost groans aloud.

in a ragged exhale:] Mno. I don't want...[stupid. he's going to have to anyway. miserably:] Not now...

[hornedomen]

It doesn’t have to be now, just whenever you’re ready. You should probably rest first anyway.

[theguideless]

Right...