Had Ion eaten today? Vanitas side-eyes him for a moment and then sighs.

Bewildered, the young Fon Master doesn't do anything for just a few seconds, but then he answers with a quiet, "Um... Alright," sounding rather unsure about it. Ion does seem to do well when he approaches the stand, though, smiling and making his order without trouble, but then he looks indecisive. Would Vanitas want the same thing as he's getting? What would he even like? Maybe he really shouldn't care, given the circumstances, but... it doesn't come from wanting to make Vanitas happy so much as wanting to avoid any sort of conflict with him, and that includes making small decisions that may directly affect his mood.

Look... it's complicated.

It's impossible to tell what kind of expression Vanitas is making under his helmet, and his body language doesn't give much away, either. He simply watches Ion and slowly uncrosses his arms. Just as Ion guesses, he doesn't believe him, however...

"You have no way of traveling through the world barriers. Running away wouldn't get you anywhere, anyway." He's reminding himself that just as much as he is Ion. There really isn't a point in hanging so close by. If he commanded it, even those disgusting fledglings of his would keep watch over the Fon Master.

"... I have no particular feelings about that." Ion reminds himself all the time that it doesn't matter - it would be pointless to make a fuss out of it. He only needs to do this right for long enough that no one will know the truth. This is temporary... but it doesn't change that it bothers him some days.

Ion folds his hands in his lap, staring at Sync and speaking plainly, "Study is different from practice, Sync. I am not as educated in this work as our original, I could easily make the wrong call." He was afraid, too. Afraid of Mohs, and the consequences of making a mistake that may expose him.

— STATEMENTS

❝ i miss you. ❞ ❝ you can’t leave me here ! ❞ ❝ get in the car. ❞ ❝ it’s not about you. ❞ ❝ it isn’t your fault. ❞ ❝ i’ve made my decision. ❞ ❝ it’s cold out, take a coat. ❞ ❝ let me know you got there. ❞ ❝ this isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. ❞ ❝ that doesn’t sound like the you i know. ❞ ❝ i can’t lose you. ❞ ❝ don’t try to hide things from me. ❞ ❝ i care about you. ❞ ❝ you care. i can see it in your eyes. ❞ ❝ you don’t want this. ❞ ❝ i didn’t realize how late it was. ❞ ❝ slow down, start from the beginning. ❞ ❝ here, drink this. ❞ ❝ lie down, you’re going to hurt yourself. ❞ ❝ you need rest. ❞ ❝ i haven’t slept in days. ❞ ❝ i’ve been having nightmares. ❞ ❝ i love you. don’t forget that. ❞ ❝ i can’t believe you did that. ❞ ❝ yeah, i know. ❞ ❝ i don’t remember. ❞ ❝ let me help you. ❞ ❝ i don’t need your help. ❞ ❝ i want to help you. please, let me help you. ❞ ❝ that storm doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. ❞ ❝ i think we’re stuck here. ❞ ❝ it’s only a matter of time. ❞ ❝ there’s something about you. i don’t know what it is, but i know it’s there. ❞ ❝ say that again. ❞ ❝ i’d do anything to make you happy. ❞ ❝ there’s that smile ! there’s that smile i love ! ❞ ❝ no, don’t try to hide your beautiful smile from me. ❞ ❝ it’s a beautiful night. ❞ ❝ walk with me. ❞ ❝ you can’t run forever. ❞ ❝ you can’t keep running away like this. ❞ ❝ you look like royalty. ❞ ❝ it doesn’t matter. ❞ ❝ i don’t care anymore. ❞ ❝ please, just leave. i need to be alone. ❞ ❝ don’t try to hide your feelings from me. i know you. ❞ ❝ you look gorgeous. ❞

— QUESTIONS

Sync was grumbling something completely unintelligible under his breath as he pushed the door to Ion's room open. He was balancing a metal tray in one hand, and he used his foot to kick the door closed behind him.

The tray had a few plates on it. A large bowl with a mixture of cooked pork, potatoes, carrots, onions, and some greens mixed in. A small plate next to it had chicken bites, and another had bits of asparagus resting in some sort of sauce. He'd also included a large glass of water.

Do I have the appetite for this..?

It smells good, incredible actually, and smelling it seems to wake up his stomach - he can feel the hunger starting to rise, yet his movements are still uncertain when he pulls the tray closer to himself.

How many of those papers were Ion actually considering, though? How many had a pre-approved response Mohs had given him?

"My troubles?" Sync lets out a single, unkind laugh. "Oh, you're concerned about my troubles? I'm honored, Fon Master."

"But, aren't you so weak that even reading the Score puts your health at risk? What can you do about my troubles when you're nothing but Mohs' dancing puppet?"

Why did he even care? Was Ion operating under the logic that, just because they'd been made from the same data source, it meant that they would be close? Sync said nothing as he merely watched Ion from beneath his mask.

It would be pointless to share his feelings with Ion. Sync wouldn't coddle him, and he sure as hell wouldn't act like they were friends.

This was nothing more than a job Van had decided to use him for.

Finally, he spoke.

"I have nothing to say to you. Just get your work done."

There was a special kind of torture in being forced to watch Ion do the job that Sync had been made for, that Sync would never be good enough for. He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled, leaning against the door.