[ Twins? He looks a touch surprised, but gives a nod and lets his hand drop. That will make it easier for even Allen to be able to spot him, won't it?
She starts off back inside and he'll join at a quick, if easy pace at her side. Even if he does wonder for a moment if he shouldn't drop his invocation, just because... he's feeling a bit more drained than he should, given he hasn't actually used his actual powers that much? Which is a little worrisome, but he doesn't have time to dwell on that. And going back into danger, it's better to keep it active than risk reaction time if they do run into danger again.
It helps, having a description and knowing what to look for, but especially as they re-enter the fray closer to the epicenter of all the panic and destruction -- ]
[ Indeed, they're twins. They're identical in almost every way except for the obvious. So when the pair rejoin the fray, it's easy to spot the snowy-haired lad laying on the ground. It's a miracle that Alphinaud wasn't trampled during the chaos. A testament of his ever-present good fortunes despite it all. Unfortunately, Alphinaud was laying face first on the ground with a pair of monstrous white wings stabbed into his back. He lays there motionless, his blue eyes shut as he tries in vain to stay conscious.
There's no rhyme or reason for what's happening here. It seems that the event organizers of this bizarre event were just as clueless as everyone else. While Alphinaud tried his best to staunch the chaos by directing his fellow moonblessed towards safety, he fell prey to the seraph's malevolent ploy.
This is a fitting end, isn't it? Alphinaud knew sooner or later his luck would abandon him but he never expected it to be this soon. He feels strangely numb right now, almost as if he's been paralyzed from the neck down.
[ a quick explanation, a little breathless as she's running, coming up short to take a look around. that's when she spots her brother lying on the ground. he doesn't seem to be moving, which makes her heart seize.
even knowing he himself could be dangerous as she was, it doesn't stop alisaie from starting to move closer. ]
He'd sputter if the circumstances were different. Very nearly does anyway, gawking at her for a second -- at least before she catches sight of the other boy on the ground and, recognizing the shift in her expression for what it is and following her line of sight, his own quickly drops. The wings piercing through him, laying there so still...
No. They weren't too late, were they...? ]
Be careful-- [ He waves a hand slightly in Alisaie's direction in warning, but it's mostly moot. He's moving closer as well to check and see if the other boy is alive as well-- if he's breathing or conscious. Even if it's dangerous they can't not. ]
[He's still breathing.. Alphinaud might be stuck within this awkward twilight of awake and asleep but he's breathing at the very least. He was completely unresponsive at first until they came closer. It's then that he opened his eyes.]
Alisaie? [If his name wasn't a dead giveaway for Allen, then perhaps his accent does. Alphinaud and his sister both possess similar accents. However, Aliphaund's is slightly more noticeable.] By the Twelve, what are you doing here?
[He was hoping his sister was somewhere safe by now. The last thing he wants is for something to happen to her. Alisaie is the only family he has left at this point. Their parents both perished when they were young and their grandfather soon followed. It's a miserable truth that they deal with every day.]
S-Stay back!
[He warns them as he tries to move. His body still feels numb but at least he knows he's not dead.]
I don't know what sort of ailment these wings cause me.
[While Alphinaud can tell something is wrong with him, he can't exactly tell what. His rational thoughts are being overwhelmed by a darker emotion that borderlines on sorrow. He doesn't know what to make of this phenomenon but he's scared to think of what could happen.]
[ you ungrateful brat. be assured, allen: were their positions reversed, alphinaud would be saying the same thing. any sharpness in her tone is belied by her worried expression.
of course, she stops when he shouts at them to stay back, coming up short for a moment as she worries. when she hears his concerns, though, she gives a huff and starts coming forward again. ]
I'm sorry to tell you you're a bit late for that, as I was affected earlier. But it's.. reversible. I'm coming closer.
[ He recognizes Alphinaud's voice alright. The world is sometimes a ridiculously small place and by now he should just expect the ridiculous. But there's also no time to really dwell on that.
Relief that the other seems alright—relatively speaking—is short lived when he shouts a warning and staggers under the wings, though it's as much in surprise that the other boy seems coherent, unlike Alisaie. ] !
[ Looking back to Alisaie, he hesitates. But... at a quick glance between them, he moves aside quietly. Guard up and staying close, but edging around more to the side so that she can be the one to approach directly. Allen might be reckless and jump into things he shouldn't, he might be uneasy about the situation and not like it, but he isn't stupid. Alphinaud wouldn't recognize him anyway looking like this, and the confusion if he did recognize his voice probably wouldn't help.
Besides, in his experience, the thing that can best get someone who's out of control to back down.. is someone they share a close bond with. In his experience so many times over, though... it isn't to say those were happy, either.
But they're siblings. And if Alphinaud is being affected by something like Alisaie was—runaway rage in her case, was it?—then the person who has the best chance of reaching him is her.
[Despite seeing coherent enough, Alphinaud has no idea what's happening to him. He feels utterly liftless almost as if something drained him of all his energy. The strange numbness is starting to relent some but he feels sluggish and unfocused now. He doesn't know what the hell's happening to him at all.]
Don't. [He warns again once he's finally upright. The dizziness is worse now that he's up. Alphinaud could feel his eyes watering more too.] Alisaie, what is this? I can't figure out what's happening but I feel as if I've lost all control.
[This is perhaps the most bizarre thing to happen to him. It's almost as if he's being swallowed up by emotions. While wrath claimed his sister earlier, it seems as if Alphinaud is experiencing sorrow. He pauses momentarily as he tries to collect his thoughts while doing his best to ignore the tears streaking down his face.
That's when he finally notices Allen.]
A friend of yours?
[He asks while trying his best to stay calm. Of course, he doesn't want anyone to see him like this but he has very little choice. It's like his emotions are rebelling against him at this point.]
[ she knows alphinaud doesn't know what a sin eater is, so calling it that might not elaborate exactly on what it is. still, her expression is grim. she glances over to allen to see that he's still with her, and nods sharply - both in thanks and acknowledging she'll try to be careful - before she finally makes her way over to alphinaud. ]
I don't know what it does but it seems to amplify feelings within you. I became a mindless beast of anger.
[ they can go into the details of what that means later. once she's close enough and alphinaud doesn't seem to be inclined to attack her, she reaches out, resting a hand on his shoulder as she kneels next to him. ]
He's the one that helped destroy mine own wings.
[ as she speaks, she's gently moving her other hand to try to get a look at where he's pierced. ]
Painful.
[ no question. they'd been for her so they must be for alphinaud. ]
[ --it's the tears that do it, as startling as they are to Allen, as he doesn't believe that's just because of the pain. It's quite different, the effect those wings seem to have, between the two of them. Though even if that might make it easier and safer to approach Alphinaud-- it's crueler, too. Especially if it's as she said-- "but it seems to amplify feelings within you."
Which is why he moves forward too, not just because he was noticed. Crouching down beside Alisaie as well and offering the other boy a bittersweet, but gentle smile, though he won't move to touch him and lets his sister do that.
After all, even if the other were to become a threat and suddenly lash out in his sorrow—something Allen knows better than anyone—he can't just ignore someone suffering. Even if it's just to sit there and support them both. ]
Mn, it's "Allen". [ Which, before Alphinaud might wonder about that: ] It's okay--
[ He speaks softly, like someone used to being gentle and calm even (or especially) when presented with something terrible. Because it's cruel. Cruel and horrible, arrogant, if Alisaie is correct. Twisting people's feelings and using them against them, and doing so in such a brutal manner. And it pisses him off. ]
This time you don't have to be the healer, alright?
[ If his voice and his (albeit common) name weren't already a giveaway. ]
[ Alphinaud states bitterly while trying his best to dry his tears. This is horrifically embarrassing of him. He feels like a toddler crying this much but he simply can't stop. the poor boy just feels so miserable, so hopeless. It's as if he's being suffocated by his emotions. Hell, he can barely breathe at this point. His heart is racing and his body feels like it's fire. This malady is far worse than Alphinaud is willing to admit. After all, he's the type to put on a strong face regardless of his plight. Though, it feels like his façade is slowly crumbling as more tears fall. ]
It's as if everything I've tried to...to bury is all spilling forth at once. [ He admits once Alisaie kneels next to him. That slight bit of chroma between them seems to be calming him down some. Maybe the answer to healing this malady lies within chroma? That's certainly food for thought. ] Not even during all of our trials did I ever succumb to the sorrow.
[ This is maddening! It's as if he's about to unravel from the seams. He can't let this happen. He won't.]
I care not about the pain, I want them gone!
[ Truth be told, the pain alone isn't what's making him sob. It's just everything. As much as Alphinaud claims the melancholy he feels is fabricated, there's some truth to it. Their adventure to Eorzea has been racked with hardships since their first voyage. They thankfully overcame many great challenges during their journey but for every mile crossed, there's a handful of sorrows. Alphinaud brings his hands to his lips in hopes of silencing himself. He feels so pathetic right now, so low. The shame he feels is starting to outweigh the sorrow. ]
...Twelve preserve me.
[ He mutters quietly once he realizes that's truely "Allen", the hunter he met earlier within the game. Alphinaud stares at him wide-eyed in surprise before turning scarlet in shame. He hides his face within his hands and lets out a long deep suffering sigh before suddenly inching closer to Alisaie for comfort. Usually, it's the other way around in terms of comfort but Alphinaud clings to his sister nonetheless.]
T-This is not how I thought we meet.
[ He chuckles bitterly as the wings upon his back start to flutter. They're slowly turning into ash. Slowly but surely. ]
[ alisaie's expression is sympathetic. there have been trials abounding every since the calamity - their parents' death, louisoix's death. but she knows alphinaud has taken it the hardest, because she kept her distance.
he faced the loss of lives in the waking sands, and she knows how he blames himself for the braves. for what he views as the reason minfilia "died". the myriad other brave souls who gave their lives across their travels.
but she doesn't remember seeing him cry often. she had to, after losing tesleen, tuck herself away in a little corner and let it out. but it's not something she sees with alphinaud, even if she knows he feels as deeply as she does.
when he tucks in closer to her, she fully wraps her arms around him, all but dragging him into her arms. it helps that she can see his wings falling apart, and she rubs a hand across his shoulders. ]
They're going away, Alphinaud. And it's quite all right to cry, you know. We've been through much.
[ she's just saying maybe take the chance to get it out now, since he didn't really have a choice. she presses their cheeks together and then looks at allen, giving a little smile. ]
[ Heh— Alphinaud's reaction gets a small laugh from Allen, though not in any teasing way but appreciating the irony of the situation and glad to see that side of him bubble up again. Embarrassment is better than sadness, after all. And it was a bit of a shock for Allen too, just one covered up in the moment...
Although his expression drops to something a bit more gentle and thoughtful at seeing how the two cling to each other, and he settles back a bit, palms on his knees, as Alisaie's words echo for a moment. "We've been through so much..." Mn, that's obvious. But it's also not the thing that strikes him about that.
It's good. It's good that they have each other, that's the conclusion more important than any other that he draws. And wonders not for the first time that it must be nice, having siblings.
It must be nice...
Though when Alisaie comforts the other like and says it's alright to cry, he can't help but suddenly remember how violently she'd scrubbed at her own tears, almost as if she were chastising herself for having them. As he would-- beyond being someone who notices and pays attention to other people's feelings, hypocrites tend to notice other hypocrites.
Although he'd never point that out. ]
Aaah, well— somewhat. [ He looks a touch sheepish at Alisaie's question, scratching at his cheek slightly with his good hand. With still such a bright and relieved sort of smile, though. Like he's in good spirits now. ]
We were somewhere else before we were here. In that game(?). [ Feels so strange to call it that still... ] He told me about you, too. Although I didn't realize it was you before.
[ But he pauses and his smile becomes a bit more gentle again -- thoughtful -- before he lets his hand drop. ]
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awesome! ♥
She starts off back inside and he'll join at a quick, if easy pace at her side. Even if he does wonder for a moment if he shouldn't drop his invocation, just because... he's feeling a bit more drained than he should, given he hasn't actually used his actual powers that much? Which is a little worrisome, but he doesn't have time to dwell on that. And going back into danger, it's better to keep it active than risk reaction time if they do run into danger again.
It helps, having a description and knowing what to look for, but especially as they re-enter the fray closer to the epicenter of all the panic and destruction -- ]
What's your brother's name?
no subject
There's no rhyme or reason for what's happening here. It seems that the event organizers of this bizarre event were just as clueless as everyone else. While Alphinaud tried his best to staunch the chaos by directing his fellow moonblessed towards safety, he fell prey to the seraph's malevolent ploy.
This is a fitting end, isn't it? Alphinaud knew sooner or later his luck would abandon him but he never expected it to be this soon. He feels strangely numb right now, almost as if he's been paralyzed from the neck down.
This is dreadful. ]
no subject
[ a quick explanation, a little breathless as she's running, coming up short to take a look around. that's when she spots her brother lying on the ground. he doesn't seem to be moving, which makes her heart seize.
even knowing he himself could be dangerous as she was, it doesn't stop alisaie from starting to move closer. ]
Alphinaud! Can you hear me?
no subject
He'd sputter if the circumstances were different. Very nearly does anyway, gawking at her for a second -- at least before she catches sight of the other boy on the ground and, recognizing the shift in her expression for what it is and following her line of sight, his own quickly drops. The wings piercing through him, laying there so still...
No. They weren't too late, were they...? ]
Be careful-- [ He waves a hand slightly in Alisaie's direction in warning, but it's mostly moot. He's moving closer as well to check and see if the other boy is alive as well-- if he's breathing or conscious. Even if it's dangerous they can't not. ]
no subject
Alisaie? [If his name wasn't a dead giveaway for Allen, then perhaps his accent does. Alphinaud and his sister both possess similar accents. However, Aliphaund's is slightly more noticeable.] By the Twelve, what are you doing here?
[He was hoping his sister was somewhere safe by now. The last thing he wants is for something to happen to her. Alisaie is the only family he has left at this point. Their parents both perished when they were young and their grandfather soon followed. It's a miserable truth that they deal with every day.]
S-Stay back!
[He warns them as he tries to move. His body still feels numb but at least he knows he's not dead.]
I don't know what sort of ailment these wings cause me.
[While Alphinaud can tell something is wrong with him, he can't exactly tell what. His rational thoughts are being overwhelmed by a darker emotion that borderlines on sorrow. He doesn't know what to make of this phenomenon but he's scared to think of what could happen.]
no subject
[ you ungrateful brat. be assured, allen: were their positions reversed, alphinaud would be saying the same thing. any sharpness in her tone is belied by her worried expression.
of course, she stops when he shouts at them to stay back, coming up short for a moment as she worries. when she hears his concerns, though, she gives a huff and starts coming forward again. ]
I'm sorry to tell you you're a bit late for that, as I was affected earlier. But it's.. reversible. I'm coming closer.
[ her tone brooks no argument. ]
no subject
Relief that the other seems alright—relatively speaking—is short lived when he shouts a warning and staggers under the wings, though it's as much in surprise that the other boy seems coherent, unlike Alisaie. ] !
[ Looking back to Alisaie, he hesitates. But... at a quick glance between them, he moves aside quietly. Guard up and staying close, but edging around more to the side so that she can be the one to approach directly. Allen might be reckless and jump into things he shouldn't, he might be uneasy about the situation and not like it, but he isn't stupid. Alphinaud wouldn't recognize him anyway looking like this, and the confusion if he did recognize his voice probably wouldn't help.
Besides, in his experience, the thing that can best get someone who's out of control to back down.. is someone they share a close bond with. In his experience so many times over, though... it isn't to say those were happy, either.
But they're siblings. And if Alphinaud is being affected by something like Alisaie was—runaway rage in her case, was it?—then the person who has the best chance of reaching him is her.
Scolding tone or not. ]
no subject
Don't. [He warns again once he's finally upright. The dizziness is worse now that he's up. Alphinaud could feel his eyes watering more too.] Alisaie, what is this? I can't figure out what's happening but I feel as if I've lost all control.
[This is perhaps the most bizarre thing to happen to him. It's almost as if he's being swallowed up by emotions. While wrath claimed his sister earlier, it seems as if Alphinaud is experiencing sorrow. He pauses momentarily as he tries to collect his thoughts while doing his best to ignore the tears streaking down his face.
That's when he finally notices Allen.]
A friend of yours?
[He asks while trying his best to stay calm. Of course, he doesn't want anyone to see him like this but he has very little choice. It's like his emotions are rebelling against him at this point.]
no subject
[ she knows alphinaud doesn't know what a sin eater is, so calling it that might not elaborate exactly on what it is. still, her expression is grim. she glances over to allen to see that he's still with her, and nods sharply - both in thanks and acknowledging she'll try to be careful - before she finally makes her way over to alphinaud. ]
I don't know what it does but it seems to amplify feelings within you. I became a mindless beast of anger.
[ they can go into the details of what that means later. once she's close enough and alphinaud doesn't seem to be inclined to attack her, she reaches out, resting a hand on his shoulder as she kneels next to him. ]
He's the one that helped destroy mine own wings.
[ as she speaks, she's gently moving her other hand to try to get a look at where he's pierced. ]
Painful.
[ no question. they'd been for her so they must be for alphinaud. ]
no subject
Which is why he moves forward too, not just because he was noticed. Crouching down beside Alisaie as well and offering the other boy a bittersweet, but gentle smile, though he won't move to touch him and lets his sister do that.
After all, even if the other were to become a threat and suddenly lash out in his sorrow—something Allen knows better than anyone—he can't just ignore someone suffering. Even if it's just to sit there and support them both. ]
Mn, it's "Allen". [ Which, before Alphinaud might wonder about that: ] It's okay--
[ He speaks softly, like someone used to being gentle and calm even (or especially) when presented with something terrible. Because it's cruel. Cruel and horrible, arrogant, if Alisaie is correct. Twisting people's feelings and using them against them, and doing so in such a brutal manner. And it pisses him off. ]
This time you don't have to be the healer, alright?
[ If his voice and his (albeit common) name weren't already a giveaway. ]
no subject
[ Alphinaud states bitterly while trying his best to dry his tears. This is horrifically embarrassing of him. He feels like a toddler crying this much but he simply can't stop. the poor boy just feels so miserable, so hopeless. It's as if he's being suffocated by his emotions. Hell, he can barely breathe at this point. His heart is racing and his body feels like it's fire. This malady is far worse than Alphinaud is willing to admit. After all, he's the type to put on a strong face regardless of his plight. Though, it feels like his façade is slowly crumbling as more tears fall. ]
It's as if everything I've tried to...to bury is all spilling forth at once. [ He admits once Alisaie kneels next to him. That slight bit of chroma between them seems to be calming him down some. Maybe the answer to healing this malady lies within chroma? That's certainly food for thought. ] Not even during all of our trials did I ever succumb to the sorrow.
[ This is maddening! It's as if he's about to unravel from the seams. He can't let this happen. He won't.]
I care not about the pain, I want them gone!
[ Truth be told, the pain alone isn't what's making him sob. It's just everything. As much as Alphinaud claims the melancholy he feels is fabricated, there's some truth to it. Their adventure to Eorzea has been racked with hardships since their first voyage. They thankfully overcame many great challenges during their journey but for every mile crossed, there's a handful of sorrows. Alphinaud brings his hands to his lips in hopes of silencing himself. He feels so pathetic right now, so low. The shame he feels is starting to outweigh the sorrow. ]
...Twelve preserve me.
[ He mutters quietly once he realizes that's truely "Allen", the hunter he met earlier within the game. Alphinaud stares at him wide-eyed in surprise before turning scarlet in shame. He hides his face within his hands and lets out a long deep suffering sigh before suddenly inching closer to Alisaie for comfort. Usually, it's the other way around in terms of comfort but Alphinaud clings to his sister nonetheless.]
T-This is not how I thought we meet.
[ He chuckles bitterly as the wings upon his back start to flutter. They're slowly turning into ash. Slowly but surely. ]
no subject
he faced the loss of lives in the waking sands, and she knows how he blames himself for the braves. for what he views as the reason minfilia "died". the myriad other brave souls who gave their lives across their travels.
but she doesn't remember seeing him cry often. she had to, after losing tesleen, tuck herself away in a little corner and let it out. but it's not something she sees with alphinaud, even if she knows he feels as deeply as she does.
when he tucks in closer to her, she fully wraps her arms around him, all but dragging him into her arms. it helps that she can see his wings falling apart, and she rubs a hand across his shoulders. ]
They're going away, Alphinaud. And it's quite all right to cry, you know. We've been through much.
[ she's just saying maybe take the chance to get it out now, since he didn't really have a choice. she presses their cheeks together and then looks at allen, giving a little smile. ]
Ah, you two have crossed paths before then?
no subject
Although his expression drops to something a bit more gentle and thoughtful at seeing how the two cling to each other, and he settles back a bit, palms on his knees, as Alisaie's words echo for a moment. "We've been through so much..." Mn, that's obvious. But it's also not the thing that strikes him about that.
It's good. It's good that they have each other, that's the conclusion more important than any other that he draws. And wonders not for the first time that it must be nice, having siblings.
It must be nice...
Though when Alisaie comforts the other like and says it's alright to cry, he can't help but suddenly remember how violently she'd scrubbed at her own tears, almost as if she were chastising herself for having them. As he would-- beyond being someone who notices and pays attention to other people's feelings, hypocrites tend to notice other hypocrites.
Although he'd never point that out. ]
Aaah, well— somewhat. [ He looks a touch sheepish at Alisaie's question, scratching at his cheek slightly with his good hand. With still such a bright and relieved sort of smile, though. Like he's in good spirits now. ]
We were somewhere else before we were here. In that game(?). [ Feels so strange to call it that still... ] He told me about you, too. Although I didn't realize it was you before.
[ But he pauses and his smile becomes a bit more gentle again -- thoughtful -- before he lets his hand drop. ]
I'm glad you're both alright.