For Wont of a Better Life

[aunitedeorzea]

♥ Who: Alphinaud Leveilleur & You
♥ Where: Various locations
♥ When: October 1st
♥ What: Alphinaud & Alisaie have just came back from a canon update and they are not in the best mood.
♥ Rating: G. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS TO THE END OF SHADOWBRINGERS INSIDE.

Family Affairs; Closed to Alisaie

[Waking up in Ohma's temple was something he had not anticipated. Hell, he wasn't sure what to expect when he started to feel the effects before finally collapsing out of nowhere. Nevertheless, he was covered with what looked to be... his own comforter? And there was his pillow and a few candles around. Clearly, Era had been here and he appreciated it. Sentiments aside, he was feeling pretty upset with these new memories. So what the others had said -- "We're from the future compared to you" -- really was true. What did that mean for both of the twins then? How much had the others keep from them?

He couldn't exactly blame them, but now he has a lot of new concerns. The first one was checking on Alisaie. He could brood about the state of affairs back home and their father's "generous" visit later. For now, he's just going to throw the comforter off of him to send a message to Alisaie.]

Alisaie. Where are you? We need to talk.

[It was more than just going over these new memories with his sister. It was that ever-present concern he felt for her that she was not here. If he had woken up in a temple, then mayhap so had Alisaie? There was a chance that he had been the only one to go home and come back with new memories and she had been at the house yet. Regardless, he was not waiting on a response from her to make a move. He'll check every temple if he has to to find his sister.]

Breaking the Silence; Closed to the FFXIV cast

[Alphinaud had a lot to think about, but such thoughts would have to wait. Now that he's found Alisaie and talked things over, they had the mind to confront their friends about what's happened. As much as he wanted to brood in silence on his own for a while, he was certain that his presence would be absolutely necessary to keep Alisaie in check. He wanted to be sure that she wouldn't overdo things, but instead of raising hell himself, he chose to keep to himself.

After Alisaie's initial crackdown, he could be found hovering around the main house, lost in thought. He'd opted to wallflower, keeping an eye and ear out for whatever went on. Now that it's died down a little, it was probably the best time to speak to him. Although the others better be cautious in what they say. He's not exactly in the best mood after remembering everything that's happened.]

Memories Reborn; Open

[Now that all of that drama is out of the way, Alphinaud decided to finally excuse himself to think. Having his feet carry him to the town plaza, he opted to sit near the fountain. He'd brought a pencil and a notebook to doodle as he tried to make sense of everything. While he claimed not to be an artist typically, having something to distract himself with had been very therapeutic. In the notebook, he just idly sketched out various people and places. A few quick sketches were of people he remembered, albeit in just headshot sketches. A Miqo'te couple, the tower's keeper, and a sinister looking man. He'd also done a very basic sketch of a crystaline cityscape. None of these had been doodled with the intent to look great; if anything, it was just good to keep himself busy.

Anyone passing by is free to check on him. After all, it's hard to miss someone who clearly looks troubled and zoned out.]

[OOC: As stated in the rating, Alphinaud and Alisaie have been updated to the end of Shadowbringers, which means there will be spoilers for end game as of right now up until Endwalker comes out. If you would prefer to not be spoiled, please let me know and I'll do my best to avoid it.]

Comments

Closed to Alphinaud

[thefatedpath]

I'm here. However, I will we will need to postpone this conversation for a little while Alphinaud. I have some business to attend to.

After the confrontation;

[aunitedeorzea]

[With his piece said, he hurried out the door to catch up with her. He probably could have said more... Done more... But Alisaie seemed to already have that under control. He was feeling a lot of emotions right now. Not just because of the confrontation, but also everything else that's recently happened back home before coming to his senses here.

There was a lot that he wanted to say, but he had no words to articulate how he felt at that instance. More than anything, both of them had been feeling hurt and disappointed. He wanted to make sure she was okay. Maybe it wouldn't happen right away, but he was concerned for her mental state. Finally catching up, he opted to reach for her hand and give it a slight squeeze as a means to try to comfort her.

'I'm here for you.' as it were. He didn't say anything, but his expression showed his concern and a few of his own downhearted emotions.]

[thefatedpath]

[ The confrontation left her so on edge that the feeling of her hand being grabbed is a shocking comfort she isn't expecting. Alisaie looks back and the gesture seems to ease some of the obvious tension from her.

She stops and breathes out a long steadying breath. ​]

I think that went about well as could be expected. What do you think?

[ Although she wasn't expecting such resistence from their dear friend of all people. ]

[aunitedeorzea]

[Part of him expected her to slap his hand away or something, but he was willing to take that chance if it meant helping her calm down and comforting her. At least it seems to have helped a little.]

I wasn't expecting it to go well, but this... I wasn't expecting the resistance.

[And he couldn't exactly get behind some of the things that were used to justify things, but that was more of a matter of needing more time than they'd been given to really cope with what's happened. He was the one who often came up with plans between the two of them, but...]

So what next? [He wanted to make sure she was okay.] How do you want to proceed with this? I'll be there for you, no matter what it is.

Closed to Light House

[thefatedpath]

At the house, it is pleasantly quiet. Birds chirp in their perches outside and butterflies float along silently between flowers. 

It would not stay that way for long.

Alisaie stomps down the path with a determination that could only be described as its own force of nature.  She arrives at the front of Light House and kicks the front door open. It emits a bang so loud that the birds overhead fly away in a startled panic.
 
She draws her sword from her place at its side and enters. Having someone in the same vicinity who tried to kill her family, her friends, her world would not stand.

[aunitedeorzea]

[You have two angry twins on their way back. Although one is more volatile than the other, he's chosen to remain relatively calm. Well, as calm as you can be. It wasn't like him to necessarily fly off the handle, but normally he would have been the first to stop Alisaie. No. Not this time. He'll just play referee on the sidelines to make sure it doesn't get to be too much, but he has no intentions of stopping her otherwise.

Carefully setting the half-broken front door to the side where it won't collapse on the ground, he swiftly followed her in.]

Well, I hope you're all ready to explain yourselves.

[Is all he'll say to announce their presence in the form of words. For now.]

[astralera]

Era has just finished running a few errands with Hythlo per Hades' request. It wasn't exactly odd for the man to ask her to do little things that would have her socialize around the city so she hadn't thought much of it, but upon rounding the corner to the house and hearing the distinctive sound of destruction (and sensing a familiar pair of aetheric signatures) Era realizes she was likely meant to have taken longer than she did.

Bag full of pastries, arms full of a tired amaro yearling, Era stands in the doorway a few fulms away from the twins; frozen, and unsure if she should bail or not. Hythlo quickly takes away all manner of choice she may have had, eagerly turning his attention away from stealing the pastry from her mouth to instead gwee incoherently with delight at Alisaie.

The chick squirms his way out of her arms and beelines for his enraged 'auntie', leaving Era holding her arms out awkwardly, mind processing the situation.

Once noticed by the twins, she lifts one hand in a casual greeting and tries not to choke to death on her half-eaten (thanks to her wonderful amaro) pastry.

[scourgingstars]

My, you’re quite good at that.

[Ardyn leaned over slightly for a better look at Alphinaud’s work, pushing long violet hair back so it didn’t get in the way.]

[aunitedeorzea]

[Alphinaud was so wrapped up in his head that he hadn't even considered that he was out in the open and anyone could stop by. In the back of his mind, he didn't particularly care. It still managed to surprise him to hear someone speaking to him, looking up to see the familiar man. Offering him a faint, awkward smile at him, it was as if he was forcing it.]

Ah, thank you. I just... needed to get my mind off of some things.

[scourgingstars]

[He returned the smile with one of his own; faintly tired, but with a trace of sympathy to it.]

Is everything alright? I've quite a bit of time, if you wish to speak about it.

Breaking the silence

[stardiving]

You're awake.

[The voice comes from above, because its owner tends to travel by rooftop, but it's shortly followed by Estinien dropping down beside him.]

Your sister too?

[aunitedeorzea]

[The twins coming back to the house went about as well as Alphinaud had expected. He was certain that Alisaie was not content to be simply be done with her rampage just yet, but she at least seemed to have calmed down enough by the time Estinien dropped in. At that point, he had just been silently stewing in his mind.]

Ah... Yeah... [Forgive his lack of enthusiasm. While he's glad to see Estinien... Things happened.] We've both returned... although I'm not sure if it was for the better just yet. I can't imagine she'll have words for you as well, but I would stay cautious.

[The only thing he could think of is mistaking her for him maybe, but that's been a while now.]

[stardiving]

[Estinien tilts his head, looking bemused at Alphinaud's...less than enthusiastic reaction.]

What is it?

[He's obviously bothered by something.]

[voidbug]

[There is no noise but the sound of very tiny footsteps. At last, someone they recognized from before, but what was he doing now?]

[Obviously the solution for this was to climb up the fountain edge, though struggling a little bit to grab on and themselves up at first. All for the sake of getting a better look.]

[aunitedeorzea]

[Even if there had been sound, Alphinaud probably wouldn't have noticed right away. It wasn't until he saw the small bug trying to climb up that he snapped out of his idle sketching and thoughts. He had been distraught ever since waking up, but the sight of the Knight was enough to let it go for the time being. Setting down the notebook for the moment, he moved to help them up with a tired smile.]

There you go. Is that better?

[He's glad they're doing well... and the blackouts weren't happening anymore.]

[voidbug]

[Much better!! They got it from here.]

[Now then... what was he doing? It looked like he might've been charting something but...oh, maybe not.]

[These are nice pictures though.]

[astralera]

Era seeks Alphinaud out some hours after the initial confrontation has passed. He has likely already spoken with Estinien, but has likely also been bottling up his emotions, deferring to Alisaie's fiery temper instead of his own anger. It is painfully reminiscent of her own struggles; bottling things up, holding back as best she can in her misguided attempts to be strong and supportive. Hopefully Estinien succeeded in getting the boy to vent his hurt. Perhaps she should continue making herself scarce...

She sighs loudly enough that a passing native shoots her a curious glance. She continues on her way, tracking her brother down despite her own misgivings. When she finally locates him Era pauses to observe from afar for a moment, feeling her heart swell at the sight of him (she missed him so much—). That he's found an outlet in his artwork is a relief, and she waits until his pen comes to a standstill in his sketchbook before approaching with a tentativeness unlike what he knows of her from home.

Unsure of what to say, Era remains silent for just a moment too long before offering a small greeting.

"Hi."

[aunitedeorzea]

Luckily for Era, Alphinaud hasn't been paying attention to anyone who has been passing him by. This was a public space, after all. He was too engrossed in his drawing to keep himself from blowing up. He's had a few hours to think things over, but he still felt lost and confused.

Era being able to sneak up on him would be no hard task. And just like that, she could easily slip away without being noticed in his state of mind right now. Finally noticing her as he saw her approach him, he glanced over to her. He was mentally tired and it showed. Having spent most of his anger earlier, he wasn't in the mood for a fight. Not that he'd expect one from Era. It was mostly that emotional fatigue taking a toll on him.

"... Hi," he responded back a little too deadpan. He wasn't trying to come off as if he wasn't happy to see her, but it was... complicated.

[astralera]

The tone isn't unexpected but it does sting a fair bit. She hesitates again before speaking.

"Would you come with me on a short walk?" Era asks. "We don't need to speak, if you'd rather the quiet."

[memories reborn]

[carbungle]

[Noctis hadn't expected to see Alphinaud out and about, since last he'd heard, the twins were asleep. Still, it's not like he hasn't seen this sort of situation before- someone recently awoken from the temple coma and looking like they're adrift in the world, trying to recenter themselves. He never could decide if company did him any good or just made it worse, but since the question remains unanswered, he approaches after a moment of hesitance.]

Hey.

[He hops onto the fountain edge a few feet away, one leg up and the other danging.]

What're you drawing?

[aunitedeorzea]

[Being so caught up in his thoughts, he hadn't realized Noctis right away. Not until he'd already plopped down next to him. Giving him a down look from his current state of mind, he glanced back down to his sketches and did his best to smile instead.]

Ah, just a few people I met... back home.

[He hadn't even really paid attention to what he was drawing too closely, letting his hand autopilot a little.]

And the Crystarium. It was a marvelous city.

[carbungle]

It looks pretty amazing.

[And pretty pretty, besides. He's used to cities of steel and stone, so imagining a city of crystal... well, he's admittedly had enough of most crystals, but some are still okay. (Or more than okay.) It must be a sight to see in person.

He shakes off his unease and shifts his focus to the faces instead.]

You're really good... I'm kinda jealous. Landscapes aren't so bad but I can't draw people at all.

memories reborn

[judging_you]

[Gabranth has not been unaware of how matters have been unfolding among his housemates. But though he has some understanding that something has changed, he lacks the context for what and why. He knows little about whatever it has been that had driven Alphinaud to seek solace in the temple and has no personal experience with such things either. Nor can he really say it is his place to know; when Alphinaud returns from the temple only to leave shortly thereafter for the other house he simply says nothing.

(If it had been something that had involved him he already would have been, no doubt.)

It's only when Alphinaud returns from the other house only to leave again shortly thereafter does he permit himself a moment of... not concern, entirely, but curiosity. Enough to prompt him to leave the house himself shortly thereafter and while he doesn't precisely seek Alphinaud out - he has his own errands to see to - the town plaza is centrally located enough that it's not any surprise that he should pass through. And if he stops on his way, well. He is allowed that much curiosity, surely.

Not that he recognizes the cityscape Alphinaud has started to sketch out, mind. But even as a sketch, it's impressive all the same.]

You have a steady hand.

[Unaccustomed as he is to offering compliments, it may come across as slightly awkward at best. But he means it all the same.]

[aunitedeorzea]

[Poor Gab has no idea what he's stuck in the middle of at the moment and neither twins really made that clear. They had been so focused on everything else, so to clue him in had not been on Alphinaud's mind at the time. He hadn't been too hard to find, only going as far as his legs decided was good enough. Alphinaud wasn't really all that concerned about where exactly he ended up.

Too focused on the drawing and his thoughts, he hadn't bothered to pay attention to who might be around. Hearing Gabranth, he finally looked away from his notebook to look at his housemate. Awkward or not, he didn't particularly mind, giving him a frail smile as if trying to act like he was fine.]

It's... a talent I picked up along the way.

[Taking a moment to think about what to say next.]

I... apologize for the scrambled return. You must be confused.

[judging_you]

[No idea indeed. Which is fair enough, in his estimation - whatever has happened is clearly not something that involves him, regardless of the odd similarities between the Ivalice he knows and the one that seems to be present in Alphinaud's world. (Is present, if Gaius had been telling the truth and he has no reason to doubt his word. But at the same time neither is it an Ivalice he has any personal experience with.)

Besides, he is accustomed to the idea that he might not know all of a situation if it is not one that requires his input. He cannot say he likes it - he has been too long with the XIIth for it to be the most comfortable of feelings - but it is a feeling he knows nonetheless.]

Quite a talent, for something one merely 'picked up'.

[It's not disbelief in his voice, though. Acknowledgement of the skill, yes, but not disbelief, and if he takes a moment longer to answer the comment that comes after, it's mostly out of a desire to pick the right words. He is confused, certainly. And would scarcely be one to dismiss an offer of information freely given. But at the same time... he cannot entirely dismiss the idea that it's something he may not be meant to know, which has him picking over the words he chooses. As if picking the wrong ones may cause some offense, or something worse still.]

It is... related to matters in your own world, is it not?