siblingless | catch-all: alphinaud.

[Running into him in the arcade! She smiles when she sees him, sporting a new pair of glasses along with some light scratches on her face.]

Hello, Leveilleur-san. How are you today?

[ Somehow, Alphinaud hasn't walked into the arcade until today, but now that he has, it's... no less mysterious now than it was ten minutes ago. Sumire will find him attempting to puzzle out a pinball machine, but when she greets him, he'll look up. ]

—Ah, Sumire! [ No last name because this is a boy who doesn't know Japanese customs... ] All is well; simply doing a spot more of seeing how the land lies and all, though I suppose there isn't a whole lot of it to begin with.

[For whatever reason, she doesn't even bat an eye when he uses her first name. It seems like he gets a pass... for now.]

Honestly, it would be nice if there was somewhere else to go while we collect nova. [Sighing, lifting a hand to her face.] I don't think Rabbit-san, Fox-san or Wolf-san can do anything about it, though. Even the locked buildings are off-limits to them.

Quite. 'Tis a curious thing, indeed. Though they appear interested in aiding us, they are not wholly in charge of what is happening here.

They said they had their own set of rules, too... I'm worried about what that may mean for them the longer we're here.

Would that I could say. Unfortunately, I do not think our time here will be short, either.

... No, I suppose not. I wonder if it will take us a month, or more.

[ After a pause, he shakes his head. ]

Well, there's naught to be done but to finish our tasks here with haste, though I realize these matters also take time. Worry not, Sumire; this will, at least, not be forever.

I know we won't be. We'll get through this as long as we work together, whatever that may mean.

[ Tonight, in the dining hall... He's come for something to clear his head and calm some nerves, but as chance would have it, Alphinaud finds Sumire already there, too. ]

... Oh, there you are. Forgive me should I be interrupting anything.

[She shakes her head, still looking a little shaken up after that corpse discovery.]

No, it's okay. You can stay if you'd like.

[ He isn't surprised to see that she is, so he's glad she isn't turning him away. ]

Are you all right?

I think so.

[She's spooked, but...]

And you, Leveilleur-san? Are you okay?

I am... heartbroken, to say the least. That such a horrific fate could befall her...

[ Despite his outwardly level exterior, Alphinaud has his worries, too. ]

But I will be well; I only ask that you take care of yourself, and if there is aught you need, I shall endeavor to do what I am able to assist you.

[Elf in Space... Sumire will run into him in the middle of this sci-fi fantasy genre mash-up, taking one last looky look around before curfew arrive to shatter their hopes and dreams. She has a bag from the Emporium with her, slung over her shoulder.]

Oh— Leveilleur-san. [Looking at him up and down. None trust after eight people showed up wrecked earlier today.] You're not injured as well, are you?

[ Haha yeah that sure was a thing, huh! Alphinaud is taking a look around, in case some other suspicious things have come up in light of that. And that's when Sumire approaches. ]

Oh, good eve, Sumire. Thankfully, I am not—I imagine the same goes for you?

[She nods.]

Yes, thankfully. It was a shock to see so many people arrive in that condition, but it seems like it was just those eight...

Eight too many. This was no accident they stumbled into—something out there had meant to kill them.

We were warned that the nova may take the form of something dangerous. I wonder... if that's what happened to them.

Would that I could say, yet even they are uncertain what occurred. Where they had been taken to and why has not been anything they are able to answer.

[She furrows her eyebrows.]

Have any of them spoken to the leaders yet, as far as you know?

[Hello, Alphinaud... I genuinely have no idea where they dropped Sumire off, but she's in a resting position when he pays her a visit, blearily blinking her remaining eye at the ceiling. What's up?]

[ The first aid station seems likely...?! Sure.

Alphinaud is here, because there's nothing that causes anxiety quite like seeing folks you know show up at the brink of death, and would very much like to see they won't be keeling over for himself. ]

—Sumire! ... Sumire, are you able to hear me?

Ah—

[She can, in fact, hear him! And will immediately try to sit up in response, squinting at him now that she can't wear her glasses.]

Leveilleur-san...?

—Ah!

[ Quickly, Alphinaud raises his hands, motioning for her to stop. ]

You needn't push yourself—pray rest. You will need it.

[Too late! She's sitting now, shaking her head at him.]

I'll be okay... I'm sorry for worrying you.

[ So many stubborn types... ]

'Tis no fault of your own, I assure you... I could not possibly blame you for what has happened. That you can speak at all is a good sign.

Actually, I... could have afforded to be more careful. [Sometimes, mistakes happen.] ... But, thank you. It's good to see you're alright.

I am well, as ever. Think not of me for now.

[ But he does appreciate it, truly. ]

If there is aught I can do for you, but say the word and it shall be done.

[A shake of her head.]

There's nothing I really need... I appreciate it, though. I really do.

[That said...]

Um, do you know if the others are okay? I think I fainted, and... my memory's fuzzy right now.

Rest assured, many have rushed to their aid. Their conditions to worry me, but we are in a vastly better position to tend to your injuries now than we had been a fortnight ago.

Doubtless it will be rough, but in time they shall heal, I believe.

[She seems to hold her breath for a moment, until Alphinaud clarifies that — yes. Everyone else is okay.]

I'm glad... I was so, so worried...

Aye... Understandably so.

... Were you four taken away to someplace unknown, like the others afore?

Yes... And separated like the others as well.

[She reaches up to touch her neck, without quite noticing.]

We arrived at a crossroads. Dorothy-san and Wilde-san took one path, while Taako-san and I took the other.

Edited 2020-10-23 01:10 (UTC)

[ He listens, nods, and then: ]

If... you are able, and willing—may I ask what happened from there?

I don't mind telling you about it... Though, it's a long story.

[A pause, as she thinks.]

Um... Did you speak to Sora-san, Soo-won-san or anyone who was with them the last time this happened?

[ With a nod: ]

Aye. I had been able to speak with both Alex and Sora.

Okay... Then, you'll understand when I say our experience was similar to theirs. We arrived at a crossroads as a group, but were forced to split up. [Speaking slowly, obviously tired.] Dorothy-san chose one path and Wilde-san accompanied her, so Taako-san and I went down the other. The two of us arrived at a... football field? But it wasn't football as I'm familiar with it.

[Because it was American football, and she's absolutely thinking about soccer.]

[ it was what now ]

I confess I haven't the slightest what "football" could be—if you think it of vital importance that I know.

... I wouldn't call it important. But I suppose it may help to know it's a team sport, and some people are hired to perform stunts on the sidelines to cheer the teams on. We call them cheerleaders. [Does that make sense? Heck if she knows. But she will only pause for a moment, to give Alphi space to digest that, before she moves on.] Taako-san and I were asked to perform for the cheerleaders. We didn't really want to, but... we were left without a choice. And after we did as they asked, they told us to kill one of them.

[She pauses, just. Tired.]

Honestly... there were many times we were asked to kill another person, or bring harm to ourselves.

[ He does digest it, and continues to listen. But his frown never fades. ]

And to what end?

... It was the only way for us to return to the town. We tried everything else we could think of, until we had no choice but to do as we were told.

So needlessly cruel. There is nothing worth justifying such horrible acts... I am deeply sorry you forced into something so abhorrent.

... You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault, Leveilleur-san. [Tiredly.] I just hope, um... what we learn can be useful in the future.

catch-all: alphinaud.

week zero, tuesday.

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w0; post investigation

i missed this rip SORRY ANAIS

no worries :*

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week one, thursday.

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week three, thursday.

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