maybe life was better in the jar

without these memories

@vierandancer said: "M'just sayin'...murder's an option." Is Meiko kidding? Maybe. Probably not. @ Alphinuad

' TECHNICALLY YES ! but it's also illegal in many cases. ' alphinaud's response came with the practiced patience of someone whose spent many days with meiko. he was fairly certain she meant it as a joke, though he wouldn't put it past her quite so readily either. the forum members were a stuffy bunch, even for alphinaud. he remembers vague, polite conversation with a few of them before venturing away from sharlayan -- and not much else. ' what if we avoid murder for this present moment ? '

@sarastuss said : ❝ i’m worried about you. ❞ / for ali!

“ i wish you weren’t. “ the breathy reply given likely only worsens her friend’s concerns, much to alisaie’s bemusement ( and belated regret ). sarastus should be concerned about her own health after all she suffered through ultima thule, and especially after choosing her to lose them in such a way. perhaps they were all brave, yet still - still - alisaie resents the choices forced ‘pon the hero’s shoulders.

the red mage, sickened and slightly different after her death amidst the stars, knows she will recover sooner rather than later. the scions earned a reprieve whether they’ll take it or not ; but the twins hardly had a choice with their parents’ understandable fussing. it’s a wonder they allowed alisaie the chance to leave their manor at all. “ honestly … you’re the one i’m scared for. you didn’t — you weren’t waking up. “

❝ was this not what you expected? ❞ [ for zenos :3c ]

" ... i hardly anticipated i would survive. " perhaps he is a prisoner now, doomed to sit around 'til his body decides to wither as his soul did. pale blue eyes stare at lex from his position in the chair, both comforted and distressed being in an unfamiliar territory without means ( or care ) to escape. prison or not, he's not doomed to a cold, mold-riddled floor like his father bestowed his own. he deserves worse, yet here he sits. " tis reasonable to assume a cruel mockery of the aetherial sea if not for you being here too. you heroes baffle me. "

"We'll travel the lands, cross the seas, and take to the skies upon the eternal wind--and it will be marvelous! It will..." {:3}

never had their heart felt so near explosion. each gentle word he spoke left vibrant, fragile flowers blossoming between the cracks accumulated over the years, soothing the blinding ache he knew they felt. inevitably the one to protect them, to sacrifice, to lead … “ but, g’raha… “ their voice hitches in their throat. he’s always seemed so confident in them, and even now - even at the end of their song - he made another promise.

not again. this is different. you’ll see him soon… whether that bodes well for the hero or not, asimina knows they can’t fall apart here. they wipe their eyes, ignoring the hand he reaches out in favor of hugging him around his shoulders. “ we’ve already made a promise like this... so you have to keep it. there’s too much we have yet to experience together, a-and— “ they trail off, slowly pulling back. remain brave, asimina, he's counting on you.

metallic fingers drag the scarf from around him, placing it ‘pon their own trembling shoulders. they needn’t bring up theron for him to understand why the words died abruptly. “ i love you. i’m proud of you. “

@ryuuseishi said: "Go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you if there's trouble."

unfortunately she already knows sleep won’t come without a fight. exhaustion weighs heavily ‘pon the red mage’s shoulders, settling over her like a sharlayan sunset. despite the cold, this is one of the first chances she relaxes at all. for the moment all seems quiet, a reprieve from all the horrors they’ve faced within garlemald. these poor people … her own suffering doesn’t compare.

no matter how that collar felt around her neck ; cold relentless metal. blue eyes finally glance over the lively campfire at meteor, fully aware he means those words. if trouble does arise, they’ll need her and alphinaud’s help. ‘ my body would agree with that sentiment, though my mind is fully alert. i fear it might not allow me to rest much. ‘ her voice sounds softer than usual — this isn’t a time for wit. ‘ are you … staying at camp for a bit ? ‘

@herosluminis said: "hey. you look tired. you alright?" {Estinien @ Alphy}

he cannot refrain the exaggerated exhale that parts chapped lips, his warm breath turning white amidst the frigid surroundings of camp broken glass. estinien’s question took him by surprise when it shouldn’t have ; though he carries little doubt he isn’t the only one struggling to maintain their energy. the cold doesn’t help, surely, but he’s adjusted nonetheless. they still have a long ways to travel forward.

alphinaud leans against the pile of crates he assisted in carrying over. once so vulnerable collecting firewood, he muses to himself. perhaps he has grown. ‘ there’s still much to be done, though i am taking the moment to collect my breath. ‘ he doesn’t wish to complain — it’s a far better distraction from all the thoughts racing within his head, and his own fault for refusing a break in the past few hours. estinien doesn’t need to know that. ‘ mind helping with the last one ? i’d like to finish before it’s too dark. ‘

@grumpyascianteddybear said: " Well, he gets the worst father of the year award." Emet stated as he watched the twin's father walk out of the Lotus stand. That man was an absolutely horrible father. Disowning his own children because he did not agree with them? That was just...bleh. " Congrats, kitties, your mine now, and anyone that says others can fight me."

if even emet-selch was clearly stating fourchenault messed up, mayhap the world was truly broken. two sets of blue eyes watched their father disappear without looking back, stunned and defeated all at once. this didn’t surprise alisaie as much as their father’s initial trip to gridania, where he’d decided their estrangement as his children. as if he anticipated hurting them.

‘ he can’t get that award if he’s not a father any longer. ‘ alisaie nearly hissed the words, incapable of meeting anyone’s eyes just yet. she couldn’t remember master fourchenault ever acting like a proper dad, only ever getting overprotective and distant with his work. it left fractures in her heart, even now, yet accepting another guardian who could easily choose to forsake them … how could she ? ‘ why are you any better ? father’s are wretched. ‘

@petrokhelidon said: ‘It’s okay…it’s okay…I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.’ / from ameliance (MOM) to alisaie : )

the last thing any daughter wants is to see their mother upset. perhaps hiding away is a disservice to mum's bravery, having always been so focused and calm in situations like this. only ... no situation truly compares to dying at the ends of the universe. both twins had a rough go of it upon returning, and alisaie finds herself staying close to her family.

it only takes one night for the confident facade to shatter. her screams echoing throughout the manor, silver - like eyes wide in confused terror. alisaie barely noticed her mother enter, only hearing the soft words next to her. without hesitation she threw her arms around ameliance, clinging to her side like she were still a little girl.

' sorry ... for screaming. tis likely i woke everyone in sharlayan. ' she speaks miserably, ashamed and overwhelmed, all at once. ' you really -- you won't go anywhere, mum ? '

@herosluminis said: i'll feel better once you're out of this.

' awww, are you truly that worried for me ? ' despite the weak laughter bubbling in alisaie's throat, she had trouble blaming estinien. shortly after returning to sharlayan, after facing and talking to meteion directly, her body gave way to an intense fever. bed rest was highly encouraged by the entirety of the scions and her mother ; far too worn out to argue otherwise. even her aether was depleted.

had she come back wrong ? weaker, with eyes that looked more silver than blue now ? the name meteion called her, artemis, still rung like a clock chime in the back of her mind. the red mage released a gentle sigh, moving aside on the bed and gesturing for estinien to join her. ' mayhap some company is all i need to feel better. when i was a little girl i often fell down with stuffy colds. now it's far more rare to happen though i'm ... unsure this is normal, given what we've experienced. bet we can get ap -- alphinaud to bring us something to eat. '

@herosluminis said: ‘It’s okay…it’s okay…I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.’ {big bro to lil sis}

alisaie was beyond the point of exhaustion. her body felt like little more than a piece of driftwood by the time estinien came to their aid, frozen and aching. it was her own fault the collar went off on her ; jolting her so violently her ears still rung. the contraption itself bothered her more, both shameful and constricting. it reminded her of a similar situation from long ago, one that left her claustrophobic enough to try pulling at the collar.

alphinaud warned her. aria warned her. when estinien saw her struggling to get up, barely able to focus, she expected either a scolding or teasing or something that might've shattered any remaining bravery. instead he lifted her securely into his armored grasp, speaking words so low even alphinaud wouldn't hear.

and alisaie began to cry, quietly and without tears, small fearful breaths parting blue lips. she barely managed to hang onto him, but she allowed her head to rest against his arm nonetheless. she was relieved and overwhelmed at once. ' i - it's so cold. please don't put me down. '

@metoikhomai said: ❛ i’m not afraid of you. ❜ ( lys to zenos..... )

' you, my friend, are the last i expect to succumb to fear before me. ' his expression remains an unreadable mask, the blade of his scythe resting in the snow rather than raised in imminent battle. there's no fire in lys' steady gaze, no snarling breaths or desperate attacks. zenos stares at lysander through half - lidded eyes. ' a challenge is a chance to further your skills in a hunt. why shy away ? '

@forgesahead said: "have a coffee." for alisaie?

‘ gods, are you a mind reader now too ? don’t answer that. i cannot learn anything else today. ‘ although her voice is muffled by the wooden table her face is pressed against, the words ring clear enough. immediately her senses ease upon the bitter smell wafting over, probably a fresh pot just brewed. alisaie will accept anything to soothe her headache. she takes the cup without looking at meteor yet, letting it heat up her palms.

the last stand barely had any lingering patrons this late, yet the red mage relaxed in no clear hurry. blue eyes finally look up at her friend, offering a faint smile. ‘ find anything useful about the coming doom or shall we ponder our life experiences instead ? i’ve resorted to the latter. ‘