alphy

[bisouled]

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week 0, friday night

[bisouled]

[ hello. let's say we're in the dining area because it's a cool place to hang out, especially when you're depressed because someone got murdered and nobody knows why or how. Fiora is just wandering around waiting for inspiration to strike - inspiration on how to escape, how to fix this, anything. So far, she's had no luck. ]

Oh! Alphinaud... [ a beat. ] Are you okay? After what happened earlier...

[ she knows he saw the corpse :( ]

[arcsplainist]

[ He sure did, and it sure is. Alphinaud's just there for something to clear his head—namely, some tea—but an interruption comes at no surprise.

He shakes his head. ]

'Tis quite all right—you've naught to worry of. I am hardly the one to be concerned about.

[ He's fine, he's fine... it's someone else who's dead. ]

[bisouled]

[ a cup of tea sounds good right about now... alas, she can't have it. Fiora doesn't look particularly convinced by what he says, but she lets it go. ]

If you're sure. [ a sigh. ] What in the world is happening? Do you think it was one of them - the six masked people?

[arcsplainist]

It seems likely.

[ They're in a pretty helpless situation to fight back, after all. And their messages could be a poor attempt to cover up. ]

... But that is mere conjecture. I fear I have no evidence to suggest who could have done this.

[bisouled]

[ her thoughts are the same. She doesn't want to suspect them, but it's hard not to when they're clearly in possession of more knowledge and power than anyone else here. ]

Me neither. It's hard to believe it could have been one of us. Everyone's been so friendly...

[ maybe she was naive. ]

I wonder what's going to happen going forward. I suppose we have to press on, but...

[arcsplainist]

We cannot ignore it, that is for certain.

[ But, despite everything, he speaks calmly, meanwhile pulling one—actually, no, two cups from the cupboard. Uh, about not being able to have a drink... ]

... Would you like some tea?

[ Just, y'know, real quick while they're out here being sad, too. ]

week 0, saturday

[bisouled]

[ well......... that was a conversationn.

Fiora's sitting outside the Emporium's front door, knees pulled to her chest, apparently zoning out - either that, or the floor is extremely interesting. Judging by the look on her face, though, it's more likely she's lost in her own thoughts. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ The "deeply lost in thought" look is a universally known one. As Alphinaud makes his exit, she isn't hard to miss. ]

... Fiora.

[ Yeah, he saw how it all ended... and how she tried so hard to defend others. ]

Are you all right?

[bisouled]

Oh, Alphinaud... Hello there.

[ she picks up her head and smiles at him. ]

I'm perfectly fine. Just... feeling a bit sad is all.

[arcsplainist]

[ He knows that smile has to be a forced one. ]

Perfectly understandable. [ Alphinaud steps in front of her, holding out a hand. ] Shall we pick a better spot for clearing our heads?

[ Right next to where it all happened... may not be the best place. ]

[bisouled]

[ it's TOTALLY real!!!!!!!!

she looks up at him and his hand for a moment, then shakes her head before beginning to get to her feet herself. ]

... No offense, but I'd pull your arm right out of your socket. [ she's heavy, and he is small... ] But... I'll take you up on that offer. I think a walk would do me good.

[arcsplainist]

[ He stares dumbly, then sheepishly takes a step back to give her room. He tries to help and it's always wrong!!! ]

—Of course, none taken.

[ Instead, Alphinaud politely gestures ahead of him, as if to say "after you". ]

week 3, friday

[bisouled]

[ it's week 3 and they missed a body. Fiora is dead.

Just kidding. But if Alphinaud heads out in the direction of the waterfall, he might think she is. She's lying face-down on the ground, not moving. Weirder still, she's almost completely surrounded by various monkeys - none of them bigger than a cat, and all of them obviously trying to pickpocket her, which is hard, considering she has no pockets. No loot drops for the monkeys. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ I can't believe I just stumbled into the third body...

Alphinaud doesn't want to think that's what's happening now; as he, by sheer chance, stumbles upon an unconscious Fiora, he can't help but feel a rising panic. It's Die Day and all. ]

F— Fiora?

[ He'd rush up to her, but ... monkeys. Without much thought, Alphinaud picks up a nearby rock from the ground and tosses it at them. ]

Away with you lot! Leave her be!

[bisouled]

[ the monkeys do not appreciate having rocks thrown at them, and immediately start to screech and chatter at Alphinaud, but considering how small they are, most of them scatter immediately. They're not about to pick a fight they're not sure they can win! Some of them are still lurking about in the branches and bushes, watching...

Fiora is not watching, because she's still on the ground. But if he gets closer, he'll be able to see that she's at least breathing!! Apparently, she's just unconscious. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ Look, that's good enough for him. He's not really sure he could win against a bunch of monkeys, even if they are a quarter of his size.

That aside, Alphinaud is quick to kneel at her side, gently shaking her shoulder. ]

Fiora?

[ Breathing is good, though; he can rest a little easier. ]

Come now—you must wake up.

[bisouled]

[ once he starts shaking her, she seems to come to, at least a little, groaning as her fingers twitch. She turns to look at him, though her visor gets wedged in the dirt in the process, half-asleep as she is. ]

Ugh... Alphinaud? [ tiredly blinking. ] What are you doing here?

[arcsplainist]

Me?

[ girl hello?? ]

I should be asking that of you! Goodness, Fiora—you've been out cold!

week 4, saturday night BABEEEEY

[bisouled]

[ by now, it's quite late, and Fiora's tired from both the trial and the heated discussion that followed - a discussion which led to no real conclusions for either side, leaving her with more doubt and unease than she'd started with. She's out in the dining hall rather than the kitchen, resting her head on her arms quietly, and Alphinaud would be forgiven for thinking he's walked in on her passed out again - but she lifts her head up quickly when she realizes she has company. ]

I'm not napping! [ a beat. ] Oh... Alphinaud! I didn't know it was you.

[arcsplainist]

[ He likely did think she were asleep, but it's a considerably better spot to do so, and it's been a long day. He wouldn't blame her for being tired.

When she suddenly lifts her head and breaks the silence, Alphinaud startles to a stop. ]

I... ahem, yes it is. Pardon me, I had not meant to wake you.

[ She said she wasn't napping, but come on now. ]

[bisouled]

You didn't! Really! I was just thinking.

[ waving a golden hand dismissively. ]

I should have probably gone to my room first, but... I wasn't really in the mood to deal with anyone.

[ although she's sure Usagi wouldn't have given her any trouble. ]

[arcsplainist]

[ Maybe not, but Alphinaud understands. ]

I realize it has been a long and hard day– [ He saw how things ended up. ] –but... are you well?

[bisouled]

[ as always, he's nice. Fiora offers a small smile. ]

I'm all right. Like you said, it's just been a long day... but I'm not feeling worse than usual.

[ she cocks her head at him. ]

How about you? Are you holding up all right?

week 7, saturday

[bisouled]

[ where are we?? we're in the inn, because I said so. Fiora has a big bottle of water with her, which she's sipping at occasionally; after that fight, she needs to restore her strength. Water only does so much, but it's really the only thing she can do. When she sees Alphinaud, she waves. ]

Alphinaud! How are you feeling?

[arcsplainist]

[ Inn! My default scenario: Alphinaud sitting on the lobby couches drinking tea. This is what we're doing now. ]

—Oh, good eve, Fiora. [ he smiles ] Exhausted, but optimistic. ... If carefully so.