Gnome (rage)

[bloodyromance]

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[bloodyromance]

[This is sort of a familiar deal for him, really. Wandering around the desolate maybe evil city with a girl who wanted to throttle him possibly to death less than 24 hours ago looking for the missing sibling.

It's bizarre. He shouldn't care at all. It's not the same, he didn't promise this girl anything before today, but... He just looks over at her fretting and afraid and he can feel Erastis feeling some sort of sad, mopey response.]

So. [He says, in a rare moment they're not sprinting and he's regretting wearing his leather duster.] We should, erm, go over the places you did look so we don't start treading old ground, yeah?

[veraltwin]

I started near the cave last night and worked my way toward the castle. The city isn't laid out in perfect quadrants, but one can make approximations if we take into account the unusual shapes of building clusters.

[Even though they're not sprinting, her steps are quick and purposeful. She's not made for sitting around.]

Based on a bird's-eye view of the city and using the cave as a northern point, I searched the entirety of the north, with the exception of a cluster of buildings at the eastern point. If we wish to avoid retreading old ground, we should begin at the shipwreck and move north from there.

[Though. Given the extremely low possibility they somehow turned up in the middle of the night, she's going to want to research the north anyways... look this is entirely to keep herself from going out of her mind with worry, she's resigned herself to the fact that she probably isn't going to be able to find him until he decides to come back :( ]

[bloodyromance]

[When Spike activates the memory, all he can do is rub his temples. God, he hates this. It's so disorientating and...

Oh. Did she...?

He's about to speak up, when Erastis, currently a lynx. Grabs one of the memory crystals and bites onto it with his teeth.

You stupid bloody sod.]

[veraltwin]

[Was he expecting Alisaie to be around? Perhaps, perhaps not. But she is, and she sees, and by the time the memory comes to an end she can feel real tears of her own prickling at her eyelids. Seven hells, she hates these memories already, and it's only Tuesday...

How is it so many of them have seen so much horror? How is it that they've all known so much grief?

But she knows that if she saw it, then Spike's relived it too, and after what he did for her to help when Alphinaud was missing she seeks him out, silently coming to sit by his side.

After a moment:]

I'm sorry that you lost her, Spike.

w2, post-trial

[veraltwin]

[At some point after the trial, the two of them get a chance to talk privately. Alisaie's preference would be for somewhere outside after the trial, but who knows if her brother would agree to that... she think Spike probably would, though? So. Here we are.]

I'm glad you came out of this okay.

[bloodyromance]

[He leads her outside, onto the balcony that he's been smoking in, when he hasn't been in watching over her.]

...Yeah. Guess I did. [But you didn't.]

Why'd you vote for yourself, pet?

[bloodyromance]

[It's on the brink between afternoon and evening that Spike spots Alisaie poking around the Serpents Skull. He stuffs his hands in his pockets and approaches.]

You should be resting, pet. [His tone is gentle. Like, he gets it. But also, Alisaie please.]

[veraltwin]

[One thing he'll be able to tell quickly is that she's at least trying not to stress her injuries! Rather than climbing up and running from place to place, her movements are much slower and measured. She may hate having to take her time, but reinjuring herself would be worse. But when she hears him, she'll turn in his direction to greet him.]

You needn't worry yourself on that front. I've been resting so long I thought I might scream if I didn't get up.

I just wanted to look at this before the next two days of chaos.

W4, after the tuesday party

[bloodyromance]

[Spike rocks up back to the tavern fairly late that night, and spots Alisaie sitting at a table by herself.

Free real estate. He walks on over and drops into the chair opposite her.]

You alright, love?

[veraltwin]

[Honestly she's just gotten back herself. She's fit to drop, but for some reason she's not ready to go upstairs to her room to sleep.

Which means that Spike is a welcome visitor after all that.]

I... [Hm.] Yes? I think I am.

[Her tone may suggest that she isn't entirely certain, but it doesn't sound like she's heartbroken. More just... bemused.]

w4, post-trial

[veraltwin]

[They may have had to find a different pub this evening, considering how fussed Maid Meriam was about four of them sleeping there overnight, but it's a good enough place to go and frankly, after all of that...]

If they mean to keep pointing fingers at you every week, there's going to be a problem. [She's scowling, which shouldn't be a surprise, all things considered.] I won't say I don't understand why they might do it, but far too many are willing to believe the worst for my liking.

[bloodyromance]

[Yeah, honestly, Maid Meriam'll probably spit in their drinks. He orders some spiced mead again because seriously it's the best and an apple pie because fuck it, it's been a day.]

I understand why they do it too. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find it really bloody annoying, but I get it. What I don't understand was why they kept obsessing over it after you'd already sodding disproved it. [Kim Dokja, you're on his shit list. How dare you accuse him of being a little bitch.]

Wasted precious time too. Wankers.

Week 5, Thursday, Curfew.

[bloodyromance]

[Spike, now healed enough to not be dying but still be wounded, is accompanied by Alisaie to the Ice Bar.

It appears they're the only ones here. Huh. Spike wanted to go find more people to curfew with, but this works, he supposes. He drops into one of the seats with little more than a grimace.]

Have I mentioned that Thursdays suck? I feel like I should by this point. Ugh.

[veraltwin]

[Well, this way they can at least talk? Alisaie's absolutely grabbed a few of the furs from the lobby for them on the way, so it won't be as frigid at least. ...Though come to think of it, does that bother Spike at all? Is it a "this isn't great but I can deal" thing or is it a "I don't even notice" thing?

Also, she's going to get them both alcohol. Because this is apparently going to be their tradition I guess???? What does he want, she's got it; she's got cash to buy the drinks and everything tonight.

Regardless.]

I agree. Even knowing people will be coming back injured, it's always a shock.

What happened to the four of you?

w5, post-trial

[veraltwin]

[It's honestly incredible that the ice bar lets her in, given her height, but she's not complaining.]

...Spike, make a selection for me, if you would. I'd like something stronger than mead or wine this eve.

[bloodyromance]

Yeah, sure thing, love.

[It's fully because he's looming behind her. The staff of this whole hotel are scared to death of him.

He takes a seat at one of the tables with a sigh.]

You wanna talk about it? [He's got... his own complicated feelings about all of this, but... he's more than a little pissed that so many of them were treating her like she was wrong to be angry.]

Week 6, Tuesday

[bloodyromance]

[Spike has stolen Alisaie away to go watch something at the cinema. He approaches her where he left her to go read over their options, two boxes of popcorn and two drinks in his arms.

He passes Alisaie her box and her drink as he speaks up.]

Any of this not disorientating as hell?

[It's mostly new to him too, tbf.]

[veraltwin]

[I realized while responding to this that Taf actually can't be on her shoulders for once because they'd get turned away from everywhere... which means she's strategically holding the satchel she's had since Cittàgazze in a manner that allows him to read for her since SHE STILL CAN'T and glasses can't help her!!!!

This theater has the touch kiosks to buy tickets because I've decided it does, and as Spike's approaching she's. Actually finishing the process of buying tickets for them! As the machine whirs and spits out their tickets, she lowers her bag back to her side before retrieving them and turning to him with a smile.]

Would it surprise you if I said yes?

[Trade you--ticket for popcorn and drink!]

Prior to the coming of the Fourth Umbral Calamity, there was a civilization known as Allag in Eorzea. The Allagans were exceptionally advanced, though most of their technology was lost centuries ago. A companion of ours is a particularly talented engineer, however. He's quite capable of restoring their technology when it is needed.

...But I confess had I not joined the Scions when I did, I likely wouldn't understand any of this.

[The privileges of being part of the protagonist's group!]

Week 6, Thursday

[veraltwin]

[The first half of the week is always so relaxed compared to the second half... but it's been nice to have that reprieve, especially after everything that happened with the last week's trial and execution.

But over lunch this day, Alisaie has news.]

Spike? There's something I think it's time I told you. Truthfully, I would have liked to do so much sooner, but...

[A shrug. There are reasons, and she'll share them soon enough.]

Re: Week 6, Thursday

[bloodyromance]

Oh yeah?

[He sips his coffee. He's getting secrets...]

I'm all ears.

Friday, Evening

[bloodyromance]

[Spike and Alisaie are out for a walk (bitch), just around the park, and Spike seems rather withdrawn, despite the fact that this is the last time they'll have to bother with all of this...

Ah, well.]

You feelin' okay, love?

[He doesn't know if she was particularly close to any of them but...]

[veraltwin]

[It's always a difficult question to answer.]

...I am. Scheherazade and A-Qing were good people, but if all goes according to plan we'll see them again soon. I'm mostly sorry that they had to suffer through that.

[Kim Dokja is an enigma. He looked out for Alphinaud, but the way he's gone after Spike... unsure.]

Are you okay? You've seemed out of sorts tonight.

Week 6, post-trial

[veraltwin]

[It's a given that she's coming to visit him. Obviously. She may not be his first visitor of the night, because before she can come and visit him she's got to run off all the emotions from the trial, and then she's got a couple stops to make, but she'll turn up before his cell sooner or later.

And the first thing she'll do is offer him a water bottle full of vodka through the bars.]

Can you believe I had to get one of the others to buy this for me?

[How stupid???? But if/after he takes it, she'll pull a second bottle from her satchel, this one for herself.]

I thought since it had become our habit...

[bloodyromance]

[It's a good thing she waited, because he just got done with a silence curse and has had to send everyone away until it wore off.]

They made you get someone tall to buy water? Where the bloody hell is the justice in these parts...

[He takes it with a small smile. His hands are all shaky as he unscrews it.]

Thanks. As far as last meals go, I'll take vodka any day. Just don't go thinkin' this is the last time, yeah?

Week 7, Friday Evening

[bloodyromance]

[Spike approaches Alisaie, immediately considerably less tense just at the sight of her.]

Gonna ask, you know, out of courtesy. Injuries bad enough that I can't hug you?

[He might do it anyway but he'll be gentle.]

[veraltwin]

[Me up until like 1pm today going I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INJURY SITUATION IS LIIIIIIKE :') but she'll smile at the sight of him, though she's gesturing to her left shoulder.]

You can, but I'm not certain all this has dried yet. Just be careful. I thought it best we save our stronger healing for those who might need it tomorrow.

[But he's welcome to hug her! If he wants to avoid getting any blood on himself, she's got a slash across her back, where a hint of a tattoo reading I couldn't help them peeks through the split cloth just inside her left shoulder blade, and she's got two more slashes in front--one a horizontal slash just below her collarbone, going from her shoulder to her sternum, and one a long vertical slash down her left arm from the shoulder.]

I'm glad to see you made it here.

[She was worried okay!!!]