pullmeoutalive | Scattering the roses;

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Scattering the roses;

[ it was a blur, one Sharon had tried to latch onto, because she needed to know what had happened. It hadn't been long since her bond with Equus had returned, and she knew they'd been headed to Sablier, but whether they had been close and the Abyss' effects had come into play or whether it had been something else... she couldn't say. She had felt a tug (to put it lightly), and before she could call out to Break, she fell.

And kept falling.

Had she still had her ribbon, she would have lost it to the force tossing her in every which direction, but she can't bring herself to think of that right now, when it feels like she can't draw a breath under the weight of this pressure.

Then, abruptly, it ends. She has enough awareness to register that much, at least, that everything hurts and that the ground is hot-- but with the promise of something solid and a last thought towards her family, she loses consciousness.

Sorry, citizens of Xian Du, please don't mind that limp, somewhat battered blonde figure on the ground as you go about your day. ]

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[ seeing frantic on Alvin's face is a little disconcerting. She'd remembered him mostly with his lazy smile, the occasional thoughtful glance he'd send her way. Anger, once or twice, but panic?

That had been even more rare. From what she remembers, and she thinks it's odd that she hadn't remembered, up until the point where she'd stared into his face and wondered at first, who on earth this person was.

Again, her grip tightens. It's all too raw now; everything that had happened was still so recent. ]

Pandora fell under attack by an opposing group; our connection to our Chains was lost, temporarily-- [ though she hadn't known it at the time, when Equus had suddenly slipped through her fingers like an actual shadow ] My grandmother had been badly injured and we were taken hostage... well. [ with a humorless smile. There's so much to tell, but to explain the Baskervilles would take more energy than she currently has. ] They would have wanted us dead, either way.

But they're as fine as can be expected. I was with Break before... [ she gestures briefly, at the scenery that's still so unfamiliar. ] All of this.

['As fine as can be expected.' It's a line that Alvin seems to think doesn't bode too well with the situation, but he can ask for more specifics later. Right now, he needs to see to her properly.

It isn't until they both step inside the elevator leading to his home that he speaks next. The dim lighting within makes it easier for the words to come.]

Either way, we'll work on finding a way for you to get back after you've rested up.

[In truth, he wouldn't mind if she... just stayed, but that was asking for the impossible. That was being selfish. He may not have a purpose anymore, but that's no reason to deprive Sharon of hers just to sate his loneliness, his helplessness. And on top of all that, she doesn't belong in Rieze Maxia. Alvin, of all people, ought to know about all that better than anyone.]

They need you back there, right?

[ there's a momentary sway of surprise when the elevator moves that has her hands returning to his jacket. Stability, of course. She's too disoriented by the movement to look up at him, but that leaves her sifting through the layers of his voice for hints. Perhaps it's just her imagination, soaked in exhaustion as it is, but it feels as though there's something vulnerable, almost wistful about him. ]

It would appear I'm needed here, first.

[ but this is very softly stated, because she can't be sure that's really the reason for her presence here, and because he's right. She needs to be by Break's side, doesn't she? ]

Alvin... [ and now she peers up at him, carefully. She doesn't know the situation. She can take her cues from very little. ] Are you all right?

[He looks down when his name is called, and temporarily, words fail him.]

Fine as I can be. [Those are words he speaks without thinking them over.] It isn't everyday you see this sort of world-jumping, y'know? I'm still kinda reeling, I admit.

[Not entirely the truth, but also not entirely a lie. The things he'd done, tried to do, don't have to come to light. These aren't things Sharon needs to know about him. After all, how safe would you feel around someone who agreed to attack someone they spent the better part of a year with?

When the elevator doors open, he guides her outside and takes a left.]

Almost there.

[ Sharon's second meeting with Oz involved him holding a knife to her throat, she's certainly not going to offer up too many judgmental comments. Not that she knows, so for now, she accepts his words with only a trace of lingering concern. Something still doesn't seem right about him. Then again, she'd only just remembered him, so her memory could have still been patchy in places. ]

Break came to us from another time.

[ the remark is less conversational than thoughtful; she's concentrating on making it to the door. ]

So coming to you from another world... I won't deny it's unusual, but perhaps the possibility always existed.

[Pushing the door open, Alvin holds it in place for Sharon to walk through. He catches the words 'Break' and 'from another time', but he doesn't exactly possess enough knowledge about her world to question it.

So instead, he sticks with what he does know.]

Through... the Abyss, was it?

Yes. The stronger the connection to the Abyss, the further Equus' paths can extend.

I can't say for certain, however. I don't think Equus can make it back, either.

[ her legs aren't the steadiest, but she'll wait to sit until he offers, looking around in the meantime. It's certainly not large, but if he lived alone, as she suspected, it didn't need to be. It's still got a charm to it. ]

[That would imply quite the connection then, wouldn't it? And from what he can remember of being told of the Abyss, he doesn't think that's an entirely good thing.]

That's the only lead we have right now.

[His home is small, but given that he rarely has company, it's enough. More than enough; Alvin himself is hardly there these days.

He leads Sharon over towards the corner suite, brushing aside the thin blanket strewn across it and sits her down. He doesn't linger, instead moving towards the kitchen, or what passes for a kitchen, and tends to the stove, igniting the kindling within to boil water. He's pretty sure Isla kept tea somewhere in the house... Just excuse him if it's over-brewed or something, he doesn't normally drink it, as Sharon would know.]

But we can talk about that when you're feeling better. [Sharon then gets a glance as he's poking around his cupboards for that tea.] Those scrapes... are they your only injuries?

[ she's more than happy to sit, hair fanning out behind her. She feels younger again, unusually small in a foreign place, but she'll remind herself that now isn't the time to feel vulnerable. She's in good hands, she knows that much. ]

It was mainly my head that was hit. [ she knows better than to touch the spot, so she keeps her hands in her lap, following his movements with weary eyes. ] The scrapes are just when I fell, so they should be easily taken care of.

Good. [And he means that in more ways than just the obvious. After Alvin finally unearths the tea, he comes back around and sits by her.

It's been quite a long time since he last cast Guardian Field, which is why it takes a moment longer to initiate. It starts with a soft glow between them, and pans out in a circle around them, and when the light fades, those little cuts and scrapes are gone.]

I think that should do it. Does anywhere still hurt?

[ she can't see what's happening, not entirely, though the glow makes her flinch a little in surprise. She can also feel that exact moment when the stinging ache on her face vanishes entirely, and she brings a hand up to feel the skin. ]

No, that... helped tremendously, thank you.

[There's a brief moment in which he allows himself a small smile.]

Don't mention it. I'm just glad it worked.

[Glad that she's here. Glad he's doing something again. But he doesn't allow himself the time to dwell on those thoughts. Self pity is something he himself had given up on long ago.]

Well, you've... probably guessed this is where I live.

[Can you tell he doesn't really have guests over? At all?]

[ even if she hadn't lived in a mansion--]

It's very cozy. [ well, it is! ] And you really do live by yourself?

[ perhaps not surprising, but Alvin seems like he'd do better having people around him. ]

[His eyes flicker over to the bed on the far wall before they return to Sharon.]

Yeah. Just me. It's lonely, but being a merc, what can you do, right? This place isn't exactly a five star resort, but it's home.

[And for the first time, he smiles.]

This is Xian Du.

[ somehow, seeing his smile makes her feel a little better about this whole situation. Lighter, at least. ]

From what I've seen of it, it's lively. But it seems to be your sort of location.

Really? People seem surprised when I tell them I live here. Guess they don't expect me to be out in the rocks. [Literally. But even then, those people never really knew Alvin beyond a few casual greetings. What could they know, right?]

Speaking of locations... I said I'd show you Fennmont, didn't I? The city of perpetual night.

[ okay so she might have just come from an awful situation, but she's already brightening. ]

I doubt you thought it might actually happen, but I would certainly like to take advantage of that offer!

[God, of all things, and of all the times to, it's Sharon's beaming that makes him feel at ease.]

It'd be a shame if you left without taking a look. We can probably head out whenever you're rested.

[He'll have to arrange for proper passage, but given the state of the country at the moment, that shouldn't be too hard.

At least they won't have to take the wyverns.]

Then you're... fine with me remaining here temporarily? If this city has an inn, or...

[ don't let her intrude Alvin gosh. ]

[A gentle laugh.]

There is, but don't worry about it. You can stay here. No sense renting a room when you can get one for free.

... Thank you. [ she looks down at her hands, then up at him, grateful but still determined. ] I'll find some way to repay you, so kindly don't expect otherwise, Alvin.

["You're doing more than you think, just by sitting there" is what he almost says, but instead:]

Hey now, you're here and keeping me company. What more could I ask for?

[It doesn't carry quite the same meaning, but that's something he would normally say in this sort of situation.

You're content with very little.

[ it's almost surprising, even if that answer is Typical Alvin. Sharon would remark further, but something prompts her not to.

It's fine, for now.

And then they went to Fennmont. ]

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Scattering the roses;

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We can probs start a new thread + timeskip/go straight to Fennmont now?

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