FF PSL | ❝ for those we can yet save. ❞

[hobbitholmes]

AFTERGLOW

— hear, feel think. —

❄️ HEAVENSWARD

★ Ever Heavensward (3.0)
    — Ishgard Meetings, Part 2

★ As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness (3.1)
    — Unfleeting Emotions

★ The Gears of Change (3.2)
    — Heavy Hearts, Part 2

★ Revenge of the Horde (3.3)
    — Starlight Festival (Alkaid)
    — Starlight Festival (KP)

🔥 STORMBLOOD

★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission

BEYOND

CODE BY TESSISAMESS

Comments

[abrightertomorrow]

[ After they have left the designated healing area and it is just the two of them once more, Alphinaud turns to Alkaid, intending to make some sort of comment about the boy they found. Instead, he sees her drop to her knees and everything he was about to say flies from his mind. ]

Alkaid! [ He chastises himself even as he kneels beside her, because he knew something was wrong but he let her convince him to wait and focus on the boy's needs and not on hers. ]

You're hurt! [ If only he were taller and stronger, because then he could lift her and carry her back to see Krile. As it is, he reaches for her hand, gripping it gently but firmly. ]

You must go back to have Krile see to your injuries. [ But even as he says that, he gives her a quick looking over and decides that she can't wait. ]

Where have you been hurt? [ If she is unable to tell him, he will have a look himself, but he decides he should let her answer, if she is able. ]

[shepherdtostars]

H-hush now, Alphinaud. Please...

[ She wines again and her hand goes to her injured side. She can feel the heat coming from the injury, as well as the warmth of blood. In a moment she knows she has pulled open stitches and sighs before looking at him once more. ]

I knew the risks and took them as my own. You have no place to blame yourself. [ The hand not at her side raises for him to help her. Should he look closer at her hand, he will see the hint of silver earlier in their small adventure outwards is truly a ring. One sat on the ring finger. ] Krile is far from being able to attend to me. You are an archanist, yes? I-I can walk you through what needs to be done...

[abrightertomorrow]

[ Alphinaud pushes aside the guilt he feels, because now is not the time, and Alkaid needs his help. ]

Oh, but I do, because I could have helped you and our young friend both. [ He is certain he would have found a way to manage it, instead of making her wait until she collapsed from her injuries. All he can think about, aside from his worry for her, is how angry her sister will certainly be should she learn of this. He has no intentions of concealing his error, of course. ]

Please, instruct me and I will do what I can. And... [ His gaze tips downwards for a moment. ] I am sorry, Alkaid.

[shepherdtostars]

Our young friend is far more of a priority than me. Neither of us could of barred the thought of harm coming to someone when we should have been able to help. [ Alkaid gives him a knowing smile despite the winces. ] You've no reason to be sorry at all.

[ Once she is up to her feet again, she gestures to a small sitting arrangement that is separate from the others. She stumbles only a few times before they reach their destination and she takes her seat. She pulls the hand lightly covered in blood from her side and inhales sharply. ]

I can't imagine healing is different between many practices. You will need to redirect my aether to the wound and encourage it to come back together. I-I doubt there is much resistance, but...

[abrightertomorrow]

[ Even as she speaks, Alphinaud shakes his head. He does not disagree that they needed to help bring their young friend to safety, but he has as much duty to Alkaid as he does to anyone. ] I cannot say that your words lack truth, but I have a responsibility to you as well, as a fellow Scion and as your friend. And I am sorry.

[ But he knows better than to waste any more time arguing what is already decided in his mind. She needs his help now, and he will not keep her waiting any longer. ]

In words alone, that sounds simple enough, perhaps deceptively so. [ But he is certain there is enough overlap between the disciplines that this shall not be an insurmountable task.

He holds out a hand, momentarily closing his eyes for focus, doing his best to encourage her aether to travel to where the wound is located. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ A gentle, but short-breathed, laugh comes at her. A smile follows it before she raises her unsoiled hand to tilt his chin up. The smile speaks levels of appreciation and yet also a sense of pride. Alphinaud had come such a long way from his early days in the Scions. ]

You are helping me now, doesn't that count? [ She shakes her head and gently pats his shoulder. A shaking breath leaves her then as she changes how she sits to aid him further. ] A-alright, now for the trickier part... it can take a student of conjurey years, b-but...

[ She breath hitches and a low hiss comes from her. The difference between a patch job and something more detailed. The stray thought comes to her that perhaps it is a good thing she was not the one to heal Ser Aymeric. ]

You must listen to what the... the aether wants. Where it wants to go, w-what direction it needs from you. That'll encourage it...

[abrightertomorrow]

[ Instead of answering her, Alphinaud's head tips lower for just a moment, as he is still chastising himself for his role in this. But he can hardly focus on healing her if he is so caught up in his regrets and guilt. ]

Well, I have not attempted something like this before, but I shall do what I can.

[ He is not unfamiliar with the notion of listening to aether, and so he allows his eyes to remain closed and his hand still outstretched as if doing his best to listen to what her aether might say. It is a curious sort of push and pull, but eventually, Alphinaud settles into a sort of rhythm, feeling where the aether wishes to go and acknowledging that while also encouraging it to move towards the wound and begin repairing the damage. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ Alkaid nods to his decision, attempting to still herself as much as able. She can feel how he nudges and directs her aether to the wound site. Her hands curl slightly into the wood underneath her and her ears flatten to her head. Teeth grit as she feels her aether force the wound back together. It will most certainly leave a scar, but, that hardly matters to her. She already has a scar on each cheek and one above her eye. What harm is there in another?

Eventually, she raises a hand to gently rest on his head. A long exhale comes from her as her shoulders sag in exhaustion. Still, a proud smile forms on her face. ]

You have a natural talent for healing, Alphinaud.

[abrightertomorrow]

[ He very nearly pauses in his work when he sees how she stiffens, hands curling and ears flattening. If there is one thing he can barely stand seeing, it is the sight of someone in discomfort. And for him, it is even worse when it is someone he cares for greatly. But this manipulation of aether is meant to help in the long run, and so he resolves to not stop until her wound has been healed.

Finally, when he feels her hand rest on his head, he looks over at her, concern clear in his expression. ]

Oh, I- Well, I am not certain I would call it that, but... [ He coughs, a sudden bashfulness taking over. ] How do you feel?

/lost notif for this, but wraps this one up

[shepherdtostars]

You do. It may not be the same school that I hail from, but the talent is most certainly there.

[ Alkaid gently pats his head once more before sitting up properly. She smiles at him as a proud older sister would. ]

Tired, but nothing that I shouldn't be able to recover from in a few days. [ She inhales deeply before looking back to the sky. ] I should be able to move in a few moments. Then, we should see about returning to the others. Krile should be able to inform us of Y'shtola's recovery, and we can plan from there.