[log] IT'S A MONSTER PARTY [closed]

[devoutish]

Characters: Alfie Solomons, Ecks, Fiona, Francel de Haillenarte, Haurchefant Greystone, John Watson, Tifa Lockhart, Royce Melborn
Location around U4/V4, and then in various houses
Date: evening of 138 through morning of 139
Summary: various merry traveling bands are set upon and scattered by a RUDE AS FUCK anomaly
Warnings: n/a; will edit if anything comes up

Catch-all for EVERYTHING - running from the anomaly, settling in various houses, etc. Top-level and tag as you see fit.

Comments

[powersouls]

[She can't even use her usual go to of "he might come back". It's been too long, and it feels like a lie, so all she can do is squeeze his arm and repeat herself uselessly.]

I'm sorry, Francel.

[haillenarte]

That's... that's alright, Tifa. We were... not close.

[but he says this so slowly and so sadly that there must be some trace of a lie in it.

francel touches the hand on his arm, making a great effort to force a smile — one that is fleeting and not very convincing.]

...More than that, I simply don't understand. When I left Ishgard, Haurchefant was dead and Emmanellain was alive. And now... here, Haurchefant is alive, and Emmanellain is dead. I cannot... I can make no sense of it.

[powersouls]

Haurchefant was dead?

[Well... There's precedent for that. Like Angel.]

I've... I've lost people from home here, too. I'm not sure what that means for when we go back.

[haillenarte]

Yes, he... it was a complex situation.

[he shakes his head. haurchefant's death was a complex situation. norfinbury was a complex situation. but the truth is, francel would trade a thousand emmanellains to have haurchefant back, and if that is what he must choose between, then so be it.

he would rather be in norfinbury (a hostile foreign land, with haurchefant) than in ishgard (his home, without haurchefant).

still, the pain on his face is clear and the sympathy in his voice seems genuine when he says:]

I... I am sorry to hear that. Truly. In my — in our homeland, an honorable death is to be one of life's greatest glories, and yet... yet it was always so hard to be the one left behind.

[powersouls]

[Tifa hums quietly in response, forcing a smile as well. Hers is just a bit more believable—she has practice faking, but it still falls short of genuine.]

Thank you. It is hard being left behind, but... we just have to keep going, right?

[haillenarte]

...Yes. Yes, we do.

[this, too, is a lie.]

Thank you, Tifa.

[powersouls]

[She shakes her head, her hand dropping from his arm.]

You don't need to thank me. Are you settling in all right?

[haillenarte]

More or less. [he shrugs once his arm is freed.] The situation here is, ah — not too different from life in Ishgard. Bitter cold and deadly monsters have been part and parcel of my daily routine for the past five years.

I could do with a warm meal, but... I suppose I should count these prepackaged foodstuffs among my blessings.

[powersouls]

There is a grocery store downtown. Everything is fresh, not frozen, I haven't been there yet, but... I hear it's amazing.

[haillenarte]

A greengrocer's? That is quite the luxury. We never had one in the, ah, town where I live...

[because it wasn't a town, not really, but the truth is close enough that francel doesn't particularly see anything wrong with twisting it.]

But I think Haurchefant means to travel eastward, not southward. And I — I don't suppose you'll be joining us, will you?

[powersouls]

Oh, um... No, I'm sorry. We're traveling east, too, but I'd like to get back to Alfie and Duster. Are you going to Kesara's tunnel?

[haillenarte]

Ah, so you have other companions. No need to worry — I understand completely.

Haurchefant made mention of some tunnels, yes. I've no idea if they belong to Kesara. [he smiles, a hint of melancholy to the curve of his lips.] I simply mean to go wherever he will go.

[powersouls]

[Tifa nods. She understands that impulse.]

The tunnels to the east, right? Those are Kesara's. We might be traveling in the same direction.

[haillenarte]

I would welcome it! Halone willing, we shall see each other again after you have made your rendezvous.

Forgive me my curiosity, but what are your friends like?