[Alear supposes that she should be thankful that she hadn't wasted her tears crying about Griss's apology. Sombron left a truly horrifying ordeal for all of them to deal with, and try as her sister might to spare her from it, this is the reality they have to deal with. Alear has to watch her Mother die again, and as much as it pains her--kills her inside, Alear knows deep down that she has to face this. The fate of their world depends on it.
And yet, even now, cutting a path through Corrupted aplenty to reach her, Griss will likely be able to follow the path she's carved as she faces down her Mother. Even now she shakes, knowing that she has to kill her. She needs to be the one to take responsibility. And maybe, just maybe...]
You can still surrender, Mother. Please.
...For me.
[Lumera's gaze seems to soften, if only for the briefest of moments--before it hardens.
"No! Lord Sombron gave me more time with my child. I refuse to waste it. I won't let anyone take that from me; not even you! I've waited for so long..."
Even Engaged, Alear feels herself start to cry. She just wanted this to end without having to watch her Mother die again. But she knows, deep down, that she has to do this.]
...Then I'm sorry, Mother! Here I come!
[Alear rushes at Lumera, ready to strike her Mother down once and for all for the sake of the world. This isn't the kind, warm Mother she remembers. This is a monster, and she's going to put this monster to bed.
...Or so she thinks. She isn't prepared for the way her Mother clashes and misdirects her blade, and Alear's eyes widen as Lumera all too swiftly course corrects her own, and...
It feels like time slows as she plunges it through Alear's gut, and all Alear knows is pain. Pain, as she sees her mother's face smile down at her, all too happy with what she's done. But also, far too distracted to notice anyone else, and she's certain she hears people coming up from the rear...]
[Griss isn't the only one rushing to her side. He isn't the first to get there either; some of the others are faster, and their priority is to distract Lumera.
After all, there's only one healer in the vicinity.
He doesn't hesitate to get started, dropping to his knees beside her and pumping as much healing magic through that awful wound as he can manage. Alear will be damn lucky to survive something like this. Sure, she's been through hell and back and apparently died before, but...
But now isn't the time. He has to focus. If he doesn't, she's dead, and there's no bringing her back this time.]
Hey, talk to me. C'mon, I know you aren't out of it yet. Tell me about the pain - you still feeling it?
[If anyone else was listening in, they'd likely assume Griss is being aggressively himself about this. Wanting to know how a mortal wound feels and all would be interesting, in any other circumstance. But he's doing this to focus, to try to see how bad it is. After all, it's when she can't feel the pain at all that they really need to worry.
Just ignore that his hands are shaking even as he struggles to knit that horrid wound back together.]
[Alear isn't as aware as she should be. She knows that much by the fact that Lumera seems to jump back, and she can hear the sounds of fighting in the background but it feels fuzzy. She feels her vision dancing around her, and Griss can probably see her eyelids fluttering and her eyes in and out of focus. It takes a few seconds for her to even respond, really, time feeling murky and muddied for her as she bleeds--]
G...Griss?
[It's a start. Alear chuckles for a moment when the question finally registers, before coughing.]
Don't--don't worry. Still feeling it. It hurts real bad. [Her voice sounds a little out of it, but at the very least his magic is mending the wound, slow but sure. It's a fucking awful one, and Lumera's sword's shape is likely going to make it an ordeal, but she's here still, even if she's bleeding pretty hard. Even so, she tries to grin, despite it all.] Feels like--I got my guts torn out. That means your magic's working...right...?
[Dammit, she's losing too much blood. He's not going to be able to heal her before she bleeds out, is he? He needs more power—
Thankfully, Alear's still conscious enough to respond and Griss laughs. It shakes, just like his hands.]
Yeah, that's what it means. It's gonna keep hurtin' for a little while, so try to enjoy it for me.
[With that said, there's only one real option to try to save her. He'd usually only use it for combat, but this should give his healing enough of a punch to save her.
And he doesn't want to think about what will happen if it isn't enough.]
Emblem engage!
[Alear will likely feel that healing magic strengthen as Griss siphons the energy he can into closing that wound.]
[For a moment, she feels her eyelids start to flutter and her vision start to blacken in earnest. Her breath wheezes, and she's worried she won't survive a third death. Shakily and without thinking, her hand goes for one of Griss's, almost like an apology, but...
Well, what she doesn't expect is for that pain to seemingly both intensify and fade away entirely--for a brief moment she hurts, and it's the most alive she's felt in the past couple of minutes (which is something she's not examining about herself thank you very much!!), and Griss will likely feel that his healing magic has definitely intensified greatly in the process of it all.
Of course, there's another matter, and that being that Alear's body has seemingly disappeared, with only the blood she's lost on the ground being the only indication that she was there. Odd, right?
It's likely odder still, because, uh--]
Griss? [That's. Unmistakably Alear's voice, isn't it?] So, hey, uh. Did you mean to Engage with me?
[It's not like she's not thankful. Really, it isn't! But uh. Sometimes these things happen and you don't expect to be fused with the guy who just saved your life???]
[For a brief, beautiful moment, Alear's pain is his. The rush of adrenaline courses through him as he Engages, and it doesn't occur to him that this isn't the familiar glow of Celica's power, but instead something completely new.
After all, he's experiencing near-death pain, how could he be expected to focus on anything else? Mortal wounds are truly in a world of their own. There's no pain quite like being impaled.
Unfortunately for Griss (but fortunately for us so I don't have to keep writing masochism) the pain fades into a dull ache, likely because Engaging has basically averaged out their HP and Griss was at full health.]
Uh. What.
[Alear is gone, his magic is doing absolutely nothing to heal the bloodstains on the ground, so Griss pauses, confused.
Slowly, it occurs to him that this isn't Celica. This is Alear's voice.]
...Dammit, I forgot you could do that.
[Now he just sounds sort of exasperated?? How do you manage to forget that Alear's an Emblem, anyway.]
I mean... it worked,I guess? Not quite what I meant, but you're done dyin' now, yeah?
[DEAR GODS ABOVE, SHE IS SO DONE WITH THIS. HOW DOES SHE DISENGAGE WITH THIS MAN, SHE WANTS OUT ALREADY AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN USED THEIR TURNS EFFECTIVELY.
Gods, just. Give her a second, Griss can likely hear the sound of Alear slapping her own forehead. What does she do with you, you stupid, stupid boy.]
I don't feel any pain now, yeah. I'm not exactly sure how that worked, but it looks like Engaging with me managed to heal my wounds. [Beat.] At the very least, I'm in no place to question it. But...thank you, Griss. I really do owe you for this.
[...]
But seriously, how did you manage to forget that I'm an Emblem now?
[Joke's on both of us, we're stuck like this for three turns!!!]
Yeah, yeah don't mention it. [But more importantly—] I wasn't there when all that crap happened? Someone mentioned it in passing so I just kinda forgot? It's not like you do it all the time!
[This is really ineffective since he's just standing here yelling at himself, but what can you do.]
[great. fantastic. absolutely incredible. 1,000 gold says zephia's going to kick their asses later.]
You weren't, but weren't you the one who wouldn't stop making comments about me coming back? You'd think that you might actually remember if you spent all of your time making jokes out of it! [she is so dooooone] Also I've absolutely done it a few times, thank you! It's something I still have to get used to. Maybe you should pay a little more attention!
[...But you know, now that she thinks of it--]
Besides that, didn't you have the Ring of the Caring Princess? How did you even manage Engage with me in the first place?
[...please don't tell her it's because of what she thinks it is...]
[can't believe they won't even last three turns because zephia's going to come over and throw a tome at their head--]
Wh--?!
[hey hey HEY HEY HEY--]
Don't you blame me for this! I didn't do it intentionally!
[There is likely no ignoring that she is absolutely embarrassed as hell at being called on this. This is absolutely what happened, isn't it. Alear can at least see through Griss's eyes and yep, that sure is Celica's ring, and...]
I was dying on the ground, could barely tell what was even going on anymore until you managed to Engage with me. I wouldn't have chosen to do this of my own accord.
[Whoops, looks like that was three turns or the battle's over, because just like that they're free. Alear should be just fine now, but Griss glances over to check her injury anyway.
Which is exactly how he misses Zephia approaching, and then he's swiftly lifted off his feet and tossed on the back of her wyvern with an undignified yell.]
My apologies, Divine One. Do forgive Griss for whatever he did. We'll get out of your way.
[Griss's complaints of "I didn't do anything!" are clearly going to be ignored today. Have fun with the mood whiplash of fighting you mom!]
[Oh, yes, this mood whiplash is going to be very grand. Alear just kind of looks herself over too before her eyes widen at the sight of Zephia taking Griss, and. Ah.]
Ah--thank you, Zephia. Please excuse me.
[Don't mind as Alear just kind of fast walks away like she's been caught!! And please ignore her face being as red as her hair, it's fine, it's all fine and she'd much rather deal with Vander and the others worrying to pieces over her than a potential shovel talk from Zephia, bye Griss!!! Enjoy your fate!]
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no subject
And yet, even now, cutting a path through Corrupted aplenty to reach her, Griss will likely be able to follow the path she's carved as she faces down her Mother. Even now she shakes, knowing that she has to kill her. She needs to be the one to take responsibility. And maybe, just maybe...]
You can still surrender, Mother. Please.
...For me.
[Lumera's gaze seems to soften, if only for the briefest of moments--before it hardens.
"No! Lord Sombron gave me more time with my child. I refuse to waste it. I won't let anyone take that from me; not even you! I've waited for so long..."
Even Engaged, Alear feels herself start to cry. She just wanted this to end without having to watch her Mother die again. But she knows, deep down, that she has to do this.]
...Then I'm sorry, Mother! Here I come!
[Alear rushes at Lumera, ready to strike her Mother down once and for all for the sake of the world. This isn't the kind, warm Mother she remembers. This is a monster, and she's going to put this monster to bed.
...Or so she thinks. She isn't prepared for the way her Mother clashes and misdirects her blade, and Alear's eyes widen as Lumera all too swiftly course corrects her own, and...
It feels like time slows as she plunges it through Alear's gut, and all Alear knows is pain. Pain, as she sees her mother's face smile down at her, all too happy with what she's done. But also, far too distracted to notice anyone else, and she's certain she hears people coming up from the rear...]
no subject
After all, there's only one healer in the vicinity.
He doesn't hesitate to get started, dropping to his knees beside her and pumping as much healing magic through that awful wound as he can manage. Alear will be damn lucky to survive something like this. Sure, she's been through hell and back and apparently died before, but...
But now isn't the time. He has to focus. If he doesn't, she's dead, and there's no bringing her back this time.]
Hey, talk to me. C'mon, I know you aren't out of it yet. Tell me about the pain - you still feeling it?
[If anyone else was listening in, they'd likely assume Griss is being aggressively himself about this. Wanting to know how a mortal wound feels and all would be interesting, in any other circumstance. But he's doing this to focus, to try to see how bad it is. After all, it's when she can't feel the pain at all that they really need to worry.
Just ignore that his hands are shaking even as he struggles to knit that horrid wound back together.]
no subject
G...Griss?
[It's a start. Alear chuckles for a moment when the question finally registers, before coughing.]
Don't--don't worry. Still feeling it. It hurts real bad. [Her voice sounds a little out of it, but at the very least his magic is mending the wound, slow but sure. It's a fucking awful one, and Lumera's sword's shape is likely going to make it an ordeal, but she's here still, even if she's bleeding pretty hard. Even so, she tries to grin, despite it all.] Feels like--I got my guts torn out. That means your magic's working...right...?
no subject
Thankfully, Alear's still conscious enough to respond and Griss laughs. It shakes, just like his hands.]
Yeah, that's what it means. It's gonna keep hurtin' for a little while, so try to enjoy it for me.
[With that said, there's only one real option to try to save her. He'd usually only use it for combat, but this should give his healing enough of a punch to save her.
And he doesn't want to think about what will happen if it isn't enough.]
Emblem engage!
[Alear will likely feel that healing magic strengthen as Griss siphons the energy he can into closing that wound.]
no subject
[For a moment, she feels her eyelids start to flutter and her vision start to blacken in earnest. Her breath wheezes, and she's worried she won't survive a third death. Shakily and without thinking, her hand goes for one of Griss's, almost like an apology, but...
Well, what she doesn't expect is for that pain to seemingly both intensify and fade away entirely--for a brief moment she hurts, and it's the most alive she's felt in the past couple of minutes (which is something she's not examining about herself thank you very much!!), and Griss will likely feel that his healing magic has definitely intensified greatly in the process of it all.
Of course, there's another matter, and that being that Alear's body has seemingly disappeared, with only the blood she's lost on the ground being the only indication that she was there. Odd, right?
It's likely odder still, because, uh--]
Griss? [That's. Unmistakably Alear's voice, isn't it?] So, hey, uh. Did you mean to Engage with me?
[It's not like she's not thankful. Really, it isn't! But uh. Sometimes these things happen and you don't expect to be fused with the guy who just saved your life???]
no subject
After all, he's experiencing near-death pain, how could he be expected to focus on anything else? Mortal wounds are truly in a world of their own. There's no pain quite like being impaled.
Unfortunately for Griss (but fortunately for us so I don't have to keep writing masochism) the pain fades into a dull ache, likely because Engaging has basically averaged out their HP and Griss was at full health.]
Uh. What.
[Alear is gone, his magic is doing absolutely nothing to heal the bloodstains on the ground, so Griss pauses, confused.
Slowly, it occurs to him that this isn't Celica. This is Alear's voice.]
...Dammit, I forgot you could do that.
[Now he just sounds sort of exasperated?? How do you manage to forget that Alear's an Emblem, anyway.]
I mean... it worked,I guess? Not quite what I meant, but you're done dyin' now, yeah?
no subject
[DEAR GODS ABOVE, SHE IS SO DONE WITH THIS. HOW DOES SHE DISENGAGE WITH THIS MAN, SHE WANTS OUT ALREADY AND THEY HAVEN'T EVEN USED THEIR TURNS EFFECTIVELY.
Gods, just. Give her a second, Griss can likely hear the sound of Alear slapping her own forehead. What does she do with you, you stupid, stupid boy.]
I don't feel any pain now, yeah. I'm not exactly sure how that worked, but it looks like Engaging with me managed to heal my wounds. [Beat.] At the very least, I'm in no place to question it. But...thank you, Griss. I really do owe you for this.
[...]
But seriously, how did you manage to forget that I'm an Emblem now?
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Yeah, yeah don't mention it. [But more importantly—] I wasn't there when all that crap happened? Someone mentioned it in passing so I just kinda forgot? It's not like you do it all the time!
[This is really ineffective since he's just standing here yelling at himself, but what can you do.]
no subject
You weren't, but weren't you the one who wouldn't stop making comments about me coming back? You'd think that you might actually remember if you spent all of your time making jokes out of it! [she is so dooooone] Also I've absolutely done it a few times, thank you! It's something I still have to get used to. Maybe you should pay a little more attention!
[...But you know, now that she thinks of it--]
Besides that, didn't you have the Ring of the Caring Princess? How did you even manage Engage with me in the first place?
[...please don't tell her it's because of what she thinks it is...]
no subject
Yeah, well. These things happen.
[no they really don't???
Anyway, Alear raises a good point and Griss holds his hand up to look at the ring. Can Alear see through his eyes while they're Engaged?? Unclear.]
Yeah, I've got it, and I was tryin' to use Celly's power so I've got no idea what happened.
[Celica is probably still cringing at that nickname, but at least she isn't laughing at them!!]
Wait... didn't you take my hand while I was tryin' to Engage? Why are you blaming me when this is your fault?
[did you forget that she nearly died????]
no subject
Wh--?!
[hey hey HEY HEY HEY--]
Don't you blame me for this! I didn't do it intentionally!
[There is likely no ignoring that she is absolutely embarrassed as hell at being called on this. This is absolutely what happened, isn't it. Alear can at least see through Griss's eyes and yep, that sure is Celica's ring, and...]
I was dying on the ground, could barely tell what was even going on anymore until you managed to Engage with me. I wouldn't have chosen to do this of my own accord.
[Not if he was the last soldier on Elyos etc etc]
no subject
[Whoops, looks like that was three turns or the battle's over, because just like that they're free. Alear should be just fine now, but Griss glances over to check her injury anyway.
Which is exactly how he misses Zephia approaching, and then he's swiftly lifted off his feet and tossed on the back of her wyvern with an undignified yell.]
My apologies, Divine One. Do forgive Griss for whatever he did. We'll get out of your way.
[Griss's complaints of "I didn't do anything!" are clearly going to be ignored today. Have fun with the mood whiplash of fighting you mom!]
no subject
Ah--thank you, Zephia. Please excuse me.
[Don't mind as Alear just kind of fast walks away like she's been caught!! And please ignore her face being as red as her hair, it's fine, it's all fine and she'd much rather deal with Vander and the others worrying to pieces over her than a potential shovel talk from Zephia, bye Griss!!! Enjoy your fate!]