expiationnet | [Text] Un: S. Imeris

...I think there is a story behind this that I am not getting.

That would make two of us. Especially since the people here seem to know me. And I have no clue where I am, aside from the obvious.

Wait, how do they know you?

That seems a little odd when the people here don't know who I am.

I don't know. If this was my world, that would make more sense.

[So, when he sees a familiar name show up on the charms, a few things happen in rapid succession: one, he fumbles with the charm and nearly drops it; two, he tries to activate it to say her name, or "wait right there, I'm coming!" and manages to get none of it recorded; three, he immediately bolts out of the (strangely crowded) inn and straight to the plaza where the statues are.

He's currently there, hastily peering through rows of statues.]

Shionne?!

Perhaps there might be someone who knows you here? That's the only reason I can think of.

But why they would make a statue? I'm not sure.

[Did they miss her that much??]

Honestly, I don't know that I know anyone who would go to the extreme lengths to make a statue of me. A cursed doll, maybe, but a larger than life stone statue?

That seems wierd.

[He can spot her, holding her chin as she glares at the statue of herself as if she is hoping it would suddenly be struck by lightning or tell her all of the secrets about its creation. She has a thought about taking out her rifle and shooting it, but she's not sure what sort of commotion that would cause the townsfolk around her.

And some of them are acting as if they're happy to see her, but keeping a respectable distance. It's creepy.

So, when she hears a familiar voice, she can't help but give a huge sigh of relief and start looking around for the source.]

Alphen? Where are you?

I don't know why but...

You don't think that statue is supposed to be cursed, right?

Well, I don't sense anything from it. And there are flowers and small gifts around it. So, that strikes me as something other than a cursed item.

.....

Did you do something that is worthy in someone's eyes?

[Please don't tell him that you died.]

I honestly don't think so. I just got here. What could I have done?

[She isn't allowed to die. Alphen and the others said as much.]

[He passes by rows of faces, familiar and not, each frozen in reverent neutrality. It sure is creepy, this memorial frozen in time...but Alphen isn't here to reflect on it, he's here to--

Ah. He spots her in the distance just between two rows of statues, and he pauses for a moment with his mouth half-open. How long has she been gone? It's only been two months, if that, but it feels like so much longer in a way he can't quite describe. He doesn't waste time trying to lead her to him; she'll see him soon enough, anyway, as he's currently bolting in her direction.]

Shionne! You... [uh. he hadn't thought farther ahead than that.] You're really here!

[She's so confused. One second she was stepping off of the Felneitz and the next she's in a strange white area and afterwards in a field with a note in her pocket accusing her of treason. And everything's gotten worse since arriving in Aldrip.

So, while she feels like she should be more upset than she is and she will be later, probably, right now, she can't help but smile as she watches the familiar and handsome (?) face of her partner as he runs full tilt at her.]

Alphen. [What? No, she's not breathless. Stop. But then.... the rest of his words hit her.] I suppose so, but where is here and why are we both here instead of on Lenegis?

Anything you did back home? That's the only other thing I got.

[This place was so weird already...]

I highly doubt that. The crime I've been accused of is High Treason.

Last time I checked, they don't craft statues of traitors.

[Alphen is still stunned. In some far-off corner of his mind, he can hear her asking perfectly reasonable questions for someone who hasn't been here before, but those will have to wait. Every battle fought without the Blazing Sword, every meal with too many leftovers, every brash choice he's made without her sharp, reasonable responses...each reminder of her absence has been a needle jammed in his chest, and all at once, they're gone. Because she's here.

Words have never been his strongest suit. He's certainly no poet or anything like that. But right now, they fail him utterly, and so he falls back on actions -- thorns or no. His arms go around her shoulders and he pulls her close, wincing at every crackle and spark but knowing nonetheless that it's completely worth it.]

I missed you.

[It'll be a short embrace, because he knows better than to stay too close for too long, and even those few moments will ache later. But still...worth it.]

[To say she's not surprised to have him hug her would be a lie. Sure, he's the only person who she's met that could touch her for a while without it hurting him, but without his mask, that's over. However, he's the only person who's continuously kept coming back, no matter what, to remind her of the few things she's been missing so much in her short life.

The second his arms are around her, heat infuses her cheeks and she lifts her hands to... She's not even sure what. Not that it matters because he pulls away again, but she's already casting a healing spell on him to soothe the pain, eyes bright with a bit more than just the glow of her heritage.]

Idiot. [And then she takes a breath to gather her thoughts.]

What are you talking about? I just saw you a few hours ago. Surely you can live without me for that long.

Maybe someone else might think differently?

Even if it is high treason, perhaps they didn't like the people in charge?

[Look, he's just...trying to find a reason for this.]

I'm sure there are. Some of the people I helped might even not want me dead, despite everything.

But that doesn't explain why there's a statue of me here.

Unless this is someone's idea of a joke. In that case, I think someone has a boring sense of humor.

Joke or not, it's still...odd. I don't know, this place is odd in general. For a prison, it doesn't seem like one.

It's nothing like the prisons I've seen in my life. It's more like... a quaint town and surrounding area.

In fact, it reminds me of a realm back on Dahna.

[Hours? For a moment, he looks surprised, but...then again, it wouldn't be the first time he's experienced some kind of weird time anomaly, right? Kisara's proof enough of that -- plus his own memories, when he first got here.

A smile flickers across his face, even as she's calling him names. He watches the bright flare of her eyes as she casts her healing arte, marveling at the familiarity of it, even after this long. Even though she calls him that, and even though it's complicated and confusing and doesn't have an easy explanation, his smile sticks around.]

It may have only been a few hours for you, but for me, it was a lot longer. More like two months.

[Well, yes, she's only been here for a few hours, but... He's saying that he's been here for months? Even when she was taken by Vholran, they were only separated by a week or so.

But there's a sense of relief that she gets from him that is a bit more than when he and the others rescued her in Pelegion. Shionne will have to take that apart later when she's alone, but for now, she'll believe him. He's not exactly the type to lie.]

You seem pretty whole for being separated for so long. Are the others here then? I... it's weird to see you by yourself again.

[They haven't been alone since they fought Balseph. After that, there was always someone with them.]

I’m sorry but what is Dahna?

Is that where you are from?

[Text] Un: S. Imeris

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