Alphinaud; Catch-all

[misstrust]

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[arcsplainist]

That is what I fear.

[ His head dips, and shoulders slump. ]

That another casualty may occur, and we fail to bring justice to those who have been lost to us.

[misstrust]

[ Dorothy pauses... then extends one arm out to him. ]

Come here.

[arcsplainist]

[ Alphinaud looks up at her, briefly, before he complies, scooting closer. ]

[misstrust]

[ And Dorothy hooks that arm around him, gently tugging him into a sideways hug. ]

Whatever happens, you can't give up. We need to do everything we can to see this through.

[arcsplainist]

[ You know what? Dorothy's pretty good when it comes to much needed hugs. ]

... Of course. I would not dare, but—well, I suppose you're right in that I've been thinking overmuch. I had thought myself ready to take on anything thrown my way, but this is a vastly different beast from anything... anyone ever has to face.

[misstrust]

[ It's the big sister in her. ]

Exactly. That's why I don't want you thinking that you should have been prepared for something like this. That you weren't just means that you're very kind... and also that it's incredibly cruel that you now have to face it now.

[arcsplainist]

[ For all the cruelties he has witnessed, and all the villains and monsters he's had to face, having to watch them fail as they did is still a heavy punch to the gut. Alphinaud wouldn't give up, but he is not without his worries how much worse it has to get before it gets better.

Still— ]

You have my thanks, Dorothy. I would be honored to see this through to the end alongside you.

[misstrust]

That's quite a compliment! [ With a quiet laugh. ]

Then I'll do my utmost to make it through as well.