unstoppable force v. unshakeable object
mission prompt || heavy armor +1
A little detail suddenly derailed the entire conversation. Though it was something Alfonse found deeply embarrassing, he was happy for it, because being slightly embarrassed was much better than having Linhardt continue to question him. Besides, if Linhardt was going to go around telling people anything about Alfonse (which Linhardt very well might-- Alfonse did not think them the best at keeping secrets), Alfonse would prefer it to be the ultimately inconsequential fact rather than the fundamental nature of Askr.
A small sigh left Alfonse as Linhardt began chattering away, speculating on the nature of Alfonse's condition. He wasn't entirely certain how much he would be able to answer of the questions that would surely follow. After all, it wasn't like Alfonse had ever experienced life from a different perspective than his own. He had never lived without this condition. There was nothing for him to compare to, no baseline he could use as definitive proof anything was actually different for him. For all Alfonse knew, everyone else had the same struggle and had simply adapted to it. Maybe the strangest thing about Alfonse was just that he acknowledged this trouble.
"Yes, it's quite the bother," Alfonse agreed. "Back in my home, we tend to have a lot of celebrations that involve dressing up in costumes for the relevant season or holiday. It's a silly tradition, one that embarrasses me when I have to partake in it, but it is incidentally quite useful. Everyone's costumes tend to be distinct from one another, often carrying some detail of their personality with it that makes identification briefly easier."
The thought of Linhardt wearing rabbit ears with a long skirt and carrying a pillow sprang to mind immediately.
"These are typically larger details than a hair ornament, however. That does help, make no mistake, but... well, I actually happen to know quite a lot of people with long, green hair and some manner of ornamentation like a ribbon or hair tie. Lady Lyndis of Sacae, for starters, though she tends to dress in traditional attire, which makes her easy for me to identify."
“lyndis,” linhardt repeats, with a small guffaw. how ironic that alfonse should know two lins by their green hair and hair ornament. she should hope never to be mistaken for him!
regardless, he continues without thinking too much of it, launching into a series of questions that he comes to find alfonse has little idea how to answer them. they're not too surprised - after all, he had said as much that he can't really compare it to the experiences of another person. linhardt wonders if magic might not be able to replicate his condition, or even alleviate it. and if so, would alfonse even want that?
(it's important to consider if a condition needs 'fixing' before one tries to fix it, after all.)
the two of them had entered the cave as disgruntled acquaintances. linhardt isn't so socially inept as to not realize when people dislike them, but by now that had seemed to wear away as the conversation moved to a more interesting subject.
it makes the whole affair easier, after all. the two are able to while away the hours snowed into this cave as equals in discovery (or so linhardt views it). rather than counting seconds as though they drag like hours, the time passes in almost short order, and before linhardt can fully consider every angle of alfonse's faceless existence, chunky sounds come from the snow covering their alcove, and another knight from the monastery announces to some one else, that the two of them have been found.
linhardt almost complains about missing the opportunity to ask more questions, but the relief of freedom is one they savor far too much. they crawl across the cave in order to be the first one out, and stretch out every muscle in their body they can think of without triggering their aversion to disgusting bodies, before turning, even for a second, to wish alfonse a good-bye.
then they leave, uncaring whether or not he is following them.
→ end.
