hi, hello, I trip and fall over, dropping some prompts and pairings in here- 18 or 21 with Alain and Erin (hi, I'm self-indulgent) and 19 or 21 with Aevia and Melia (hi, I'm an enabler)
Hehehehohoho I appreciate the opportunity, and I offer food. (I'll work on the second one later hehehoho)
18.- Holding hands + 21.- Promise / Erin and Alain
There were so many things left to do, between organizing battles to keep their skill on point for as long as everyone was on the same place; going over all the books that touched on the subject of medicine- be it traditional or alternative- to find any semblance of an answer to the distressing news they had received; or even going over their plan a few dozen more times to make sure every eventuality was accounted for on the day of reckoning.
However- as thoroughly drilled in her head for a few days now- Erin needed to take a break. Just a few hours would do, otherwise she would collapse. (Perhaps even gain actual white hairs that would make it so she wouldn’t need to dye her hair that color anymore).
Prying Erin away from the medicine books she’d borrowed and her notepad was easier said than done. Venam and Erin had a staring contest as she tried to snatch the books, failing miserably. Aelita would lean in the door and ask Erin to come out and take some air (Desert dry air? Nasty), only to be politely declined; Aelita simply smiled and went off to keep training. Melia…was off in her own world, but her concerned face almost broke Erin’s will.
Almost.
The designated strategist of the group, pen in hand kept scribbling notes on detached pieces of paper, each line messier than the next. She rubbed her eyes, a tear leaking from the corner of the left one, which clouded her vision momentarily.
She had been at it for a while now and could feel the weight on her back after being hunched over. A faint ‘crack’ emanated from her spine as she stretched, standing from the chair, even her wrist was beginning to hurt a bit.
She grabbed it with the opposite hand, spinning it clockwise. Many thoughts rummaged in her mind, connecting dots, making mental notes, and generating ideas she may have missed earlier, all in an indescribable cacophony she was the sole witness to.
A couple of knocks on the wall caught her attention, dispersing the cloud of noise. Erin simply turned her head towards the door ready to dismiss the next member of her friend group who attempted to repeat the same concern everyone had. She appreciated it, of course it was…nice to have people care for her, but God dammit they could be so pushy sometimes.
She paused when her eyed identified Alain standing there, expression impassive as always.
“Hey.” Alain muttered, as they entered the room. “Everything okay, Erin?”.
Erin took a few moments to answer, eyes looking upwards mid roll. “As good as one can be these days, which isn’t much.”
Alain glanced at the pile of books on the desk and then back at Erin. In their face was their signature expression- uneven arched brows, mouth curved downwards and a leaning stance that carried their “rough on the outside, caring on the inside” attitude. “Venam was quite pouty a while ago. Something about you having a ‘Zangoose’s grip’?”
“Well, I can’t help being protective of my things when she is trying to snatch them from my hands. She is lucky we are friends and didn’t feel like do anything other than slap her hands.” A huff briefly lifted her white, puffy hair. Erin closed her notebook, knowing she wouldn’t be able to take more notes for now.
Her arms closed she stared at the other white-haired trainer. “So, it’s your turn to take me out of this room, Alain?”
They didn’t reply, for there was nothing to refute. Alain simply approached the table, placing bookmarks on the books and leaving them to the side. “I thought that you could use a meal, since you’ve been at this since dawn- which is already concerning.”
As it triggered by the word ‘meal’, Erin’s stomach growled. It had been a few hours since breakfast and that hadn’t been very filling. “I’m not touching Alice and Allen’s cooking.” Alain snorted. “We are going out to eat, there is no way I’ll let you face that.”
“If Sashila is too dry, we could go somewhere else to get something to eat.” Alain turned to the side, taking their Nav from a pocket and scrolling through the map of Aevium, humming and emoting with their eyebrows as the options aligned in front of them.
A high-pitched hum crossed their lips, blue eyes fixated on the screen. “Hmm…How does Grand Dream sound?”
Erin’s face scrunched, but she let out a sigh of defeat, walking towards Alain. “As long as there aren’t any more explosions…”
....
The streets of Grand dream city were surprisingly empty for a big city. A few days prior it had been absolutely buzzing with people: Press, onlookers, police- all sorts of people who wanted to be up and center of the events that had transpired. But as most things, the attention it got fizzled out as people moved on to gossip amongst themselves and avoid danger.
For the snow haired pair, the lack of people running around was a relief. The least thing they needed now was a stressful environment, and a street full of noise and complains and roadblocks and eager people who want to fight all day and rude assholes who don’t have an ounce of decency-
…
In other words, the current situation was ideal. They walked towards the Café in a comfortable silence to grab something to indulge in. Patty waved at them excitedly, to which Erin simply nodded as she looked around the establishment. Pretty empty today too, at least inside.
Alain guided Erin towards a table near the back, with a clear view of the Piano and the musician, who played a gentle tune. The piano lady waved at Alain, which they returned amicably. Erin vaguely remembered that woman from an earlier stop to the café, albeit with different intentions that time.
They sat and took a glance at the menu that sat straight in the napkin holder. Patty came to their table, skipping on her step all the way to take their order. Alain touched their chin, scanning the pages, before closing the menu. “I would like a Bluk berry pie slice and Mago juice.”
Erin had a harder time ordering something, since everything on the menu was so…sweet sounding for her tolerance. She sighed, returning the menu to Patty. “…I’ll have Razz berry rolls and a coffee. No sugar or milk.” Patty’s smile never left her face as she turned and went on her merry way to place the order.
The two trainers simply stared at each other for a while, as much as they were able to, since Erin rubbed her forehead with her fingers, groaning.
“Haven’t slept much, haven’t you?” Alain said, tapping the table at the tune of the song.
Erin groaned, supporting her head with one hand. “It’s hard to these days. Too many things are at stake.”
“Even so, we can’t have our strategist crumble to dust before we can celebrate victory, can we? You are integral to everything we’ve achieved; you know?”
Erin chuckled, tilting her head a sly smile on her face. “Funny, that’s what it could be said about you. Without your skills we wouldn’t be at this point.” Their stare was serene, but Erin was able to notice the slight curvature of their brow. Her grey eyes glanced towards the wall, pouting. “…But, thank you.”
The pair quieted down once more, taking in the soothing melody of the piano. Erin’s eyes were on the verge of rebelling against her, covering her pupils in varied intervals of time. God. She shouldn’t have woken up so early…
Their meal arrived after a daze, which made Erin jump. Alain reached their hand to pat Erin’s shoulder after Patty departed, which was appreciated. “Gotta put a bell on that one…”
--
Their meal was quite enjoyable, a perfect mix of their preferred flavors: The crunchy feeling of the Bluk pastry and the soft sweetness of Mago, contrasted with Erin’s energizing coffee and the bitterness with a hint of spice of the Razz rolls. She tried to give the Bluk pie a chance, but it was so overwhelmingly sweet her sugar levels skyrocketed. Alain laughed loudly at the sight, which slightly annoyed Erin. Only slightly. She would have the last laugh soon.
Laughter became a conversation of simple things rather than plans and strategy. It was a relieving change of pace, after the last few…weeks? Months? Erin had lost count, for it seemed that every moment had a certain severity to it. But Alain made it easier to feel relaxed…they had an aura of safety unlike no other. Of course, she would not say it aloud, at least, for now.
It was but that same relief that scared her the most. She didn’t like the conclusions her mind jumped into when flashes of her plans manifested front and center on her brain, with variations of worst-time scenarios and escape routes. The plan had to go smoothly. It had to.
Erin’s voice became but a whisper, as she scratched the table ever so slightly. “…Alain. Could you promise me something?” They looked up to Erin, nodding slowly. Whatever was it that bothered her, they would listen intently to.
With a glare, Erin’s eyes met Alain’s. “Don’t die. And I mean it, because if you do, I’ll find Madame X’s time crystal, go back in time and kill you myself.” Eyes full of fear behind the façade of fury- fear of the past that endured her heart and all the revelations that shook her core and sense of self. Now, only now, she had things that mattered. “I don’t want to lose more people I care about. I will not entertain that possibility.”
Alain blinked, understanding the meaning behind those words. Before replying, they reached out their hand across the table and took Erin’s own, giving it a light squeeze. “I do not intend to die Erin, I promise.”
Erin glanced away, unable to meet Alain’s gaze, but what she could do was return the squeeze- against those hands that fit so well with her own. ”…Good. You better.”