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year 5, quarter 3
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It's all gone to shite, kupo! He remembered a Moogle exclaiming such back yonder, and it was an accurate way to describe the situation as everyone just piled on him. First it was Noct. He was worried. Fair, so Alex gave him a much softer smile. "Relax. Just a Sleep spell." He cared about Cindy, she wasn't supposed to be here. It was harmless in the end. At least until Tifa brought up the barrier. "You what?!" Oh, he would be having dialogue with her in a moment. Or at least, he would have been, if he hadn't been immediately slapped afterwards. Alex blinked, rubbing his cheek as he stared at Cindy. "Not sure I deserved that." It was all so confusing and a little overwhelming. Instinctively he tried to cast a small bit of healing to soothe it away, until it fizzled, reminding him once again that there was no magic here.
That one really hurt, too.
So when Prompto blew up at him, it was something that at least caught his attention. Oh, what was it this time? Well, to be fair, at least this time he actually knew full well what it was. So he listened, intently. And when Prompto brought up on not attacking women, Alex raised an eyebrow before he passed a glance at Tifa. Just another thing to fix up later. Maybe buy him something to drink. ... He was like sixteen, right? Maybe a box of apple juice from Tifa or something. At least, that was the plan, until Prompto turned around and started venting at Noctis about how much of a bastard man he was and he shouldn't be allowed anywhere near them. Noctis wasn't even involved in this. He felt things flare, and inhaling through his nose, he took a couple steps, circling around to Prompto's front. If Prompto wanted to have this out, now, so be it.
Alex spoke up in sharp tone. "That's bullshit. Oh, you'll just barely tolerate my presence if Noctis decrees it so, but it'll be absolute agony, but you'll do it anyway all for him. You're just passive aggressively forcing an ultimatum on him and you know it. You or me." There was a strange mixture of heat and ice to his voice. Barely contained rage. "You've accused me of lying multiple times for absolutely stupid shit. You're going on about how much a burden I am and should be removed despite just seconds before saying how useful I am, and have been. You just don't like me and you're coming up with reasons that don't involve just saying that. Nevermind that, when I do step in something, you don't let me know, so I can stop. You just lash out and I'm left wondering 'what did I say now.'" Prompto wasn't the only one that had something to say, and well, Alex was at his limit regarding this, too.
"In fact, I'm pretty sure I distinctly remember asking you to just tell me if there's an issue instead of letting it fester, to avoid this exact situation."
He didn't realize just how much Prompto's behavior actually bothered him, at least not until he went right to Noctis. "And now that you both are here, the first thing you do is run and hide behind Noctis after you do your typical lashing out. That might work with Ignis and Gladio, but I am a hell of a lot scarier than they could ever be. Noctis can't protect you this time." And with that, he craned his head and shot the Prince a look. "Nor should he. You need to learn to fight your own godsdamned battles, and whatever shitflinging is going on between you and I doesn't involve him." Noctis better not intervene, anyway. "So, you know what? I'm going to hit back. Really hit back." Because for Alex? This was something that had been coming.
If Prompto thought a shitty snipe about Lunafreya was over the line, well shit.
Pointing an accusatory finger at Prompto, he glowered, his voice shaking. "My butting in has kept you from horrible a fate. If I don't butt in when I feel like I should, you get arrested, if not shot dead. Hell, you just listed why my butting in has helped you. Versus that? I've said stupid shit. I threw a spell at Cindy in which nothing happened. I don't regret butting in because by and large, my butting in has resulted in a lot more good than bad, and that's all I can aim for." His eyes narrowed as he took a deep breath. "And you want to know something? Despite everything, despite all the bullshit between us? If I could go back in time, I'd do it again. I'd still help you." Let him suck on that for a moment.
Hear. Feel. Think. Deep breaths. Point two. Don't derail yourself, not on this. "As for deciding that I'm the hero. Considering everything I've done? I kind of am a hero and a lot of what I do falls back on experience. But you being upset about that is fine. I never told you that I'm a Warrior of Light that's reincarnated countless times to protect the world, keep the balance, whatever. I've always passed myself off as an adventurer with you because I prefer just being an adventurer. It's not fair to get mad at you there because you had no way of knowing." Apparently he could ramble like Caius if the right circumstances lined up. Like now. Just... a lot more aggressively, considering he added on an infuriated "You know, like the shit you lash out at me over. It took Noctis explaining your relationship to me before even some of it made sense." It at least explained why Prompto got really, really jealous. Or at least acted like it.
Now, well, this was just a low blow. It was also a stretch, considering Prompto's concerns. But his temper was flaring, and it was a lot to keep it to this icy rage and not just, completely and totally explode. But none of the others had apparently brought it up, and so it fell to him. "Oh, and about your little comment on attacking women? They are not intrinsically special flowers that require delicacy. Nevermind how you act about that anyway. Have none of the others ever sat you down and told you that you act like an absolute fucking creep? Yes, Tifa is very beautiful, but do you see me leaning over, eyes bulging, blushing, and pitching a tent in my pants? No." He had originally planned on giving Prompto the lesson of Do Not in private, but fuck it. All in the open now.
Alex threw his hands up as he could feel it boiling at the top, threatening to go right over. "I admit it, I've fucked up. Especially regarding you. I'm not perfect. But stop acting like I'm the bad guy and you're some poor, put upon victim, when you yourself have made absolutely zero effort to come to some agreement, while I have repeatedly offered olive branches to you, and have begged Noctis for help on how to handle you." He snarled, pointing a finger at Noctis to accentuate his point before it all finally boiled over in one small comment as he leaned over in Prompto's face, jabbing his finger into the Crownsguard. "I'm tired of your charade you creepy, passive aggressive gremlin."
And with that, he moved back to the bar, clencing his fingers on the table as he looked squarely at Tifa. "Thank you for the Rum Martinez. You're the first I've seen put the orange peel on. I am going to go drink outside. I will pay you in a bit." There was a terseness to his voice that made it obvious he was just observing courtesy, holding back anger. Grumbling and fuming, he grabbed his drink and went to the door. There was a brief chill that entered the bar, only to be cut off as Alex slammed the door behind him. ... Only to open it again a moment later, as he peeked his head back in. "And for the record? I can work with Dragelion. Because I already have." And he slammed the door again. Maybe now they could get something done.
There were details that, unless the Scions started going really into depth within the public sphere, that she shouldn't know. The glint of the crystal caught his eye, as did the symbol, so either the crystal was fake, or she had gotten another one, or that was A-Towa-Cant's. He closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled before opening again and stating simply. "I have no argument." He didn't. The easiest solution was that she was exactly who she said she was. Logic dictated that was bullshit. "But you'll forgive me if I'm not so quick to buy it." It was an uneasy truce, but for the moment it was the best she would get. He wasn't too keen on others having everything he worked for. Especially as he heard more shouting, noticing another Miqo'te on a box. It reminded him too much of the various tribes goofing off in Limsa Lominsa.
Why were Miqo'te so godsdamned weird.
He made sure to never say it aloud, lest Y'shtola magically hear it.
Then it was Celes's turn to pile on him. For no good reason, surely. And to that, he simply responded in a deadpan tone. "No shit I prefer my business. Your charity doesn't feed and clothe my daughter." Okay, it was a low blow. Mainly because while Ryne was absolutely one of the key reasons he strove to make the Stones a success, it just... wasn't his only reason. And in truth, Ryne could fend for herself if it absolutely came down to it. Alex just refused to let it get that far. She'd already done too much of that as it was. He wanted her to have something resembling a normal childhood for what few years remained of it. At least he wouldn't snipe back, not directly anyway. Oh, but he would make sure that she burned when he was through with his piece. "Anyway, she's being modest. Again."
Shrugging as he placed a hand on his hip, he motioned towards Celes in an almost, celebratory, introductory manner. "We do know each other. Celes is the logistician that keeps the Dragonblades from collapsing." Oh yes, he was going to play this card. Shameless flattery. "Technically she's only a co-leader but Caius is..." He paused for a moment in thought before snapping his fingers, eyes widening in familiar realization. "If you're me, you remember Trachtoum, right? Tidus? Leviabeetus?" Names for Primals that fool claimed to kill. Titan. Leviathan. Both times Trachtoum just embarrassed himself. "That's Caius, only he has his own guild, now." But hell, if Alex was going to go down this time, he was going to take Caius's reputation with him.
Tapping a foot indignantly, this time both hands curled into fists on his hips, he continued. "The Dragonblades are in theory a professional mercenary organization. Thing is, that job you're applying for would, under any other similar organization, be handled internally." That much he genuinely believed. He couldn't dream of something like this being outsourced considering what it could say about the organization. "But Caius is such a catastrophic fuck up that Celes here probably had to quit her vacation early to come out and fix this." And at which, he pointed an indignant finger at said Celes. "And don't you give me any shit about that. You know as well as I do that with him being the face, he is supposed to be doing this exact job. And if you tell me he doesn't know, it's also his job to be periodically checking in on your organization's various extensions, so he should know."
Taking a step or so and sitting himself down on the end of the table Celes had so painstakingly set up, he made himself comfortable, looking back at Monori. "Truth is, you should be getting interviewed by Caius. But instead he's probably wining and dining with a pretty blonde back in Torensten or getting another statue of himself made. So you get the one actually running the show. Tada." He motioned back at Celes, rolling his eyes. What was she going to do, insist that she totally sucked or something? The Dragonblades may have gotten a new member, but he'd do his damndest to sour it.
He let the woman speak. No interruptions, nothing. He just stayed quiet and let her dig her own hole. She did not take it well. He just chalked that up to being found out by the actual Warrior of Light and obviously having her chances torpedo'd. There were holes, lots of them. And in truth he just wasn't satisfied with those answers. Celes spoke up, a bit more rattled than he'd have expected from her, so he dealt with Celes first. "You're obviously confused, so I won't go too much into detail, but the long and short of it, is she's stealing my identity and trying to pass off everything I've fought and bled for as a resume builder. You can ask Cassandra for the truth, if you wish. She may have bailed on me without even leaving so much as a note, but I doubt she hates me enough to lie." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Look, if you're as desperate as you're acting? I'll come by in a bit. It won't take me more than a few minutes, anyway." Helping a friend run a life saving charity didn't necessarily mean Dragonblade work, even with the logo. Though in truth it was more of a peace offering so he could deal with this fraud, first.
And so he did, turning back to the Miqo'te. "As for you..." He began, pointing again to the staff. "That's not how Azem's Crystal works." He stated. "Azem's Crystal summons those I consider my closest allies. It can reach into even the Lifestream. It can reach across even the cosmos itself. What it does not do, is conjure up some... alternate timeline bullshit like you're claiming." In fairness, he had that misconception, too. G'raha really, really did not help with that incantation, and it took him forever to sort it out. He could have maybe chalked it up to that, but everything else... "Let me guess, you listened to the Minstrel. You know he embellishes, right?" Combined with that he could absolutely see the Wandering Minstrel writing some wild ballad about alternate timelines at the edge of creation, and it fit, too well. Mostly.
It still left the matter of that crystal though. "You know the Scions are more than Tataru, right? And that the Rising Stones are home?" But, speaking of Tataru, that was probably it. He'd been gone for nearly two years. He could absolutely see her putting out a series of baubles looking like Azem's crystal. That didn't surprise him in the least. He put his hands in his pockets, one fiddling about with his own crystal. "You also forgot the First. Ryne and Gaia not matter to you? Oh, right, you never went. You have no idea who I'm talking about." Nevermind Ryne being right back home. She had recognized him, that's all he needed there. "Really, you skipped around... two thirds of the journey, I'd say. Everything you listed is either common knowledge, in a book, or the latest gossip."
Pulling a hand out, he rubbed his fingers against his thumb, he looked at her staff, glowing red with power. She was getting ready to get violent. "On top of all of that, you're getting awfully defensive. Like you're cornered. You're the Warrior of Light, right? Surely you're not threatened by someone unarmed, wearing only some clothes. If you want to meet that Yuna, though, keep going. I'll drag you to her, myself." A feeling of magic permeated the air as he BRISTLED at the threat. At least there was no embarrassing pig squeal this time. For once he had managed to maintain some measure of dignity with that spell. "What a joke. You try so hard to steal my legacy and yet you can't even get the basics right." If she was out for blood, then he'd oblige.
He snorted. "You're not even good enough to be my fake."
Alex simply watched as Celes scrambled to try and save as many of the flyers as she could. He nodded to himself in satisfaction. Job well done, now to just hang around and keep people from thinking there might be a damsel in distress or something. Eventually Celes would take the hint and go away and Provo would remain Rising Stones territory. Or at least, the Dragonlames wouldn't overrun what little territory they had. Unfortunately for him, that was when an interested party used the wind to snatch back some of the flyers. That in itself was aggravating, but as this Miqo'te--A Miqo'te? Truly? Lectured him on messing with the Elementals, he looked at her staff, noticing a familiar orange crystal. Grimacing, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his own and only looking through it between his curled fingers to confirm that he had not been pickpocketed, the sun glinting off and creating small flickers of orange from his hand. Celes may have been worried that he was about to sabotage an actual White Mage interviewing. And sabotage it he would.
Or at least try.
So he simply let Celes speak before he spoke up, probably dashing her hopes he'd go away. "She's lying." He simply interjected. Oh yes, he would absolutely sabotage this given the chance. Though, it was a bit different, considering none of his usual bombastic flair was there. Rather, it was simply replaced by frigid hostility. It was almost as if Winter had decided to return, localized entirely around his body. In short, a very marked difference from what Celes was probably used to, with him. "This Miqo'te is from my world. Gridania is one of the three city states in the Eorzean region. In my world, only the Padjali, think children but with horns, can be White Mages. The lone exception would be the Warrior of Light." In short. Him. He'd helped the siblings with their forest issues in the past, and the thought of them brought back happier moments and a slightly softer smile for a moment before he dismissed them.
Instead, he pointed at the crystal of Azem hanging off the Miqo'te's staff. "Whom you have the gall to impersonate as well. You know he's a guy, right?" Crossing his arms, he continued on. Oh, he would eviscerate this woman. Sure, part of it was sabotaging the Dragonlames, but he'd be damned if he'd let someone who didn't even know their own role come along and try and swipe his work, his legacy for their own gain. "Not only that. There are no Elementals here, which you would know if you were actually a White Mage." They weren't on the First. It'd taken him only a minute to realize that. He may not have had the job crystal, but the methods of communication weren't lost to him at least. "Furthermore, the Rising Stones are right down the block from the clinic you're applying to, and I've never seen you. I imagine the Warrior of Light would be very interested in a building that takes its name from the home base of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn."
Alex snorted, looking at Celes. "Really, I should just let this fraud continue; she'll take all your gil and run if you let her." In truth, he should. She'd rob them blind he was sure of it. But he wouldn't have it done with his title. He had standards.
Didn't recognize them. No, shit, really. Alex had to be fair on that count. With the Dragonblades on the lips of everyone who was anyone and that shitshow a while back between Sephiroth and that blonde asshole, it was amazing the Stones were even still in the game. Alex looked away for a moment, before coolly responding "Okay, fair. That sounds about right. We've been having trouble getting back on our feet since that fiasco of a fight a while ago. Almost ruined us, to be honest." There was a light coughing noise. "But we're coming back. Better than ever. Inviolate. Invincible." He wouldn't deny it. Sephiroth had been the best thing to happen to them in a long time. Alex was just hoping that they had turned a corner and that things were going to get better. Maybe they could finally solidify their hold on Provo and keep the Dragonblades from expanding there.
Of course, this guy had to continue to be smarmy about it, but Alex would let it slide, just this once. "We might be. You never know. Adventurers are a versatile, talented bunch. Makes sense that a guild of them would be a guild of many talents, right?" Not a guild of mechanics, an Adventurer's Guild. A nice way to retire, seeing as his dream of getting his own island sanctuary would forever remain a dream. Back to the matter at hand, Alex unsteepled his fingers and grabbed the ads from his jacket, fanning himself as if he were warm for a moment as he moved in a step closer. "But, well, you look like a capable sort. And the Stones are always looking for that." Folding up the ads, he handed them out to the blonde man with motorcycle troubles. An excellent way to describe him, yes. "I've got a few jobs here that could use someone capable."
But as the mechanic grunted, sending a not so subtle cue, Alex moved on. "And seeing as this uh," He looked the guy up and down for a moment before he finally finished with "Guy." Yeah, he wouldn't exactly use the term gentleman for him. Besides, he'd probably never see him again. That'd be Spiky's problem. "Is getting impatient, you can keep that vehicle at the Stones in the meantime." Alex wouldn't let it get stolen, at least. He doubted he'd let it inside, but, well, if there was a place he had to put it... "Only thing you'd have to worry about is a chocobo getting curious and poking at it. But who doesn't love a friendly chocobo, right?" Well, Ragnabawk probably wouldn't mind. Maybe. He could suck it up if he did considering he'd gotten a free ride ever since arriving in this world. He'd been complaining ever since Prompto left, boy had spoiled him rotten.
The first day he'd torn it off the board and lit it on fire. Every day after that, he'd made sure to be up early, grab the flyers before anyone could see them, and light them on fire as well. Not even shreds to let anyone know the slips of paper ever existed. The fact that the Dragonlames were actually trying to muscle in on his territory. The gall of it all. See how they would like it if he opened up something in Torensten? Now and then, the season of Spring itself would side with him and cause a rainstorm. He still made it a point to burn them if he could get them dry enough. No, no, there wouldn't be anything left to chance. It was on this day he'd left the Stones. It'd slowly been getting repairs, but it still had a little ways to go. He looked at the sky and grimaced. He'd been able to keep leaks out of the Stones when it did rain, but... the amount of magic he had to expend for that could be taxing. It was all he could do to keep the damage from getting worse.
And things did get even worse when he saw the Dragonlames adopting a new tactic. This time, instead of flyers, Celes Chere herself was sitting at a table she'd painstakingly set up. Flashing a pleasant smile. No, no, no. This wouldn't do. A pretty girl smiling pleasantly looking for help would definitely get it. Even if he'd use terms more like "dignified" and "commanding" to describe what he'd seen of Celes, the reality was that once things got bustling, she would get plenty of attention. Best to nip this in the bud. "Damn, back to work already? I knew he'd fail without you but I didn't think it'd be that fast." He remarked as he stepped forward. "I'm guessing you're here to actually try and do work and get the Dragonlames more business while the Dogthief is off getting another statue erected in his glory and honor? Or getting more blondes for his own collection as he hits the town?" Oh yes, he understood. Celes was the logistical heart of the organization. Without her, well, Caius would eventually undo everything himself, of that he was sure.
Stepping up to the side, he clasped his hands behind his back. "Don't know why you're bothering, though. From my understanding, you guys have 'fuck you' King money and any day now Old Man Hremit's going to get on one knee and present the crown to Caius on a velvet pillow." He looked at the flyers. Unfortunately, he couldn't just burn them like always, not with Celes right there. No, this would require a touch more subtlety. Aether reached into the air as he manipulated the wind ever so slightly; a soft gust aimed at the flyers laid out against the table, hoping to scatter them and leave them at the mercy of the elements. He couldn't burn them, but he could hope the coming rain would get to them before anyone picked them up. And so he just looked at the papers as the soft gust was conjured, waiting to see what would happen.
Alex stared at Caius, squinting more like, as his mouth hung open ever so slightly. What kind of fucking game was Dragelion playing here? No one was this stupid. No one was this dense. It had to be fake. This was the kind of dense you'd find in those shitty romcoms that every aspiring writer in Eorzea liked to put out. The most Alex could do was respond with a simple "I, too, am hoping he stopped." Of course he did. He was bones by now. The dead... usually couldn't scam the living. Shaking his head, he leaned back towards Noct, as Prompto did the same. He paused for a moment, overhearing it; hard not to at that distance. Alex didn't notice the picture of two guys flanking Noctis, completely invading his personal space, but he whispered all the same. "Saw him shoot the poor guy between the eyes. Dead on the spot." And to punctuate that, he made a slashing motion across his neck with a Krrrck. Really, a shot between the eyes was pretty lethal.
But it was when he watched Prompto interact with this Cindy that he just shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Was that all that was needed to get on Prompto's good side? Big naturals? Gods, he wished Cassandra had never left. Apparently the Crownsguard would've been hanging on every word she said. Maybe. Cassandra was an ice queen, would turn Prompto to ash if she got too bothered. Maybe she'd have scared him off. But, there was a problem. He knew to come to Tifa's. Caius knew to come to Tifa's. Noctis brought Prompto with him, and he doubted Noct would not have told Prompto this Cindy was involved if she were. Which meant she was a loose end. Godsdammit all. Sighing, he looked to Noctis as he remarked "You owe me for this, by the way." And back on his feet he was as he moved to fix everything like he always did.
Clapping Prompto on the shoulder, Alex whispered again, "Get behind her." He would handle this. Uncle Alex would step in and take care of everything without it all going to shit. Surely. As he put on a charmed expression, he took a few steps, stopping in front of this Cindy. "You're Cindy?" He inquired as he folded his hands behind his back. He formed a light spell in his right hand, one he wanted to make sure was potent. Quickly it was curled into a fist to hide it. "Prompto's told me a lot. He got really hurt a while back when we were on a mission. Bandits attacked a village and razed the place. Once we'd taken care of them, dumbass hears some chocobos in a burning stable and rushes in. He gets the last laugh, though. Turns out there were three kids in there and he nearly dies dragging them out. He was so banged up from that whole affair he was bedbound for a month, so all he could do was talk. The kids' grandma baked him a cake as thanks."
He would just talk to Prompto after this. For the sake of the boy's dignity, he would teach him the lesson of Do Not. Maybe even help get him ready if she actually bought this crap. Really, he had his doubts that Cindy would buy it. Prompto wasn't painting the most convincing picture as it was. But that wasn't the primary purpose of this. No, that was just him trying to help Prompto out. The real, primary purpose was that spell, which, in his speaking, he'd managed to juice up pretty well. Should work for a while. Bringing his right hand around, he kept it balled up, pressing it against his own chest. "But my, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you." And bringing that hand up to his mouth, he unfurled it, and blew the SLEEP spell right towards Cindy's face.
Of course, it was at this moment that he realized something. He'd instructed Prompto to get behind her. The plan being that he would just, catch her if she fell backwards and he'd catch her if she fell forward, but! Well, one possibility in all of that had not occurred to him. Ah, shit, what if it gets Prompto, too? Maybe it was for the best. Even if it worked he had a feeling that despite his best intentions, Prompto would just get really upset with him.
Alex kept that easy going smile, as relaxed as he could be. Small talk, even if for the sake of the job, was always a good starting point. "Please. The Rum Martinez is a long, complicated drink. Everyone makes it differently, adding their own spin. What I want to see, is how you make it." He paused for a moment, tapping a finger on the table as if in thought. "Tell you what, I'll be happy to make you my own version of it afterwards. Does that sound agreeable, Miss...?" He trailed off, indirectly asking for a name. Oh yeah, it's all coming together. Or at least it was. Things have a funny way of being derailed when it's all going so well, too. And that splash of cold water came in the form of Alexander Sorel's nemesis. Well, kind of. One way, really.
Oh. Oh no. The moment Alex heard the voice, he turned. He didn't quite recognize it at first, but someone else entering the bar was enough to catch his attention. It was the face that he recognized. Bah, the statue was too flattering. It didn't take him long to figure it out. One or the other of Noctis or Prompto had run gallivanting off and roped the Dragonlames into this. For a mercy, it seemed that at least Caius had left Vorsuck behind. He did his best not to let it show. He slouched a little on the table and rapped his knuckles against his cheek. Caius ordered his drink, and Alex, finally overwhelmed by the urge, finally spoke up. "She's not blonde, you know." He sniped at Caius across the table. Oh yes, he was aware of that reputation of his. It did not help at all that when he saw Celes, he had realized she was the exact height as Cassandra, and the two looked eerily alike. Considering the further rumors of him and Celes, well, things made a lot of sense.
He squinted and opened his mouth to say more when Noctis walked in, bringing in Prompto with him. In truth, there was a part of him that felt relief. Prompto, while he had been kind enough to leave a note, had run off and that was the last he'd heard of the guy. He would've been lying if he'd said he wasn't worried about the guy. Noctis could definitely take care of himself, but there was still that small bit of concern there, too. "Oh you don't need to worry about me. I've got a way of finding where I've got to go." He visibly relaxed again. It was completely washed away though, when he saw Prompto actually talk to the bartender, who he now knew as Tifa, and... holy mother of... Alex stared for a moment, mouth slightly open before it closed and he clenched his teeth in a frown, eyes narrowing as he slightly leaned back.
Prompto. Buddy.
It was so embarrassing to witness it threw off his groove. "Noct..." He whispered in a strangled tone. Did he, did he step in here? He was wondering just how to salvage this. Hadn't Noctis said anything to Prompto? Did he and the Crownsguard just, let him eviscerate himself and his dignity like that? Did no one ever sit Prompto down and teach him the lesson of Do Not? Furthermore, was Noctis okay with this kind of arrangement? He still didn't fully understand the agreement of the Crownsguard. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that was all thrown off when another voluptuous woman stepped in. All it took was one glance at her before he glared back at Caius. "There. She's blonde." Apparently, despite hopes, Noctis had not talked to Alex before all of this. Alexander was, as ever, volatile.
Alex's eyes widened in realization as Sephiroth concentrated, made his move. Wait, he's really-- The thought was interrupted as his body realized Sephiroth was coming in for the kill. Figuratively, he hoped. Hopefully not literally. Maybe like he meant to kill him was a bad idea. Even so, he had to react, and it was only years of experience that really saved him here. As he instinctively raised his bastard sword to absorb the blow in the nick of time, he felt the sheer force of it spread throughout his body as it quickly gave under pressure. Had Sephiroth been exactly as been described, sure, but he never really accounted for the possibility of a superhuman. Within an instant he had felt his feet leave the ground, and as he soared through the air in a most undignified manner, only one thought was able to pass through his mind. I'm gonna kill Aerith. He almost wondered if she'd left it out on purpose to try and kill him off as some kind of sick joke. Ohhhhh, that would be just like her, wouldn't it? He'd give her a piece of his mind after this!
He landed on his back for a moment, sliding on the ground as the rest of his body moved up, pulling him over onto his face as he finally landed in what appeared to be a soft patch of foliage. Said foliage also looked suspiciously like poison ivy, but that was neither here nor there. At least, not for a little while. At least Alex was fortunate that he wouldn't have to deal with this during the fight to stay alive. Even if so, there was plenty of rage to keep Alex from noticing it. In fairness, said rage wasn't actually directed at Sephiroth. Well, it was, because Sephiroth was unfortunately right there, but the cause of it was Aerith, Sephiroth held no blame in this. But it was enough to shoot back up onto his feet immediately as he cast the spell Bristle. It would bequeath him superhuman strength, though by his estimate, not enough to match whatever the hell training regimen Sephiroth put himself through. Just, more enough to not get sent flying with every hit.
He meant for the casting to sound like a ferocious war cry. Embarrassingly however, due to Bristle coming from a boar, it sounded more like an enraged pig squealing than said ferocious war cry. Reaching behind his back, so Sephiroth wouldn't see the actual casting, a broken handle appeared in his hand as he infused it with aether. "She is so fucked!" He roared, mostly to himself, hurling the broken handle into the air as it began to materialize above Sephiroth's head, several feet in the air. Aether gave it shape and form as it formed into... a giant cartoon weight? Dark in color with a simple 4T scribbled on it, it hovered in the air for but a moment before it began plummeting down. Bizzare was really just one of the lighter words to describe Alex's spellbook.
Plus, what kind of monster has the power of a giant 4 ton weight?
It was sleeting. Truth be told, that was always the worst for him. Rain, he liked. Snow, he mostly liked. A mixture of both just led to ice, and that meant he had to watch his step as he moved about the streets of Sonora in what he thought was a completely inconspicuous outfit. His black coat, with his waistcoat beneath it. It looked "chic" and "in" for Sonora as the kids put it, yeah? In one hand, he carried an umbrella, in another a large suitcase, that would be surprisingly heavy if any tried to take it from him. One or two already had. One or two were already getting their swollen faces treated by by the slowly freezing pavement. Jerks. Nature had a way of working out small ills like that.
Inside the rather large suitcase was his armor, neatly folded. He'd fancied himself a smith, but even he never figured out how Gerolt had managed to get that dragonscale suit to fold so well. His sword was also inside, wrapped in cloth, along with his focus crystal. He may have also shoved in his signing book, so you know, Ignis and Gladiolus wouldn't have to be separated from their dearest friends in terms of employment for very long. In truth, he wasn't sure if this was just prep or it was just about go time. So, he'd prepared for the latter. Let it never be said that Alexander Sorel would be caught off his guard. ... At least, not in this particular regard, yes. But, all people would see as he moved down the street as a mixture of snow and ice came down, was a blond man with an umbrella, carrying a suitcase. Surely nothing out of the ordinary there. He even picked out some good shades as a way to keep some measure of cover. Apparently amber eyes were rare on Zephon. Who knew.
As he stopped in front of a bar, he tucked the umbrella between his arm and side and fumbled in his pocket for a note from Noctis. As his shaded eyes read its contents again, he nodded. Yeah, this was the place. He looked around, and once sufficiently satisfied he wasn't being watched, the note in his hand turned to ash in but a moment as he felt the influx of heat against his face. Couldn't be traced, now. Stepping inside, he took care to fold his umbrella, place his coat on the rack, then look around before seeing the woman behind the bar. Ah, was this to be their host, then? This gobsmackingly gorgeous woman? Twelve forfend. She also looked like she could kill him. Even better. He paused for a moment before he brushed a bit of his hair out of his eye and put on a confident smile. Time to turn up the charm as he sat himself down on a tool, placing the suitcase next to him with a heavy thud.
"Hey, first time here. Hope the ice hasn't been keeping too many customers out." He remarked, slipping off the shades, folding them up, and placing them neatly beside him. Maybe get something to drink. Something to warm the bones, but without getting him wasted, but show some class to the lady in front. Nice way to strike up a conversation at least, yeah? "You wouldn't happen to know how to make a Rum Martinez, would you?" When Cassandra had, in his personal opinion, a bit of a drinking problem, you had to know how to make stuff when you didn't trust people to do it for you. Of course, that would logically extend to this lady, but, well, he could make an exception just this once. It probably wouldn't backfire on him, right? Also, Noctis knew her, so she couldn't be all bad, right?
