Horrible truths and what to do about them (open)

[alexanderthegreat]

((Before Emergency Planning, after/during With the stakes so high, open to whoever wants to join in just PM me))

It had been that King Alexander and his captain, Zeke, had left the castle earlier to investigate an extremely odd flashing of light in the country--it had confused even Holmes when the king returned not only alone from the venture but also highly irritable and upset.

Anyone who tried to speak with the king were waved off as Alexander silently walked past everyone, Foxy marching behind him with a droopy tail of her own, both of them disappearing into his study. Holmes gave it all of five minutes before he alone unlocked the door and slipped into the room himself. It was there that he saw his king slouched over the desk, face buried in his hands.

"Your Highness..."

"Don't want to talk, Holmes."

Holmes closed the door and re-locked it, leaning against the wall and crossed his arms as he stared down the blond man. This was a habit of Alexander's, having a situation clearly bother him but insisting he wanted no one to bother him about it.

"Where's Zeke gone?" he knowingly asked next, Alexander's face emerging from his palms as he glared at the older man in his doorway. Holmes nodded slowly.

"You know I have told you before that should the need arise, he has to go," Holmes carried on, staring at the king carefully as he spoke, "when duty calls, he has to answer."

"So it's right for him to choose his job over how I feel," Alexander grumbled. Holmes sighed and took a seat on the other side of the desk then.

"Everything that man does is about you. His job literally is for him to do whatever he has to to ensure your safety. When he's not working, who is he? Who is he with? Hmm?" Holmes raised an eyebrow, "I dare say that even if he wanted to get away from you for even a bit of the day, it's nigh impossible. If he's not your significant other, he's making sure no one tries to murder you on a regular basis. He has to keep your kingdom safe so that you even have a Santo-Luce to manage."

"You're telling me things I already am well aware of, old man," Alexander snapped as he rested his head on the desk.

"If you are then why be so difficult about it?! It seems that whenever anything comes up he's made to stay put while you have Darkend flapping about doing more than double of the work himself! Zeke's not a help to Alex at all if Zeke's not doing his job, is he?"

"It's different--"

"It's not, sire."

Alexander's hands slammed on the desk as he brought himself up, getting out of the chair and glaring at Holmes.

"I didn't tell you to come in here and harass me! He's gone with a group of others to go find some warship and go fight and I very well may never see him again! Why are you people focused on how great this is and completely ignoring that I'm worried sick about him?! Why am I being labelled the fool because I'm trying to protect him?!" Alexander yelled, which brought Holmes out of his own chair.

"Because his job is to protect you, not the other way around! You have your personal life interfering with your professional life!" Holmes raised his voice not as loud as Alexander's, but definitely as stern.

"I do not!"

"Aye, you do, sir! You micromanage his life away because you're too scared of what you boys' professional lives will do to your personal one together. You know over-controlling that relationship is just going to ruin it!" Holmes spouted, being the only one who could possibly do something as asinine as this to the king and not be killed for it, "I'm glad he's gone! It gives you time to clear your head, your people in Santo-Luce look up to him, this is great for morale! Something we need right now!!"

"Get out, get out, GET OUT!!!" Alexander bellowed, marching around the desk at that moment, Holmes backing up towards the door at the same time.

"Yes, Bradley, I'm going!" Holmes raised his hands slightly out of habit, scarily good call as the young king snatched a small blue vase off of a nearby shelf and threw it in his direction. With his arms up, the vase sped towards him and Holmes caught it firmly in his hands by the door, dropping it gently to the floor before disappearing through the door back out to the hallway. Alexander was quite surprised at how the older man managed to catch the vase and yet pissed that the thing didn't explode into a million glass shards.

He huffed angrily, a few tears running down his cheeks as he took another seat by the window in one of the cushioned arm chairs. Who else was going to bother him?

[lana]

((no panicking allowed, using Lana's account for NPCing))

Fearlessly so, the door swung open again in popped the head of Alexander's senior Captain, Alex.

"Good afternoon, my liege," his sarcasm was evident in his trying to sound ecstatic after he'd just heard everything that went on between Holmes and Alexander only moments ago. He barged into the room anyway and stopped a few feet away from Alexander.

"Just dropping in to give you the report. I've spoken with the generals and border security has been heightened, and that buffoon of a blacksmith got the rest of our weapons parts sent in so at least everything is new, shiny, and most importantly sharp to fight off attackers," he grinned for only a moment before he added in with an eyeroll, "you didn't order any of this, by the way. We waited nearly 48 hours and then just decided to do it for you."

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander frantically wiped at his face to hide any of his tears and then slumped in the chair, elbow resting on the arm and placing his chin in his hand as he stared out the window that faced one of the gardens.

"Good, keep doing it," he answered simply and boredly.

[lana]

Alex blinked.

"I like your enthusiasm, sir. Good to know our king is so well-versed in the happenings of his own military force during a time such as this," again, he answered sarcastically, "or are you going to let this bring you down all day?"

[alexanderthegreat]

"Albert Leid did it all the time," Alexander looked up at Alex, "you're senior captain, you're the guy who has the say of what will make me and my castle safe, and what'll keep all the stupid commoners safe as well. You give me the proposals for anything outrageous, I okay what I like, and you go about and make it happen--otherwise what's the point in keeping you hired?"

He stared at Alex for a long moment before he turned his gaze back out the window. It wasn't normal for him to even shut down Alex, one of his only friends, but at the moment he didn't seem to care.

[lana]

"Albert Leid also tried to kill you, if you recall," Alex kept his comments short and sweet to avoid having his own head ripped off if he said what he really thought, "but I guess I'll get right on that, then. Good day, sire."

And even quicker than he'd come in, he left.

[alexanderthegreat]

Having his captain leave the room Alexander enjoyed (kind of) the hour or so of silence he got while staring out the window like a crazy old man. It gave him time to think about things, such as where he went wrong and why did this douchebag Duo have to show up and essentially ruin his life. And then most importantly, why the hell wasn't tea brought to his room yet?!

Around the time that the sun started setting through thick storm clouds was about the time that Alexander finally, with a sigh, moved from his chair and to the door. Leaving the study, his tired eyes glanced about the dim hallway before he walked straight towards the first staircase around the corner. His body moved automatically, up the staircase to the next floor, shortcut through the chambers that held most of his father's old art collection and then straight up a final staircase spiralling up to the north tower.

He opened the door and just as he knew it would be, Holmes sat in the room, comfortably in one of the thick-cushioned armchairs facing the fire that crackled warmly, hot cup of tea in his hand. The man looked to Alexander, a smirk on his face. Conveniently there sat one extra armchair facing the fire, and one freshly-poured cup of tea that remained untouched. Alexander took the seat, slumping down into the blue cushion and staring ahead at the fire in front of them.

"You called me 'Bradley'," Alexander said quietly. Holmes took a sip of his tea and smiled.

"I did, didn't I?"

"My dad ever act like that?"

"Hm...you have no idea," Holmes shook his head with a titter, "your arm isn't as strong as his was."

Alexander nodded slowly. He turned his head to look towards Holmes, who stared at him with that same knowing look about him and a smile that was trying to fight its way on his face.

"I'm scared," the king said quietly and Holmes nodded.

"I know."

"I don't want to be told Zeke's dead."

"I know, sire."

Alexander turned his worried gaze back to the fire and sighed, "So what do I do? No matter what anyone says, I can't just let it go, let it be."

Holmes stared into his cup for a moment, leaning over and then setting it down on the table in front of them. He then reached over to grab the other full cup and handed it over to Alexander, who took it and then stared at the older man as he sat back and smiled sympathetically.

"Alexander, you are one person living two lives. You're a young man who's had to see his love leave to get involved in an impending war, and I assure you it destroys myself and all of us around you to see you upset. You're allowed the emotions, you're allowed to be sad, you're human.
But you also play the role of a leader of an entire nation. When at a time you're supposed to be the leader and you're letting your personal feelings get in the way of making a rational decision, that's when you have conflicts, and that's when things feel like they're getting as 'out of control' as you feel they have been."

"Like telling my captain he's not supposed to fight the battles he should be," Alexander spoke from behind the teacup and Holmes nodded.

"Absolutely. It's not something I can see being easy but when you're the king, he's your captain, a soldier, and nothing more," he tilted his head and reached for his own teacup again, "and when you're Alexander, he is your Zeke. I don't want to know but you two do as you will with that." He took a long sip of his tea while Alexander chuckled.

"I just thought I could change it. Like if I could keep him happy but try to say that I need him here by me all the time because somehow I feel safer that way that it would be okay," Alexander frowned then, "but he wants to be out there and fighting all of his 'bad guys' and you're right that everyone looks up to him. He's the great 'hero from Earth', going out to destroy the most feared man in the world right now. We need everyone's spirits up."

"And I'm sure sometime in his travels he'll have to stop by--we do supply him with information and equipment as he requests."

"And who protects him? I don't find that fair, he fights the fight he does but there's nothing I can do for him aside from just saying 'goodbye'," Alexander swirled the tea around in his cup instead of drinking it.

"You tell me, sire. You're the king of the light kingdom, a trained preacher with holy powers and abilities long forgotten by most of Allorum through your family's bloodline," Holmes smirked, a raised eyebrow accompanying it, "no, you may not be able to join the fight and be with Zeke physically, but I find it odd for you to tell me you have nothing you can do. That doesn't sound at all like a wise Frexton king, especially the same one who could figure out his own allies and help secure victory against a man like Trucido Damnedblood."

Alexander set the cup down on the table and crossed his arms, sighing again as he looked from the table to Holmes, a look in his eyes that still showed some worry though hinted with what Holmes was delighted to see determination, something that showed that the young king's gears in his head were turning. Holmes leaned in a little just to get a better look at him, Alexander's gaze meeting his and a smile forcing its way onto his face.

"I'm sorry, Holmes."

"For what?"

"For being like my father."

"Being like your father isn't a bad thing," Holmes smiled, "he was a very brilliant man and when things were at its worst, he came up with a plan almost out of nowhere."

It was true, Bradley did seem to have this uncanny ability to pull something genius out of nothing at all when the pressure was on. Alexander knew he could come up with ideas, but not nearly as intricate as what his father was able to piece together. But perhaps that was a start, he hadn't had as much practice at this sort of thing as his father did.

"I have meetings to conduct," Alexander announced, "I also have to kick my other captain around."

"I suppose that's a start..."

"I need to get in contact with Benjamin right away. We need to get a plan together now. That new fella in Crepusculum could probably use an extra hand as well--"

"Prince Kyros?"

"Yeah, that funnily-dressed kid," Alexander leaped out of his chair, and in usual fashion when he had ideas starting to roll in his head, headed straight out the door with Holmes on his heels. The king appeared to, thankfully, have his head back on straight for now.
Or maybe that was a bad thing. Who knew?

[alexanderthegreat]

The next morning brought Holmes to Alexander's personal chambers only to find that the king's bed remained completely untouched, and there he sat in the next room at his writing desk busily scratching away at what Holmes's first guess would have been a novel judging by all the papers he had spread out everywhere.

"You haven't slept," Holmes said disappointingly, "sire, that's not good for you."

Alexander gave him a bewildered look, backing away from the desk and waving his hands over all of the papers as though Holmes just highly offended him as he argued, "I've been busy!"

"I can see that!" Holmes said as he glanced over some of the papers quizzically, "what in Felios's name is this?" Immediately Alexander tore one of the sheets from Holmes's hands and busily shuffled them into a pile on the desk.

"You're going to wreck the order," Alexander spoke sharply, quickly flipping through them all now that he had them together like he was skimming for certain information within them, "they are my musings. My plans. If Santo-Luce--Allorum--is going to survive a war we need plans, and back-ups for those plans. Zeke and Alex are in here, too, see? Page forty."

"Forty pages in a night, sire?!"

"I drew diagrams on some of them! See?" Alexander argued again, pausing in the middle of the stack and showing Holmes a surprisingly detailed map of Chiaro Creek and area, "I'm not much of a strategist but I'll talk to Alex and his generals and we'll make this happen. I need you to send a message to Benjamin and Kyros for me, they're the first step in my plans."

"Already done, sire."

"Good. Then I'm off to temple and then I'll prepare for a trip to Unda immediately..."

"You've really got details figured out here, don't you? You spent the whole night thinking up what I can imagine is practically everything from Santo-Luce's weaknesses and strengths, your allies and your own ideas of what could strengthen them all and wrote them all down on paper!" Holmes smiled, "you know how valuable that is?"

"Yes," Alexander answered simply as he finished skimming through his pages. In one smooth motion immediately afterward he let not even Holmes touch the papers in his hand as they were tossed into the fire beside them, Alexander's whole night of work destroyed in an instant.

Alexander smiled. Holmes laughed.

"Just like your father."

"I know."

Alexander then disappeared into the next room, sliding in behind a screen to change into his temple clothing, Holmes only following halfway through the room and then stopping to give the king more privacy.

"I remember what you said, that being like my father isn't a bad thing. Well, I disagree. To a point, anyway. I'll just take what I liked of him and be me otherwise, thanks."

"That's all well and fine, sire."

"I'm off to do some praying today. I have lots to do," he called over the wall while he tried to find his nicer shoes.

"For Zeke, I assume," Holmes folded his hands in front of him.

"Absolutely. I have a pendant here, too, you see. I can enchant it," Alexander appeared around the corner in his best white clothing and beckoned Holmes to follow him out into the hallway, "like the charms the books would all say about giving one good luck or good health. I can do that! Foxy can multiply herself, she only needs to be my messenger."

"There you go!" Holmes patted Alexander on the back proudly, "see how diligent you are."

Alexander left immediately, leaving Holmes behind at the end of the first hallway, and one of the first times that since becoming king Alexander hadn't insisted on needing Holmes to be there every minute to make sure he wasn't doing something stupid. Alexander had surprisingly grown from his first day.

[alexanderthegreat]

((NOTES:
Now AFTER [url=http://www.crepusculumregnum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=aqua&thread=2033&page=1#27416[/url]Emergency Planning[/url] as well as The Guardian's Secret))

Was it really any surprise when Alexander returned back to the castle with less guards than what had originally set out to collect him from the ship, and him being in a flustered, foul mood, slamming the door shut on his way into the study to visit Holmes? No, no, it really wasn't. Not to Holmes, anyway.

"How did your meeting go, sire?" he dared to ask, Alexander shooting him a disbelieving look and taking a long, exasperated breath before answering him with his hands raised in the air.

"Benjamin's dead and things have gotten weird," he announced, hand resting carefully on the doorknob, "I barely have enough time to breathe, there's been too much going on and in such a short time it's...I don't even have a clue. It's weird. Everything's weird."

"'It's weird', sire?" Holmes repeated, hoping the king would elaborate. They stared at each other for a long moment, Holmes waiting for his answer and Alexander more stalling because he had no clue how he was supposed to give Holmes the answers he knew the man wanted.

So he brought Holmes to his level, opening the door to allow a golden-skinned nymph-like woman to come bouncing into the room with long, blonde hair. Holmes's eyes widened, looking from the girl to Alexander, clearly even he wasn't sure what he was supposed to make of this.

"...you don't think Zeke will be mad about this, do you?" he quietly asked, a little in jest to test the waters, noting quickly by the way Alexander glared daggers at him that it was 'serious time' and the king wasn't in any joking mood. It was almost in a time like this that Holmes missed when Alexander was still a highly immature prince who never took anything seriously.

...wait no, no he didn't.

"This is Foxy, Holmes," Alexander pointed to her, "you know, my little fox guardian? Who's clearly anything but a fox!" He shook his head as he looked over her again, their eyes meeting and she immediately tilted her head in a way that was curious but also showed an odd delight in the fact that he was giving her the attention he was. Despite how odd it sounded, now that Holmes watched their interactions with each other he couldn't possibly tell Alexander he was lying about this, the girl really did show some impossible similarities, as if the looks about her didn't reveal enough.

"Well, I'll be," Holmes's surprised tone caught her attention, "that is quite...you know, I don't know how your father would have dealt with such an odd pairing of events."

"Why is everything always about my father?" Alexander spoke aloud, not necessarily to Holmes but more to the ceiling in response to Holmes's comment. Holmes nodded and tried to come back in with a "sire..." but Alexander by that point waved him away.

"Away, Holmes. I can talk to you later," he said as he turned his gaze back to Shanira, "I have some things I need to get cleared up here." Where Holmes rolled his eyes he at least nodded respectfully and did as he was told, quickly taking leave and leaving Shanira and Alexander alone in the room.

Once the door closed, Alexander motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs by the window, taking the other for himself. It was there that they had another awkward moment of silence before speaking in her angelic language again, much like they had out on the road towards the city.

"You never were a fox."

"No."

"This is what you are?"

"Yes."

"Why is this different? Why now? Why didn't I know it before? Did my father know? Who else knows?" Alexander's questions didn't actually quit there, he'd managed to string in several others all while Shanira waited, listening and tilting her head from side to side. When she had a moment to speak, she folded her hands in her lap and did her best to answer him in a way that hopefully didn't confuse the young king.

"When a Frexton is born, so are one of us. We are connected, Master, you and I. I was trained in Heaven with the other guardians, those who are assigned to the ones you call cousins. When we are called, we come to Allorum in an avatar, the fox. This way we can protect you your whole life and never die because we are in Heaven all of the time," she paused to make sure he was following along alright, tilting her head again and watching his facial features for any signs of confusion, "but the fox form is useless sometimes, like today. They had you, I would have lost you if I did not change form. This is me, I am stronger this way--it is only bad because if I get hurt or die, it means I have failed my mission and Felios will punish me."

Alexander nodded along as she spoke, up until the part about missions was kind of making sense...

"What mission? What does Felios have to do with any of it?"

"We are born to protect the Frexton family, each of us assigned to one. I am Shanira, you call me Foxy, I am to protect you and not let anything hurt or kill you. Mahila was Bradley's, he called her Prisma. She failed," she could see him raising an eyebrow and realized she needed to back up a little bit somehow, "Felios likes the Frexton family, they have magic that He approves of, so we need to help you see the opportunity to do that magic that He wants you to do. We are born, trained to protect you, raised with you, and are your guardian until you die of natural causes. That is our mission, and when it is completed we report to Felios who allows us to live in eternal peace in Heaven. When we fail, Felios punishes us. It is different for every guardian, but it is a painful and unforgiving punishment."

"I'm sorry to say, that doesn't sound like the god I worship," Alexander crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, "the same god who promotes love is going to be that cruel?"

"Felios loves all his followers. He loves Frexton and wants them all to live, this is why he has us created," Shanira shrugged her shoulders, sounding like what she was saying was supposed to be obvious to Alexander, "I am part of you. My only purpose for living is to protect you. When you are sad, I know. When you are angry, I feel it. When you are scared or in danger, I have to do something. I have to help you."

Alexander stared at her for a long moment, shaking his head. He knew for the longest time he and his fox guardian were supposed to be connected, and he knew she reacted depending on how he felt. He also knew that to an extent most of it was out of his control when he tried to command her to do differently.

"You really do feel when I'm angry, do you? How does that work? How come you have to help me?"

"It will not let me ignore it. It will pinch, it will tickle, it will shake in my head. It will not let me think of anything else. It will shake nerves, it will hurt me, it will hurt my head," she sounded too serious when she explained this to Alexander, "I cannot ignore it. I must always come when you need me."

"Even when you sleep?!"

"Yes."

"What about when you're on a date?"

"I do not date."

"...Seriously? Why not?"

"There is no time. I am here for you."

This wasn't the first silly question Alexander asked, he had several others regarding when she was eating or dancing or even bathing. Her answer was always the same.

She was here solely for his existence. It was like she had no life of her own simply because she wasn't allowed one.

"...None of this sounds fair, Shanira."

"How?"

"To you."

"I am happy always when you are happy, Master."

"Well, I'm not happy!"

"Why?"

Why? He couldn't really explain it without saying what he had already said. She understood her job, she seemed to not mind it at all, but it didn't seem right to Alexander. For now though, it seemed like it was something he could do very little about, and right now with all respect for her it was the last thing on his mind.

"Will you be the fox again?"

"...Sometimes."

After what he'd seen, despite her unfortunate set of circumstances perhaps having Shanira around in this form was a benefit to them.

Now, how to utilize it...

[alexanderthegreat]

((Not even sure when this one is now, at least after "Emergency Planning" and after Shanira makes one visit back to the castle))

It was a little later in the afternoon, though the day still felt as warm as the early morning and at least just as bright as Alexander for a moment relaxed in a chair overlooking the main garden. Shaded by a large umbrella, in his hands he held an old music book his father used to have him play pieces out of. With every flip of the pages he looked through each piece and remembered very well each note, each melody and heard them all clearly in his head on the violin as he sighed, temporarily lost in memories to keep his mind off of...well, more recently troubling things anyway.

His attention was only pulled away then as his golden-haired celestial guardian approached him, her hands fidgeting together in front of her as she eyed him curiously. Their eyes met and a surprisingly awkward silence was had between the two of them before she opened her mouth, her hands now wringing together in front of her abdomen as she watched Alexander carefully.

"Ar-zan-der," she said and Alexander gave her an odd stare as he tried to make sense of what she just said. She took a moment to gaze back at one of the marble columns behind her before looking back to him and saying again, "Arl-e-zan..der.."

And he almost laughed, realizing it was his name she was trying to get right. With an amused smile he set the book down and leaned back in his chair as he asked, "Are you...trying to speak common language?" Shanira's eyes widened, seeing she'd gotten her master's attention and he seemed to have figured out what she was aiming to do. She seemed more excited now that she threw her hands to her sides and bounced on the balls of her feet.

"Yes," she answered and then paused, squinting her eyes as she appeared to be searching her memory banks for something, speaking again as she started recovering what she was looking for, "I...me....name...Shanira." Without turning her body towards it, her gaze Alexander noticed kept shifting back to the column behind her and he looked over, waving his hand over at it.

"Was this your idea?" Alexander called out, not surprised as a chuckling Holmes peeked out from behind the marble column, his footsteps short and quick as he made his way over to his king and took a seat beside him.

"I figure if she's going to be present as she is, it would do her well to learn how to speak like the rest of us. She's surprisingly very well behaved when she's learning something," Holmes said as he looked over to Alexander who had a mixed expression of amusement as he watched Shanira march about gloating about how 'smart' she was now and at the same time Holmes recognized the troubled look in the king's eyes which then prompted him to ask next, "what's on your mind, Sire?"

Alexander looked at Holmes, a smile on his face but it was obvious he had a lot of thoughts going on as he stared down at the book on the table.

"It's not anything I think, really. Seems out of place with us..." he couldn't finish his sentence as Shanira insisted on sitting on her knees, throwing her head into Alexander's lap. He sighed as he automatically set his hand on her head and proceeded with the scalp scratching.

"I'm just thinking about Benjamin again, more specifically that letter he gave me the day he died," the young man frowned as he spoke, "just...the way it was worded, he knew his own death was coming. It scares me to think that he may have even known how."

Holmes nodded as Alexander brought Benjamin's assassination up again, the note in particular that he knew had bothered the king before but he'd thought it'd been put at the back of the young man's mind since then.

"Benjamin was a smart man," Holmes answered simply, "he knew what strings he was pulling, he knew whose toes he was stepping on and when. He was someone who clearly didn't skip factoring in those extremists who didn't agree with his views, hmm?"

'Extremists. Yeah...' Alexander thought as he looked at Holmes, shrugging at his answer.

"Just...really. In the middle of work you imagine your death--what kind of guy seriously can just know when he'll...I mean...agghh..." Alexander slunk back in his chair, giving Holmes the opportunity now to shrug and sigh at his answer.

"I think he had enough warning, his own signs from his own environment to know what was probably heading his way, Sire, nothing more."

"Well, I've been thinking about it since then," Alexander continued scratching at Shanira's scalp as he stared out into the rows of bright red and pink flowers ahead of them, "because I'd say it'd be useful to know, but I haven't been able to come up with anything. How do you think I'd die?"

"How?" Alexander heard Holmes repeat it, clearly surprised by the question that for a moment Alexander almost wanted to laugh. It really was absurd, though Alexander was still very curious. He couldn't see himself caught in battle, and even though he believed himself to be stupid enough to be poisoned at some point it didn't seem like to him the way he'd go. He couldn't explain why, but it didn't seem to be 'his style'.

And really, while Zeke was away this was probably the best time to have this kind of talk. Somehow he didn't think it would make the love of his life too happy to have even a joking conversation about how the king would die when that time came.

Though when Alexander turned his head back to Holmes his grin immediately disappeared, noting the sudden grimness on the older man's face like Alexander had just revealed some mortifying secret to the old man or hit him in the side of the head with a reality he had wanted to avoid but it'd come back to haunt him. As their eyes met though Holmes did his best to put on a polite smile for the younger man.

"Sire," he started slowly, his gaze drifting to his lap where he set his hands folded together, "I think despite some shortcomings, you have and will continue to grow to be very well a wise, powerful, and even an inspiring king...for many years, even after I'm gone. If there's one thing I can say about your leadership it's that you're like--but you're not--your father, in that when you want to be heard you'll make yourself heard, when something tries you refuse to let it stop you, and when you have your mind set on something your passion for your work, your nation's projects, your own people really shows and I know how very easy it is for you to get that enthused that you've heard me all too frequently chastise you for things like not eating enough or skipping sleep...Heaven knows you probably wouldn't drink anything while you work if I didn't have anything sent to you..."

Alexander listened and tried to keep a serious face, though remembering all too many times when Holmes would find him in the early morning having skipped an entire night's sleep simply because 'he had an idea' was a little too amusing. At the same time he wasn't going to interrupt, but he didn't understand why the man rambled on like he did with his long-winded answer though he politely listened anyway as Holmes continued, Alexander's gaze on Shanira comfortable in his lap.

"And the same goes for when you're sick and you all too frequently refuse to rest, or call a doctor. You and Bradley are both so horribly stubborn when it comes to looking after yourselves, it's upset--" when Holmes abruptly stopped that's when Alexander looked back to him, what was before him breaking his own heart as he saw the hands of his father's old friend shaking, his eyes glossy with what took Alexander a moment to realize were actually tears that he refused to let go.

"Holmes..." the golden-haired man spoke quietly, almost apologetic in his voice as he hadn't meant to hurt the guy or anything but he meant very well to smooth it over. Holmes let out a very shaky breath as he turned to face Alexander, a graveness in his voice so much so that it practically paralyzed the young king.

"It could be anything, Alexander. Lightheadedness, muscle weakness, anything dizzying or even an irrational shortness of breath. But should it be at any point, send for a doctor immediately. Don't wait, don't shrug it off, don't be blinded by your own pride, you're the king and have access the very best in the country--maybe even the very best in the world--when it comes to medical care. Don't do it for me, do it for yourself. And if you can't do it for yourself, then do it for Zeke. Just please, do it."

Alexander stared at Holmes as he made his plea, the only thing he found he could do after a long silence between the two of them being a simple nod, something to at least ensure the man he'd understood what he said, and more disturbingly why. Alexander didn't need to ask him why Holmes would bring up something this specific, it was obvious enough that the older man was worried about a repeat event, and the worry for it repeating would have meant that there was the possibility that it was a hereditary problem...

Alexander sighed and turned away then, his hand reaching back to Shanira and petting her in part for comfort and as well to keep away that awkward feeling he felt in this silence. Holmes on the other hand got back to his feet and with a quickly muttered, "Please, excuse me..." he was gone, leaving Alexander staring back into the flowers and with Shanira.

"...Morbid, huh? Just a little..." he spoke quietly, looking down at Shanira who looked back up at him, her own eyes saddened if only because Alexander seemed a little down.

"Hum?" she blinked.

"Bad."

"Oh. Yes."

Alexander leaned back in his chair, if there was one thing he found he could enjoy for the rest of his afternoon it was at least having his guardian companion around for a little bit...

[alexanderthegreat]

((After the going to war preparation thread))

"...of course this is something that is unexpected. Naturally, we fear what is to come.

Yet in the throes of battle it is important to remember who we are and what we fight for. Duo Angelo is only a man in an idea we created, a nightmare because we believe him to be one. If we are too focused on believing in this nightmare, we will soon forget to believe in He who protects all of us, Felios, our Lord of light and love.

Santo-Luce is not a bringer of war but we all know we are nothing to scoff at. We've yet to lose, and this will not be our first if we fuel Felios and leave nothing for Duo. Fuel our Lord, leave the Tyrant behind! May the light be with all of us this day and the days to come..."

The king's words were delivered in a temple session in the early morning, ringing in the peoples' hearts and ears as the first signs of storm clouds came rolling in for the afternoon.

Alexander found he had not much left to do now but wait for Duo's forces to strike, wherever and however they may do so. In the meantime, Alexander heavily played with his citizens' minds trying in many ways to encourage them that this was a positive thing, they were going to come out of this no matter what tales they've heard and that Duo really is nothing to be afraid of, at least not in comparison to their own god.

Would everyone believe? Not at all. Could he convince some to start doing so? Of course. Alexander couldn't please everyone, but if he could touch the majority, create and keep a following he felt even without help Santo-Luce was far better prepared than they let on. People who believed fought harder, and in some strange way people who believed highly in Felios made Alexander feel oddly more powerful, and not just in a political position. It was something he could never quite explain because he honestly didn't understand it himself, yet it seemed that the more people he could convince to open their hearts to his god the brighter the chrysoberyl around his neck shone. He felt more enlightened, in a way, and for the years building up to now he found reading the angelic text in his ancestor's book was easier to understand...

He believed it was all connected at least. The thought of it brought him to an odd calmness in the early evening as he hid up in his tower, staring out the window with a genuinely content smile. Against the dark storm clouds that blanketed the city before him shone what must have been thousands of lights. Warm glowing lanterns of every kind and magic, so much light magic that gave the entire land of Santo-Luce as far as the eye could see a very eerily enchanting glow about it.

"You see it, Holmes!" Alexander blurted the moment the salt and peppered-haired man poked his head into the doorway. Holmes immediately brought himself to the king's side and glanced out the window briefly before noticing the growing grin on Alexander's face.

"It's...beautiful, Sire," Holmes added quietly, quite speechless for scene. Alexander thrust his index finger out towards the city and stared down Holmes with a fire in his eyes that easily stirred up memories of the former king.

"I hope Duo's seeing this!" Alexander let out a loud laugh, "he may be one big, scary guy but you see all of those people down there who oppose him! Duo gains followers through threats, and yet it doesn't work when people believe that there are larger, more powerful forces than him yet! They're down there now praising our country and Felios, they're united in prayer and confidence, they're proving right now that whatever darkness plagues us we'll push back and survive!"

The king rested his palms upon the window sill, eyes narrowed as his voice lowered to a soft hiss, "The actor can play your game, too, you bastard. Though I can fit many roles that you can't..."

"I think you're actually scaring me, sire. It's interesting seeing you react in this kind of situation," Holmes voiced his thoughts aloud, a grin of his own playing at the corners of his lips as Alexander turned to face him.

"Good, let's see who else I can convince because I'm terrified of everything," Alexander sighed, bringing his hands to his sides and lightly tucked into his pockets, "I think I've got my faith and pride and that's about it going into this."

"The Chromatic Order is at our side. You've done incredibly well, Sire. It's all a waiting game now."

Alexander answered Holmes with a highly halfhassed chuckle, his gaze resting on the scene outside the window again as he fell silent, the twinkling of all of the bright lights below being a comfort to him as he sighed again. It had been a long struggle as it was up to this day it seemed, and the king wasn't entirely sure if the numbness that started taking over his body in the last few days was caused by the war starting to desensitize him or a great lack of sleep.

"...We're already in mid-summer, aren't we?" his voice was quiet when he spoke again finally. Holmes nodded at this king in silence, his smile weakening. Alexander crossed his arms over his chest and turned his stare up at the hovering storm clouds.

"Do you remember five years ago at all? What I told you I had planned for my twenty-first birthday?"

It took everything in both men to not burst into laughter, though Alexander was more amused at the man's highly impressive memory. Not that the young king was surprised at all, though it was almost as funny as his ridiculous plans as a younger boy.

"You were going to take one of your father's ships..."

"Not just any ship, Holmes. My father's favourite one, personally designed for him. I was going to sail along the coasts of Santo-Luce, Crepusculum, Unda...Roccia, Ignis...anywhere that had a beach that was crowded enough to attract all of the fairest, charming of women. I was going to unite the most gorgeous of women from around the world on this ship and have a seven-day birthday party, full of dancing and feasts, and more dancing and much music! I was going to return home when I found the love of my life, my heart's one and only true partner and bring her back home with me..."

"...And conveniently forgetting that to travel all those islands around Allorum would take far more than just seven days, and also conveniently forgetting the Lord Buoise's daughter, Jacqueline your father already was set on you marrying..." Holmes laughed. Alexander narrowed his eyes at him.

"She was a terrible dancer, I'd have none of it," he shook his head bitterly then as he marched around the room to his armchair, muttering, "you could have tied ribbons around her ankles and pulled her about like a puppet and she'd still somehow bungle it all up."

"Funny how the times change, hmm?" Holmes said as Alexander sat himself in the chair and stared up at the ceiling, "though back then you had no idea you'd be the king preparing for war at this time. A happy birthday to you regardless, Sire."

"One day, one thing at a time," Alexander said with as confident of a grin as he could and a shrug, "I'll see the end of this war. And when Zeke gets back...well..."

He leaned into the left arm of the chair, his chin falling into his open palm in thought once more as he prepared for yet another night of no sleep.