The Forest Clearing [Alex/Nyro]

[Alex]

Some time after Liv had been reunited with her companions, Emily and Nyro, Alex decided to join the trio on their trek. Having forgotten his own objective due to his violent black outs, he felt it'd be best to at least help others until he remembered his own goal. To this end, he also agreed to pool his gold and rations with the group, should he need to. He had nothing to lose by making new friends but everything to gain in doing so. This, and he also find himself increasingly drawn to Emily.

Despite what had so far been a good tempered relationship with the rest of the group, Alex had been distrusting of Nyro from the outset. Was it his concealing nature? His urgency to check up on his satchel every few minutes? If Alex, a boy whose past was strewn with betrayal and heartbreak, could trust complete strangers, why did Nyro act so shift at times? He had to be hiding something. Or was it simply just his status as the other male in the party causing Alex to feel threatened? He seemed to talk to Emily a great deal...but then, he talked to Liv even more, possibly viewing her as closer to him than Emily. Alex had to be sure though.

So it transpired, that on no day in particular, Alex sought out Nyro on his lonesome and elected to start what seemed to be an innocent conversation.

"So...uh, how long have you been travelling with Liv and...*ahem* Emily?"

[Nyroshea]

The time with this sortie of companionships was a brief one, one he had taken akin to spending time with his troupe. It had been a good long while since he had traveling companions, it was still a little unnerving every now and again. There was always that concern causing discomfort in his belly. That sensation that at the end, no matter how much time they'd spend together--everything would fall apart. That's what always happened, back then, a time before, even now... Soon we'll part ways again...

Nyro perched himself up against a stray wooden fence that belonged to a shepherd of some sort. Watching the cute little sheep baa and graze about the pasturous fields. Such an open field wasn't a common sight outside of Sacae, so it was nice to take it in for what it was. He slipped out a small loaf of bread from within his black, elongated sleeve, taking a small bite. He'd kept most of his rations to himself, though he would sneak some around if he felt the others had less than him. Food was a priority, but so was their continued friendship.

The sheep reminded him of something... pleasant. It was a calming view. So much more so than... "Eh?" Nyro heard somebody approaching him, a somewhat familiar voice. It was ... whatshisface, Alex? Right, Alex, the strange boy they had found with a small canine friend. Speaking of which, where was the little bugger? Was it with Liv and Emily? Before he could ask, the man had inquired something of his own -- agenda.

... Nyro merely blinked, chewing on the bits of bread in his mouth befre he ingested both the soft substance of dough and the boys question. "Huh. Not much longer than you..." he responded vaguely, not out of curtness, but because he was simply uncertain of the man's intention. GrandMysty told him that a question without a purpose is meaningless, and the question, to Nyro, seemed to lack purpose other than idle curiosity. But he also took into account that the boy must have had different upbringings, so he tried to be more sympathetic by responding at all... It was a kind of dry sympathy, but still sympathy all the same.

"Why do you ask me and not them?" now it was his turn to make inquiries. He was very quick, almost relentless in his pursuits of knowledge, even if it's remedial knowledge of another person--to better understand his comrade, if he could be called such.

[Alex]

"I just wanted to ask. You seem very close to Emily. Er, and Liv too." He corrected himself quickly. "I merely wanted some context to your *ahem* relationship." Being careful not to press too hard on the subject of Emily, for fear of being suspicious or obviously more than just curious, Alex changed the subject. "Where'd you get that bread from?" He inquired.

Inside, he felt uneasy. This person was definitely suspicious in some way. Was he a threat to Emily and Liv? Unlikely. Was he decreasing Alex's chances with Emily? While he had been trying to get over his initial affections for Emily, by this point he was definitely worried that the option of another suitor would deter Emily from Alex. He felt this was further compounded by his mature looks, which may have turned Emily from him due to the prospect of a large age gap, for Alex hadn't shared his age with his companions yet. Anyone who didn't know better would easily mistake him simply for a short man. Maybe if he tried shaving? This thought was quickly put to rest as Alex thumbed the precious sideburn on his right cheekbone. No, his sideburns were far to handsome to just shave off. He would find some way around his mature looks though. Realising where he was, his thumb quickly stopped stroking the sideburn as Alex looked up, met by the puzzled stare of Nyro. "Um, you've not answered my question yet..."

[Nyroshea]

"I only just met them, I do not know them for much longer than you... Well, Emily anyway. I have had an encounter with Liv once before, so I am a little more familiar with her, but then, even still, I don't know them so much. The tales of their lives are a mystery to me, as are yours, sir." he slumps down pressing his chin against the fence, folding both arms around the lower half of his face. "There's not much to it, we're not family or anything. It's boring really~" he mused, tossing the small remains of the bread loaf over to his comrade with a flick of the wrist, returning his palm to rest on his elbow shortly after.

"I always keep some spare food on me, you never know when you're gonna need it." he seemed a bit more at ease than he did just moments ago, maybe it was merely because his belly was full? Or he never harbored much suspicions to begin with. "Anyway, I'm just guiding them to Bern. Once we're there, what happens isn't really my business. I have travel plans of my own. What about you? Why are you out here anyway?"

There was a lot he didn't know about Alex, but there had to be some wisdom behind him -- because he was the first person to ever be able to decipher Nyroshea's true gender at a single glance. "Aren't your parents worried about you?"

[Alex]

"I, I can't remembe---!" Alex suddenly jerked back as the memory of his ordeal before first meeting Nyro and his companions caused another flashback. It was that woman again. Everything always came back to her. Who was she? But there was more this time. A laughing man. Blading, bearded and stinking of alcohol. Was this...her killer? Everything was going to fast as he dropped to the ground in agony, clutching his head as his body seized up over another cascade of memories. He started clawing at the ground, the turmoil of his past almost driving him to become feral. Growling and with tears rolling down his cheeks, Alex simply threw his head back and let a cry out into the air. Then he dropped back onto all fours, thumping at the ground. "Who are you?! Who is he?! What happened here?!" The confusion was all too much. By this time he had exhausted himself. He just remained where he was, collapsed on his knees, crying. He wasn't really looking at Nyro, rather just staring blankly past him, uttering gibberish in between one coherent and repeated phrase. "Can't...remember..." It was all he wanted to do yet facing it was driving him mad.

[Nyroshea]

'He can't remember..?' Nyro thought to himself as his bright yellow eyes skimmed to their edges, "Whoa!" before he could ask to indulge in what the boy had meant -- the poor thing seemed to be going through an episode of sort. The violette haired boy was both afraid and concerned for this. He dared not approach, but he couldn't just leave either. "Alex..? What are you talking about? Who is where?" he extended an arm out to reach for him--but then quickly retracted it for fear of his own safety.

He clenched both palms together just over his chest, watching the boy toss about in turmoil. It was a pretty heart-wrenching sight to be honest, and mentally straining. "My name is Nyroshea Anseah, I am not your enemy." he stated in a firm voice, trying to speak through the incomprehensible mumbling. "There are no demons here, there are but sheep who flock together in hopes to graze together. Will you not graze with us?" in truth he had no idea what he was doing -- but he was hoping by some means that his words would reach the other.

After all, hope was all that they had in the end, wasn't it?

[Alex]

Slowly, Alex came to his senses, letting out one last penetrating sob as he pressed his forehead into the ground. "I'm sorry," He whimpered "I just---It happens when I think about...what I was doing...what was happening...before I woke up in the bush that day. I just woke up with what I have now. Possessing only a book, some rations and that which I wear. I'm sorry I can't answer your question..."

Slowly, the small wolf cub wandered up to its broken wreckage of a companion. As Alex held it close to him, it gently licked the tears off his cheeks. "I'm sorry. This is no way for a man to behave...Can I even be called a man? I guess I'm just still a child." He said, burying his face in the cub's thick fur.

[Nyroshea]

"Is this what they call... Am...neja? ... Amnestya?" Nyro stammered, having heard of amnesia before maybe only once in his life. An ailment that suppresses a persons memories--a remedy? "There is no definitive, but maybe if we find a Seer..." he mumbled to himself, contemplating the seriousness of the situation over. It must be hard for him -- to be bound to a life without knowing whom you are. And yet even so, Nyro felt a little envious, completely hating who he'd been. Yearning to have the freedom of being somebody else-- they were opposing sides of a spectrum.

'Fate sure is fickle...'

Nyro joined the furry friend in attempting to comfort the boy, "You're more of a man than I. I mean, look at me~" he said in a playful tone, reaching a hand out to furrow the lads hair. It was strange, he looked so tall before, and yet, now, down on the ground--sulking. He looked more like a child around Nyro's age... He liked this honest, meeker side of people better, not being too fond of adults.

"I don't know what happened to you, but I know it probably causes a great deal of turmoil for you. So -- if you ever rememeber anything, let me know." he smiled sheepishly, his long purple locks cascade over his face as he leans to the side a bit. "I'll help you in any way I can. And if you need family, then you can just call me big brother~" he chimed, despite being shorter. It was more or less to get a laugh out of the boy than anything to be taken serious.

[Alex]

"Wow," Alex began. "Sixteen years old and looking to a big brother for help. Still, I never knew what it was like to be able to rely upon a family." He sat back into the grass, stroking the fox cub, who was now curled up in his lap. "I think it's better that my past is hidden from me, but when I am reminded of it, even slightly, I'm caught off guard. It all comes rushing in...like a storm. It hurts...I-I'm not sure I should be around people...what if I hurt someone the next time this happens. I don't know what I'd do if I hurt Emi---*ahem* even a single person due to my own lack of control...still, knowing that you've got my back. It's a comfort at least...We should probably get back to the camp now. It's getting late. The girls'll be wondering where we are...Oh, and thanks a lot for helping me out...it's good to have someone who you can rely on..."

---Alex and Nyro obtained Support Level C---