Alphonse Dalston

[His brow furrows, and he tilts his head slightly to one side. He doesn't understand.]

What the hell are you apologizing for?

(....Not your fault that he is- he was.. so stubborn.)

[He catches her looking out from the corner of his eye.]

...hm?

[He lets out a low hum of agreement, not really looking at anyone.]

...Let's go.

...Right. Don't wanna give him another scare.

[He pauses.]

I...

....It's the right place to bury him, I think.

...
Makes sense.

[Dalston knows full well he couldn't persuade her any other way. And he can't help but respect it.]

....Hah, alright.

[He sighs.]

Probably better than getting back at it by my lonesome.

[His gaze falls back to the red rings below her eyes.]

For.. both of us, I think.

I have to go back to Monte D'or.

[Still, he's hesitant. He doesn't want to leave her by herself.]

I haven't got the slightest idea what'll be waiting there, but...

How can I leave everything to collapse in on itself? Henry's absence by itself, would–

[Dalston steels himself.]

Let alone mine.

[He sits there for a good few minutes longer, before pulling himself back together.]

...I only know what you would have wanted.

[Alphonse takes a long, deep breath.]

Your city... Our city. I'll take care of it for you.

[He gets up, slowly.]

I have to go back.

[He gently brushes Henry hair out of his face.]

Don't just leave me here, you idiot.

[Dalston's lip quivers.]

Whose nerves am I supposed to get on, if you're gone...?

[It's become significantly harder to breathe without getting choked up.]

What the hell am I supposed to do.

...

[He pulls the blanket back somewhat, his hands trembling more than he would like. The fabric is cold to the touch... it just hammers it home harder.]

Oh, Henry...

[He doesn't like the crack in his voice.]

I...

[On the one hand, he doesn't want to face this. He doesn't even really want to think about it. He wants to pretend like nothing happened and that Henry will be back any moment.]

I don't...

[On the other hand,
When will there be another chance to say goodbye?]

...Yeah.. Okay.

[He nods, quietly. A bit too quietly. It's always unnerving when he's silent.]

..What...

..What now..?

[But he can't bring himself to say much either.]

[He pulls her into a big hug without much of a word. For whose sake it is doesn't really matter.]

...

[He wants to cry. Or scream. Or anything. Some part of him wants to start breaking things.. Another part wants to do nothing at all.]

.....

[That part is the most overwhelming.]

No..

[No no no no no no no no no no no no no. This isn't real. This isn't really happening.]

You can't mean...?

[His heart sinks. Some part of him has a feeling where this is going, but he's not ready to accept it yet.]

Henry‐ where is he? is he alright?? Damn it, how long have I been out..?! He must be worried sick.

[His heart seems to stop beating in his chest. This is something big, isn't it? Oh, shit.]

...What's wrong? Ange, did something happen?

[He wants to console her, but he has no idea how.]

Angela! Thank god, a familliar face.

[He has to do a double take when he sees her eyes]

Jesus. You alright? You look like you've been bawling your eyes out.

Okay. No one around. That's.. Weird.

Ugh... my head is killing me.

[He blinks, vision regaining its focus for the first time in a long while.]

What happened..?

Not yet. This place is... something.

And by something I mean the interior could use some work.

You can still have a happy pride can't you??

...

(...Uncle..?)

Ah, Yeah, you too.

(Uncle.)

Happy pride

This pride month I just want us all to remember the godawful coming out gift Ascot gave me

I thought I didn't.

But uhh. I haven't been able to... lie?
Which hasn't been the biggest problem since I just say what I think most of the time anyway.

But it has been...

[He grimaces]

Embarrassing. At points.

Ah, yes. The knobhead that shot you, I remember.

...

Hey about those curses.
How do you know if you have one?

I can't say that I have.

Why? What's the story there?

Felix?

...

Do you mean the one in the uniform from the hospital a good while back?

[The dog seems very happy to see Angela.]

Bah, rubbish. We're in this together, aren't we?

I thought it'd be for the best.

[He puts Rex down on the ground who has definitely been here the whole time and who i didn't forget he had with him at all shhhh]

Besides, now we have an extra guard dog.

Don't ask.