dawntrailed

S'ria:

The host of the system, and is around 99% of the time. S'ria was born in Gyr Abania, into a group of S Tribe members who kept to their traditions instead of leaving for city life. This group was killed when Garlemald occupied the country, and S'ria spent an unfortunate chunk of his childhood and teen years in Garlemald. (Bad. Can explain, but Triggers abound. Developed Dissociative Identity Disorder during this time.) He eventually escaped and found his way to Limsa Lominsa, where he was taken in by the Rogue's Guild (and did not remember anything before that).

He only realizes his links to Gyr Abania during StB, and only begins to remember any of his pre-Limsa traumatic past much later, in ShB.

He views the twins as adopted siblings, and has had G'raha as a long-term partner since post-ShB.

Menphina:

Serves in a "Caretaker" role, is frequently aware and paying attention to external events. She attempts to take care of both S'ria and those in his life. S'ria was unaware of her existence until post-StB, at which point he becomes aware of having DID. Menphina had always been able to do improvised healing, but she doesn't take the chance to try to learn properly until S'ria is comfortable with her presence.

Unlike her godly namesake, she presents herself as a mature adult figure.

In post EnW, she picks up a non-combat version of DNC (party support), creating the custom job "Selenomancer" -- a WHM/DNC hybrid.

In Reaper Menphina AU: She instead made a voidsent pact when they were young and ended up the main player character + WoL. While being an alter makes relationship with the body complicated, describing her as a trans woman is the most accurate thing here.

Fray:

Serves in a "Protector" role. Not quite DRK Fray. This alter existed since childhood, attempting to protect the system and escape (and did kill their abuser), but did not have a name until they fused with the Fray Concept that was created through the DRK quests.

They fight many of the trials and major battles in ARR on S'ria's behalf, which results in large gaps in his memory of events. (S'ria attempts to hide this for years.) S'ria is now aware of them, but direct communication is still hit or miss

Menphina relaxed slightly as several other passengers began to wake and head above decks for fresh morning air. It was a relief to see the twins start to stir. She'd not clearly spoken of it with her traveling companions, but her sleep schedule was not an easy thing to miss. Menphina hid a yawn, hoping that at least one of the pair would wake up and settle somewhere in the hold so that she could finally get some needed sleep of her own.

After all – how was she meant to sleep like that? In the middle of a dim room and surrounded by more strangers than allies?

...No, Menphina would not be leaving herself so defenseless.

Luna murmured something annoyed in her head – surely a protestation that she'd always been there to protect Menphina. Menphina was gentle enough to not point out how exhausted the sleeping arrangements had left the voidsent as well. Or perhaps just too tired to argue with Luna over it.

Menphina slightly jolted as someone sat down near her. She looked to see Erenville pulling a small book from his backpack, turned mostly away. The tension slowly left her body as she successfully assessed him as harmless to her. Though, just as Menphina thought he was ignoring her, he briefly turned to look at her with a small nod and then went back to his notebook as though nothing had happened.

Well, he was a fauna behaviour expert. Perhaps her own skittish actions were something easy to interpret.

Either way, she felt inclined to trust him and his wordless… offer? It did not feel optional somehow, as though he'd be displeased if she rejected the opportunity for needed rest – or maybe that was her tiredness speaking.

Menphina quietly sighed and reached for the belt that held her coat tight at the waist. There was one… downside to not sleeping until daylight crept into the cabin. Perhaps if she'd considered this, she'd have packed an actual pillow of some sort.

Buttons were far more difficult now, with one arm limited in feeling, but she eventually succeeded in undoing the coat and starting to push it off her shoulders. The whisper of air on her upper arm felt so wrong in public that she nearly froze. No, ‘twas of no matter – the important part was that the padded leather of her coat folded into an ideal place to rest her head. She tried a few different arrangements, eventually curling up with her bare left arm tucked close against her body.

Menphina quickly fell asleep, briefly awakening from time to time to see Erenville in the same spot as before.

Menphina had gotten a fair amount of the daytime sleep she'd needed – which was ideal considering how much less peaceful her next interruption was.

Menphina jolted awake to several loud noises and fought to reorient herself from her current position of being sprawled on the floor. There was a yelp from quite high up, a voice in a warning tone far closer, and a dull pressure on her arm.

Her left arm. Clearly her sleeping body didn't agree with keeping it folded close to her chest.

“Could you try to be a bit more careful around your hand-picked warrior?”

“I'm not clumsy, I just didn't see it!”

Menphina turned her head to see Erenville crouched by her, one arm in front of Wuk Lamat’s legs and the other hand resting on Menphina's arm. She wrenched her arm away and he gave her an apologetic look.

“It was in harm’s way.”

Wuk Lamat jumped as she looked to Menphina's arm again, ears flattening. “M-Maybe the rocking of the ship is playing tricks on my eyes.”

Menphina sat farther up, rubbing at her eyes with her good hand. Her voice wavered between a rough tone and polite accent as she fully woke up.

“If you were so seasick that you're hallucinating, we'd have a serious problem.” Menphina didn't pause long enough to give Wuk Lamat a chance to insist that she didn't get seasick. “It's maybe too complicated of a story for someplace so crowded, but it wasn't your fault. I shall explain when we are back on dry land.” Menphina pulled her coat back on hastily, raising her left hand. “But it looks perfectly normal like this, so ‘tis fine to forget about it for now.”

Wuk Lamat watched her uneasily for a moment before putting a smile on her clearly exhausted face. “Well, I'm sure a storied fighter like yourself has quite a tale!” She turned away and muttered something about the ‘dry land’ that sounded like a plea for mercy, which Menphina politely pretended not to have heard.

“Sorry for almost stepping on you.” Wuk Lamat rubbed at the back of her neck, then her eyes lit up. “I'll take you out for the best food in Tuliyollal once we get home, my treat!”

Menphina smiled sympathetically as the thought of food seemed to make Wuk Lamat's excitement quickly fade. “That sounds like a plan.”

Wuk Lamat gave a strained smile back, quickly retreating back to fresh air above decks. Erenville waited for her to be out of earshot. He then spoke up with a small shrug.

“She was going to treat you all to food even if she hadn't nearly tripped over you, you are her guests.”

Menphina quietly chuckled. “I figured as much, but ‘tis sweet nonetheless. She is… a bit young, yes? But her heart is in the right place.”

Menphina closed her eyes for a moment. She could say nothing of Wuk Lamat's older brother, nor of Wuk Lamat's own suitability yet, but the eldest one must not succeed. That alone was enough to send her across the ocean.

Menphina abruptly changed the topic. “They like to gossip in Old Sharlayan far more than they pretend. If you were so quick to move my arm, I assume you have heard. I have to ask – what are people saying?”

“It has been… spoken of, yes.” Erenville faltered with uncommon hesitation.

Menphina cracked a lopsided smile. “You did not strike me as one to hold your tongue like this.”

To her relief, she got a tiny laugh in return, though his face turned somber. “Gleaners can be superstitious. Some claim that it's cursed, as if you had done unholy magic to reattach a limb – perhaps not even your own.”

Menphina could not deny that it stung to hear, just a touch. Perhaps her face gave it away far more than she thought. Erenville softened his voice.

“They are grateful. Just too fond of tall tales.”

“Thank you for your honesty.” Menphina watched her fingers flex, tilting her hand. “I understand their reasoning. If they are imagining pacts with voidsent then they are not even terribly far off.”

To Erenville's credit, he did not ask any follow-up questions. They lapsed back into a comfortable silence, Menphina continuing to watch her hand.

“And what are you two brooding over?” A familiar clack of boots accompanied Alisaie's return. She approached Menphina and shoved an orange into her hand. “For your health.” She frowned. “Honestly, are you sure you don't need more sleep? You don't look like you're feeling well…”

Menphina fixed her with a flat stare. “Thanks. I know – I know, you did not mean it like that.” She sighed, lightly tossing the orange a few ilms into the air and catching it. “I suppose if Shtola is not worrying over my rest, it falls to others.”

“If you put it like that…” Alisaie sat beside Menphina, patting one leg in invitation. “She'd be rather cross if I did not do my due diligence. Go on – another bell. You need it.”

Menphina grumbled even as she moved to accept the offer. “At least I am not getting lectured by a child anymore, but… you needn't sound so much like a healer catching their patient out of bed.”

“If you stare at that any harder, I fear it may catch ablaze.”

Menphina jolted and turned her head. Y'shtola leaned by the doorway, squinting as she tried to observe what had Menphina's interest. After Menphina didn't respond for a handful of seconds, Y'shtola hesitated.

“Unless… you would rather me leave you be?”

“No, wait – stay!”

Menphina reached out a frantic hand and Y'shtola quickly approached. She took the chance to look down at the item Menphina was so intent on. It was a vial with a scribbled label, so messy that it was barely a smudge of aether across the paper. She squinted as though that could possibly help.

“It is…a medicine that, over time, should help me look more…”

Menphina paused, seeming to struggle with choosing the next word. Y'shtola had no trouble connecting the dots herself.

“Oh!” Excitement briefly lit up her expression, but then she recalled Menphina's intense staring match with the vial. “‘Tis what you want, is it not?”

Menphina answered in a surprisingly small voice. “Yes. For so long.”

“Then why do you hesitate?” Y'shtola laid a hand overtop Menphina's and sat down beside her.

“I – how do I…” Menphina shook her head. “I fear this may sound hard to believe.”

Y'shtola raised her eyebrows. “Have you forgotten who you are speaking with?”

Menphina chuckled. “No, I suppose you do embrace the unbelievable with open arms.” She sighed and watched the evening light from the window ever so slowly creep across the floor. “I was not always me. Or rather, at birth, there was no… Menphina.”

When her voice lapsed, fighting to pick her next words, Y'shtola spoke up. “I know you were not born into being a woman. I should say I am quite aware of that by now – but you need not speak of it.”

To her confusion, Menphina chuckled dryly. “No, no, it is… not that. When S'ria was brought into this world, I truly did not exist yet. ‘Twas not until later, when – w-when things I do not want to speak of tonight happened, that there was Menphina. He needed me. I looked after him until…”

Menphina continued to watch the light shine off the tiles, refusing to look at Y'shtola's face. “Until it was over. And S'ria slept and didn't need me anymore, but no one else wanted to step forward either. Most of the time, it's been me ever since.”

“I…see. You need not disturb troubling memories for my sake.” Y'shtola briefly paused and Menphina tried her best to not read any pity in that tone. “Forgive me – how does this relate to your current dilemma?” Y'shtola gestured loosely at the vial.

Menphina blinked. “What, no… questions about the other part? You're just taking that at face value?”

“Of course. ‘Tis not a concept without precedent, and it does not matter much when it has been you here with me all this time. And if there are moments where you are someone else, we shall handle those as they happen.”

Menphina shakily breathed out and pressed into Y'shtola's side. “That's the part I worry about. What if something happens and – like young S'ria, I just disappear? What if I change the body, and he wakes up someday, just to… find it an unwelcome place?”

“Could that happen? Could you simply leave forever without warning?”

“I would never do it on purpose. And… I do not think it will happen.” Menphina turned her left arm, wincing at the lingering pain. “That's what this is all about, isn't it? I almost died again – maybe was dead for a moment... Maybe it's time to admit that this isn't S'ria's body anymore and stop waiting.”

Y'shtola drew back, gaze settling loosely in the direction of Menphina's face. “Have you been living the last decade or longer of your life as though you may need to give it away at any moment?” She reached up to touch Menphina's cheek. “Tis a horrible way to live.”

Menphina leaned her face into Y'shtola's hand. “I know.” She closed her eyes. “A terrifying idea for me, but I need to do what I want. You were the first selfish choice I made for myself and I don't regret it in the slightest.”

Y'shtola's breath caught and it was a moment before she found her words again. “I am... glad for it. If you being selfish led to this –”. She reached out with her other hand to smooth some stray hairs in Menphina's hair. “Then I beg you to do so more often.”

Menphina's response was only a rough purr or two and the faintest of nods.

Y'shtola looked to the mysterious vial again. “Is that something you would need to drink from time to time? Do you need aid administering an injection?”

Menphina pulled back with a slightly offended expression. “After all I have been through, do you think me afraid of mere needles?” She paused. “That being said, if you know how, I fear that the alchemist neglected to explain.”

Y'shtola chuckled. “I do have some small experience, yes.”