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

“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.”