[sub]in collaboration with [@SunsetRoses][/sub]

[h1][center][u][i]"Confirming their love"[/i][/u][/center][/h1]
[h1][center]or[/center][/h1]
[h1][center][u][i]"Onset of Madness"[/i][/u][/center][/h1]
Triss escorted them into the hall, her grip on Alphonse's hand tightening at every turn as though she was afraid of losing him if she didn't. She turned to him, looking into his blue eyes with a loving softness behind her own. [color=89fdc5]”Where are we going? Our perch is ruined...because of me.”[/color] She diverted her gaze to the floor when she brought up their secret place and how Lorelai had burned it. They would have to find a new one, and talk there instead. 

[color=ed145b]"Well, that was my favorite place....inside the castle."[/color] Alphonse pulled Triss close and wrapped his shadow arm around her shoulders, dragging them both into the darkness itself with the same motion. Triss knew darkness and silence for a few moments, before she was blinded by light for a moment. The light filtered through the canopy of the forest. She heard the roar of water, and turned to see a waterfall behind them. She turned back to Alphonse and he said [color=ed145b]"This, is my favorite spot." [/color]He lead her over to some flat rocks by the rivers they could lay on and relax.

Triss blinked for a moment or two after they escaped the darkness, a feeling she still wasn't used to. When the spots in her eyes were gone, she let herself be taken to the smoother rocks. Once the arrived, she sat down, straining her legs so her feet dipped into the cool water. It was refreshing, she hadn't been outside of the castle grounds since she had arrived there. [color=89fdc5]”I've missed you dearly, Alphonse.”[/color] She said, her voice directed towards the riverbed. 

Alphonse sat down on a rock that made a decent chair a fair distance from Triss.[color=ed145b] "Sorry, I didn't mean to avoid you. I've been busy lately, and....that's all a load of crap. I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me after..... Lorelai."[/color] Alphonse rested his head on one hand and drank in the beautiful woman, sitting in a beautiful field. If only she'd look at him.

Triss was surprised to hear Alphonse's voice so far away, she turned to find it, and saw him sitting in a rock that shaped itself into a suitable chair. She turned pink, and her attention moved back to the river. [color=89fdc5]”It's my fault, I should have seeked you out. Instead, I was stubborn. My apologies.”[/color] She took a deep breath, forcing the color to fade from her face before she looked at him again. [color=89fdc5]”So, your trip.”[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Oh, yeah, the trip to the abyss."[/color] Alphonse said, as if he had forgotten why they were out here. [color=ed145b]"Well, Lorelai is looking to bring the Lord of Plagues back from the abyss for use in the war. I'm feeling ambitious for once, so I'm going with her to help out. Maybe pick up a thing or two about necromancy while I'm down there, progress my career, you know how it goes."[/color] He shrugged at the end. 

Triss felt her heart ache, she didn't want him to leave, but there was nothing she could do about his resolve. [color=89fdc5]”Yes, I know about the Plague Lord. Lorelai was talking about it during her meeting with Andri.”[/color] She shrugged, pulling her legs up to her chest and resting her head there. [color=89fdc5]”I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you have a great learning experience.”[/color] She fiddled with the hem of her dress, picking at the stitches until they frayed. 

Alphonse stood and walked closer to her. He sat down by the river bed, still just out of arm's reach. [color=ed145b]"How about you? Medusa or Lorelai dragging you into anything ridiculous?"[/color]

Triss glanced at him, crawling over until they were sitting side-by-side. The contact made her shiver, and she felt at ease. [color=89fdc5]”Not lately, but I have a new patient. His name is Andri, he has a demon in his head named Khan.”[/color] She paused, staring out past the river and into the thick of the trees. [color=89fdc5]”You know how you said I should have just talked to you, what are we supposed to talk about?”[/color] 

[color=ed145b]"You had kept hiding what had happened with Matrim from me. You never explained how it had come to that position, and then when you tried to confess to Lorelai, so that she would...."[/color] Alphonse stopped for a moment, struggling to say what he meant. [color=ed145b]"I've been in the same position as you. The guilt, feeling like you don't deserve life. Or love. I just want you to tell me when you're having trouble is all. We could talk it out, or come up with solutions..."[/color] Alphonse finally stopped. What was it he was trying to say? Maybe he should just tell her how he felt when he was close to her, that had to have been a better subject than this.

[color=89fdc5]”I didn't know you had ever felt that way, you're always such a carefree person. I'd like to talk to you more, if it means you'll be around.”[/color] Triss knew he was struggling to say what was on his mind, and it made him even sweeter. She wanted to lean on his shoulder, or reach out and grab his hand, but during their time in the woods he hadn't made any attempts to do the same, so it was too risky. Taking a leap of faith, she decided to approach the elephant in the room. [color=89fdc5]”I want to talk about us. We've never really...approached it.”[/color]

Alphonse's heart skipped a beat at her words. Maybe....[color=ed145b]"I know, I...I'm not sure how to go about that."[/color] He chuckled at the ridiculousness. [color=ed145b]"The witches of this Coven don't have much in the way of courtship, with men, I don't really know what to do...with someone that I really care about. I just know that I want to be with you." [/color]He put his hand next to hers, a silent invitation.

When Alphonse's hand took its place next to hers, Triss let out a breath she hadn't known she’d been holding, as relief flooded through her body. She clutched it, accepting his invitation with ease. Her heart threatened to pound its way out of her chest, and she knew with absolute certainty she wanted the same thing as Alphonse. 

[color=89fdc5]”That's great, actually. I don't like silly gestures, I just want to know that you share my feelings.”[/color] She looked at him, wanting to savor him. [color=89fdc5]”Can you handle me? I'm insane, an absolute nutcase.”[/color] She laughed, but her eyes were pained with the truth. 

[color=ed145b]"I'm just glad to know that you're not too good to be true."[/color] Alphonse winked and smiled at her, enjoying the grip she had on his hand. [color=ed145b]"I think we'll do well together, you can reach into people's heads, and I can reach their hearts."[/color] He leaned his shoulder into hers. [color=ed145b]"I don't know what it is, but being like this here, with you makes me feel in a way that I haven't since I was a boy, just happy."[/color]

[color=89fdc5]”You make me feel amazing, like a brand new person every time I see you.”[/color] Triss smiled, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb. [color=89fdc5]”When we touch, I feel fulfilled, like I could never be happier. It's a joyful thing.”[/color] Triss got on her knees in front of him, holding both of his hands and enjoying the space they shared. [color=89fdc5]”I think we'll do just fine, if you don't get yourself killed in the abyss.”[/color] She laughed, bringing his hands up so she could nuzzle against them. [color=89fdc5]”I hear it's a cesspool of Succubi down there, should I be worried?”[/color] 

Alphonse followed suit, kneeling before her, looking into her eyes. [color=ed145b]"I promise I'll make it back."[/color] He said solemnly. [color=ed145b]"Come hell or heaven or sexy, adulturesses, I'll make it back here. I'll make sure you're safe."[/color] Triss laughed and smiled. They looked into each other's eyes and shared a kiss. When they pulled apart, the water looked very inviting. The two spent the rest of the daylight hours swimming and laughing. Sharing stories. It was a peaceful bright day before the darkness approached.