Shining Stars [Al'in, Inanna]

The City of Lights was not quite the same in the aftermath of the event, it was like a city under siege. Everyone was so tense, it seemed like they were ready to burst. For Al'in, though, not all that much had changed. In the wastes, it was not uncommon for something powerful to come through their camp and wreak havoc. You simply had to pick up the pieces and keep moving forwards, that was how he viewed it anyway.

Should he consider himself lucky that he had not gotten caught up in the storm? Perhaps. But he was still here sifting through the wreckage with everyone else. He carried the Grandmaster's image, if not his name, and so he would represent him in front of the masses. Azmi was busy too, so how could he ever rest knowing that his brother was working harder than him?

It was sunset by the time they called off the rebuilding efforts for the day, his hands and feet stained with the effort of a day's hard labour, but a smile still ever present on his face. After all they had been through, some people could really do with seeing a smile or two just to get them through the day.

Al'in had watched the teenage girl as she went about her work with a certain degree of respect. He wasn't going to butt in and try to help out just because she was a little smaller than him or anything. Even when she was struggling, she kept on persevering and she kept on smiling. That kind of resolve was what the Vandenreich needed right now anyway.

He ambled over to her little resting spot beside the tree, wiping a few beads of sweat from his brow before he took a seat next to her. Not exactly right on top of her, a little further around the trunk, but close enough that it might draw her attention.

"Been pushing yourself pretty hard out there, Miss. Something on your mind?"

His head rolled sideways, looking over his shoulder whilst still resting against the tree, as emerald eyes fell in Inanna's direction.

A chuckle escaped Al'in's lips as Inanna threatened to get back to work and she shook his head reassuringly. She was a bit of a fanatic, this one, but that didn't mean that he couldn't see her limits.

"Don't sweat it, there'll be more to do tomorrow. Last thing we need is someone running themselves ragged and needing to be carried to the infirmary."

He threw her a playful smile, trying to steer her away from this course of action, though he was doubtful that it would take much to do so. At the mention of her reasoning, though, he tucked his arms behind his head and cast a glance back to the rubble. It was a hell of a question really, but a lot of people were probably thinking it too. This place had been peaceful for years, a safe haven, and now all that was up in the air.

"Some people want to get what they want, and they don't care about who gets in their way. Villains and monsters for the most part."

"You're already pretty big and strong, ya know. Most people couldn't spend a day doing what you did. But you want to get even bigger? Good, we could use some real heroes out there stopping the bad guys."

It was amusing, in that the girl was already enthused with some motivation, but Al'in also genuinely believed his comment. There were too few people out there with the drive and the selflessness to step up to the plate. Hell, running into someone like this made him wonder if he was on the same level.

"My name's Al'in mir Azizi, by the way. So remember me when you make it big as a hero, alright?"

"A pleasure to meet you, Nanna. Your name is quite beautiful, it reminds me of my old homeland far away amidst the eastern wastes."

It was rare to find anyone else that bore such a legacy here, on the other side of the world. There was Azmi, of course, and he had heard mention of a Director Ninsianna. Actually, come to think of it, they said that she had strange ears too. With a passing curiosity, Al'in took the opportunity to make a mental note of her ears to compare to this Director if he ever met her.

"Oh me? I'm not all that special. Just a wanderer who figured this place was pleasant enough to settle down in. I like the ocean, there's something soothing to the sound of the waves on the sand."