a/n: act one is almost over guys.

p.s i am almost 80% convinced that pearl shattered pink diamond.

this chapter is dedicated to @Theculperring
-

It was almost nighttime. The sun was going down, making the hearts of those who lived on feel the slightest bit of accomplisment for they have yet survived another day on this cruel planet.

Alexander was taking a walk on inside his mansion, his thoughts overrunned with the countless possibilities of his future, of his marriage, of John.

He shivered as the chilling wind brush against his ears, as if it was whistling to him, trying to speak to him, as if countless of people were trying to reach to him from the ice cold wind, words from the minds of forgotten people from forgotten worlds.

He passed by the balcony, where he saw a lone silhoutte stood at the edge, staring at the sun which was now long gone, indicating the end of another day, or the start of a new one.

He carefully stepped out, his footsteps echoing in his mind, trying hard not to make any noise to disrupt the other person's solitude, anxiety speaking to him in his head, telling him to stop ruining everyone's peace, making him feel worse than he already did.

"Alexander." The person said, making Alexander flinch at the sudden voice. He regained his composure, staring at the younger man's back, trying to mask his anxieties with his normal stoic face.

"Francis." Alexander whispered, his impassive voice hiding his true feelings "Why are you still here?"

"Is it a sin to stay?" He replied, not looking away from the horizon "No, I'm just curious on why you bothered to stay despite John's absence." Alexander said "He's gone, Don't you have anything else to do?"

"Did you actually think I stayed for John?" Francis asked bitterly, clenching his fists "Honestly speaking, Yes."

"I stayed for the same reason I came, Alex." Francis whimpered as he turned around "I stayed for you."

Alexander felt his heart break at the sight, but being Alexander, he trained himself to dissimulate, so he had no trouble hiding his true feelings to anyone, except John atleast.

"Why?" Alexander muttered unconsiously, regretting his question as soon as it came out of his mouth.

"You're my friend, Alex." Francis whispered "My first and only friend I trust." He continued "I know you don't feel the same way, But to me- You're one of the most important people I have left."

Alexander didn't reply "I did everything to make you stay, I gave you Eliza- and now I have accepted the fact that you and John are best for each other." He said "B-but you still hate me, Don't you?"

"I wanted you to accept me, Alex.." Francis said "But this?"

"This is too much.." He chuckled bitterly "Y-you're ruining everyone's lives Alex.." He said "You ruined so many futures.."

"N-now, Eliza's m-more trapped than she already was.." He said "Martha and George a-are more heartbroken by your s-selfish choices.."

"T-the orphans a-are so lost, Theo is so depressed, Even Eacker locked himself in his room.." He said "B-burr and J-jefferson are agitated too.."

"N-now John is gone." He whimpered "W-what's next, Alex?"

Alexander didn't reply, his gaze was on the floor, avoiding to meet the younger man's eyes, trying to cover up all the guilt with his pride.

Silence masked the thick atmosphere, the newfound light from the moom shining on Francis' tear stained face, Alexander couldn't move, nor could speak. Instead, he stood there- his inside voices screaming for him to apologize.

"I was fine." Francis broke the silence, looking away from him "With the men, Who would come into Eliza's life now and again.."

Alexander saw where he was getting at "I was fine." He whispered "Cause I knew, That they didn't really matter..."

Francis looked at him bitterly "Until you."

"I was fine." He hid his shaking hands in his pockets "When you came.."

"And I befriended you and taught you everything like it was all some silly game.." He laughed.

"Then you fell, with this girl.." Francis closed his eyes "The girl I've been inlove with for so long.."

"A-and after all those years, I'd never thought I would lose her.." 

"It's over, isn't it?" Francis laughed "Isn't it?" He laughed again "Isn't it over?"

"It's over, isn't it?" He hugged himself "Isn't it?" He tried to mask his pain "Isn't it over?"

"You won!" He laughed as he looked at the his friend with painful sorrow "And she choosed you!" He cried, laughing painfully "And she loved you!"

"Now she's yours." Francis said, putting his hands on Alexander's shoulders- smiling.

"It's over, isn't?" He whispered "Why haven't I moved on...?"

Francis walked away from him "Law and writing." He whispered "Reinvention, Fame and fortune."

"Power, for the world's attention."

"Then out of nowhere, You took in orphans." He said "And one of them was a boy named John."

"Now I found a new person to live for." He smiled "But he was yours to take, And you rejected him." He frowned.

"What does it matter? It's already done!" He said "Now I've got to be there for John!" He screamed.

"It's over, isn't it?" He smiled, crying "Isn't it?" He walked towards Alexander "Isn't it over?"

"It's over, isn't it?" He fell down into his knees "Isn't it?" He kneeled infront of Alexander "Isn't it over?"

"You won!" Francis groggily stood up "And he chose you!" He screamed as he grabbed the collar of his shirt "And he loves you-"

"And he's gone!"

A silence occurred.

"...It's over isn't it...?" Francis chuckled weakly "W-why can't I move on...?"

Tears fell down to the ground "I-It's over isn't it...?" But they weren't Francis'

"Why can't I move on...?"