Alastair was sixteen-years old when he became a Mail-Hunter for the first time, he was a typical rebellious son of the noble Farron Family. He was the eldest of the five children, making him the heir of their father's land and wealth and their mother is a renowned landlady, pianist and a master at needlework. Being from a high-class family comes with its own quirks and he was no exception as a child, however he still retains his noble quality such as his manners. Although, due to his strict upbringing he was generally rather stoic, especially in contrast to some of his younger siblings, who was always more outgoing than him.
When Alastair was a teenager--he disliked his father, considering his father is a tyrant who forced his youngest sister Lily to marry someone she didn't like. That's what his hatred toward his father begun, as such Alastair began doing rebellious things against his father to make him suffer--such as joining the National Postal Service. Over the course of some years in the organization, he had witnessed countless events which had resulted in him becoming very unsociable in term of opening up to people other than the Mail-Hunters.
Alastair's short sandy blonde hair was neat but messily unkept that time, his uneven bangs were almost covering his violet-blue eyes and he has smooth fair complexion. He was handsome, youthful and charming for his age, Alastair was also an intelligent and studious. He wore a four-petaled black ribbons pinned on his white formal shirt with the high collar, a long-sleeved black vest with gold trim and a white trousers tucked into his black boots. He wears a dark Prussian blue high-collared coat with gold platinum borders and buttons with a musical note pendant attached on behind his back, attached with five strings that resembles musical staffs--he wears dark Prussian blue pants tucked into his knee-length dark brown riding boots.
He was a kind and thoughtful Mail-Hunter, he cares greatly for the people who aren't even aware of their danger. After all, it was the reasons that led him to join the National Postal Service--in hopes of protecting and saving others from the Husk creatures and terrors of the night, all of the people want him because of his looks and status as the firstborn of the Farron Family. He was a perfectionist, his methods were swift and methodical--even very skilled in weaponsmith and engineering, he would put people in harm's way, always careful not to leave behind tracks. But, he was most especially proud of the service and the organization, doing everything he can to ensure it remains a force to be reckoned with...
"Alastor Westenra Farron Jr... right?"
The sixteen-years old young fellow asked, he has a grayish-purple shoulder-length hair with bangs almost covering his spectacles and purple eyes--he has fair complexion and laidback smile. He wears a dark Prussian blue coat over his neck guard with furisode-like sleeves embroidered with yellow patterns of flying birds, a white flower-hemmed shirt underneath with a high-collared deep burgundy vest and his fingerless gloves was wrapped in bandages. He wears a dark Prussian pants and black leather shoes, also wears a black belt and white jabot around his white collars.
Alastair shrieked when a young fellow greeted him, he was unused to being approached by someone on his left. "Who are you, stranger?" the blonde fellow asked before he's startled that his papers were scattered on the snowy street, the grey-haired man picked up one paper that was exposed on the ground without getting his hands dirty. "Lloyd Warren, that's my name. Can I help you in any way?" he offered with a smile. Lloyd recognized Alastair but he just remained a commoner, no one knew that Lloyd came from a prestigious noble family back then since he's the eldest in his family while Alastair is also the eldest (but considered a huge rebel against his father).
"Wow, that's a cute music note pendant that you have right there," Lloyd complimented after seeing the music note pendant on the blonde-haired's coat after picking up all the papers, before Alastair snapped. "Hey, knock it off!" he shouted, which made the gentle postal worker flinched by that response...
However, as the second eldest and the next heir to their great family; Lloyd always was caring of the others' and maintaining harmony, a very warm and sweet yet gentle boy. Lloyd always cared for many people's well-being, he became a beacon of light for the others whenever a case causes him to be the leader. He knows when to care and when to act, showing deep concerns about any issues that the world brought and is never afraid to act like himself even he's too mature for his age. "Come on, it's just a compliment."
Alastair groaned, shoving the papers into his briefcase. "I got plenty compliments about it before, so don't be so flattered you make it like as if you hadn't seen that sort of things before," he grumbled.
"Also, please call me Alastair... I don't like being addressed using my full name. Hearing that just make me sick, thanks," the blonde snapped, grabbing his suitcase after gathering all of his assignments and letters from the last location he was in and heading home. Until, Lloyd gleefully ran towards him and made him fell on the snow pile with a loud thud followed by a surprised cry while the cold breeze messed his neatly combed hair.
Alastair dusted his dark coat off the snowy chunks, before he slowly lifted his head when he looked at Lloyd who smiled. "Don't you forgetting something? I'm sure we are going to work well together in the future... I have a feeling. Will you?" Lloyd held his hand out, it made the young noble stared at him--he was hesitant about that offer; he felt the tugs on his heart as he saw a smile from this commoner he had met earlier. It's as if a chain was wrapping around his wrists and ankles, it was strange indeed... and he wished the guy would leave already. It was confusing... his blue eyes lit up when the snowflakes starting to melt in his body and he grabbed Lloyd's hand.
"Fine, you are not as worst as I think you will be..."
At first, their bond is rocky and they rarely get along but--Lloyd is confident in him and he's the very first that accepted him for who he is as a rebel; Alastair thought that's the good quality that would made Lloyd more famous. "Why did you become an Emissary, Alastair?" he asked, and then the blonde stopped and looked at his friend.
"You're curious, right? Honestly... I have no reason... to joining this job for my sake--my actions wasn't like that. At first, I didn't mean to join because of my rebellion against my father who didn't like my job..." he admitted, before he realized something. "But, whenever I look at the deaths of many Mail-Hunters because of those Husks... I wanted to do something, I want to change this postal service so no one else... will have to die. That's why I want to be Master and save as many lives as I can. However, if no one helped them in the first place then you all died and you cannot fulfill that wish--you'll remain a mere legend forever. I don't care if many despised my existence here, I would rather be hated and isolated then not having anyone to cheer on me at all."
However, Lloyd's dreams were bigger; like his hopes and positive goals... he always wanted to change something too--so he began to make Alastair shared the similar vision of his; bringing the 'light' to the everlasting night of Canaria--through NPS. "What kind of weapon do you want to make?" he asked, Alastair rubbed his chin before he sighed. "It's something gear-ish and... steampunk? It's something that similar to Automotive-like weapon that infused with musical instruments, Husk's weakness is Melodic Scores since they can't handle too much light and hiding in the dark places like Campbell Altus," Alastair explained, he wondered if he really can invent something from his little expertise.
Alastair began to gather the stationery gears and mechanical parts with a few inventions on some sketch paper, then he started to develop a machine that would prove useful to the cause. In return, his friend Lloyd would suggest that the name will be Automotive Gear; a term used for the weapons used by the Mail-Hunters, equipped with the Melodic Ambers that are used by the Mail-Hunters to shape their Automotive Gear to attack Husk creatures. There are many kinds of weapons that can shape them. They can be also used for other purposes like healing, identifying, and so on. These weapons have different effects depending on the Melodic Amber type that emits the shapes, there are several kinds of color used with the Automotive Gear and Melodic Amber; each represents anger, happiness, sadness, loneliness, hope, love, memories, emptiness, and so on.
Gear types also have a variety of shapes and properties, they can be used for many things ranging from melee to shooting. The Automotive Gear can even be adapted to the wielder's specific equipment, and it has the shape similar to musical instrument such as guitars, electric guitars, violins and all. That is why these gears are considered musical equipment. Melodic Amber color code comes in different kind of colors ranging from blue, green, yellow, pink and so on. There are many kinds of types, Lloyd even gave him the sketch so they can come up with an idea to manufacture--there's also prototype ones such as motorbike.
Alastair recruited some engineers and weaponsmith to work together in their research for the Automotive Gear, which they managed to do as Lloyd went in to propose ideas; Alastair decided that he would make a gun if the gun wasn't able to function as normal. He was labelled as 'Father of Automotive Gear' and the youngest inventor to create the automate weapons that would put them as the legendary inventor when they made the motorcycles and guns for his friends. "When things are finally secured, it's all going to be good, right? The world had already began to shift and change, so everything's all going to be new and unknown. Eventually, we can't even predict when the end will come so we have to grasp and use every opportunity that we have."
Alastair created his own Automotive Gear that will be his own, known as Canon and Gigue in D Major, T. 377--a prototype gunlance with violet-colored Melodic Amber and considered the "dangerous weapon that no one would dream of carrying" when the others viewed his design. It was because there were often times a prototype one would be unstable and the weapons might explode but for someone stubborn and reckless like Alastair--these 'fears' of people just made him added more stuff that wouldn't trigger the gunlance to implode. He was the only wielder who can wield the infamous Canon and Gigue in D Major, T. 377 and he tested it by facing the Absinthe Husk in the rocky hills, he doesn't have fear in his eyes--only hatred and remorseless gaze towards the dead Husks he killed because of the fallen Mail-Hunters before.
He was there, helping the people escaping the death and blood that spilled over the land with his team before he and some of his fellow team brought them to the nearest town, saving them from the ambush by the Husk creatures. He stood in front of the Absinthe Husk, this large armored bugs has been bugging him lately and they're nothing in his eyes as he raised his weapon and dashed. He slashed the blade that exploded and it shocked everyone on site, witnessing how he ruthlessly killed the Husk. He aimed the gun part of his weapon towards the Husk, pulling the trigger as the cannon appeared before it shot the Absinthe Husk into dust.
Alastair noticed the giant Husk known as Temperanillo Husk, it took form of a giant centipede as it swung its massive claws. The dragon-faced head rumbled as it hissed, it released poisonous gas that could blind someone for ten minutes and its red crests were in the air as it spread its wings. Alastair kept his eyes closed, he can hear the screams and cries of the civilians as his friends forced them to escape from the creature. He knew he was alone now, Temperanillo Husk slashing his claws at him...
"Got you, you filth," he murmured, the Gigue's blade has stabbed the claws without the slightest hesitation. While he used his right foot as his support, he mustered his whole strength to impale the arm that kept swinging in a circle. Alastair winced as he felt the poisonous gas getting absorbed by his skin, but he kept going anyway--besides the poison will be his antibody after this was done, like the usual times when Lloyd was around.
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When he stabbed the back of the tempered giant Husk, he jumped on top of its back. As the last resort, he aimed the Canon's gun barrel to its head--even it meant his death. The canon aimed before the sound of the explosion almost ruined his ears, then it filled with the dead silence and the air was covered with white smoke. Alastair had reached his goal, defeating the tempered beast and saving others' lives but he also feared because he defeated several Husks without assistance from others; mainly from his teammates before he decided to stay longer.
Alastair opened his eyes, raising his weapon upwards that made the Emissaries roared in victory for humanity; instead of being horrified with the gory sight of the guts and brain and other entrails. Lloyd looked from far away, then he looked up and saluted the victorious--he was smiling casually as he always wanted this; he has been waiting for the day that his friend came to the town safely--not empty-handed.
That day, the people finally loved him but not by his perfect, noble self--he was accepted for his rebellious heart and bravery. He may be a noble heir, but after breaking the rules that was enforced from his own father since the oldest firstborn is the heir; everyone regarded him as a rebel and they acknowledged him for that. Since then, he continued his path to help others but his purpose has changed as soon as his family tried to interfere. He also participated in rebelling against the previous Postmaster-General with Lloyd, he was Albaerin--his previous mentor who taught him on how to fight Husk creatures and how to deal with them. He betrayed Alastair because he took advantage of his close friend, becoming a pawn under the influence of corruption.
"Once you came home from the reaping ground, there would always be your beloved friends and family who won't stop caring for you until you died," Alastair smirked wickedly, looking at his rival--Albaerin Verriden Thorssen--who glared at him after he betrayed HIS own apprentice. The noble heir has been very pissed because he's being used, taking advantage of the fact that his good will make him do everything until he got fooled. He was there at the night of Winter Solstice, ready to beat his 'mentor' after failing to win the trust from this people.
Lloyd orchestrated the ambush at the end of the street with the help of the Emissaries, planning on how to take down this former Master before the chaos begin. As soon as the trumpet's voice has called the beginning of the clash, everyone was filled with fiery and rage... it was the reformation of National Postal Service after Lloyd appointed as a Postmaster-General--because of his intelligence, generosity and clever mind--a strategist compared to Albaerin who has a cunning schemes against the people and his enemies. Lloyd will not allowed to let someone manipulate innocent people because he saw the things that Albaerin had done to many people. The conflict's aftermath... will set him free.
Despite the new order--the Emissaries took steps to eliminate corruption and deceptive methods that once used, especially to bribe common folk to ruin the community they worked together before. So, Lloyd revised the new rules, dismissing the old Masters who were once served by Albaerin's willful ideas, they finally got a new fresh air after centuries of oppression and a new generation that will rise up. The Postmasters-General ruled by their hearts and minds, seeing them to not only protect the land from the wild creatures; but also from the anti-Canarian forces and the government's involvement.
While Lloyd remained single until now, Alastair married his fiancée after three years engaging--a noblewoman named Yukariko who came from Taiyou and they have known each other for a long time. She was the first woman who taught him how to smile and make him happy (it was difficult to make Alastair actually smiled, even Lloyd needed more than two weeks to make him chuckled at the lame jokes he sometimes told). Yukariko had a rose-pink long hair with uneven bangs framing her forehead loosely, almost covering her violet-colored eyes and has fair complexion. She wears a white and purple noblewoman's kimono along with furisode-like sleeve embroidered in darker shade of blue with floral patterns of hydrangeas and ivy, layered with a pink to purple sash around her waist.
"Alastair!"
Yukariko greeted her soon-to-be husband with a huge smile on her face, she can feel her heartbeat increasing as she was aware that one step closer she can take Alastair's hand so they can start walking to the altar. The audience stared in awe to see a union, no one is better than Alastair and Yukariko because they're such good chemistry. It's sweet indeed, all the people in the room was their family members and he was nineteen-years old that time and Yukariko was nineteen like him--a common things that noble married their descendants to ensure their land was still under their control and their inheritance.
They had a child, they named her Eleonora Alastrine Farron or Claire as her nickname (because they were so damn forgetful). Claire has similar rose-pink hair like her mother, but a violet-blue eyes of her father along his alabaster complexion--the notable hint is her sharp gaze that similar to his own.
Until the peaceful times were gone, his wife passed away because of illness when Claire was twelve and Alastair remained a single-father. He became more cold and grim after the death of his wife that he locked himself in his home, mourning her death in grieve for about three months that he spent using alcohol and liquor before--she's the first person that made Alastair feels alive again. Until, he began to change when he saw his little girl crawling up to his bed and started yapping in language he can barely comprehend what she's trying to say.
Alastair was quiet for a moment, his lips tugged into a smile before he smiled gently at her and the little Claire slowly blinked curiously--she wanted to see her father smile.
Until now, he stopped drinking and choose to take care of his daughter and kept her safe and sound.
***
Alastair was in his office like usual, the thirty-seven years old Vice Postmaster-General was staring at the framed photo of his deceased wife before his office's door knocked. "Come in," he commanded, there's a silence while he was signing some documents. His chair turned as the sliding sound was heard, it was Claire was standing near to the door--while still in her usual appearance as a young adult. "Dad, I want to spar again. I'm not satisfied with my current skills..." she answered. Alastair rose an eyebrow before looking at his beloved daughter with a stern look.
"You never satisfied with your skills, ever since you were little--you wouldn't stop asking me to spar with you," Alastair noted as he rose up from his chair, looking up to Claire who stood and observed her behavior that she carried before his head perked up. "Have you ever wondering why I never treated you like a child, Claire?" he asked, grabbing his suitcase as the light was switched off and the office was darkened by the dusk's sky outside. "You wanted me to be strong," she guessed, Alastair chuckled and shook his head. "Wrong, I wanted you to be aware of your weaknesses to the point that you strive to become a master on the blade."
Claire rolled her eyes as they went out from the office, sighing. "Then... why you let me to be enrolled in the National Postal Service, back then when I was sixteen? For what reason, father?" she asked, having troubles keeping up her composure when she see Alastair will 'definitely' taught her a lesson during their sparring matches. "You enrolled by yourself, without my help--that's what I appreciate the most," he smirked, patting his daughter's head softly with his hand while they talked after arriving in the station.
Today is a holiday so all Mail-Hunters were coming back home either to their hometown or their siblings. A holiday means that the NPS have to cease their operation, the organization's role was to maintain peace of the National Postal Service. While that thing ensured that Mail-Hunters can help the people more (usually, the Mail-Hunters will go and mingle with them to make sure that they're going to have a great vacation).
Farron Mansion is located in Aria city where Claire and her father Alastair lived, it was owned by himself because he's the head of Farron Family. While the mansion had several rooms and chambers, there's a place with several facilities and training hall where Alastair will keep his daughter being a responsible Mail-Hunters that served the Canaria's hope and pride--she can maintain order. Since the day she enrolled as a Mail-Hunters, Alastair was proud seeing his own daughter developed into skilled Mail-Hunters--taking after him. Of course, she also has his perfectionist traits, that was the hint of their similarities.
Claire also has rebellious phase despite being eighteen years old, Alastair has expected his rebellious phase way earlier than he was so he was taken aback seeing his little girl joining the National Postal Service earlier. He wasn't surprised to see her being very moody and aggressive unlike him, he didn't worry too much about it; perhaps, she will be different at her age compared to him. He learned that his precious one is not even close to being like him, then he decided to be thankful of that.
He often scold her for being reckless and her habit of beating the Husk creatures to death after they messed up her delivery hours, the blonde-haired Vice Postmaster-General often finds a lot of words in his dictionary to give a serious attitude when this usually happens. Turns out, Claire didn't resist to his reprimands--she was listening without talking back, no thoughts, only self-preservation. The reason is Alastair will just shut his daughter off when she doesn't cooperate, he was firm but not abusive but he's certainly cruel with sarcasm whenever he gets sarcastic for his answers and dry one-liners. Good thing Claire obeyed her father, especially when he raised a strict standard of expectation--she wasn't offended when her father criticizes her decision making after she told him everything about her day.
So, whenever she was about to beat someone up just because they're more stupid than usual (her words), Alastair taught her things that helped her to become more mature--it seemed Alastair's parenting qualities are better compared to others who had neglected their child and the fact that Claire trusts him because she admired his job greatly. Claire was indeed a prodigy like him, his beloved daughter is talented like her mother before she passed away in misery.
Claire was seen looking at something, to which Alastair can't help but get annoyed by it... she was staring at the koi fishes in the pond located in front of the main house. "Can you at least wear something feminine? You always dresses so handsomely like a boy," Alastair whined, before she snorted. "Sorry, but screw the noblewomen's stuff--just because I'm female doesn't mean I can't handle a blade on me," Claire retorted, Alastair was unamused by her tone but deciding not to lecture her about that.
Well, spending some quality time with his daughter isn't that bad... he was just awkward because he was always busy. After all, he wasn't intended to act pompous and narcissist, his entire personality made him very distant to other people, mostly people that he met that made him act different than he really was before. But, he couldn't help that he didn't want Claire to grow too fast, she was his daughter and for once--she's the only daughter Alastair had, raising her on his own.
Claire felt her father's arms wrapped around her from behind, embracing her in his chest. She didn't say anything because Alastair had his reasons why he's holding her, it feels so warm and peaceful after meeting her again. She missed Alastair's cold embrace, the tingles made the pink-haired woman letting a relaxed sigh as her lids slowly closed. Then her violet-blue eyes opened when she felt her father letting go off her, his presence was warm and was rather pleasant. "Claire, please don't leave my side ever since you enrolled," he reminded,, with a firm but loving tone.
"Promise?"
Claire looked up to her father, before she smiled at him. "I promise... father."
Hours past, Claire was sitting in her room which has traditional sliding doors from wood and rice-paper walls--its floors are tatami-type. Her mother's katana was hung on the wall across her bed that was under her, she was wearing a pink yukata with long sleeves and got sleeves of violet color in them. Her father wasn't fond of getting her clothes, always asking to 'get something that feminine-related'; which of course she disagreed because dresses and skirts makes her not feel comfortable whenever she's wearing them.
"Urgh... I hate this so much... can I move freely with this?"
Claire asked herself out of annoyance before she just shrugged it off and climbed up to her bed--about to fall asleep before she felt something crawling up on her lower body, almost scratching her thighs... "AH!" she exclaimed as she jumped out from the bed, throwing the yellow blanket with pink patterns and grabbing the empty vase on her work desk. She was prepared to smash the pest and possibly kill it, but froze as she was greeted by something squirmed and wiggled behind her blanket.
Oh, it was her white Turkish Anggora cat... Elizabeth.
"YOU SCARED ME, YOU FOOL!" she cursed, before she caught her cat which chirped in response and purred on her lap after she went back to her bed. Claire rose an eyebrow, patting her pet's head before putting a newspaper into her skirt pockets.