[Action, forward-dated to this evening]

[knightofratatosk]

[Sunset finds Emil trudging back to the village after having spent the previous day and a half trying in vain to break the barrier in an attempt to get Richter and Tenebrae back. He's obviously exhausted, and his shoulders and upper arms are covered in bruises from where he slammed himself against the barrier once he realized hitting it with his sword wasn't going to work. Clearly he's not his usual cheerful self right now; in fact, he seems almost on the verge of tears.

Feel free to run into him as he heads back home.]

Comments

[knightofratatosk]

[He doesn't need a second invitation to sit down... right on the floor. Hope you don't mind, Yuri, but the couch is all the way over there and his legs are feeling pretty shaky.]

Why... why both of them... they'd never been kidnapped before, and now--!

[trueknight]

[Emil you missed the couch by like. A yard.

Anyway, he stops for a moment, but he ... really has nothing to say to that. He manages to force something out though, just so Emil knows Yuri's not ignoring him.]

There never seems to be a reason for when or why someone is taken. All you can do for now is be ready to help them when they return. [Damn, he almost feels disgusted with himself, having to admit to that.]

[knightofratatosk]

[Good thing he wasn't aiming for the couch, huh? The floor will do just fine for now.]

It's not fair... I hate being helpless like this! The Malnosso are hurting them and I can't do anything to stop it!

[trueknight]

[His tone's a bit stiff. He kinda wishes he were able to throw a fit like this when Judy was taken, but it's just not something he can bring himself to ever do.]

Beating yourself up over it isn't going to help them, either.

[knightofratatosk]

[Oh, he picks up on the tone right away. It's the same one Richter uses when he's annoyed.]

I know, but... I'm sorry.

[trueknight]

... [He wasn't looking for an apology, but at least Emil stopped :|; Anyway, heading into the kitchen now. There aren't any walls separating the living room and kitchen, so he's not exactly far off now. And he's back to his usual tone, as well.]

You hungry at all?

[knightofratatosk]

N-no, not really.

[Actually, he feels a little bit sick. Eating would probably not be a good idea right now, but some water might help. Or maybe juice.]

I am kind of thirsty, though.

[trueknight]

[And opening the icebox now. Sorry if you were in the mood for juice, Emil, you're getting water :| Water's better for you right now anyway.

Either way. Getting a glass, pouring it in, bringing it over, and handing it over.]

[knightofratatosk]

Thanks.

[He takes it and sips at it slowly to calm his stomach. Gulping it would not be a good idea, no matter how thirsty he may be.]

Has... has anyone close to you been kidnapped before?

[trueknight]

[Pause. He ... really doesn't like talking about his own problems or things that've hurt him emotionally in the past, but he ... probably should. After all, Judy's fine now anyway, and the reason she was taken was obvious.]

... Yeah. They took Judy about three months ago.

[knightofratatosk]

What did you do when it happened? You... you were scared too, right?

[trueknight]

[If there's one thing Yuri Lowell will never admit to, it's being scared, even if waking up and finding Judy gone damn near made his heart stop. Sorry Emil, he's going to completely ignore that second part.]

I did what most people have done -- tried to take out the barrier, even though I knew there was no way. Suzu helped get my mind off things with a spar, then I went home.

[It's probably obvious, but he's skipping a lot. Those were the three major points of that day, and those are likely the only ones he'll talk about.]

[knightofratatosk]

[But he wanted you to admit to being scared so he could feel better about being absolutely panicked. :(]

I guess everyone tries to take out the barrier, huh?

[He tried first with his sword, and then by just plain throwing himself against it. His hands are bruised and a bit bloodied as well; once his shoulders got too sore to continue bodyslamming it, he started pounding on it.]

I had to try, even if I knew it wasn't going to work. I couldn't just do nothing.

[trueknight]

[Sorry Emil, he's just never gonna say it ): Not to you, anyway.]

Yeah. Even if it's pointless, beating on the barrier makes you feel like you at least tried to do something. Pretty good for letting out some stress, too.

[knightofratatosk]

[Almost automatically, his shoulders droop when he sighs and he winces.]

... maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all.

[trueknight]

Hey, stress relief is always a good idea. Maybe not the way you went about it, but still. [And the wincing is definitely noticeable.] ... Anyway, I'll go get Estelle. You might as well get those injuries taken care of while you're here.

[knightofratatosk]

Thank you. Next time I'll just keep hitting it with my sword rather than trying to knock it down with my shoulder. At least the sword doesn't feel any pain when it hits the barrier.