[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

[It may be a rainy day today, but the rain hasn't stopped Emil from going outside anyway. In fact, he doesn't seem like he even notices it as he sits on a large rock near the bridge by the clinic, knees drawn up to his chest, just sort of staring at the water. He's motionless except for when he occasionally reaches down to pick up a stone from the riverbank and throw it in, so it's easy to miss him sitting there.

Horatio, Luke, Faize, and now Frederic... and that's just the people whose disappearances he learned of during the past month. At this rate it's hard for him to keep from feeling that the Malnosso are somehow punishing him by taking his friends away-- why else would they take people who had promised to be there for him? And on top of that, people have been killed and injured, too...

Right now more than ever, Emil just wants to go home to Richter, Marta and Tenebrae, even if he doesn't know what waits for him there. Surely it's better than this.]

Comments

[knightofratatosk]

I just wanted to get outside for a little while. I was tired of staying inside because of the rain and... everything else that's been going on.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

Is everything all right?

[knightofratatosk]

I guess so-- I mean, I'm not hurt or sick or anything like that.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

You guess? That is sign number one that everything is not all right, Emil. [Actually, the real sign number one is when people don't want dessert. To her, anyway.] What's wrong?

[knightofratatosk]

[He looks away.]

... Frederic got sent home a few days ago.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

Oh no. [She frowns] I'm sorry, Emil. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?

[knightofratatosk]

[Headshake.]

I'm not the one you need to worry about. Polka... now Polka is living all alone.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

Polka? [Usagi's never spoken to Polka, but she frowns. Usagi remembers what it was like to lose everyone in your household, and spend months living alone.]

[knightofratatosk]

You haven't met her before? I think she's a little bit younger than you are, and she's got long blond hair kind of like yours.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

I haven't met her before, but... will she be all right?

[knightofratatosk]

I don't know.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

You should ask if. If she needs a place to stay, I know staying by yourself can be ... sad, she can come stay with my friends and I.

[knightofratatosk]

Okay, I'll ask her the next time I see her. I mean, she's not all by herself-- Foot lives there with her, but still... it's hard to lose friends like that.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

It can be really hard, but we'll all get through it, right, Emil?

[knightofratatosk]

Right. I'm just worried about her after losing both her housemates at once.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

She'll be fine as long as she has a great friend like you by her side.

[knightofratatosk]

... y-you really think so?

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

Of course, Emil!

[knightofratatosk]

Thanks. I'll do whatever I can, but... I just don't know what to do.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

You just have to be there for her, make sure she's all right, talk with her. Other than that, there isn't much else you can do. I wish I could give you more advice about it.

[knightofratatosk]

That's okay, what you've said is pretty helpful already. Maybe I could stop by and bring her some food or something if she doesn't feel like cooking at all.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

That's a wonderful idea, Emil! I bet she'd appreciate that!

[knightofratatosk]

I hope you're right. At least it'll be one less thing she has to worry about right now.

[themoonuplifts.livejournal.com]

[she gives a soft nod]

You're a good friend, Emil.

[knightofratatosk]

Thanks, Usagi.