knightofratatosk | [Voice post, dated to shortly after Alice's post]

Entry tags:

[Voice post, dated to shortly after Alice's post]

[There are crashing noises and the sounds of things breaking in the background... sounds like somebody is going on a rampage.]

Where is she? WHERE IS SHE? If those damn Malnosso have hurt her, I'll tear them apart!

[Another crash.]

Cowards! Why won't you show yourselves? Come out and fight me one-on-one!

[OOC: He is currently trashing Marta's old apartment looking for her... Alice will undoubtedly hear this.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... Are you alright?

[A sigh.]

I... don't know if I can make it back.

Well, where are you now?

Marta's apartment... I think.

I'll be right there.

T-thank you... I'm sorry.

[True to his word, here Richter is a short while later. The door is probably still open?]

[Fff, you think Ratatosk has enough manners to close the door behind him? He also made a complete mess of the place, smashing everything in sight-- the curtains have been torn down, furniture overturned, dishes smashed... the whole nine yards.

Emil is out in what was the living room, just sitting on the floor next to his journal and staring down at it.]

[Oh dear. Richter slowly approaches him, making sure not to do anything that might startle the boy. Let's not give Ratatosk another opportunity to surface, shall we?]

... Emil.

Richter...

[He doesn't look up, just stays staring at the floor.]

Maybe... maybe you were right. Maybe I should give up being a Knight of Ratatosk.

[Richter will wait for Emil to scrape up his nerve, then. It's what he was born to do.]

It was a false title from the start. Considering the circumstances, I don't think giving it up was ever a possibility. You can only deny ever being this so-called Knight and accept what you really are.

[He just cringes at Richter's words... he KNOWS they're true, but that doesn't make them any easier to hear.]

I-I still swore to protect Marta, and... I couldn't even do that. I'm a failure.

Nobody would've been able to protect her. We've both been in this place long enough to know that.

I just...

[He makes a soft, strangled sound before looking up at Richter, green eyes wide.]

I just want her back, Richter.

[... Ow. That cut him pretty deep. He's not going to show it, but he'll avoid those green eyes anyway. He knows he's not allowed to complain, because he's been acting virtually the same way about Aster. Still, he was there at the Ginnungagap when Marta and Emil exchanged their claims of love, right before the door closed. This Emil doesn't remember- rather, hasn't experienced that moment yet, but that doesn't change the feelings in the least.

Richter wants the boy to be happy, but he knows Marta is much better at actually making him happy.]

... I know that.

[This Emil may not have those same feelings for Marta, but her loss still hurts him quite a bit, especially because he feels at least partially responsible for it. After all, she was his second friend and his traveling companion, and though his feelings for her aren't the same as the type she holds for him, he still cares deeply for her

Exhaustion and emotional turmoil are taking their toll on him, and he can't hold back the tears any longer. He lets out another soft choking sound as he tries to keep from sobbing aloud.]

[There's a long moment of hesitation before Richter dares to actually move. It just doesn't feel quite right that he, of all people, should be the one to comfort Emil about something like this. But at the same time, who else is there? Back in Aselia, it was Marta who handled these matters. Then, for the last half year, it was only Richter. If he didn't cheer the boy up now, well, there were probably plenty of other people who'd give it a try. But what kind of a person would that make him?

Finally, he steps forward and sinks to his knees in front of Emil, placing a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder]

[Emil doesn't need a second invitation to cling and he flings his arms around Richter's neck without any hesitation. Really, he wouldn't want anyone other than Richter there right now... they've been through so much together already, and that Valentine's Day experiment, though it threw new variables into their relationship, also assured him of his feelings for the other. Emil knows that he's the one who is supposed to be protecting Marta, but sometimes, sometimes it feels nice to let Richter be the strong one like this. After all, he's obviously not doing a very good job at this whole protecting thing anyway. He's a little embarrassed to realize that sometimes he actually likes being the one who is protected instead.

Richter's shoulder is probably getting a bit damp now, though Emil is trying to be quiet about it.]

[That doesn't matter. Richter will hold him as long as is needed. As long as it takes to vent those emotions a bit. Not only will it help Emil himself, it might also keep his guard up a bit more to prevent Ratatosk from appearing again any time soon.]

[He's fighting a losing battle to stay quiet, sobs slipping out with increasing frequency as he buries his face against Richter's shoulder and just cries. A part of him is embarrassed about crying like this, but the rest of him is just so tired and miserable that he really doesn't care. Richter is nice and warm and solid and he finds that comforting.]

[Richter starts running a hand up and down Emil's back in a soothing manner. It's the only thing he can really do for the boy right now, which makes him feel pretty damned worthless. Even though he can't see Emil's face, he can still hear the sobs.]

[It may be the only thing he can do, but it's having an obvious effect: Emil is slowly starting to relax, the tense muscles in his back loosening under the gentle touch. There's a lot of built-up tension there along with a whole bunch of knots, which Richter will probably notice as Emil flinches whenever he hits one.]

[Well, Richter will keep this up until Emil feels good enough to leave. It's very obvious the kid should still be in the clinic. This time, Richter will ensure that he stays there, too.]

[Gradually his sobbing trails off into little hiccups and sniffles, though his grip on Richter remains as tight as ever. So much for Marta telling him to "be a man."]

I don't... I don't want to go back to the clinic.

[He can't stand the thought of being all alone in that sterile room again. He just wants to go back home with Richter and Tenebrae.]

... You still haven't recovered.

[It's for your own good, Emil. It really is.]

[Voice post, dated to shortly after Alice's post]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]