twenty eight ► don't cry, don't cry

[gentleidealist]

[dictated]

[Lloyd is panting, obviously out of breath from all the running he's been doing. But, going to Colette's old room confirmed his suspicion. He sounds incredibly upset-- and who wouldn't be? He's relieved because now, now she can travel with him like he promised, but... but... all her unfinished work here, all of her friends...]

Colette... Colette's gone. [He swallows hard. He's not sure what else to add.] Don't worry about her. She's journeying with me, so she's not alone.

-- I'm sorry.

[That's all he can muster. He's too upset to continue, so he shuts the journal with a snap and flees elsewhere before someone can catch him.]

[action]

[If someone does want to track him down, he's all the way in the forest, taking out his anger on a dead tree. Swords out, he's not even using artes. He's just slicing wildly, hitting the tree so that he can tire himself out. Considering his Exsphere, that may be a while.]

Comments

actiooon

[not_mafia]

[There's something that's somehow peaceful about walking in the forest. Granted, there were a few animals like direwolves loose, but... he was fairly certain they wouldn't actually attack him, and his hyper intuition would tell him if there was danger nearby.

He doesn't find danger, but he does hear someone wildly taking out their frustration on a tree. And as soon as they come into view, he can feel it, too. A wave of distress and upset and anger and loneliness rushes at him.

He considers just turning around and leaving him to vent his frustrations, but... Tsuna has never been one to turn away when a person was so clearly upset. He raises his voice, so Lloyd can hopefully hear him over his swords rushing against the tree.]

Seems like the trees are everyone's favorite punching bags, aren't they?

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd is pretty engrossed in his rage, so he doesn't notice Tsuna walking up until it's too late. He hesitates for a second, hoping that maybe the person will go away so they don't have to see what a wreck he is right now.

But he's not that lucky. When Tsuna finally speaks up, he stops pounding his blades into the wood and stands there, shoulders slumped. He's in no condition to be social.]

Tsuna?

[His voice is different. He rubs at his face quickly before turning to face him. It's obvious that Lloyd's been crying. Yep, that's Tsuna, just grown up and... wow, shit, he's actually older than Lloyd now. It's Lloyd who feels like a kid this time, though their last conversation was over the journal. Seeing it in person is impressive.]

S-sorry. Did you need something?

[not_mafia]

Hello, Lloyd. [His expression is gentle and kind.] And it's alright; I doubt a dead tree will really suffer much anyway.

I was just taking a walk when I overheard you.

[All the signs are obvious, from his emotions to his red eyes. He has a sad, sympathetic smile.]

Friend gone home?

1/2

[wilder]

[Zelos had found it odd that Colette hadn't been at breakfast. After all of them she was the least likely to skip out. But he hadn't dwelled on it too much until he received this message over the journal. ]

[Colette was...]

[For a moment, it's even hard to comprehend. In his time here, Zelos has seen a lot of people come and go. People he didn't know, friends he made here, people from his world, even his own sister. Half the time he barely batted an eye at these messages, people came and went- that was the nature of this place. ]

[But Colette...Colette was different. She had been here since Zelos got here, since before even that. When all of them had been here multiple times, Colette had stayed. She had been stuck here for so many years, he had almost assumed that she would continue to be until they found a way home. That's why he had made his vow, to help find a way home for all of them. So Colette could go home with them, back to the home she belonged.]

[Yet now...]

[He should be happy. He knows that. He should feel thankful that Colette will finally get to go home. That she'll be safe with Lloyd on their journey and not trapped in this place. What he wanted to happen finally did. He still wanted to find a way home, but no longer would he have to fear leaving Colette behind here. This should be seen as a good thing, even if it meant he wouldn't see her for a long time.]

[And yet logic didn't seem to be the winner today. His chest ached, his eyes stung. He felt scared, sad and for the first time since coming here: alone. The only person ever like him was once again an entire world away.]

2/2 Filter Action

[wilder]

[But of course, instead of mulling over or dealing with his emotions that he rarely understands - he instead does what he can to push them back so he can focus on Lloyd instead. Lloyd was still here, Lloyd was his best friend and Lloyd was certainly more hurt by this than he is. Colette and Lloyd dated after all, they loved each other, they knew each other since they were children. He needed help more than Zelos did.]

Where are you?

[He waits barely two minutes for a reply. He knows if it takes longer than that, Lloyd isn't looking at the journal. When he doesn't get it, he shuts it and starts to look for the guy. It certainly takes him awhile. Angel or not, he's not exactly trained to track people. It might be over an hour before he finally finds him. Stupid giant forest. ]

[When he does...he's not sure what to say. He's not surprised at how Lloyd's chosen to vent his emotions about this. And since it's not like he cares that much about if a tree gets cut, he's not in a rush to stop him. ]

[So in the end he'll choose to say nothing, words of comfort weren't his strong point anyway. He crosses his arms and leaning against another tree, content to wait for Lloyd to either wear himself out or notice his presence. ]

[Maybe by then he'll think of something good to say.......maybe.]

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd takes a couple seconds to realize Zelos is there. He can feel someone watching him-- call it survival instincts-- but he ignores it for a couple more swings, wishing that they'd just leave him alone.

But not today. Even with his anger, he realizes that it isn't safe to go it alone. He lets out a fragile sigh and sheathes his weapons, then glances over to see who it is.]

Hey. [He sounds awful, and looks like it too. He's been crying, which is kind of funny considering he doesn't cry over anything. He should be happy! And he is! But he's going to miss Colette more than anyone else could understand, except maybe his other friends from home.]

Actioooon; elf-mom is here for you, Lloyd

[inafadingcrown]

[It's not terribly hard to track him down; it isn't as if he's been covering his tracks and once she gets close, she can easily hear the sound of steel hitting wood. She approaches quietly, as is her wont, and stands silently for a good while before finally announcing her presence.]

Lloyd.

action forever; WEEEEHHHhhhhhh elfmom ;-;

[gentleidealist]

[He really isn't in the mood for words and grace. He misses Colette dearly, and losing her again has opened up a wound in his heart that he's ignored for a long time. He misses his dad. He misses his other dad, too. He misses Presea, Genis, the Professor and Regal, and he misses those days when solving a problem was as easy as just trying hard enough.

He drops his swords and wipes at his eyes fitfully, but it's obvious he's been crying, if the stifled sob doesn't give him away.]

Funny seeing you here, [he says, trying to laugh and failing.]

[inafadingcrown]

I was concerned. [Simple as that. She steps closer, reaching to rest a hand on his cheek and wipe away his tears.] It never grows easier, does it?

action

[heal_theworld]

[Martel hadn't known what to say when she saw that Colette was gone. They hadn't been close, not like how Martel is with Zelos, but she had still considered Colette as a sort of grandchild.

She knew that Lloyd probably would not be listening right now, so she didn't leave a message right then for him to find, instead deciding to take a walk to clear her head. A lot of people had gone home lately, people she was close to or that her friends were close to. In some ways it wasn't fair, but she also knew they had things waiting for them at home. Colette had things waiting, an entire life ahead of her.

Of course, she hadn't expected to hear the dull thunk of swords against wood in the forest, unless someone was training. When she followed it, she found Lloyd at the end, taking out his anger on a dead tree.

Well.]

Lloyd...?

[gentleidealist]

[To say Lloyd is frustrated would be a wonderful understatement. However, it's becoming clear to him that even if he wants to be left alone, he never can be. Colette is in everything he does. He can see her smile if he closes his eyes, and he can feel the warmth of her hand when he closes his fist, and he can hear her in the question Martel asks.

He puts his swords away, trying his best to wipe away any lingering tears before she can see them.]

H-hey, Martel. You heard, huh?

[heal_theworld]

[She nods at his question, and gives him a sad smile.]

I didn't mean to disturb you, I was just going for a walk... Since I though you might need some time alone. [That's what she needed for a little while, after Yuan had left.]

[action]

[rose_of_battle]

"Colette's gone."

[At first, Sheena had just stared at those words blankly because she couldn't be reading them right, correct? This is just a dream and when she wakes up, Colette will still be there, and everything will be like it was the night before.

But even as she thinks this and tries to convince herself of the "fact", she knows the truth: her friend has gone home. And while she's truly happy for Colette, there's a sudden ache in her heart that brings tears to her eyes.

She can only imagine how Lloyd feels having known Colette for so many years: growing up together, journeying together, and then falling in love and dating...

Wiping away her tears, Sheena doesn't waste any time in looking for her friend. After a thorough search of every place she can think of, she finally heads in the right direction.

As she draws closer to the forest, she hears the unmistakeable sounds of swords against wood, and her steps quicken until she glimpses him through the trees. Then her pace slows until she's within earshot of him.]

Lloyd...?

[gentleidealist]

[He hears her even with the sound of steel against wood. Oh, great, this is embarrassing. He sniffles and wipes his nose furiously against his sleeve. When he looks at her, his face has some unusual shadows on it, like he's tired.]

... Hey, Sheena.

[She's probably upset too. He tries to smile, but he's clearly having trouble.]

Sorry if I made you worry.

[rose_of_battle]

[He really shouldn't feel embarrassed about anything right now--including those tears, but Sheena remains quiet and still until he's ready to look at her. Then, in a rare flash of tact, her only reaction is a slight tightening around the eyes aimed at his tired appearance--focusing away from his own eyes.]

Hey...

[Her voice is soft as she returns his greeting, her concern about how he's doing overriding her own emotions at the moment as she tries to return that smile, but with the same amount of luck he had. Still, she manages a small shake of her head.]

There's nothing to apologize for, Lloyd.

dictated

[heliotroping]

...I'm sorry.

dictated

[gentleidealist]

She's safe. That's... what matters, right?

[spongetastic]

Colette.... I figured when I got a gift at my door from her.

dictated;

[gentleidealist]

Heh... yeah. She's always been thoughtful like that.

[Dictated, Filtered]

[therealrisette]

[Oh no, Lloyd...

Rise never really got a chance to get to know Colette's boyfriend, but she still feels like she knows him just from spending time with Colette. So she hopes he'll get this entry soon... that he'll know there are others in the castle who understand. Even people he doesn't really know.]

Lloyd-kun... I...

[She's already tearing up. Between losing Colette from the castle and how much worse it must be for Lloyd...

She barely manages to get her words out through quiet sobs.]

... I'm so sorry...

filtered forever;

[gentleidealist]

[Oh, god. CRYING WOMEN. When he sees this, it's probably too late, but still. He responds earnestly, still a bit wounded and tired but he's fine.

This girl, on the other hand...]

H-- hey, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I didn't mean to make you cry. Are you okay?

[ofhope]

[ Nope nope nope nope nope nope.

Nope. ]

[gentleidealist]

[for once they agree on something.]

dictated;

[nukeoleptic]

[ She's not sure if she should answer. In all honesty, it's probably a bad idea -- but that's grief in his voice, and it makes her heart ache. ]

It's better, isn't it? It's not always safe, here.

dictated;

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd takes a while to respond-- it's a bit after he's taken off into the forest to get his anger out. He's a little more settled now, but still quiet, still hurting.]

-- Yeah. I just... I miss her. She's been with me since we were little.

Were you a friend of hers?