redcladidealist | 11th Combo

[Kratos wasn't there. Lloyd had gone to their usual spot to train, a little sheepish because he was running a few minutes late. He'd fully expected to be scolded, but...

Kratos wasn't there.

The former mercenary was never late. He'd never been absent, either. Somewhat nonplussed by this turn of events, Lloyd had waited.

And waited.

But Kratos never came. Two hours passed before Lloyd finally gave up and went to seek the older man out. When no one answered Kratos's door, though, something uneasy settled on his nerves. Trying to peer through the windows revealed nothing. No lights, no movement, no signs of habitation at all. An empty house.

Something's wrong. The feeling gnawed in the pit of his gut. Kratos should have been there. He should have showed up, or he should have been at home, or he should have called. He was levelheaded and methodical and always took the consequences of his actions into account. He wouldn't have just disappeared without a word unless something had happened.]

[Fishing his Dreamberry out of his pocket, Lloyd tried to find his number to call. For some reason, though, the number he thought was his mentor's wasn't there. Damn it. I must have forgotten part of it.

Undeterred, he switched to a public call.]

Has anyone seen Kratos? Um, he's tall, red hair, likes to wear dark clothes. I haven't seen him in a few days and I can't find him now.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

redcladidealist

Everyone needs friends. You'd be pretty lonely without them.

From:

martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com

Martel is the only one I need.

[Glares.]

She's the only one I care about.

From:

redcladidealist

...

[Lloyd frowns, thinking about that.]

But she isn't awake. Until she wakes up, you're going to be alone if you don't have any friends. You can't tell me you want that - or that she'd want that, either! Wouldn't your sister want you to be happy, Mithos?

From:

martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com

Don't--

Don't you dare act like you would know what my sister would want!

From:

redcladidealist

[Lloyd leans back, looking almost skeptical or offended at that tone of voice.]

I don't think it takes much of a guess to think that your sister would want you to be happy. Or are you saying you think she doesn't?

From:

martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com

I would never think that.

From:

redcladidealist

Then what's wrong with what I said?

[He doesn't get it. At all. And it's frustrating.]

From:

martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com

...I don't need anyone else.

From:

redcladidealist

...you can still want them, though. Right?

[He's trying so hard to convince Mithos. He doesn't want to be enemies.]

From:

martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com

Why would I?

[Mithos is trying to convince himself, too... in the other direction.]

From:

redcladidealist

Because... because it's nice to have friends. You can have fun with them, or tease them, or get teased back, and they can help you if you're in trouble or if you don't know how to do something by yourself. And if something bad happens, they're there for you. You can talk to them, and it feels better. Having friends means you won't ever be alone. Even if they're not there, they're still a part of you.

Haven't you had friends before? Wasn't Kratos your friend? And Genis? All of us! [He gestures broadly, including everyone who isn't present.] We're all your friends, Mithos.

From:

martelsnotpeach.livejournal.com

Friends leave. Whether it be by death or being talked into it, they leave. You can't rely on friends.

But Martel... Martel will never leave me. Martel will always be there! And that's why I only need her. She's the only one I can depend on.

From:

redcladidealist

[Lloyd shakes his head.] That's not true. So long as you remember them, they're still with you. And everyone dies, Mithos, even you and Martel. [Earnestly.] You can't let that stop you from having friends. Even if it's only for a short time, it's always, always worth it!