Budding & Blossom

There are very specific things that Emil remembers.

The  good people he meets, the rough pommel of the sword between his fingers, the warm blood splash across his face, the soothing remarks given by people who were terrorized, adrenaline zipping through his veins, the calmness of his heart … Sometimes people had difficulty understanding that. Sometimes they forgot to remind themselves that they needed help, and that help can come from a stranger. Gentle hands, worked hands, so like that of a mercenary, yet nothing like the rough men who fought for money. No bargain struck, only a smile …

Sometimes it was more difficult. Sometimes he grew drained, dizzy, tired, unable to continue going. Forced instead to rely on himself in a different way, one he typically avoided unless he drew too much from situation he knew too little about. Sensed the fear of monsters and men, but could not help … Pushed, pushed so hard that his body collapses — only to rise up a second later with a biting tongue. For, once kindness had it’s turn, it was then ferocity’s turn. Unfortunately, this had given some pause, some back-lashing to people who did not deserve it, leaving Emil in a precarious situation …

Waking up on the road, with nothing but his own mess to fix, his own faults to stand trial for, a man with a black eye, bleeding nose, and teeth knocked in staring him down as a monster.

Forever would he be glad to see the ruler afterwards. She who saw reason, was careful to calculate and offered him a chance to get back up. Perhaps he would visit her again! The thought had come precariously to mind, quickly dismissed as a thought ‘too unlikely’, yet, as he wandered through the crowded castle streets, spotting the veranda not too far, did a brilliant thought come to mind. He was here, was he not? Why not … go and see her?

Sliding his way inward, he grabbed a handful of flowers, the bouquet nothing elegant or fancy, but a sweet gesture. No romantic ties came from such an object, tied together with some ribbon that looked —perhaps— a few rupees at most. The flowers chosen? Well, there was quite a few, wild flowers, mostly, a few weeds in the mixing pot. Yet, he didn’t stop, didn’t let his gift readiness (or there-lack-of,) stop him. Instead, going to a guard and whispering in his ear (the plea of a young child was always so convincing wasn’t it?) that he wanted to see the princess just to give her a gift.

He was looked down on, and then, with a fluster of nods, was given permission. Emil however, glanced away a bit bitter. He was much older than most ever gave him credit for … the twenty-year-old summon spirit did not complain, however, as he was drawn towards a library-esque room, books stacking the walls, catching his breath in intrigue and curiosity. What was here? What knowledge was hidden in the depths of these shelves? Yet, biting back his awe, the guard knocked sagely at the entrance-way, calling out there being a person to see her Highness.

Emil’s lips softly turned upwards, a green gaze much, much older than his form looked. Awaiting an agreement or a disengagement at-which he would merely set the flowers down, apologize for his intrusion and leave. The boy understand nobility, where-as he would prefer to say he did not, yet every society attempted a monarchy at one point or another, and the young summoned spirit had certainly lived through a few.

Friendly Monsters

⎡ Richard: ⎦

If one thing had been made clear to him, it was that Richard truly knew little about Emil. He considered the smaller blond his friend, thought him kind and very capable since they had first met on Lhant Hill, yet being here, in his hometown he realized just how much he had never learned. What this place was like, how it treated him, where he lived, his family… Richard knew none of these things.

It seemed clear that this manner of treatment not unusual. Emil continued to walk, seemingly indifferent to the rudeness those about him exhibited and that only fuelled the silent fire that had ignited within his chest. This was what Richard could not stand, this needless distinction, discrimination against others and for what? In the time Richard knew him Emil had been nothing but kind, if not a bit uncertain in himself. If this was how he was treated, Richard could imagine well where some of that doubt came from.

Yet as they walked into the Mayor’s house, those traces dissolved and the atmosphere grew serious. For lack of any better way of putting it, it seemed as if Emil’s softness disappeared before his eyes, turning both serious and regarding the older man with an age that far surpassed the years he appeared to carry.

Richard remained silent, listened as his friend discussed the matter with the mayor, filing what information he could gleam from their exchange. He was in agreement with Emil’s thoughts on the matter. Best to settle things before anyone hurt. What did catch his interest was the mention of Emil’s uncle. So his family was part of the town’s patrol? There was a brief flare of concern before he heard Emil’s next words, the manner they were spoken and Richard was suddenly reminded of someone else entirely.

Cedric; a man who shared his blood but to whom he would never bestow such a title as uncle or family upon. Was that the kind of family that Emil had? It was far too soon to make assumptions, but Richard realized the thought had never crossed his mind. If that were true, then the manner Emil treated in town seemed all the more cruel.

The monarch doubted he could bring himself to ask, to inquire further into a subject that seemed difficult to begin with, but he tucked that knowledge away along with the others things he had learned. All he could do for his part, was to be a support for Emil as best he could. To help his friend, and perhaps be someone in his life that could offer him the kindness he felt the smaller deserved.

With the conversation wrapping up, Richard shifted his weight preparing to leave, noting the caution that the mayor offered. However he was stopped briefly by the sight of his friend, by the type of expression he had never seen grace the younger’s face, a tone and words spoken in a manner that hitched his thoughts.

Shaking it with some difficulty, Richard offered Emil a smile, standing patiently by the door.

If one thing had been made clear to him, if he had learned one thing this day… 
It was just how little he truly knew about his friend.

   "Emil!“

The blonde had begun to leave, the smirk falling from his lips as quickly as it had appeared. Pausing only at the tone’s almost urgent quality to it, green optics, layered with red, awaiting his words with no response except the halting of movements prior. An awkward shifting of feet from the man, boney face, mustache and side-burns moving lightly as he licked lips, ”Don’t you need the specifi–?“

There was a little laugh, something quieter, a bit more like Emil normally was as his seriousness melted from shoulders. He shook his head smoothly, not glancing back to the man, ”No, but th-thank-you for your concern, Mayor. I believe you met Orion l-last time I was here? He’s helping me.“ It was then understood, the mayor not arguing as Emil started forward once more before faltering.

This time, on his own. A thought curled spitefully in his mind and he bit down on his lip before glancing back, smile touching his lips as red dripped from his eyes, dispersing in the expanse of green.

   ”It’s been nice, s-seeing the river back; same with the l-lake.“

Those words, spoken with a tone of meek sincerity was received with a flinch. Emil’s mind almost taking delight in the guilt upon shoulders before sadness over came his eyes and he was quick to pardon himself and turn to the door back with Richard. He had not meant the words to be taken in kind, yet had hoped perhaps their double meaning might pass over the man’s head, yet it didn’t appear the blonde’s luck held on that tightly.

Opening the door, he moved aside, refusing to meet Richard’s eyes for a bit. Mouth pursed in thought, considering everything that was happening as fingers clung to wood, pulling it open for Richard quietly. Lost in thought, would be a good description as emerald hues glanced left, then right, an awkward smile slowly pulling on his lips as he let go of the door once they were both out. ”Sorry…“ He muffled his mouth quietly, lifting a hand past his lips, ”… I … was a bit un-unprofessional back there.“ Emil’s hand lifted, arm bending to help beckon the king forward with him to walk besides him back through the town, however taking a different path to the side instead of the way they came in.

He walked in silence for not but a few seconds before his mouth opened once more, ”It was an attack … on P-Palmacosta that sent me here,“ the blonde divulged for his friend, steps taken slowly, so he could think while he spoke, not wanting to give too much information upon a past or a person who stood, so old, yet so young, before the king. ”You’ve … probably seen one of th-the statues around … these people were saved by them … “ There was a pause, before green eyes widened in surprise, hands quick to lift and wave frantically – ”N-not the statues themselves but the people who the statues were made for, that is!“ 

Coughing, Emil looked away, rubbing at the back of his head as he stepped upon a bridge, the wood creaking beneath his weight, but standing strong. The water flowing beneath in smooth strides, ”One of them … was in th-the attack against Palmacosta, or so I thought. Innocent people m-murdered, when I was too weak to do anything a-against him.“ He continued forward, carefully trying to pick out his words, trying to explain, trying, but for what end? Why would he even want to bring up these memories, things he had far left in the dust. ”He was working … with a g-group of people, called the Church of Martel. Palmacosta was more inclined to b-be sympathetic to a group of vagabonds called the Vanguard … that was w-why it was attacked.“

   ”We … they, were considered t-traitors and conspiritors. These people have no love or care for the v-vanguard. So when I came here, they grew suspicious of me and my family. They were w-worried about themselves, then strike after strike of b-bad luck.“ He gestured to the water, slowly getting to the other side of the bridge. ”The water dried up, the l-lakebed was filling with monsters, and I was the only new thing here … so they hated me. Called me the maker of ‘monster friends’. Said it was all … m-my fault.“ Which he would only find out much, much later was actually his fault. For falling asleep, for attacking an innocent researcher and angering a half-elf. For simply existing. 

   ”I hadn’t even discovered my a-abilties with monsters until a bit later. It scared me, I wanted friends, I l-let them walk over me, hit me, t-take out their anger on me, because … that’s what I thought would get them t-to like me.“

A hand lifted, brushing back hair as Emil slowly stopped in front of a marble statue, it’s bright green surface glinting in the evening light. Emil looking up at Lloyd’s statue, his lips slowly tipping forward in a smile. ”In the end, it’s because of that, I met my best f-friends. People who defended me, and in turn, me th-them. I scared people in this town because of that, when I stood up for m-myself…“ He glanced back to Richard, the exit of the town, a different exit, but closer to a forested sect which they would leave through either way.

Turning to face Richard, his hands lowered, ”…I’m telling you this because I w-want you to understand,“ Emil’s face was quickly turning red in realization of how much he’d revealed, how much he’d spoken and just what he was going to say next. His hands lifted, clasping together as he bowed his head, as-if pleading with the otherwise golden haired friend with him, ”Luin’s been through a lot, and wh-while that doesn’t excuse everything, please!“ He swallowed thickly, part of him not even sure he believed what he was about to say, but feeling it was right. ”Don’t let how I t-treat people or how they treat m-me affect how you look at them!“

Eyes slowly lifted, worry dampening his expression. He had known of Luin’s flaws from the beginning, known he would reveal pieces of himself he still disliked horribly yet had no means to dismiss. ”They were attacked too, b-because of me … and they're good people making b-bad decisions, I promise, so please … “

                     { Don’t judge them (or me) too harshly }

The silent plea was hidden, not having the gall to speak the words out  loud, Emil instead allowed for Richard to answer. Head refusing to lift entirely from it’s bowed position. Emil, a person who held himself so low upon a pedestal, wanted Richard to give these people a chance. If he had come by himself instead of with Emil, then their would be smiles, offering hands, chuckling, a warmth that was not there with him. Because he was …

He was all at fault. As Ratatosk, it was his job to protect these people. No matter what they might do. ”Please … “

Feels Like…

   “I’ll be back, Orion. You wait here.”

The wolf-like creature whined loudly, tail brushing back and forth as feet stamped unsurely. Emil’s calm smile slowly making it crawl backwards before ducking it’s head and sitting back on it’s haunches and Emil turned towards the rift he saw clearly. Taking a slow, deep breath– “You r-ready, Ratatosk?”

There was a grunt and green eyes closed, red opening. “Let’s get this o'er with…” An annoyed tinge to his voice and Orion’s tail began to wag lightly before a piercing shadow crawled from the spirit’s fingertips, encoating the entire back of his hand, crawling up the other side, red glinting within the black before two hands dove forward, splitting open the rift with force.

And through the piece he went. The entirety of his arm, then a leg, then all of him spilled through. The glowing black smoke tinged with red along the edges curled from his body as if it had been hit by a blast of fire, but no such thing had come in contact.

Glowing red eyes uplifted towards a person. Shit. Ratatosk couldn’t have someone find him th–

The pressure from moving through rifts was always taxing. This proved no exception. His body staggered forward, hand moving to the hilt of his sword before eyes rolled up in the back of his head, mouth open before he fell. He’d appeared in wherever this was, then just fainted. Emil himself caught, stuck in his unconscious state with Ratatosk’s main energy reserves going to him and dragging him down with the summon spirit.

Hopefully, he wouldn’t be seen as either a threat or a monster by whoever saw him…