it was a beautiful letdown, when I crashed and burned

[mythgravenblade]

Characters: Paladin, Krile, Bellflower, and Stoneface if Fey is up to it
Date/Time: Saturday, midafternoon
Location: Final Fantasy Frathouse
Rating: PG for aaaaaaaangst and probable discussion of massacres.
Summary: Intervention for a Paladin who has lost his marbles, apparently.

Comments

[feathered_earth]

Krile had seen Paladin's entry before he had poured ink all over it--she didn't expect him to reply. Instead she just grabbed her broomstick and flew straight to Section Four, jogging along to his house once she touched down and rapping sharply on the door.

Monster. Murderer. Coward. Krile tried to picture him as any of these things and failed. What had he seen on the fourth floor? She only knew from one of the others that it had been something terrible, yet... surely....

It couldn't be. Paladin was a good person. There was just no way he could be any of the things he'd described himself as. "Paladin?" she called. It was still his name. "It's me, Krile. Are you there?"

[wayofflowers]

When there was no reply to her comment after a few minutes, Bellflower decided to hedge her bets and go looking for him herself. The entry had been worrying, and she did not like the idea of Paladin being alone in such a state of mind.

Thankfully, it wasn't that long of a walk from her home to his, though when she got there, she discovered she apparently wasn't the only one with that particular idea. "Krile-san - did you come looking for Paladin, too?"

[mythgravenblade]

He could try to block his ears, but unfortunately couldn't block them well enough to fail to hear the arrival of--Krile, and Bellflower. It seemed like his heart sank into his stomach and leaped into his throat, both at once: he dreaded their company, especially Krile's, but craved it all at once. He knew he should answer, to help them, and to help himself--Bellflower was wise, surely she could...

And he found himself doing nothing, waiting, cursing himself for indecision and cowardice.

[feathered_earth]

Krile was surprised to see Bellflower arrive, but relieved. The older woman had always seemed to her like a bastion of calm and certainty. Even though Krile wondered how true that impression was, it was still better than being alone and filled with worry. "That's right," she said, looking back at the door. She wondered if she should say anything else, but if Bellflower had seen that entry--

There had been no reply to her call. Krile knocked again, but she didn't wait more than a second before trying the door. Unlocked; that was good. She stepped inside, hesitated when she saw him curled up on the couch, and walked over.

"Hey." She laid a hand on his shoulder, not bothering to force a smile. "Are you awake?"

[wayofflowers]

Bellflower trailed behind Krile, schooling her face into her usual calm gentleness in preparation. She was relieved to see that he was actually here, not hidden away in the Wilderness or in the forests. Not that it meant he was doing any better. But it made it easier for them to help.

She let Krile take the lead, for now - she seemed to know Paladin better than Bellflower did. And it would give her a chance to assess the situation better.