A Poor Loser

[trademark_skull]

Characters: Emizel
Content: Coming to the realization he's been getting his ass kicked recently
Location: Twilight Town, Sunset Hill
Time: Sometime after the Struggle matches
Warnings: Sads >:


Emizel hadn't budged in awhile and stayed focused on watching the sunset. So much so that it was even starting to worry the Spirits. A nudge from Moxie might cause Emizel to grumble, but that was only at best.

But in all seriousness he was certainly down in the dumps. It was stupid to think loosing a match in some stupid game was enough to depress him but then... what had he actually accomplished recently? What was the last useful thing he managed to do?

... How long has it really been?

It had been weeks now and that alone was not a comforting fact. But how much time did that really mean? Had he been asleep for that many weeks too? Longer? Shorter? Was there somebody taking care of his body right now? What would happen if...--

What was going to happen if none of them ever wake up at all?

Emizel whimpered and buried his face further. "Why can't I ever do anything."

Moxie's ears twitch and he tried to paw Emizel again for a response with no success.

Fighting Nightmares only ever seemed to go so far. It helped pay for things and kept his skills sharp but that was about it, it didn't really offer any solutions or nothing. And ever since that embarrassment of a fight awhile back it seemed better to try to avoid them more often. He could always go back to the other world to fight more if he had to.

".... Why did I even bother."

Comments

[frostyfuntimes]

As the Guardian of Fun, even if he doesn't quite realize it yet, Jack can't stand seeing people sad. Sure, he may get down in the dumps himself a lot...especially when he'd been around for 300 years without any interaction. But, honestly, if he could be cheery he didn't see why other people couldn't also find a LITTLE fun in their lives.

Jack was flying overhead and while he didn't hear the words he did notice when someone was curled up on a hilltop with all the classic signs of "oh woe is me."

Well, Jack just couldn't have that.

Jack looked up at Snowball who hovered above him, "So, what do you think?" Snowball squeaked a reply but since Jack still didn't speak Komori Bat he had no idea what the reply was. Instead he dove down towards the hill and gently landed to balance on top of one of the fence posts. He started walking it, feigning his ability to stay balanced and wobbling back and forth, "You know, contrary to what you might think, sitting on top of a hill isn't going to cheer you up."

[trademark_skull]

Well the silence was great while it lasted. Considering Emizel already learned how to ignore the Meow Wow by now. Should have only known it was going to be short lived.

"I'm fine, just thinking," a poor excuse and yet still a little bit true. He did assume a little he might be fine after he got a few things out of his system.

[frostyfuntimes]

Jack set his staff beside one of the fence posts and Snowball quickly fluttered down to hang upside down from the crook.

"Can't be anything good with the faces you were making," Jack observes, standing straight and resting his hands in his pockets. He doesn't wobble on his post at all and seems perfectly content just to stand on the fence like it's no big deal. There's a pause and then he asks, "Want to talk about it?" That's what your supposed to say, right? He's still getting used to this whole "helping" others thing and just being able to interact in general.

Of course, if Emizel doesn't want to talk Jack might try the hard way of cheering him up.

[trademark_skull]

Emizel didn't really want to talk about it, that kind of was the problem. Although Jack probably wasn't the kind just to leave him alone even if he did say no. Which... there probably really was no harm done if he just said a little what was bugging him. Although it was uncertain if Jack was the best person to actually talk to.

"... I guess it already does feel like I've been trapped here for too long," he huffed. Moxie on the other hand must have given up trying to cheer Emizel up too and instead wanted to investigate the wooden staff, and sniffed at it.

[frostyfuntimes]

"I admit it seems like awhile," Jack rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet. "But, it's a dream right...time passes differently or something...not to mention it's only been, what, a few weeks? That's not exactly that long."

Says the kid who has been alive for 300 years. Although it does put perspective on things. "You just want to go home, everyone gets homesick."

[trademark_skull]

"--But how long do we know it's really been? What if something happens to me?!" Well, so much for not actually wanting to talk about it. Poor kid just managed to dig himself in deeper.

But maybe not without some good reason. The Netherworld was a rather hostile place, no matter what you were. Even those who lived in luxury at least knew that. And without Emizel remembering where he was last he could've been anywhere. And if he had been missing, would anyone even bother to look?

Well alright, his allies probably would have tried; since that was what they're supposed to do, right? It's possible he really was somewhere safe and being cared for. But even that could only go so far. If he still couldn't actually wake up...

[frostyfuntimes]

"What are you worried about happening?" Jack asked after a moment. He crouched on the fence post now, balancing on his feet in a position that should have been uncomfortable. He tilted his head, "Because, the way I see it, we just have to keep doing what we're doing here and once we solve all this dream business we'll be able to wake up or whatever. There's nothing else we can really do in the meantime is there?" As far as Jack was concerned they shouldn't be worrying about things they couldn't control...like waking up apparently.

[trademark_skull]

Well that did make perfect sense. Just keep going until they manage to reach the end... hopefully. It was just how long that was going to take that concerned him, that and.. well...

"... Can I really do it?"

[frostyfuntimes]

Jack gave Emizel a once over. He was young, or at least appeared to be. Jack had no idea what his talents might be or if he could handle something like this. He certainly seemed down on himself though. "No idea, that's kind of up to you, isn't it?"

He snorted as he realized what he was about to say and looked amused, "You've got to believe in yourself, right?"

[shadearchivist]

Ienzo took note of Emizel; it was rare to see someone look truly miserable here, at least out in the open rather than in the privacy of their own rooms. Of course, it didn't seem as if Emizel had any sort of support or friends here.

Ienzo sighed to himself and headed over. "What seems to be the matter?"

[trademark_skull]

Not much support aside from random passerbys for the most part. And that's still how he thought of most of the people he's met so far, even Xion. After all it wasn't that common for demons to make friends so willy nilly. Unless you are Val. That same trait also can make them one of the hardest to open too.

"Nothing," Emizel muttered. Considering what set him off initially, he didn't exactly need sympathy for it for how dumb it was. And he did know what he was doing now isn't going to solve much either.

[shadearchivist]

Ienzo dug in his pocket; he had a bag of cookies that he'd intended to eat himself, but Emizel looked severely in need of cookies at the moment. "Would you like one?"

[trademark_skull]

The rustling of the bag did catch his interest, very much so. At first he thought it looked like the cookies the Spirits liked but it would be odd if he was offering those. Though it didn't stop Moxie and Val from wanting to piece too.

"No thanks," as tempting as the cookies were, Emizel had more dignity than to be so easily persuaded by them.

[shadearchivist]

Lea had started to beg shamelessly when the people-cookies appeared, so Ienzo gave a resigned sigh and pulled out the dream eater cookies, giving one first to Lea and then to Emizel's dream eaters.

"What seems to be the problem?"

[trademark_skull]

"I was just thinking," he faced the sunset and spoke up again. And for moment felt like leaving it there. But then, they were all stuck here in the same boat, weren't they? "... About what to do."

Meanwhile the Spirits were enjoying the free cookies. At least it got them to quiet down for a few minutes.

[shadearchivist]

"There really isn't much to keep oneself busy here, is there? Especially for those of us used to considerable levels of responsibility. It can certainly leave one feeling at loose ends." The shop helped for that with Ienzo. Maybe it was pointless, but it was something to do.

[trademark_skull]

"... I want to wake up," despite trying to be serious, he did sound maybe a little childish. Shops might be helpful, and sure it didn't hurt to have other things to past the time, but maybe they were missing the bigger picture. "Doesn't anyone else want that?"

[skysmirror]

Xion didn't go to Sunset Hill much--it was a little out of the way. Which was possibly why Emizel had chosen it as a thinking spot, and now she'd ruined that. In her defense, though, she hadn't known he was using it when she'd decided to pass through while Nightmare hunting. She needed to get Manda a little extra practice. The Toximander was new, so she needed the exercise.

So it was by chance that she found Emizel. He looked upset, which made her a little hesitant to approach, but Barkley took things out of her hands, bounding up to say hello. Maybe he could help Moxie snap his person out the sads.

[trademark_skull]

It would have been easy to assume it was still Moxie trying to get Emizel's attention had he not already been right beside him when he heard the second bark. Since it was a little weird for there to be two Meow Wows he had to at least look up to see where the other one came from.

Oh, so it was Xion again.

[skysmirror]

Xion had a way of coming across him when he was needing some help. In this case, she normally would have left him to his thoughts, since it seemed like he wanted to be alone, but Barkley had made that more difficult. At least Manda seemed content to stick close. She wasn't as clingy as Toxy, but still seemed to enjoy being close to her person.

Well, he'd seen her, and probably so had Moxie, so she should at least go over to say hello. She walked over, reaching down to pat Moxie when she was close enough. "Hi"

[trademark_skull]

"Did you need some--" he really wasn't in any mood to talk but he could at least pretend to. That was of course before Emizel noticed the Toximander and wanted to cower from it. It didn't matter if it was a 'friendlier' color now or not (though it might have helped little), those things still creeped him out.

[skysmirror]

No, Xion hadn't really needed anything, but it hadn't seemed right to just pass by without saying hello since Barkley had called attention to their presence. At least, she thought that was what Emizel had been going to ask about before he cut himself off. Looking around at what might have startled him like that, her gaze finally fell on Manda.

"You don't like Toximanders?"

Nothing accusing in her tone, just making sure her guess is right. She likes them just fine, after all.

[trademark_skull]

"N-no, it's not-- that is--"

Eeeeeeh, they were so weird lookiiiing.

"I've had some bad experiences with them."

... That was a better way to put it, right?

[skysmirror]

"Oh, I see."

Xion had her own mixed experiences with Toximanders, but she still liked having one as an ally. If it was bothering Emizel, though, it wouldn't be polite to keep Manda around. Whispering an apology, she dismissed Manda and brought Axel out instead. The Hebby Rep quickly shifted into his usual state of imitating a scarf.

"Is that better?"

[trademark_skull]

"..." well sure, make him feel kind of guilty now why don't you. "Yeah."

Aw well, at least Moxie liked seeing another familiar face, and wagged his tail.