holyknights | ♞ III. action.

[It's a little quiet. A little too quiet- and Leo wonders if Elliot's gone to sleep. He pauses outside Elliot's door for a moment, wondering if he should knock...

...nah. What if he wakes him up? brb pushing the door open--]

[--freeze.]

[What happens after that is a blur-- Leo remembers vaguely going out (without an umbrella). There's no note in the room, nor on any of the tables and yet Elliot's things are still there but...they couldn't have taken him again. No one gets taken so often, haven't they? Haven't they?

Stupid, stupid, how could he have been so careless?

The puddles on the ground don't have much time to form as he steps through them, splashing mud over his one decent pair of shoes. He vaguely remembers where Elliot showed up when he'd been sent back and there's a part that hopes that he'd be sitting there again and making faces. Or was that too much to ask for?]

[He covers ground faster than he thought possible, but the path between C4 and C5 is empty. And that-- hurts.

He stands there for a moment numbly right beside C4, silent. The rain's not heavy enough for him to be soaked thoroughly yet but the bottoms of his trousers are dotted with mud, and even then, he digs a toe viciously into the soft mud and kicks upward viciously.

It's fury that he feels as he yells.]

[But yelling doesn't bring Elliot back. Leo doesn't know how long he's been standing there in the rain before he finally starts making his way back. His steps are lethargic and the path is long and it's when he finally realises that he's accidentally overshot and missed the turning in the path and that he's-- in the forest.

He's never been this deep into the forest before.

His clothes are clinging to him, soaked and he glances to the left and to the right-- trees. And in his hurry, he's forgotten to take his journal with him so he can't even ask for help.

...fine. Fine.

He doesn't need help anyway.

The undergrowth poses little resistance as he pushes forward; it was fine if he ended up anywhere as long as it was somewhere. He doesn't really care, and he reckons that he can find his own way back once he comes to civilisation.

.....stupid.]

[The small forest path that he follows leads him out into the open once again and he blinks almost blearily, at the sight of the barracks. Empty as far as he could see (but there were enough things- sandbags and what not to obstruct his view). He knows where this is- he passes it often enough. But never enough to go in. He'll find his own way out.

It's only after navigating his way around the third sandbag (other things to note: almost stepping on a nail, almost running into seven training dummies) that he's finally aware of the occasional thud. Someone was here (probably someone stupid, he reckons) and in the rain.

What, couldn't they tell that that was an idiotic move? Only idiots do th--]

[--idiots like Elliot Nightray.

He's not sure whether or not to be happy or to scream when he spots Elliot across the barracks, bending over to pick up his sword. It's-- difficult to explain what he felt at that moment, though it could probably be expressed in what he was about to do next.

The sand on the ground crunches under his feet as he advances and he stops only to pick up a pebble from the ground, never quite taking his eyes off Elliot, watching as Elliot frowns and resumes his practice. Stupid master, such a stupid stupid idiot...

And he THROWS THAT PEBBLE AT HIM.]

[Focused only on his own frustrations (the kidnapping, its lingering effects, the reason he hadn't recovered yet, his missing brothers, the reason they were kidnapped at all—literally everything), Elliot doesn't notice anyone approaching, even though the rain is light.]

[That's probably why he doesn't expect to be hit in the head with a pebble, either.]

[He quickly whips around, and he's so annoyed by this childish action that he doesn't even care who he's yelling at.]

What the hell was that for?!

[He's shaking even as he marches towards Elliot- from the anger, from the relief, from everything.]

Well, what the hell did you leave for?!

[.................

oh fuck.

Elliot shuts his mouth instantly. Talking like that to his master... When was the last time he'd heard Leo yell like that, anyway? It's definitely been a while.

This is dangerous.]

Always thinking about yourself...did you even stop to think about anything else?

[It takes Elliot a moment to find his voice again. He's so thrown off by his servant's behavior, but like hell is he going to let him get away with it.]

Wh-who are you calling an idiot?! Don't go around throwing rocks at people, you useless servant!

Did I stutter?!

Have a little respect! I don't need your permission to go anywhere!

[He's close enough to Elliot now to yank on his lapels-- or his collar, if there aren't any as he speaks through gritted teeth.]

Well, most people have the common courtesy to leave notes.

—!

[He is unable to avoid Leo's grasp and is pulled forward with more force than should be allowed for someone Leo's size. He quickly reaches up in annoyance, attempting to tear his servant's filthy little hands off of him.]

I went just down the road! Don't make it sound like I was never coming back!

[But Leo persists even with wet, slippery hands and doesn't let go.]

Well, how the hell would I have known that?! I can't read minds!

[And Elliot will keep trying to pull those hands away, too, even if he knows he won't be able to achieve much thanks to whatever the hell is wrong with him.]

Then wait for me like you're supposed to!

You think I didn't do that?

[He tightens his grip around Elliot's collar- he really would've liked to see Elliot's expression at the moment but he can't with all this damp hair in the way and he really can't spare a hand.]

What the hell did you think I was doing all that time?

[Elliot would try to tighten his grip as well, but he can't. This is getting irritating.]

Then what's your problem? Why are you so— so impatient all of a sudden?!

[He doesn't want to hit him or anything, but if he has to...]

[...oh. Oh.

So he'd rather he wait longer? He spent days just waiting for any sign of him and he has the gall to tell him off for being impatient? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Elliot doesn't need to worry about hitting him because Leo will be shoving him away roughly now. It's a good thing that it's raining because he has to bite his lip fiercely to stop himself from crying out in frustration. It's a pretty poor silhouette that he makes in the rain, shoulders shaking and soaked.]

[He stumbles backward, only narrowly missing his fallen sword still lying on the ground. As soon as he manages to regain his balance, Elliot breathes deeply, and pulls at his shirt collar a bit to loosen it up. He watches his servant carefully, but he doesn't say anything just yet. Sure, Leo had pushed him away, but that didn't mean he was finished. He knew what he could be like when he was angry.

Leo could be downright terrifying.]

[His next words are quieter.]

Wasn't four days enough...?

[reaction] 1/?

[reaction] 2/ Yeah, go away.

[reaction] 3/ oh my god, I'm tl;dring

[reaction] 4/? Wow what happened to HTML.

[reaction] 5/7 I PROMISE.

[reaction] 1/?

[action] SEE, I PROMISED

[action] unsure..... 1/3

[action]

[action]

[action] Don't give me that look!!

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]