031 [text/action for Larry's travel group]

[failures]

[February 19, early afternoon]

[Larry made a very unfortunate discovery this afternoon when he felt like checking in on what Miles was up to. He was greeted with that error message that no one wanted to hear coming from their friend's line.

Miles was gone.

No. He didn't want this day to come. This wasn't fair. Panicked, he tried to contact Clover to see if Miles had broken his 'Gear or something, despite knowing the difference of error messages quite well. He wasn't about to accept Miles' disappearance so easily. But that ever familiar message came from Clover's line as well.

Clover was gone too.

Now, he wasn't very familiar with Miles and Clover's other friend. Ken, right? But he figured Ken was his final chance. He would know what's up. Maybe something weird was going on at the house, and their 'Gears were acting odd. He was kidding himself. However, he got the same error message as the two before.

They were all gone. That entire house, in one fell swoop. Johto really knew how to bring a guy down just when he was feeling pretty damn happy again.

Shortly after, a shoddily written text appears on the network.]

edgey clover and ken are gone. figured i'd let you guys know. edgey is miles btw.

[February 19, late evening]

[Today was supposed to be a free day to wander around Cianwood, but Larry's friends have likely noticed that he hasn't left his inn room at all. Any questions about it resulted in Larry saying he was fine and he was busy with something, but now that it's late in the evening, it's very obvious that something is wrong.

The poor sap needs some help, guys.]

Comments

[usedsuitup]

[He barges through the door]

Larry, c'mon we're getting a drink. I managed to find a small pub. It's kinda on the fishy side but it'll do.

Granted there was this old grizzly sailor given me a stink eye.

[failures]

[Larry peers from under the covers of his bed, squinting at the bright light from the doorway. He's been lying in darkness all day. With a groan, he quickly covers himself up.]

Barneyyyyyy, I don't wanna go anywhere... I just wanna lay in here 'til I die.

[usedsuitup]

No you don't.

I mean. I can understand the wanting to lie around and do nothing part, but you don't want to die.

Honestly bro, you don't.

[failures]

How do you know?

[Larry sounds angry for some reason. He's being a little irrational right now.]

Maybe I do. One of my best friends from home and another friend just disappeared! Edgey...I keep wondering what's going to happen when he goes home. How much is gonna change...

[The lump under the covers shifts again. He's obviously pained just thinking about this stuff.] He dealt with so much by even being here. Me being fifteen years old than him...and yet he still treated the same as always. I-I...

[He falls silent. He doesn't even know where's trying to go with this.]

[usedsuitup]

[Geez you people let him be a ray of sunshine]

Larry, bro, fun fact about that. If you die, you are not helping anyone. Least of all Edgey. Or your other friend. Both of whom probably wouldn't want you to die because they left.

[Barney moves to sitting on the bed across from Larry.]

I guess it proves he was a good guy.

[failures]

[A hollow laugh comes from under the blankets.]

That's true... S'not like I can die here anyway.

[He falls silent again for a moment.]

He was a good guy.

[usedsuitup]

Don't forget that. He probably still is a good guy.

And now I just gotta check, but you are wearing pants right now, right?

[Because for some reason, pants are a good way of gauging a person's mental state.]

I lol'd. Only Barney.

[failures]

[Barney's right again. He still is.

That question actually gets a genuine laugh out of Larry. Barney can cheer him up just by being Barney.]

I've got my boxers on. Does that count?

[He hasn't gotten dressed yet okay.]

It's important to check.

[usedsuitup]

Not really.

How long's he been gone for?

[This situation calls for a little re-evaluation]

[failures]

Oh...

[He thinks it is.]

Like...a day? I don't know, really. I just saw him last week though.

[usedsuitup]

Okay. You get one day of having no pants on. I'll be right back.

[If he can't get Larry to the bar, he'll bring the bar to Larry. Or something. Some form of alcohol anyway.]

[failures]

Um, okay?

[His words are a little late, since Barney was already out the door, but... He can't help but smile. He has a feeling he knows what Barney's up to, and he's definitely not going to oppose it.]

[usedsuitup]

I'm back!

[With a case of beer]

Man, the people here are so easy to fool.

[failures]

[When Barney returns, the lights in Larry's room are now on, and Larry himself is up and about.

And he actually put some pants on.

He smiles as Barney walks in. It's a tired smile, but a smile nevertheless.]

Whadya mean? You didn't steal that, did you?

[usedsuitup]

[Barney is actually pretty proud of Larry at this moment. Because he's up and about and has pants on. It's not something he expected (since he figures once something bad happens one is allowed at least one day of wallowing) but he's glad all the same.]

No, of course not. They just didn't really want me to bring it into the hotel, but I talked my way around it.

[failures]

[Larry plops back on the bed, still as curious as before.]

Oh yeah? What'd you say?

[usedsuitup]

Told 'em it was actually fruit juice. They just ran out of boxes at store so they had to use whatever they could find. I managed to fiddle with the labels to.

[failures]

[He listens to Barney's explanation thoughtfully.]

You went all that way just to sneak some booze in?

[A slight pause, then Larry holds a hand up.]

High five, man!

[usedsuitup]

[The high five is returned with gusto]

Hey, I take of my bros.

[failures]

[Now that Barney's a bit closer, Larry helps himself to a bottle out of the case.]

"Fruit juice" has never been so appreciated.

[usedsuitup]

You. Are welcome.

[And he'll take a bottle himself.]