[Text]

[callmegladio]

hes gone

looked all over the city and hes gone.

tony is gone. ignis is gone.

im done.


[Sent from the arena... where he's fighting anything he can get his gubby hands on. Gladio deals with his grief in the healthiest of ways. Punching things and getting roughed up.]

Comments

[pinkxeno]

where r u??

[callmegladio]

the arena

[pinkxeno]

ill meet u there ok?

[silversoldier]

So you're just going to give up then?

[callmegladio]

on love? yeah.

fool me once, shame on you. fool me twice... i'm a fucking idiot.

[silversoldier]

How ridiculous.

Tony deserved better.

Text

[kingkingcxiii]

[Regis is not sure what to say at first. It is a double blow, though as much as it hurts him, he knows Gladio must be hurting more. He's not only lost a friend, but his love. It's far too much like when he felt the bond between himself and Cor break...

Right, Regis is not letting his mind go there. Once he has managed to bury his own pain, he reaches out to Gladio. Tony wouldn't want him to be alone right now and neither would Ignis.]

Would you like a sparring partner?

[He might be getting older faster than he would like, but Regis is still pretty sure he can keep Gladio on his toes long enough to help him get some of that anger out.]

Re: Text

[callmegladio]

dont think that's a good idea, your majesty


[While grateful for the offer, the mood he's in is the kind where someone is going to get hurt. And he'd rather it be himself.]

[kingkingcxiii]

That sounds like I should be upset I'm being underestimated or maybe I should be upset you are underestimating how well your father and Cor trained me.

private

[iustaegis]

[ This is not the news she had expected to see. Tony, gone? But that means-- ]

Gladio, I'm so sorry.

Can we talk?

Re: private

[callmegladio]

what's to talk about?

it's happened again. I should get used to it

Re: private

[iustaegis]

Gladio please

[this_loser]

[Same hat. Prompto's had a little more time to process, but the hurt is still raw.]

what can I do?

[callmegladio]

honestly don't know right now.

[this_loser]

that's fine.

[There's a long delay, and then a photo comes through: Several bottles of hard liquor and beer - why, yes, those are from the bar - and a clear shot of a bit of greenspace nearest their respective homes - easy to relocate if needed.]

come join me in the meantime?

[text]

[daikonrose]

[ ... Oh. Kyoko's heart sinks low, but she bites her lip and goes for a simple response. It wouldn't be good to weigh Gladio down with any more. ]

Thank you for saying so, Mr. Gladio.

[callmegladio]

... you gonna be alright, kiddo?

[daikonrose]

Yes. [ Jeez, and she was trying not to give him anything to worry about! ] Actually, I wouldn't mind taking on more hours at Insomnia 2.0, if you'd like some time away.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I take it Ignis was another friend of yours?

[callmegladio]

he was family

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Ah.

[He doesn't ask if it was by blood or by bond. Even if it were any of his business, it's largely irrelevant just at the moment.]

I can see how that would make matters harder.

[unpocoloco]

I don't know you or the people you've lost, but I know the feeling. I hope it hurts less often with time.

[callmegladio]

appreciate that. Thanks.


[About 20 minutes later, after realising he'd missed something, he sends another text.]


names Gladio. Nice meeting you. Wish it was in better circumstances

[carbungle]

@ the arena? time 2 smash

[He's not even going to be subtle about it.]

[callmegladio]

way ahead of you