#GENIS!!!!! :sob:sob:sob:

[twohundredpower]

Lloyd's days had become pretty typical on the island in the last few months-- spending time with Zelos, catching up with Kratos, and of course working on various commissions for his customers. There had been such an influx of new arrivals lately, so Fire and Iron's business was practically booming; and though the swordsman was busier than normal, he didn't seem to mind when he got to do something he was so passionate about.

Sure, it was work-- but it was Lloyd's work. Something he could be proud of, something that made sense as he formed his creations with his own hands. He wondered, sometimes, if his friends back at home would be surprised at the way he was now.. if they could even imagine him running a place just like Dirk's. Maybe he could have something like this in Aselia one day-- but only after he and Zelos found all the remaining Exspheres in the world, of course.

Even if Lloyd couldn't do that on the island, he could continue to live, and that was the most important thing. Until he went back one day, and reunited with..

-- as his hammer slammed down on a piece of burning metal, the sound of a familiar voice suddenly brought the brunette out of his thoughts. Whipping his head upwards, Lloyd could hardly believe his eyes, dropping the materials out of his hands as they landed on the ground with a loud clang; the sudden smile on his face bright and instantaneous.

"G--"

"Genis..!!"

Though, that happiness was quickly replaced with panic, as the younger of the two tripped and started teetering before the hot metals; and Lloyd immediately jumped to catch him before he fell. He gave a quick sigh of relief, checking Genis over. "O-oi, be careful! Jeez, are you tryin' to be Colette or something? I always thought you were the most careful one of us all, heheh!"

"It's really you, huh..?" without another moment's hesitation, Lloyd's arms around his friend quickly turned into a hug; practically lifting the half-elf off the ground. "I'm so happy to see you..! I missed you so much, Genis!"

It would be an understatement to say that Genis was looking forward to finding his oldest friend. He'd become aware of the capacity for his cell phone to search for and communicate with familiar names, but that technology was still foreign to him. Instead, he wandered from the dense Mistwood towards the Forest of Airaisal in search of a certain forge and its master.

He knew it was the right place when his ears picked up on metal clangs and whistling steam not far ahead. Rather than announce himself with a loud flourish like someone might do, Genis let his racing heart lead him around the corner and against a wall of intense heat. There he spotted a familiar figure, albeit clad in appropriate forger's protection, and he gasped.

"Lloyd!" he shouted with zeal and a face-splitting grin. And despite a certain Dwarven Vow, he went running towards his friend, only to trip on a stray tool with an "Oomf!"

@twohundredpower