[Action] - backdated to the 6th, before Hubert's arrival

[ledbythewind]

[It's a particularly warm day in Luceti today, and the first one where Richard has actually felt up to doing more than just sitting around the house or sleeping, the two main activities he's been engaged in ever since returning from the draft. Physically, he's doing much better now, but mentally... even almost a week of having had time to do nothing but think hasn't done much to help him sort out his thoughts. He isn't even sure where to start.

That's why morning finds him heading along the path to CH2 - one place he's sure no one he knows will find him - to do something he hasn't done in a long time. He doesn't know whether or not it will help at all, but it's worth a try... anything is worth a try. Once there, he heads to the top floor in search of an empty apartment; he shuts the door behind him before beginning to arrange the furniture until a haphazard fort takes shape, nowhere near as nice as the "secret base" he would build in an out-of-the-way castle storeroom as a child, yet suitable for the time being. It's the idea of having a secret refuge of his own where no one can bother him that's most important, after all. That accomplished, he grabs a blanket from the bedroom, wraps it around himself, and settles in, just the way he would as a child, though he has no appetite for apples or adventure novels at the moment.

And there he stays for a few hours, trying to puzzle things out.

Are emotional bonds, be they love or friendship, truly so fragile that a single incident can destroy months of feelings and memories? Does this mean that someday too even Asbel would turn on him? Isamu? Sophie? Would they all abandon him too? If even Naoki, who had claimed to love him, couldn't forgive him for this, wouldn't even look at or talk to him, how could he possibly expect the people of Efinea - people who didn't even know him, who only knew the damage he had caused and the people he had hurt - to forgive him for what he'd done there, which was far worse?

But... he'd done something that was unforgivable, hadn't he? Naoki had made that much very clear. He'd done something horrible. And someday he'd end up doing something horrible to Asbel too, something he couldn't be forgiven for. Of course Asbel would leave him eventually as well. It's inevitable, if friendship is such a tenuous thing.

Maybe he was an idealistic fool to think he could be forgiven, for this or for anything he's done. Maybe it's impossible to have a world without conflict, maybe Lambda was right that the cycle would never end as long as humans exist. He doesn't know anymore. All he knows is that he deserves this.

He feels tired, cold, numb, and more alone than he's felt in a long, long time. Is the temporary happiness he feels from connections with others truly worth this pain when those connections are severed, as they no doubt will be? He's no closer to answers than he was before; in fact, he feels even more confused.

It's just as I thought... this doesn't work if you're not a child.

But there's one thing he does understand clearly. Being unable to help his father or stop his uncle, having to rely on Asbel and Duke Dale for help, being unable to resist Lambda's manipulations or help him in turn, and now, succumbing to that damn experiment and needing to be protected on the battlefield... all of that was because he is weak. He needs to become stronger.

So that he doesn't need to rely on anyone - so that he doesn't NEED anyone - anymore.

So that he won't be a burden anymore.

And, perhaps most importantly, so that no one can ever use him again.



Afternoon will find him sitting quietly in the front yard of House 43, eyes shut. Is he meditating? Asleep? Only one way to find out.]

Comments

[godbent]

[House 43, check.

This guy is not Naoki, check. Also not Isamu, check.

Process of elimination has led Haruhi Suzumiya to believe that this fellow is most probably that Richard character. She was just out jogging (and not repeatedly going around this house to scope it out since her chat with Naoki, not at all!!) so when she sees this person she grimly nods to herself-

And then lightly throws one of the things in her pocket (as it is is, a stress ball) at his head]

[ledbythewind]

[With his eyes closed the way they are, Richard doesn't even realize the ball is coming until it hits his head... which triggers an instinctive "attack" response, and there will be an Avenger Bite headed in her direction in exactly one second.]

1/2

[godbent]

[What.

No really what. He just casted something at her and- Well shit, the minute she senses something coming at her, she dodges that as quick as she can-]

[godbent]

[But not quick enough for it to not shred up the front of her shirt a little and cut her belly a bit. She looks down at that and instantly yells]

ARE YOU INSANE?!

[seiriald]

[Hello walking storm of angst, even if you feel Human Kaori can never ignore someone who is feeling this way, so much that it deterred her from an attempted trip to the grocery store, which she was slightly thankful for because... A blind girl trying to shop for ingredients on her own? Scary.

She'll just sit herself nearby somewhat reluctantly, trying to will his negative feelings into herself instead, or just offer some kind of company. Whatever he needs, really.]

[ledbythewind]

[At last he opens his eyes and notices the girl sitting nearby. There's something familiar about her, but it takes him a moment to put a name with the face, especially as they'd only ever spoken via the journals before.]

... Miss Kaori. Are you lost?

[seiriald]

[Jumping out of her skin now, this guy knew her? Give it a moment as she visibly tenses as her guard goes up, trying to not be too hostile and mistrusting so soon. His voice sounds familiar, but she can't quite place it yet...]

I don't think I am...

[ action ]

[hakoiri.livejournal.com]

[ Restless since the draft's closure, Alf has taken to going outdoors more frequently and trying different routes than the norm. The path he takes this afternoon leads him to the road by House 43, where he stops when he sees the quiet figure.

There's something vaguely familiar about that face . . . a face he'd seen on the journal a couple of times, but never in person. Until now. ]

Richard?

[ action ]

[ledbythewind]

[Alf isn't the only one who has to stop and think for a moment to place the face, but it's something Richard has had a great deal of practice with, so it doesn't take him long to find the name that goes along with it.]

... Sir Alf. Are you enjoying the weather?

[ action ]

[hakoiri.livejournal.com]

Please, just Alf is fine.

[ He nods. ] The warmth is quite comforting. Are you?

[redsynonymhere.livejournal.com]

[Guess who's the next door neighbor in house 44. Oh, yeah, that's Remilia, peering over at the guy under her parasol.

Since his eyes are closed, she doesn't hesitate to poke him one or more times.]

[ledbythewind]

[At least this is after his little run-in with Haruhi, so he's going to force himself not to react violently. That doesn't mean he's pleased by being poked, however, so he'll open his eyes to look up at her with an expression that is decidedly unimpressed.]

May I help you?

[redsynonymhere.livejournal.com]

What are you doing?

[drawnbythesword]

[...Richard, what are you doing. Asbel is walking over to investigate now.]

[ledbythewind]

[You're going to have to say something to get his attention, Asbel. He seems pretty focused on... whatever it is he's doing.]

[drawnbythesword]

[Well, fine then. He stands right in front of Richard now.]

...Richard, what are you doing?

SPOILERS IN THIS UPCOMING THREAD

[forsurvival.livejournal.com]

[Conveniently enough, Lambda had just decided to visit Richard. He knows the man was sick, and being drafted while being sick could never be a good sign. Asbel was looking after him, yes, but was that enough? He still doesn't feel entirely safe going out- not after his recent kidnapping. However, he's willing to put his paranoia aside to see Richard. It's a bit of a surprise to see the king sitting in the front yard. Has he recovered enough to be outside yet?]

... Richard.

SPOILERS HO~

[ledbythewind]

[That's a voice he hadn't been expecting to hear, which will be reflected in the slight surprise when he opens his eyes.]

Lambda. I trust your body is working properly now?

[He remembers all too well what sort of shape it had been in when Asbel and-- when Asbel had brought it to the house.]

[forsurvival.livejournal.com]

[He nods curtly at that, but his hands clench uneasily at thought of it. He was experimented on. Scientists had damaged his body and even his very essence. It brought back a lot of painful memories.]

It is. Asbel found two humans who fixed it.

[scalethetower.livejournal.com]

[It was harder, much harder, than he thought to open up the journal and be all 'hey guys, can we talk?' to Isamu and Richard. He's hemmed and hawwed over it for days, trained to clear his mind and try to work up his courage. Goodness knows he didn't want to encounter something like the last time.

There were a couple of reasons he was passing by today. For one, it was easier to start a conversation on incidentals. It'd be much easier to wander by and have one of them call out to him (he'd half-hoped one of them would come looking for him, for it seemed he always was the one doing the looking), or stumble upon them and pretend as though it were an accident. Much easier than boldly asking them to talk.

Naoki has his hands in his pockets, watching from where he's standing on the road, blinking slightly. He debates turning and heading along, at least until he has what he wants to say fixed more firmly in his head... But at last drifts fingers through his hair, thoughtful, before speaking up,]

Richard.

[ledbythewind]

[... that voice. Richard's stomach twists into a painful knot upon hearing it, half-afraid to open his eyes, because... no. It didn't matter anymore, did it? None of it mattered. And he wasn't going to let it matter again. It was over. He'd been a fool for long enough.

At long last he opens his eyes, but when he does, his expression is practiced, perfectly neutral-- a facade he's had years to perfect. And perfect it he has, because there isn't any hint towards his emotions in his eyes. His eyes are just as flat as his voice when he speaks.]

You have business with me?

[scalethetower.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do.

[Undeterred by the tone, expression or words (perhaps even bolstered by it), Naoki approaches and then drops into a crouch in front of him, resting his arms across his knees. His own expression, in opposition, is clear and calm and open.]

But I'd like to, you know, talk to Richard and not the king of Windol about it.

[deathsdoctor]

[Floor eight of Community Housing Building Two, isn't completely unoccupied however. Hasn't been for over three months. A couple of people live up there and one has exceptional hearing.

And is listening.

It is the beginning of the New Feather season. Trafalgar Law naturally wonders if he has a new neighbour. Which normally he'd be fine with, excluding the fact they would be sharing a kitchen.

Which is not so fine if they are complete and utter slobs. Dirty kitchens are a sure recipe for food poisoning. Equally not okay if this person decides that his and Bepo's groceries are fair game. They are shounen. They eat a lot. Amounts that have traumatized unsuspecting dinner hosts.

Obviously there must be a discussion to hammer out sharing of space.

So there is staking-out sitting in the kitchen, and sipping of coffee. If Richard comes by after fort making, he will find that one doctor from the draft who cared for you raising his eyebrows, and privately thanking his stars that you are not a kitchen-wrecking New Feather.

Just.

You aren't planning on moving in up here, are you?]

[ledbythewind]

[No worries, Richard isn't planning on moving in... yet. He may change his mind eventually, however, but when he spots Law, he manages a slight, tired smile and a nod of his head in appreciative greeting.]

Doctor Law. I wasn't expecting to see you here. Do you live on this floor?

[deathsdoctor]

Yes, I do, Mister Richard. [Sipping coffee and smiling.] May I ask what you are doing up here? This floor doesn't see much traffic beside Bepo and I.