ledbythewind | [Accidental Voice/Action] (afternoon of the 21st)

Entry tags:

[Accidental Voice/Action] (afternoon of the 21st)

[Richard didn't initially realize what day it was when he woke up. In fact, it didn't even occur to him until he checked the calendar, at which point it hit him like a ton of bricks.

A year.

He's been in Luceti for one whole year now. And how much has happened during that year... some of the happiest and saddest moments of his life have occurred here, in this little village. A part of him wonders how his kingdom is doing back at home, what will await him when he returns... and then his thoughts drift to the news he received from Asbel the other day, that Sophie and the others are now here as well. There's a lot to think about, most of which he's already spent days agonizing over. Right now, he just needs a break and the chance to clear his head, which means aimless wandering.

Said wandering takes him past the item shop; on a whim, he decides to enter it, just to take a look around. A violin on a shelf catches his eye-- that's not something he'd been expecting to see. How long has it been since he last played? More than a year, at least. Yet something urges him to pick it up, so he does, heading out of the store and to a place where he can be alone... or so he thinks.

He settles himself under Ammy's cherry tree and takes it out to practice, not realizing that the wind has blown his journal open and it's now picking up everything.

His playing is shaky at first as he readjusts to the feel of the instrument, but soon a lovely, sad melody will be issuing over the journals to anyone who may happen to be listening in.]

(OOC: Tags to come in the morning, and just as a warning, my notifs are still all wonky. 8|)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She lets a clear frown show on her face when he says that again. She wants to forgive him so badly, but ... it could happen again. She can't let it happen again. There's no proof that this is the Richard she knows, that he won't hurt her again.

And she speaks very softly -- barely audible. ] Ri ... chard ...

[The fear that it could happen again is exactly what's paralyzing Richard right now and preventing him from promising that he won't hurt her anymore. The last thing he wants is for her to spend her time in Luceti frightened that someday he'll try to inflict harm on her again.]

I won't come near you again, so... you don't have to worry.

[ She looks down at the ground for a moment. So it's really going to come to this? He just won't come near her, and she may never see Richard again? She doesn't want to lose her friend ... ] But ...

That's what you want, isn't it?

[His voice is soft when he answers, and he doesn't look at her. This is best for both of us.]

No ...

[ That isn't what she wants. She wants to see her friend again; she wants to help him. She wants to be able to be happy with him -- to be how friends are supposed to be.

It's true that she's afraid of him, but ... she's even more afraid of losing him. She doesn't want to cut him out of her life altogether. She's not exactly sure how to deal with this, or what to do ... but she's sure that she doesn't want him gone. ]

Then... what do you want? If we get close to each other, I might end up hurting you again. I can't promise you that won't happen someday.

[At this point, Richard would rather lose Sophie than hurt her - than hurt any of them - again. He still can't quite understand why Asbel places such absolute trust in him after everything that's happened. And as that last experiment proved, it's not even a matter of whether he consciously wants to cause harm or not. The Malnosso made that decision for him, and he was helpless against it.]

[ A very defined frown forms on her face. She has no idea what they're supposed to do about this. She just wants to help him, and be friends.

His mentioning that he may hurt her again is not good, though, as it justifies her fears. She's afraid of it happening again, and he can't even promise that it won't.

So she shakes her head. ] I don't know ...

[Richard just stands, head still bowed, weighing his options here. What she wants... that isn't really relevant compared to what's best for her, and for Asbel too. And what's best for all of them is that Richard stay away, where he can't hurt them again. That way, at least they'd be safe.]

I'm sorry, Sophie.

[He turns around without another word and starts to stride off before he can have second thoughts about this, fists clenched at his sides.]

[Hope you weren't planning on going far, Richard, because, having spotted you two, Asbel was striding towards you. Considering Richard's reaction towards Sophie's presence a few days ago, he was more than surprised to see them interacting so soon.

...Except Richard's departure from Sophie was... less than graceful. Now he's concerned.]

Richard...

[ Sophie hasn't even noticed Asbel yet, her attention focused solely on Richard's departing figure.

She extends a hand in Richard's direction, though only slightly raising it, because she honestly doesn't want him to go. She doesn't want to lose her friend. That can't happen. ]

... Wait ...!

[Asbel's voice causes Richard to stop short, head jerking up in surprise. Of all the people to show up here... now he's even more desperate to escape the situation.]

Asbel.

[His voice is level, calm, yet with an underlying tone that makes his message very clear: Move.]

[Sorry, but your call could not be completed as dialed. Please hang up and try your call again.]

...What happened? [NOT MOVING, NOPE.]

[ She moves in closer to the situation now, though she stops only a few steps away. Asbel's here now -- she's not sure if that's good or bad. She's worried that Richard might hurt him ... ]

... Asbel, don't!

[There's a cold, detached tone to Richard's voice now that's reminiscent of their first meeting as children. He's not about to back down either.]

It's none of your concern.

[He recognizes that tone from Richard. He doesn't like it. It's far too reminiscent of their first encounter.]

...Sophie. Come here.

Asbel ...

[ She does as he says, and walks slowly to him, while keeping an eye on Richard. ]

Asbel.

[There it is again, that warning note to his voice.]

Richard. [Sorry Richard, but whether by choice or by accident, he's not receiving your message.

...No one ever said he was smart.]

[ And now she silently stands close to Asbel, making sure to switch between looking at Asbel and Richard. She isn't sure which she should focus on, so she's trying to focus on both. ]

Please move.

[And he's not looking at Asbel either, head turned off to the side, hands balled in fists by his side.]

[He looks at the man he's barring passage to.]

I can't do that, Richard. Not now. [He then turns his attention to Sophie, who's standing next to him.]

...Sophie. I have a question for you, and I want you to answer it with what your heart tells you.

[ She just stares at him for a moment, and then nods her head. She'll answer anything he asks her. ]

Asbel... you of all people should know why I am asking this of you.

[To Richard.] It's precisely because I know that I can't let you leave, Richard.

[And back to Sophie.] ...Sophie. Just who is Richard to you?

[ Sophie's eyes widen at the question, and then she looks down at the ground. Who is Richard to her? Who ...

He's caused her pain, so much pain, and fear. But, despite everything that's happened, she can't really bring herself to describe him as anything other than ... her friend. The main fear that she's had this whole time is whether he's still her friend or not. That's all she really wants. Vowing to remain friends -- it means a lot to her.

And she speaks rather softly at first. ] ... Richard is ... Richard.

[ Then she looks back up at Asbel, as if to make certain to get her point across when she speaks. Richard's important to her. She doesn't want to lose him. ] My ... friend.

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]